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FALL 2000
Phil Anthony
(856) 769-0066 (voice)
(856) 769-1416 (fax)
salemqtr@verizon.netBy the time Quarterly Meeting comes around, I expect to have worshipped with the meetings of Salem Quarter at regular meeting for worship a total of 16 times, and attended or facilitated 15 special events (picnics, retreats, called meetings for worship, and so on) since the start of the year. I will also have worshipped with Haddonfield, Moorestown, Westfield, Gwynedd, Plymouth, Camden (Del.), and Wicomico River; with Friends School; at Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions; at FGC Gathering; and three times at Lower Alloway’s Creek. Oh, yes — also at my home meeting of Chestnut Hill once or twice. It’s a lot of getting around, and one of the blessings of being Coordinator for Salem Quarter.
For this column, my attention is turned to two events outside the Quarter — but not very far outside. Tri-Quarterly Gathering will take place 29 September through 1 October in Medford Lakes, N.J. The format has been changed a little this year, with workshops Saturday morning only, and more time for just being part of a Friends’ community in the natural setting of Camp Ockanickon. And the First-day worship in the camp’s open-air chapel runs deep and rich.
Registration for Tri-Quarterly got off to a late start this year for a number of reasons. But Salem Quarter is the sponsor of this year’s Gathering, and its clerk is our own George Crispin of Woodbury MM. See Upcoming Events for the calendar announcement, and come join us if you can.
The other event occurs, unfortunately, on the same weekend. But it’s looking for a somewhat different group: Friends in their 20s and 30s throughout Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. The Friends Institute Gathering will be held at the Burlington Meeting House, and the group’s new clerk hopes to revitalize FI with more attention to exploring what being a Quaker is all about, opportunities for service, and Friendly socializing.
Emcee will be Michael Van Hoy, who facilitated our Retreat last year. Tricia McManus, the new clerk and a long-time friend of mine, expects the program to be “more organic,” growing out of the wishes of the attenders. If you’re a young adult Friend, you may find this an important event. If you’re not, there may be someone in your meeting who is — maybe a new member or attender — whom you might encourage. Contacts for information and registration for the FI gathering will be found in Upcoming Events as well.
Our own Quarterly Meeting will be held well before that, on 10 September. Drew Smith, the new Head of Friends School, Mullica Hill, has spent a lot of time over the past year looking for ways to make the school more Quakerly; you’ve read about some of them in our regular Friends School column. He’s also brought the Quarter into the school through columns in FS’s Notes to Parents. For the program, Drew will hold a dialogue with us on ways school and Quarter can work together better.
The map will guide you to Quarterly Meeting at Greenwich’s Lower Meetinghouse. I hope I see you there.
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Last modified:
Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 09:23 AM
