Swarthmore Friends Meeting

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

 

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Newsletter for May 2008

 

Navigation links within the May Newsletter:

 

Queries on Integrity and Simplicity

Addressed to the Meeting:

  • What does our Meeting understand to be the meaning and implication of our testimonies on simplicity and integrity?

  • How do our Meeting's actions demonstrate this understanding?

  • As a Meeting, what are we doing to encourage members to embody integrity and simplicity in their everyday lives?

Addressed to the individual:

  • How do I strive to maintain the integrity of my inner and outer lives -- in my spiritual journey, my work, and my family responsibilities?

  • How do I manage my commitments so that over-commitment, worry, and stress do not diminish my integrity?

  • Am I temperate in all things? Am I open to counsel and advice on overindulgence and addictive behavior, such as gambling?

  • Do I take seriously the hazards associated with addictive and mind-altering substances?

  • Am I careful to speak truth as I know it and am I open to truth spoken to me?

  • Am I mindful that judicial oaths imply a double standard of truth?

  • Do I refrain from membership in organizations whose purposes and methods compromise our testimonies?

From Faith and Practice of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 2002, page 214

Draft Minutes of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting for Business held Sunday, April 13, 2008

The Meeting opened with a period of silent worship. Lynne Piersol, Clerk, presided.  The following Friends and attenders recorded their presence by signing in:  Lisa Heath Dainton, Christine DeGrado, Bevier Hasbrouck, Leslie Keighton, Andrea Knox, Steven Olshewsky, Mary Lou Parker, Lynne Piersol, Sally Shane, Johanna Sibbett, Betsy Wray, and Paul Joyce Collins Williams (13).

The Meeting opened, after a brief period of silent worship, with Lynne Piersol, Clerk, presiding.  The Query on Stewardship was read, considered, and spoken to: Meeting involvement in Cooking for the Homeless over the last 18 years, and investment in low-income housing and other socially responsible investments via our participation in the Friends Fiduciary Fund were mentioned; as well as the use of Whittier House by such groups as Alcoholics Anonymous. The Minutes from Meeting for Business on March 9, 2008, were perused and approved.

Steve Olshewsky reported for Peace and Social Concerns Committee. Because of lack of people to handle them, the Peace Page and the Environmental Working Group are dormant. There is also a need for a third person to help Paul Greene with the Discretionary Fund project.  The Committee wonders about guidelines for posting on the Meeting website.  Approval was given for The Nonviolent Peace Force to use Rushmore Room and the kitchen next October 10 and 11, 2008.  The Meeting Secretary will see that it gets on the calendar. Steve presented a revised version of the Minute of Support for the Peace Tax Fund which appears to need new phrasing concerning action steps.  The Meeting approved this new minute which will be sent up through Chester Quarter. The text follows: "Swarthmore Friends Meeting unites with: Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Illinois Yearly Meeting, Intermountain Yearly Meeting, Lake Erie Yearly Meeting, Northern Yearly Meeting, Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting, Pacific Yearly Meeting, South Central Yearly Meeting, Southeastern Yearly Meeting, Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and endorses the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Act (currently HR 1921), and ask both Chester Quarter and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to similarly unite with Quakers in the USA.   The Peace Tax Fund allows conscientious objectors (CO) to register with the Treasury so when the COs pay their taxes as normal, the money is diverted away from military spending.

Andrea Know reported for Budget and Finance Committee. She noted that 41% of our budget goes to the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) Covenant.  How is the money spent? Arthur Larrabee, General Secretary of PYM, is scheduled to visit Swarthmore Meeting on September 28, 2008, to speak on this topic during a forum.

The Budget and Finance Committee supports a proposal that rental fees should be examined and possible increased, and that policy needs to be written as to the use of the Meetinghouse or Whittier House by members and attenders.  There are currently no guidelines for the use of the Meeting Secretary when dealing with members and attenders who wish to use parts of Whittier House for free. The College sets policy for the Meetinghouse, which it owns, and we cannot charge rent for it.  The Committee also suggests that ads be placed periodically to promote rentals of Whittier House.  The use of advertising to promote rentals was approved by Swarthmore Meeting. As regards the recent need for the Nursery School to pay extra for cleaning-up after a weekend event attributed to a group using Whittier House to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the situation has been thoroughly investigated and no guilty party can be determined. The Committee is against the proposal arising out of this that renting groups should be asked to make a deposit to cover the need for additional clean-up.  It is felt that this would place a further burden on the Meeting Secretary to oversee this.  The Committee feels that over the past years, groups renting the facilities have been responsible and cooperative and that the recent incident is an aberration.  It was decided that House and Property Committee will reimburse the Nursery School $60 for the additional costs charged by their cleaning service.  There was considerable discussion on who should or should not pay rent for use of Whittier House.  It was stressed that College groups, such as student groups and the Modern languages Department, use Whittier House rent free, this being only fair in that the Meeting regularly uses the Meeting Room. As to members and attenders of Meeting, especially those of long standing, who wish to use Whittier House for a special private function such as an anniversary, the general feeling was that rent should not be asked, but a contribution encourages.  Budget and Finance will bring proposed guidelines for rentals to Meeting for Business at a later time.

Chrisitine DeGrado reported for Nominating Committee. She brought forth two names for approval.  Friends approved the nominations of Lois Sellers for Care and Counsel Committee and Sharon Gunther for Worship and Ministry Committee.

Mary Lou Parker reported for Personnel Committee.  She introduced, and the Meeting welcomed, our new Secretary, Mary Titus.  Paul is working with her to ease the transition.  She will begin April 15, 2008.

Lisa Heath Dainton spoke for Nursery School Committee noting the the Committee is in need of more Meeting members.  The by-laws of the Nursery School require a certain number of members.

Lynne Piersol presented and Friends approved the following Minute of Appreciation: "Swarthmore Meeting expresses its deep gratitude to Paul Joyce Collins Williams for his dedication, effort, and enormous knowledge of Quaker history and practice, which he has shared generously with us over the last four and one-half years in his role as Meeting Secretary.  Thank thee, Friend Paul."

After a few moments of silent worship, the Meeting adjourned.

Submitted by Leslie Keighton, Recording Clerk

Effective April 15, 2008, the Meeting Office will be closed on Mondays,

but will be open on Fridays. 

Office house will remain the same -- 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

       

Come; See the Beauteous Birds of May

Join with Friends and attenders, old and young, for our annual First Day School Bird Walk on Sunday, May 4, 2008.  The walk starts at 7:00 a.m. (plan to arrive a little early). There will be a hardy breakfast served at 8:00 a.m. All ages welcome to walk and eat.  Volunteers are needed to help with the Walk and preparing breakfast.

Chester Quarterly Meeting

On Sunday, April 27, 2008, the Chester Quarterly Meeting will be hosting "Connecting to the Community Around Us: Witness and Service" with Jacqui Harper of Lansdowne Meeting.  The program will begin at 1:00 p.m., after their worship with Chester Meeting.  Come hear what people are doing in Chester and in their communities! The Chester Meetinghouse is at 520 East 24th Street (corner of 24th and Chestnut Streets), Chester, PA. Phone: (610) 874-5860.

    Submitted by Chester Quarterly Meeting

Chester Children's Chorus Concerts

        Come One, Come All -- Chester Children's Chorus concerts will be held May 9 and May 10. The Chester Children's Chorus enthusiastically invites members of Swarthmore Meeting to attend one of its spring concerts, Friday, May 9, or Saturday, May 10, in Lang Music Building, Swarthmore College.  Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for the 8:00 p.m. performances.  Seventy-five talented children, 8- to 17-years-old will sing Renaissance madrigals, gospel, folk songs, and Felix Mendelssohn's setting of the psalm "Lift Thine Eyes." Admission is free and no tickets are required.

        Submitted by Andrea Knox

Forum on Deepening and Strengthening Our Meetings (web article)

  • What are our Meeting's strengths and challenges?

  • How can our Meeting address issues it sees as important for its growth and well-being?

            Swarthmore Meeting is exploring the possibility of participating in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Deepening and Strengthening Program, which is a process of visioning ways in which our life as a Meeting community can be made richer and fuller, and we can consider how to respond to the challenges we identify.  The Worship & Ministry and Care & Counsel Committees heard a presentation about the program by Arlene Kelly and a member of another Meeting who has participated in it.  The Committees were inspired by what they heard and recommended to Business Meeting that we explore the "Tasting Session"  to see if Swarthmore Friends Meeting is interested in participating.

            Our potluck on May 18, 2008 will be dedicated to the "Tasting Session." There will be facilitators of the Yearly Meeting program leading us. The "Tasting Session" is for us to see if as a Meeting we are, indeed, interested in going forward with the first part of the program.  The goal of the first part of the program is "Knowing Ourselves as a Meeting."  The "Tasting Session" will run from approximately 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m..  There will be a separate program for the First Day School students.  They will gather in a separate area with a facilitator whose program is designed especially for children.  Childcare for younger siblings will be provided.

        We encourage all Meeting members, attenders, and all First Day School families to be at the May 18 potluck to find out about the Deepening and Strengthening  Program. The more of us who participate, the better sense we will have of the Meeting's interest in the program.  Then at the next Meeting for Business, we can make a truly considered decision.

        The Philadelphia Yearly Meeting offers this program to individual Friends Meetings.  The program is organized around an in-depth questionnaire to be completed by all who are active in the life of the Meeting. The results of the questionnaire are tabulated by the facilitator from the Yearly Meeting.  Over the course of a one-day retreat with the entire Meeting, the facilitator will present the results of the questionnaire.   This core retreat will also include leading the Meeting through a process of visioning ways that the Meeting life can be deepened, addressing current needs, and setting priorities for desired changes.  The important trends and themes resulting from the questionnaire will be threshed by the entire Meeting. 

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Annual Fund

            Please help Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) meet its goal for the Annual Fund, which is a significant portion of its budget and consists of contributions by individuals.  So far, our Meeting is behind in giving compared to last year at this time.  The covenants which each Meeting agrees to send to PYM are only a portion of its budget.  There are many programs that benefit individuals and Meetings, including library services, educational scholarships and loan aid, support for aging Friends, workshops for teachers, and wonderful programming for middle and high school students.  Their fiscal years ends June 30th. There are envelopes in the Meeting Office or sent your contribution to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 1515 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102.  Phonathon volunteers are also needed for May 20, May 28, June 4, and June 12.  See Lynne if interested.  Many thanks.

    Submitted by Lynne Piersol

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Summer Sessions (web article)

            Wednesday, July 30, through Sunday, August 3, 2008, the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting will be hosting its residential Summer Sessions at DeSales University, Center Valley , Pennsylvania.  The theme this year is Sharing Our Journeys -- in Light, Love, and Peace.  On-line registration begins May 10, 2008. The website is http://www.pym.org/annualsessions.   See the bulletin board in the vestibule for more information.

Contributions Update and Forum on PYM Budget

        As of mid-April we had received 14.6% of our yearly budgeted amount.  This in nearly twice last year's rate.  Contributions often drop over the summer, although expenses don't, so giving now is a big help.  You can help save postage by dropping your cash or checks into one of the three contribution boxes -- two in the Meetinghouse and one by the door in the Rushmore wing of the lobby.

A major item in the Meeting's budget is our support of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting .  On Sunday, September 28, 2008, PYM General Secretary, Arthur Larabee, will be with us during Forum to talk with us about how this money is used.

First Day School News

    Sunday, May 18, is the last First Day School class for this school year.  Middle-schoolers will greet and clerk the Meeting for Worship.  Bibles will be given to fourth graders and copies of Faith and Practice will be given to the eight graders and college seniors. John McKinstry will give the presentation talk.  The potluck following this Meeting for Worship is the annual "thank you" for the First Day School teachers for another year of services.  On Sundays, May 25 through September 7, there will be multi-age, family-style childcare during Meeting for Worship, provided by our teens, for all children who wish to come.

    Submitted by Kit Raven

Announcing the Meeting's Two-for-One Donation Campaign of 2008

    The Discretionary Fund Working Group invites you to participate in the Meeting's Two-for-One donation campaign.  Members and attenders in the Meeting who donate to any of the five funds and organizations below will have their donations matched by the Meeting's Discretionary Fund.  Donations can be made through representatives of this working group. Watch for our table after the rise of Meeting.

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)  The American Friends Service Committee carries out service, development, social justice, and peace programs throughout the world.  AFSC's work is based on the Quaker belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice. For more information see AFSC' website www.afsc.org

ClaySure Project The goal of the ClaySure Water Project is to help communities create their own access to potable water via simple, affordable and effective filter technology.  ClaySure's current project is in Limuru, Kenya. The website is www.claysure.org

Central Asia Institute The Institute promotes and provides community-based education and literacy programs, especially for girls, in remote mountain regions of Central Asia.  The effort is documented in Greg Mortenson's book Three Cups of Tea.  The website is www.ikat.org

Downingtown Friends Meeting Fund for Westtown student Ammar.  Ammar is an Iraqi student at the Westtown School (a Quaker school) who cannot return to Iraq.  Downingtown Friends Meeting is raising funds to support his ongoing studies at Westtown and life in America.

Chester Co-op Chester's Community Grocery Co-op was formed in response to the community's desire to meet a crucial need that was not being met in the city: access to quality, fresh, healthy produce and groceries.  The objective is to stimulate the development of a healthy community by providing access to healthy nutritional food, one of the most basic and vital needs of any community. The website is www.chestercoop.com

    Submitted by Paul Green

 

Newsletter Calendar for May, 2008

Date   Event

Thursday, May 1

7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Worship and Ministry Committee in Meeting Library

 

7:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Care and Counsel Committee in Meeting Office

Sunday, May 4 

7:00 a.m. Annual All-Age First Day School Bird Walk. Breakfast for walkers served at 8:00 a.m.
  9:30 a.m. Student Breakfast in Rushmore Room*
 

9:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Hymn singing in the Meetinghouse*

 

10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Meeting for Worship in the Meetinghouse* and First Day School in Whittier House*

 

11:15 a.m.

Fellowship in Rushmore Room

 

11:45 a.m.

Adult Religious Education in Whittier Room. Steve Weimar continues our exploration of Non-violent Communication.

Monday, May 5 Meeting Office closed  

 

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Budget and Finance Committee in Meeting Office

Sunday, May 11

9:30 to 11:00 a.m. 

Similar Sunday schedule as noted above*

  11:15 a.m. Fellowship in Rushmore Room
  11:45 a.m. Meeting for Business in Whittier Room
Monday, May 12 Meeting Office closed  
Tuesday, May 13 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. Peace and Social Concerns Committee in Meeting Office

Saturday, May 17

9:30  a.m.

Cooking for the Homeless in Whittier kitchen

  10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Drop off for Jumble Sale

Sunday, May 18

8:45 a.m. Introduction to Quakerism in Whittier Room, "Quaker Jeopardy!"
 

9:30 to 11:00 a.m.  

Similar Sunday schedule as noted above. *

 

11:15 a.m.

Potluck brunch with special thanks to the First Day teachers.

  11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Deepening & Strengthening our Meetings Forum facilitated by Arlene Kelly in Whittier Room.

Monday, May 19

Meeting Office closed

 
  7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Personnel Committee in Meeting Office
Tuesday, May 20 12:00 noon Deadline for June Newsletter

Thursday, May 22

9:30 a.m.

Newsletter folding party in Whittier Room

Sunday, May 25

 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. 

Similar Sunday schedule as noted above* except that multi-age, family-style childcare will be held during the summer instead of First Day School.

 

11:15 a.m.

Fellowship in Rushmore Room and Seekers Session in Meeting Library

 

11:45 a.m. Meeting Forum in Whittier Room

Each weekday the Swarthmore Nursery School has sessions, except were noted above.  At opening and closing times there is an influx of traffic around the Meetinghouse and surrounding parking lots.  The opening and closing times are:

  • Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday:  8:30 to 11:30 a.m.; and 11:30  to 2:30 p.m. Nursery School and Nursery School lunch brunch

  • Thursday and Friday: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nursery School.

SWARTHMORE MONTHLY MEETING

Lynne Piersol, Clerk of the Meeting; Leslie Keighton, Recording Clerk; Michael Malone, Clerk of Worship and Ministry; Stephen Weimar, Treasurer; Mary Titus, Meeting Secretary

Office hours: Tuesday though Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.