News Feed

6/1/26
Larry Vaughn's memorial meeting will take place on June 27, 2026 at 2pm CDT at Friends Meeting of Austin (3701 E Martin Luther King Jr Drive) and on Zoom. The link will be available at austinquakers.org the morning of the event. See below for more information about how to be in touch with the family. 

5/21/26
Please hold Larry Vaughn, Joanna, and their family in the Light. Larry died May 20, 2026. He had been battling breathing and heart problems for some time but kept up an active life among Friends and Austin Unitarians with his music, writing and many hobbies. We will miss him at SCYM. Cards can be sent to Joanna at 1008 E 14th St, Austin TX 78720. Information about a memorial service will be posted here.

1/22/26
Please hold Byron Sandford and his family in the Light. Adam Sandford wrote: It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Byron Sandford passed away on January 10, 2026, surrounded and held by his loving family. The family is looking to receive stories about our memories of Byron and photos. Information about where to send those will be sent in the next SCYM E-News. You can send cards to Susan Griffin, Byron's wife, at 17215 Friends House Road #203 Sandy Spring. MD 20860.

1/14/26
Please hold Mike Gray and his family in the Light. Josh, Mike's son, reported that Mike died January 8 surrounded by family. A memorial meeting will be planned for the Spring. Friends in SCYM will be notified when we know the place and time.

1/3/26
Please hold Mike Gray and his family in the Light. Josh, Mike's son, posted at 8pm on 1/2/26: "Hi folks, my name is Josh. I’m Mike Gray’s son. I’m not on Facebook but I wanted to notify my Dad’s enormous!! network of friends, that he has fallen terminally ill. He is in Hospice care, here In Phoenix , surrounded by his family. We ask for prayers for him, to end any prolonged suffering, for a peaceful transition to our creator! We will provide an update after his blessed transition…. peace to all of you affected by this news, he has blessed so many of our lives and he is no less a saint in the eyes of the almighty!"

9/26/25
Please hold Tina Coffin in the Light. She fell and has a non-displaced shoulder injury. It will heal without surgery or casting but needs to be immobilized. Please hold Tina in the Light for healing and John Coffin in the Light as he cares for Tina.

Eight SCYM Friends from Fort Worth Friends, Friends Meeting of San Antonio, and Friends Meeting of Austin (FMA) attended the workshop sponsored by FMA and AVP Texas. Friends report learning through the many experiential exercises and games in affirmation, communications, and cooperation while having fun. It was a chance to grow skills in nonviolence and build closer ties between Friends, essential for acting together to use nonviolence in our personal, meeting, and civic lives. The delicious meals and lovely hospitality at FMA helped us to share deeply and increase our ability to use the transforming power of nonviolence in this chaotic and challenging world. 
AVP Texas asks participants in this workshop and others who have experienced AVP in the past to talk about their experience and hopefully organize another workshop at the end of August 2026 somewhere in SCYM. Please contact Liz Yeats or Kevin King for more information. 

I'm happy to say that Changemaker Weekend was a great success. This past Tuesday, Alex, Kendall, and I (Lisa Jordan, Spring Friends Meeting) met Arden Hooper, foreign policy advisor for Sen. Cruz, and we got our photos at Texas Constituent Coffee. Alex and I also met with Sen. Cornyn's staff, and my Rep. Babin's staff. We also dropped by Rep. Fletcher's office who gave us tickets to the House floor, which we enjoyed! We hope to follow up with all of them with virtual lobby visits later this year. We asked them all: No more money for the Iran War. The timing was good, my LTE came out the same day.

Click "Read more" to see the Letter to the Editor (LTE).

FCNL put out a statement today, January 3, 2026, condemning the kidnapping of Venezuela's President and the violation of Venezuela's Sovereignty They ask Friends and others to contact their Senators and Representative to act on relevant legislation. You can find more information, the statement and ways to act here.

What should you do if ICE comes to your Quaker Meeting? Know your rights. If ICE officials question you, you may decline to answer questions until you have legal counsel. Tap the link in our Bio to view the Congregational Guide for churches dealing with ICE. This document was created by Rev. Minna Bothwell with input from legal experts.

https://docs.google.com/.../1Vg2hIh6f3uJFz_Sk.../edit...

The Congregational Guide offers practical advice for greeters and childcare workers, in the event that Homeland Security approaches your Quaker meeting. It also shows how an ICE authorization form differs from a judicial warrant. Help your community to be proactively prepared! Did you know that authorization forms from ICE do NOT grant the right to enter private property without consent? If you find that this document is useful, please share it with people you know.

Document credits: Rev. Minna Bothwell. "Welcoming, Protecting, and Preparing: A Congregational Guide." Capitol Hill Lutheran Church, ELCA, 2025. There are no restrictions on this document's use for faith communities.

Friends across the country are doing many things to resist the attempts of the present administration to violate the rights of people in the United States. SCYM has joined with other Yearly Meetings and congregations in a suit filed against the Department of Homeland Security blocking the Trump administration's policy that permitted indiscriminate immigration enforcement actions in houses of worship. The latest news from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting follows:

"The case PYM and our neighboring yearly meetings filed against the Department of Homeland Security has taken a big step forward! The U.S. District Court of Maryland ruled in our favor by blocking the Trump administration’s policy that permitted indiscriminate immigration enforcement actions in houses of worship.  This preliminary injunction is a crucial step in upholding the right of all people to worship without fear. However, the ruling applies only to the plaintiffs and is a temporary action.  Even so, we are encouraged as it sets a strong precedent as the case moves forward. 
This suit is a single step in a march toward seeking justice in the current state in our country. There may be more that is ours to do. Meetings can support the lawsuit in different ways.  They can also begin the powerful Quaker practice of discernment, seeking possible next steps."

Use the links in PhYM's text to see ways PhYM suggests for Friends to discern further steps. See below for more suggestions for action.

Read the Friend Peace Team's  Peaceways 2024 and Epistle

Reflect on the annual  FPT query:
"Justice and peace are possible!
What sustains your faith in justice and peace in the face of violence and war?
What brings you hope, joy, and resilience?"

Are you a student asking deep questions about who you are and how to live and work in alignment with your values? This 2-afternoon virtual workshop, from 1-4 p.m. ET August 13 and August 14, sponsored by Friends Place on Capitol Hill and led by Beacon Hill Friends House will offer you an opportunity to explore those questions in community with peers. It is especially geared toward students interested in careers in social action and public service. The cost to participate in the workshop is $75. RSVP at: https://www.friendsplacedc.org/event/letting-your-life-speak  

The Youth Program Support Committee is working hard to prepare a wonderful program for children and young Friends at annual sessions. The Youth program needs teachers and part-time volunteers. You do not need to be a professional teacher to qualify. Please consider these opportunities for yourself if you are planning to attend this year and pass this message on to others in your monthly meeting or worship group. To get more info email Erika Mittag at erika.mittag(at)gmail.com or Howard Hawhee at howardhawhee(at)gmail.com. To sign up to volunteer go to https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uymxr7QlNOJ2ZyMqeHNM8mOzZLjD2YcYFCkDij9uP0Q/edit.

Spiritual Refreshment for the Long Haul

Sunday, April 2 to Wednesday, April 5 online for everyone.
Thursday, April, 6 to Sunday, April 9 at Greene Family Camp (Bruceville TX) with some events also available online.
 

2023 SCYM Epistle to Friends Everywhere

SEE Most DOCUMENTS FOR THE MEETING HERE