Swarthmore Friends Meeting  of the Religious Society of Friends


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Newsletter for June, 2012

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Queries on Stewardship of the Environment  

Addressed to the Meeting: 

  • Is the Meeting concerned that human interaction with nature be responsible, guided by a reverence for life and a sense of the splendor of God’s continuing creation? 

  • Are the decisions of the Meeting and its committees relating to the uses of property, goods and services, and energy made with sensitivity toward the environmental impact of these choices? 

  • How does our Meeting learn about environmental concerns and then act in the community on its concerns? 

Addressed to the individual:

  • How am I helping to develop a social, economic, and political system which will nurture an environment which sustains and enriches life for all? 

  • Am I aware of the place of water, air and soil in my life?

  • Do I consider with care the necessity of purchasing substances hazardous to the environment?

  • Do I act as a faithful steward of the environment in the use and disposal of such hazardous substances? 

  • Do I choose with care the use of technology and devices that truly simplify and add quality to my life without adding an undue burden to essential resources?

From Faith and Practice of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 2002, page 213

 

Partial Draft Minutes of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting for Business  

held Sunday, May 13, 2012

The Meeting opened with a few moments of silent worship. Christine DeGrado, Clerk, presided. Moments of light were noted: The success of yesterday's Tibetan fund raising and the Meeting's Resourcing Our Vision Retreat; the generosity of Keith Calmes and his student for their recent concert which raised $252.00 for relief in Haiti ; the concert may become an annual event. Also, the Meeting was able to quickly respond to an appeal from our member Andrea Knox on behalf of the Chester Children's Chorus when they needed to reschedule their piano concert. 

The Queries on Outreach and Collaboration were read, considered and spoken to: One Friend spoke on a recent experience in which a client of his expressed a reluctance to attend Meeting for Worship because she thought that Quakers were a closed group. We need to be bolder in informing the public about us and remove any misunderstanding that causes others to feel unwelcome. The Meeting's participation in SWIM, the Swarthmore- Wallingford Interfaith Ministry, was noted as a good example of successful collaboration. At the Retreat yesterday a concern was raised that the Meeting should seek greater contact with Chester Monthly Meeting. Also, it was suggested that an old practice of inviting representatives of other Faiths to come and speak should be revived. Worship and Ministry Committee will look into all this. 

Minutes of the previous Meeting were perused and approved

Christine DeGrado read Mary Lou Parker's Care and Counsel Committee report: Amy Grove and her long time partner Bill Kolb have asked to be married under the Care of the Meeting. A Clearness Committee consisting of George Alexander, LaDorna Pfaff and Mary Lou Parker met with the couple, see no obstacle and joyfully recommend Meeting approval of their request. Approved. The wedding is planned for September 29, 2012, at Bill's parents' farm in Doylestown. The Committee also recommends approval of the membership of Samantha Griggs. Approved

Edmund Jones reported for Budget and Finance Committee: The Committee is hoping for a balanced budget by the end of June so as to not start the new fiscal year with a shortfall.

Barbara BurgerLentz reported for Jumble Sale Committee: June 3 will be a drop-off day for sale items. The time will most likely be 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. Barbara also expressed gratitude to Barbara Grove, Ann Renninger and the College for making the Dungeon into a far better storage space. 

Christine DeGrado presented Virginia Williams Joyce's Nominating Committee report: An updated Roster of assignments was distributed, briefly discussed and readily approved with thanks expressed to Virginia for her fine work. 

Barbara Blake and Gary King spoke for the Friends Nursery School : Barbara reported that the School held a developmental workshop with Irene McHenry of PYM; she cited, as well, the Governing Handbook for Friends Schools as a valuable tool. The Committee wishes to improve its commitment with the Meeting and will be establishing a list of things to work on. Gary read the Mission Statement for Friends Schools. In light of this he expressed serious concern about the on-going problem with mold in the classrooms. Although attempts have been made by the Meeting to address this in the past few years, there are areas where the problem, seemingly solved, is recurring. The Meeting will ask House and Property Committee to refocus on the issue. 

Nancy Saunders reported on yesterday's Resourcing Our Vision Retreat: The Retreat was referred to by several who spoke in Meeting for Worship as well as earlier in Meeting for Business. Nancy wished to highlight one point expressed at the Retreat - the suggestion that more accommodation be made for multigenerational worship sharing. 

Mary Titus gave the Secretary's report: The Swarthmore Recreation Association will again be renting Whittier House for its summer pre-school program. The Scottish dancers and the Toastmasters will continue to rent as well. An unexpected and serious problem arose during the week when the water cooler in the lobby began spewing waste water. Mary called the College, they responded quickly and were able to fix the problem - a clogged service line. It should be noted, however, that the water cooler itself suffers from age and may soon need to be replaced. The Clerk and others expressed their appreciation to Mary for her extra effort in solving two recent unexplained occurrences— one, a huge mess which suddenly appeared in the kitchen after several rental groups used the building; the other, a mysterious bill from the Delco Times. 

The Clerk noted several announcements and correspondence including a letter from Adelphi Meeting reaffirming support for same-sex marriage and the June 1 Botanical Art Show at Friends Hospital. A letter of appreciation for the Meeting's support for the Memorial Service of “Pete” Hess was read. For Future Consideration: A proposal that a bench be placed outside main entrance to Whittier House. This would be of benefit to those who arrive early on Sundays. Perhaps the College could help with this. After a short period of silent worship, the Meeting adjourned.  

    Submitted by Leslie Keighton, Recorder

 

General Swarthmore Meeting Announcements

Thank You Corner

Thanks to:  

  • Lynn Goff, SFNS teacher, for helping deliver food to the homeless, and for having her pre-K class prepare treat bags for the homeless in March and April; 

  • To the many volunteers who helped make the Meeting Retreat a success; 

  • And to others who serve the Meeting in silent and unacknowledged ways. 

 

New Meeting Directory Updates

Please see the printed Newsletter for Directory Updates.  Please let the Office know if you have moved, or have a new phone number or e-mail address. We can then update our database, and make the new directory as accurate as possible. If you’re not sure if your entry is correct, please call or email the Office and Mary will send your information back to you.  Please email changes to [email protected] 

 

Volunteers Needed

What better way to feel good about your summer than to read with a child? The Chester Children’s Chorus will need 50 adults to read with children every Monday through Thursday from June 25 to July 25. The reading takes place from 11:00 a.m. to noon in Lang Music Building on the College campus. For information, email Andrea Knox at [email protected] 

 

Summer Plans at Swarthmore Meeting

We are pleased to welcome back the Swarthmore Recreation Association’s Preschool Day Camp to Whittier House; they will be here weekday mornings from Monday, June 25 through Friday, July 27. The College’s Yoga classes will also be meeting in Whittier Room throughout the summer, due to renovations to Lang dance studio. On Sunday, June 10 we move to Whittier Room for our Meeting for Worship, until Labor Day Weekend. 

 

If Not Now......When?

When will you clean out that basement (attic, garage, extra room)? On Saturday, June 9, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Donate your old and extra STUFF at the Jumble Spring Drop-Off. 

  • help Jumble recycle

  • help your old treasures meet the need of a struggling family, and

  • walk gently on the Earth. 

 

Resourcing our Vision Retreat 

On Saturday, May 12, about 25 members and attenders of SMM participated in a day long retreat. We shared laughter and tears, dreams and frustrations, inward searching and Fellowship. By the end of the session we emerged with an energized and refreshed commitment to nurture the Spiritual center of our corporate and individual lives. The following queries are offered to help carry forward the gifts of our day: 1) To what extent do we want the culture and activity of SMM to reflect spirituality as our primary focus? 2) To what extent are our personal gifts expressed through the work each of us does for the Meeting?  3) To what extent does our spirituality, both corporate and individual, nurture the expression and development of our gifts? 4) How can we be sure that the committee structure and our committee process are grounded in our spirituality? 5) How do we support one another in our spiritual journeys? Help when people in our community are faced with spiritual dilemmas or dark times? Thanks to all who participated and helped with planning. 

Submitted by Nancy Saunders 

  

Swarthmore Friends Nursery School  

It’s so hard to believe that we are in our final weeks of the school year. The time has flown, and it’s been a very good year at SFNS! We are winding down with each classroom’s traditional unit. The 3’s have been studying ladybugs and will have a parade of ladybugs on Thursday, May 17 and Friday, May 18 to release live ladybugs in the rose garden on campus. The 4’s are finishing their baseball unit and are hoping for cooperative weather in order to play a game of kickball/baseball in the meadow on Wednesday, May 16. The 5’s are finishing up an art unit and will hold an exhibit of their beautiful works on Friday, May 18. Then we wind down the school year with lots of outdoor play and a celebratory dance party on May 25 at 10:00 a.m. Members of the Meeting are more than welcome to attend this fun gathering as we close out our school year. Thanks to all who ordered spring flowers from us. We raised just over $500.00 for our scholarship fund. We hope everyone enjoys a pleasant summer break, and we imagine it will fly by as well. We head into summer with a few openings still available in our three- and four-year-old classrooms, so if you know of any interested families, please send them our way and we’ll be happy to show them what a great place Swarthmore Friends Nursery School is for young people just starting their school experience. Thanks! 

 

EQAT Green Walk for Jobs and Justice

On Monday evening, April 30th, a group of about 30 walkers with the Earth Quaker Action Team's "Green Walk for Jobs and Justice" arrived at our Meeting in time for a potluck supper provided by people in our Meeting community and then they offered an evening program at which they shared their goal of PNC Bank changing its practice of financing mountain top removal mining. Four households from our meeting provided overnight lodging for eight of the walkers. (The others lived locally and didn't require beds for the night.) On Tuesday morning, May 1st, I was at the PNC Bank in Swarthmore when they opened, along with Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) (pronounced “equate) and supporters, including several from Kendall/Crosslands. This was a stop on their Green Walk from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh , where PNC's headquarters are located. EQAT is asking that PNC cease commercial lending and investment banking services to all coal companies that practice Mountain Top Removal (MTR) mining. 

I and one other EQAT walker were invited in to speak with the manager about our concerns. It seemed that the branch manager whom I know was not in. We were greeted by “Matt” (no last name, no business cards) from PNC's regional office. He listened as we showed him photos of a lovely mountain scene before this kind of mining and of a flat-topped “mountain” looking like the surface of the moon after MTR. We explained that every week, a Hiroshima 's worth of TNT is exploded on mountain tops in Appalachia , and after the thin veins of coal are extracted, the remains are bulldozed into the valleys, lacing the streams and rivers with toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Residents have reported many health problems, including cancer, liver and kidney disease, and skin rashes related to drinking water from wells contaminated by coal mining. We talked about how this rips communities apart and leaves wastelands not unlike Chernobyl or Centralia

PNC is the largest financier of this practice in America , providing loans and bonds to six mining companies that practice MTR. PNC had declared a new policy in October 2010, saying they would not “provide credit to coal producers whose primary extraction method is MTR,” but this policy has not been shown to have affected PNC's investment practices since then. I walked with the Green Walk that day as far as Westtown School , a distance of about 14 miles. Other walkers will join in for portions of the journey; two people will be walking the entire way to Pittsburgh , arriving in mid-May. (There will be a stretch by auto after Harrisburg .) My husband and I have banked with PNC for decades, but we are frustrated by their foot-dragging on this issue, and we are considering “greening our money” by shifting our funds out of PNC to a credit union. 

If others would like information about this issue, you are invited to go on online to the EQAT site, www.greenpnc.org  You can also get information about mountain top removal by watching the DVD, “The Last Mountain,” at http://thelastmountainmovie.com/

Submitted by Sue Edwards

  Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Annual Fund Needs our Support!

The end of the fiscal year is June 30. A minority of members support the Yearly Meeting Annual Fund – if we all give a little, they would make their goal easily. The PYM Annual Fund supports many programs that benefit us, including programming for children, teens and young adults. Gifts can be made online at http://www.pym.org/giving-to-pym  or mailed to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 1515 Cherry Street , Philadelphia PA 19102 . Contact Lynne Piersol, Swarthmore Meeting’s Annual Fund Representative if you have questions. 

 

 

Wider News from Friends

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting  (PYM) News

 To view PYM News in its entirety, go to www.pym.org. for a complete list of activities.

Annual Sessions: July 25-29. Registration is open for Annual Sessions 2012: "Living the Holy Experiment",  at Arch Street Meetinghouse in Philadelphia and other nearby locations. To register visit  http://www.pym.org/annualsessions. For assistance please call Sessions Registration 215 241-7232 Thank you! 

If you are interested in attending and need financial assistance, please apply for funds through Swarthmore Meeting's Price Moore Fund by contacting the Care and Counsel Committee.  

 

Journey’s End Farm Camp 

Journey's End Farm Camp is still accepting campers, ages 7-12, for second session (3 weeks) and boy campers for all sessions. You can also join us for family camp during the last week of the summer. Journey's End is a small, Quaker family-run farm camp in the Poconos of Pennsylvania rooted in Quaker testimonies of Peace, Equality, and Stewardship. It's also a lot of fun! If you have any questions visit the Journey's End website. http://www.journeysendfarm.org/about.html 

 

Friends General Conference: All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir 

This year the FGC Gathering theme is "All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir." This echoes my ongoing query: "Is there REALLY a place at the table for all?" I have participated in FGC Gathering for 25 years, missing last year due to illness. The spiritual connections of meeting Friends from all over the country once a year is a most wonderful time to realize just how much "The people want to be together" to quote David Rockwell in his Faith and Play story. Where else can you live for a week and have Friends living in integrity and openness to the Spirit? This is the way life should be in all of our local communities. FGC Gathering models caring, curiosity, connectedness, joy, love, and is a wonderful place to share truths and stories of our journey in the Spirit. In this loving time together, we also have opportunities to learn more about societal issues that need to be addressed, bringing about justice by taking away the occasion for racism, sexism, ageism, heterosexism, and classism. In giving loving attention to these issues, makes more room at the table for all. My participation over the years has included leading workshops, "Transforming the Patriarchy into the Peaceable   Kingdom ," 3 years in a row, and "Framing the Sacred, Digital Photography as Spiritual Journey," this will be the second year. Beverly Shepard’s Chanting workshop, oh my, how we loved this, I participated in for 6 years, and produced two CD's of chant so that Friends could have this prayerful practice in their home Meetings. I highly recommend this! Joyful community prayer! George Lakey's evening Broadway Sings! Plenerys! Morning Bible half hour! Gathering worship! Drumming circle! Dancing!  But what brings me back each year, are the deep friendships with folks from other Yearly Meetings, who come together to share our stories, of our home Meetings and lives, sad and joyful, all the while, holding each other throughout the year in loving countenance, until that blessed week of July comes around again. I hope to see you there. 

Submitted by Sharon Gunther 

Swarthmore Meeting has some funds for members and attenders to attend FGC. If you are interested in attending and need financial assistance, please apply for funds through the Price Moore Fund by contacting the Care and Counsel Committee.  

 

Dear Faith Leaders of Old Philadelphia Congregations, 

I represent the Interfaith Working Group of Occupy Philly. We are reaching out today to introduce ourselves and invite you into dialogue. We are people drawn from various faith and spiritual communities, who've been working together for 6 months to support the Occupiers and explore spiritual dimensions of this social phenomenon. We have talented speakers who are more than willing to come out to present to you and/or your congregations about the Occupy Movement. We also seek to insure your congregations are well-informed and feel welcomed to participate in the National Gathering of the Occupy Movement happening on Independence Mall from June 30 - July 5. If you would like more information, have questions or concerns, or would like a speaker to come to your congregation, please don't hesitate to contact me. Thank you! 

Submitted by Tricia Shore

Occupy Faith Statement 

As people from various faith and spiritual communities, we find in the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) Movement a Waking Force that has dispelled despair, depression, and denial about the gross injustices of society and the suffering of our people. We stand together for engaged, transforming action that says: Yes to open democracy, fair justice systems, and public conversations that respect every person’s voice in determining the quality and future of our lives. 

  • POLIS  Yes to just economic policies that create greater equality and that enable all to share responsibility for a common public good.

  • FINANCE Yes to a generous society that provides high quality education, affordable housing, adequate income, meaningful work, and universal access to health care.

  • SOCIAL JUSTICE Yes to strong environmental policies that guard the well-beings of the planet we all share.

  • ECOLOGY Yes to peace among nations based on human rights, compassion for all who suffer, religious liberty, mutual respect, and civil liberties. PEACE Yes to immigration policies based on hospitality and generosity and respect for the vast diversity of human beings by race, sexuality, class, nationality, ethnicity, physical ability, occupation, gender, and age. LOVE Yes to the transforming, creative works of human imagination and freedom that enliven our lives together and bring us life-giving joy and laughter.

  • BEAUTY/ART We are part of this still very new movement because these values have been betrayed by an economic and political elite who have proven indifferent to the common good and their moral obligations to the public welfare. Their betrayal cannot go unchallenged. We will continue to apply our Waking Forces to grow this movement and it's effectiveness. The well-being of the world's people and the delicate balance of Earthly life hang in the balance. 

 

Upcoming Programs at Pendle Hill

Pendle Hill, a Quaker study, retreat, and conference center in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, offers programs throughout the year on Quaker faith and practice.  For more information visit www.pendlehill.org  or call ext. 3 at (610) 566-4507 or (800) 742-3150.

June 24 - 28, Women Weaving Work and Worship, Facilitator: Sara Knisely Bixler.  Practice weaving, spinning, and knitting will women who love working with fibers. 12

July 8-12, Writing you Spiritual Autobiography, Facilitator: Dan Wakefield. Remember and write about the most meaningful parts of our life's journey. Discover why preparing a spiritual autobiography is sacred work.

July 12-19, Creating Poetry and Song Write Now! Facilitator: David LaMotte. Words change hearts; changed hears change the world.

July 27-29, The Ancestors are Calling on You, Facilitator: Amanda Kemp.  Spiritual resources for living life powerfully.

 

Newsletter Calendar for June, 2012

Date Time Event
Friday, June 1 4:00 to 11:00 p.m. Alumni Weekend in Whittier and the Meetinghouse 
Saturday June 2 All day Alumni Weekend in Whittier and the Meetinghouse 
Sunday, June 3 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Worship and Ministry Committee in Meeting Office
9:30 to 10:00 a.m. Hymn singing in Whittier Room*  
 

10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Meeting for Worship in Whittier Room*    

10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Childcare in upstairs Whittier*
 

11:15 to 11:45 a.m.

Fellowship in Rushmore Room*

11:45 to 1:00 p.m. Adult Religious Education Forum in Whittier Room, Intergenerational Faith and Play led by Sharon Gunther
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Violin Concert in Whittier Room
3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Whittier Knittiers in Meeting Office
Thursday, June 7 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Care and Counsel Committee Meeting in Meeting Office
Saturday, June 9 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Jumble Drop Off at Whittier Circle
6:00 p.m. Voice Recital in Whittier Room
Sunday, June 10 Similar Sunday Schedule as above*
Meeting for Worship in Whittier Room
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Rain date for wedding in Meetinghouse
11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Meeting for Business in Whittier Room
3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Voice Recital in Whittier Room
Saturday, June 16 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cooking for the homeless in Whittier house
1:30 to 4:30  p.m. Rain date for wedding in Meetinghouse
Sunday, June 17 Similar Sunday Schedule* 
Meeting for Worship in Whittier Room
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pot luck brunch in Rushmore Room 
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Piano Concert in Whittier Room
Tuesday, June 19 noon Newsletter deadline in Meeting Office
Thursday, June 21 9:30  to 11:00 a.m. Newsletter folding party in Whittier Room
Friday, June 22 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. SRA set up in Whittier House
7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Tai Chi slide show in Whittier Room
Saturday, June 23 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tai Chi workshop in Whittier Room
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Rain date for wedding in Meetinghouse

Sunday, June 24

Similar Sunday schedule *
Meeting for Worship in Whittier Room
2:20 to 4:30 p.m. Piano concert in Whittier Room
Monday, June 25 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Budget and Finance Committee location TBA

 

 

Swarthmore Monthly Meeting

  • Christine DeGrado, Clerk of the Meeting;

  • Leslie Keighton, Recording Clerk;

  • Stephen Weimar, Treasurer;

  • Susan Edwards, Clerk of Worship & Ministry Committee;

  • Mary Lou Parker, Clerk of Care and Counsel Committee;

  • Mary Titus, Meeting Secretary 

  • Meeting telephone and voice mail: 610-328-8699 

  • Meeting e-mail address: [email protected] 

  • Web: http://swarthmore.quaker.org 

  • Office hours: Tuesday through Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.