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SPRING
2001 Phil Anthony
(856) 769-0066 (voice)
(856) 769-1416 (fax)
salemqtr@verizon.netWhat is it to which we are called as a yearly meeting?” A set of queries to explore the question was used at the 2000 Annual Sessions of PYM, and then they were sent to the monthly meetings for further consideration. Now we’re coming up on a special called session on Saturday, 24 March, where we’ll examine how the queries have fared over the past year.
Four of Salem Quarter’s meetings looked at the queries—Mickleton, Salem, Woodstown, and Mullica Hill—as well as the Quarter’s Worship & Ministry Committee. As I write this, all but Mullica Hill’s consideration have been reported to the ad hoc group charged with preparing the special session. That makes one more report than the PYM group has received from all the rest of Yearly Meeting to date. If you wonder whether PYM pays attention to Salem Quarter, I can witness that your responses have been crucial to framing the session.
Especially in light of this, I encourage you to make the trip to Arch Street on 24 March to meet with other concerned members of PYM and continue the process of discernment for our yearly meeting. And it’s very likely that whatever comes out of the special session, it’ll be part of our regular Residential Yearly Meeting next July.
Our meetings have been very busy since our December Quarterly Meeting. The Christmas breakfast at Greenwich was delightful—a regular stop for your Coordinator. Early in January, Seaville held its Millenium Brunch, a delightful gathering in Friendship Hall. Mullica Hill had to cancel its January retreat date because of illnesses and bad weather but is rescheduling.
A new director of development, Mary Ellen Brooks, has come on board at Friends Home, and by the time you receive this she will have joined me in visiting Woodbury and Mickleton. Woodbury is also making plans to send a delegation to Bury, England, where a stained glass window will be dedicated at the end of March to honor the Quakers who founded that meeting.
Woodstown continues in the new year with tutoring for public school students in its annex. And on Sunday, 4 March, Salem will celebrate its 325th anniversary with Quaker historian and author Margaret Hope Bacon speaking out of the silence at worship. Everyone is welcome to join in the festivities; details are in the Quarter Calendar. And see Ruth Hall Brooks’ report on John Fenwick’s arrival to found Salem 325 years ago last November.
March Quarterly Meeting at Woodstown is almost upon us. We’re privileged to welcome Judy Owens of Haddonfield MM, who will tell us about the new PYM initiative, “Deepening and Strengthening Our Monthly Meetings as Faith Communities.” She’ll be staying for lunch (soup and beverage provided) to speak with members of meetings who might like to take part in the program.
Please join me at Woodstown at 9:15 to welcome Judy and hear about an exciting, challenging opportunity for your meeting.
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Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 09:22 AM
