Farmington Scipio Fall Gathering Saturday, September 20, 2008 Syracuse NY   Hosts:  Syracuse and Elmira Monthly Meetings Time:  Beginning at 9:30 a.m. Location:  Westcott Community Center, 826 Euclid Ave, Syracuse, NY 13210. (see map) The Westcott Community Center (an old brick fire house)  is at the corner of Euclid Ave. and Westcott St.  It is across the street from the Syracuse Friends Meeting and across the street from Erwin Methodist Church. Parking:  Parking will be available directly across Westcott St. in the Erwin Methodist Church parking lot. Agenda: 9:30 a.m. Gathering, coffee and greeting each other. 10 a.m. - noon  Worship with program rising out of worship. (See below) noon - 1 p.m. Lunch: Bring your own sandwich. Hot soups will be provided. 1 PM - ? Quarterly Meeting for Worship with an attention to Business. Childcare:  If child care is needed, please contact Evy Kennenwood, 315-445-1859 by Sept. 18. Program:  The program will be provided by Barbara Spring from NYYM.   Barbara works with Anita Paul for ARCH, Aging Resources, Consultation and Help, a program active within the Northeast Region providing consultation and workshops for the YM. ARCH was set up with funds from the McCutchen Friends Home to assist friends in the YM with aging issues. It is expected to expand into the entire Yearly Meeting regions. Barbara will offer practical information on opening this discussion with our aging parents, ourselves, or our children, so that the topic becomes a familiar one and thus less alarming when the need arises. She will provide documents and forms to help simplify the paper work in preparation of last wishes and health care proxies. ARCH presents it this way: How can we best prepare to ensure that our end-of-life experience is an act of love to our family and the meeting? The meeting needs vital information on file to assist the family in its many decisions. In this medical and legal age it is highly important to have information clearly stated and a well-informed healthcare proxy, so each person’s choices are honored. Completing life stories helps define opportunities where a person can say: Thank you, Please forgive me, I forgive you, I love you—in preparation for the final Goodbye. Allowing the meeting and friends to minister to us through care teams, sacred music, and prayer vigils connects the practical with the eternal in acts of love. Early Quakers gathered at the bedside of the dying for worship and especially to listen for messages from the dying person as they “crossed over.” This image reminded us of the special ministry of the dying person as she or he prepares their soul for the next realm. Hopefully, expectations were raised for grace within each of us and for our caring circle as we die. The presentation will be interactive as well as instructive, light in spirit as well as moving.