Swarthmore Friends Meeting

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Newsletter for February 2008

Queries on the Ministry of Outreach

Outreach

Addressed to the Meeting:

• What are we doing as a Meeting to communicate our presence and our principles to the community around us?

• Does our Meeting’s ministry of outreach lead Friends to share their spiritual experience?  Are we sensitive to the needs and hesitations of each visitor?

• Are we tender to the needs of isolated Friends and Meetings, and to nearby Meetings seeking support?

Addressed to the individual:

• How do I ground myself in the understandings of my faith?

• Am I clear about my beliefs?

• How do I prepare myself to share my faith and beliefs with others?

• Does my manner of life as a Friend attract others to our religious society?

• Do I seize opportunities to tell others about the Religious Society of Friends and invite them to worship with us?

• Is my manner with visitors and attenders to our Meeting one of welcome?

Collaboration

Addressed to the Meeting:

• In what way does our Meeting respond to opportunities to join with other faiths in worship, in social action, and in spiritual dialogue?

• How does our Meeting encourage its members to seek opportunities to meet and work with Friends worldwide?

Addressed to the individual:

• What opportunities have I taken to know people from different religious and cultural backgrounds, to worship with them, and to work with them on common concerns?

• What opportunities have I taken to know, to work, and to worship with Friends outside of my own Meeting?

From Faith and Practice of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 2002, pages 212 and 213.

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

The Meeting opened with a period of silent worship with Lynne Piersol, Clerk, presiding.  The following Friends and attenders recorded their presence by signing in:  Lisa Heath Dainton, Christine DeGrado, Susan Edwards, Kathryn Garza, Mimi Hall, Bevier Hasbrouck, Terry Hauger, Leslie Keighton, Catherine King, Andrea Knox, Susan Larson, Mary B. Mangelsdorf, Steven Olshewsky, Mary Lou Parker, LaDorna Pfaff, Lynne Piersol, Nancy Saunders, Lois Sellers, Sally Shane, Johanna Sibbett, Jon Van Til, Patricia Thomas, Bill Wilson, Betsy Wray, and Paul Joyce Collins Williams (25).

The Queries on Peace were read, considered, and spoken to. Concern was voiced over the Federal Government’s continued spending of huge amounts of money on the military apart from the war in Iraq – an amount representing 40% of the total military expenditures globally.  The self-perpetuating nature of the defense industry, the need to support the World Peace Tax Fund and other non-violent projects, and to teach children about non-violence were also noted.  It was also noted that members of the Meeting are involved with Women in Black and that a program on non-violent communication was presented at Meeting recently.

Minutes of the previous Meeting we perused and corrected: 1) Betsy Leonard should read “Elizabeth Leonard” 2) Leticia Jeavons should read “Elysia Jeavons” 3) Anna Grant and other should read “Anna Grant, Sarah Yocum and others” 4) Ann Richan Bernstein should read “Anne Bernstein Richan” 5) the rental and Jumble sale income were not down $4,000 in each case but Jumble sale alone was down $4,000 and rentals several thousand 6) the phrase “but as yet has not reached its final destination in Atlanta” would be deleted. Friends approve the Minutes for the Meeting for Business held December 9, 2007, as corrected.

Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) wishes to use Rushmore Room for their Finance Committee meeting on February 8-9. Friends approved FWCC’s use of this space. They would be grateful to any in the Meeting who can provide overnight hospitality (Friends can contact the Meeting Secretary if thy can provide hospitality.) The Traveling Minute for Margaret Fraser has been returned and there is a request for a new one, which Paul Mangelsdorf has drafted.  Friends approved a new Traveling Minute for Margaret Fraser.

Nancy Saunders reported for Worship and Ministry Committee: she spoke on last week’s forum and the Committee’s plan to continue forums on the topic of non-violent communication.  The State of the Meeting Report will be presented later.

Andrea Knox reported for the Budget and Finance Committee: Nancy Saunders clerked this part in lieu of Lynne Piersol—in view of the latter’s connection as Swarthmore Meeting’s representative for the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM).  Annual Fund proposed discussion relative to the Meeting’s covenant with PYM. Thanks to year-end contributions, the 2007 budgeted amount for contributions was exceeded, allowing us to balance our budget for 2007.  The Committee suggested a goal for 2008.  It is anticipated that rental, interest, and Jumble Sale income will continue to be less this year.  House and property is scheduled to receive less for improvements.  Some or all of this amount many be made up by drawing from the Contingency and Depreciation Fund. The matching-grant program was cancelled in 2007 but will be offered in 2008.  Friends approved the increase in Peace and Social Concerns budget with a matching increase in requested contributions.

Considerable discussion followed on whether the Meeting should increase its Yearly Meeting covenant beyond that in the budget. Sharon Gunther and Steven Olshewsky, who both attended the recent Interim Meeting where PYM finances were discussed, expressed their concern, together with that of others, for greater forthrightness and integrity in discussion of financial matters, as well as the need to adhere to the concept of unity in reaching decisions.  The expense for the renovation of Friends Center is considerable, although this money does not come from operating funds.  Another consideration noted was the fact that the Meeting and PYM operate on different fiscal years, so the first six months of our budget includes an increase that was approved last year for the PYM fiscal year starting July 1, 2007.  It was decided that the Meeting will not further increase its covenant at this time although it can take up the issue again in December prior to next year’s budget.  PYM will be informed that this decision was reached after considerable discussion and in view of the concerns mentioned above, and with a request for someone to come to Swarthmore Meeting to share more information about the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s finances. The Meeting budget as a whole was approved.

Mimi Hall reported for Peace and Social Concerns Committee: she presented a draft of the Committee’s “Statement on Committee Role and Responsibility, 2008.”  This is a comprehensive overview of the Committee’s activities including its working groups and will be place on the website after Meeting approval.  Much appreciation for the document was expressed and it was suggested that other Meeting committees should draft their own statements of role and responsibility.

Steven Olshewsky reported on the recent called Interim Meeting: the Meeting lasted four hours and centered on the financing of PYM’s renovation of Friends Center, as well as the relationship and degree of participation by Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in such matters. Steve urged the Meeting to have a strong presence at Interim Meeting.  Sharon Gunther spoke on her and others’ growing concern regarding an apparent centralization of authority at PYM and the lack of decision-making from the floor.

Susan Larson reported for House and Property Committee. She presented three signs to be posted in Whittier Room, Rushmore Room and the kitchen.  These are friendly reminders on the care of these areas.

Paul Joyce Collins Williams noted that LaDorna Pfaff has agreed to serve as our webpage manager.  He also gave a special thanks to those who help with proofreading.

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

Submitted by Leslie Keighton, Recording Clerk

Meeting Webpage

I extend sincere thanks to Gary King for initially creating the Swarthmore Meeting webpage, setting up the overall design, managing and developing new pages over the past few years, and especially for adding the photographs.  He has put a tremendous amount of information in, especially on the “What Quakers Believe” page.  He has made it easy to dovetail into his design.  On a personal note, the photos from the Jumble Sale in the website tipped our decision towards retiring from Virginia to Swarthmore, and transferring my membership to this Meeting. I am looking forward to working on the Swarthmore Meeting website. As in editing past Quaker newsletters, the web maintenance process makes me aware of the many programs going on at the Meeting!

I view my new job as keeping the calendar current and acting as a funnel for articles.  I encourage the Meeting Clerk, Committee Clerks (or acting clerks), the Meeting Secretary, and the Nursery School to submit articles.  I will edit them acting as a filter to keep them all in a web-friendly text, color, fonts, as well as adding new pages. Articles may be submitted in either digital or paper copy to me.  Please put contact information and the date on the article.  If there are photos you think might enhance your article, please submit them with a general caption.  Digitized images are easiest, but if you have regular photographs, I can digitize them and return them, so please put your name on the back. 

Submitted by LaDorna Pfaff

Breaching Derry's Walls

Jon Van Til is please to announce that a cover of his new book, Breaching Derry’s Walls, has been redesigned, thanks to the professional work of Lois Sellers.  He thanks Meeting members who have asked about buying a copy and wishes them to know that copies are available for sale at Booksource in Swarthmore.  The price per copy is $28.75, and Jon will donate $10.00 to the Meeting for each copy sold to buyers who indicate that they are a Meeting member or attender.

Submitted by Jon Van Til

January Religious Education Session: A Report

On January 6, 2008, the Committee on Worship and Ministry sponsored an adult Religious Education program on “Non-violent Communication.”  In addition to listening to a CD entitled Speaking Peace, attendees learned the four-part model for non-violent communication:

1) Observation: state clearly what a person is saying or doing that is or isn’t enriching life without using words that evaluate, judge, analyze, criticize and/or diagnose;

2) Feelings: connecting with and expressing what is alive in us using words that accurately describe the emotions and sensations we are experiencing;

3) Needs: connecting with the met or unmet need or value that is the source of the feelings;

4) Requests: asking for that which would enrich life.  The request is not a strategy to get people to do things they don’t want to do or a way to manipulate or change people.

Submitted by Nancy Saunders

February Religious Education Session: An Invitation

Worship and Ministry Committee invites you to participate in its session on February 3, 2008, at 11:45 a.m. in Whittier Room.  The topic, “Music and Spirituality,” will include comments and music by Patricia Thomas, James Marshall, and Sue Edwards.  Your experiences related to the topic will be welcomed as well.

Submitted by Patricia Thomas

We met our 2007 budget goals! Who gave, and what's needed in 2008?

The huge budget deficit that yawned at the beginning of November has been filled, so that we were thankfully able to fund all our 2007 commitments.  The contribution total finished at a record high and made up for the unanticipated shortfalls in Jumble Sale and rental income.  The outpouring of support from members and attenders once the deficit was made known shows how deeply we as a community care about our Meeting.

Nevertheless, it is disappointing to note that only 54 percent of our member households contributed.  All told, we received contributions from 153 households, including 123 member households (out of 229 total) and 31 attender households.  About 45 percent of attender households contributed.  We define a household as a single person, a couple, or a family.

At the January Meeting for Business a 2008 budget was adopted.  A full copy of the budget is included with the February newsletter which is mailed out and is also available in the Meeting Office and at the visitor’s table. Treasurer Steve Weimar and members of the Budget and Finance Committee will be glad to answer any questions about the budget.

Submitted by Steve Weimar, Treasurer, and Andrea Knox, Co-Clerk, Budget and Finance Committee

Potluck Theatre!

The third through fifth grade class of our First Day School has written and will perform a short original play on the topic of the Good Samaritan during the potluck brunch on Sunday, February 17.  Bring a pot to share and they will provide the entertainment.

Submitted by Bill DeGrado, First Day School teacher

Scholarships Available for Quaker Schools

Please be aware that the Meeting provides financial assistance for families who have children attending Quaker School (K-12).  This scholarship money is for children of Swarthmore Meeting members and scholarships are usually in the $500 to $1,000 range, depending upon the number of applicants.  If your child will be attending a Quaker school for the 2008-2009 school years, please see the Meeting Secretary for an application.  All applications are due back to the Meeting Secretary by February 1, 2008.  Subsequently, scholarship money is also available from the Yearly Meeting.  Due to the Yearly Meeting’s February 15^th applications deadline, scholarships are not available after this date, so please take advantage of this opportunity in January.

Submitted by Mark Taylor

Newsletter Calendar for February, 2008

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; Paul Joyce Collins Williams, Meeting Secretary