|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
SPRING
2000 Phil Anthony
The Big Odometer clicked over, the triple zero came up in the window (especially for those who applied the Microsoft patches ahead of time), the new year began. Despite much appreciated invitations from several of Salem Quarter's monthly meetings, I spent New Year's Eve at home in Chestnut Hill MM. Our worship went across the New Year moment, giving a new meaning to "Quaker midnight."
With a dozen of us gathered, there was only one message, which I'd like to share with you. One of the worshippers reflected on the Quaker understanding that Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter happen every day in our hearts. "It's the same with the millennium," he said. "Each day we end the last millennium and start a new one." Thank you, Friend.
The new year, it seems, is starting off with special concern for peace, conflict resolution, and relations with one another. Mullica Hill MM held its annual retreat in January around the theme of bullying — among both children and adults. Woodbury MM's retreat at Pendle Hill focussed on finding peace within ourselves and between one another. Greenwich MM has been working since last spring to bring conflict resolution into the public schools, and this seems to be moving forward now.
Mickleton MM, just before Christmas, held a toy gun exchange to replace games of violence among our young people (see p. 8). Seaville MM continued its work on violence against the environment with a special program featuring PYM's Environmental Concerns Working Group. Salem MM began the new year with an intergenerational sleepover at the meetinghouse that modelled the importance of community. And a Woodstown MM member is seeking to start a chapter of Amnesty International (see p. 2).
The Quarter's own retreat will feature Chel Avery as our program facilitator, leading us in an examination of "Conflict: An Opportunity for Spiritual Growth." Chel is an experienced retreat leader who has taught conflict resolution at the high school and college levels. The retreat, at the Burlington Meeting House once again, will be held 11-13 August.
Woodstown will be the scene of our Quarterly Meeting on Sunday, 13 March. We'll be visited by Joe Volk, executive director of the Friends Committee on National Legislation, for our program. FCNL's work is closely tied to all our Quaker testimonies, but especially to our nation's living "in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars." We'll gather at 9:00 AM for 9:30 program, so as to finish our business sooner.
A week and a half later, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting holds its Annual Sessions at the Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia — that's Thursday through Sunday, 24-27 March. I haven't seen the agenda yet, but Saturday's sessions are expected to address our testimonies.
Woodstown, Fourth and Arch, your own monthly meeting — I'll look forward to seeing you there.
RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
Last modified:
Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM
