FALL 20086 Sixth Month 2008
Salem Quarter Worship & Ministry Committee met on 6 June 2008, at the home of Gloria and Bob Horvay, convening in worship at about 7:30 pm. Individuals were present from Mickleton, Mullica Hill, and Woodbury Monthly Meetings, as well as the Quarter Coordinator and the new clerk of the Meeting on Worship & Ministry of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Patricia Dallmann.
In our session of Third Month 2008, most of our attention was given to considering the Quarter’s responsibilities toward Woodbury Monthly Meeting, which is in a period of significant distress. Now, we turned to a related matter. As Woodbury Meeting works through its issues, various members and attenders are visiting nearby monthly meetings. Some seek to learn from the practices of their neighbors, but quite a few others are displaced. Whether they left of their own accord or were pushed out is often a matter of perspective, as is the question of whether they are away from Woodbury as a temporary or long-term matter. The consistent factor is that these people have their own matters of distress. In this session, Salem Quarter Worship & Ministry considered our meetings’ responsibility to members and attenders who are displaced from Woodbury Meeting.
It was soon evident that this is one of the most complex matters of discernment in pastoral care that we have considered. The question of whether the need is short- or long-term is but a surface question.
For instance, when a visiting Friend turns to us, how much do we get involved? It is relatively clear that we cannot “fix” someone else’s problems; ultimately, the burden of clarifying the choices, making the appropriate decisions, and acting upon them rests with the individual. However, the person who turns to us enters our community, and we do share that person’s burden. That sharing may sometimes call for the detachment that enables us to be clear-eyed and open to all possibilities, and other times for the empathy that gives us a richer communion with the person in need. Indeed, while we must be clear not to take on burdens that are not rightly ours, this should not prevent us from rendering genuine help when a person is weighed down beyond his or her strength.
Woven throughout our discussion was evidence that our care for distressed visitors is an expression of our own relationship with God. For some, much is accomplished through working consciously and deliberately with the Light, not as a vague well-wishing, but as active channeling of divine energy. For others, acting in love is both guide and method, revealing the best course for each of us and making that course open. This might result in casual companionship or practical problem solving, intentional reflection at a distance or vocal prayer shared directly with the person. These all are matters of discernment focused on the needs of the distressed visitor, but they also are matters of worship and transformation for those who offer themselves to be used in God’s work.
We concluded in worship and fellowship at about 9:30. Worship and Ministry intends to meet again on 12 September 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
Last modified:
Monday, August 11, 2008 at 10:29 PM
