Smithfield Friends Newsletter March 2002 Smithfield Monthly Meeting of Friends 108 Smithfield Road Woonsocket, RI 02895 Vol.14________________________________________________________________________ No.137 Parsonage: 762-5726 Internet: www.smithfieldfriends.org Clerk: Richard Frechette Recording Clerk Connie Bair-Thompson Pastor: Marnie Miller-Gutsel Treasurer:Bruce Buteau Ministry&Counsel Rhoda Mowry Newsletter: Randy Oftedahl CALENDAR FOR March/April EVERY SUNDAY 10:30 am: MEETING FOR WORSHIP First Day school Child Care Available 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 4:00 PM: Unprogrammed Worship and discussion at ACI(Maximum) Other events Thursdays During Lent-- Ecumenical Lenten Vesper Services, weekly at 7:30, various Woonsocket churches. Locations are posted on the bulletin board Friday, March 29, 7 PM Annual Good Friday Tenebrae Service Every Second Sunday -- Time Change--Second Sunday Meeting for Worship at the old Uxbridge Meeting House is now at 4 PM Every Third Thursday, beginning March 21-- Gathering to Pray for Peace, 6 PM at the Meeting House Note Schedule Change- Ecumenical Lenten Vesper Services Ecumenical Lenten Services will continue every Thursday evening at 7:30, through March 21. Locations are posted on the bulletin board. Good Friday Tenebrae Service Good Friday, March 29 7 PM Readers and Musicians Needed Our annual Good Friday Tenebrae Service of readings and hymns will be held Friday, March 29, at 7 PM. We need volunteer readers, and also hope to have some of our fine volunteer musicians. If you'd like to read, see Marnie. Volunteer musicians, see Ron or Marnie. Letter from Marnie Dear Friends, Last month I wrote that early followers of Jesus didn't call themselves "Christians" but rather, "followers of the Way" and I suggested how easy it to emphasize praising the name of the Lord, while neglecting the far more important work of following the Way. Easter makes it even more important to remember this-- becoming a resurrection people means becoming, in Paul's words, "the body of Christ." (1 Cor. 12:27). Paul uses this image as a metaphor, but he also means it in a literal sense. In a physical way, he envisions the individual members of the young church as becoming the material hands and feet and eyes and ears and tongues which are the new physical incarnations of the risen Spirit of the Christ. Paul's emphasis is on the actual work that each individual is called to do: apostle, prophet, teacher, healer, and the like--"God talk" is not enough. Phil Gulley, author and pastor of Fairfield Friends Meeting, Indiana, wrote in the March issue of Quaker Life about a nearby Unitarian-Universalist Church whose members understand this--they welcome strangers "of every stripe," and minister to everyone: "Though many in their ranks don't take the name of Christ," he writes, "they exhibit the heart and mind of Jesus. Watching them causes me to wonder what it means to be a Christian. Are they more Christian for living the priorities of Jesus, or am I more Christian for taking his name, but ignoring his precepts." As Paul wrote, "There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all human beings." (1 Cor. 12:6) When our daily physical life manifests "the heart and mind of Jesus," we become resurrection people, whatever our theology may be. This is one of the things that appeals to me so much about Celtic spirituality--in it, the most mundane things can manifest the Presence, and soul and body are always united in it. (With St. Patrick's Day upon us, bet you all knew I'd find some way to work in a mention of Celtic spirituality.) In this Easter season, perhaps we might consider using some of the old Celtic prayers and blessings, because they invite the inward resurrection of the Spirit that was in Christ by invoking God's Presence in the material of daily life. Here's one to begin with--it's part of an ancient blessing for the rekindling of the fire each morning: God, kindle Thou in my heart within A flame of love to my neighbor, To my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all, To the brave, to the knave, to the thrall, o son of the loveliest Mary From the lowliest thing that liveth, To the Name that is highest of all. Love and Easter Blessings, ~Marnie Schedule Change, But We're Still Gathering to Pray for Peace Smithfield Friends continue to be concerned about military activity in Afghanistan and the middle east. However, some of our regulars at the prayer gatherings have had to drop out due to conflicts in their personal schedules. Consequently, beginning this month, we will continue to gather to pray for peace, but once a month, on the third Thursday at 6 PM in the Meeting House. This month it will be on March 21. Attenders will decide if they wish to continue with the simple supper. All Friends and attenders are encouraged to come, and the Gatherings are open to the wider community, so invite your neighbors and friends. Afternoons at Uxbridge Don't forget! The once a month Meetings for worship at the old Uxbridge Meeting House now begin at 4 PM each second Sunday. This new schedule will continue until further notice. Young Friends, Aged 16-18--Join the 2002 Quaker Youth Pilgrimage! The Friends World Committee for Consultation Section of the Americas is once again organizing a Youth Pilgrimage for July 12-August 10. This year, Pilgrims from around the world will visit much of the country that George Fox saw on his 1671 journey to America; notable modern Quaker sites will also be visited, including the FCNL offices in Washington DC. Application deadlines have been extended. For more information or application forms, contact the FWCC, 1506 Race St., Philadelphia PA, 19102. Phone: 215-241-7250; or americas @fwcc.quaker.org Ramallah Friends School As many Friends have already heard, on December 13, two Israeli rockets struck a building on the Ramallah School campus. (The Ramallah School was founded by New England Friends about 100 years ago.) Fortunately, the strike was after school hours, and only directors Kathy and Cohn South and a guard were in the building; no one was hurt. Apparently the missiles were aimed at the Palestinian Authority Police station next door. Reparations are being sought from the Israeli government, but the outcome of this will not be known for some time. The School also plans to submit claims for damage to a US court. Current estimates suggest that repairing the damage will cost a minimum of $20,000. Friends who are moved to help with repairs may send contributions to: RFS Damage Relief Fund Friends United Meeting 101 Quaker Hill Drive Richmond, IN 47374 Save Your Stamps and Help FWCC Brad Hathaway of Mattapoisett MM, in MA, has been collecting postage stamps, especially commemoratives, which are bundled in packets for sale to collectors. Part of the money goes to FWCC (Friends World Committee for Consultation), which has received over $3000 from these sales. Stamps should be carefully cut from envelopes; damaged stamps have no value. Send your stamps to Brad Hathaway, Quaker Missions, Mattapoisett Friends Meeting, P0 Box 795, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. If there is enough interest in this project, we may consider setting up a collection point at the Meeting House. For more information, contact Marnie. Men Wanted--Be a Mentor! There is still a need for adult men of all ages to serve as mentors for boys in need of good role models. The Woonsocket Men2B Program is providing a twelve hour training program (2 sessions of 6 hours each) on Saturdays. Trainees may choose sessions beginning in March or April; a stipend is offered to those willing to train and serve. Call 762-2513 or see the notice on the bulletin board for more information. RSVP Home Help Volunteers Needed RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteers) of Northern Rhode Island seeks volunteers to provide relief for regular caregivers by doing errands and light housekeeping and providing companionship for low and moderate income homebound elderly and handicapped people. Relief caregivers are not expected (or allowed) to give personal care or medications. Small stipends are available. Informational brochures are available in the pamphlet rack, or telephone RSVP at 766-2300. New England Friends Too! The latest issue of the New England Friend, the newsletter of New England Yearly Meeting, is here. If you didn't receive a copy in the mail, there are extras on the table in the foyer. First Day School March and April 17-Mar-02 Paul Klinkman 24-Mar-02 Diane O'Hara 31-Mar-02 Pauline Goulet 7-Apr-02 Meghan Keene 14-Apr-02 Heather Smith 21-Apr-02 Kathy and Alex Malin 28-Apr-02 Richard Frechette Friends Camp this Summer? Friends camp in South China, Maine (under the care of New England Yearly Meeting of Friends) gives young people a community experience based on Friends principles of simplicity and respect for the individual. Campers and staff combine their diverse geographic, scholastic, racial and family backgrounds as they play, learn and worship together. The camp offers two week programs. Brochures are available in the meetinghouse, and be sure to talk to current and graduate campers and their parents in our Meeting. Smithfield Meeting offers partial camperships on a needs basis up to one half of cost. For more information on camperships, contact Rhoda Mowry (401-354-8799) or Eunice Strobel (401-568-5278). Quarterly Meeting - early notice Quarterly Meeting (including Providence, Saylesville, Smithfield, Westerly and Worcester Meetings) will be held at Smithfield Meetinghouse on Sunday, April 21, beginning with worship at the regular time (10:30). Smithfield Meeting Friends are asked to host a pot luck lunch for all. A panel will discuss the recently implemented American Friends Service Committee's southeastern New England Program. Public Hearing on the FTAA Sunday, March 24th 5 pm at St. Theresa's Church 275 Manton Ave. (Olneyville, Providence) The FTAA is a proposed trade agreement that would extend the disaster of NAFTA to the entire hemisphere. The FTAA will make it more difficult for nations to establish labor and environmental protections, and could lead to privatization of essential public services like education, water, transportation and health care. Host: Father Raymond Tetrault, St. Theresa's Speakers: Hector de la Cueva from Mexico, Fernando Leiva from Chile, David Kane from Brazil and Marceline White from U.S. NGO Local Speaker: Maureen Martin, president of AFSCME. Sponsored by the Alliance for Responsible Trade and the Rhode Island Global Action Network. Smithfield Friends Peace and Social Concerns Minutes of February 10, 2002 Meeting (Unapproved) After meeting briefly in silence the group began its work at noon. Present were Ralph Barlow, Yvonne Barlow, Debbie Chick, Liberty Goodwin, Paul Klinkman, Kathy Malin, Marcel St. Germain and Bob Sumner-Mack. Kathy Malin was named clerk and the committee will meet on the second Sunday of each month at the rise of meeting for worship. Bob Sumner-Mack reported related his experiences at the AFSC summit of the Campaign of Conscience in Philadelphia. There was a discussion of the AFSC's Coffee Project. Bob Sumner-Mack will bring more information to the group at our next meeting. In response to a request from the Meeting regarding our response to the events of September 11th, there was an affirmation from the group for the Friday evening Gathering to pray for Peace. New items brought to the discussion at this meeting included a challenge to find out who our government representatives are and how they stand on issues. We would also like to find the best method for contact these representatives on issues of concern to our Meeting. Liberty Goodwin, Paul Klinkman, Bob Sumner-Mack and Marcel St. Germain will report back with this informaion. The issues of support for the AFSC SENE office will also be investigated. Bob Summner-Mack and Kathy Malin will investigate. The discussion of the Rhode Island State legislation of the death penalty led to the conclusions that the group would rely on Richard Frechette for further direct information and Ralph Barlow will investigate the recent history of the topic in the state. The nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize was discussed. Liberty Goodwin will bring more information to the group on the matter. Bob Sumner-Mack also talked to the group about Separation of Powers in Rhode Island. He will bring more information to the committee as action may be needed. Other topics of interest to the committee include Restorative Justice and Prisons and economic injustice at the cause of terror. 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, whre 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