New England Friends WomenNew England Friends WomenUnited Society of Friends Women
Summer 2003
Message from your clerk
Dear Sisters,
Isn't this the most beautiful spring you have ever seen? In the mornings when I rise at 6 AM I usually run along the river. The new green leaves shout out at me, the air pulses with bird song, the lilacs perfume hangs along the fences. When I'm worried, I forget to see these daily miracles. And if I miss the deep fragrance of a rose or the velvet of an iris, how easy it is for me to miss God's subtler gifts. Sometimes I'm blind to the smile of someone who's ill or ungrateful for the food served because it's bland mush.
Within months of the invasion of Iraq, the bombs have stopped falling, but the hard road to peace is still ahead. The road in Iraq has many similarities to our work for justice here. In Iraq, the hospitals lack basic supplies and children go untreated; in the U.S. children have lost universal health care and go untreated. In Iraq schools closed down; in California they cannot afford to pay teachers so classes have 30-45 students in them. The list goes on and on. The U.S. did not liberate the Iraqis nor is the war making me in the U.S. feel any safer.
Meanwhile the spring is still festooned in her prom dress. Meanwhile I have a million things in my own life to be thankful for. And the work of making peace is just as important now as 3 months ago. We need peace keepers, listeners to those that differ, people going out in the community evangelizing, people on the streets with signs, people visiting those in prison. Let's redouble our work for peace and justice.
August is coming and we have some wonderful programs at YM session, including Fran Taber speaking with us on Sunday August 3rd about spiritual leadings.
On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll,
and out of their gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,
and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 29:18
Aquel di'a los sordos oira'n las palabras de un libro,
y libres de la sombra y de las tinieblas,
los oyos de los ciegos volvera'n a ver.
Los humildes au'n se alegrara'n con Yave'
y los ma's pobres quedara'n felices con el Santo de Israel
Minga Claggett-Borne, clerk USFW-NEYM
Please support NEYM USFW. Send your contribution today.
Checks should be made out to USFW of NEYM and sent to:
USFW treasurer, PO Box 1401, Shirley, MA 01464
with the following information
Enclosed please find a total of $________________________
Please use it as specified below:
_________________ Work of Iglesia Evangélica Amigos "La Unción del Santo" in Somerville MA
_________________ Contribution to the General fund of USFW of NEYM
About 1997 some of us from Friends Meeting at Cambridge learned that there was a Hispanic Evangelical Friends Church near us, and started visiting. It' s been an eye-opening experience. I remember, at my first meeting with the Amigos, being surprised by the youth of the congregation, challenged by their Biblical literalism and by some of the doctrinal differences between us, and amazed by the volume of the music. But I was also very moved by the strength of their faith, by the spirit of celebration and gratitude in which the meeting was held, and by their strong sense of connection to Friends' traditions.
The Iglesia Evangélica Amigos "La Unción del Santo" (the anointment of the Holy One, 1 John 2:20) was founded in Somerville. Germán Galdámez Erazo, the pastor, and his wife, Isela Orellana de Galdámez, came to the U.S. from El Salvador in 1991. They started having family prayer meetings in their house, then invited friends and neighbors from home. The church was formally organized in 1993.
Between 1996 and 2000, Germán and Isela were organizing a group elsewhere, and in the interim the church was pastored by Carlos Moran, from Guatemala. He in turn has moved on to Attleboro, hoping to organize a group there, and for the last year Germán and Isela are pastoring again. Because Germán has a day job, Isela takes an especially active role in pastoral care.
Most of the Amigos are from northwestern El Salvador, and the majority of them were Friends before coming to the U.S. The northwestern corner of Salvador was the area first reached by Friends missionaries from Guatemala and Honduras, soon after 1900. These were the first Protestants in the region, and they faced very active persecution. Many of the present-day Amigos, including both Germán and Carlos Moran, are grandchildren of the first converts. They identify powerfully with George Fox, Mary Dyer, and other first-generation Friends, especially for their missionary zeal and their strength in the face of opposition.
The Boston church also has members from other parts of El Salvador, and has had, at various times, attenders from several other countries. The congregation presently has around 25 members; a holiday service might draw 60 people. The Iglesia is governed by a Council, whose President is Fidencio Villanueva; it also has a Secretary, Treasurer, elders and deacons. There are also organizers for the Women's and Men's Societies, and for the Young Friends.
The Iglesia is affiliated with Evangelical Friends International-Eastern Region, based in Canton, Ohio. They find themselves in harmony with EFI's ideas, but the distance to Ohio means that contact is not as easy as Friends would like. The group also maintains contact with the Yearly Meeting in El Salvador. Another invaluable support for the pastors is COPANI, the Cooperación de Pastores de Nueva Inglaterra, a regional group of Hispanic Evangelical pastors.
Contacts with New England Yearly Meeting have been mostly of a personal nature. The Iglesia's closest link is with the Terrells of South Dartmouth Meeting. The Amigos have attended the NEYM Pastors Retreat, and have occasionally visited FMC. I visit there regularly; other Boston-area Friends also visit sometimes, as do some Cuban travellers. They also received a visit this summer from Dorothy Selebwa and Leunita Mugufwa, from Kenya, and were very moved by these sisters' spirit and by their work on behalf of AIDS orphans.
The group's major project at the moment is looking for a home of their own. Since 1997, they've met at 5 different places, interspersed with periods of meeting in Friends' homes. Their great hope is to buy a building where they can schedule activities as they feel led.
The Amigos' other concerns include supporting Central American Friends' missions in Cambodia and Nicaragua. Most recently, they are investigating the possibility of opening a mission in New Bedford, where the Monthly Meeting has space to share and where there is a Hispanic population.
The Iglesia has an active Women's Society. The sisters visit other families, and join together for prayer and fasting. They sometimes hold separate women 's Bible study groups. They are in charge of social events such as birthdays, anniversaries, and holiday celebrations (with the exception of Mothers' Day, when the brothers do the cooking). They also lead services, sing in the choir, and do their share of teaching in Sunday School, for adults as well as children.
Services are from 7-9 p.m. on Saturdays, and 3-7 p.m. on Sundays, at Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave, Somerville. Visitors are welcome. For information, call Germán and Isela at 781-598-4417, or the secretary, Ana Ely Flores de Orellana, at 617-625-2118. If you need an interpreter, call Mary Hopkins, 617-666-2517.
Thanks to Germán and Herberht Galdámez, and to Isela Orellana de Galdámez, for providing information for this article.
Mary Hopkins
Friends & sisters,
I have been touched by many parts of the Friends worship at the Iglesia Evangelica.
1. There is an acceptance and love for the children. Children stay for the service and move with the freedom of knowing they are loved by all. I find this moves me to tears as often our children can't wait to leave the worshiping adults to get to their segregated program in FDS.
2. Prayer springs up easy and as bright as dandelions. Sometimes an individual testimony; sometimes corporate worship on your knees where everyone murmurs their own earnest prayers. It urges me to remember to ask forgiveness for specific transactions during the week when I fell short.
3. This is a group of immigrants, some refugees fleeing violence in their countries. They are poor or working class. And they are incredibly generous. Few of them own cars or cell phones, or computers but they raised $700 in a few weeks to give to the Quaker orphans in Kenya. What a beautiful statement this is.
4. With the interchange of visitors like Dorothy and Leunita from Kenya, the women's society at the church was formed. Without groups like ours, a women's group may not have happened. I understand it's been going on for a year now.
Therefore , USFW-NEYM has decided to raise money for the Iglesia as our spring project. The women were clear that the faithful at the church see a desperate need for their own building . We will send donations to the equivalent of the USFW of the Iglesia Evangelica, to give to whatever project they discern appropriate, and knowing that in all probability this money will help purchase a meetinghouse. Al Senor tu Dios adoraras, y a el solo serviras. (Mateo 4:10)
Minga Claggett-Borne
Following fellowship over a potluck lunch USFW of NEYM gathered to hear from two women who were visiting us from the Iglesia Evangélica Amigos and two USFW NEYM women who had recently visited Friends in Jamaica YM.
Iglesia
Meeting began with a sharing from Isela Orellana de Galdámez of the Evangelical Friends Church in Somerville. She and her husband felt called to start a church in Zacatecoluca. El Salvador . They went from house to house, knocking on doors, sharing the message of salvation. Following Christ's teaching to "Let the children come unto me", they helped the children know of Jesus and His love, and this in turn brought in adults. They left a pastor to take care of the church and started another church in Chalatenango using the same method. The Lord then put it in their hands to come to the States and build up the meeting here. They met in peoples homes for a while and now rent and share a building owned by Baptists, but this limits their ability to do the work. They need to build or buy a building within easy walking distance of either public transportation or the homes of their members, but they find the costs in downtown Boston area extremely expensive. They meet every Saturday in societies (youth group, women's group, and men's group) and then for Sunday school and major worship service on Sunday afternoons. They were glad to learn of Smithfield, another pastoral meeting not too far away for occasional visits. They have a women's group that visits those who are sick, and does a lot of praying together. They take charge of all social issues in the church. They enjoyed two special services with Dorothy and Leunita from Kenya last spring. They are in the process of fundraising for a building, and they are growing with lots of children.
Jamaica
Twila Greene and Marian Baker shared briefly about their recent travels in ministry among women in Jamaica Yearly Meeting. They were warmly welcomed, and there was much prayer and singing together. This encouraged Twila and Marian just as much as it encouraged the women there. They were very interested in learning more about Elizabeth Hooten. She was the first woman convert to Quakerism who became one of the valiant sixty ministers who then traveled in New England and later with George Fox. Elizabeth died in Jamaica while in ministry there.
The treasurer reported that since the last newsletter, we raised $353 for the Lyndale and Swift Purcell Homes in Jamaica.
Present: Acton- Ann Armstrong; Cambridge- Minga Claggett Borne, Christine Smith, Mary Hopkins; Durham- Clarabel Marstellar, Dorothy Hinshaw, Twila Greene, Muriel Marston; Smithfield- Eunice Strobel, Marnie Miller Gutsell, Jean Kinney; Weare- Marian Baker
1. Treasurers report. Clarabel gave a treasurers report. An auditors report in writing from Bea Douglas was received by the clerk.
2. Africa Summit. Ann Armstrong shared about the November and March meetings for all Friends in New England with interest in working with East African Friends. They are trying to be careful how to do things in light of cross cultural differences and confusions that can sometimes arise.
They will meet as a 9 PM interest group on Sunday night of Yearly Meeting sessions and will then meet again in Dover, NH on the 17th of August.
3. Kakamega Project. A written report was received from the three women who visited Kakamega USFW and the Aids orphan project in December 2002. Kakamega women are continuing the feeding program for the orphans. They have almost completed the ground level floor of the orphanage building, but plan to build another floor. This summer a workcamp of New England Friends will be going in late July to help on the building and to lead a children's program (like a vacation Bible school).
After long discussion, we agreed to commit ourselves to completing the raising of the $4000 for the building. We feel positive about the project. At the same time we want to keep in touch with other groups and other USFW projects in the world. So far we have wired money eight times, a total of $120 out of our own contingency fund to pay for the cost of wiring. We agreed to keep doing this as the conduit of funds for the initial promised amount. Meanwhile we will try to see if FUM and Friends of Kakamega group are willing to work together to take over the transmission of funds for any further expansion of the project. We are grateful for this connection and for the prayers of support that have passed back and forth. We took a moment to hold Kakamega women and the Friends of Kakamega group in our prayers.
4. USFW connection to NEYM Questions had arisen as to why the USFW had a separate bank account and whether it really was a committee of NEYM. We approved asking the clerk to send the audited accounts of our books to the finance committee, as we have for many years been a part of NEYM and have no reason to be separate from them.
5. Program of USFW at New England Yearly Meeting Sessions We approved asking Fran Taber, Darcy Drayton, and Mary Hopkins to each share on their calls to ministry. Minga and Marian were appointed to the follow up on this. .
6. Business meeting at NEYM sessions. Minga will check on rooms available. If there is no separate room where we can meet during supper we will meet from 5-6 PM and go to supper late.
7. Display Table. It was decided that our display should include what is USFW ,our flyers, plus space for displays about the Evangelical church needs, the Kakamega Project, and the Jamaica needs. Marian and Jeanne will work on the table.
8. Newsletter. Ann reported that 395 newsletters were sent out. Deadline for the next issue is 15th May.
9. Nominating Committee. Since no member of the nominating committee was present, new nominations needed will be dealt with by the executive committee.
10. Outreach to gather more people at our spring and fall meetings. It was approved for each officer of USFW to call several others and encourage them to come to our next meeting. We heard from Marnie , the pastor, how many women at this meeting don't understand the purpose for USFW. We thanked the Friends at Smithfield for their graceful and thorough hospitality.
11. Report on USFWI board Minga attended the spring board on our behalf. Since there was not enough time for her to report to us, she was asked to write a report for inclusion in the next USFW Newsletter.
12. Special appeal We approved having the women of Iglesia and their need for a meetinghouse as our special appeal for our spring issue of our newsletter.
We adjourned purposing to meet next on August 3, 2003 at NEYM sessions.
Marian Baker, Recording Clerk
Plans are going well for the sixteen day service project trip in August. eleven people will be going. The plans for the trip are to sight-see for two days before and after our stay in Kakamega. The workcamp time will be spent, in part, helping the men with the building. But most of our time will be spent with the children, conducting a Friends Camp on the lawn of the church. We will have activities for all ages: arts, sewing, ball games, singing and games, making things, storytelling, reading books, tie-dying, Bible stories. We expect to be learning from them as well as playing with them. We hope it is a week that they will always remember of crazy Americans who came to Kakamega to try to give them a very special time.
We are collecting children's clothing, pens/pencils/crayons, sewing kits, Bibles, art materials, and other items that should be useful for the camp and children.
We want to start the "orphanage library" and send children's books appropriate to their life and experience. Because children (and most adults) have NO books, we feel this is a lasting gift many can give.
Sukie Rice, Friends of Kakamega
On May 8th I attended the Boston University Women's Guild annual meeting. The guest speaker was Sister Olga Yaqob, a woman small in stature (she stands less than five feet tall), but tall in faith and faithfulness to God. Sister Olga came to Boston in the summer of 2001 to study English as a Second Language at Boston University's CELOP program. Mastering the language in one year, she entered Boston College, where she is pursuing a master's degree in pastoral ministry and spirituality.
Sister Olga was born Catholic in Iraq, a country where only 2% of the population is Christian. Early in life she felt a calling to serve the poor, the homeless, the mentally ill, and the imprisoned in Iraq. She explained that in Iraq there are prisons for children aged 8 and up, for teenagers, and for adults. Disobeying her family, who fled Iraq after the Gulf War, Sister Olga returned to Iraq to minister to those in need. She incurred the wrath of her father, who spoke of having had several daughters, one of whom had died. Thankfully, the rift has been healed.
To better understand and serve the Muslim inmates and patients that make up most of the prison and hospital population, Sister Olga attended an Islamic Institute to study Islam and the Koran. She has not sought to convert anyone to her faith; she studied Islam so that she could better encourage Muslim prisoners to be strong in their own faith. She also has degrees in Christian theology and other subjects
In 1996 Sister Olga founded the Missionaries of the Virgin Mary, the first order of Catholic nuns in the Assyrian Catholic Church in 700 years. At present there are two nuns in India and four in Iraq. Sister Olga plans to return to Iraq in May of 2003 to work in the hospitals, and then come back to Boston College to continue her studies. While she is in Iraq this summer, she will tell the Iraqi people of the friendly and kind Americans she has met. She wants the Iraqis to know that not all Americans are soldiers or bomber pilots.
Sister Olga spoke of her faith and of her faithfulness to God, who works through weak people like herself. Despite the hardships of war (Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War) and the sanctions imposed on Iraq following the Gulf War, Sister Olga's faith in God and her hope for the future have remained steadfast.
Christina Smith, Adult Missionary Education
About 3 times a year the executive committee of the world body of USFW meets to conduct business. This body puts out publications for devotions and Quaker book clubs, it disburses money to many international projects, and it supports field workers in many parts of the world. In March 28-29, 2003 I met with the executive committee, because they invite a few representatives from different YMs to join them each meeting so as to hear reports from different regions.
A central topic of the Executive Committee was the planning of the 2004 USFW Triennial which will be in Greensboro Marriott Hotel for 4 days starting the first Thursday in July 2004. The hotel has a great outdoor/indoor pool and outside patio and yard. Although speakers aren't totally confirmed, one will be Diana Abel Naru from Ramallah, one night the Leverings will give skits, and on Saturday night ESR will put on a banquet for USFW partly to honor all the scholarships through the Sarrin Fund.
More African attenders are expecte than in 2001 when many couldn't get their visas.
Other decisions:
1. Money was allotted for Edith Radcliff's biography and history of Kenyan Friends.
2. The make-up of the Executive Committee was formalized. Term limits were agreed on. The committee will nominate one representative from E. Africa (or Mid East) and one from the Caribbean region (Jamaica or Cuba). There is money for them to travel once a year to a meeting. They must have access to e-mail to participate.
3. Some types of scholarships from the Sarrin Fund. This fund gives scholarships (about $15,000 this year) for Friends for higher education and especially to attend seminary. At any one time 50 Friends may be receiving money. Nominating committee is looking for additional people to serve on this committee, especially Friends familiar with Cuba and Latin America.
The committee is very supportive of projects and listens well to each other. There were moments of grace and love shared. I left grateful of the many women working to sow the soil for God's harvest.
Minga Claggett-Borne
One Wednesday evening in late May five women gathered in the West Falmouth Meetinghouse for worship-sharing around the topic "How women can make a difference". We were a varied group. We came from West Falmouth, Wellesley, Framingham, Acton and one friend of a Friend from upstate New York.
We shared together what touched our hearts. By the time we were done it was very clear that our unspoken theme was gratitude. Although our government is pursuing war in other countries, our homes are safe. Our male relatives are not among those who express their anger by hitting us. Our children have been able to grow up free from fear. We are for the most part whole and healthy.
We finished the evening by purchasing pins from the Episcopal Divinity School. Each pin has the name of a child in Iraq and a picture of a dove. The card with the pin asks us to pray for the safety of the child named and for all children in the world. Such a simple request. My pin reminds me that not everyone is safe, that I can not ignore the plight of others without damaging myself. Part of my spiritual stewardship is to take time for intercessory prayer.
Ann Armstrong, stewardship
At the March gathering of NEYM Friends interested in East African Friends, the group decided to continue to meet and to call itself the East Africa Interest Group. They will hold a 9 PM session on Sunday night 3 August 2003 at NEYM sessions and then meet for a full afternoon of sharing on Sunday, 17 August 2003 at Dover Meeting..
All interested Friends are invited.
The group has organized an e-mail list for idea sharing and to help communication. For more information, contact Ann Armstrong by e-mail <usfw@neym.org> or write Ann at PO Box 1401, Shirley, MA 01464-1401