Meetings for Worship are fundamentally the same.
At each Meeting, a group of individuals gathers and, open to the word of God, waits in attentive, expectant silence for a spark of the divine in their midst. Sometimes it comes in words; sometimes in silence,
if only we know how to listen.

Ernest Hemingway wrote, ìIf you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.î I feel the same way about Meeting; it is a moveable feast of the spirit. No matter where you worship, or who joins you in your silent search, the truth is always waiting there for you like an old friend.

A Quaker Book of Wisdom, Robert Lawrence Smith, Page 29

Facing Bench for June
June 2 and June 9 ó Bob and Johanna DeRose
June 16, 23 and 30 ó Louise and Harold Heritage

Coffee for June ó August
Friendship Committee relies on volunteers to provide refreshments from June through August. Please sign up to prepare refreshments one First Day during the
summer months. The sign up poster is in the hallway. (Please put your phone number after your name.) No experience is necessary. It is a great way for attenders to get to know folks a little better ó ask someone to sign up with you.

There are people on the Friendship committee who are glad to help. Their phone numbers are on the poster or just ask someone at Meeting. Your expenses for buying the cookies, etc., are reimbursed by the Meeting.

Thanks, The Friendship Committee.

Upcoming Events

June 2 ó Meeting Family Special Event

Come one, come all adults, children, parents or
NOT! We need you for our Community Dance ó adult folk dances simplified for children (and the dance impaired). Please come and get acquainted with the Meeting children and their parents. Refreshments and dancing immediately following Meeting for Worship. Sponsored by the Childrenís Inclusion Committee.

June 2 ó Faith and conscience: supporting churches and faith groups as they struggle to deny terrorists a victory.

2 pm, Overbrook Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. How can we strengthen the voice of conscience?
If you are interested, contact Laurence Sigmond at 215-843-8747, or 800 220 0796 ext 7238, or e-mail laurence@pym.org.

Saturday, June 15 ó Moorestown Vocal Arts
Festival 2002

A day for the whole family: story tellers, live music, arts, crafts, performances, workshops, meetinghouse tours. Food and drink available or bring a picnic
basket! Gates open at 9 am and the festival runs
from 10 am to 9 pm. For more information, call
856-235-1561, or email moorestownmm@msn.com.

Saturday June 15th ó Israeli-Palestinian Peace ó ìLet us see what Friends can do.î

A full day conference to seek truth, consider options, and share ideas for members and attenders of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. 9 am- 4 pm. Arch Street Meeting House, 4th & Arch St. Philadelphia.
(See article on page 5.)

June 29 through July 6 ó Friends General Conference Gathering of Friends

This yearís gathering is being held at Illinois State University in Normal, IL. The theme this year is:
To Be Gathered Still. For more information, call
215-561-1700 or visit the FGC web site,
www.fgcquaker.org/gathering.

July 14 ó Meeting Picnic

Childrenís Inclusion Committee is sponsoring a picnic outside the Meetinghouse after Meeting on July 14. They will provide hamburgers and hot dogs ó please bring a side dish to share. Everyone is invited!

July 19-21 ó Pendle Hill Inquirersí Weekend

Basic Quakerism, led by Chel Avery and Kenneth Sutton. We will consider basic elements of Quaker faith and practice and consider how they are expressed today. Attenders, new members and long-time Friends are welcome. Pendle Hill will match Meeting scholarships. (Contact Worship and Ministry if interested.) For more information about this or other offerings at Pendle Hill call 610-566-4507 or 800-742-3150 or visit www.pendlehill.org.

August 8 ñ 12 ó Biennial gathering of Fellowship
of Friends of African Descent.

To be held at Pendle Hill, Wallingford, PA. For more information, visit the web site www.quaker.org/ffad.

August 10 ñ 17 ó Middle School Friends Arts Camp

Burlington Conference Center. This camp for children entering 6th, 7th and 8th grades offers workshops on theater, juggling, visual arts, writing, and other subjects. They will also spend an afternoon at the beach and visit Philadelphia. Registration deadline is July 1. Scholarships are available. For more information,
contact Melanie Douty at 215-241-7171 or e-mail melanied@pym.org.

May 2002 Monthly Meeting for Business

Monthly Meeting for Business took place on May 15 and began with a period of silent worship during which the Clerk read Query number 7 on Social Responsibility and Witness from Faith and Practice.

How does our Meeting work:
ï to overcome social, legal, economic, and political injustices, locally and in the wider world?
ï for the funding of community services that does not rely on gaming income?

Does our Meeting serve the community through action on concerns for civic improvement? What actions are we taking to assure everyone equal access to education, health care, legal services, housing, and employment as well as equal opportunities in business and in the professions?

When a member has lifted up a concern, how does our Meeting respond?

Does our Meeting encourage those seeking clearness for their convictions of conscience to hold up such convictions with prayerful openness to the Light?

After announcements Justin Loughry reported for Peace and Social Concerns. The committee has
developed an outline for a broad based criminal justice project focusing on violence and substance abuse
prevention and providing support services to people being released from prison and at risk young people and adults. The project will allow Tommy Trantino an opportunity to use his life experience by helping those in need. Tommy Trantino is a recently released prisoner who was convicted of murder and has been serving time since the mid 1960s. While incarcerated, he turned the focus of his life to helping and counseling. Peace and Social Concerns asked that Haddonfield Meeting become the sponsoring group for this project. The meeting approved. Peace and Social Concerns also requested $500 from the special concerns fund for use with the project. The meeting approved. The meeting also approved forwarding a request to Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting for their endorsement. Priscilla Adams submitted a proposed minute that could be used to document HFMís support of this project to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

The clerk of Finance Committee reported that the Meeting is falling short on its goal for annual giving.

The marriage of Lisa Boyell and David Brady has taken place. David, who is not a member of Meeting, commented on the inclusiveness and care of the ceremony. We share with them their happiness.

We gave final approval for the transfer of membership of the King family to Swarthmore Meeting and will send a letter to that meeting.

Jayne Stokes reported for Religious Education about the effort to establish a Meeting position to guide our young Friends in making a decision about registering for the military. (see article on p.4.)

Jim Fritner from Moorestown Meeting spoke about the Vocal Arts Festival to be held in Moorestown on June 15. (see Upcoming Events.)

Bequests from the S. Harrison Gardiner and
Mary L. Gardiner Trust were reported. One bequest for $20,000 is earmarked for the burial ground and the other for $25,000 is for the Meetingís general use. The school received two bequests for $100,000 each which will be used for student scholarships. Pat Williams also reported that the closing for 65 Haddon Avenue will take place on Tuesday, May 14.

Bill Schmidt reported for the School Committee on the progress of the search for an interim head for the school. There are four excellent candidates that are being considered.

After discussing how Quarterly Meeting can best serve the needs of Haddonfield Meeting, we agreed to forward our concerns to June 23rdís Quarterly Meeting at Mt. Laurel Meetinghouse. We question whether the Quarterly Meeting needs to exist in its present form but do agree it has important functions.

We approved the Nominating Committee list of committees as circulated at the April Meeting for Business. We noted that Nominating Committee has yet to identify a Recording Clerk. Many good words were expressed for Pam Perryís four years of clerking and Drew Biehlís recording of minutes.

Remember ó Business Meeting has a time and
date change for the summer!

June: June 9 at rise of Meeting
July no Monthly Meeting
August August 11 at rise of Meeting.

FIRST DAY SCHOOL

ìIt Takes a Meeting to Raise a Friend.î
ìYe have no time but this present time.î G. Fox

Submitted by Flora McKinney

Thoughts about Religious Education

If we want our children to consider being Quakers, we need first to be examples of Quaker principles ó but that is not enough these days when we live in and are surrounded by a society based on competition and consumerism. We actually need to teach our beliefs and values. The First Day School and Meeting Libraries have a variety of story books and guide books available for family reading and use. First Day School classes help children to get acquainted with other Quaker children so they realize there are others who have
these beliefs. First Day School also has a well-rounded curriculum for teaching about Friendsí beliefs, autobiographies of Friends, about the Bible and about other Faiths. The Religious Education Committee would welcome the opportunity to recruit enough teachers to provide classes for all of the 69 children who are listed on our Member and Attenders List.
We invite you all to consider making a commitment
to religious education for your family and also make
it a priority in your life.

First Day School will begin again September 15.
We hope to see you all then.

If anyone is interested in teaching childrenís First Day School, please contact Flora McKinney. You only need to commit to an 8-week time period. We also need assistants and substitutes.

Sneak Preview of Fall 2002 Adult FDS

The Religious Education Committee has planned
what we hope will be an exciting Fall session.
Conflict Resolution will be one offering. We will also have a Bible study course taught by Tony Prete, a Haddonfield resident who often teaches at Pendle Hill. The Fall session will end with our traditional holiday fun ó Simple Gifts and carolling. Whatís in store for 2003? Tell the REC what you would like for First Day School. We welcome any and all suggestions.

Friends Peace Testimony Action
Needed Now!

House Resolution 3595 ó To require induction into the Armed Services of young men registered under the Selective Service Act was introduced in the House of Representatives last December. It provides for Selective Service to continue as it did prior to 1973. Its provision for Conscientious Objection is ambiguous. Let your congressman know your position. There is material about the draft in the foyer at the Meeting House.

Working Group on Conscientious Objection

At March Monthly Meeting for Business, it was suggested that the Meeting have a statement on conscientious objection that would help guide our young Friends in reaching decisions about military service. To that end, Religious Education Committee scheduled a two-part forum on war and conscientious objection for April 28 and May 5. Attendance at each session was about 10-15 people. We discussed the need to bear in mind the
spiritual basis of the Peace Testimony and not be swayed by current political and social situations. Several of those present talked about the influences they had in their lives that helped them reach a decision on whether or not to serve in the military.

At the end of the second session, a decision was reached to form a working group on conscientious objection. This group would draft a statement to bring to the Meeting for approval. They would then be
available on an as-needed basis to serve as a clearness committee for any young Friend seeking counsel or information about conscientious objection. Jake McGlaughlin, Harold Heritage, Blake Angus-Anderson and Joanne Heizer all volunteered for this committee. Bill Patterson offered his services as a consultant. The group is seeking more people. We hope to have young as well as more seasoned Friends serve on the committee. If you are interested, contact Jake McGlaughlin at jmcglaug@nothinbut.net.

HFS School News
Submitted by Tr. Shelley and Tr. Brian,
Third Grade Teachers

On Friday, May 10th, the Annual Third Grade Peace Fair was held at Haddonfield Friends School. About 160 third grade students from Moorestown, Mullica Hill, Westfield, Rancocas, and Orchard Friends schools joined with our own third-graders in the Meetinghouse to hear Charlotte Alston, an accomplished storyteller tell tales of the struggles for peace. We then broke up into 12 groups and assembled in the main school building for cooperative games, snack, and an art activity used to extend the principles of peace-making. Each group was led by a teacher and assistant from a participating Quaker School. We concluded our time together with a wonderful time of sharing. The messages were sincere, heart-felt and hopefully, long-lasting.

We want to thank Mr. Cullen and Mr. Cotter for
supporting us with the material needs to make this
day possible. Also, many thanks to the 15 parents who devoted the day to act as hosts and hostesses. Without their help we would not have been able to carry out our plan. Finally, we would like to thank all the teachers who made special plans to take their students on a field trip so we could use their classroom space to accomplish the goals of the day.

We look forward to seeing the seeds of peace grow.

Service Project News

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

A great big thank you to everyone who helped make our Pedals for Progress bicycle collection a huge success! We collected 69 adult and kidís bikes, some computer equipment, a few soccer balls, a couple of sewing machines and monetary donations necessary for shipping. These items will be so appreciated when they reach their final destinations. Eric Schenk and the Service committee would like to thank the HFS students for such a wonderful reception during Ericís visit a few weeks ago. Your enthusiasm and interest meant a lot to Eric. We also need to extend our gratitude to the Friends Meeting for all of its support. We couldnít have pulled this collection off without your generous help and spirit! We hope to continue this collection every year, so hold on to those old bikes! Weíll see you next spring!

Tracey Miller for the Service Committee

Out of the Mouths of Babes Ö

Recently, Teacher Robin Stocktonís fourth grade class was asked to write about their reflections on Meeting for Worship. Here are some responses:

On Wednesday at 9:15, most classes are taking off their coats, but we are putting on our coats and going over to the Meeting House. Most kids find it hard to sit still in 45 minutes of silence. People can stand up and say something, like ask for a prayer or just share. Iíve been going to HFS for four years, since first grade, and some days itís hard to sit still. But other days I like to sit still and think. Not every Wednesday I do that. Sometimes I just like to listen to the people who stand up. All in all, Meeting is a time to think, or to listen, or to ask for a prayer, or to say a prayer.

Morgan Zwengler

Meeting has meant a lot to me this year. It is the time to express your feelings, sorrows, and joys. It can be short or long, serious or not. You should feel safe in Meeting. Donít be scared to stand up in Meeting.

anonymous

Meeting for Worship is important and it should be for everyone. I pray for whoever was hurt or just sad even if I could not hear what they said because their voices were so low. I pray for my family and friends. I thank God for my shelter and I always take five minutes to thank God that my pop-pop is treated for his heart problems. I also think itís too hard to think on the itchy and hard seats and when people talk it feels so long but thatís my opinion. Some people may think itís short or even boring. I for one donít think itís boring. I think you can plan whether youíre going to be happy the whole day or not. Iíll even go when I am old.

Philana Pellegrino

Middle East Conference

June 15, 2002, 9 am ñ 4:00 pm, Arch Street Meeting, 4th & Arch St.

This conference was born out of the action of the Yearly Meeting in support of Ramallah Friends Meeting. The planning has been undertaken by the Middle East Working Group with assistance of PYM Staff and under the auspices of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee.

There have been four guiding goals (the wording may get refined in conference material.

1. Build shared understanding of the facts.

2. Articulate the core points which a Quaker perspective is likely to include. (Clarify that the Quaker desire for justice is not equivalent to a pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel or anti-Semitic viewpoint, nor are Palestinians immune from criticism.)

3. Increase Friends awareness and comfort with the tools of peacemaking from introductory sessions to hands-on approaches, plus effective speaking with
non-Friends and the media.

4. Thrashing/brainstorming/uniting on how PYM can deepen its relationship with and act for peace through the Ramallah Friends Meeting as initiated at the March Yearly Meeting sessions

Keynote Speakers:

Steve Cary, former Executive Director, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), author of
The Roots & Witness of Quakerism and Germantown Monthly Meeting member.

Nadia Hijab, author and independent consultant on human rights, human development, gender & the media, former BBC Commentator and UN Development Programme Advisor. Frequent presenter on the topic ìThe Palestinian Experience: a Vision for the Future.î

Ian Lustick, professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of several books, including Unsettled States, Disputed Lands,
and For the Land and the Lord: Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel.

Lillian Peters, AFSCís Middle East Region Representative, active with Israel-Palestine Peacebuilding Program.

Discussion break-outs & poster sessions. Middle-
eastern lunch provided. Suggested food donation $8. Child care available with prior RSVP up to 1 week before (6/8). To RSVP or for more info: contact PYM, Joan Broadfield at: 800 220 0796, ext 7230 (local: 215-241-7230) or e-mail joanb@pym.org

You can also contact Howard McKinney at e-mail hwmckinney@earthlink.net

Letter to the President

PYM Interim Meeting approved sending this letter to President Bush:

Members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, representing one hundred four congregations that make up the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting approved the following minute of concern on April 25, 2002.

We are grateful that the American government is working to try to stop the bloodshed in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel. Amid frustrating circumstances, it is encouraging to see the State Department of the United States working positively to bring peace to this troubled region of the world.

Now we exhort our government to re-double its present efforts in this search for peace and justice. Furthermore, we hope that both sides of the conflict ó the Israelis and the Palestinians ó will be held fully accountable for behavior which exacerbates
tensions in the region.

As Quakers we believe that there is that of God in every person, and thus we feel great concern for both Palestinians and Israelis. We ask our government to treat both sides with fairness and dignity. We also urge our government to refuse to supply weapons that may be used in the conflict

At this moment all the parties to this conflict are living in fear. We as a Yearly Meeting are offering our aid and support to Ramallah Friends Meeting, the Quaker congregation on the West Bank. We also encourage the Israeli peace movement.

We pray that our government can help the Israelis and Palestinians find a true and just peace, and that our nation will be seen as a force for peace in the world. We believe that the worldís problems cannot be solved with violence but only by people reaching out to and cooperating with each other.

Rumors of Peace

A group of Friends and others have been working
for several years to create an International Civilian Nonviolent Peaceforce of 200 or more that will be
sent to conflict areas to prevent death and destruction and promote human rights, thus creating space for local groups to struggle nonviolently, enter into dialog and seek a peaceful resolution.

Launching the Nonviolent Peaceforce will take place at an international conference scheduled for November 28 through December 2 in New Delhi, India. Over 100 delegates will come from Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East/North Africa to establish the new organization that will guide and develop the Nonviolent Peaceforce as a Non Governmental Organization.

It is suggested that peace activists throughout the country commemorate September 11 by working a day for peace on that day and donating their wages to the Nonviolent Peaceforce. For more information, e-mail Lenief@nonviolentpeaceforce.org. A newsletter published electronically four times a year can be obtained by e-mail at judy@ nonviolentpeaceforce.org

Spiritual Formation Group
From PYM News

Almost 150 Friends from all over the Yearly Meeting have participated in the Spiritual Formation Program
in the past three years and brought new vitality to their own lives and the lives of their Meetings. Friends with
a hunger for a deeper spiritual life gather to explore Quaker texts on prayer, spiritual discipline, discerning oneís call and Quakerism. As spiritual friendships deepen, support is given and received in small groups around the challenges faced and breakthroughs experienced while seeking to know God more deeply in everyday life.

Whole-group retreats at the beginning, middle and end of the nine-month program offer resources, workshops and fellowship. A number of Friends from an individual Monthly Meeting or within a Quarter participate together as a ìregional groupî for lively discussions of the readings and in smaller worship-sharing groups.

Now is the time to consider joining next yearís program at the opening retreat October 11-12, 2002, at the beautiful Mount Dale Farm! It is a wonderful way to renew your spirit. For more information, contact Upper Susquehanna Quarter Coordinator Wade Wright at wadew@epix.net.

Volunteers needed for PYM
Library Services Group:

New meeting time

The Library Services Group will begin meeting once a month on Saturdays from 10 am to noon in the library at Friends Center. The next meeting will be June 29. Future Saturday dates will be chosen at that meeting. We are hoping this new time will make it possible for some new people to join. The work of this group is to guide and support the library program both spiritually and practically. Librarians, or former librarians, are ideal candidates, but there are many other skills that are also helpful, such as:

ï Love of, and awareness of, books and their place in the spiritual life of the membership

ï Involvement with your Monthly Meeting library

ï Budgeting, organizational, computer or promotional skills, and other skills God knows we need that I have not thought of

One benefit of joining the group is that you may learn a lot more about possibilities for the PYM Library to serve your meeting. If the Spirit moves you, call Rita Varley at 215-241-7219.

Save Those Stamps
Submitted by Deedy Roberts

The Quaker Missions Stamp Project of Mattapoisett Monthly Meeting in Massachusetts has been collecting and selling stamps for five years. A total of $19,050 has been given to various Quaker and refugee organizations around the world.

The project accepts donations of stamps (commemorative stamps net the project the most money), which they process and sell to collectors and wholesalers. In addition to stamps, they also accept complete, neatly opened envelopes from foreign countries, picture postcards and government postcards in their entirety, and historical paper valued for its subject matter (autographs, prints, sports memorabilia, 19th century photos, etc.) These items are sold at auction with Quaker Missions receiving the proceeds.

If you want to donate stamps, send them to Quaker Missions, PO Box 795, Mattapoisett, MA 02739.

The Journal of George Fox
Continued from May

We passed through Montgomeryshire into Wales, and so into Radnorshire, where there was a meeting like a leaguer, for multitudes. I walked a little aside whilst the people were gathering: and there came to me John ap-John, a Welshman, whom I asked to go to the people; and if he had anything upon him from the Lord to them, he might speak in Welsh, and thereby gather more together. Then came Morgan Watkins to me, who was become loving to Friends, and said, ìThe people lie like a leaguer, and the gentry of the country are come in.î I bade him go up also, and leave me; for I had a great travail upon me for the salvation of the people.

When they were well gathered, I went into the meeting, and stood upon a chair about three hours. I stood a pretty while before I began to speak. After some time I felt the power of the Lord over the whole assembly: and His everlasting life and Truth shone over all. The Scriptures were opened to them, and the objections they had in their minds answered. They were directed to the Light of Christ, the heavenly man; that by it they might see their sins, and Christ Jesus to be their Saviour, their Redeemer, their Mediator; and come to feed upon Him, the bread of life from heaven.

Many were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to His free teaching that day; and all were bowed down under the power of God; so that though the multitude was so great that many sat on horseback to hear, there was no opposition. A priest sat with his wife on horseback, heard attentively, and made no objection.

The people parted peaceably, with great satisfaction; many of them saying they had never heard such a sermon before, nor the Scriptures so opened. For the new covenant was opened, and the old, and the nature and terms of each; and the parables were explained. The state of the Church in the apostlesí days was set forth, and the apostasy since was laid open; the free teaching of Christ and the apostles was set atop of all the hireling teachers; and the Lord had the praise of all, for many were turned to Him that day.

I went thence to Leominster, where was a great meeting in a close, many hundreds of people being gathered together. There were about six congregational preachers and priests amongst the people; and Thomas Taylor, who had been a priest, but was now become a minister of Christ Jesus, was with me. I stood up and declared about three hours; and none of the priests were able to open their mouths in opposition; the Lordís power and Truth so reached and bound them.

At length one priest went off about a bow-shot from me, drew several of the people after him, and began to preach to them. So I kept our meeting, and he kept his. After awhile Thomas Taylor was moved to go and speak to him, upon which he gave over: and he, with the people he had drawn off, came to us again; and the Lordís power went over all.

From the Editor

This is our last newsletter until September. (August 18 is the deadline for the September issue.) I hope the newsletter has been as interesting for you to read as it has been for me to put together. This is your newsletter. If there is anything you would like to see included (or not) in future newsletters, please let me know. My address and phone number are on the back page. You can also drop a note in the brown envelope marked ìnewsletterî in the foyer. See you in September!

Jayne Stokes