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May 2004 QuakerShaker Newsletter
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QuakerShaker on-line distribution
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May 04, 2004 06:01 PDT
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The Quakershaker
May 2004
Newsletter of the Yellow Springs Society of Friends
May Calendar
Sundays 8:30 a.m. Meeting for Worship, Rockford
10:00 a.m. First Day School (Sept-May) & Friendly Living Discussion
Circle, Rockford
11:00 a.m. Meeting for Worship, Rockford (Childcare is available)
Wednesdays 7:00 a.m. Meeting for Worship, Rockford
Saturdays 12-1:00 p.m. Peace Vigil, corner of Limestone & Xenia Ave.
Sunday, May 2 Monthly Meeting for Business, following a noon potluck,
Rockford
Sunday, May 9 Intergenerational Time, Rockford, 10:00 AM (See p.3)
Wednesday, May 12 Membership & Pastoral Care Committee Meeting, 7:00 PM
Jane Morgan's home
Thurs., May 20 Simplicity Circle, 7:00-8:00 PM, Thorpe home (See p. 4)
Saturday, May 22 Rockford Work Bee & Potluck, 1-5:00 PM (See p. 3)
Sunday, May 23 Dances of Universal Peace, 3-5:00 PM &
Abwoon Study Circle, 5-6:00 PM, Rockford (See p. 4)
Deadline for June Quakershaker submissions
Sunday, May 30 Potluck to honor graduating seniors, noon, Rockford
Don't see your event or committee meeting listed here? Contact the
Quakershaker editor with information about times, places and activities
to be included in future newsletters.
Ann Cooper, 937/767-7973; Adco-@aol.com
Getting to know…Claire Winold!
It's been suggested that we use the newsletter to get to know more about
each other as individuals, as well to provide details about Quaker
activities and programs. Claire Winold has offered some anecdotes about
her life for this month's newsletter. The following are Claire's answers
to a few questions about her life and spiritual journey.
Tell a little about your family.
I could probably go on and on about my son, Noah (age 8). He loves Mills
Lawn School, Sunday school and our female cat, Jim, named for James
Reeb, a Unitarian minister murdered in Alabama during civil rights days.
We found Jim abandoned at the Unitarian Meetinghouse. Someone there who
seemed to know his stuff told us he was a she!
How did you get involved with Quakers?
I am a Friend because my mother became one (though I don't refer to
myself as birthright) and I am very grateful to her. She bravely left a
fundamentalist church that was important to her family, and explored
others in the Cincinnati area, including Bahai and Swedenborgian
fellowships, before finding a fit with Quakerism.
If you could ask any Quaker one question, whom would you approach and
what would you ask?
I would ask Bayard Rustin whether he regretted compromising his pacifist
principles for increased political participation later in life.
How do you pray?
Meditation sometimes (combined centering and transcendental), Lectio
Divina fairly often, and saying the Our Father and sharing joys and
concerns nightly with Noah.
Have you been involved with any other religious organizations or
churches? What were they and how did they affect you?
After a Christ-centered conversion experience at age 25, I read and read
and read. The Bible, of course, but lots of Catholic theology and
mystics (Quakers and others). I felt comfortable at daily masses, but
never seriously considered Catholicism due to feminist principles. I
found a church home in an urban Presbyterian church and later in a
semi-suburban American (never to be confused with Southern) Baptist
church. Other denominations provided meaningful volunteer opportunities,
lay theology classes, choir music, and more. Though Quakerism is
certainly the path for me, I will always drink at other wells.
What have you been reading lately?
Fiction-Elizabeth Berg's Never Change. Nonfiction-Chris Offutt's memoir,
No Heroes, about a return to his Appalachian boyhood home after 20
years. (It took me 30!) I'm reading Buddhist nun Pema Chodron's Start
Where You Are, and Christian monk David Steindle-Rast's Gratefulness.
When you tell people you are a Quaker, how do they respond?
Many want to know more. They seem genuinely interested, even impressed.
Intergenerational Time-Peggy Champney
Friends of all ages are invited to participate in our Intergenerational
Time, Sunday, May 9, at 10:00 AM, at Rockford. The school age children
will present a play about Jonah and the Whale, Joan Brucker will read a
story, and Dale Blanchard will tell one. These occasions are always
delightful. Please join us.
Rockford Work Bee-Ministry & Advancement Committee
Friends will gather from 1 to 5:00 PM, Saturday May 22 (the weekend
before Memorial Day). Work will be done both inside and out. Friends are
invited to bring perennials for planting and for exchanging. In addition
to planting flowers, we will be planting in tree in memory of Barry
Hollister. Call Neal Crandall (323-3793) or Cindy Butler Jones
(937/667-1457) for additional information. Trowels, shovels and other
cleaning supplies welcome. There will be a potluck when the work is done
at 5:00. All are welcome!
Writer Travels to Switzerland-Irwin Abrams
On Wednesday (April 21) I will be leaving for Geneva to give a paper on
one of my Nobel cast of characters, Elie Ducommun, who shared the prize
of 1902 as the first secretary of the International Peace Bureau. I was
the first researcher to use those early archives.
I hope to be at Geneva Friends Meeting next Sunday (April 25) and will
be giving the greetings of our Meeting and presenting my traveling
minute. Son David Morrill Abrams will be traveling with me.
The anthology I have co-edited, The Iraq War and Its Consequences, has
several articles of special interest to our members. On criticism of the
Bush nuclear policy, one by Joseph Rotblat, the nuclear physicist who
won the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize, and Bernard Lown, co-founder of the
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (Nobel,
1985). Also the excellent article by Mary Ellen McNish, executive
secretary of AFSC, which I quoted in the April Quakershaker, and "At a
Time of Our Own Choosing: A Quaker Reflection on the War in Iraq," by
Brian Phillips, writing for the British Quaker Peace and Social Witness
Committee.
NOTE: Autographed copies of Irwin's book, The Iraq War and its
Consequences, are for sale through Yellow Springs Friend Dale
Blanchard's business, A Friendly Spirit Books and Gifts. People can
e-mail Dale (dale-@friendlyspirit.com) or purchase on-line at
http://friendlyspirit.com; look in the Quaker Concerns section. Or just
call 937/767-7891. Dale will deliver to people in Yellow Springs!
Reminder! May 23 deadline for submissions for
the June Quakershaker
Contact the editor, Ann Cooper, at 937-767-7973, or email
Adco-@aol.com
The Spiritual Enrichment Fund-Peg Champney
This special fund of the Meeting is available to members and attenders
to provide financial support for special educational experiences. Grants
are approved by the Membership & Pastoral Care Committee. This fund will
pay for half the cost of sending any child who is a Meeting member or
attender to a Quaker or Quaker-related camp. For more information, call
Peg Champney, 767-1311.
Friendly Living-Mary Thorp
Friends continue to meet at 10:00 a.m. on First Days to discuss writings
about living out our Quaker faith. The current book is Patricia Loring's
Listening Spirituality, Vol. II; please contact Dale Blanchard if you
need a copy.
Simplicity Circle-Mary Thorp
The Simplicity Circle meets on the third Thursday of every month, from
7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Thorps' house (1420 Southgate, 767-2815) to
discuss the Northwest Earth Institute's course on Voluntary Simplicity.
There may be extra copies of the study/reading guide available from the
Thorps. The next meeting will be May 20. Please join us!
Dances of Universal Peace-Denise Runyon
Please join us for Dances of Universal Peace, May 23, 3-5:00 at
Rockford. A new Abwoon* Study Circle will be forming, as well, and
meeting from 5-6:00.
*Abwoon is an Aramaic word which may be translated as "divine parent."
Deckard Ritter's "Speak Up: Two Limericks for Quakers"
I
A member of meeting we love
Has a voice as sweet as a dove,
But her volume's so low
That folks seldom know
Just what she is speaking of.
II
It's good when people are heard
As they speak a relevant word.
Whenever they mumble,
No matter how humble,
Our spirits are never quite stirred.
A 50th Anniversary Celebration!
Allen and Carolyn Treadway will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their
marriage, at Rockford Chapel, Sunday, June 13, following the 11:00
Meeting for Worship. Food, conversation, memories and a few surprises
will be shared. For more information, contact Jennifer Peters:
937/767-7424, or run-@erinet.com.
Friends General Conference 2004 Gathering of Friends
Simple Lives: Radiant Faith
July 3-10 at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Come gather with Friends and practice that inward simplicity in which we
hear and see clearly. Align your heart, mind and spirit as you find time
for worship and the spiritual growth that surprises and challenges you
at every turn. A Friend says of the Gathering, "Whatever I need always
has a way of finding me at the Gathering." Focusing on the radiance of
our faith will give us rich ground in which to "sink to the seed." See
http://www.fgcquaker.org/gathering for complete details.
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Selected WORK OPPORTUNITIES, SUMMER AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, DOMESTIC
AND INTERNATIONAL -- Quaker and non-Quaker -- usually associated with
peace and social justice concerns or educational or spiritual efforts.
Would you like to know more? The Quaker Information Center website lists
dozens of opportunities.
Visit http://www.quakerinfo.org/jobs.html.
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God's law of love, as fully exemplified by the life of Jesus, is
applicable to nations as well as to individuals. Because of this
application, war as a means of settling differences between nations
becomes morally unlawful, just as are feuds between groups and duels
between individuals. We cannot recognize a double standard of morality,
one for individuals and another for nations. The morality which is
required of us in our dealings with one another is equally binding upon
us when we are called upon to act for our nation.
-Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting Book of Discipline
From the Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting Calendar
May 1: OVYM Discipline Revision Committee Meeting, Community Friends,
10(EST)/11(EDT) - 3pm (EST)/4pm (EDT)
May 5: Quaker Hill Luncheon Program - speaker: Gil Klose will speak
about the
Richmond Common Council.
May 13: OVYM Nominating Committee Teleconference (tentative)
May 15: OVYM Quill submissions due
May 16: OVYM Miami Quarterly Meeting
May 20-23: FCUN (or Quaker Earthcare Witness) - Steering Committee and
standing
committees will meet at North Park University, Chicago, Ill.
One Approach to Quaker Process & the Meeting for Business
This comes from the back page of a Brooklyn Friends Meeting Newsletter*.
I thought it worth sharing. -Lorena Hyde
Quakers have a tradition of working with concerns. What follows is not
new.
If one has a concern: Test it. Test it among those who might support the
concern, and test it among those who might not support the concern. But
test it.
At the appropriate time, voice the concern for all to hear. Then, sit
down and be still. Do not nuance your understanding of your concern with
more words, perhaps remembering what your forgot to say. Do not argue in
its defense. Do not reply to those who might not agree. Allow the
concern to deepen in the Silence.
Know that you have been faithful. Really know this. We are not charged
with success, only with faithfulness. If you feel discomfort, sit with
it. Let it settle and learn from the discomfort.
For others: Allow the concern to deepen in the Silence. Do not speak
immediately. Do not argue either for or against. Speaking once to an
issue and waiting require patience and self-control (gifts of the
Spirit).
Our God is not a God of discord. When discord arises, it is a sure sign
that we must return to the Silence of our worship.
The clerk of the Meeting patterns, teaches, and practices stillness and
exercises the authority that has been granted her/him: To discern the
will of the Meeting. This is not easy. The grounding of the elders who
are present is helpful. (We somehow must teach others what we are doing;
our silence is not about not having anything to say.)
Stepping aside and accepting the will of the Meeting are important
practices that allow humility to mature.
We will be tested, of that there is no doubt. How do we navigate
discord? Do we add to it? Discord is a sure sign of the carnal/worldly
mind.
Always remember: Our God is not a God of discord. Trust. Our process is
more important than any concerns. -Diane Bonner, A Work In Process
*Editor's note: This piece has been reformatted and lightly edited for
space considerations.
Monthly Meeting for Business
Yellow Springs Friends met for business at Rockford Chapel April 4, 2004
Present were: Jane Morgan, Dick Eastman, Susan Hyde, Cindy
Butler-Jones, Irwin Abrams, Hazel Tulecke, Peg Champney, Billie Eastman,
Bruce Heckman, Joan Brucker, Bill Houston, Kay Hollister, Carolyn
Treadway, Allen Treadway, Faith Morgan, Victoria Burke, Paul Wagner, Deb
Kociszewski
The meeting opened in silence, which included prayerful consideration of
the fourth query on simplicity.
1. Minutes. The recording clerk read the minutes from the March 7, 2004
Meeting for Business. The minute of the February 8 Called Meeting for
Business will be revised to read: "Friends shared concerns about an
appropriate level of explanation of spiritual concerns supporting the
minute. The minute will be forwarded to Miami Quarterly Meeting for
consideration at its February 15, 2004 meeting, with three Friends
standing aside from this decision."
Minute number 4 from the March 7, 2004 Meeting for Business will be
changed to read "A work session is scheduled for May 22, 2004, at
Rockford. There will be a Fall Retreat in the fall of 2004, probably in
October. It is suggested that an ad hoc sub-committee be formed to plan
the retreat. Friends interested in serving should contact Bruce
Heckman."
It was suggested to describe the wall hanging in Minute # 7. The wall
hanging is large (approximately 6 ft x 5 ft), depicts a variety of
people, and shows the caption "No Flag is Large Enough to Cover the
Shame of Killing."
2. Ministry and Advancement. Bruce Heckman, reporting for the
committee, distributed a draft State of Society Report. Friends agreed
to forward the document to Miami Quarterly Meeting, with some
grammatical corrections, and expressed thanks to the committee for a
unique report.
3. OVYM Book of Discipline Draft "Friends and the Environment". Friends
expressed concern with the length of the draft statement. It was
suggested that an effective statement would be 10-20% the length of the
current draft. Friends agreed that the quotation from the OVYM annual
session was the best part of the draft. Additional concerns expressed
are: The minute would benefit from a strong expression of gratitude for
the environment in which we live, and a recognition that we are on the
downhill slope of fossil energy availability.
4. Nature Photograph. Friends did not reach agreement about the nature
photograph by John Morgan. After much discussion, it was decided to
maintain plain walls in the meeting room. Many Friends agreed that the
photograph would be a pleasant addition to the room, but understood that
the meeting was not in unity.
5. Miami Quarterly Meeting. Yellow Springs Friends Meeting is
responsible for the adult program at the May 16, 2004 Quarterly Meeting.
The topic is the State of Society reports. Billie and Dick Eastman
will co-ordinate the program for this meeting. Ministry and Advancement
will plan a program for the February, 2005 meeting and will consider
taking on oversight of Yellow Springs Friends program and hosting
responsibilities to Miami Quarterly Meeting.
6. Transfer of Membership. Clear Creek Monthly Meeting has sent a
letter confirming transfer of membership of Mike and Mary Thorpe to
Yellow Springs Friends Meeting. Yellow Springs Friends accept this
transfer and will clarify the membership of Alex and Joe, the children
of Mike and Mary Thorpe.
The meeting closed in silent worship.
The next Meeting for Business will be held on May 2, 2004 at 12:45 P.M.
at Rockford Chapel.
Agenda for Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business
Yellow Springs Friends Meeting, Fifth Month 2, 2004
1) Consideration of the Fifth Query on Use of Time and Talents
2) Review of Minutes of meeting of April 4
3) Appointment of Delegates to May 16 quarterly meeting in Lexington
4) Committee Reports: Ministry and Advancement State of Society Report,
Bruce Heckman; Statistical Report, Bill Houston; Nominating Committee
Preliminary Report, Jean Putnam
5) New Business
6) Next Meeting planned for June 6, 2004.
Fifth Query: Do you examine thoroughly your behavior in regard to work,
leisure, diet and the use of drugs, alcoholic beverages and tobacco,
thus trying to avoid and discourage practices that interfere with
health, sensitivity or social responsibility? Remembering the parable of
the talents, do you exercise fully those that God has given you? Do you
endeavor to minister humbly and sensitively to the needs of others that
they may attain their full potential?
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