From Worship and Ministry

The Light Within, Part Two

from Faith & Practice

Continuing obedience to the Light increases our gratitude for God's gifts. Among these are an awareness of enduring values, the joy of life, and the ability to resolve problems in accord with divine leading, as individuals or as a Meeting. Under the guidance of the Light, the monthly meeting is enabled to use and transform the aspirations and judgments of its members. This practice helps the Meeting make decisions and face undertakings in a spirit detached from self-interest or prejudice. Basic Quaker testimonies such as equality, simplicity, nonviolence, integrity and community have arisen from deep sense of individual and corporate responsibility guided by the Light Within.

Recognizing that God's Light is in every person overcomes our separation and our differences from others and leads to a sympathetic awareness of their need and a sense of responsibility toward them. Friends believe that the more widely and clearly the Light is recognized and followed, the more will humanity come into accord.

"Therefore," writes George Fox, "in the Light wait, where unity is."

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The first that enters into the place of your meeting...turn in thy mind to the light, and wait upon God singly, as if none were present but the Lord; and here thou art strong. Then the next that comes in, let them in simplicity of heart sit down and turn in to the same light, and wait in the spirit; and so all the rest coming in, in the fear of the Lord, sit down in pure stillness and silence of all flesh, and wait in the light.... Those who are brought to a pure still waiting upon God in the spirit, are come nearer to the Lord than words are; for God is a spirit, and in the spirit is he worshiped.... In such a meeting there will be an unwillingness to part asunder, being ready to say in yourselves, it is good to be here; and this is the end of all words and writings—to bring people to the eternal living Word.

Alexander Parker, 1660

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And as many candles lighted, and put in one place, do greatly augment the light and make it more to shine forth; so when many are gathered together into the same life, there is more of the glory of God, and his power appears, to the refreshment of each individual, for that he partakes not only of the light and life raised in himself, but in all the rest.

Robert Barclay, 1678

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Upcoming Events

Oct. 6 – Members of One Another: Our Meeting as Covenant Community The Center for Deepening and Strengthening Our Meetings is offering the above-titled conference from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Swarthmore Meeting. Tom Gates (Lancaster Meeting) will speak on what it means to be called into covenant community, to live in relationship with one another, and through community to learn "God's transforming lessons of love, service, compassion and forgiveness." Small discussion groups and workshops will provide insights, information and opportunities for Friends to learn from the experiences of other meetings. Please consider sending several representatives from your meeting so that material from the day can be shared widely within your monthly meeting.
For more information, contact Therese Miller, Program Coordinator, tmm@horizonworkplace.com.

Starting Oct. 10 – Quakerism 101 Course will be sponsored by Care Committee at Haddonfield Monthly Meeting this fall. This basic course for adults is designed to familiarize new members and attenders with the history, faith and practice of Friends and to strengthen the understanding of long-time members. The course will be held on five consecutive Wednesday evenings, facilitated by Bob Brookes. Child care will be provided, if necessary. Registration forms are in the foyer of the Meeting House or may be obtained from Bob or course coordinators Karin Sannwald and Ruth Podolin.

Oct. 21 -- The Woolman Memorial Lecture will follow Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting at Westfield Meeting in Cinnaminson. The 2 p.m. lecture will feature Michael Birkel, an Earlham College religion professor and author of “A Near Sympathy,” about John Woolman. The lecture follows Worship at 11:00 a.m., Meeting for Business at noon and lunch provided by Westfield Meeting at 1 p.m. Jarry Jones, Clerk of Haddonfield Quarter.

Oct. 27 – Alzheimer’s Program at Friends Village in Woodstown Salem Quarterly Meeting invites all to attend this workshop for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The 1:30 to 4 p.m. workshop will focus on ways to enhance positive relationships between those with dementia and their caregivers. The program leader, Patience Oakes, is a social worker in Friends Village's memory support area. Caretakers and Friends who support them are welcome to attend. There is no charge, and refreshments will be provided. The event will be held at 1 Friends Drive, just off Route 40 east of Woodstown, N.J. Advance registration is requested. For directions or to register, call Salem Quarter Coordinator Phil Anthony at e-mail salemqtr@rcn.com

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Haddonfield Monthly Meeting

Meeting for Worship for Business

September 9

The meeting began with a period of worship. The clerk read Extract #128 written by Thomas Shipley Brown in 1963 from p. 122 of Faith and Practice.

The Clerk read a note from Philadelpia Yearly Meeting. PYM needs an Assistant to the General Secretary. If you would like to suggest someone, contact PYM, directly.

Judy Kruger offered to get a large calendar to put on the bulletin board in the hall so that we can more easily keep track of meetings and other Friendly gatherings, thereby avoiding timing conflicts. It would replace the smaller calendar there now. She will coordinate with Scott Buchheit, the Meeting scheduler. The calendar will be a handy reference, but Friends still need to contact Scott for final approval.

Connie Brookes reported for the Ad Hoc Committee For Separate Incorporation Of The School. The Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation were presented to Friends at the May Meeting for Business. Discussion was begun at the June Meeting and continued at a Special Called Meeting for Business in July. The Committee also met with Foster Doan, the Clerk of School Committee and Sharon Dreese, the new Head of School. This resulted in a few more changes. Connie, for the Committee asked the Meeting for final approval. Friends approved.

The Ad Hoc Committee has been working, also, on those items related to property management and usage between the School and the Meeting. The next step is for the Clerk of Meeting, the Treasurer, the Clerks of School Committee and Property Committee and School representatives to meet, review and approve the Property Agreement. Only specific aspects of the Property Agreement which this group may decide need full Meeting approval will be brought back to Meeting for Business for consideration. Connie Brookes will convene the meeting. A report is expected at the October Meeting for Worship for Business.

Friends approved a Minute of Appreciation for Connie Brookes, Bob Turrin, Pat Williams, and Karen Buchan.

Lou Tomasetti, Clerk of Property Committee gave us an update on Rick Ross, our new Custodian. Rick is a painter and a contractor and is knowledgeable about all phases of construction. His expertise in this area was recently of benefit to the Meeting. He fixed a leak in the roof, saving us several thousands of dollars. He also took care of the squirrel problem (No squirrels were harmed in the process.)

A copy of the Meeting’s contract with Rick is on the bulletin board. Friends who are curious as to the Custodian’s job description, should read the contract. If you believe there is a problem, please bring it to the attention of the Clerk of Property Committee (Lou Tomasetti) so that it can be resolved. Lou’s email address is ittessamot@comcast.net.

There followed a discussion of proper disposal of trash and of who is responsible for cleaning the bathrooms. As to the first item, Property Committee will make sure the containers are labeled to end confusion over which one is for bottles, jars and cans recycle, and which ones are for garbage (food scraps) and other trash.

As for the second item, the school currently has someone doing the cleaning. This may change when the new Property Agreement is signed. Meanwhile, one of Rick’s duties is to check both bathrooms every day.

The Clerk read Diane Werner’s report on the Deepening and Strengthening Project. A copy is attached. The Coordinating Committee will meet to plan another session for the Meeting.

For Nominating Committee, Drew Biehl, Clerk of Meeting, handed out the Committee list for 2007-08. New terms started in July. There are still changes to be made to some of the Committees. The final list will be sent with a later Newsletter.

School Committee’s Annual Report is held over until the 10th month Meeting for Worship for Business.

Finance Committee’s Annual Report is held over until the 10th month Meeting for Worship for Business.

The Clerk read a letter from Laura Smoot requesting a grant of $300 from Haddonfield Meeting to help pay expenses related to her upcoming trip to the Friends World Committee for Consultation Triennial in Dublin, Ireland, August 11 – 19, 2007. Laura grew up in Haddonfield Meeting. She has been active since High School in Peace Activities and community – building around the world. Friends approved her request for $300. We hope Laura will share her experiences with us when she returns.

Meeting for Worship for Business closed with a period of silent worship.

Respectfully Submitted,

Joanne R. Heizer, Recording Clerk

Friends and regular Attenders may request copies of the complete minutes from the Recording Clerk at joanne@synchcorp.com .

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Friends Transitional Support Services

In association with Books Through Bars, Friends Transitional Support Services has begun collecting books for people in prisons. Books Through Bars receives more than 1,400 letters each month from inmates in U.S. prisons who seek books on a wide variety of topics. Although countless studies assert the effectiveness of prisoner education programs in reducing recidivism, many prisoners who contact the organization lack access to educational programming and library facilities. Many inmates request dictionaries. Often, these dictionary requests are accompanied by appeals for GED materials. Also very common are requests for African-American and Chicano history. The book drive will continue indefinitely. Collection boxes will be placed in the lobby of the Meetinghouse. FTSS will pick up the donations periodically and take them to Books Through Bars for processing. For more information about the drive, contact Leah McGarry Morris at Leahjust@ix.netcom.com . For more information about Books Through Bars, contact nicole@critpath.org.

Quaker Parenting Website Updated

The Quaker Parenting Project's updated web site is now online, www.quakerparenting.org.
Look there for information about what this PYM project has to offer Meetings and their parents in the form of workshops, parents discussion series and materials. Coming soon will be a list of books relevant to Quaker parenting.

Religious Education

First Day School will feature the following programs:

Oct. 7:  Arthur Larrabee, PYM General Secretary will speak.
Oct. 21: Quarterly Meeting and annual Woolman Lecture at Westfield Meeting
Oct. 28:  Graveyard Committee presentation
Nov. 4:  David Gallivan will speak of his experience as a Christian Peace Teams volunteer during the summer.

Calling all Friendly Readers

The Library Committee's goal this year is to get more people to use the library. To do that, we need to know what subjects hold interest for Meeting members. What kind of books do you like to read — books about the Bible, Quaker history, biographies of Quakers, books about spirituality or Quaker testimonies? If you have children who come to Meeting, what books would you like to have available for them to read? 

In early November, the Library Committee will be going to the FGC Quaker Books store in Philadelphia to purchase books for the Meeting library. If you have any suggestions on subject matter, or have a specific book to recommend adding to our library, please e-mail Jayne Stokes at jayne740@earthlink.net.

Friendly Yoga

Haddonfield Friends Meeting is sponsoring a eight week yoga class on Thursday evenings this fall. The class will provide an overall mind, body and spirit opportunity for both beginning and experienced students. While moving through the postures of Hatha yoga students will be able to work out the kinks and stresses in their bodies and develop the ability to become still and aware of the peace within. Modifications will be made to accommodate different levels of practice, and students must be at least 18 years old. Classes will be led by Dale Longstreth, a Certified Yoga Instructor.

Students should wear comfortable clothes and bring a yoga mat and firm small pillow for meditation and/or firm cotton or wool blanket to the first session. Yoga blocks are also very helpful for modifying the postures. The class will be limited to the first 15 students.

When: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm on Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25, Nov. 1, 8, 15 and 29.

Where: Auditorium Haddonfield Friends Meeting House

Cost: $80.00 due at the first class. Please make check payable to Dale Longstreth.

Guidelines

Arrive at least five minutes before class begins so you can be seated and start to center.

Let your belly be empty and your mind be open.

Shoes must be left outside the room.

Shower before class if possible; no perfumes; minimize jewelry.

Silence cell phones.

It is customary to refrain from conversation once class begins.

If you have a physical consideration of concern, please let the instructor know before class.

Please register by Oct. 4 by contacting Dale at dlongstreth1@verizon.net or Gary Smith at smith.g.j@comcast.net

Among Friends

Flora McKinney celebrated her 90th birthday on Sept. 15. All four of her children and four of her six grandchildren were present for a wonderful dinner and games. Flora said it was a great party.

Cecelia Wogan has a new baby, Sophia, born Sept. 8, and a new address: 1459 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA 94611

Ann Miller, Carmen Williams, Audrey and Dana now live at: 704 Oxfordshire Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27517. Ann’s email: ae.mill@mac.com

Deedy Roberts left on Sept. 25 to visit her new granddaughter Kate Hannah Domball, born Aug. 24th. Kate lives in Strasbourg, France with her parents, Alice and Christian.

Jacquelyn Stevens and Veronica Salaam would like to thank Friends for their support following the death of Melvin Stevens, Jacquelyn’s husband and Veronica’s father.

The following poem was written by Flo Tatum, a longtime Friend who participated in a writing group at the Haddonfield Monthly Meeting. It was read at her memorial after her death in July.

One Leaf in the Poconos

October leaves turn color Mid pines both tall and green. In forest the sights surpass Most things that one could dream.

Red, green, gold, and rust, So many shapes and sizes. They edge blue lakes and hills. Oh, what wealth of prizes!

Warm hearth draws people indoors For shelter from cold and rain. Smoke, TV intrusion It drives me out again.

Nothing’s more refreshing Than drizzle on my face. Mid tall pines and maples I stride at quickened pace.

One leaf – crown glory falls, Lands silent at my feet. This gift from heaven halts me. One leaf, none other could compete.

It’s crimson splashed with gold, Faint hints of orange and green. Triumphant! World in harmony! This God-created scene!

Flo Tatum, 1993

- Submitted by Ceil McFadden