SUMMER 2006Phil Anthony
(856) 769-0066 (voice)
(856) 769-1416 (fax)
salemqtr@verizon.net
ne of the joys I've found here in Salem Quarter is the good friends I've made. I can't begin to tell how valuable it's been to me to get to know people who have given me their time, nurture, and love.
Along with the joy, however, comes the sorrow. This spring I felt the sorrow of friendship full force. Jeannie Johnson passed away.
JUNE QUARTERLY MEETING
Mickleton Monthly Meeting
Sunday, 11 June 20069:30 am Gather 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Program: Mary Waddington reads from her spiritual writings 12:00 m Lunch: bread, soup, beverage, dessert provided by Mickleton and Mullica Hill MM 1:00 pm Meeting for Business Child care provided Before I came to Salem Quarter, I served as a Friendly Adult Presence for PYM's Young Friends. We were sleeping over at her meeting, Woodbury, the weekend of a whale watch. On Sunday, I saw a member of the meeting coming up the front walk. It was Jeannie, then clerk of the meeting.
The two of us sat down at the picnic bench in front of the meetinghouse. I told her about the whale watch; she told me about the meeting. So deep in conversation were we that we almost missed worship when it came time.
After I became coordinator, our conversation resumed. To me, it felt as if we'd never stopped. It was broken only when Jeannie stepped down as clerk, sold her house, and moved south to Virginia. I had always hoped the conversation would start up again one day when our lives came together once more.
Now I know it won't, at least not in this life. Thank thee, Jeannie, for the time we spent together. I have fond memories of the meetings where we worked together, the worship, and the quiet times when we just sat and talked. I'll miss thee, Friend.
Recently I had news of another Woodbury Friend. Jeanne Candau is currently serving in the Air Force. Jeanne was surfing the Web recently, I learned, and found the archived issues of Salem Quarter News. In them, to her surprise and delight, she discovered an article by her mother, Marge, and a photo of her grandmother, Biz Thomas.
Jeanne's discovery seems to have helped her through an especially rough time. I'm grateful that this little publication can help Friends in such unexpected ways.
I'm also grateful for the activity of this Quarter. Woodbury MM held its annual Earth Day celebration this spring. Mickleton and Mullica Hill MMs have continued their very successful cooperative intergenerational First-day School once a month. Woodstown MM put on its Strawberry Festival, and Salem MM hosted the Pot Pie Dinner – tremendous efforts involving practically everyone in those meetings.
Greenwich MM now has a Steering Committee representative – we welcome Keith Talbot. And Seaville MM held a dedication for its peace banner on Easter Sunday, with members reading selections from The Little Book of Peace.
Three years ago, at Greenwich in 2003, Salem MM's Mary Waddington first treated us to a reading of her essays on mystical experiences. Many Friends will remember that magical time, with the evening darkening into night as we listened to her voice entrancing us. We heard stories of dolphins and turtles, and synchronicities, life experiences communicated in an exchange of glances, and insights into the deep places of the world.
Mary and her writings join us again, this time at Mickleton MM. The full schedule of our June Quarterly Meeting will be found on the back cover of this issue. We look forward to the fruits of three more years of mining her memory for the wonderful events that have impressed themselves on her sensitivity. I hope you'll join us there.
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