Swarthmore Friends Meeting

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Newsletter, September, 2008

Queries on Meeting for Worship

Addressed to the Meeting:

Does our Meeting encourage the ministry of both word and deed?

How does our Meeting recognize, develop, and nurture the gifts of our members and attenders of all ages?

Does our Meeting prepare all its members and children for worship and for a way of life consistent with the principles of the Religious Society of Friends?

How do we teach about Quaker practices in business and worship and their importance to the functioning of our Meeting community?

In what ways do we support each other in order to seek God's will and act upon our understanding of truth?

Is there opportunity in our Meeting to share the excitement of religious discovery and the possibility of religious transformation?

Does our Meeting provide opportunities for all in the meeting to learn about:

• the Inner Light, the living Christ within, the Bible, the writings of Friends, our Christian heritage, other religious traditions and their respective roles in the history and formation of Friends' principles?

• the common testimonies Friends declare?

• the variety of expression Quaker faith takes today?

Addressed to the individual:

Do I maintain as part of my personal and family life those daily practices that focus on continued spiritual growth, with disciplined worship, inward retirement and communion with the divine spirit?

Do I frequently read the Bible and other religious literature, including the records of the lives and experiences of Friends?

Do I take the time to explore these resources with others, and likewise encourage my children?

Do I share my own faith and spiritual journey, and encourage such sharing within my family?

from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Faith and Practice, 1997, page 207 and 208

Partial Draft Minutes of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting for Business held Sunday, July 20, 2008

A called Meeting for Business was held on July 20, 2008 at the rise of Meeting for Worship. Lynne Piersol, Clerk, presided.  The Swarthmore Friends Nursery School legal problem was reviewed and discussed in detail.  Lisa Dainton, Clerk of the Nursery School Committee, spoke on efforts over the past year or so to convince the state of Pennsylvania of the Nursery School's status as a religious school.  This arises out of the State's contention that the School should pay taxes for worker's compensation and unemployment insurance.  No other Friends School is required to do this.  The problem came to light when the Nursery School hired its own payroll service. Fines and back taxes have already been paid, with hopes that the money can be recovered.  Specifically the Nursery School is requesting financial support of up to $5,000 in order to hire a lawyer on their behalf.  The School is proposing to hire Susan Garrison, a Quaker attorney, who has experience in this area.  The School is able to do this on its own but asks for support from the Meeting since the problem arose since the separate incorporation which happened at the Meeting's request. There seemed to be general approval but concerns were raised as to the wording of the Meeting's involvement.  Considerable discussion followed.  Budget and Finance said the amount could come from the Contingency Fund.  The Meeting approved the following: "Up to $5,000 will be given to the Nursery School to assist in resolving its present taxation dispute with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."  The Meeting also recommends that the School contact Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Secretary, Arthur Larabee, for advice.  It was noted that at the recent Clerks and Officers meeting, a consultation group was formed for the Nursery School director, Joanne Swanson, who will be following up on this.

David Grove, of Care and Council Committee, read a report of the Clearness Committee on the Sarah Malone/Ari Seraphin marriage:  The Committee met with the couple on July 2, 2008.  Sarah is the daughter of our member, Mike Malone. She attended the Meeting as a girl, but neither she, nor Ari, are members.  They plan to be married in the manner of Friends in September, at Ridley Creek State Park.  The Meeting approved that the marriage of Sarah Malone and Ari Seraphin be under the care of Swarthmore Meeting.

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

New Clerk on September 1, 2008

    At the July 20th called Meeting for Business, Mike Malone was appointed as Interim Clerk for up to a year, and will take over clerking responsibilities starting on September 1, 2008.  We are most appreciative of his willingness to serve the Meeting once again in the role of clerk.

We Move Back to the Meetinghouse

Meeting for Worship will move back to the Meetinghouse on Sunday, August 31, 2008, preceded by the Hymn Sing.  Following the Meeting for Worship, we will welcome the new and returning college students with a special fellowship hour in Whittier Room, hosted by the Care and Counsel Committee. Please join us for the festivities.  Volunteers to help are welcome.

Adult Religious Education Series for September

        On Sunday, September 7, at 11:45 a.m. in Whittier Room, Lynne Piersol will present her spiritual journey as part of the Adult Religious Education Series.

Want to Know More About How Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Uses our Contributions?

    Last fall members of Swarthmore Meeting raised concerns about Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's (PYM) request for an increased contribution from our Meeting.  Our annual contribution to PYM already accounts for 41% of our annual budget.  As they considered the PYM request in Meeting for Business, members felt they did not understand how PYM uses the money it receives and questioned why PYM was requesting yet another increase after several years of steady increases.

On Sunday, September 28, at 11:45 a.m., PYM General Secretary, Arthur Larrabee, will visit with us during Forum to explain PYM's work and funding, and to answer our questions.  This Forum is a direct response to concerns raised by our members last fall.  Please plan to attend!

After consideration last fall, members were not able to support PYM's request for increased funding this year.  We reached unity only on continuing our previous level of support.  We owe it to ourselves and to PYM to learn more about PYM's work before considering PYM's new funding request later this fall.

        Submitted by Andrea Knox for the Budget and Finance Committee

Film and Discussion on September 13 in Whittier Room

            How often does an intergenerational program occur which joins learners from a wide age range?  How often do Friends school students engage firsthand with members of other Friends organizations? We will on Saturday, September 13, when Wilmington Friends School students, parents, and faculty planning a trip to India in March 2009 join with members of the India Friends Working Group and a delegation from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting who will represent Friends in India in November, 2008.

At 7:00 p.m. at Swarthmore Meetinghouse, we will watch "Dharm," a beautiful and moving account of an Indian Hindu pundit (holy man) who both follows and questions his father's traditional teaching.  After the film, we will explore together what the film said to us.  We invite you to join us.

        Submitted by Viv Hawkins, member of India Friends Working Group of PYM

Jumble Sale Committee Meeting

        The Jumble Sale team will resume meeting in September.  Our first meeting will be Wednesday evening, September 10, at 7:00 p.m. All Committee members are asked to attend.  Additionally, anyone interested in joining our merry group is encouraged to show up and join in on the fun.  All are welcome:

        Submitted by Gary King, Jumble Sale Committee

Student Breakfasts to Begin on Sunday, September 7

The Cheung family will begin hosting Sunday morning breakfasts for the college students on Sunday, September 7, at 9:30 a.m. in Rushmore Room.  They welcome volunteers to help prepare and clean up.

Paul Mangelsdorf is Recovering

We have received word that long-time member, Paul Mangelsdorf, has suffered a stroke while at his summer home on Cape Cod.  He would appreciate cards and words of encouragement as he completes his rehabilitation.  Please contact the Meeting Office for more information or check in the Meeting Directory under their summer residence address. 

We hold Paul and Mary in the Light.

Tri-Quarter Gathering will be Friday, October 3 through Sunday, October 5, 2008

At a level deeper and higher than any of us can truly fathom, we are connected.  We are part of the Whole.  We are from the same Source.  And yet, in the course of our lives we may often feel adrift, disconnected from our fellows by culture, borders, ideologies, and recriminations.  We sometimes need reminders that we are "part of the Main"...especially in the face of differing views and outright conflict.

That there is "that of God" in each of us, is central to Quaker spirituality.  This is a connective link that we recognize and celebrate.  And yet we have the challenge of keeping this truth at the forefront of our minds when, in the course of human relations, we are at odds.

We invite Friends to attend the Tri-Quarter Gathering at Camp Ockanickon, Medford, NJ. This year's theme is "Friendly Connections: Strengthening the Ties to Our Communities and Our Environment."  

Each year for the past 20 years or so, Friends of three quarters, Burlington, Haddonfield, and Salem Quarters, gather in the fall at camp, to experience an uplifting and fun-filled weekend.  Friends come away from this gathering refreshed and enriched in body, mind, and spirit.  Friends of all ages are encouraged to participate in this special weekend in this beautiful, rustic setting! Break bread together, share ideas, laugh, play, and sing... and join in the sacred silence among the pines.

The dates are October 3,4, and 5, 2008. If you would like to attend, please contact the Meeting Office.  The Office has registration forms and additional contact information.

Thanks from Chester Children's Chorus

The Chester Children's Chorus would like to thank the Meeting for lending us 10 tables over the summer to use for breakfast and lunch in Lang Music Building.  The College is no longer able to provide the tables for our program, so this loan saved us hundreds of dollars in rental fees.

    Submitted by Andrea Knox, Development Director, Chester Children's Chorus

Young Adults Retreat at Burlington, New Jersey

On October 10 to 12, the Young Adults Retreat for PYM Philadelphia Young Adult Friends (PYAF) will take place at the Burlington Meetinghouse and Conference Center. PYAF includes people from ages 18 to 35. Come connect with other Young Adult Friends and envision the community, events and support you would like to build within PYM for PYAFs. For more information about this retreat check their website, http://www.pym.org/education/yaf/index.htm, or contact the Meeting Office.

Pendle Hill Offerings

This fall Pendle Hill is offering a full calendar of classes, weekend workshops/courses, and retreats.

On Tuesday evenings, they offer a Series of Lectures on Justice Issues.  One of them, on October 21, features Christopher Densmore, Director of Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore College, who will present "Crossing Borders for Freedom: Free Blacks, Quakers, and the Underground Railroad."

For a complete list visit www.pendlehill.com All lectures are free and open to the public.

The Weekend Workshops/Courses feature a Youth Workers Training Retreat with Kri Burkander and Lisa Graustein on October 10-12. Also "Just North of Slavery: The African American Experience in Southeast Pennsylvania" with Nancy Webster, Christopher Densmore, and others will be on October 19 - 23.  Other weekend retreats include "Joyful, Quakerly, and Carbon Neutral" on November 7-9, and "Claiming Our Peace Testimony" on December 5-7.

Details of each course are available on the Pendle Hill website.

The Meeting Office also has a complete Calendar of Events at Pendle Hill.

Friends Employment Opportunities

The Meeting Office has received word of several positions available through PYM.  For more information, please look at the bulletin board in the vestibule..

Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church

Come, Christians, Join to Sing.  All are invited to a good old-fashioned Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social in the Fellowship Hall at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church (SPC) on Harvard Avenue.  We'll gather for song at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 24.  After we've sung for a while, we'll wet our whistles with lemonade and ice cream, and then we'll sing again.  We'll focus on songs that have fallen out of some church hymnals and have never gotten into others.  There will be a special session for children's songs for the four-to-eight-year-olds, and a nursery for smaller ones.  SPC youth will dish-up the ice cream.  We hope our friends from the broader community will enjoy joining us.  Josh Butler will pipe us in to the tune of "Amazing Grace" starting about 3:45 p.m. Come sing with us. (Many of the golden oldies were found in our Worship in Song Hymnal).

    Submitted by Thomas Olshewsky, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus

Newsletter Calendar for September, 2008

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