INTERMOUNTAIN YEARLY MEETING

Our second fall gathering of New Mexico Friends at the UNM Field Station in Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge willtake place Sept. 25-27. This year’s theme is “Finding Presence in this Place andTime”. The grand sweep of the Rio Grande Valley from sunrise to sunset will be complemented by consideration of the people of many cultures who have lived and traveled there for a milennium. May it build our community of Friends and strengthen each of us for the stresses of oureveryday lives!

As we found last year, the field station offers a central NM location, an impressive natural setting, retreat-like space, good accessibility and affordability,with comfortable simple housing. There is also a nearby RV campground as well as motel rooms 20 miles away in Socorro. The mission of the field station is “to promote understanding and preservation of the the natural environment,” and the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge lies at the junction of several major biomes of the American Southwest, with rich ecosystems that are the inspiration for both science and art on display at the field station’s research center.

The extensive human history of the land will be addressed by Deborah Jackson Taffa on Saturday morning. She is the acclaimed author of “Whiskey Tender” (which was sent to each meeting) and her presentation will be about "Untying Knots in the Yucca Rope: Facing a Complex New Mexico HistoryTogether”. We will be led to “… find belonging in the land; to reclaim pride in Indigenous values; to remember we are part of the earth, and she is part of us, regardless of our cultural backgrounds.”

After Saturday’s lunch, Field Station Director Arturo Benavidez will demonstrate the long-term natural science research conducted by UNM at the site. The instruments he will use are nearby but not handicapped accessible; there will be other outdoor options available as well.

Youth coordinator Elizabeth Freyman says “Young Friends from preschool through high school are invited to explore the gathering theme through a weekend of stories, science, nature, creativity, and wonder. Together, we’ll explore the Sevilleta landscape, listen to the stories held by this place, and practice the deep noticing at the heart of both scientific inquiry and Quaker spirituality. Activities will offer many ways to participate, with younger children learning through play and sensory exploration and older youth taking on meaningful roles as investigators, interviewers, leaders, and curators. We hope to create a space whereyoung people of many ages can learn alongside one another, build relationships, and discover what becomes visible when we slow down and pay attention.”

Friends are encouraged to bring an art piece that speaks to their creative self. This could be musical (an instrument, your voice), material (paintings, drawings, photography, clay, yarn, beaded work, fabric, gardening stories or another art form). Art pieces will be displayed and time will be set aside for the artist to share the significance of this piece/story/song, etc. There will be two art-based workshops on Saturday afternoon for some hands-on creativity! Please make a short statement about your art to accompany your piece (3 x 5 card-size).

There will be opportunities throughout the weekend for worshipful reflection, conversations with other Friends and renewal of the soul, including outdoor sunrise worships. Please fill out and return the registration form as soon as possible to join us and reserve your place among Friends!