Haddonfield Monthly Meeting

Newsletter, April 2000

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"And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; --it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid." Mark 16:1-8.

FROM WORSHIP AND MINISTRY

The experience of gathering makes itself felt in the sense that we are deeply one. To exclude or disregard someone -- or to have someone withhold themselves from the process -- is destructive of the oneness, as well as of the sense of oneness. If it were anything but a very rare event, the spiritual ground of community as well as of the meeting for business would disintegrate. Some people who withhold themselves do so out of a mistaken sense that the goal of the process is avoiding conflict. Any withholding of oneself is a disservice to the meeting, in that it can create a false appearance of unity where unity does not, in fact, exist. In fact, withholding oneself from the process practically guarantees that any unity reached will be false. Such a false unity will crumble sooner or later--or create strains that will emerge in later deliberations. 

Friends will labor for years to find the way that stirs the resonant chord of Truth in everyone. Merely being agreeable or nice is not helpful in this process. Neither is a confrontational, argumentative stance. Nothing will do but courageously and tenderly acknowledging and facing differences for as long as it takes, in confidence that the differences -- even the anger -- of faithful people, lovingly held in the Light without contentiousness, rancor, or fear, have something to tell us of Truth. We are supported in this exercise by ultimate confidence in the availability of divine guidance to a right solution. Patricia Loring

FIRST DAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Religious Education

April 2: Elizabeth Foley from the PYM development committee will speak to us about stewardship.

Faith & Practice meets in the library.

First Day School for the children.

April 9: Pam Perry will facilitate a discussion about the seventh and eighth grade expansion which will focus on the decision-making process.

Faith & Practice meets in the library.

First Day School for the children.

April 16: Family Sunday. Spring clean-up around the meetinghouse. Please bring rakes or other gardening equipment and/or cleaning supplies. Rain date: April 30.

April 23: Easter. Extended coffee hour. No First Day School for the children.

April 30: Dialogue between parents and religious education committee regarding First Day School for the children. Help us with planning for next year’s classes. (If we have to use this day as a rain date for Spring clean-up, this program will be held May 7.)

Faith & Practice meets in the library.

First Day School for the children.

PYM ANNOUNCES STARTLING CHANGES TO WORSHIP, AND BOOK OF DISCIPLINE

Harley Williams

In a surprise announcement, PYM has announced that silent worship will be replaced as the hallmark of unstructured Quaker practice. Substituted will be music and dance, primarily heavy metal with a mosh pit in what was described as the "wasted space’ in the middle of most meeting houses. Members will be strongly encouraged to participate by bringing their own instruments. Cymbals, accordions, and tubas will be accorded preference. "We have been silent too long", shouted one spokesperson. Relying on Psalm 100 ("Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands"), and II Samuel 6 ("And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines . . . and King David leaping and dancing before the Lord"), the PYM spokesperson said, "in the spirit of Ecclesiastes, we have had our time of silence; now it is a time make noise."

Accompanying the change in worship format, Faith and Practice will be replace by Chairman Mao’s Little Red Book. "You never see anyone on a street corner waving Faith and Practice passionately to passersby to make a point, but we’ve seen the old pictures of folks doing that with the Little Red Book so we thought we’d give it a try; and besides, we can really get a deal on this new book." The spokesperson admitted that PYM had given serious consideration for the same reason to some dieting books, but knew that they would have no appeal to Friends.

The changes go into effect April 1.

HFS BICYCLE COLLECTION

Therese Barringer

On Saturday, May 6th, 2000, HFS and Meeting will co-sponsor a big used bicycle collection. We hope our combined efforts will make a small difference in trying to save the environment (did you know that every year over 5 million bicycles end up in landfills in this country?). More important, our efforts will provide needy folks in lesser developed countries an essential tool to improve their lives.

We are working with an organization called Pedals for Progress (P4P), based in High Bridge, New Jersey. P4P was started some years ago by a former Peace Corps Volunteer who realized the importance of bicycles in places where cars are beyond the reach of most people. Bikes enable farmers to carry their produce to market, students to attend far-away schools, rural doctors to reach their patients in isolated areas and entrepreneurs to sell their services. Having spent 10 years in West Africa myself, I am particularly aware of this important need. There, a bicycle is an essential tool, not a toy, as it often is in our country. P4P has become the country’s largest non-profit organization in this field, recycling over 9000 bicycles, adult’s as well as children’s annually. These bikes are collected, processed for shipment and sent to 16 developing countries.

On May 6th (which is also Playday at school), from 9 AM to 12 noon, the P4P truck will be parked in front of the Meeting House. I will need your help not only to bring your bicycle but also to help "processing" the bikes. Approximately 6 people will be needed for each one hour slot. A sign-up sheet

will be posted on the Peace and Social Concerns bulletin board (and you will receive friendly reminders). Processing the bikes consists of removing the pedals (and tying them to the frame), loosening, rotating and aligning the handlebar with the frame to make the most compact possible shape for shipment. It is important to retighten all bolts that have been loosened. Tools, string and spray lubricant will be provided.

Unfortunately even with volunteer help at this end P4P also needs money to fulfill its mission. It costs an average of $25 to collect, process, ship, and rebuild each bike so P4P suggests a donation of $5 to $10 per donated bike. Knowing that some of you will not have bikes to give but could make a donation, we encourage your financial participation to help balance those who can’t. Checks should be made payable to Pedals for Progress and be sent to Haddonfield Friends School (attention Teacher Therese). All donations are fully tax deductible.

Public schools from surrounding areas (Audubon, Haddon Heights and Haddon Twp.) have been contacted and hopefully we will be able to fill the P4P truck on the 6th of May! So let’s scour those garages and basements, begin to talk up the idea with friends and neighbors, and help a wonderful program help others in a truly imaginative way.

PTO FUNDING FOR HFS

Pam Hadden, for the PTO

PTO, which regularly plans community-wide events, also mounts fund-raising projects to benefit the school. And just as the PTOs of the past several years have been so successful in meeting both of these goals, this year’s PTO has been able to make an additional mid-year grant of $11,500, bringing the total amount of PTO appropriations in this year’s budget to $20,000.

This money buys performances, visits with authors, equipment, and materials that immediately and directly benefit current students-- things like auditorium shows, library acquisitions, Reading Rainbow materials, grants to classroom and special teachers for classroom extras, Service Committee grants, video equipment, and computers. For example, three iBooks (Apple’s new laptop specifically designed for students) were purchased with some of the most recently appropriated funds, along with an "AirPort," which can provide a wireless connection to the Internet for up to 10 iBooks!

Many thanks to those who support PTO projects that make this kind of program enrichment possible!

OPEN POSITIONS AT HFS

The School is seeking to fill the positions described below. The School is an equal opportunity employer.

Technology Coordinator

There will be a part-time opening in September for a Technology Coordinator. The successful candidate must be a creative, flexible person who can work well with staff and students in implementing the technology curriculum, can maintain and upgrade hardware and software, and can be a leader in inservice training and planning for the continued expansion of the program. Experience in education is a plus as are Technical Certificates for Apple OS 9.0, Windows NT, and 98. For consideration send a cover letter and resume to the address below.

Clerical

Part-time Clerical Assistant

Energetic individual to provide support for our Admissions, Development, and Business Offices. Must have PC skills including Wordperfect and good typing skills. Hours are M-F, 9 am-1 pm. Start immediately. For consideration send a cover letter and resume to the address below.

 

 

Teachers

Positions are open for the 2000-01 school year. Appropriate NJ certification required and BA degree. Positions: 2 FT and 1 PT openings in our PreK thru 2nd grade section, a PT reading teacher, and a PT Publications Coordinator. Early Childhood Education Certification a plus. For consideration, send a cover letter and resume to:

Haddonfield Friends School

Human Resources

47 N. Haddon Ave

Haddonfield, NJ 08033-2476

MILLION MOM MARCH

The following minute was approved by Salem Quarter Meeting in session at Woodstown Monthly Meeting on 12 March 2000:

Minute of Support for the Million Mom March, 14 May 2000

Salem Quarterly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, unites in support of the Million Mom March to be held on Mothers’ Day, May 14, 2000, calling for effective handgun control legislation. We affirm our intent to help members and attenders of our seven monthly meetings become aware of this event and its purposes and to participate in it. We invite other Quaker bodies to join with us in this support.

QUAKER HUMOR

(Submitted by Gary Smith; reprinted with permission from the book Quakers Are Funny, edited by Chuck Fager, and published by Kimo Press).

An elderly Friend grew somewhat forgetful. Once when she attended yearly meeting, she became absorbed in a lengthy and warm discussion of a matter before the body. At length the body sank into silence, seeking further guidance from within. The elderly Friend rose and spoke from her heart on the subject at hand, then sat down. The meeting remained quiet for some time.

Finally the elderly Friend rose and said firmly, "I approve of the last Friend's remarks."

TWO FROM THOMAS KELLY

Harley Williams

These two quotes from Thomas Kelly kept on reappearing in the material Bill Probstein passed out for Quakerism 201, and bear repeating, lest our Meeting become too "dour" and "sobersided":

Christians who don’t know an inner pentecostal joy are living contradictions of Christianity.

I’d rather be jolly St. Francis hymning his canticle to the sun than a dour old sobersides Quaker whose diet would appear to have been spiritual persimmons.

In fact, I think our Meeting does have its share of jolly St. Francises, for which I am very grateful.

NEW BOOKS IN THE MEETING LIBRARY

New Fiction Books in the Meeting Library:

(These may be found in the New Book section on the table against the right wall as you enter the Library.)

For the Love of a Friend by Susan McCracken (F/McC)

A novel mixing Quaker history and a timeless love story of a young woman and teacher in the western wilderness.

For the Gift of a Friend by Susan McCracken (F/McC)

Continues the story of Joshua and Rebecca as they face the challenges of life on the western frontier of Iowa. Her faith in God sees Becky through many hardships and trials.

New Children's Books Added to Meeting Library:

(These may be found in the New Book section on the table against the right wall as you enter Library)

Edge of the Night Sky by Teri Probasco (J/F/Pro)

A young child experiences God's presence late at night in a cold barn while helping nurture new-born lambs.

Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting (J/F/Bun)

A homeless boy who lives in an airport with his father, moving from terminal to terminal and trying not to be noticed, is given hope when he sees a trapped bird find its freedom.

I am a Quaker by Felice Blanc (J/289.6/Woo)

A young Quaker explains the beliefs and practice of her faith. Ages 3-8

Old Turtle by Douglas Wood (J/F/Woo)

A glorious book to challenge children of all ages to think about God, our responsibility to the earth, and to the creatures on it.

Standing in the Light: the Captive Diary of Catharine Carey Logan by Mary Pope Osborne (J/F/Osb)

A Quaker girl's diary reflects her experiences growing up in the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania and her capture by Lenape Indians in 1763.

True North: a Novel of the Underground Railroad by Kathryn Lasky (J/F/Las)

Two girls. Two worlds. One dream: Freedom. A story of two girls in their early teens.

MARCH 2000 MONTHLY MEETING FOR BUSINESS

Monthly Meeting for business was held March 10, 2000. The initial Nominating Committee report was presented with several vacancies yet to fill.

The Meeting approved the creation of a fund for undesignated bequests to be used at Meeting’s discretion. It was approved to buy one more carton of hymnals from that fund.

A minute regarding legislation on war tax resistance was approved with copies going to Congressional representatives and the Meeting in Haddonfield Quarter.

The proposal to add a 7th and 8th grade was further discussed, and action was held over. See the article by Pam Perry below.

Phase II of property tree work was completed. Several past prime locust trees were removed with chips left for mulch around trees. Major trees were fed.

John Morad wishes to attend a Young Friends workcamp in Mexico June 10- July 27. We support John in this. When accepted we shall decide how to financially support him.

We expressed our hearty appreciation of Therese Barringer’s enthusiasm and work during the holidays for needy Camden families. Therese, attender and HFS Friends teacher, drew us all in to contribute - Meeting members, school parents, and their children. Thank you Therese!!

"Dance Haddonfield" will rent our Auditorium Sunday evenings. Property Committee reported on its ongoing investigation of installing a system in the Meeting House for the hearing impaired.

SOME REFLECTIONS FROM THE CLERK

Pam Perry

On Sunday, March 5, 2000, approximately 50 members of our community gathered at a Called Meeting for Business to consider a preliminary proposal to expand Haddonfield Friends School to include 7th and 8th grades. The proposal under discussion that night focused on whether to proceed with a 7th and 8th grade, leaving aside questions on how -- including property and finance issues.

We worshiped and talked as a community for almost three hours. We explored issues of Quaker values in Friends’ education, the Meeting’s commitment to Friends’ education, and the Meeting’s involvement in HFS. Many were in unity that we should support the inspiration of our members who are lead to add 7th and 8th grades to HFS, understanding that the specific proposal presented in their report may have to be substantially rethought to achieve unity in our community. An almost universal strand in the discussion was recognition and gratitude that the proposal was energizing the community to consider its relationship with HFS. At several points, people wisely noticed where points of disagreement did not stand in the way of supporting the addition of grades 7 and 8, but could be resolved in future discussions of how to achieve the goal. The tone of the meeting was one of gracious cooperation to achieve some sort of assent for proceeding with the proposal. It became clear that people did not want to leave the meeting without approval for a commitment to continue to explore how the Meeting could as a community proceed to expand HFS to include 7th and 8th grades. In the end, those present approved a minute that as the way opened, Meeting would expand HFS to include 7th and 8th grades, but that the Meeting needed to explore issues of property, finances, values and commitment in order to make the expansion a reality. As is our practice, final approval of the minute was held over until next Business Meeting.

I, with the help of Overseers, tried to finalize a minute that would capture the spirit of the March 5, 2000 meeting. The following minute was the result:

Regardless of the precise wording, the beauty of the approved minute was that it was sufficiently inclusive to allow the Meeting both to support the inspiration of the Structure and School Committees’ leadings while allowing room for others to explore as a community extremely sensitive issues which have in the past, and could continue to, divide us.

On Friday, March 10, 2000, at the regularly scheduled Business Meeting, the Meeting revisited the minute approved on March 5th. The Meeting did not give final approval to the minute. Upon reflection, I did not fully appreciate either the cooperative and open spirit of the March 5th meeting or the fragile unity of that meeting until it evaporated by our meeting on March 10th. I believe that the unity achieved on March 5th occurred because people sincerely sought to work with one another as a community. By the March 10th meeting, however, we spoke more stridently, with each side taking more polarized positions and thereby losing the precious unity we achieved at the March 5th meeting. We all stepped away, not toward, one another as a community. Hopefully, we will find our way again.

SIXTY FOUR SPEAKS

Worship and Ministry felt that these notes from a 1964 Meeting for Worship would be of interest:

In January 1964 Beatrice Souter spoke of faith, hope, charity and love of man as stated in a letter by Benjamin Franklin to a friend who had just been robbed. Material things can be taken away but spiritual gifts are given to us by God.

Gloria Bregman said that we should love as Christ meant us to love. It is easy to love our family, friends, and neighbors but not always easy to take it further. At another First-day Gloria again said that you need the intangible to make the tangible worthwhile. Christ taught us this by dying. He gave his body (tangible) for the spirit (intangible).

Art Bell shared, "we change hate to love and wrong to right through living."

EICHMANN AFTER JERUSALEM

Harley Williams

"The Eichmann trial is now a part of history. In fate and in substance, the killer has been reunited with his victims." After Auschwitz, Richard L. Rubenstein (Bobbs-Merrill 1966), p. 1. The book, despite its title, did not strike me as profound, perhaps because its insights have become commonplace since it was written, but that second sentence has lingered with me. Old-fashioned evangelical Protestants, especially in the nineteenth century, often spoke of the reunification of husbands and wives, parents and children, after death. This is rather a different thought, chilling, if taken in some unimaginative or unhopeful, or Steven Kingish sense; Christian, and Quakerish, if one imagines the scene as transformative and healing, if terribly painful. I’m not sure the ambiguity should be resolved.

POEMS OLD AND NEW

Pokey man

Nancy Wogan

December 2, 1999

(To Misty, dog of my single divorce years)

This pokey man was once not at all pokey;

Could run with the wind on the river's edge,

Was no man either,

But a female mensch.

Limping past the cancer amputation,

The raccoon scratch of one eye,

Nervous breakdowns of too much separation.

All snarls and matted hair and bad breath

Pooping in the wrong neighbor's yard,

Biting the mayor's wife,

This furry creature with its own wiles

Kept the lugubrious away.

Some few could see the cute in her

With their own acute eyes of memory.

No pokey little puppy here

But a wild thing sprung from a cage.

A blur of black hair over the hidden eyes.

A descent to mutt from the Portugal.

Small water spaniel,

I'll name you something Japanese.

Like their water iris

Van Gogh painted with such blue fervor.

Or better yet Rembrandt

His young bride model

Who crossed the Jordan into Amsterdam?

Where Jews could settle,

Pokey man.

In your next incarnation,

Be this young girl.

Sweet but so dark eyed and alive!

Love the marriage bed

Even the pangs of childbirths

Take from your former life

This wildness

The escape from all cages.

Into wedding joys

130

Emily Dickinson

I have a King, who does not speak -

So - wondering - thro' the hours meek

I trudge the day away -

Half glad when it is night, and sleep,

If, haply, thro' a dream, to peep

In parlors, shut by day.

And if I do - when morning comes -

It is as if a hundred drums

Did round my pillow roll,

And shouts fill all my childish sky,

And Bells keep saying "Victory"

From steeples in my soul!

And if I don't - the little Bird

Within the Orchard, is not heard,

And I omit to pray

"Father, thy will be done" today

For my will goes the other way,

And it were perjury!

THE JOURNAL OF GEORGE FOX

It came upon me about this time from the Lord to write a short paper and send it forth as an exhortation and warning to the Pope, and to all kings and rulers in Europe.

Besides this I was moved to write a letter to the Protector (so called) to warn him of the mighty work the Lord hath to do in the nations, and the shaking of them; and to beware of his own wit, craft, subtilty, and policy, and of seeking any by-ends to himself.

I travelled till I came to Reading, where I found a few that were convinced of the way of the Lord. I stayed till the First-day, and had a meeting in George Lamboll's orchard; and a great part of the town came to it. A glorious meeting it proved; great convincement there was, and the people were mightily satisfied.

Thither came two of Judge Fell's daughters to me, and George Bishop, of Bristol, with his sword by his side, for he was a captain.

After the meeting many Baptists and Ranters came privately, reasoning and discoursing; but the Lord's power came over them. The Ranters pleaded that God made the devil. I denied it, and told them I was come into the power of God, the seed Christ, which was before the devil was, and bruised his head; and he became a devil by going out of truth; and so became a murderer and a destroyer. I showed them that God did not make him a devil; for God is a God of truth, and made all things good, and blessed them; but God did not bless the devil. And the devil is bad, and was a liar and a murderer from the beginning, and spoke of himself, and not from God.

So the Truth stopped and bound them, and came over all the highest notions in the nation, and confounded them. For by the power of the Lord I was manifest, and sought to be made manifest to the Spirit of God in all, that by it they might be turned to God; as many were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, and were come to sit under His teaching.