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Highlights:
- Newly Announced:
Sunday, May 6, Special Faith and Play, un-programmed
musical expression with Rich Schiffer
- Saturday, May 12, Meeting
Retreat: Resourcing Our Vision, 10:00
a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Saturday, May 12, Tibetan Fund Raiser,
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Cancelled:
Home
As a Sacred Space
Newsletter for May,
2012
Navigation links
within the Newsletter:
Queries on Ministry of
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 with others?
-
What
are we doing to invite persons not in membership to attend our Meetings
for Worship and to encourage their continued attendance?
-
How
does the Meeting welcome visitors?
-
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 ways 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 212-213
Partial
Draft
Minutes of
Swarthmore Monthly Meeting for Business
held
Sunday, April 8, 2012
The
Meeting began after a period of silent worship. Christine DeGrado, Clerk,
presided. The Queries on Peace were read, contemplated, and spoken to. The
importance of expressing one’s views to our Government representatives
was stressed. The peaceful resolution of conflict – even in our own Meeting
– is a goal worthy of our continuous effort. The new members just honored
during our Easter Fellowship were mentioned as a Moment of Light.
Minutes of last month’s Meeting were considered and approved.
Nancy
Saunders reported on the upcoming Resourcing Our Vision Retreat:
Childcare providers have been found. We hope that volunteers will bring a
simple lunch. There is a need for extensive publicity and an effort to
engage the interest of as many members and attenders as possible. The Planning
Group welcomes those who might want to help in this regard.
Barbara
Grove reported for Care and Counsel Committee: our new members David Henderson
and Heather Hendry have been officially welcomed. The Clearness Committee
has met with our new applicant Samantha Griggs.
Barbara
Casini reported for Budget and Finance Committee: An Appeal Letter was sent out
in March. The Committee would like to emphasize that periodic contributions
throughout the year, as opposed to a large lump sum in December, help the
Committee to keep up with its on-going financial obligations. Contributing on-line
is also helpful. It is important to remember that the Meeting is switching to a
new fiscal year beginning July 1.
Christine
DeGrado noted that the Record of Membership which she and Mary Mangelsdorf
worked on has been set on to Yearly Meeting. In an accompanying letter, the
Meeting does not always follow the Yearly Meeting’s policy of arbitrarily
releasing from official membership those Associate Members who do not apply
for Full membership on reaching age 21. It is the Meeting’s position that this
is a difficult time in life for many young people who are still in the
midst of their education and do not yet have a job, who do not yet have
financial resources, and may as well be unsettled in their spiritual outlook.
Mary and Christine sent PYM the number exactly as requested.
Mary
Titus gave the Secretary’s report: The new copier has been installed. She
noted that when using the new copier, it is important to select the correct
paper being used. She will post some instructions by the machine and while
in the Office, will assist anyone wishing to learn about its operation. She
asked that those who make copies keep track of the amount of paper used and
leave a note if their project involves significant volume. The WIFI system
has been installed in
Whittier
and Rushmore Rooms, but has not yet been activated by the college. More
details will follow as soon as they are known.
After
a few moments of closing worship, the Meeting adjourned.
Submitted by
Leslie Keighton, Recorder
General Swarthmore Meeting
Announcements
Thank You
Corner
Thanks to:
-
Swarthmore
College
and Steve Weimar, for helping us acquire
the new office copier;
-
Swarthmore
College
, for moving the old copier downstairs to
the nursery school;
-
Paul
Rosier, for donating a new set of knives to the kitchen;
-
Barbara
BurgerLentz, Lili BurgerLentz, Margot Ells, and Mark Taylor, who cleaned up
the very dirty kitchen on Sunday, April 15;
-
David
Henderson, who stepped in and cleaned up after Fellowship on the odd third
Sunday when there is no potluck brunch;
- 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]
Meeting
Retreat: Resourcing our Vision
Saturday,
May 12, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Swarthmore Friends Meetinghouse.
How
does the use of our precious resources (spirituality, time, money, physical
space, energy) express (or not express) our vision of ourselves as a
Spiritual community? Is there a good fit, or are some adjustments in order? Join
the community of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting to explore this important issue. Our
retreat will be facilitated by Lawrence Webster, longtime Friend and
professional facilitator. All are welcome. Please RSVP to [email protected]
if you plan to come.
April
28 Guitar Recital: Feed Your Soul and Your Social Concern
Master
guitarist Keith Calmes and his
Swarthmore student, Dean Maola,
will return to Swarthmore Meeting Saturday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. for a
recital to benefit health services in
Haiti
. Keith will play premieres of works written for him, including one by
Roger Aldridge, who like Keith is a member of the Fellowship of Quakers in
the Arts. Dean will play more traditional pieces leavened with a jazz tune. Donations
will benefit Partners in Health, one of the most respected providers of medical
services in
Haiti
, where rates of malnutrition, AIDS, and infant and maternal mortality are the
highest in the
Americas
. http://www.keithcalmes.com/
Bird
Walk and Breakfast -- A First Day School Tradition
Sunday,
April 29, 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
One
of the most beloved traditions of the
Swarthmore
Monthly
Meeting
Fist
Day School
program is the annual bird walk and breakfast. For as long as anyone can
remember,
Fist
Day School
students and Meeting members have been gathering early in the morning on a
spring Sunday (this year it’s the last Sunday in April) to see and hear a
symphony of birds. The walk across the campus and through the woods never
disappoints, as the flowers, birds and wildlife are all worth the trek. Robins,
blackbirds, doves, cardinals, and blue jays are almost guaranteed. After
an hour of hiking and bird watching, the assembled group returns to the
Meetinghouse for a wonderful breakfast. The Bird Walk breakfast almost
always includes eggs, sticky buns and strawberries. The bird walkers will
gather at 7:45 a.m. and breakfast will begin at 9:00 a.m. All Meeting members
and attenders are invited. Please join us for breakfast, followed by
Meeting for Worship, even if you cannot make it for the bird walk.
Cancelled:
Home
As a Sacred Space Workshop
Cancelled:
Home
As a Sacred Space. Cancelled
because participants' conflict with Tuesday evening schedule. There may be
workshops planned at a later date. Hosted by Annette Reyman
of All Right Organizing. Please contact
the Meeting
Secretary further details, 610-328-8699 or [email protected]
or
Jinny Schiffer or Shelley Costa.
Tibetan
Fund Raiser on May 12
-
Where:
Swarthmore Monthly Meeting of Friends (Quakers),
12 Whittier Place
,
Swarthmore
,
PA
19081
-
When:
May 12, 2012. 7:00 p.m.
Dear
friends, As some of you know, last summer I visited Tibet where I fell in
love with the people, their simple yet sustainable lifestyle, their
culture, and their joy despite the most oppressive living and worship conditions
I have witnessed in my life. We are having a fund raiser concert to raise funds
for the Tibetan causes, all of which include asking our Chinese friends to
lighten up on our Tibetan friends. We will have Tibetans singing, dancing,
and sharing information about the work they do to support Tibetans inside and
outside of
Tibet
. And we will have friends of
Tibet
also sharing their songs, dances, and art. Thanks and blessings to you! Jennifer
Elam
Program
includes: Tibetans singing, dancing, and information sharing about
Philadelphia Tibetan activities Friends of Tibet sharing: Songs, dancing by
Ridley Creek Band and Appalachian Cloggers, Oak Womyn’s
Drumming Circle
and ending with a prayer for freedom for Tibetans in
Tibet
. Artists will sell art. Cost: $10 (more if you can afford it) Bring:
a snack or drink to share and bring all of your friends and family.
Religious
Education Forum on Sunday, May 6
Paul Joyce Collins
Williams
will be sharing his spiritual journey with us
on Sunday, May 6 at 11:45 a.m. in Whittier Room. Everyone is invited to
attend.
Submitted
by Sue Edwards, Worship and Ministry Committee
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.
Interim
Meeting, Saturday, May 12 - 9:00am
- 1:30pm, Arch
Street Meetinghouse, http://www.pym.org/event/interim-meeting-10
Young Adult Friends Spring
Retreat, May 19, http://www.pym.org/event/young-adult-friends-spring-retreat-2012
Family Overnight at Camp Dark
Waters, May 19, http://www.pym.org/event/family-overnight-camp-dark-waters
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. http://www.pym.org/annualsessions.
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.
Friends
General Conference: All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir
-
When:
July 1 to July 7, 2012
-
Where:
University of Rhode Island, Kingston RI
Welcome
to the FGC 2012 Gathering. We invite you to Rhode island this summer where
Friends have been meeting for more than 350 years. Please see our website:
http://www.fgcquaker.org/gathering
Financial aid is available through FGC. Also, 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.
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.
May 13-17, (4
nights), John Woolman: Responding to the Inner Teacher, Facilitator:
Michael Birkel. Discover how John Woolman's life as both a
mystic and a prophet can speak to us today.
Newsletter
Calendar for May, 2012
Date |
Time |
Event |
Tuesday, May 1
|
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
Japanese Curry Party in Rushmore Room and
kitchen |
|
6:00 to 7:00 p.m. |
Jumble Sale Committee in Meeting Office |
|
7:30 to 9:30 p.m. |
Cancelled:
Home as a Sacred Space
in Whittier
Room |
Thursday, May 3
|
7:30 to 9:30 p.m. |
Care and Counsel Committee Meeting in the
Meeting Office |
Saturday, May 5
|
9:00 to 10:30 a.m. |
Peace and Social Concerns Committee in
Meeting Office |
|
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
Piano Recital in Whittier Room |
Sunday, May 6
|
8:30 to 9:30 a.m. |
Worship and Ministry Committee in Meeting
Office |
|
9:30 to 10:00 a.m. |
Student Breakfast in Rushmore Room |
|
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. |
First Day School in FDS Rooms.
Childcare in upstairs Whittier House* Newly
Announced: Special Faith and Play,
un-programmed musical expression
with Rich Schiffer |
|
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: The Spiritual Journey of our member, Paul Joyce Collins Williams |
|
3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
|
Whittier Knittiers in Meeting Office |
|
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
|
Piano Recital in Whittier Room |
Monday, May 7 |
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
|
AERA Conference in Whittier Room |
Tuesday, May 8 |
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
|
AERA Conference in Whittier Room |
|
7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
|
Cancelled: Home as a Sacred Place in Whittier
Room |
Thursday, May 10 |
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
|
FDS pot luck dinner and meeting in Rushmore
Room |
Saturday, May 12 |
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
|
Resourcing Our Vision Retreat in
Meetinghouse rooms |
|
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
|
Tibetan Fund Raiser in Meetinghouse and
Rushmore Rooms |
Sunday, May 13 |
|
Similar Sunday Schedule |
|
11:15 a.m. to 12:00 noon
|
Reception for New Members in Whittier Room |
|
12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
|
Meeting for Business in Rushmore Room |
Tuesday, May 15
|
noon
|
June Newsletter deadline in Meeting
Office |
|
7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
|
Cancelled: Home as a Sacred Space in Whittier
Room |
Thursday, May 17
|
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
|
Newsletter Folding Party in Whittier Room |
Saturday, May 19
|
9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
|
Cooking for the Homeless in the kitchen and
Rushmore Room |
Sunday, May 20 |
|
Similar Sunday schedule * |
|
|
Last day of First Day School |
|
11:14 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
Reception for FDS hosted by Peach and Social
Concerns and House and Property Committees |
|
2:30 to 4:30 p.m. |
Vocal Recital in Whittier Room |
Tuesday May 22
|
7:30 to 9:00 p.m. |
Cancelled: Home as a Sacred Space in Whittier
Room |
Sunday, May 27 |
|
Similar Sunday schedule * |
|
All day |
Swarthmore Commencement Day |
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.
|