WINTER 20059 September 2005
alem Quarter Worship & Ministry Committee met on September 9th, at the home of Bob and Gloria Horvay, convening in worship at 7:30 pm. Friends were present from Mickleton, Mullica Hill, and Woodbury Monthly Meetings, as well as the Quarter Coordinator.
After our opening worship and sharing of events at our home meetings and in the Quarter, we considered whether the recent dwindling of our attendance called for changes in our scheduling. It was observed that some of the missing attendees simply had other summer commitments, and some may have been thrown off by the changes in meeting place. Thus, we decided to keep to our schedule of convening on the Friday evening before Quarterly Meeting sessions and to continue to meet at the Horvays' home, 140 Colson Lane, Mullica Hill. However, we will try sending an e-mail announcement out one to two weeks beforehand, with word of plans for the pending session.
There currently are no prospects of reviving the Salem Quarter Retreat. However, the question is worth keeping in our attention, otherwise it may never happen. If a group of Salem Quarter Friends who gather on a particular concern see an opportunity for wider attention to the issue, a retreat may be appropriate. It need not be a full three- or four-day event; even a single-day session could be valuable.
Themes from our previous discussion led us into worship sharing on the topic of worshipful conduct of business meetings. Among the promptings that rose to speech, we ob-served that overpreparation can sometimes interfere with being attentive to movement of the Spirit; indeed, it may be appropriate to clear oneself of preconceived notions and con-sider the matter afresh. Our business should be considered as our worship, approached expectantly. However, we varied in the matter of just what we should expect. Some felt that the clerk had a responsibility to focus the intent and hopes of those assembled, while others felt that expectancy should go no further than openness to promptings of the Spirit. Another theme was wariness about emotions and mindfulness, a consideration that both of these need to be harnessed to serve us, not to rule us. A useful test to keep in mind during meeting for business would be, "Where is God in this?"
We concluded in worship at about 9:30. Worship & Ministry intends to meet again at the Horvay residence on Dec 9th, 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
Last modified:
Monday, November 21, 2005 at 04:25 PM
