Swarthmore Friends Meeting

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Newsletter, January, 2009

Queries on Social Responsibility and Witness

Addressed to the Meeting:

• How does our Meeting work to overcome social, legal, economic, and political injustices, locally and in the wider world?

• How does our Meeting work for the funding of community services that does not rely on gambling income?

• Does our Meeting serve the community through action on concerns for civic improvement?

• What actions are we taking to assure everyone equal access to education, health care, legal services, housing and employment as well as equal opportunities in business and in the professions?

• When a member has lifted up a concern, how does our Meeting respond?

• Does our Meeting encourage those seeking clearness for their convictions of conscience to hold up such convictions with prayerful openness to the Light?

Addressed to the individual:

• Am I mindful of how my lifestyle and my investments can contribute to the improvement of the human condition, or to the exploitation of others? Am I open to seeking clearness on matters of conscience and to assisting others in doing so?

• How do I respond and support one who acts out of a clear leading when I am under the weight of another?

• What am I doing to work for the betterment of my community to assure the maintenance of effective public services which do not rely on funding from gambling? Do I fulfill my civic responsibilities when they do not conflict with divine leadings?

from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Faith and Practice, 2000, page 210-211

Partial Draft Minutes of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting for Business held Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Meeting for Business opened after a period of silent worship, with Mike Malone, Clerk, presiding.  The Queries on Equality were read, contemplated, and spoken to.  The work of our Peace and Social concerns Committee was praised and it was noted the the Meeting should continue to give it strong support.  Minutes of the previous Meeting were perused and approved with the addition of Lynne Piersol's name being added to those welcoming Sharon Gunther.

Steve Weimar reported for Budget and Finance Committee: He presented and reviewed in detail the proposed budget for 2009.  It was noted that the Meeting is in a worse shape than last year in that, even allowing for the usual late rush in contributions, a large shortfall is expected.  To date, contributions amount to 76% of our budgeted amount.  It is evident that any shortfall will need to be made up out of Cash Reserves.  A Friend noted that the current serious economic downturn is presenting difficulty for all charities.  An on-going concern of others is the high percentage of our budget that is earmarked as our covenant with Yearly Meeting: 41%. it was noted that some Meetings with far greater membership give far less.  Andrea Knox spoke to clarify the covenant payments as they relate to our budget.  We work on the calendar year while Yearly Meeting's fiscal year is from July to June.  Several covenant payments have been made.  There was talk of reducing coming payments due to the current economic downturn.  Some expressed the strong view that we should keep to our current commitment through June.  General agreement was reached as follows: 1. Cash Reserves should be used to settle any deficit in this year's budget. 2. Early in 2009 there should be a Forum to discuss our future covenant commitment; and, Yearly Meeting should be informed that we are considering a reduction in the covenant beginning in July due to present economic difficulties. 3. Budget and Finance will consider and present several budget scenarios depending on various proposed covenant figures.  4. On January 11, Meeting for Business will adopt a tentative 2009 budget. 5. The figure for contributions may need to be revised downward.

Pat Thomas reported for Worship and Ministry Committee: She presented a draft of the State of the Meeting Report for 2008.  She read the Overview and invited comments.  Several clarifications were made.  The Committee would like more people to look at the draft and email their responses to Pat.  A concern was raised about the process of Holding People in the Light which until recently was done after Meeting for Worship, but now is incorporated into the end of Meeting.  Some are bothered by what appears to be an abrupt change.  This will be discussed further.

Chris DeGrado reported for Nominating Committee: Paul Greene has been nominated to serve on Peace and Social Concerns Committee.  Approved. Barbara Blake has been nominated for consideration by the Nursery School to serve on their Board. Approved.

Mary Lou Parker and Chris DeGrado handed out a summary of ideas collected by the Threshing Session Task Force, as well as a list of recommendations.  A Task Force Working Group is proposed, consisting of Sharon Gunther, LaDorna Pfaff, Susan Larson, Christine DeGrado, and Gary King. More are invited to join.  This will be for a period of three months. Approved. The Task Force has identified three areas where the Meeting should focus its attention: 1. Improve connections with Swarthmore Friends Nursery School families. 2.Partipate in a Meeting-wide outreach/inreach program, e.g. the Quaker Quest program. 3. Improve connections with the outside world, other Meetings, and the College via publicity initiatives.

Mini Hall reported for Peace and Social Concerns Committee: She would like the Meeting to express its gratitude to Andrea Palmer in a Minute of Appreciation for her many years of service to the Committee.  Approved. Likewise, there should be a Minute of Thanks for those families that acted as hosts during the Non-violent Conflict Intervention Training Session last October. Approved.

LaDorna Pfaff reported for Care and Counsel Committee: 1. Lois Sellers is stepping down as Clerk.  Sue Larson and LaDorna will be Co-Clerks for the next three months.  2.  Alexander Kendrick has been welcomed as a new member by David Grove, Sharon Gunther, and Sue and Don Larson. 3. Care and Counsel Committee and a Clearness Committee of Paul Joyce Collins Williams, Pat Thomas, Mary Mangelsdorf, and Jon Van Til recommend Frank Lindgren for membership. As customary, this will be held over until next month. 4. Florence G. Lewis has requested transfer from Old Haverford Meeting to Swarthmore Meeting. Her transfer was Accepted.  Sue Larson and Mary Lou Parker will welcome her. 5. Eileen Stief has requested release from membership to join the Presbyterian Church.  Approved. 6. Friendly Gatherings are scheduled for the weekend in February, 2/20, 2/21, and 2/22. 7. John Shane has written to reaffirm his membership (this in response to a letter sent out to members not heard from for some time.)

Mary Titus gave a brief report on upcoming work to be done by the College: asbestos removal in the boiler room.  A new boiler is to be installed after the heating season.

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

General Swarthmore Meeting Announcements

Another Way to Serve the Meeting: Learn to Audit Our Books

Help assure the Meeting's financial probity! Our financial records are audited each year by our member Amy Rockwell.  The Budget and Finance Committee is seeking another member to learn our audit procedures and be willing to perform the audit should Amy not be available.

Requirements: confidentiality, organization, basic familiarity with financial statements.  The audit is conducted in late January or early February and takes about seven hours, which can be spread over a week or two.

Amy will provide the necessary training, which she says in minimal.  If interested, contact Andrea Knox or leave a message for her at the Meeting Office.

Submitted by Andrea Knox, Budget and Finance Committee

Volunteers Needed in the Meeting Office in January

The Personnel Committee is looking for one or more volunteers to work in the Meeting Office in January, when Mary is out of town.  If you are free on January 7,8,9,12, or 13 for a few hours, please call the Meeting Office and let Mary know.  Duties would involve answering the phone, answering the email, and opening the mail.  It's fun ad will be greatly appreciated. Come and be Meeting Secretary for a week!

Scholarship Funds Available for Quaker Schools

Modest scholarship funds are available for the children of Meeting members who will be attending Quaker schools in the 2009-2010 school year.  Scholarship awards range from $500 to $1,000 depending upon the number of applicants.  Members who are interested in applying for these funds should stop by the Meeting Office and pick up an application form.  All applications are due to the Meeting Secretary by February 1, 2009.  Subsequently, scholarship money is also available fro the Yearly Meeting, which has a February 15 application deadline.

Submitted by Mark Taylor, budget and Finance Committee

Inreach/Outreach Working Group

At our December Meeting for Business, and Inreach/Outreach Working Group was approved and charged with the task of developing new initiatives for deepening our spiritual life as a Meeting and opening our Meeting community to new people. Three primary goals were identified for the group: improving connections between the Meeting and Swarthmore Friends Nursery School, improving connections with the "outside world," and choosing and shepherding a Meeting-wide effort mutually devoted to inreach and outreach, such as the Quaker Quest program http://www.fgcquaker.org/quakerquest.  The Working Group will develop a project plan over the next three months and is charged with an overall two-year time frame, after which our efforts will be evaluated.  Five Meeting members have already joined the Working Group (Sharon Gunther, Susan Larson, LaDorna Pfaff, Gary King, and Christine DeGrado) and welcome other members and attenders.  Please contact the Meeting Office if you are interested in joining the Inreach/Outreach Working Group, or if you have ideas to share with the group.

Submitted by Chris DeGrado

Sharing Meaningful Holiday Experiences and Holding People in the Light

Worship and Ministry invites you to share meaningful holiday experiences at the January 4th Religious Education Session, 11:45 a.m. in Whittier Room.   As a prelude to the sharing, Quaker philosophy and practices related to holidays, including Christmas, will be presented.

At the January Meeting for Business, Worship and Ministry will present a proposal for a different scheduled time for holding people in the Light during Meeting for Worship.  Currently, worship concludes with shaking hands and greetings.  For a number of Sundays, the Clerks have asked for requests before the greetings. This change has been tried with the intention of holding people in the Light at a point in the Meeting for Worship when we are are still a gathered group and in a worshipful attitude.  We invite you to think about this change. comments may be shared with Worship and Ministry Committee members or at the Meeting for Business.

Submitted by Pat Thomas, Clerk of Worship and Ministry Committee

Everyone Invited! Faith and Play (adapted from Godly Play®), Chester Quarterly Meeting, Sunday, January 25, 2009

At the next Chester Quarterly Meeting, held at Swarthmore Monthly Meeting on Sunday, January 25, from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., there will be an introduction to Faith and Play (adapted from Godly Play® www.godlyplay.org/ ) All ages welcome! The pre-program presentation will be about the Mary Fisher, a Friend who lived in God's love, power, and peace.

The schedule is as follows:

Pre-program, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Faith and Play presentation, "Mary Fisher Story"

Lunch, 11:45a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Program, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. Godly Play® presentation: "Days of Creation"  including reflection and discussion, theology and method, nuts and bolts, and opportunities to learn more! Godly Play® is a Montessori-inspired religious education curriculum.  It has opened the way for Friends' adaptation called Faith and Play. It is a way for Friends to teach stories of the Bible.  It embodies the Quaker ideas of continuing revelation, supports multiple perspectives on a story, encourages silence as a tool within storytelling, and honors the diversity of ways the Sprit works within each person.  Faith and Play uses the storytelling techniques of Godly Play® to tell stories of Quaker faith, practice and witness.  The Faith and Play stories can be used in religious education and multigenerational settings, as well as in home and Friends schools.  The Faith & Play Working Group of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting has published the fist set of these stores though Quaker Press of FGC, and continues to work on new stories.  Presenter Melinda Wenner Bradley, a member of West Chester Friends Meeting is the Clerk of the Faith a& Play Working Group and the PYM Children's Spiritual Life Committee

Note: There will a Quarterly Meeting Business Meeting on Saturday, January 24, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Swarthmore Monthly Meeting in Whittier Room.  Everyone is invited.   Please bring a sandwich for lunch.

Mid-winter Friendly Gatherings, February 20 - 22, 2009

The Meeting is planning its traditional mid-winter Friendly Gatherings the third weekend in February.  Local people will host these social get-togethers in their homes on either: Friday, February 20; Saturday, February 21; or Sunday, February 22. If you are interested in hosting one of the gatherings, please contact the Meeting Office, Mary Lou Parker, or Colleen Shoemaker.  Later there will be sigh-up sheets in the Meetinghouse for people to designate which Friendly Gathering they would like to participate.

This "deep dark winter weekend" will be the perfect time for warm hospitality.  It is a wonderful time to connect with new people in the Meeting.  In the past our Friendly Gatherings have consisted of varied things -- a light dinner or lunch, a Friendly tea, an after-Meeting brunch, a film viewing/discussion, and a book discussion group (Last year some of the groups read and discussed the book, Three Cups of Tea.)

Please set aside part of this weekend so you can attend one of our Friendly Gatherings.

Submitted by LaDorna Pfaff, Co-Clerk of Care and Counsel Committee

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Meeting Faces Budget Deficit: Your Contributions Are Vital

As of mid-December, contributions to the Meeting from members and attenders were 26 percent short of the amount budgeted for the year.  This means we are further behind than we were last year at this time.  Please consider all that the Meeting means to you and help us close this gap.

Submitted by Andrea Knox for Budget and Finance Committee

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Wider News from Across Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

Friends Employment Opportunities

Assistant Librarian, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is searching to fill the position of Assistant Librarian.  This part-time position will provide information and assist with circulation work using Follett Library software and standard office computer programs.  The Assistant Librarian provides a presence at the front desk to serve patrons, maintains the library data base, shelves books, and works with the Head Librarian to keep the library in good order.  Please visit the PYM website www.pym.org to view the full job description and the application process, or contact Ginny Connolly, Human Resources Coordinator, [email protected]. Beth Paul is leaving the position in December 2008 to take a full-time position elsewhere.

Camp and Summer Programs Fair at Westtown School

Westtown School is sponsoring a Camp and Summer Programs Fair for the greater West Chester area from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m., Sunday, January 18, at the Westtown School Gym/Field House.  Use the Main Entrance on Westtown Road, Westtown PA.

Come and gather information from over 80 camps and summer programs for ages three- to nineteen-year-olds.  All attendees receive a free copy of the Summer Programs Guide.  Programs represented include day and residential camps, performing arts, academic, pre-college, community service, language immersion, and travel programs.  The fair is free and open to the public.  Snow date is February 8. For more information, visit www.westtown.edu/campfair.Westtown is a Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Friends School.

January 24, 2009, Earthcare Gathering

Everyone is invited to attend a PYM Earthcare Gathering from 3:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, January 24, 2009, at Mount Holly Meeting in New Jersey.

3:45 p.m. Coffee, tea, cookies, fruit, and informal conversation

4:00 p.m. Worship, followed by worship sharing on hopes and opportunities

5:30 p.m. Let's get organized!

6:00 p.m. soup and sandwiches.  Bring sandwiches, fruit, or desserts to share

7:00 p.m. Rediscovering John Woolman's Message for the 21st Century with Ruah Swennerfelt and Louis Cox of Quaker Earthcare Witness. For more information visit http://www.pym.org/pm/more.php?id=5483_0_39_0_C 

Winter Gathering for Extended Worship

On Saturday, February 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friends will gather at Media Meeting, Pennsylvania, for a whole morning of worship, followed by fellowship over bag lunches and Worship Sharing.  The extended period of worship is a refreshing opportunity to settle deeply and open up to the work of the Spirit within and among us.  It's also a blessed time to connect with other Friends seeking to be faithful.  All are welcome.  Bring a bag lunch.  Donations are welcome.  Child care will be provided. 

Young Adult Friends Working Group Formed

A new Young Adult Friends  (YAF) Working Group is being formed under the care of the Education Standing Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM).  This group will strive to help provide vision for the PYM community of Young Adult Friends, season ideas and leadings, created events and opportunities for worship and fellowship, be a resource for Monthly Meetings in relation to YAFs, and work collaboratively with the PYM Young Adults Friends Coordinator.  The Working Group hopes to hold its meeting at Monthly Meeting on First Days, worshiping first with local Friends.  Meeting will be held every other month beginning in January, with additional meetings scheduled when necessary for event planning.  If you have questions about the new YAF Working Group, or would like to be involved, please contact PYM's YAF Coordinator, Sadie Forsythe at [email protected]

Quaker Artists to Display at PYM Sessions

The Fellowship of Quakers in the Arts (FQA) will display artwork in the Arch Street Meetinghouse during Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Sessions on March 27-29, 2009.  FQA members who wish to display their artwork should contact Elke Muller. Call the Meeting Office for her contact information.  The FQA membership is $25/year and includes a subscription to Types and Shadows Journal.

Grants for Young Adult Friends

The Friends Institute Granting Group of PYM strives to support and encourage Young Adult Friends (between the ages of 18 and 40) in ministry, service, witness, and Quaker study.  Grant requests are reviewed on a quarterly basis.  The next application deadline is March 1, 2009.

The granting group has just revised their application guidelines.  They are now accepting applications up to $1,000. Complete application information and a list of recent grant awards is available online at http://www.pym.org/friendsinstitute/figg/index.htm

Flyers about applying for Friends Institute grants are available on website.  Print one off for a Young Adult you know, and post at your Friends Meeting! For more information about Friends Institute grants, contact the PYM Young Adult Friends Coordinator, Sadie Forsythe or [email protected]

From the Greater Pennsylvania Region of PYM's Climate Action Network:

Most people don't realize that the standard incandescent light bulbs they've been using for years are only 10% efficient; meaning only 10% of the electricity they use is transferred into light and the rest into heat! FACT: If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified Compact Fluorescent Light bulb (CFL), in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes.  That would prevent the release of green house gas emissions equal to that of about 800,000 cars. Saving electricity reduces carbon dioxide emissions, sulfur oxide, and high-level nuclear waste from power generation.  Service Project Idea: Lancaster Meeting, PA worked with a local community service organization, the Crispus Attucks Center. The Meeting raised money to buy compact Fluorescent Light bulbs and gave them to the Center.  Crispus Attucks plans to use some bulbs at the center and to give some to the families they serve (along with instruction on their value and how to dispose of them).

To learn more about what your Monthly Meeting can do for the environment, see the website http://www.quakerearthcare.org/KindredGroups/U.S.YearlyMeetings/PhiladelphiaYearlyMtg/index.htm  

Upcoming Quakerism Programs at Pendle Hill

(For registration information visit www.pendlehill.org or call (800) 742-3150, extension #3.  Matching scholarships are available.)

February 6 - 8: Clerking

Pendle Hill weekend with Deborah Fisch and Bill Deutsch.  New and experienced Clerks will consider the fundamentals of a Quaker Meeting for Worship with attention to Business, discerning and recording the "sense of the Meeting," setting agendas, distinguishing between political and spiritual statements, and exploring ways to deal with difficult issues.

February 22-26: Listening for God, Finding the Path

Pendle Hill short course with Mary Lord.  Friends believe we are led by the Spirit, but how do we know it is God and not our own will or imagination? come to Pendle Hill to explore ways of listening, testing personal and corporate leadings, preparing for and following a leading, and knowing when to lay down a concern and rest.

March 13-15: Introducing Quaker Quest!

Pendle Hill weekend with Elaine Crauderueff and Rubye Howard Braye.  Co-sponsored by the Advancement & Outreach Committee of Friends General Conference.

Do you believe that Quakerism is "a spiritual path for our time" and want to share it? Quaker Quest is a dynamic Monthly Meeting-based outreach program that has proven successful in engaging seekers in the Quaker way across England for the past six years.  Learn to articulate your faith and discover how Meetings can experience new vitality and build community. 

Tuesday Evening Lecture Series

Friends are invited to attend Pendle Hill's winter Tuesday Evening Lecture Series, "Finding the Way: Practical Choices that Support Faithful Living." The free lectures are scheduled for January 13 through March 3, 2009, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., in the Barn at Pendle Hill, 338 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford, PA.  Presenters include Erin McDougall (January 13), Jorge Arauz (January 20),  Elizabeth Gordon (January 27), Mary Wade (February 3), Jens Braun (February 10), Cathy Draine (February 17), Elaine Emily (February 24), and Barbarajene Williams (March 3). Their presentations concern fundamental issues many Friends face:

• How can we be spiritually faithful when so much of our attention is necessarily focused on practical concerns like eating, cleaning, health, and worrying about finances?

• When we have so much to worry about, how can we pay attention to what God is calling us to do?

• How can we be of service to the world?

Hear about challenges the speakers have faced, choices they have made, and lessons they have learned, as they have sought to walk faithfully along the path of a living ministry.

Detailed information is available at www.pendlehill.org

Newsletter Calendar for January, 2009

SWARTHMORE MONTHLY MEETING

Mike Malone, Clerk of the Meeting; Leslie Keighton, Recording Clerk;  Stephen Weimar, Treasurer; Mary Titus, Meeting Secretary

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

Telephone: (610) 328-8699; email: [email protected], website: http://swarthmore.quaker.org