Personal News

Chelsea says, “Things are actually a little better. I'm still having some very bad days but it is interspersed with more good days. We almost made it to meeting Sunday, but Em decided she was going to try spending the night away from home for the first time and we got a call at 2 needing to pick her up. It was such a late, traumatic night for us all that we decided to get some extra sleep Sunday.”

Colby G, who is our webmaster has retired from his teaching, but continues to manage our website for us. He recently suffered a stroke, which partly incapacitated his right side. He now says, “I have the [July] newsletter up. If you see any problems, let me know. I am having trouble getting around, but I can type pretty well. It just takes longer. I am lucky to have a wife to help drive me to doctors. I always enjoy the newsletters. Thanks.”

Lindsay’s youngest uncle died on July 14. He had been of concern to the family for some time.

Steve O has been medically tested and retested. He came through without any serious defects: “So there you have it. Hopefully my last big adventure for a while. I'm tired of being poked and prodded and hooked up to machines that beep and spew out charts and graphs while freezing my rear end off. Enough already!”

Reuben Philip Frey arrived in the world “at home on Friday, July 17, 2009 at 8:42pm after only 3 hours of active labor. He weighs 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and he is 21 inches long. He immediately took to nursing, and he is a calm, understanding little guy. I have posted more information/ pictures on my blog, and I will eventually post a birth story on my blog.

Best wishes,
Frances, Karl, Vonn, and Reuben”

[That’s a collective “I”]

We could see Carol R and Neil sitting opposite in meeting. Between them were Crystal’s legs. But where was the rest of Crystal? She seemed to have become disembodied. Then we realized that what Neil was cradling in his lap was Crystal’s head. The rest of her was cuddled close to his side.

Jen has been having Rwandans write of their experiences during the violent troubles there.. She will analyze the texts. She says, “It is clear to me that even more important than textual analysis are these opportunities for people to grieve and mourn through writing in a caring environment that provides practical, therapeutic, and psycho-social support.”

She says, “Rwanda is even better the second time . . . But you wouldn’t know that, because this would’ve been your first time. . .

Would you have heard the muezzin’s call to prayer that night after tea too late? It started at 4:30 in the morning, and was louder or softer depending on the direction he sang. The mosque is a kilometer away, and that morning, seemed right down the block.

Would you have loved Nyambirambo as much as I do? You might have preferred the town, bustling and this year, more mature. Still, though, Nyambirambo…. The early morning scampering on the roof at home was not cats, as I thought. Ha! No! They were monkeys! You probably would have been quicker than me and would have seen them chasing each other.”

“Let’s do away with walls!”: The American Friends Service Committee’s Interracial Section and the 1920s United States.

      Allan W. Austin

The Color of Our Skin: Quakerism and Integration at Sidwell Friends School.

      James Zug

Book Reviews:

The Beautiful Soul of John Woolman, Apostle of Abolition.

      Michael Birkel

Moral Capital: Foundations of British Abolitionism.

      Larry Gara

Biographical Dictionary of British Quakers in Commerce and Industry, 1775–1920.

      Thomas Hamm

Unintentional Ministry?

A nonmember in [an old] country meeting spoke of the nearness of meetinghouse and school and of the spiritual significance of this – mind and soul. An old man rose and said, “And the graveyard – these three.”

      Poley and Poley, Friendly Anecdotes.

1. Create justice with humane economic policies, including trade agreements and sustainable environmental and economic development of all countries.

2.Protect labor rights of all workers, ending workplace raids, employer sanctions, and guest worker programs.

3. Develop a clear path to permanent residence for current residents with safe legal means of entry for others.

4. Respect the civil and human rights of immigrants, ending arrests and deportations, checkpoints and roadblocks, and eliminating separation of families by detention.

5. Demilitarize the US-Mexico border, decriminalizing immigrants and border communities, moving control from Dept. of National Security to the Labor Dept., and not involving local police.

6. Make family reunification a top priority, eliminating cap on family members, and expediting visas.

7. Ensure that immigrants and refugees have access to healthcare and social services and public benefits.

For more information go to www.afsc.org/ImmigrantsRights/.

“The custom of appointing certain named Friends to attend our meetings for church affairs may lead others to the mistaken conclusion that their responsibility for these gatherings is of less importance than that for meeting for worship. But the privilege of membership implies that every Friend should feel concerned to attend these meetings.”

He reminded committees that there will be a rotation of committee positions in December.

The Treasurer’s report this month has a page devoted to expenses for the Salon building, purchase of which has been made possible by two loans and a gift. Next year, this will be incorporated in the budget. Cash on hand is sufficient to allay any anxiety about the large liabilities. Donations lag behind expenses, but this is normal in this month and expenses do not appear to be straining the budget despite wastage of water from a leaky toilet.

The M&O Committee expressed gratitude for Carol’s preparation of a course “Friends: Exploring the Quaker Faith,” to be offered in the Fall. Newcomers and seasoned Friends are invited to attend.

The committee raised a sensitive topic for Friends’ consideration. Recent meetings have often consisted completely of silent meditation. Many value this. However, the committee wonders whether there is some hesitation about offering spoken ministry. An advice on ministry was read into meeting for worship.

The Committee hopes that someone from Meeting will attend the Quaker Women’s Conference on Faith and Spirituality in Oklahoma. It expressed sympathy for Colby’s recent stroke and gratitude for his reliable and generous help to the meeting on the website.

The Adult Education Committee clerk described the organization of the Fall course she is preparing, focusing on the history, spiritual experiences, practices, and social testimonies which make us Quakers. There will be no materials to buy and a flyer will be posted. Friends wondered if this could be posted in local universities. A Friend expressed his appreciation of the depth in such meetings where some seasoned Friends “held them in worship,” without speaking.

The clerk of Outreach spoke of two films, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, about nonviolent activities of Liberian women, and Disney’s Fantasia, which it hopes to show in the Fall. The committee has considered suggestions to make its work easier and will bring those which involve other committees to the Clerks’ meeting in August. Volunteers will be asked to help with some activities but it was hoped that organizing this would not constitute another responsibility.

The Building Committee clerk said that the committee is prepared to help with work on the salon, which is initially the responsibility of the Ad Hoc committee. An interior plan of the salon has been prepared but it was suggested that it would not be needed at the forum to consider uses of the building as it might inhibit creative thoughts.

The Salon

(2) ...as Friends love to say, our worship does not begin when we sit down together in our public assemblies, nor end when we leave them. The worship in spirit and in truth is in no way limited by time and place. The same idea of waiting ‘in the silence of all flesh’ to hear the voice of the Lord speaking within us, characterizes the Friends' private times of worship; or, as the more cautious expression is, of ‘religious retirement.’"

These thousands of crosses read ‘No mas muertes’ (No more deaths) or ‘Nadie es ilegal’ (None is illegal.) In El Paso/Ciudad Juarez, the border canal is plastered with graffiti art that connects the US ‘Imperialist war(s)’ abroad to the war against immigrants at home. In Arizona, large-art installations and murals picture the historical violence of US immigration and ‘free-trade’ policies with life-size figures of migrants crossing through desert wastelands. In San Diego/Tijuana, life-size coffins hang on the cold steel wall, revealing the steady increases in border deaths as growing walls force migrants into more hostile and abandoned desert spaces.”

To see his photographs of this protest art, go to www.afsc.org/austin.

As demonstrations were planned in more than 200 Iranian cities and towns on July 9, "A virtual campaign is in full force, and nobody is able to keep it in check," said one announcement, advising demonstrators to carry no weapon heavier than a rose.

When traveling, it is a warm experience to stay overnight with Friends in other Meetings. Janet and Ken did this when in Chicago for their daughter’s stay in hospital. They were once searching a rural area for an address and were told, “Just ask anyone for the Skydiving Club.” When they arrived their hosts were in the air. Friends willing to be hosts are listed in Directory for Traveling Friends with their caveats and preferences. Travelers should take a letter of introduction from the Clerk of their Meeting. The Directory costs $20 plus shipping, from Quakerbooks. Janet and Ken have a copy.

Tired of the same old restaurants? Try “Quaker Steak and Lube,” more than 30 locations in various states, but none closer than Tennessee.

W.C. Fields preferred epitaph: “On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.”

In Spring
In spring we gather mulberry leaves.
At the end of summer we unwind the cocoons.
If a young girl works day and night,
How is she going to find time to get married?
            Anonymous

      Poems from the Six Dynasties, 220-589 AD

Doc Foster was black, the only black man in our town. He lived just south of the lumberyard across the railroad tracks all by himself. I hate to think his skin color dictated where he lived, though I suspect it did, and am to my core ashamed that the first thing we noticed about Doc was his color.

Doc Foster died in the winter of ‘89. The day of the funeral it was snowing and not many people turned up to pay their respects. . . .

On the back wall of our Quaker meetinghouse hangs a banner listing the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When I try to think of what that looks like, my mind returns to a man who found dignity in hauling trash and sweeping gutters. What a gift his memory is to me.”

The book is in our library.

If you have any concern to bring forward, please get in touch with the relevant committee clerk – Janet S (Ministry & Oversight), Ruth L (Finance and Nominating,) Carol R (Peace and Social Concerns,) Carol B (Adult Education,) Marian C (Grounds,) Ken S (Outreach,) Bill O (Building,) and Denise W (First Day School.)

Among Friends, if there is anything to be done – form a committee!

Britain was fighting for its very existence. Nevertheless, George Bell, the most astute and morally courageous of the English bishops, rose in the House of Lords to brand the mass killing of civilians a war crime. A lonely voice, yes, but not the only voice. The debate has gone on ever since.

City by city, Germany was laid waste. The cost to the RAF Bomber Command was high. Many crews felt they were on suicide missions ( Frederick Taylor, Dresden: Tuesday 13 February 1945.) Yes, this "Florence of the North" was a cultural gem, but so were Würzburg and Nuremberg. Dresden had its war factories, too, and its railyards. Why spare architectural treasures, why be deterred by refugees fleeing the Red Army, when the whole point was to kill and create chaos? With victory just weeks away, an even worse fate befell the small city of Pforzheim, famous only for its jewellery; a third of its people were killed.

As early as the ‘60s a group of young people went from Coventry in England to help to rebuild a Dresden hospital destroyed by British bombs; and when, on June 22, 2004, a golden cross topped out the rebuilt cathedral - the famous Frauenkirche - it was a gift of the people of Britain, including, personally, the Queen. The British Dresden Trust commissioned a London goldsmith whose father had flown that terrible night over Dresden.

      Paul Oestreicher, The Guardian (3rd March, 2004)

We don’t seem to be able to make friends with people before we kill each other, rather than after. Governments and leaders get in the way.

A personal note: 800 Royal Air Force bombers took part in the bombing of Dresden. Between 35,000 and 100,000 people were killed in the firestorm, which created winds which swept people into the flames and dredged the air of oxygen. It was February 13, 1945, and I was loading bombs onto RAF bombers in Yorkshire. Margret Hoffman, my friend, of Austin Meeting, was there, in Dresden.

      Ken S

This would be the most efficient method, generation of power by a central generating station also yielding less pollution than internal combustion motors. There was so much interest that questions went on much beyond the usual time for ending the forum.

The forum considering the “onerous” responsibilities of the Outreach Committee, came up with many suggestions, many involving asking for help from volunteers in the Meeting. The committee has considered these suggestions and will bring its thoughts to the Clerks’ meeting in August.

A forum on July 26 gave Friends an opportunity to begin the process of discernment on best uses for the building, both as functional space for our Meeting’s needs, and as space for public use in keeping with our Quaker values. Friends shared their thoughts and suggestions, and some common themes emerged as part of the discernment process.

Common ideas included remodeling part of the space for a small apartment for an on-site caretaker, creating a bedroom and bath for use by sojourning Friends in need of hospitality, and renovating the remaining space for flexible use by young Friends, outside groups needing space to meet, and possible future projects that the Meeting may initiate. A strong desire for a Quaker school was also expressed, although it was recognized that this would be a complex endeavor.

Basic renovations would include repairing some interior surfaces and creating additional storage space for the Meeting. Exterior cosmetic improvements will also be made to tie the structure’s appearance to the design of the Meetinghouse and grounds.

It was noted that social justice needs of those in our nearby community should be better understood so that we can become more knowledgeable about how the Meeting and this new acquisition could be a useful resource for our neighboring community. The Peace and Social Concerns Committee could gather information on needs in the immediate community, and will facilitate the next discernment forum, scheduled for September 27.

There will be a solar panel tour followed at 9pm by a “mock drive-in movie” showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. A cult to cult evening.

Bring, apparently:

1. Rice, to be thrown during the two wedding scenes.

2. Water pistols, to simulate the rain of the storm.

3. Confetti, may also be used during the wedding scenes.

4. Toast, thrown during the dinner scene.

5. Rubber gloves, to be snapped in time with frank 'n' furter during the creation scene.

6. Torch, used during the song 'there's a light'. Lighters are banned for safety reasons.

7. Party Poppers, Hat, Blower. used during the Dinner/Happy Birthday scene.

8. Newspaper, worn over the head during the rain scene.

9. Playing cards, thrown during the line 'cards for sorrow, cards for pain'

Or, maybe not.

Wampum, Wampum!

We look forward to having the same problem. The plants and trees in the Meeting grounds are suffering.

Advice for August

^P^P