1. Welcome to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s March Sessions: “We Make the Road by Walking”

3. Step By Step Step by step the longest march Can be won, can be won Many stones can form an arch Singly none, singly none And in union what we will Can be accomplished still Drops of water turn the mill Singly none, singly none

4. The longest continually published book in the United States of America is the journal of John Woolman. Friend John lived from 1720-1772, and travelled near and far among Friends, carrying with him a concern for obedience to the Holy Spirit and how such obedience transforms our lives.

5. “ Our gracious Creator cares and provides for all his creatures. His tender mercies spread over all his works, and as far as his love influences our minds, so far we become interested in his workmanship and feel a desire to take hold of every opportunity to lessen the distresses of the afflicted and increase the happiness of God's creation.

6. Here we have the prospect of one common interest to turn all that we possess into the channel of the universal love that becomes the business of our lives.” -John Woolman

7. Foremost among the businesses of love that Woolman committed to were poverty, abolition, right stewardship of God’s creation, and the equality of Native Americans. He labored with many Friends over their holding of slaves, and during the French and Indian war, refused to pay taxes as part of his witness. A highly skilled craftsman, Woolman intentionally worked only as much as was needed in order to continue his ministry.

8. What is the business of my life? Am I mindful of how my lifestyle and my investments can contribute to the improvement of the human condition, or to the exploitation of others? How can I turn all that I possess into a channel of Love?

9. Siyahamba South African/Zulu round Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos', Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos', Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos', Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos', Siyahamba, hamba, Siyahamba, hamba, Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'. Siyahamba, hamba, Siyahamba, hamba, Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'.

10. We are marching in the light of God, We are marching in the light of God, We are marching in the light of God, We are marching in The light of God, We are marching, marching, We are marching, marching, We are marching in the light of God, We are marching, marching, We are marching, marching, We are marching in the light of God.

11. “ Let us put our souls in their souls’ stead, who are in slavery, and let us labor for their liberation as bound with them. Let us look at the souls who are led into hopeless captivity, deprived of every right and sundered from every happy association – the parents separated from their children, and all the relations of life outraged

12. and then let us obey the dictates of sympathy. Let us examine our own clothing – the furniture of our houses – the conducting of trade – the affairs of commerce – and then ask ourselves whether we have not each, as individuals, a duty which we are bound to perform.” -Lucretia Mott

13. What would my life look like if I consistently chose to “obey the dictates of sympathy”? Do I see those whose freedom has been taken away, who live in “hopeless captivity”? What am I willing to change in myself in order to see them more clearly?

14. Make Us One Make us one, Lord, make us one Holy Spirit, make us one Let your love flow So the world will know We are one, in you. (repeat 3X)

15. In May 1662 the Quaker act was passed in England, which banned meetings of five or more individuals. Still, the members of Reading Meeting met for worship by the river Thames. It was a late evening Meeting, to take advantage of the longer twilight hours that came with spring. And as the sun set, all the adults were arrested in violation of the Quaker act, and then kept imprisoned for refusing to swear an oath.

16. The young Friends were alone, without the nurturing and caring hands of their mothers and fathers. Banding together, they fed the youngest and gave shelter to those without siblings. Together, they persevered.

17. “ For them to arrest the elders is the weakest thing they can do. We are convicted by the Truth, to meet in worship, and hold witness to the presence of our Lord. While our elders are gone, we will keep this Reading Meeting, as we keep our faith.”

18. After trying their normal meeting places and finding them locked, they held Meeting for Worship in a stone granary by the river Thames. The local justice came with constables and found the young Friends holding Meeting for Worship.

19. They beat the boys and ran the girls off, but the young Friends were steadfast. First day after First Day they met in worship, in spite of the persecution they faced from the justices and constables, and prayed for the release of their loved ones. Until one day, their parents were liberated, and the Meeting was whole once more.

20. How can the younger Friends of our Meetings keep our community’s faith alive? How can our Meeting communities nurture and encourage the witness of younger Friends?

21. Walk in the Light (Sydney Carter) There's a Light that was shining when the world began, And a Light that is shining in the heart of a man, There's a Light that is shining in the Turk and the Jew, And a Light that is shining, Friend, in me and in you. CHORUS: Walk in the Light, wherever you may be. Walk in the Light, wherever you may be. In my old leather jacket and my shaggy, shaggy locks, I am walking in the glory of the Light, said Fox.

22. With a book and a steeple and a bell and a key They would bind it forever, but they can't, said he. Oh the book, it will perish and the steeple will fall, But the Light will be shining at the end of it all. CHORUS

23. "Will you swear on the Bible?" "I will not," said he, "For the Truth is as holy as the book to me." "If we give you a pistol will you fight for the Lord?" “But, you can't kill the devil with a gun or a sword." CHORUS

24. There's an ocean of darkness and I drowned in the night, 'Till I came through the darkness to the ocean of Light. And the Light is forever and the Light will be free, And I'll walk in the glory of the Light" said he. CHORUS (end)

25. How do you let your life speak? How are you a prophet of the Truth?

26. Welcome to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s March Sessions: “We Make the Road by Walking”