| FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 |
| Register Here!In our Fall retreat, we’ll go “back to the basics” and explore some of the practices that might help us |
| (re)discover the Ground of our Being and sustain our joyful attention there. Whatever language we use to describe the connection we seek – Spirit, Light, Truth – how can our lives become deeply attuned to it so that we can be faithful, alive, and active in our own times? |
| During the retreat, Friends will be invited to quiet, personal reflection, sharing in spiritual friendship in small groups, and fellowship with the whole group. Activities will be assigned during the off-line time. In addition, Zoom space will be kept open during meal time for virtual “table fellowship.” Therefore, we ask that participants hold Saturday open just as if we were meeting on-site. |
| Friday’s session will begin at 7pm. Saturday sessions will run: 9-11am, 1-3pm, and 7-9pm.We are also happy to announce that the Spiritual Formation Working Group will support a year-long program of monthly gatherings via Zoom for Friends who live remotely or whose Meeting cannot sustain a local group. More information about this opportunity will be shared at the retreat.To register, visit https://www.bym-rsf.org/events/spiritform/. We will follow the “pay as lead” model utilized at Annual Session. The suggested contribution is $50/person, which will cover the costs of participation. |
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2021 Theme: Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world
Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.
In 2021, as we heal from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are inspired to think creatively and collectively about how to help everyone recover better, how to build resilience, and
how to transform our world into one that is more equal, more just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and healthier.
The pandemic is known for hitting the underprivileged and marginalized groups the hardest. By April 2021, over 687 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered globally, but over 100 countries have not received a single dose. People caught in conflict are especially vulnerable in
terms of lack of access to healthcare.
In line with the Secretary-General’s appeal for a global ceasefire last March, in February 2021 the Security Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for Member States to support a “sustained humanitarian pause” to localconflicts. The global ceasefire must continue to be honoured, to ensure people caught in conflict have access to lifesaving vaccinations and treatments.
The pandemic has been accompanied by a surge in stigma, discrimination, and hatred, which only cost more lives instead of saving them: the virus attacks all without caring about where we are from or what we believe in. Confronting this common enemy of humankind, we must be reminded that we are not each other’s enemy. To be able to recover from the
devastation of the pandemic, we must make peace with one another.
And we must make peace with nature. Despite the travel restrictions and economic shutdowns, climate change is not on pause. What we need is a green and sustainable global economy that produces jobs, reduces emissions, and builds
resilience to climate impacts.
The 2021 theme for the International Day of Peace is “Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world”. Weinvite you to join the efforts of the United Nations family as we focus on recovering better for a more equitable and peaceful world. Celebrate peace by standing up against acts of hate online and offline, and by spreading compassion,kindness, and hope in the face of the pandemic.
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