Illinois Yearly Meeting (ILYM)
Oak Park Friends Meeting is one of the member Meetings of ILYM, which is one of the yearly meetings that make up Friends General Conference (a national Quaker organization). ILYM conducts its annual sessions during the third week of June each year. Between annual sessions, in Fall and in Spring, it holds Continuing Committee meetings. It also holds retreats, workshops, Women's Weekend, Memorial Day Work Weekend, and other events. In addition to our financial and spiritual support, various individual members/attenders of OPFM sit on various ILYM committees and participate in various ILYM activities. For more information please visit the ILYM website.
The following is a delightful description of ILYM summer sessions, written by a Young Friend at Oak Park Friends Meeting who has attended many of them.
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ILLINOIS YEARLY MEETING -- MY FAVORITE SUMMER PLACE
So I’m going to start by saying that I’m so excited for summer every year. The reason why I say that is because I and my mom always go to this Quaker camp called I.Y.M.
This camp is always so fun to go to – there are a lot of kids and young adults n a friendly vibe. It’s always about peace n just listening to your inner peace. You can also talk to god if you like by just listening to hear him.
I really do think this is my favorite place in all time to go to every year to just relax. You can taste the country air in your mouth. You also feel surrounded by happiness. People are always just smiling and saying hi even if u don’t know them. Oh n get this - u know how we lock our cars in Chicago n suburbs? Well, no one except for some lock their cars. I mean that shows a lot of trust in every one.
Also the teens are very friendly and will never keep you out of what they are doing. Sometimes they have pudding fights and they have a late night where all the high school kids go to the cemetery n play a game. I can’t really say what that is because I have never been with them on that; I’m scared to do that. But then they come back and every one eats pizza n plays cards n just talks n it’s just so nice. Then once every one is ready to go home every one helps pick up and do chores. Every one who went has to do at least one chore.
That is I think the best place ever that you can go to every year in the summer. I really feel every thing when I go there you can even taste the kindness around u and inside you. I.Y.M.
