Smithfield Friends Newsletter November 2002 Smithfield Monthly Meeting of Friends 108 Smithfield Road Woonsocket, RI 02895 Vol.15________________________________________________________________________ No.143 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 November/December EVERY SUNDAY 10:30 am: MEETING FOR WORSHIP Child Care Available LAST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH: Unprogrammed Worship and Pot Luck Lunch Children's First Day School during worship OTHER WORSHIP UNDER THE CARE OF SMITHFIELD MEETING OR RI/SMITHFIELD QTLY. MTG. SECOND SUNDAY OF MONTH 4:00 PM: Unprogrammed Worship at Uxbridge Meetinghouse, Uxbridge, Mass EVERY WEDNESDAY 4:00 PM: Unprogrammed Worship and discussion at ACI(Maximum) Other events Sat., Nov. 23 - Sun., Nov. 24 Smithfield Young Friends Retreat Sunday, November 24-- Potluck followed by discussion of Faith & Practice Thursday, November 28-- Thanksgiving--Ecumenical Service at Uxbridge Meeting House 9:30 AM Sunday, December 1-- 9:30-10--Meeting for Worship for Healing Monthly Meeting for Business DECEMBER NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Sunday, December 8-- regular Meeting For Worship at Uxbridge, with a special Concern for Peace Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at Uxbridge Meeting House It's time again for the much loved Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at the beautiful old (1770!) Uxbridge Meeting House. Join Friends and many others from the surrounding communities for our traditional gathering on Thanksgiving morning at 9:30 AM. The service will be led by clergy and members of area churches. Dress warmly (experience colonial style heating!), and come early for a good seat near one of the fireplaces. The Meeting House is just south of Uxbridge on the west side of 146A, at the intersection of Rt. 98. Letter from Marnie Dear Friends, When I was a little girl, I really looked forward to Thanksgiving because it was the true beginning of the holidays (and I continue to be appalled these days as merchants start putting out Christmas stuff earlier and earlier--can it really be possible that people buy more holiday stuff just because it appears before Halloween?) But as I was enjoying those holiday memories, I realized that it wasn't just that I was looking forward to all the presents--though I certainly enjoyed that part of it. It was more because everything--even the most ordinary events--took on a kind of glimmering incandescent quality. Looking back on it, I think there was actually a strong element of gratitude in the delight and gladness I felt in that time of innocence. It was almost a kind of perpetual (if subconscious) prayer of thanks directed to something much bigger than I was. Not my parents, not even Santa Claus. I don't think that at that time I would have applied the name "God" to it but I did have the sense that Something much bigger was sending all this warm, joy-making stuff into my life. And I was glad. Perhaps that's why I was intrigued by a couple of sentences I recently read in the book Praying the Possibilities, by W. Robert McClelland: "When we are God-Conscious--not just during those times when we bow our heads, close our eyes, and say, 'In Jesus name, Amen,' but all the time--life becomes incandescent with the divine Presence. Indeed, part of the problem may be that when we bow our heads and close our eyes, we shut out the world. Yet, it is in the world we try to exclude that the best reminders of God are to be found." No, I'm not advocating that we sit in open worship without ever closing our eyes. Sometimes it's appropriate. But what I think McCleIIand is getting at is that most of us have lost a sense that God is always sending us little signs and reminders of the Divine Presence--an awareness that seems to come naturally to children, whether or not they use the name "God." It's sad that --with some outstanding exceptions, like St. Francis of Assisi--many of us seem to slowly lose this natural "God-Consciousness" as we get older. (When, for instance, was the last time you looked at an especially beautiful sunset at said, "Yay God! Way to go!--or words to that effect?) But I think McClelland is absolutely right: "it is in the world we try to exclude [from prayer] that the best reminders of God are to be found." It's very easy to build a wall between the "secular" world--especially the world of work--and the "sacred" or "holy." We tend to see the contemplative and the active components of life as mutually exclusive. Even Quakers. We like to proclaim to each other that "all life is sacramental," but if we really believed that and lived it, I suspect our lives would look a bit different. The discipline of mindfulness, of seeking those "best reminders of God" everywhere and all the time--that discipline could help us hold together our active and contemplative lives. The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; for God has founded it upon the sea, and established it upon the rivers. (Psalm 24:1-2) May we constantly be mindful of that, and thankful. Peace and Thanksgiving blessings to you all, Marnie News Flash! Smithfield Meeting Receives Grant! Smithfield Meeting has received notice of a $5,000 grant from the Obadiah Brown Benevolent Fund to be used towards renovations to the meetinghouse. Hurrah! Faith and Practice Needs You! New England Yearly Meeting has begun revising its Book of Faith and Practice and we really need input from folks in all the Monthly Meetings. We want to know how the present version has worked for you (or hasn't worked) and what changes or additions you would like to see. Please look over the Questionnaire that appeared in the October newsletter; extra copies are available on the lobby table. Then mark your calendar for Sunday, November 24, when Smithfield Friends will gather after potluck to discuss our corporate response to the questionnaire. Both members and attenders are encouraged to come. Child care will be available. Copies of Faith and Practice are available in the box in the library. Study it, and bring your ideas. Your help will make a difference in how well the new version serves us. Sing and Rejoice, Ye Children of the Light--Ye Musicians and Readers! The Holiday Season at Smithfield always includes special services for which we need readers, singers and other musicians. We particular want volunteers for our traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, but we also need readers and performers for some of our Sunday Meetings for Worship during Advent. Music rehearsals won't begin until December, but it's not too early to think about it. So members and attenders of all ages, if you like to sing, play, or read aloud, please let Marnie know. Moses Brown Class Days for Parents of Prospective Students Thinking of sending your child to Moses Brown? Beginning in November and continuing through February of 2002, there will be a series of days on which you may come to observe classes at the school. Reservations are required. See the notice on the Bulletin Board for dates and times. Non-Violence Training There will be a nonviolence training session at The Peace Abbey, junction of Routes 27 and 16, Sherborn from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, Dec 7, 2002 To get more info or sign up, contact Dot Walsh at peaceabbey@earthlink.net or call her at 508-650-3659 In the Meeting Library... Rufus Jones: A Luminous Life (40 minute video) A Rufus Jones Companion (Companion book to the Video) Rufus Jones: 1863-1948. Eminent historian of mysticism, religious reformer and healer of schisms, founder and several-decades leader of the American Friends Service Committee, exponent of Quaker service to mankind in all parts of the world, prolific author, compelling speaker - these many facets of Rufus Jones' life and work are explored in this video and companion book. Both were professionally produced by the Wellesley (MA) Monthly Meeting of Friends. COFFEE, ANYONE? Much of the world's coffee is grown by small farmers, purchased at negligible prices by middlemen, and then bought and sold on a commodities market thousands of miles away. Equal Exchange provides an alternative by working directly with small farmer cooperatives, helping to build pride, independence and community empowerment. Smithfield Friends Meeting is a participant in the Equal Exchange Program. Coffee products are on display and for sale downstairs in the meetinghouse. For more information, see Bob Sumner-Mack or check the Equal Exchange website www.equalexchange.com Opportunities... Friends: Needless to say, Smithfield Friends Meeting is small in numbers, and depends on the commitment of its whole family - both formal members and regular attenders - to participate in the family chores. I ask each of you to consider where you may best serve the Meeting. Shortly, the Meeting's Nominating Committee will be discerning people-needs of the various committees, and will be making contacts to fill those needs. Please take a moment to review the list below, which outlines some of the traditional roles. -Richard Frechette, Clerk of the Meeting First Day School Committee: Responsible for the conduct of religious education for pre-schoolers through junior high; establishes curriculum; selects resource materials, shares teaching responsibilities and /or recruits teachers. Building and Grounds Committee: Provides oversight of the work of the janitor; arranges for procurement of cleaning and household supplies for meetinghouse; prepares annual and long range plan for repairs and refurbishment of meetinghouse and parsonage, including how work is to be accomplished; arranges for emergency repairs. Ministry & Counsel: Responsible for oversight of the spiritual well being of the Meeting community and all of its individual members; arranges for retreats, discussion groups, worship sharing; reviews facets of meeting for worship; considers individual pastoral needs. (This committee is limited to formal members; the Meeting's clerk and pastor also serve ex-officio; meets monthly) Newsletter: Produces monthly newsletter (editing, copying, distributing) Finance Committee: Prepares an annual budget; provides oversight of the work of the Treasurer; reviews Treasurer's reports of expenditures and receipts during the year; makes recommendations for actions when needed; makes recommendations on short and long term investments. Hospitality: Variety of tasks, each under the coordination of one or two individuals, such as: * Arranging for greeters for meeting for worship * Arranging of pre or post worship fellowship activities. * Arranging for occasional community meals ("meeting for eating") * Arranging for childcare during worship for toddlers and infants; supervision of child care workers. * Arranging for occasional overnight hospitality for outside guests Library: Maintains order of the Meeting's library; occasionally reviews books to determine disposition (i.e. keep in library, send to archives, otherwise dispose of); establishes a procedure for borrowing. Corresponders: Writes letters to non-resident members and others on behalf of the meeting Music in Worship: Selects group and presentation music for worship on a quarterly basis; Insures availability of sheet music for group singing; insures availability of musicians as needed (organist, guitarist, etc.) Youth Group: Acts as Advisor to Jr. High/ High School age youth service/social group (possibly in concert with other area church(es) and/or other Meetings of the Quarter). Liaisons to: * Friends Committee on National Legislation * Yearly Meeting Ministry and Council * Rhode Island State Council of Churches (via Quarterly Meeting) * Yearly Meeting Nominating Committee * American Friends Service Committee, RI Support Committee Nominating Committee: Recommends assignments to above committees and tasks. Smithfield Monthly Meeting of Friends is conducting a month long silent auction that will begin on Sunday, October 20th and conclude on Sunday, November 24th, following pot luck. At that time, the highest bidders will purchase their items. If the bidder is not present, arrangements will be made for them to pick up their items during the following week. Any items that do not receive a minimum bid will be consigned or sold at a general auction. Friends may view and bid on items that are on display in the center room above the meeting room. Parents are asked to accompany children who wish to see the items, as many items are fragile, and some are dangerous to little hands. Although many of our items were stored in the Meetinghouse for years, Friends may wish to contribute other things of value to the auction. Small pieces of nice furniture, antiques, collectibles, art, and similar items are welcome. Such contributions will be added to the auction at any time. Bring the items to Meeting or contact Suzanne Frechette (769-4433) for pick up. Donors will be asked to identify an estimated value and will receive a receipt for tax purposes when the item is sold. Proceeds from the auction are earmarked for Meetinghouse and Parsonage maintenance projects. Some items in the collection include: • a bamboo book case • a large, round copper water boiler with spout and cover • several pieces of depression glass • several very nice, antique silver/silver plate tea service items • a McCoy planter (rectangular gloss green) • art pottery vessels, signed and unsigned • antique knives and other kitchen implements • antique mixing bowls, including 3 yellow ware bowls • 2 crystal vases, one cut and one pressed glass • an antique oak kitchen table with 2 end drawers and very nice pulls • a large, antique oak rocker with leather seat • 2 antique, cast iron, oil lamp wall sconces • blue on white enamelware pitcher and large rectangular container • antique green metal kitchen scale ********************** November 23rd to 24th Sleep Over for Smithfield Monthly Meeting Youth Join us for a great night of food, Friends/friends, and fun. The sleep over is open to our school age youth. You may also invite a friend, with the understanding that everyone is expected to participate in the program. This is a FREE retreat. *RSVP (by phone 769-4433 or e-mail sfreche105@aol.com) Suzanne Frechette on or before Wednesday, November 20th BRING: a pillow, sleeping bag or blanket sweats or clothes to sleep in a snack to share something "Quaker" favorite music, musical instrument, and/or video to share tooth brush, tooth paste, etc. phone number where parents can be reached SCHEDULE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd arrive between 4 and 6 pizza supper at 6:00 videos and conversation from 7-8 (program) snack age appropriate options/activities and quiet time 8:30-? (areas will be available for those who like to settle down early as well as for Friends who enjoy staying up late) SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24th breakfast at 9:00 am clean up at 9:45 set up for pot luck (service project) at 10:00 worship at 10:30 pot luck lunch with Meeting Family at 11:45 The War Prayer by Mark Twain I t was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and spluttering; On every hand and far down the receding and fading spread of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; Nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country and invoked the God of Battles, beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpouring of fervid eloquence which moved every listener. It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half-dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety's sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way. Sunday morning came - next day the battalions would leave for the front; The church was filled; the volunteers were there, their young faces alight with martial dreams - visions of the stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender! Then home from the war, bronzed heroes, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation: God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest, Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword! Then came the "long" prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. The burden of its supplication was that an ever-merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in the day of battle and the hour of peril, bear them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident; invincible in the bloody onset; help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory - An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher's side and stood there, waiting. With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal, "Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord our God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!" The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside - which the startled minister did - and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said: "I come from the Throne - bearing a message from Almighty God!" The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. "He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd, and will grant it if such shall be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import - that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of - except he pause and think. "God's servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two - one uttered, the other not. Both have reached the ear of Him Who heareth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this - keep it in mind. If you would beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor's crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it. "You have heard your servant's prayer - the uttered part of it. I am commissioned of God to put into words the other part of it - that part which the pastor, and also you in your hearts, fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard these words: 'Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!' That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory - must follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God the Father fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen! "O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle - be Thou near them! With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. "O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; Help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; Help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; Help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; Help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; Help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it - "For our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! "We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen." After a pause: "Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits!" It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said. Each one of us has a choice about how to create meaning from this day. Both as individual people and as a nation, we can choose to isolate in fear or build community in hope. We can choose to perpetuate the cycle of violence or to boldly act in another way. We must choose as individuals and collectively as a democratic society. -by Jean McElhaney, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows Smithfield Monthly Meeting of Friends 108 Smithfield Road Woonsocket, RI 02905