London Grove Monthly Meeting June 2014! 1

London Grove Monthly Meeting Bulletin ~ Begun 1714 ~

~ Established 1792 ~June 2014

Query for Sixth Month: Equality

How does our Meeting help to create and maintain a society whose institutions recognize and do away with the inequities rooted in patterns of prejudice and economic convenience?

Is our Meeting open to all regardless of race, ability, sexual orientation, or class?

What steps are we taking as a Meeting to assure that our Meeting and the committees and institutions under our care reflect our respect for all and are free from practices rooted in prejudice?

Do I examine myself for aspects of prejudice that may be buried, including beliefs that seem to justify biases based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, class, and feelings of inferiority or superiority?

What am I doing to help overcome the contemporary effects of past and present oppression?

Am I teaching my children, and do I show through my way of living, that love of God includes affirming the equality of people, treating others with dignity and respect, and seeking to recognize and address that of God within every person?

London Grove Plant SaleMay 10, 2014

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June 2014 Calendar

Sunday 6/1 9:30 am Meeting for Worship Children’s First Day School 10:30 am Meeting for Worship for Business

Thursday 6/5 7:30 pm Property Committee

Sunday 6/8 9:30 am Meeting for Worship 10:30 am Children’s Day Observance (See page 7. Please notice that LGMM’s Religious Education classes resume in fall.)

Monday 6/9 7 pm Religious Education Committee Thursday 6/12 7 pm Care & Membership Committee

Saturday 6/14 7:30 pm 300th Anniversary Special Event (See below.) Sunday 6/15 9:30 am Meeting for Worship Refreshments on the porch by Memorial Committee Sunday 6/22 9:30 am Meeting for Worship Refreshments on the porch by Worship & Ministry Committee Sunday 6/29 9:30 am Meeting for Worship 10:30 am Presentation and Discussion of PYM’s Long-Range Plan (See page 7 for details) Refreshments on the porch by Religious Ed. Committee

Seth Hinshaw on Quaker Architecture and Meetinghouses

Seth Hinshaw is an historic preservation planner with Wise Preservation Planning LLC located in Chester Springs, PA. His program will explore the architecture of Quaker Meeting Houses between 1670 and 2000.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will follow the presentation. It will be held at London Grove Friends Meeting, rain or shine, on June 14 at 7:30 pm.

For more information go to www.londongrovefriends.org .

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Date First Hour Second Hour

June 1 Doug Myers Kim Brosnan-Myers, Alexia Vaughn

June 8 Terry Anderson Jim Brofee, Karen Lee Brofee

June 15 Barb Pusey

June 22 Kelli Trice

June 29 Mary Jo Ciganek

June Child Care

Reminder: please save your SWEET PICKLE JUICE (NOT DILL), for our London Grove Mushroom Salad, which we'll be making for our October Supper. Closer to the time, I'll have a gallon jar in our refrigerator that we can save and store it. If questions, give me a call. Many thanks. Barb Pusey: (610) 388 7337

London Grove Monthly Meeting

Clerk of Meeting - Karen-Lee Brofee 443-754-1051 londongroveclerk@verizon.netAssistant Clerk - Bob Frye bobfryehome@aol.com Care & Membership - Jill Benjamin 610-347-1754 abambenjamin@gmail.com Worship & Ministry - Ginny Green 302-245-8203 ginnyblackie@aol.comLondon Grove Meeting House - 610-268-8466 londongrovemeeting.org Burial Grounds - Charles Brosius 610-869-9235 cbromush@aol.comCommunity Outreach Committee - londongrovequakers@verizon.netNewsletter Co-editors - Marianne Whitlock and Susanna Davison. Send submissions for the London Grove Bulletin to londongroveinreach@verizon.net or to their email addresses in the directory.Western Quarterly Meeting http://westernquarterquakers.org/Philadelphia Yearly Meeting www.pym.orgLondon Grove Monthly Meeting, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Friends General Conference and London Grove Friends Kindergarten each have Facebook pages also. Check them out!Bulletin deadline is usually the third Monday of each month. We make exceptions, though. Just ask.

London Grove Quakers Care Committee

We will be doing activities once a month at Friends Home with the residents there. We planted flowers and vegetables in raised beds. Thanks to Ed Paschall and Bert Ciganek. If you are planting your garden for this year, please consider putting in an extra row to give to the Kennett Food bank. They need fresh produce in the summer as the markets cut back on food. If you would be willing to help with an activity at the Friends Home in Kennett, please contact Georgia Delaney 610-444-0650. It can be anything from Bible study, singing, drumming, knitting, quilting, anything you are familiar with or even some type of a game or activity. We are doing it mostly on Fridays at 2:00 at Friends Home. Thanks for all your help and cooperation. Georgia Delaney

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Clerk’s Summary of Fifth Month Fourth Day Meeting for Business

ATTENDING: Approximately 50 individuals joined worship with a concern for business this First Day. Karen-Lee Brofee served as Clerk, along with Assistant Clerk Bob Frye and Assistant Recording Clerk Gail Newbold.

MINUTES: The reading and approval of the minutes for Fourth Month were held over.

RESPONSE TO QUERY: During worship, Peggy Sue Fernandes, Clerk of the Kindergarten Committee, shared the committee’s response to the Fifth Query: Education.

WESTERN QUARTERLY REPORT: Margaret Walton presented the report from Western Quarterly Meeting convened Fourth Month, Twenty-seventh Day including an urging of members and attenders to become familiar with the recently released draft of PYM’s Long Range Plan: Rekindling Our Fire. Meeting Clerk Karen-Lee Brofee offered copies of the plan to those gathered with the request from PYM that Meeting become oriented to the draft and prepare feedback to PYM prior to Annual Sessions in July. When asked for volunteers to present the plan, Bob Frye and Mark Myers were volunteered. Each graciously accepted. Meeting ACCEPTED Margaret’s report and APPROVED Bob and Mark as presenters of the Long Range Plan.

STANDING REPORTS: The Audit Committee Report, submitted by Harold Brosius, Matthew Provinski, and Samuel Wickersham was read by the clerk. All four audited accounts (Burial Grounds, Kindergarten, Board of Trustees, and LGMM Financial Reports) were reviewed and verified to be in proper order. Meeting ACCEPTED the Audit Committee Report. Betsy Walker gave the Recorder’s Report which noted the passing of members Beverly Medcalf and Ken Benson. The clerk read a letter from Ann Walter of Sitka, Alaska requesting release from London Grove. Meeting APPROVED both the Recorder’s Report and the release of Ann Walter.

Meeting APPROVED the Keeper of the Calendar’s request for the use of the meetinghouse for a family gathering. In response to a request by the Kennett Underground Railroad Center to host a symposium on current underground railroad research, it was decided that no building use fee is to be collected from KURC. Anna continued her comments with information about the Chester County Choral Society. The choral group and its usual audience are too large to be accommodated by our facilities. Their Chamber Ensemble would need a fee for performance of $500 which, they suggested could be collected by offerings. The clerk will communicate this practice as inconsistent with the way of Quakers and decline hosting.

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The Treasurer’s Report, prepared by Doug Myers, cited a closing balance of $61,834.88. The report was ACCEPTED. Doug is seeking direction for recent bequests which the family has asked Meeting to put to best use: $5000 in the name of Harold Miller and $420 from miscellaneous contributions. Several suggestions were made; a decision will be made next month. That received in Judy Montague’s name ($1115) will be designated for the Burial Committee. Sandy Reber updated Meeting on 300th Anniversary activities.

REQUEST TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE LGMM FINANCIAL REPORT: Richard Wortmann, Clerk of the Finance Committee, requested Meeting’s endorsement of a “big picture” report prepared by Finance, Trustee, and Property Committees to assure members’ comprehensive understanding of LGMM’s fiscal status. This report is intended to pave the way for a strategic financial plan. Meeting APPROVED.

DRAFT REVISIONS TO FAITH AND PRACTICE: The Clerk addressed the draft revisions by PYM to Faith and Practice, offered copies to those interested, and urged people to become familiar with the documents by paper copy or website. Several Meeting members are doing close readings and will collectively submit feedback on the draft’s CLARITY, OMISSIONS, and EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL via PYM’s Feedback Survey. All are welcome to help with the feedback.

CONSIDERATION OF KENDAL MEETING’S MINUTE ON DRONE WARFARE: The Clerk read the minute as requested by Zac Dutton of Western Quarter. The minute was well received but held over for consideration of approval next month.

CLERK’S REPORT: The clerk shared the joyful news that Stacey Farrell is seeking membership and handed Stacey’s well developed and thoughtful letter to Care and Membership for clearness. The clerk shared John Thompson’s, son of Ruth Thompson, decision to organize his mother’s collection of LGMM memorabilia, reviewed by Mark Myers and by Karen Conlan. The items are of historical value. John will be creating a PDF version on CD with searchable contents which can be viewed on the library computer. Meeting APPROVED and suggested that three additional copies (1:Safe; 1:Archives; 1:Family) be made to assure its safekeeping. The Clerk also recalled the Meeting’s consideration of restoring the State of the Society Annual Report process and suggested that the current revision of Faith and Practice as well as “Rekindling Our Fire” Long Range Plan were more than adequate items for our focus this year. She asked to put aside consideration of State of the Society Annual Reports; Meeting APPROVED.

With the business completed, Meeting closed in silent worship.

Summarized by Karen-Lee Brofee, Clerk

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June Preliminary Business Agenda

·         Minutes Approval, Treasurer’s Report, Recorder’s Report, Keeper of the Calendar, 300th Anniversary Committee

·         Auditors’ Report

·         Quarterly Meeting Report

·         Interim Meeting Report

·         PYM Request for Monthly Meeting Feedback on Faith and Practice Proposed Revisions

·         Kindergarten Committee Report

·         Library Committee Report

·         Requests:  Provision of Drinking Water for Kindergarten; Collaboration of Finance, Trustees, and Property Committee in Preparing a “Big Picture” LGMM Fiscal Status and Future Planning Strategies Report for Meeting’s discussion; Preparation of Archived Materials for LGMM Access

From the Worship & Ministry Committee

The Spiritual Nurture Group will be meeting next on June 23 at 7:00 in the library.  All are welcome to join us.

Reminder: Outdoor Meetings for Worship will be on June 22, July 20, and August 17.  Rain dates are respectively June 29, July 27, and August 24.  All who are willing and able are invited to come early to help set up chairs.  We are planning to set up two concentric circles this year, to make it easier to hear.

On the Sundays that we have opening exercises, a spiritual reading is also planned.  Sometimes the reading is done by the coordinator, other times they ask someone else to do it.  If you have something that you would like to share with the meeting, we invite you to contact someone from the W&M committee to let us know.  It could be a Bible verse, a poem, or any selection that speaks to you that you would like to share. 

Committee members are Ginny Green, Rebecca Mitchell, Elinor Thomforde, Carol Curtis, Jack Yeatman, Cintra Murray, Terry Anderson, Heather Hayes, Wyatt Thompson, and Rana Carnes.

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June 8 Children’s Day Celebration Ends First Day School Year

The annual program recognizing the meeting’s children will be held, rain or shine, at rise of worship on Sunday, June 8. As usual, there will be opportunities for many hands to help with the churning of home-made ice cream. Beverages will also be served after the program. Members of the Religious Education Committee will call the roll: First, all babies born since last year’s Children’s Day observance; next, introduction of our First Day School teachers and the children in our younger and older classes.

As usual, there will be special recognition of those children who will have turned ten years of age by Children’s Day; those who are finishing eighth grade; and those who are graduating from high school and college.

Traditionally, ten-year-olds are given a Bible (New Revised Standard Version) from the Meeting. Eighth graders receive a copy of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s Faith and Practice. High School graduates receive a book from the meeting: The Little Book of Quaker Wisdom was chosen for this group last year.

We would, of course, love to greet our recent college graduates; but since travel, job opportunities or further study often prevent their attendance, typically families share “what’s next” for these graduates.

The committee urges families with whom we may not have been in touch to register their children who meet the “book eligible” criteria noted above.

Interested parents are asked to email their children’s names to RE Committee Clerk Susanna Davison at shrdavison@me.com so we can place London Grove Meeting bookplates into their gift books in time for Children’s Day.

Meeting to Consider “Rekindling PYM’s Fire” on June 29

The Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, at its summer sessions, will consider a number of proposed changes in its organizational structure and work processes.  A summary of “Rekindling Our Fire,” the proposal of PYM’s Long Range Planning Group, may be found on the PYM website.  Bob Frye and Mark Myers will lead a discussion of the plan at rise of meeting on June 29th. It is hoped that London Grove can respond to the proposal, as requested, by this summer’s Annual Sessions.

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Dear Friends,

The theme for our Annual Sessions 2014 is Worship is a door to love. In discerning the theme, Sessions Planning Group was inspired by this quote:“To love and be loved is a universal human urge. Is it any wonder, then, that we are moved to seek God’s love?… It is to this divine love that we are called. This is the high promise of man’s life. We are called away from indifference, from meanness, malice, prejudice, and hate. We are called above the earthly loves that come and go and are unsure. We are called into the deep enduring love of God and man and all creation. Worship is a door into that love. Once we have entered it, our every act is a prayer, our whole life a continuous worship.”--N. Jean Toomer, 1947

A well respected PYM Friend said to me in an email message, “ I think that everything going on this year is related to the transition we are in — a new General Secretary, a new structure, an emerging Faith and Practice. All of this we discern through the lens of worship, but it will take careful listening, careful discernment, and trust in the work that is progressing with faith and love for PYM.” I believe this Friend has clearly stated our challenge.

We are unique in our decision making. Worship is the foundation of all we do. Our love for each other will lead us through our transformation.

Please join us this year at Muhlenberg College, July 23 – 27, as Philadelphia Yearly Meeting joins together in worship and love, for Annual Sessions.

Yours in faith,

Ken ParkClerk – Sessions Planning Group

For further information on Annual Sessions and other PYM news:

http://www.pym.org/annual-sessions-2014/

From PYM’s Website about This Year’s Annual Sessions Theme