SUMMER 2005March 11, 2005
alem Quarter Worship & Ministry Committee met on March 11, 2005, at Mickleton Meetinghouse, convening in worship shortly after 7:30 pm. Friends were present from Mickleton, Mullica Hill, and Woodbury Monthly Meetings, as well as the Quarter Coordinator.
Monthly Meetings
After opening worship, we heard of events in monthly meetings of the Quarter.
Mickleton anticipates both its accustomed Easter Egg Hunt, held in cooperation with the East Greenwich Township government, and something new to them, a Seder dinner, scheduled for April 24th at the Little Red Schoolhouse (tickets still available for any from the Quarter). One of their member families suffered the misfortune of a house fire; nobody was physically harmed, but their home was destroyed. A benefit meal is planned for March 22nd at Incarnation Hall in Mantua.
Mullica Hill anticipates its own customary event, a Good Friday gathering on March 25th, beginning in worship at 10:30 am and concluding with a potluck lunch. Their First-day School is finishing a series of readings from Rufus Jones, and will soon turn to Thomas Merton.
Woodbury’s First-day School also is doing communal readings.
Woodstown’s First-day School has invited Tony Prete to conduct a series of discussions in March and April about the passion and resurrection of Christ. This is in addition to a series that Tony will conduct for the Quarter, “An Insider’s Guide to the Bible,” on alternate Sunday afternoons beginning April 17th at Woodstown Meeting. Quarter Friends are invited to register for the Bible series via Phil Anthony.
Clearness Committee
A member of one of our monthly meetings is considering convening a clearness committee, and expressed interest in help from Salem Quarter Worship & Ministry. This has not been requested yet; however, we considered the possibilities so that our clerk could act if asked before our next quarterly gathering. We stand ready to help if requested, with consideration that any such committee should include members of the Friend’s home meeting and preference that the committee be held under the care of that meeting. We also recommend to Salem Quarter’s Steering Committee that they consider whether there is need for a workshop or other resource to assist our monthly meetings in the practice of clearness committees.
Possible Reinstatement of a Military Draft
Concern is rising in monthly meetings, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and the wider community about reinstatement of compulsory service in our nation’s armed forces. The likelihood of such an event and actions appropriate to Salem Quarter Friends are far from certain at this point; however, we consider preparations prudent. Individuals who carry this concern should know that the Central Committee for Conscientious Objection is active and available at 1515 Cherry Street in Philadelphia. The Quarter has many Friends who are experienced in such matters, and we invite them to make themselves known to our Quarter Coordinator, so that he can refer inquirers to them. And, we invite Salem Quarter to consider whether the time is right to create a Quarter Testimonies and Concerns Committee or similar mechanism to focus social action interests.
Quarter Program
We reviewed plans by the Gifts Working Group for the program at the March gathering of the Quarter, and offered some suggestions for presentation technique that seemed to us practical.
We concluded in worship and fellowship at about 9:30. Worship and Ministry intends to meet again on June 10, 2005, the Friday evening before Quarterly Meeting, and we welcome participation from all monthly meetings of Salem Quarter.
For the Committee,
Mario Cavallini, clerkRETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Saturday, May 07, 2005 at 10:18 PM
