SPRING 2009Phil Anthony
(856) 769-0066 (voice)
(856) 769-1416 (fax)
salemqtr@verizon.netIn the Winter newsletter, I used this space to write about Quaker Quest, the outreach program developed in Britain Yearly Meeting that is now being offered through both Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Friends General Conference. Now spring is on the way?though I admit that writing at the end of January with temperatures in the 20s, it seems hard to believe. And Quaker Quest is more than a gathering at Arch Street. Like spring, it’s coming to Salem Quarter.
Mullica Hill MM announced at the January Steering Committee meeting that it had identified its core group. This is the three people who are responsible for all the weekly sessions, and who commit to being there every time to provide familiar, friendly, welcoming faces. A member from Mickleton MM spoke up immediately. She was sure her meeting would support Mullica Hill. The Steering Committee minuted its support as well, seeking out members of the quarter to speak to the “questers” and answer their questions.
MARCH QUARTERLY MEETING
Woodstown Monthly Meeting
Sunday, March 9, 20099:00 am Gather 9:30 am Program: Quaker Quest 10:30 am Worship 11:30 am Music from Friends School 12 m Lunch: bread and soup provided 1:00 pm Business meeting Child care provided At that time, in mid-January, we were still casting about for a program to present at quarterly meeting. Suddenly it became obvious: We would bring the people who are training Quaker Quest volunteers here to Salem Quarter.
Harry and Lois Forrest are the clerks of the PYM Quaker Quest Working Group. We’re glad to welcome them to Woodstown on Sunday, 8 March, to explain just what Quaker Quest is, and how we can participate. They have also agreed to stay through lunch and answer the questions that are sure to come up. See the back cover of the newsletter for the full schedule of the day. For more information about the Quaker Quest program, please see the article in this issue.
While that's been going on, your coordinator has been keeping himself busy with a remarkable number of meetings and events for the winter months. The peace gathering initiated by PYM, Heeding God's Call, was held at Arch Street; and while I didn't attend, I was still keeping up with what went. The organizers were so kind as to provide mp3 recordings of the plenary sessions, including worship, keynote addresses, and panel discussions; those who want to hear at least some of what went on can find them at www.peacegathering2009.org/audio.
Then there have been the quarter Worship & Ministry gathering at Mullica Hill MM; two meetings of the Gifts Working Group; Seaville MM's potluck lunch to unveil plans for the children's Organic Garden Project; worship with the group that prays for our monthly meetings and the quarter; Interim Meeting (in February, the January meeting was cancelled because of weather); a memorial meeting at Greenwich MM; a gathering of quarterly meeting staff from around PYM; the regular meetings of the Steering Committee at Friends Village; and of course my usual visitation of monthly meetings for worship and socializing.
I've been most joyful, though, about two other gatherings. First, a small group from Mullica Hill MM has been meeting monthly with Tony Prete, whose workshops on Bible were well received in Salem Quarter. The group has invited me to join them. It's wonderful to be back in touch with Tony, who can no longer travel from home, and to share in the grace of our time together.
The other is the first meeting of the oversight committee for the Millville Worship Group. An eight-person committee, it currently has six members from Salem and Woostown MMs, and Friends from a third monthly meeting are considering an invitation to join it. Your coordinator has been asked to serve as an ad hoc member, helping find adult First-day School teachers for the group and connecting them into the quarterly meeting.
Finally, on 27-29 March, sessions of PYM will be held at Arch Street. It will feature the report from the peace gathering, along with threshing of the Interim Meeting Governance report. We'll also hear from Amanda Kemp, founder of the Theatre for Transformation, whose mission is to heal the planet through remembering slavery, forgiving, and creating new possibilities; and from Mary Ellen McNish, general secretary of the American Friends Service Committee.
PYM will be posting details at www.pym.org/annualsessions. Keep an eye on that page, and I'll look forward to seeing you there.
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Sunday, March 01, 2009 at 12:12 AM
