Swarthmore Friends Meeting

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Newsletter for November, 2009

Queries on Education

Addressed to the Meeting:

• What is our Meeting's role in the life and support of Friends' education?

• If supporting or maintaining a Friends School, have we developed an appropriate relationship, Meeting and school?

• What is our role in the spiritual life of the school, and it's maintaining of Friends principles?

• What does our Meeting do to support education in the wider community?

• What help do we provide for the children and adults in our Meeting to pursue the education they seek, whether academic, technical, or vocational?

• Do we make provision for children in our Meeting to attend a Friends School?

Addressed to the individual:

• How do I show my concern for the improvement of public education in my community and in the world?

• Am I aware of what Friends schools are doing and of their plans for the future?

• How do I show encouragement and support?:

from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Faith and Practice, 2002, page 209

Partial Draft Minutes of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting for Business

Sunday, October 11, 2009

After a few moments of opening worship, the Meeting began with Lois Sellers, Assistant Clerk, presiding. The Queries on Care for the Meeting Community were read, considered, and spoke to.  Considerable discussion followed concerning the interpretation of the Query, "To what extend does our Meeting ignore differences in order to avoid possible conflicts? Do we push aside conflicts or meet them head on? Do we try to resolve them hurriedly or deliberately? Do we act in a caring manner?" One Friend felt that the Meeting had done a good job in facing several instances of conflict provoked by a few individuals in the past.  The newsletter and emails were cited as important ways the Meeting kept in touch with our members, a number of who live out of the area.

Minutes of the previous Meeting were perused and approved with one addition: Sharon Gunther's friends, assisting in the Faith and Play teaching program are Virginia Schiffer and Alex Kendrick, along with Shelly Costa.

Mary Titus spoke on the problem of security, noting a recent incident where she thought she was alone in the building and was accosted by a stranger.  Although the incident turned out to be harmless, it nonetheless was frightening.  Meeting members and the Nursery School must be careful that all doors are locked when they leave.  The College will be contacted to be sure their security personnel continue to check the building on a regular basis. Also, the College has agreed to install an intercom device at the main entrance.  As to Committees which use the Office for meeting in the evening: they should contact Mary ahead of time in that there are occasions where she must use the Office at night.

Andrea Knox spoke about a request made by classical guitarist Keith Calmes who would like to give a concert in Whittier Room.  He is from the area originally, and has attended Meeting in the past.  A number of details need to be discussed (rent or rent-free? possible as a benefit concert?, etc.) Contact will be made with Keith and approval sought later.

 A request has been made by Traci Sullivan, Conference Coordinator for the Friends General Conference, to have Swarthmore host their bi-yearly meeting, March 4 -6, 2010.  Twenty-five to thirty people from as far away as Washington State, Texas, and Ontario will attend.  Volunteers to help cook and to act as home hosts are needed.  The Committee will cover the cost of the food.  After discussion it was decided that the Meeting would host the group. A number of those present offered to help: Sharon Gunther, Sue Larson, Shelly Costa, Johanna Sibbett. Barbara Burger-Lentz, and Lois Sellers.

LaDorna Pfaff reported for Care and Counsel Committee: She updated the Visiting Working Group roster and noted that the Group needs a Convener and additional members: current members are Lyn Jones, Barbara Blake, Christine DeGrado, Elizabeth McAndrew, Kit Raven, Nancy Saunders, Betsy Wray, and Susan Larson.  Johanna Sibbett, Lise Reno, and Pat Thomas also volunteered.  Kathleen (Kate) Camille Smith has responded to Care and Counsel's inquiry to young adults in the Meeting, and she has requested full adult membership.  Approved.  The Memorial Minute for our member Charles Pickett Cryer was distributed but not read aloud due to a lack of time.  It also appeared in the October Newsletter.

Margaret Fraser's Traveling Minute: Two year's ago Swarthmore issued a Traveling Minute to Margaret as Secretary for the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC).  She visited a number of Meetings in various countries (Ireland, India, etc.). Paul Mangelsdorf read some ten or so short letters of response.  She now is requesting a new Minute (she is no longer representing FWCC). Approved. A new support committee will be formed.

Andrea Knox reported for Budget and Finance Committee: Contributions so far are somewhat behind last year's pace.

Shelly Costa reported for Peace and Social Concerns Committee: She gave an update regarding membership, as well as funding of the Peace Action Fund.

Worship and Ministry Committee: It was noted that First Day School (FDS) Middle School students plan to attend Meeting for Worship every other 3rd Sunday for the first fifteen minutes.

A friend raised a concern in view of dangers posed by swine flu: Door knobs and other frequently touched surfaces need to be regularly sanitized, especially in view of the number of children who use the building.  This does not seem to be covered in the cleaning service contract. The matter will be looked into to find an effective solution.

Lois Sellers spoke with regard to the Nursery School: The Nursery School Board is in need of some new members from the Meeting.  The School's tax issues have not been completely resolved.  It is possible that the School may need further financial assistance from the Meeting.

Mary Titus gave the Secretary's report: e-mails sent to the Meeting from August 6 to September 22 have been lost due to the lightening strike which ruined the computer.  If important, these should be sent again.  An Alcoholics Anonymous Group of 25, currently meeting at Trinity Church, is looking for a larger room, and would like to rent Rushmore Room from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.  In view of possible conflicts when Whittier Room is used at that time, the matter will be discussed further with the AA group.  A request for use of rent-free space by a small non-violent karate class for children was denied in that there is no Meeting connection and because another group (yoga) from the College was recently denied as well.

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

Submitted by Leslie Keighton, Recording Clerk

General Swarthmore Meeting Announcements

The "Thank You" Corner

Thanks to :

• Amy Rockwell for auditing the books;

• Chris Kaminsky for his pro-bono work in resolving a series of computer problems in the Meeting Office.  (Chris' company, CKam Technologies, is a new Swarthmore business and welcomes additional clients.)

• The Swarthmore Friends Nursery School Faculty and staff for their enthusiastic and delicious contributions to the October potluck, (co-sponsored with House and Property Committee).

• Sharon Gunther for donating a coffee pot and thermoses for serving

• Shelly Costa for the fabulous newsletter for our FDS high schoolers

• And to all who give to the Meeting in silent and unacknowledged ways.

Meeting Directory Updates

Please see a printed copy of the October Newsletter for updates of new addresses and emails. Please remember to notify the Office if you move or change your email.  If you would like a copy of the new directory and have not yet picked it up, please notify the Office, 610 328-8699.

Use of the Meeting Office

The Meeting Secretary requests that, if you plan to use the Office for a meeting, please let her know so she can enter your meeting into the calendar.

Cooking for the Homeless Receives Check

Cooking for the Homeless has received a check from Church World Service, a contribution from the income received by the Swarthmore-Wallingford CROP Hunger Walk.  The check was presented in recognition of the outstanding work the group has done to stop hunger and poverty in the community.

Forum on November 22

Andres Freire will discuss "Workshop of Peace," a summer education project in Bogotá, Columbia, for youth who have been displaced by violence.  Andres is one of three Swarthmore College students who conducted the project, supported in part by a grant from the Meeting's Anne Bernstein Richan Peace Action Fund. The Forum will take place November 22, at 11:45 a.m. in Whittier Room.

    Submitted by Clarkson Palmer, Peace and Social Concerns Committee

DivorceCare Support Group

Wallingford Presbyterian Church is holding the DivorceCare Support Group through June 2010 on the second Tuesdays of the month. New members are ALWAYS welcome.

DivorceCare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life's most difficult experience.  Don't go through separation or divorce alone.  They meet at 7:30 p.m. at Wallingford Presbyterian Church, 110 Brookhaven Rd.  The November 10 meeting will have a 30-minute video entitled "Resource Review." Afterwards, the participants will spend time as a support group discussing the presentation and what is going on in the lives of the group members  Other upcoming topics will be "Facing My Anger, " December 8, 2009; and "Facing My Depression," January 12, 2010.  The sessions are free.  If you would like more information please contact Pastor Suzan Hawkinson, [email protected]

Submitted by LaDorna Pfaff, Care and Counsel Committee

Join the Grateful Bread on Second Sundays!

A small but determined group of bakers known as the Grateful Bread has been providing refreshments for Fellowship Hour on the second Sundays.  We are in need of some new recruits to help in this service to the Meeting.  You don't need to know how to bake bread (though we'd be more than happy to teach you!). You don't even need to know how to bake anything.  If you value Fellowship Hour, please consider joining us; we could use your help with set-up, clean-up, and food preparation, on even an occasional basis.  Please contact Christine DeGrado if you'd like to join in this group effort.  Thank you!

Christmas Holidays at Swarthmore Meeting

Sunday evening December 13, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. will be our traditional Christmas pot luck and carol sing.  Besides bringing holiday food to share for the potluck, please bring an ornament to place on the tree in Whittier Room.  The tree will be set up Sunday morning.  Young people can bring their musical instruments to play along with the carols.  As the fireplace crackles and blazes, warm you hearts and voices in Whittier Room singing together.  Please plan to attend!

The following Sunday, December 20, is the First Day School's traditional Christmas Pageant during Meeting for Worship. This event is very-well attended, and we request that people bring sweet or savory finger foods to share at the Fellowship time after the Pageant.

Submitted by LaDorna Pfaff, Care and Counsel Committee

Meeting Portrait....College Student Breakfast

Continuing the fine tradition started by Paul and Mary Manglsdorf, the Cheung family has been serving breakfast to the Swarthmore College students for almost a decade.  Each Saturday the Cheungs plan what to serve, and shop for the fresh fruit and the right ingredients.  When he is not on call, Al takes on kitchen duty, with the help of Ben, Nick and/or Natalie, serving up favorites such as crepes, beignets, pancakes with various fillings, and French toast.  When Al's work keeps him away, Jennifer bakes sweet breads at home, relishing in the opportunity to use her extensive bundt pan collection.  Each January or February, Jennifer will even bake a coffee cake in the shape of a football field, in honor of the Super Bowl.  Common student comments are that they love having real juice to drink, fresh fruit in season, and something that makes them feel like they are at home.  Meeting members can support the Cheungs in their outreach to the College students in several ways: helping with clean-up and the dishes (LaDorna Pfaff is a regular), volunteering to take over on some First Days, or being on a substitute list for when the Cheung family has conflicts, and offering to provide baked goods or fresh fruit (let the Cheungs know before Saturday), Finally, giving the College students a friendly welcome is a great way for members to help the Meeting in this important outreach to the students.  Your contributions are vital to support this work!

Quaker Quest: a Spiritual Path for Our Time....Simple, Radical, Contemporary

Quaker Quest is a new movement within the Religious Society of Friends that combines a radical form of outreach with an original form of in-reach. At its heart it is an affirmation of the Quaker way as a spiritual path for our time; a path that is simple, radical, and contemporary. It began in London in 2002 as a concern of Hampstead Monthly Meeting.  It is now used widely throughout Britain Yearly Meeting, and has spread to the USA.

Meetings and individuals everywhere have found the process of doing Quaker Quest to be a most rewarding exercise, not only for those enquirers seeking a spiritual path, but for the Friends involved.  By articulating our faith, we have found it has been deepened.  By speaking to those in our Meetings about things that are eternal, our bonding as a faith community has been strengthened. (from the British Quaker Quest How-to-do-it Manual, page 5)

Come find out more! Save the date: Sunday, December 6, 2009, 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Swarthmore Friends Meeting.

Wider News from Friends

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting  (PYM) News

Only a few items have been transcribed here.  For a complete list of activities go to www.pym.org . There are two employment opportunities available this month.

Native American Rights Forum with Lenny Foster, Navajo Elder

Date: Sunday, November 1

Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Location: Arch Street Meetinghouse, 320 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

"Native American Rights and Spirituality - And the Case of Leonard Peltier" is a presentation sponsored by the Indian Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.  Free and open to the public. Invite your (F)friends!

Lenny Foster, Dine (Navajo), will share his knowledge on Native American religious rights, the International Indian Treaty Council, and Leonard Peltier.  Leonard Peltier was sentenced to life imprisonment in the deaths of two FBI agents during a 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  There has been debate over Peltier's guilt and the fairness of his trial.

Recognizing the importance of traditional Native American religious practice as a source of strength and a necessary means of cultural survival, Lenny Foster has spent the last 28 years fighting to ensure that incarcerated Native Americans have the right to worship with access to their traditional ceremonies.

Silent Retreats for Friends -- 2010

Friends and attenders who are drawn to the mystery we call God may find a retreat helpful.  Two retreats are again offered in 2010 at St. Raphaela Center in Haverford, Pennsylvania. 

The retreats are one eight-day retreat, Tuesday, January 5 to Wednesday, January 13; and one midweek retreat, Tuesday, February 9 to Thursday, February 11.  Retreatants have private rooms and the run of the house, chapel and spacious grounds for a prayer-filled time away.  Renee Crauder from State College Meeting is the spiritual director for these retreats, which are co-sponsored by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Adult Religious Education Concerns Group.  The cost for the eight-day retreat is $450; the midweek retreat is $175. These fees include room, board, the facilities of the Center, and Renee's availability.  A non-refundable deposit of $50 is due at the time of registration.  Each retreat is limited to five retreatnants.

To register, call St. Raphaela Center at 610-642-5715 or visit their website http://www.acjusa.org/retreats/index.html

Joyful News from the Indian Committee

 The Indian Committee is pleased to alert Friends that we have newly-acquired Indian related materials (books and DVDs) which are now available trough the PYM Library. For more information about the Indian Committee see www.pym-indiancommittee.com/

ArtsOnArch is November 5-7

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Fellowship of Quakers in the Arts are presenting an Art Show and Sale which opens with a Preview Party (open to all) on Thursday evening, November 5, and runs through Saturday afternoon, November 7. The show, at the Fourth and Arch Street Meetinghouse in Philadelphia, will feature up to 40 artists.

On Friday evening, November 6, there will be a concert with Livingston Taylor and Liz Longley at the Arch Street Meetinghouse.  Tickets are $30 and can be purchased on-line. Information about the events can be found at www.pym.org or contact PYM Development Director Jan Hatchard  [email protected]

Upcoming Quakerism Programs at Pendle Hill

Brighten Your Spirit with Autumn Workshops

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

There is a Tuesday Evening Lecture Series during the fall and winter. This series is free and open to the public. For details please check the web page http://www.pendlehill.org/lectures/fall2009

Newsletter Calendar for November, 2009

SWARTHMORE MONTHLY MEETING

Christine DeGrado, Clerk of 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