What does a Quaker believe?

A Quaker is a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a world-wide fellowship of those who believe that there is ìthat of God in every oneî and who carries this belief to its logical conclusion in his way of worship and in his relations with his fellow men.

Quakers hold that the worship of God is the primary purpose of the religious life. For non-Friends, this is accomplished by receiving sacraments, performing
rituals, listening to sermons, reading from the Scriptures, singing sacred music.

For Friends, group worship is a fellowship of the spirit ó based on silent communion with God and their fellow worshippers without any program, yet often resulting
in vocal prayer, ìwitness,î testimony or exhortation.

Quakers believe that God speaks to all men and women through the still, small inner voice. This
was true not only in the past. God speaks also in
the present, his revelation is continuing.

Richmond P. Miller, What the Quakers Believe

Coffee and Covered Dish for October
Overseers

Upcoming Events

October 11ñ12 ó ìGeorge Foxís Legacy: Friends
for 350 Years.î
Conference sponsored by Friends Historical Library
at Swarthmore College. Registration $5. Call for
information: 610-328-8496.

October 18ñ20 ó Tri-Quarter Gathering
Camp Ockanickon, Medford, NJ. There is still time to register for this weekend of workshops, worship and fun. For information or to register, contact
Cindy Cox Crispin, e-mail Georgeacrispin@aol.com.

October 19 ó Haddonfield Fall Festival
John Donch is organizing a table with information and handouts about Quakers and the Meeting.
If you have an hour or so to volunteer at the table, please contact John.

October 20 ó Quarterly Meeting at Tri-Quarter Gathering
See enclosed flyer for information.

October 25ñ27 ó Young Friends Halloween Gathering
Burlington Meetinghouse. Come join the fun at
ìLos Dias de los Muertos.î For information, check out PYMís web site, pym.org (click on the link to Young Friends), or contact Cookie Caldwell at 800-220-0796 ext. 7222, or cookiec@pym.org. Friendly presences are also needed ó contact Cookie if interested.

October 26 ó Fall Workshop for Friendly
Care-Givers
PYMís Care and Counsel for Meetings and Members is sponsoring a workshop for experienced members of Committees of Oversight, Ministry and Counsel, and other groups that care for members, attenders, and the Meeting community. The gathering will run from
9 AM to 3:30 PM on Saturday, October 26, at Arch Street Meetinghouse, with lunch and other refreshments provided. Workshops will be led by members of the Friends Counseling Service and other professional care-givers.

The cost will be $10 per person, limited to 50
participants, so we encourage Friends to register as soon as they can. To register, e-mail Steve Gulick at steveg@pym.org. by October 16.

October 27 ó Crop Walk
This annual walk raises money to combat world hunger. If you are interested in walking or in sponsoring a walker, contact Diane Snyder, e-mail disnydd@aol.com.

November 2ó AFSC Annual Public Gathering
See the article on page 6 of this newsletter.

September 2002 Monthly Meeting
for Business

Monthly Meeting for Business was held on September 8th at rise of Meeting. Ceil McFadden, clerk of Nominating Committee, announced that Peter Ivory is our new recording clerk. Peter is a new member who transferred his membership from Central Philadelphia MM.

Overseers

In addition to the announcing the membership of Peter Ivory, Overseers recommended the Werner family ó Diane, Chris, Brendon and Lauren ó for membership. It will be held over for approval until next month. Nancy Wogan requested her membership be transferred to Berkley, CA MM. This was approved.

Overseers also announced it is sending Bob Brookes to a Pendle Hill conference on clerking.

Reports

Jayne Stokes gave the annual report for Religious Education Committee (see below). This was followed
by a spirited discussion of First Day School, led by RE clerk, Flora McKinney. Flora stated that the Meeting
has 65 children from 45 families among its members and attenders. Of those, 18 children from 10 families regularly attended First Day School last year. She asked: How can we reach out to more families and what do people want? Many suggestions were given ó having FDS every other month, more discussion groups or
special interest groups (such as Faith & Practice or Book of John) and to have more outside speakers. It was felt that better communication from RE Committee was needed so people knew about upcoming programs and could plan for them. Flora will take these ideas back to the committee and will give an update at Novemberís Business Meeting.

Priscilla Adams and Tommy Trantino gave a report on the progress of the ìBeyond Prison Wallsî project. Tommy thanked the Meeting for their support of the project and gave a brief account of his life and experiences. Read more about the project on page 6 of this newsletter.

Report of the Religious Education Committee 2001ñ2002

This year childrenís First Day School had three sessions of approximately eight weeks each. Each session had an overall theme ó Truth in Action: Let Your Life Speak, Racism, and Ecology. This structure was more convenient for both teachers and children and resulted in a
better pattern of attendance. We sent letters to each family at the beginning of each session introducing the teachers and information about the theme for each
session. Along with the letters, we included articles relating to each theme ó Simple Riches for the Fall session, White Privilege for Winter, and the Quaker Eco-Bulletin for Spring.

In December, we planned special activities for the holidays. We had Simple Gifts, organized by Francie Pagell, with Colleen Gangemi, Shayna Riddle, Susan Tucker and Jayne Stokes assisting. We had carol singing with David Smith and Deedy Roberts, and the children
presented a Christmas pageant, written by Ty Drago.

We finished our First Day School year on May 19 with the awarding of Bibles to ten 6th graders and Faith & Practice to eight 8th graders. Dan Tompkinsí 4thñ6th grade class put on a play entitled ìBack to the Future with John Woolman and Lucretia Mottî during covered dish.

We thanked our teachers and helpers with flowers.
Our teachers and helpers this year were: Maria Alvarado, Audrey Williams, Lisa Boyell, Bill Morad, Marion Dear, Mary Noland, Helene Drago, Shayna Riddle, Ty Drago, Salvatore Scafidi, Drew Humphries, Diane Snyder, Catherine King, Dan Tompkins, Ann Miller and Diane Werner.

We started off the adult Religious Education year with a get-acquainted program facilitated by Gary Smith and Jake McGlaughlin. Then we established a more regular routine for our adult First Day School programs. The first Sunday of each month was a discussion of one of the queries from Faith & Practice; on the second Sunday, individuals shared their spiritual journeys;
the third Sunday, we had a speaker; the fourth Sunday, a committee report; and fifth Sundays were for testimonies. At the request of Monthly Meeting, we held
a two-part program on conscientious objection, facilitated by Ann Miller and Bill Patterson. Out of this
discussion, an ad hoc committee was formed that will formulate a minute on conscientious objection for the meeting to approve. This committee will also be available on an as-needed basis to counsel draft-age young Friends and attenders. Jake McGlaughlin, Harold Heritage, Blake Angus-Anderson and Joanne Heizer all volunteered for this committee. Bill Patterson offered his services as a consultant.

Our speakers this year included James Fine, a former headmaster of Ramallah Friends School; Bruce Birchard, head of FGC; Vanessa Julye, a delegate to the UN conference on Racism; and Chris Ravendal, a teacher from Pendle Hill who led a workshop on centering prayer.

In addition to these programs, a separate group of five to six persons met every other week throughout the year to study The Book of John. This study was facilitated by Keith Wallace.

We would like to thank all the speakers and facilitators who took part in First Day School this year. Also, thanks go to our hard-working committee members during the past year: Francie Pagell, Leila Barclay,
Jake McGlaughlin, Ty and Helene Drago and George Harrison. Also, many thanks to Bob DeRose for his calligraphy on the Bibles and Faith & Practice.

Flora McKinney and Jayne Stokes,
co-clerks, Religious Education Committee

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 and Jake McGlaughlin

A discussion about Religious Education at the September Business Meeting especially focused on
the small attendance at First Day School. One response was, ìThatís just the way things are.î Early Friends
didnít like the way things were and went about changing them. Why do we accept ìthe way things are?î All too often I hear the remark, ìThere are people at Meeting that I do not know!î Being acquainted with Meeting members is one of the ways to build Community ó one of the most important aspects of a Friends Meeting!

It takes more than Meeting for Worship on First Day to build Community!

The Way Things Are

We lead very busy lives. One of the dangers of busyness and overwork is that we lose the capacity to listen closely to what our work is really about. In our rush of movement, we forget our gifts, we lose touch with our talents and intuitions, we become deaf to our genuine, inner wisdom. Thomas Merton says that when we succumb to this busyness, we are actually giving birth to a subtle form of violence. There is a pervasive form of contemporary violence Ö (and that is) activism and overwork.
The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence.

To allow ourselves to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to violence.

The frenzy of our activism neutralizes our work for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of our own work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful. Brother David Steindl-Rast reminds us that the Chinese word for ìbusyî is composed of two characters: ìheartî and ìkilling.î When we make ourselves so busy that we are always rushing around trying to get this or that ìdoneî or ìover with,î we kill something vital in ourselves and we smother the quiet
wisdom of our heart.

In the book of Ecclesiastes there is a proverb: ìBetter one hand full of quiet than two hands full of striving after wind.î Unpracticed in the art of quiet, we hope to find our safety, our belonging, and our healing by increasing our level of accomplishments. But our frantic busyness actually makes us deaf to what is healing and sacred, both in ourselves and another. Do we want to change the way things are?

How do we change the way things are?

Bible Study at Haddonfield
Monthly Meeting

In response to comments, survey results and a felt need, First Day School will offer a series on the Bible, beginning on October 6 and continuing for four
consecutive First Days, ending on November 3. This program is presented by Tony Prete, who also conducts classes at Pendle Hill.

This course will include an overview of the Bible, with
a special emphasis on the content and formation of the two Testaments (ìOldî and ìNewî), the biblical perspective on ìhistory,î and what the Bible really (and surprisingly) says about God and our relationship with God.

Although greater coherence and understanding will be the benefit of attendance at all sessions, each session offers something of interest. Therefore, although being there for all sessions is encouraged, missing a session does not prevent one from benefiting from other
sessions. There is a sign-up list in the Meetinghouse, and you can sign up in advance or when you attend.
A donation of $10 per person or $15 per couple is requested for the program. Scholarships are available upon request.

So, come join the Bible study, deepen your understanding of Scripture, and broaden your perspective
on biblical history.

TONY PRETE is a member of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, and lives in Haddonfield. He carries out his ministry to teach Scripture to Friends by conducting regular classes at Pendle Hill, and by teaching at area Meetings. He presented the daily Bible study at the 2001 Gathering of Friends General Conference, and conducted a workshop (ìThe God of Compassion in the Hebrew Scripturesî) at the 2002 Gathering.

Holiday Stories

Religious Education Committee is seeking families and individuals to share their favorite holiday stories with the Meeting. This would be part of our FDS offering on December 15. If you think you might be interested, call George Harrison by October 15th.

New Schedule for Children

Childrenís Inclusion Committee is introducing a new schedule for childrenís First Day.

10:00 Meeting for Worship, including all children.

10:20 A preschool First Day School teacher will leave with all preschoolers and any older children (through third grade) who wish to be dismissed. Preschoolers will have FDS at this time, while the older children will go to child care.

11:00 Coffee and social time for all.

11:20ñ Children grades one and up will go to FDS.
12:15 Preschoolers whose parents are attending
adult FDS will go to child care.

This schedule will allow children to share in the life of Meeting for Worship for a manageable period of time. Separating the children according to age will allow child care to organize appropriate activities for each group. Childrenís Inclusion is continuing to work on ideas that will enhance the Meeting experience for every child.

Joint Statement in Response to
Threat of War with Iraq

From the General and Executive Secretaries of
Five Quaker Organizations, Ninth Month, 24, 2002

ìI told them that I lived in the virtue of that life
and power that took away the occasion of all warsÖ I told them I was come into the covenant of peace which was before wars and strife wereÖî

George Fox, Founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), 1651.

The United States government stands on the verge of launching a major war against Iraq. At the same time, U.S. political leaders are promulgating a doctrine that asserts the United Statesí right to launch unilateral, preemptive military strikes on any nation or group to counter a perceived threat. The peace and security of all peoples are threatened by these developments.

If ever there were a time for Friends to take action based upon our historic peace testimony, that time is now. We call upon Friends to witness and work to prevent this war, to reverse this new military doctrine, to call upon our governments to implement multilateral, diplomatic responses to the threats posed by the government of Iraq, and to continue developing positive, nonviolent approaches to resolving international conflicts. We know that there are millions of people of good will with whom we can join in this work.

We find many compelling reasons for all people of faith and reason to oppose this war and this dangerous new military policy. Among them are:

ï A war with Iraq is likely to cause tremendous loss of human lives, vast destruction, and terrible human suffering.

ï The aftermath of a war with Iraq is likely to include years of chaos and suffering in Iraq, instability and violence in the Middle East and South Asia, hatred of the United States for generations to come, and
an increase in acts of terrorism against countries deemed responsible for the war.

ï Such a war, and the policy that underlies it, would legitimize preemptive military strikes by nations that feel threatened by others. Such a terrible precedent would undermine international law and the U.N. Charter and could lead to a tremendous increase in wars and violence in the future.

We know from history that acts of violence only breed further violence. We also know that the terrifying spiral of violence and hatred can be interrupted by acts of creative nonviolence, conflict resolution and courageous love. The real path to global security lies in a stronger global civil society based on increasing trust and respect, the rule of international law, and the removal of the roots of violence and war.

There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.

Thomas Jeavons, General Secretary, Philadelphia
Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends

Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee

Bruce Birchard, General Secretary, Friends General Conference (organization listed for identification
purposes only)

Steven Baumgartner, Executive Director, Pendle Hill

Joe Volk, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation

Some ways you can take action

October 5 ó Take a Stand for Peace

A demonstration will be held from 12 to 2 PM at the bus stop at Cherry Hill Mall (Rte. 38 and Mall Park Drive). Sponsors include Leavenhouse, Greater Camden Unity Coalition, Newton Friends Meeting.

October 26 ó National March on Washington, DC to Stop the War on Iraq Before it Starts!

This is a march being planned by a national
coalition. If interested and want to be connected, contact Peace@pym.org.

Call or e-mail your congressmen and senators. The website www.congress.org allows you to send e-mail to all your representatives with one click of your mouse.

Conscientious Objection

Young Friends

The Working Committee on Conscientious Objection is sponsoring a program for Young Friends who are interested in hearing more about Selective Service
(the Draft). It will be held on October 13, 2002 immediately following FDS.

The program will last about 45 minutes and feature
a short video called G.I. Lies. There will be a pizza lunch for participants. A discussion period will follow. Though not eligible for the draft, should it be reinstated, young women are welcome and warmly encouraged to attend. Sign up is not necessary, but to plan amounts of pizza,
it would be helpful if you would either sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board, or contact Jake McGlaughlin, jmcglaug@nothinbut.net to mention that youíll be coming.

Haddonfield Meetingís Position
on Conscientious Objection

The Working Committee on Conscientious Objection will meet on Friday, October 4 to discuss developing
a statement for presentation to Meeting for Business. The meeting will be held at 8 PM in the Library and all are welcome to come.

Friends Transition Support Services

Beyond Prison Walls: Friends Transition Support Services (FTSS) wants to keep Haddonfield Meeting members informed and so has been reporting regularly to Peace & Social Concerns and reported twice to Haddonfield Meeting for Business. We will continue these reports as well as putting articles in the Meeting newsletter. Friends Transition Support Services:

1) offers services and resources to a) people coming out of prison or drug recovery programs and their families and b) to people at risk of going to prison or becoming drug dependent and their families and

2) does educational/advocacy programs with community groups.

In the first 4 months, many things have been accomplished. The dedicated Steering Committee meets every 2-4 weeks and the skills and commitment of our program coordinator, Tommy Trantino, have developed the work far beyond where we expected to be at this time.

We have given programs to 11 groups of people who are ìat riskî for drug/alcohol abuse or prison or to staff working with these groups, to 11 Quaker groups and a social change artists group. There are many other similar programs already scheduled for the fall. People leaving prison have started asking for assistance with their individual needs. We have met with numerous community organizations working on criminal justice issues.

We continue to search for a space which can serve as both an office space and as a place to hold ongoing programs and workshops. A brochure is almost complete, and an outreach statement has just been finished. Tommy and several steering committee members are going to Alternatives to Violence Program workshops to become facilitators.

We continue to get very strong encouragement from community groups and people needing our services who say what a positive difference our work makes.

FTSS has raised $34,000 from Yearly Meeting, Monthly Meetings and individuals. Other grant
applications are already submitted and in process.

For individuals who would like to contribute, please make checks out to Haddonfield Meeting, putting FTSS in the memo section, and mail them to Friends Transition Support Services, Friends Avenue and
Lake Street, Haddonfield, NJ 08033.

There are many different ways that you can participate such as providing transportation, food, friendship, donating your expertise, etc. If you would like to work with us, have questions, or would like copies of our outreach statement or brochure, please call Priscilla.

PYM Happenings

Using Quickbooks

The Treasurerís Planning Group is sponsoring a
hands-on workshop in using Quickbooks software
on Saturday, October 12 from 10 am to 2 pm at Westtown School. This workshop would be useful for Meeting Treasurers, Assistant Treasurers and Finance Committee Members. Registration is limited to 18
participants and advanced registration is required. To
register, e-mail Connie Brookes (CABFidCorp@aol.com) or Kathy Reilly (215-241-7214, kathyr@pym.org).

Tuition Aid Workshop

Save the date! A Tuition Aid Workshop for representatives of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings will be held Saturday, November 9. More information in next monthís newsletter.

AFSC Annual Gathering

The Annual Public Gathering of the American Friends Service Committee will be Saturday, November 2, beginning at 1:30 PM at Friends Center, 15th and Cherry Streets in Philadelphia.

The theme of the event will be ìWhat builds real peace and security?î The keynote address will be given by Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, South Africaís deputy
minister of defense. She is a Quaker with a long history in the womenís movement. Her address will be followed by three simultaneous panels about AFSCís work
promoting peace, working in conflict and post-conflict situations, and protecting civil liberties.

The Annual Public Gathering is free and open to
the public; the building is wheelchair accessible; the keynote address will be amplified through the Friends Centerís new hearing assistance system and interpreted in American Sign Language.

On Friday, November 1, at 7 PM, the public is invited to the Friends Center to attend a free Concert for Peace. Philadelphia Orchestra violist Judith Geist will perform a ìnew musicî work created by jazz musician and composer Hannibal Lokumbe. The piece, entitled When the Peace Comes, was composed in response to September 11 and its aftermath. The concert will
also feature the folk group Faith & Practice from Doylestown Meeting (PA).

Questions about these events should be addressed to Tony Heriza at (215) 241-7057 or theriza@afsc.org or Janis Shields at (215) 241-7060 or jshields@afsc.org.

Grants for the Study or Practice of
Christian Mysticism

The Elizabeth Ann Bogert Memorial Fund for the Study or Practice of Christian Mysticism, administered by Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas, makes annual grants of up to $1,000.

Recent grants were awarded for: a study of Celtic spirituality; attendance at a pietism conference; study of uses of the labyrinth as a means of spiritual growth; performance of a play about Evelyn Underhill; research into the life of Hannah Whitall Smith and a pilgrimage to the ecumenical Christian community in Taize, France.

Individuals wishing to apply for grants in 2003 should submit seven copies of their proposal no later than March 1, 2003 to the address given below. Two or three individuals who know the applicant and are familiar with his or her work should be asked to send letters of reference by this deadline as well.

Proposals should be brief (one or two pages). For guidelines or additional information on the Bogert Fund, inquiries may be sent to:
Vinton and Michelina Deming
4818 Warrington Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19143
vintdem00@aol.com

Labels, Labels, Labels

If any committees would like labels for mailings, Lynda Yamamoto of the Newsletter Committee would be glad to help you. Call Lynda or
e-mail at winlynyam@aol.com. Please allow 10ñ14 days for processing.

HFS School Notes

3rd Annual HFS Fall Festival

Held on Meeting grounds from 6:30 PMñ8:30 PM on Friday, October 25th. Pumpkin painting and scarecrow making are just a few of the fun activities planned by the PTO. Look for posters around the Meetinghouse with more details. Come out to support the school community!

Quaker Backpacks for HFS

This summer Cindy Kolaski and David McCormick, Reading Rainbow co-coordinator for the school, put together a collection of books and videos about Quakers or by Quakers. The books have been separated by age-appropriateness for children Pre-K through 7th grade and placed in backpacks. The collection contains both fiction and nonfiction for the children to enjoy. The backpacks will be kept with the Reading Rainbow backpacks and are for the teachers to use as a teaching aide as they see fit. The 6th & 7th grade books and videos will be kept on a shelf in the humanities room in the Middle School at the teachersí request and these students will be able to check the books out themselves.

AFSC Peace & Justice E-Newsletter

Toward Peace & Justice is a monthly e-mail newsletter that will keep you up-to-date on the AFSCís wide range of work, including anti-militarism, economic
justice, youth empowerment, relief services, disarmament, nonviolent conflict resolution, development, behind-the-scenes diplomacy, criminal justice, and much more. The newsletter also will periodically include new resources for peace and justice activists, as well as information on how to get involved with various aspects of AFSCís work. To receive this newsletter, go to the AFSC homepage (www.afsc.org) and sign up.

Deaf Friends Fellowship

What is Deaf Friends Fellowship? We are Deaf Friends, Attenders and interested others seeking and providing resources to assist Friends entities in exploring ways to reach out, welcome and include Deaf individuals into The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). For some of us this concern has evolved into a call to ministry.

For Friends Meetings and organizations, we welcome inquiries on how to become more ìDeaf Friendly.î
On occasion, Deaf Awareness visits can be arranged. For individuals we offer fellowship, spiritual nurture and encourage the sharing of gifts that may contribute to the service of DFF. All individuals ó Deaf, hard-of-hearing, or hearing ó are welcome.

Those interested in contacting DFF may reach us by
e-mail at aslfriends@mymailstation.com, or write
Deaf Friends Fellowship, c/o OíDoherty, 109 West Main Street, Strasburg, PA 17579.