All Friends Conference, London,
Devonshire House, 1920

From Worship and Ministry

Friends are reminded that our Religious Society took form in times of disturbance, and that its continuing testimony has been the power of God to lead men and women out of the confusions of outward violence, inward sickness, and all other forms of self-will, however upheld by social convention. As death comes to our willfulness, a new life is formed in us, so that we are liberated from distractions and frustrations, from fears, angers, and guilts. Thus we are enabled to sense the Inward Light and to follow its leadings. Friends are advised to place God, not themselves, in the center of the universe and, in all aspects of inward life and outward activity, to keep themselves open to the healing power of the Spirit of Christ.

Take heed, dear Friends, to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts. Seek to live in affection as true Friends in your Meetings, in your families, in all your dealings with others, and in your relationship with outward society. The power of God is not used to compel us to Truth; therefore, let us renounce for ourselves the power of any person over any other and, compelling no one, seek to lead others to Truth through love. Let us teach by being ourselves teachable.

From Advices, Faith & Practice, p. 82

If Not Military Force and War, Then What?

The Friendís Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) opposes war, instead we recommend the U. S. government take the following steps.

1. Mobilize and lead law enforcement agencies around the world to investigate, apprehend, and bring to justice those responsible to the full extent of U.S. and international law.

2. Preserve civil liberties, maintain full public accountability of U.S. governing institutions, and protect vulnerable minorities in the U.S. from hate crimes and harassment, particularly against Arab-Americans, Muslims and others.

3. Lead the United Nations in cooperative action to interrupt and seize the financial resources that support these criminal terror networks. To support this effort, the U.S. should promptly ratify and implement the International Convention on Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.

4. Lead the United Nations in bringing diplomatic, political, and economic pressure to bear against the governing regimes of nations that give support or shelter to terror networks. International sanctions, if applied should be focused narrowly on those in political power.

5. Respond with compassion and generous aide to the suffering of the innocent peoples in Iraq, the Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries, even if their governments are found to support terror networks.

Other recommendations from FCNL will appear in the next newsletter. On February 3rd, First Day School will hold a discussion on these recommendations.

Please come and offer your thoughts.

Out of respect and caring for one another, please consider that our faith involves us in corporate worship. Meeting for Worship is 10 am to 11 am on First day, and 9:15 am to 9:45 am on Wednesday.

Facing Bench for January

January 6 & 13 Louise & Harold Heritage
January 20 George & Devin Harrison
January 27 Marietta Donovan &
Deedy Roberts
Coffee and covered dish for January
Childrenís Inclusion and Nominating Committees.

Upcoming Events

January 5 ó Training for Draft Counselors
From 10:00 am-3:30 pm (Brown bag lunch) at
Arch Street Meetinghouse. An opportunity for
networking and training for individuals who are nurturing conversations among young and old regarding conscientious objection and the Peace Testimony in their Monthly Meetings, schools, and communities.
RSVP to: Jonathan Ogle, Westtown School, Westtown, PA 19395, 610-399-1435 or e-mail jonathan.ogle@westtown.edu

January 12 ó Gathering of Quaker
Public Educators
Paul Lacey, Prof. Emeritus at Earlham College and renowned educator, will address the first annual
gathering of Quaker public educators. Friends
Center, 9:30 amñ2:30 pm. Free lunch, free parking. Workshops on bringing Quaker Testimonies into
public schools. This is a great opportunity for Quaker teachers and administrators or anyone else who works in the public education. For more information, contact Tom Hoopes, Coordinator of Education Programs, PYM, 1515 Cherry St., Phila., PA 19102; 215-241-7224 or e-mail tomh@pym.org.

January 19 and 20 ó ìTranslating Faith into Deeds: A Quaker Summit on Iraqî
In conjunction with AFSCís Summit on the Campaign of Conscience, there will be two public events on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at Friends Center, 15th and Cherry:

Saturday, Jan. 19 at 7 pm ó Denis Halliday, former Assistant Secretary General and UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq will speak. He resigned his post in 1998 in protest over the continued use of sanctions against Iraq.

Sunday, Jan. 20 at 1 pm ó Kathy Kelly, co-founder
of Voices in the Wilderness in Chicago IL. will speak. Ms. Kelly has led over 16 delegations to Iraq, and will have just returned from a one month presence in Baghdad. Speaker events hosted by Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. For more information contact Peter Lems, AFSC, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA. 19102; 215-241-7170, e-mail: plems@afsc.org.

January 20 ó Vanessa Julye to speak at
Adult First Day School
Vanessa Julye is a member of Central Philadelphia MM, with a minute from CPMM to travel with a concern to make the Society of Friends a more welcoming community for people of color. She has given workshops and written many articles about this subject. She is currently co-authoring a book about the relationship of Quakers and African Americans. Last year, she participated in the UN World Conference Against Racism held in Durban, South Africa. Come to First Day School on the 20th to hear about her experiences.

January 26 and 27 ó Come Walk the Labyrinth
Experience a form of walking meditation on a canvas replica of the labyrinth from Chartres Cathedral. Open from 1ñ5 pm at The Gathering Garden for Spiritual Life at Gwynedd Meetinghouse, Route 202 at Sumneytown Pike, North Wales, PA. For more information on this or other programs at The Gathering Garden, e-mail Henry Beck at henrywb@erols.com.

February 2 ó Quaker Action 02-02-02.
Friends! Save the date. Tell Friends in your meeting and anywhere else, and then bring them along to Arch Street Meetinghouse on Saturday, 02-02-02 (February second) for Quaker Action!

This will be a morning conference, 9amñ1pm, on how to do effective social action. Joe Volk, Executive Secretary of Friends Committee on National Legislation, will start us off with his insights and then weíll go on to workshops led by specialists on ìHow to influence legislation,î ìHow to organize in your community,î ìHow to advocate for special groups,î and ìHow to use law for social change.î

No need to register but please reply by e-mail to emarsh@voicenet.com if you plan to come so we can estimate how many to expect. Weíll be done early in the afternoon; no lunch but snacks will be provided. For information or to offer to help call Joan Broadfield at the Yearly Meeting office at 215-241-7230, weekdays.

December 2001 Monthly Meeting
for Business

Monthly Meeting began with a period of silent
worship during which the Clerk read the following from Faith & Practice:

ìI cannot see the life of Jesus as other than God trying to disclose his love for us and his attempt, at any price, to show us that the cosmos is grounded in love. All hate, all sin, all discord, all clefts, all ignorance, all
confusion will finally give way to love. But this love, like a strip of wood, has its grain which must be
followed. If we follow this grain we will find that we must change the patterns in which we have previously cast our lives. And I do not see how God could have made this disclosure more effectively than by placing his love in the body of a child who was to become a man, and letting this cosmic message shine through the material envelope of a human life.î
Douglas Steere, 1965

The School Committee presented two budgets for 2002-2003, one with a 7th grade and one without. Both were approved.

The annual report of the Memorial & Graveyard Committee was received. John and Kathy Donch have accepted the clerkís position. Retiring clerk Janet Pilvalis was thanked for her fine leadership.

Overseers Report: Bonnie Smith has requested transfer to Moorestown Meeting. David, Ann, Elizabeth &
Hal Larson have requested transfer to Cropwell Friends.These were approved and proper action will
be taken.

Steve Berryhill reported for the Property Committee. The assisted hearing system has been installed and is usable (see below). He also reported that we are now up to code on exit and emergency lights.

The Clerk discussed the initiative started by Quarterly Meeting to determine the future of Quarterly Meeting. We will consider this further at the January Meeting for Business.

A recurring theme of this meeting was the conspicuous absence of committee representatives. Monthly Meeting encourages ALL committees to ensure
representation at every business meeting.

Hearing-Assistance System

The hearing-assistance system is now installed. Check in the office before Meeting for Worship to pick up a receiver. Someone from Property Committee will be on hand to explain how to use and adjust the device. This system should work for most Friends who need help hearing the messages in Meeting. If it doesnít work for you, talk to Steve Berryhill or someone from Property Committee.

FIRST DAY SCHOOL

ìIt Takes a Meeting to Raise a Friendî
ìNo Time But This Present Timeî

Submitted by Flora McKinney and Francie Pagell

Winter Term Theme
Equality and Racism

Hymns from Worship in Song:

O Young and Fearless Prophet, Pg. 98

Oh young and fearless Prophet of ancient Galilee:
Your life is still a summons to serve humanity,
To make our thoughts and actions less prone to
Please the crowd,
To stand with humble courage for truth with
Hearts unbowed.

Love Was the First Motion, Pg. 219
(John Woolman Song)

Love was the First Motion
John Woolman was a man most Quakerly
He lived a simple life that set him free.
But most of all he knew the place to start:
He listened with his heart.
And love was the first motion.
Thatís what Woolman had to say
Yes love was the first motion
To send him on his way.

Testimony

If John Woolman were living in todayís world, how would he respond to our globalized economy? Or,
to begin with a different question, if you and I were living in John Woolmanís eighteenth-century world, how would we respond to the issue of slavery?

John Woolman was an American Quaker, born in 1720 in West New Jersey, the fourth of thirteen children. His grandfather and father had come to the colonies in 1678 to escape religious persecution in England. In his early twenties Woolman left the family farm and went to work for a shopkeeper, whom he assisted with various chores including the keeping of accounts. Soon after his arrival, he was faced with a crisis of conscience, as he records in his journal: ìMy employer, having a negro woman, sold her and directed me to write a bill of sale, the man being waiting who bought herî.

Woolman agonized over the request. His beliefs told him that slavery, however widely practiced in those days, was inconsistent with Christian principals. He felt obliged to tell his employer and the buyer of his reluctance; nevertheless, he prepared the bill of sale. He rationalized the choice: he had been hired recently for a yearís term; the request came from his master; and the buyer was a fellow Quakeróan elderly member of the Religious Society of Friends of Truth.

The incident left the young man troubled. Merely to have voiced his uneasiness was not enough. He resolved never to participate in such a transaction again. It was the beginning of a lifelong ministry against slavery. Later he refused to sleep in houses where slaves were kept.

By putting his faith above his material comfort, he was led from one step to the next along a path that was as logical as it was intuitive.

The spiritual journey recorded in John Woolmanís journal, which he started keeping when he was about thirty six, is remarkable not just for his efforts to make his actions consonant with his beliefs, but for the tenderness of his remonstrations. He did not simply rail against injustice in the abstract and against faceless perpetrators; he confronted individuals directly ó friends and associates, slaveholders and sea captains ó in a spirit of
contrition and from a love rooted in his faith in God.

Woolmanís testimony took the form of deeds, as well as words. He ventured into hostile Indian territory to seek peace, and he consciously broke the law when he refused to pay taxes levied to support the French and Indian war. ìTo refuse the active payment of a tax which our Society generally paid was exceedingly
disagreeable,î he wrote, ìbut to do a thing contrary
to my conscience appeared yet more dreadful.î

During the year he spent in England his journal shows a keen interest in the economic plight of the poor ó in the prices paid for food and coal and rent, as compared to wages. The voyage over had given him ample opportunity to observe first-hand the unha›py condition of young seaman who shared the crowded
steerage compartment and had no place to dry their garments. Woolman had elected to ride steerage, rather than a more pleasant berth in a cabin, because ìcarved work and imagery and superfluity of workmanshipî in the cabins bespoke unnecessary luxury.

It is difficult to read Woolmanís journal without being deeply affected. Returning to that second question, I am moved to ask: If I were living in John Woolmanís time would I have the courage and the moral imagination to make such choices?

Of course! I tell myself, a little glibly. At the very least I would have opposed slavery. But would I ó not just in words but in deeds? (to be continued)

(extracts from Testimony ó John Woolman on Todayís Global Economy Pendle Hill Pamphlet # 356)

Family participation:

Sing the songs
Talk about John Woolmanís deeds
Come to First Day School

Adult FDS Schedule for January

Adult First Day School offers large and small group discussions on Quaker values during the month of January.

January 6: George Harrison will lead Adult First Day School in a discussion of the Query on Equality found on page 210 of Faith and Practice. Extracts 241 through 269 (beginning on page 159 of Faith & Practice) offer thoughts on the topic from selected writings by Friends.

January 13: There are two options for adults.
1. Join Friends in the meeting house to hear the Spiritual Journeys of fellow members and attenders.
2. Join a smaller group of Friends in the Sewing Room to discuss the Gospel of John. This group offers Friends an opportunity to explore diverse points of view on the interpretation of the Bible. Discussions thus far have ranged from the view that John should be looked upon as an historical document to reading this Gospel for its mystical revelations. If you are interested in clarifying your own ideas, or would like to listen to the diverse views of others, consider joining this group.

January 20: Our guest speaker Vanessa Juyle, who is presently writing a book on the Black Experience among Friends, will talk to us about the UN Conference on Racism. Read more about Ms. Julye in the Upcoming Events section of this newsletter.

January 27: There are two options for adults.
1. What do Overseers do? A discussion with
Overseers Committee.
2. Those interested in exploring diverse views on the Gospel of John will meet in the Sewing Room.

Winter Term at Pendle Hill

Courses offered this month at Pendle Hill include: Couple Enrichment with Brad Sheeks and Pat McBee, Jan. 11ñ13; The Iron Bridge: Writing Fact and Fiction with David Morse and Quaker Discernment in Small Groups with Gale Wills, Jan. 18ñ20; Enneagram: Nine Ways of Being in the World with Sabra Peil, Jan. 20ñ25; Opening the Scriptures: A Quaker Approach to the Bible with Tom Gates, Jan. 25ñ27; and Peaceful Mind, Open Heart: A Silent Insight Meditation Retreat with Mary Orr, Jan. 27ñFeb. 1.

The winter term Bible course at Pendle Hill, called ìFaithóThe Call to Nowhere,î begins January 13 and runs through March 3 (eight sessions). Meetings are on Sunday afternoons, 2:30-4:30 in the Pendle Hill library. The course is structured so that regular attendance, though encouraged, is not necessary. The course will be about Abraham and Sarah (Book of Genesis), and includes such well-known stories as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and God telling Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. It will explore how Abraham connives to save his own skin, Sarah laughs at God, and God isnít always sure of whatís going on.

The course is free, though Pendle Hill requests a voluntary donation. No registration is necessary; just show up. No previous knowledge of the Bible is necessary.

Leading the course is Tony Prete of Central Philadelphia MM. He has taught biblical classes at Pendle Hill for the past three years, as well as at area Monthly Meetings.

For more information, contact Tony at e-mail: tonyprete@earthlink.net. For information on other courses, contact Pendle Hill: 610-566-4507; 800-742-3150; or check out their web site, www.pendlehill.org.

Help for Middle Eastern Neighbors

At November and Decemberís Peace and Social Concerns Committee meetings, we discussed what actions we could take in order to make a statement about the events of the past four months. One such action, passed along by Haddonfield Quarterís P&SC Committee, was to support middle eastern restaurants in the area. Some of them have seen a drop in business due to the current political climate, and could use your patronage ó plus youíll get a good meal. Here is a sampling of middle eastern restaurants in our area, thanks to Therese Barringer.

Alkhima Moroccan & Middle Eastern Restaurant
1426 Rte. 70, Cherry Hill
856-427-0888

Marrakesh
517 Leithgow St. (near 4th & South)
Philadelphia, PA
215-925-5929

Normaís Middle Eastern Restaurant
145 Barclay Farms Shopping Center
Rte. 70, Cherry Hill
856-795-1373

Shiraz
842 Lancaster Ave., Devon, PA
610-902-0667

Zenaís Restaurant
2110 Rte. 70, Cherry Hill
856-424-0429

Ramallah Friends School News

Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary of AFSC, reports that on December 13 a building of the Friends Boys School in Ramallah, West Bank, was damaged
by rockets fired by Israeli-American made helicopters. No injuries or loss of life were sustained in the attack, which destroyed a police station near the school grounds. To date we know that two rooms of the school were hit and the building is thought to have suffered structural damage. It is estimated that it will cost at least $20,000 to repair the damage.

The two Ramallah Friends Schools are governed by a local board, but are owned and administered by Friends United Meeting (FUM) in Richmond, Indiana. A fund has been established by FUM to receive contributions toward the schoolís repair. To contribute, make checks payable to: FUM-RFS Building and mail to: Friends United Meeting, 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond, IN 47374.

HFS School News

The holiday season brought excitement, caring and service projects. For Thanksgiving, the kindergarten class wore Pilgrim hats and talked about being helpful and thankful. First graders made Pilgrim and Indian costumes and wore them on their visit to the Haddonfield Home, where they entertained their friends with songs and poems. Third graders studied compassion and the story of Squanto and the Pilgrims. First and fourth graders bought food for needy families, using money they earned by doing chores at home. For Christmas, the fourth grades were responsible for the Mitten Tree project.

The fifth grade recently returned from a three-day camping trip to Mt. Misery. The sixth grade students are learning Quaker methods of solving differences. This class, although usually harmonious, recently found themselves at odds over a social issue. Recess time added to the conflict. They used a called Meeting for Worship to settle the problem.

Update on 65 Haddon Avenue

At Decemberís Business Meeting, Steve Senopoulos gave a brief report on the purchase of 65 Haddon Ave. We are still in the due diligence stage working on plumbing, electrical, environmental, zoning and other issues. The deadline for completing due diligence is Jan. 6th, 2002 ó after that date we lose our right to back out of the sales agreement. If the Borough has not approved a zoning variance by this date or any other aspect of the due diligence process is not complete we may file with the sellers for an extension.

Late news: Our request for a zoning variance was
not heard on December 18. It was moved to January 15th. Please come to Borough Hall on the 15th at 7:30 pm and show your support.

LEAVENHOUSE NEIGHBORS

We need parent/child volunteers for the Leavenhouse Neighbors Program. Volunteers will prepare or serve food at Leavenhouse food kitchen in Camden. Preparation time is 12:30 to 1:30 and meal service is from 3:00 to 4:00 on Saturday. If you are interested in helping, or in learning more about what we do, please call Cindy Kolaski. Thank you.

The Journal of George Fox
Continued from December

When he came home to his aunt Hambleyís, where he then lived, and made report to her concerning us, she, with her sister Grace Billing, hearing the report of Truth, came to visit us in prison, and was convinced also. Great sufferings and spoiling of goods both he and his aunt have undergone for the Truthís sake.

After the assizes, the sheriff, with some soldiers, came to guard to execution a woman that was sentenced to die; and we had much discourse with them. One of them wickedly said, ìChrist was as passionate a man as any that lived upon the earth;î for which we rebuked him. Another time we asked the jailer what doings there were at the sessions; and he said, ìSmall matters; only about thirty for bastardy.î We thought it very strange that they who professed themselves Christians should make small matters of such things.

But this jailer was very bad himself; I often admonished him to sobriety; but he abused people that came to visit us. Edward Pyot had a cheese sent him from Bristol by his wife; and the jailer took it from him, and carried it to the mayor, to search it for treasonable letters, as he said; and though they found no treason in the cheese, they kept it from us. This jailer might have been rich ó if he had carried himself civilly; but he sought his own ruin, which soon after came upon him.

The next year he was turned out of his place, and for some wickedness cast into the jail himself; and there begged of our Friends. And for some unruliness in his conduct he was, by the succeeding jailer, put into Doomsdale, locked in irons, and beaten, and bidden to remember how he had abused those good men whom he had wickedly, without any cause, cast into that nasty dungeon; and told that now he deservedly should suffer for his wickedness; and the same measure he had meted to others, should be meted out to himself. He became very poor, and died in prison; and his wife and family came to misery.

Poems Old and New

Made in the U.S.A.

Nancy Wogan

So Iím driving with my son
(the little grandsonís in the backseat)

Weíre almost to the middle of Oregon
When he, the son, has to stop

And put some air in the tires.

I start to peer around
See what I can notice on this half-city,
half country town,

When I notice
A whacky old lady like me
Pull up to a gas pump.

Sheís
Got a bunch of quilts
Piled up in her hatchback.

No, now waitó
Those arenít quilts:
Theyíre those knitted squares
(Like I used to have to make in Girl Scouts)

Those knitted blankets my sister-in-law still makes
You knowóafghans!

I do a double take:
Me before this September
Me after

At her backwindow sign

afghans for sale
cheap!

Friendsí Meeting

Daniel Picker

Those winter Sundays so long
Ago, the sky so clear early light
Like the quick gleam on a cufflink
Before we arrived late to Meeting.
Bouncing in the old green truck
After all the brown leaves were down
Weíd park facing the fence, our backs
Turned to bricks and big white wood
Doors; brown knob we turned late
Always, the silence broken where
Winter an older lady began speaking
While a young man still speaking
Of bombs dropping and burning,
Napalm was replaced later by his
Strumming and singing ìBlowin ,
In the Wind,î after Meeting.
We were all tired of hearing
Of the war, seeking the Divine
In silence. I was only seven.
Heaven was bouncing toward home
With my brother and dad in green
Scout to the Sunday corner store
On Potter Street for Tastykakes
After First Day School in 1967.

Among Friends

From the editoró
I received this note from a member and thought
I would share it with you:

As the father of the Haddonfield Meeting newsletter Iím always interested in any news about it and want to wish you well in your
new task.

I noted that you have an e-mail address and can also be reached by snail mail. Do you think thereís a chance that snails are causing all this trouble these days in the mail?

If thereís any validity in this thought you could make it your lead article in your first issue.