SUMMER 20087 Third Month 2008
Salem Quarter Worship & Ministry Committee met on 7 March 2008, at the home of Gloria and Bob Horvay, convening in worship at 7:30 pm. Individuals were present from Mickleton, Mullica Hill, Salem, and Woodstown Monthly Meetings, as well as the Quarter coordinator.
Next steps for Meeting on Worship & Ministry of PYM
PYM Meeting on Worship & Ministry is being reborn in new form. Clerks of Worship & Ministry from throughout PYM gathered last December at Plymouth Friends Meeting to consider the plight of the working group, and came to two basic realizations: the need to reclaim the authority of a covered body with a clear discernment of the Spirit, and the recognition that a gathering of PYM Friends with a concern for worship and ministry is a “Meeting on Worship & Ministry.” Over the next few months, Friends will be worshipping and working to clarify making such a periodic, open gathering “the” Meeting on Worship & Ministry. This will be discussed in more depth on Saturday afternoon of the March sessions of PYM, 28-30 March. Look for announcement of the next gathering, open to clerks and all Friends with a concern for worship and ministry, to be held again at Plymouth Meeting, on a weekend date in May yet to be determined.
Development of a worship group in Millville
Richard Rieger told us of work Salem Monthly Meeting has begun to establish a Millville Worship Group in response to the need of an attender. Two meetings have been held thus far, with intent to continue once a month on Sunday afternoons. They’ve been meeting in a host’s living room, but are seeking a larger space. They welcome support from the monthly meetings of Salem Quarter, particularly contact information for former and current members and attenders who live in the Millville area, as well as supportive attendance of seasoned Friends interested in nurturing a new worship community. Salem Monthly Meeting is presently forming an oversight committee, so contact information will be forthcoming via the Quarter coordinator and Quarter Steering Committee representatives.
Salem Quarter’s responsibilities to Woodbury Meeting
Woodbury Monthly Meeting is currently distressed. The Steering Committee has formed a Care Committee. We in Worship and Ministry turned to the issue – distinctly not discussing any particular individuals or issues within Woodbury Meeting, but rather to consider the responsibilities of Salem Quarter toward the individuals and collective community of Woodbury Monthly Meeting.
As the collective Quaker community in our area, Salem Quarter can no more ignore the pains of Woodbury Meeting than an individual can ignore the pains of her knee. Salem Quarter has the same duties to Woodbury as a person has to a body part: to provide oxygen and nutrition, to remove wastes, to rely on the part to perform its functions without overstressing it or weakening it through disuse, to guide it and be sensitive to its needs. The human body has nerves, arteries, and veins for these tasks; the quarter has its committees and, more importantly, its members.
The members and the collective community of Salem Quarter are responsible to the members and collective community of Woodbury Meeting, for all of us to act through love to remain in Godly communion (call this gospel order, the Kingdom of God, the higher plane of our true selves, the Light … focus on the idea behind the semantics). In concrete terms, this includes supporting constructive efforts to achieve just reconciliation of grievances, encouraging personal and communal healing, and letting go of unresolved issues and stereotypes that do nothing more than foster an unhealthy reputation. All of these tasks are needed for both sides of the walls of Woodbury; the expectations outsiders carry of Woodbury Meeting help to shape the reality of Woodbury Meeting.
We gave quite a bit of attention to the question of “evil” vs “mistakes.” It is tempting to dismiss harmful behavior as “everybody makes mistakes” or “nobody’s perfect.” Such misplaced generosity is too often a convenient excuse for not undertaking the sensitive work of confronting a wrong and laboring to make it right. On the other hand, “evil” is a highly charged concept, difficult to discuss calmly, particularly when one person is directing the term against another. We are clear that no person is “evil” and no one should be labeled such; however, just as we appeal to God as a source of good, we must acknowledge the influence of evil if we are to successfully oppose it.
We concluded in worship at about 9:30 pm. Worship & Ministry intends to meet again on 6 June 2008, 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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Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 11:44 PM
