solebury friends meeting fourth month, first, 2008...
TRANSCRIPT
SOLEBURY FRIENDS MEETING FOURTH MONTH, FIRST, 2008
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Sentinel NewsQUERY: As we worship, is there a living silence in which we are drawn together by the power of God in our midst?
First Day School Focus
A dozen young people from our First Day School classes, accompanied by their teachers and parents, visited Chandler Hall on April 9th. They presented the story of Joseph, which we had been reading and discussing throughout the fall and winter in First Day School classes, to a half dozen of the residents, including our own Jean Brady. We all joined in singing a few hymns before the Solebury contingent repaired to Meglio’s for a pizza lunch.
The day started out with unexpected excitement. High winds, which blew throughout the night before, had toppled a tree by our cemetery. In turn, the tree took down the power line along Sugan Road. PECO crews had to be negotiated with so that we could gather at Meeting, as planned, before departing for Chandler Hall. It was quite a morning, from start to finish.
On Easter, all the First Day School classes met in a group to hear the Easter story. They then drew a mural, depicting scenes from the story. After class, each child was given a pansy, a tradition started at Solebury Meeting many years ago by Emma Fell
Tinsman – a sign of new life and something to nurture and take care of in the months ahead. The kids were then released to find eggs that had been hidden around the Meeting premises, while the adults were invited to view the mural.
In conjunction with the Easter story, the older children were asked if they believed they could be shown something that no one had ever seen before, would see once, and then it would disappear, never to be seen again. ‘Rite Karaczan, who taught First Day School at Solebury Meeting 40 years ago, first posed that question to her class, who were surprised at her “revelation.” Think about it.
SOLEBURY FRIENDS MEETING FOURTH MONTH, FIRST, 2008
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FIRST DAY FOCUS, CONT’D.
The FDS has spent most of 2008 exploring the story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis and have found that it raises questions that are relevant today. Some of these highlights follow.
Some of Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him, but one argued for simply leaving him in the well. This encouraged discussion of the dynamics of group decision-making and the amount of influence one person can have in it. This, in turn, raised the dilemma of whether a “bad, less immoral” decision that is better than the “worse, more immoral” decision is ever morally right.
God spoke to Joseph and others through dreams, which Joseph could interpret. The group questioned its beliefs about the meanings of dreams. It pondered why God wouldn’t communicate more directly and specifically, which
in turn raised the question as to what role each of us has as an interpreter of God today.
Joseph ultimately forgave his brothers, but only after testing them. The classes explored the fairness of the these tests and how trust is won and lost. Joseph’s life in Egypt was ultimately quite comfortable, and the classes thought about whether this “generosity of spirit” is more difficult in environments of continuous suffering.
Lastly, both Joseph and his father, Jacob, were truly flawed characters, yet God chose them to perform important roles. The classes pondered what this reveals to us about the possibilities for each of us and those around us.
There will be an intergenerational discussion of this story following Meeting for Worship on April 27.
Al Asawaee Family Update: FRIENDS,
As all of you are aware the Al Azawaee family has arrived, and residing in Lansdale, PA. Marybeth and I met with Issam to help him put together a resume and assist him in his job search. He has had a rather eclectic job experience spanning almost 30 years, and some of the jobs/responsibilities had to be ‘translated’ and put into perspective. I attempted to summarize this career experience as best I could in the attached resume.
As you are also probably aware, the very best way to find a job opportunity is not through answering ads, not through recruiters or agencies, but through ‘networking’. Connecting with people that have advice, information and hopefully referrals is the best way to identify a good position. Each of us is connected to
Quaker Heritage Day Flea Market Pie Sale Book Fair Saturday, May 17,
10am-2pmTo Benefit the Iraqi Family ProjectSolebury Friends 2680 Sugan Rd. New Hope, Pa 18938
Vendor Guidelines and Registration1.Vendors agree that all proceeds from sold merchandise are donated to Solebury Friends Meeting to provide a living expense subsidy for the Iraqi family sponsored by meetings within Buck Quarter of the Religious Society of Friends.
2. Sales items must be tabletop variety only. Only merchandise that is customarily used or displayed on a tabletop is encouraged. Large items such as furniture, lawn equipment, vehicles etc. will not be accepted for sale.
3. Transport items to the Meetinghouse beginning at 8:30 am on Saturday, May 17.
4. Tables will be provided on site. Vendors must provide supervision for their own table for the full duration of the sale.
5. Vendors should remove all unsold items after 2 pm at the end of the sale. Unsold items remain as the property of the sellers.
6. Monies collected should be submitted to the sale treasurer at the end of the day. A tax-deductible receipt will be issued to you for the donation.
7. The Flea Market Committee will check in all vendors’ merchandise between 8:30 and 9:30am on the day of the sale. Items deemed unsuitable for sale may require removal. Name: ______________________Address:___________________ Phone________
Mail, or email your registration to Stuart Wisse [email protected] , 609 397 3319
Call UsClerk:
Lynne Feldman 215-230-9093
Brad Bovee and Jen [email protected]@gmail.com
Caretakers:Michael and Julie Honer
215-803-4538215-803-4539
Inside this issue:
Friendly News
Visit Web Sites:www.pym.org
www.quarterbucks.org
The Tibetan Association of Philadelphia
SERIES OF PEACE VIGILS FOR TIBET
Event: PEACE VIGILS FOR TIBET
Date: SUNDAY, MARCH 30 2-6 PM Sunday, April 6 2-6 pm Sunday, April 13 4:30-7:30 PM National Peace Vigil Sunday, April 16 2-6 PM sunday, april 20 2-6 pm Sunday, april 27 2-6 pm sunday, may 4 2-6 pm sunday, may 11 2-6 pm
Place: One North Independence Mall Park East in front of the National Constitution Center
MARKET STREET BETWEEN 5th & 6th STREETS Philadelphia, PA 19106
Contact: Karma Gelek Media Contact 310.347.9973 Tsering Wangdi, President 917.757.4200 Sonam Topgyal, Tibetan Contact 610.734.0808 Suzanna Murphy, Media Contact 267.265.7799
The Tibetan Association of Philadelphia will hold a series of PEACE VIGILS for Tibet Philadelphia beginning on Sunday, March 30, 2008 from 2 to 6 pm in front of the National Constitution Center in Old City, Philadelphia.
The purpose of the peace vigils is to raise awareness about the continued violence against Tibetans in Tibet and the recent arrests and killings of Tibetans following a peaceful demonstration March 10 in Dharamsala, India. Recent events in Tibet have been very much in the press, including a call yesterday from President Bush to Chinese President Hu Jintao expressing his concern about China's crackdown on protesters.
§ Tibetans are asking the United Nations Security Counsel to intervene and send an INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIVE TEAM INTO TIBET to assess the wounded and dying that were hurt in the March 10th demonstrations.
§ Tibetans are asking for medical help from the Red Cross and/or Doctors without Borders to go into Tibet to attend to the wounded and dying.
Continued on page 6.
BUCKS QUARTERLY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
BUCKS QUARTERLY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS, Cont’d.
Writing the Sacred Workshop
At a Writing the Sacred workshop you'll be invited to a fresh encounter with the Biblical Psalms. Ray McGinnis will show you some of the ageless poetic elements present in the Psalms alongside other examples of sacred poetry across the ages. You'll hear cries of the spirit inviting you to express your own longings for God on paper. Whether you are a seasoned writer or have never put pen to paper, you'll be expertly guided, step-by-step, to a place where you'll emerge with your own new psalm/sacred poem. You'll leave with tools for how to use creative writing and poem-making as a companion on your own spiritual journey.
Date: Friday, April 11, 2008
Workshop: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Place: Middletown Friends Meeting House
Location: 453 West Maple Avenue, Langhorne
Cost: Suggested Donation $10
Phone: (215) 757-5500
Email: [email protected] or [email protected] "This was THE most spiritually honest, open-hearted, accessible workshop I think I have ever attended."- The Rev. Linda Campbell, St. John's Episcopal Church, Ross, California
"Ray McGinnis has a finely tuned meaning for the deep meaning of the Psalms... as a veteran workshop leader he has a knack for drawing outbursts of imagination out of people that may not know they had it in them..."- Douglas Todd, Spirituality and Ethics writer, Vancouver Sun, Vancouver, British Columbia
"Writing the Sacred is rich with insight, power and meaning. Ray McGinnis gives us a great gift by showing the Psalms to be a living language, a poetic language vital for today. These pages are permeated with our human story - our raw and beautiful longing for God ... (and) acts as a healing balm and creative catalyst to help you reclaim your soul's voice." - John Fox, author of Poetic Medicine: The Healing Art of Poem-Making
"It was amazing how you brought us so seamlessly to a place of openness and respect... and I finally got something about poetry that has eluded me for many years. Your workshop opened up the Psalms and showed me other spiritual poetry in a way that is fresh and exciting for me at this time of transition in my life..." - participant, First Congregational Church, Williamstown, Massachusetts
"A rewarding and inspiring experience."- Luther Petersen, Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
"Thank you for the Writing the Sacred workshop. Since that wonderful evening I have faced some health issues and as I recuperate I am using your book as a devotional experience as I try my hand at writing." - Margaret Ransom, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Portland, Oregon
Peace vigils for Tibet, continued from p. 4:
The April 16 vigil, A NATIONAL PEACE VIGIL, will occur in concurrence with THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTIONS in front of the National Constitution Center, MARKET STREET BETWEEN 5th & 6th STREETS, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
Tsering Wangdi, President of the Tibetan Association of Philadelphia, notes:
How will the world respond to these attacks upon the Tibetan people living in Tibet by the People’s Republic of China? Tibetans continue their protests and continue to be wounded in recent days. While 26 journalists have been allowed to certain areas of Tibet those who are attempting to speak out will suffer unparallel suffering. The Chinese government continues to use brutal force and the world will have no proof. We Tibetans who have families in Tibet can imagine however what is happening. Will the United Nations remain silent? Who will speak out for the Tibetans and monks living behind bars both visible and invisible?
Good people of the Delaware County, please join with the local Tibetan community for peace and speak directly to the people whose families are being violated. Please stand with the Tibetans and Rally for PEACE in Tibet.
For more information contact Karma Gelek Contact 310-347-9973, Suzanna Murphy, Media Contact, at 267.265.7799 or Sonam Topgyal, Tibetan Contact, at 610.734.0808.
Al Azawee Family Update, Continued.
friends, family, colleagues and neighbors. If we assume there are 6 Meetings sponsoring the family, and conservatively each has 25 members they can distribute this resume to, and each of them are connected with at the very least 10 people that’s over 1500 people that we as Friends have the potential to connect Issam with!
So please take a look at the resume you received as an attachment in an email, or at
a hardcopy available at Sunday’s Meeting, and think about any information, advice and especially referrals you might be able to provide to Issam, and we’re all but assured of a quick success! Also included in the MS-Word file attached to the email is a small map and some of the major public transportation available to him to access his job. For more information and/or a copy of the resume, please contact Mike at [email protected].
Mike and Marybeth
Quaker Heritage Day Fair, Yard Sale and Pie Fest….
We need pies!!! Both fruit based and savory (Pizza, Sheppard’s,
Quiche, Black Bean etc.) for our 1St annual spring event on Saturday
May 17th.
If you can provide two pies in disposable dishes that would be
great. Please contact food chair Pat Crooks ASAP to let her know what
you are bringing.
Her email is [email protected]. The event starts at ten am so we are
requesting that pies be brought to the Meeting House by 9am…
MINUTES OF SOLEBURY MEETING INC. THIRD MONTH, NINTH DAY, 2008
Meeting for Business began with a few moments of silent worship.There were fifteen members present.The agenda was approved as writtenThe minutes of the second month were approved as written.
JOYS AND CONCERNS;
Lynne Feldman asked that the Meeting hold her and her children in the Light since they were going through a difficult time in their family.
Patt Wisse asked that the Meeting hold Bob Holt and family in the Light because of the passing of Bob’s father.
Chris Taylor is recovering well.
CLERK’S REPORT
Lynne Feldman read a request for marriage under the care of Solebury Meeting from member Katherine Wisse and fiancé William Dietrich on September 13, 2008. The request was passed on to Patt Wisse, Clerk of Overseers.
BUILDING AND GROUNDS
Stuart Wisse reported that it was necessary to remove a tree that had split. The cost was $2,700. Another fallen tree must be removed as well.
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
John Mathieu gave everyone a copy of the letter to be sent to new residents. A copy is attached to the minutes. The letter was approved.
John will have a sign made to be displayed the 3rd Sunday of every month inviting anyone to attend Meeting and the social hour.
John gave an update on the upcoming Quaker fair. The next meeting will be on March 30. All committees working on the fair must have their budgets completed for the Finance Committee. A Clerk for a children’s committee is still needed.
Assistance is needed to develop a flyer advertising the event. The hours will be 10am – 2pm.
Stuart Wisse will submit a table registration and sign up to the Sentinel so that those who wish to have their own table can sign up.
IRAQ FAMILY SPONSORSHIP
David Smith gave an update on the sponsorship of the family. More contributions are needed from Solebury Meeting. The family is arriving on Tuesday, March 11. There is a committee searching for an apartment in the Lansdale area.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
John Kellogg reported that everything is in order for the breakfast on March 16th. He requested that those who had grills loan them and that everyone bring their favorite batter.
WORSHIP AND MINISTRY ANNUAL REPORT
Business meeting minutes, cont’d.Dee Lewis, Clerk gave the report. The committee hosted several discussions during the year and is planning another intergenerational First Day program in April.The committee has also discussed ways to strengthen Meeting for Worship.Business Meeting closed with a few moments of silent worship.Respectfully submittedPatricia Wisse, Recording Clerk
A FRIENDLY REMINDER...Susan McArthur is working on the outreach committee with preparations toward theQuaker Heritage Day and the flea market. She will be running a plant sale table.
A large part of the plants to sell would be dug and donated from individual's own gardens (dividing their extra or overgrown perrenials) in spring. Members and friends of members, who love working in the garden, please consider contributing to this sure to be fun event! Even small trees that have seeded themselves and are viably potted are a great idea. It's a great way to organize your own garden and benefit someone else too! Plant donations would be best received a week in advance of the Sale date (May 10th) but any donation up to the date of the flea market will be accepted. Preferably, an early delivery of a donation would allow time to inspect, label and make sure the plants are viable (will thrive).
She is willing to accept these plant donations and care for them at her house and she will deliver them to the Meeting House May 16th - the day before the sale.
Her address is 2166 Aquetong Rd., New Hope, PA
Questions? Call 215-862-2930 or 215-534-5042. Ask for Susan
BUCKS QUARTERLY MEETING DATES
April 8 7pm Peace Meditation at Newtown MeetingApril 10 8:30-10:30am Open House - The Quaker School at Horsham 215-674-2875April 10 7pm Quarter Oversight Committee Meets at Buckingham MeetingApril 11 7pm 25th Annual Buckingham Friends School Spring Auction - 215 794-7491April 17 1:30pm Friends Home and Village Meets at Friends VillageApril 19 9:30am-2pm Peace & Concerns 4th Annual Gathering - [email protected] 21 1-3 pm Creative Hands Meets at Wrightstown Meeting - All are welcome! 215-860-5554April 26 11am 11am-5pm Bucks Quarter Gathering for Fun & Fellowship (See Next Page!)April 26 6pm Wrightstown Friends Nursery School Auction (see Article)April 27 2pm Quakerism & Makefield Meeting ~ Presentation by Upper Makefield Hist. Soc. (See Article)April 27 3:00 Ecumenical Festival of Music - Bucks Quarter Singing Group to PerformLooking AheadMay 16 Quarterly Worship and Ministry Gathering at Wrightstown MeetingMay 17 11am-3pm Quaker Heritage Day & Pie Festival at Solebury Meeting - Everyone Welcome!!May 23-26 Young Adult Friends Gathering at Earlham - www.fgcquaker.org/qy/yaf-conference-2008May 18 Quarterly Meeting at Plumstead Meeting - Arthur Larrabee to Speak During Morning ProgramJune 7 11am-2pm Zoo Friends Fun(d)raiser for Friends Home and Village (Rain date June 8)
FRIENDLY NEWS• Lynne Feldman recently made a wonderful
journey and reports: I just spent an amazing two weeks with my Mother in Ecuador and Peru sponsored by Swarthmore College. In addtion to the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu, we enjoyed Quito, Guayaquil, Cuzco, and many villages in the Urubamba Valley. The highlights were witnessing many of God's wonderful creations.
• The Holton-Roth Family has a new addition, Bedloe Player, a baby girl born on 3/20 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Lo (as we call her) is healthy and happily back home with older sister, Kenya, and mom, Kit. Kenya starts Brooklyn Friends in the Fall and continues to love the playgroup at Brooklyn Monthly Meeting. All our love to Solebury Monthly!
• The yearly Pancake and Syrup Celebration was enjoyed by all who attended, and sincere thanks to Daryl Renschler and John Kellogg for all of their
efforts, and to all who helped make the breakfast a success!!
This years gathering will be held on Saturday April 26 (rain or shine) at Buckingham Friends School. The fun starts at 11:00 and runs until 5:00(ish). The music will begin at 1:00 with Faith and Practice. Group W will take the stage at 3:30. Food (vegetarian and traditional) will be cooked and served all day. In addition to food and great music, there will be face painting, juggling, mural painting, relaxation, conversation, free play and creativity all over the campus for everyone and anything else you wish to bring with you.
The cost is $10.00 Adults ~ Children: Free
Do Not Stay Away for Lack of Funds
Need More Info? Holly Olson 215-860-9747 or [email protected]
Please make your checks payable to Bucks Quarterly Meeting and send to: Holly Olson P.O. Box 4477, George School,
Newtown, PA 18940. Along with you check please include the number of adults and children and whether vegetarian meals are required.
The Registration Deadline is April 20th
BUCKS QUARTER GATHERING FOR FUN AND FELLOWSHIP
SOLEBURY FRIENDS MEETING TWELFTH MONTH, FIRST, 2007
Solebury Friends MeetingThe Religious Society of Friends2680 Sugan Rd.New Hope, PA 18938
ALL ARE WELCOME
A note from the Toy’s:
We wish to express our gratitude to Solebury Friends for the gift of the meeting house for our son Jesse Toy's memorial. The treasures you gave us were many: to sit in a place of worship surrounded by family and old friends--a place where we spent so many hours, days, weeks and years--and in a dignified and prayerful way to celebrate the life of our son; to meet the eyes of our mentor and friend, Irene Fisher, who has been both a rock and a flower in our life; to have the wise and compassionate counsel of Jon Mendelsohn who so recently lost his step-daughter and our beloved angel Hailey Yarmark; to be given by the Meeting a surprise reception in the little building where we could be held in the arms of loved ones. These are profound gifts that have eased our anguished hearts. Thank you, Friends. Judith & Philip Toy
A photo: Jesse Toy at age six years. At this age when there were not so many cars on the roads, Jesse often pedaled his bike from Rolling Green Farm at Aquetong & 202 where we lived, to the Meetinghouse. Judith Toy