Smithfield Friends Newsletter February 2001 Smithfield Monthly Meeting of Friends 108 Smithfield Road Woonsocket, RI 02895 Vol.13________________________________________________________________________ No.126 Parsonage: 762-5726 Internet: http://www.smithfieldfriends.org Clerk: Bruce Kay Recording Clerk Susan Furry Pastor: Marnie Miller-Gutsel Treasurer:RichardFrechette Ministry&Counsel Rhoda Mowry Newsletter: Randy Oftedahl CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY/MARCH EVERY SUNDAY 10:30 am: MEETING FOR WORSHIP First Day School Child care for infants and toddlers LAST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH: Unprogrammed Worship and Pot Luck Lunch OTHER WORSHIP UNDER THE CARE OF SMITHFIELD MEETING OR RI/SMITHFIELD QTLY. MTG. SECOND SUNDAY OF MONTH 7:00 PM: Unprogrammed Worship at Uxbridge Meetinghouse, Uxbridge, Mass EVERY WEDNESDAY 6:00 PM: Unprogrammed Worship and discussion at ACI(Maximum) Other Events: Sunday, Feb. 11 2-4 PM Smithfield Men's FRIENDship, light lunch and discussion, at the Meetinghouse Mon., Feb. 12 7:00 PM: Quakerism 101 at the Meetinghouse. Sun., March 4 Meeting for Business following worship. NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Thurs., March 8 7:00 PM: First Day School Committee at Martha Smith's home. First Day School Committee March 8 at Martha Smith's home 7 PM All Welcome! Feel free to share ideas or concerns with any member of the committee -Karin Sprague, Susan Kay, co-clerks Letter from Marnie Dear Friends, I sometimes think I have a mind like the Smithsonian Institution--I want to collect anything I find interesting, and I find practically everything interesting, especially ideas. I used to have to be forcibly prevented from stopping to read bits of newspaper blowing around in the street, a habit which my walking companions found rather annoying. I don't do that anymore--usually. But I still collect interesting ideas--which is why my study (and often my living room, dining room, and kitchen as well) tends to look like an explosion in a paper factory. My excuse is that there's a brilliant sermon in there somewhere, or maybe even a book. Or at least a pastoral letter! In fact, my "interesting idea" collection is the source of this pastoral letter. The month's "tidbit" is the meaning of the name, "February." I had assumed that, like so many of our months, it was named after a Roman god or emperor. Not so. Last week I discovered that it's named for "februa," the Roman festival of purification, which occurred on February 15. "Februa" is the plural of "februum," or "means of purification." So February, in ancient Rome, was the month for purification. Sounds like a good idea, doesn't it. Maybe that's what I need to do with the parsonage--purify it. Get rid of all the reams of paper piled around--I know I will never use, or even read, half the stuff I have. Toss out all the clothes I seldom wear. All the excess furniture and bric-a-brac. Well, all that is probably right. I am never going to read a lot of the papers and books I have lying around, and some of the clothes I don't even like anymore. Quakers are supposed to live simply. But the word "purification" also raises a very important question-maybe one that's more important than throwing out stuff. This is the question: what does it mean? The ancient Hebrews thought they became "impure" if they touched blood, or something dead--even a dead bug. A man who was maimed, especially sexually maimed, was considered too "impure" to enter certain parts of the temple. The Puritans got their name because they intended to purify Christianity and Christian worship. No doubt it needed it, but did they really need to go around smashing stained glass windows and beheading statues in churches? When they removed themselves to the New World, and tried to build the New Jerusalem, they found it necessary to "purify" it by jailing, punishing, and even hanging the "pestilential" Quakers. The Temperance crusaders of the early 20th century sought to purify the nation of the evil effects of "demon rum," and took axes to the saloons and whiskey barrels. They brought in Prohibition--which in turn brought in not "purity" but the Mafia, who were happy to respond to public demand for illegal liquor and other even less desirable things. Prohibition is gone--but we still have the Mafia. So, although there are many impure and degrading things about our culture that we would no doubt be better off without, we need to be extremely careful of how we go about waging campaigns of "purification." Perhaps we might begin by considering what Jesus meant when he said, "Blessed are the pure in heart." (Matthew 5:8) Love, Marnie Interfaith Prayer Breakfast Smithfield Friends are invited to attend the annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, on Weds., February 14, sponsored by the Bryant College Chaplain's Office. It will begin at 7:30 AM in the Salmanson Dining Hall in the Unistructure (familiar to Friends who have attended recent Yearly Meeting Sessions). The guest speaker is Father Leonard Fans, of St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Pawtucket. Friends who have attended in past years have found this event to be interesting and rewarding. Anyone interested in carpooling should contact Marnie. Quakerism 101 Quakerism 101 sessions have been meeting weekly. Discussions have proved so interesting that they may continue past the originally planned six sessions, which would have concluded with the one on Feb. 12. Stay tuned for further announcements. Emerging Ministries Retreat at Woolman Hill Friends who are feeling a possible call into a new ministry and would like to explore some of the doubts and potentials surrounding this gift should check out the flier posted on the bulletin board (extra copies are available from Marnie). The retreat is at Woolman Hill, May 4-6, and the application deadline is April 4. Karin Sprague attended an earlier Emerging Ministries Retreat, and found it enormously valuable; she would be glad to talk with anyone who wants to know what that retreat was like. Please take note that each application must be accompanied by a short biographical sketch describing the emerging ministry, and a letter of support from M&C. Because of the time constraints, M&C needs to receive the request before the March Meeting. Contact Rhoda Mowry, Clerk of M&C, for details. Saylesville Sing Sunday, February 18, 2000 Potluck: 6 p.m. Singing: 7-9 p.m. at the Saylesville Friends Meeting House Great Road, Saylesville, RI . Bring food, juice, instruments or "Rise Up Singing" songbooks (this is not a sacred harp sing) - or just bring yourself! Listeners and kids are welcome! Call Liberty or Paul at 401-351-9193 for further info. More clothes, please! At the February Meeting for Business, Friends took on a corporate call to participate in the MOWA-Choctaw clothing project. The call for underwear to be sent to the MOWA-Choctaw Friends School and Center has now been expanded and the date extended. Suzanne and Richard Frechette will drive to the School in April, and hope to stuff their mini-van full of clothing donated by Smithfield Friends (and any other Friends and friends). Besides new underwear, please consider contributing other new or good condition used clothes and linens (i.e. no stains, wear or missing buttons). The best container would be tied plastic grocery bags, subdivided by men's/ women's/boy's/girl's, with the category listed on the outside. All items can be brought to the meetinghouse in the designated bin in the front hall. The departure date is approximately Good Friday, April 13. Eunice Strobel, Cindy Keene Richard and Suzanne Frechette Coordinating Committee Notes from First Day School Coming Up: Youth Sunday - March 18 - Worship will be led by Middle School and High School Youth. Planning meetings to be scheduled. 1st Day School teachers for February and March: Feb. 4 - Susan Kay Feb. 11 - Dianne O'Hara Feb. 18 - Intergenerational Worship Feb. 25 - Dianne Guethier-Barbrie March 4 - Richard Frechette March 11 - Richard Frechette March 18 - Youth Sunday (Intergenerational) March 25 - Richard Frechette Adults: What's going on in First Day School? Ask the teachers! - ask the kids! - Come and visit! Thoughts on First Day School In First Day School (as not also in Meeting for Worship?) What is planned is not always what happens What is given is not always received The message offered does not always sink in... But what does happen What does sink in What is given What is received Can be much more than expected Much more than imagined And more lasting than may be realized today... -Susan Kay Sometimes out of nowhere, God reaches out and "zings" us With a flash of truth that freezes in time... It stays with us, Cries out in love, And cannot be shaken. My friend calls these "holy moments" A Holy Moment Driving up the narrow road to Woolman Hill on a cool and rainy Autumn morning, My son Jonathan is buckled snugly in his car seat hugging his stuffed lion and his special blanket. We are on our way to pick up his brother Zachary from his second JYM retreat. For the first time in my life, I am an hour early. As we pull up, the bell rings for the JYM closing circle. I free Jonathan. Beaming, he runs off with Andrew to find Zackary. I follow as children scurry from treetops and fields and a hanging tire swing into the old farmhouse. As the lively room full of children and adults seated on the dark wooden floor scoot easily into a circle, The giggling, squirming and chattering subside -without instruction - - without a hand raised, a word said or an eye closed - - only an occasional gentle fleeting "shhhh....." Out of the settling silence, Kevin begins to sing - Around the circle, young voices join in -one by one- with a softness and a certainty that could crack the hardness of any heart: "How could anyone ever tell you You are anything less than beautiful? How could anyone ever tell you You are less than whole? How could anyone fail to notice That your loving is a miracle? How deeply you're connected to My soul...." -Susan Kay There is a principle which is pure, placed in the human mind, which in different places and ages hath had different names. It is, however, pure and proceeds from God. It is deep and inward, confined to no forms of religion nor excluded from any, where the heart stands in perfect sincerity. In whomsoever this takes root and grows, of what nation soever they become brethren in the best sense of the expression. -John Woolman, Journal, 1761 Smithfield Monthly Meeting of Friends 108 Smithfield Road Woonsocket, RI 02895