New England Friends WomenNew England Friends WomenUnited Society of Friends Women
Spring/Summer 2004
Message from your clerk
Dear Daughters of the Truth,
I have been active in USFW now for 10 years and I am renewing my commitments. What ministry am I called to do? Jesus sends us forth to heal the wounded, house the homeless, feed the hungry, and visit the prisoners. We who listen to the small, still voice are asked to proclaim the good news to all. Why am I part of USFW instead of other parts of NEYM like Ministry and Counsel or Friends for Racial, Social and Economic Justice (former Prejudice and Poverty committee)?
First, I am called to lift up our children as the most important group in our monthly meetings. I am called to advocate for them and prevent abuse and destruction of their love. What is the difference between a child that survives and one that thrives?
Second, I have been working with an ecumenical group that trains congregations in addressing domestic abuse. Our white, well-off Cambridge Meeting was trained with AME, UU s, and Pentecostals from Boston. We prayed about passages of the Bible that allow or chastise abuse, like the rape of Tamar in 2 Samuel 13 & the wives to be subject to your husband in Eph. 5:22. This was very helpful to me as I interlaced my work counseling survivors of domestic violence with listening to how the word of God effects this crisis. Our Cambridge group (of mostly women) working on this ministry to recognize and erase abuse in Meeting has just completed its six month training. I will let you know how we proceed. "So let thy prayers be for me, for except I abide in the root, I cannot bring forth fruit." Ann Audland in 1660s.
The third and most basic calling, which I have had for two decades, is to call women forth so that they name their work as ministry. Whether your work is making clothes, or traveling to Belize, or canning vegetables, or writing poetry, or teaching ADHD children, I need to bring out that of God in the work. We need to bring all of our work to God. Society already underpays women and laws constrain them. Do we Quakers, in our modesty, underrate our work? Do we have girlfriends who dismiss their work as lacking value? Elise Boulding is an example of a Quaker activist who brought her love of God into her parenting, into her marriage, into her national leadership in organizing the Department of Peace Studies at Dartmouth, and into the presidency of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. She is a role model of faith and action.
USFW of NEYM brings women together in our meeting houses and in our kitchens to discuss women's ministry. We nurture each other despite our allergies, depression, and illnesses. We are active in traveling among Meetings, visiting among women while we talk in the marketplaces. We continue in the tradition of separate women's business meetings. We offer a foundation of love and faith so that a few among us can take risks and live in distant countries to sow seeds of Truth. I do recommit myself to work with USFW as long as you join me on the path, pointing out God's Holy Mountain to all we meet,. "I am a witness of the new covenant, knowing the pouring forth of spirit upon [you]... setting before you all, this day, life and death" Rebeca Travers c.1658
If you feel Christ's call, come show up. The unique feature of USFW is that we are clearly a praying group, nothing happens without stapling it with prayer. "Oh! Love truth and its testimony that into my mother's house you all may come and into the chamber of her that conceived me, where you may embrace, and be embraced... Love is his name, love is his nature, love is his life..." Sarah Blackborow
Minga Claggett-Borne,
Presiding clerk (outgoing)
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 total amount $________________________
Please use it as specified below:
____ Eden Grace's ministry as support staff for FUM's East African Ministries Office in Kenya (see next article)
____ Contribution to help Cruz Concepcion of Cuba (our sister YM) , Mary Juma of East Africa YM (who is coming to be our speaker at NEYM), and Dorothy Selebwa of Kakamega YM attend USFWI and travel to USA.
____ Contribution to the General fund of USFW of NEYM
Did you remember to send in your annual dues last time? Just $8 for at large membership or $18 to get a subscription to The Advocate.
Dear Friends of NEYM USFW,
Greetings in Christian fellowship!
We're glad for the opportunity to share with you about the exciting ways God is moving in our lives, and so grateful that you have agreed to support us with your spring appeal.
After many years of prayer and patience, discussion and discernment, we are now ready to step forward in confidence that God is leading us, and to begin work in Kenya in cooperation with the Quakers in East Africa. We and our boys will be moving to Kenya in the fall to work as field staff of Friends United Meeting, and to help FUM establish an African Ministries Office in Kisumu (in the Western part of Kenya, where Friends are concentrated).
For FUM, this represents a new commitment to building partnerships between North American and East African Friends -- partnerships marked by equality and mutual exchange, in which we can all move toward healing from racism and the other distortions of our past patterns of relating. FUM is seeking ways to shift from dependence to interdependence and from donor/recipient to sister and brother in Christ. The African Ministries Office of FUM will create institutional structures that make it possible for East African Friends to participate more actively in the governance of FUM and for North American Friends to learn how to share power. Just as New England Friends have been showered with blessings through our sister relationship with Cuban Friends, FUM is inviting the Holy Spirit to lead all Yearly Meetings into new faithfulness through cross-cultural sharing in love.
For us, this leading represents an opportunity to put ourselves on the "front line" of what God is doing to address racism among Friends, and to call Friends to greater faithfulness in our testimonies of equality and community. It is a chance to be personally challenged and changed, and to help North Americans change in their understanding of global Quakerism. It is a call for us as members of NEYM to learn more about the ways in which racism exists in our lives, and to share that learning with the Yearly Meeting. It is a leading to raise our children with significant cross-cultural experience. It is an opportunity to deepen our Christian Quaker faith, and to be "evangelized" again by the spirit-filled faith of Kenyan Friends. It is a gift to live more simply, with fewer material possessions, and with a deeper sense of our utter dependence on God's providence.
As is the case for all FUM field staff, we have the responsibility of raising our own financial support. This is a gift, in that it offers us the chance to share our leading with Friends and invite their prayers for our faithfulness. But to be honest, it is also a challenging task. Our first year's fundraising goal is about $125,000 (including many nonrecurring startup costs) and our subsequent years' goals will be about $77,000. We anticipate staying in Kenya for between three and six years, and returning each summer to share about our ministry and raise the money for the following year.
As we begin fundraising in earnest, we are extremely grateful for the foundation of support offered by USFW. Your financial commitment, and your pledges of prayers for our faithfulness, will sustain us as we complete our preparations and embark on this exciting partnership with God and our African sisters and brothers.
Eden Grace
After meeting for worship and a potluck with Weare Friends, we gathered and began with a special presentation to two of our older active members. We adapted the method learned from Kakamega USFW women of how to honor our elders. Barbara Sturrock read the summary of tapes made during home visits with Bernice Douglas of Durham, Maine and Shirley Leslie of Gonic, NH. Marian Baker then presented them each with a candle (they are lights in their local meetings), certificates from USFW of NEYM (signed by Minga Claggett-Borne,) and a pillow which was embroidered with our logo and the outline of New England States with their local meeting located on it. All present enjoyed this celebration of Aunt Bea and Shirley.
Text of Presentation,
Recently Marian Baker and I visited with two Friends, who have been members of USFW for many years, to interview them and get their reflections on the part membership has played in their lives. As might be expected, the insights, humor, and dedicated witness was inspiring as well as enjoyable.
We first visited with Bernice Douglas, age 95, of Durham (Maine) Monthly Meeting.
She began with a brief outline of her early childhood, especially her life in York, Maine where her family moved to a large farm during World War I. After the war they moved back to Brunswick, and her family became active members of Durham Meeting. The Women's Mission Society did not merge with USFW until 1945 and was active locally up to that time. She credits the influence of Laura Jones for energizing her and other members to wider and deeper interest and involvement with USFW. Over the years she participated in conferences and many events sponsored by the society, subsequently serving as President and later Treasurer of USFW of NEYM. USFW involvement at YM sessions expanded to include a Thursday night speaker and broader exposure to USFW aims, goals, and work. On the home front the Durham group flourished and now includes around 20 active members, though total membership is 60.
After becoming a teacher she taught for 5 years in neighboring Augusta, later marrying Merton Douglas and working with him in their plumbing and heating business. Later they helped to raise 3 boys, one an infant, the sons of her sister who died at age 30. She recounted with pleasure those very active years and the warmth of their continuing relationships.
Currently she assists in fund raising projects and offers help and hospitality whenever she can. She also attends the monthly USFW meetings, continues to enjoy reading The Advocate and reading and discussing Blueprints recommendations. She recalled with gratitude the many opportunities of friendship and pleasure this has brought her. She contributes still, her faithful single-minded resolve to serve, affirm and respond as generously as she can her distinctive, God-give gift to us all.
Our second visit was with Shirley Leslie, age 80, of Gonic (NH) Monthly Meeting.
Shirley is a birthright Quaker who continues to live in her family homestead. Her great-grandfather was Gonic meeting's first pastor. She has lived in other places but this is now 'home' for her and Eddie, her husband with their three children all living within a reasonable distance.
Her statements parallel Bea Douglas's praising Laura Jones's influence and mentoring of her and other member of Gonic meeting. (Finding out more about that dynamic woman would be a worthwhile research project for someone.) After attending Friends University as a young woman and working with troubled children in Connecticut, she married Eddie and eventually moved to Dover NH. Her admiration and respect for other women she met through the Society nourished her and affirmed her lifelong determination to serve God and witness to Friends' testimonies as best she could. Living in a semi-rural area she met families whose economic security was under stress due to the changing economy and the fading agricultural culture. She sensed that children needed both support and appreciation of their abilities as well as challenges to strengthen them and ground them with principles to serve them all their lives. She spent the happiest years of her life as a 4H leader, working with children and their families, especially their mothers. She is well-known and respected for this and for her strong community commitments to positive projects. She saw her connections to USFW directly as providing hospitality and opportunities for affirmation for the women in Gonic meeting and beyond.
She remains active in her meeting, wearing many hats as need arise. She continues in community work with the Rochester Interfaith Association and the Rochester Historical Society.
I came to realize that both of these women, Bernice Douglas and Shirley Leslie, demonstrated what is most significant about membership in USFW. It is not just the many things they have done in their lives but the kind of people they have become and are today. We are blessed.
by Barbara Sturrock,
Dover Meeting
Nancy Shippen of Fresh Pond Meeting shared her journey in prison ministry at USFW of NEYM in May 2004.
Christ said:
"When I was hungry, you fed me"- (Yes, we do contribute to food kitchens and the Walk for Hunger.)
"When I was naked you clothed me" -(Yes, we contribute clothes to the AFSC)
"When I was homeless you took me in" -(Very few of us are willing to take the homeless into our own homes, but we do help build homes through Habitat for humanity or other workcamps),
"When I was in prison, you visited me"- (This is the hardest and scariest for most of us to do.)
Nancy lives in Acton MA and found herself often driving past the Concord Prison. One day she heard "and who is my neighbor?" as she drove past, and found herself praying as to the kind of ministry into which she was being drawn. She waited until her youngest child was starting into school to take the course in AVP (Alternatives to Violence) training. The first time she entered the prison she noticed the library which was only one fourth full of books. As a reading teacher, she started "raiding" library book sales, especially when she found out that there were so few books in the library because all the inmates were eagerly reading the other books! After being trained in AVP, she continued volunteering at the prison. Eventually it led her to start leading book discussions on literature such as The Unexpected News (Catholic Liberation Theology), We're All Doing Time, and The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
Nancy has found that as she helps the inmates, she herself is being fed and challenged spiritually. She has found that all inmates crave to have dictionaries, so they can learn more. The Concord facility is one where most prisoners are held before being sorted into other facilities. She has received grants to help her purchase the books so that any prisoner in the courses can take the books with them if they are sent to other prisons. In this way her work in following Christ's leading has reached far further than she ever expected.
She encouraged us to look into the AVP programs offered in our own states, and also to read a book written by Drew Leder, a Friend from Baltimore The Soul Knows No Bars.
Marian Baker
Right after our fall USFWI meeting, I traveled in ministry to Kenya. I went under a concern to visit a number of individual Kenyan women who are active in ministry and to help them in their daily work so that we could spend some time in prayer and fellowship together (giving spiritual support to these sisters in Christ.) I ended up helping in gardens, helping in a kitchen to prepare for a naming ceremony of a new grandchild, preaching, teaching, and doing a lot of listening to those needing to share their problems of living from day to day wondering when they would get their next meal and how they could afford to send their children to school. What a blessing it was to be used by God to bring together women who had similar callings.
The first woman I visited had found herself led to help some of the local aids orphans in her local area, and has ended up with eight joining her home. She followed me to visit Dorothy Selebwa, the next woman, who is also under a burden of caring for aids orphans. What a time of joyous relief it was for each to discover another with a same calling, another with whom they could pray and share spiritual support..
Another woman is actively traveling in gospel ministry, reaching out to others from a different tribe. I was able to show her the home of another Kenyan who also does ministry in a very different tribe, who faces similar cross cultural challenges.
Several women who had missed the funeral of Edith Ratcliff were able to accompany me and spend the night at Edith's home to encourage Meschack Mutamba to continue the ministry, to not give up after Edith's death. In turn they held me up as I mourned the loss of Sister Edith. (Edith lived and worked as a Friends missionary in Kenya for over 50 years.) Meschack chose me to be the minister to lay the new marble stone on her grave, since I had worked with Edith many years.
I was much encouraged spiritually by all these women as we spent time in prayer together. It was also very healing to finally be able to return to Friends Theological College where there had been so much confusion before, and to use some of the gifts and talents which God has given me, to encourage friends there. What a joy it now is to hear that FUM is now changing its mission work in Kenya to be more mutual encouragement of Kenyans and Americans in ministry, rather than we North Americans teaching and preaching to Africans. Perhaps the struggles I had to go through have in a small way opened the door for Eden and Jim Grace, who will soon be going to Kenya to support the new FUM office in Kenya which will be run by a Kenyan.
I am now based in the States, earning my basic living expenses by working part time as a rural mail carrier for my local post office. The balance of the funds raised for my ministry will be spent to return each year to Kenya for three to four weeks, giving spiritual encouragement to the women there.
I praise God especially for this opportunity to continue in my ministry to women both in Kenya and in Jamaica. I carry a travel minute from my local meeting endorsed by quarterly and yearly meetings. I am accountable to and report back to these bodies. In addition, since my call seems to be particularly among the women, I feel it is in right ordering to also get an endorsement from USFW of NEYM and from USFWI. Expect such a request soon!
Thanks again for all your prayers and support.
Marian Baker
Present: Acton- Ann Armstrong; Cambridge- Minga Claggett-Borne, Christine Smith; Dover- Barbara Sturrock; Concord- Betsy Cazden; Durham- Clarabel Marstaller, Dorothy Hinshaw, Bernice Douglas, Kitsie Hildebrandt, Patty-Ann Douglas, Muriel Marston, Theresa Oleksiw, Fresh Pond- Nancy Shippen; Gonic- Shirley Leslie; Monadnock- Rosemary Stadler; Smithfield- Jeanne Kinney; Weare-Darcy Drayton, Marian Baker, Betty Straw, Ann Ludder
Regrets from: Twila Greene Sarah Hubner, Nancy Rose Logan, Nancy Marstaller, Jean McCandless, Cathy Mulhern , Nell Neil, Virginia Towle , Christine Wozich, Ruth Zwirner
1. Financial Report: Clarabel Marstaller presented a financial report. We raised $275 for the Msamaria mwema project of the three northern yearly meeting USFW's in Kenya. She also handed in a copy of the annual report which had been audited by Bernice Douglas. This report was received with thanks.
2. USFWI Triennial: The following people are planning to attend from New England as far as we know: Minga Claggett-Borne, Darcy Drayton, Marian Baker, Dorothy and Ed Hinshaw, Ann Armstrong, Nancy Rose Logan, Eden and Jim Grace and their children. Christine Smith might also attend.
We approved giving $600 towards expenses of those going to the Triennial.
Ann Armstrong and Clarabel Marstaller were appointed to ask each of those planning to go to see if they needed financial help in order to attend. Otherwise we will donate the money to enable the following three overseas Friends to attend (in order of preference): Cruz Concepcion of Cuba, (our sister YM); Mary Juma of East Africa YM (who is coming to be our speaker at NEYM); and Dorothy Selebwa of Kakamega YM (from the AIDS Orphans Project which we have been supporting this year).
Women were encouraged to contribute individually to enable Cruz, Mary, and Dorothy to come to the States to attend the Triennial this summer.
It was suggested that we set up a pool or make a special appeal in the future to raise funds to enable several overseas women to attend future Triennials.
It was suggested that we see if any videotapes are being made of speakers at the Triennial to share with those who are not able to attend. Minga will check on this.
3. Minute of Inter-visitation to take to the Triennial: Marian read the draft minute to be taken to USFWI Triennial by the delegates from New England. After several corrections, the minute was approved. (See next article)
4. Edit committee: Dorothy, Minga and Marian were appointed to edit the background material paragraph that will accompany the minute.
5. Plans for NEYM Sessions: Darcy gave an update on plans for Mary Juma coming here. Mary is going today with Mary Kay Rehard and Elizabeth Yano to Nairobi for an interview to hopefully get a visa to come. We were asked to pray that they will be granted visas.
Darcy also asked for prayers for her ministry in Kenya, both with the Lindi School in Kibera slums of Nairobi, and for work on a video about orphans and widows of AIDS during her sabbatical from teaching this coming year.
Mary Juma will be traveling around New England before the Triennial. Contact Darcy if your local meeting wants her to visit. Contributions towards Mary's travel expenses here are appreciated.
In case Mary is not able to get a visa, Darcy and Marian will help fill in with a sharing on what is happening in Kenya, especially in terms of AIDS orphans and widows, using audiovisuals.
6. Table/Outreach at NEYM sessions: Jeanne Kinney, Darcy, and Marian were appointed to make the display at NEYM. It is requested that it be one that promotes USFWI, shares about the Triennial , the importance of USFW in New England, and offers several projects/ways others can join.
7. Relationship of USFW with NEYM: Minga shared that there has been an ongoing discussion between the NEYM treasurer and others about whether USFW is a committee or a part of NEYM. USFW or its predecessor was around long before New England Yearly Meeting became a United Meeting. No action taken.
8. Nominating Committee: Barbara Sturrock gave an interim report and said that the list will be ready at NEYM.
We accepted the report. Noting that we need to find two others to serve on nominating committee by Yearly Meeting sessions, We will give final approval at that time.
9. Summer appeal: We approved having an appeal in our summer newsletter to go toward Eden Grace's ministry in Kenya.
We also approved sponsoring a hands on prayer for her and her family as they prepare to go to Kenya to be held during Yearly Meeting.
10. Appreciation to host meeting: Friends expressed thanks for Weare Meeting for their warm welcome and potluck, even though the blackflies also welcomed everyone!
We adjourned purposing to meet next during YM sessions in August 2004.
Marian Baker,
Recording Clerk
Join us at New England Yearly Meeting August 8, 2004!
Kakamega USFW and USFW of New England Yearly Meeting (USFW-NEYM) have been blessed with a special relationship for two years. It has deepen the commitment of our USFW-NEYM group to exchange resources across cultural, class and race borders. Unique features of our joining include:
A series of visitations with Africans to North America and vice versa.
A project initiated and promoted by Africans and then joined by North Americans.
Two workcamps offered by Americans for a building project, and which included a Bible camp for African Quaker orphans.
A clear financial accounting whenever money was exchanged. Money was handled within the Kakamega USFW, not subject to the YM account.
With any ongoing project, African women gave financial support themselves (to avoid an unhealthy dependency on North Americans for finances).
A commitment to pray together, with God's guidance. Communication was sometimes awkward, but was helped with support from our home groups, wisdom from others who'd spent time living in Kenya and commitment to work through difficulties and fears.
We are always exploring what it means to be faithful with our African sisters. Women within the North American Yearly Meetings (YMs) have a responsibility to be sensitive to our abundance of money, our control over the 'commonwealth', over decision-making and how we structure our global Quaker practice. Racism and domination can be imbedded in our procedures and God is calling us to transform the inequality between North American and African/Caribbean YMs. This initiative dovetails with the global partnership that the FUM Board has signed onto in 2004.
We would like to encourage other USFWs in North America to establish ties to a YM in East Africa (already ties exist with Cuba and Jamaica). Often we'll know a staff person who's working in a region, and we want to support the person we know. That's fine, but we're proposing more than this. Begin a mutual relationship between your local USFW chapter and one from a Yearly Meeting in a less developed (industrially) country, including the officers. Start with spiritual friendship and, if possible, visitation. Bring them to your homes to evangelize for Christ.
Written Background for USFWI
In Spring 2002 USFW-NEYM sponsored Dorothy Selebwa and Leunita Mugofwa to visit our meetings for three weeks. Dorothy is the clerk of Kakamega USFW and Kakamega USFW had already been committed to a project helping AIDS orphans before Dorothy's trip to NE.
USFW-NEYM has been blessed with a relationship with Kakamega USFW since this visit. Friends in NE were so moved by the prayer, the strength and depth and joy from these women. Three women in ME (only peripherally a part of USFW) took a great interest in the orphanage Kakamega women were building and the feeding program USFW Kakamega was offering for about 100 school children, whom have lost their parents to AIDS. This Maine contingent called Friends of Kakamega wanted to do more for the Kakamega children and the women from USFW devoted to caring for them.
Members of USFW-NEYM visited Kakamega in July 2002. The three Friends of Kakamega went to Kenya in December 2002 and attended the Annual USFW meeting seeing Dorothy, Leunita and of course, Edith Radcliff. In July 2003 and (again in July 2004), workcamps traveled to Kakamega to help with the orphanage. The Friends of Kakamega returned to New England full of fire. They traveled to monthly meetings in the US with slides showing walls rising on a 3-story orphanage, and of the glowing faces of the Kakamega students. The Kakamega USFW treasurer was scrupulous in showing us receipts of how every penny raised in the US was spent.
By Aug. of 2003 USFW-NEYM had sent a total of $32,427 to Kakamega YM. We were surprised and delighted that new life had come into our group. We were happy to serve Kenya's children, who we see as our responsibility also. In August of 2003 we changed our relationship with Kakamega USFW, and Friends of Kakamega became a 501C-3 so money did not come through our USFW-NEYM treasurer. We prefer to maintain a sister relationship, and not to raise money for any one African USFW over another. We found our relationship to Kakamega USFW to be rewarding spiritually, but we were clear from the beginning that we didn't want to wed financially with any particular East Africa YM.
We considered how the number of E African YMs (at the 2001 Triennial) and North America YMs is similar. What a closer USFWI we might have if there were pairings between YMs across the two continents. In October 2003 USFW-NEYM reflected on our relationship with Kakamega USFW "By focusing on this one major project, we feel a sense of accomplishment, and it has helped bring some new people to USFW-NEYM."
The orphanage is almost built to house 48 destitute children. Yet our relationship has just begun. We pray that others will feel inspired to pair with another YM and receive as many blessings as we have.
We are not asking USFWI to approve the Written Background
Please pray for: Eden Grace and her family as they prepare to go to Kenya, Nancy Shippen and her work in prisons, Iglesia Evangélica Amigos in Cambridge MA, all the Kenyan USFWs, any of us ailing, Cruz Concepcion & safe travels of those coming from afar for USFWI and NEYM.
Chief Shining Eagle stands high upon the cliff. The pale winter sun begins to dip slowly into the silver ribbon of the Mohawk River. Shining Eagle wraps more closely into his winter blanket. he gazes outward into the valley he loves so much, now covered in a glistening crust of ice and snow. The bear now sleeps in her cave. The wolf creeps carefully, searching for food for her half-grown pups. The deer run in arched leaps as the first stars of night light the way to their thicket dwellings. Shining eagle is at peace. His valley has returned to the way the Creator intended. The earth waits for spring.
Far off to the east Shining Eagle sees the first twinkling lights of the village hamlet, first settled by Dutch colonists, now settled by many people of many ethnic descents. Deep in his thoughts, as deep as the sinking sun on the horizon, Shining Eagle reflects how now, both nations are at peace. Now they live side by side, as friends, with respect and honor.
As day hands over her cloak to night, Shining Eagle sees a darkening sky full of planets and stars. A chorus of unity and promise for everlasting life seems to emanate from the celestial realm. Shining Eagle wonders if this night, might have been like the night when that small child was born who would bring the message of peace and lead humanity as no other leader. Suddenly his gaze moves back to the hamlet in the valley and there seems to be a strange iridescent light that moves from the earth to the star filled sky. It elongates and becomes a form connected to the earth but also reaching beyond to the celestial realm. The silver light begins to change; the base becomes green, no, now red. As Shining Eagle follows it's length of a now golden light, a form seems to take shape near the top revealing the figure of an angelic being! Suddenly Chief Shining Eagle hears words that fill the valley. "I sing tonight to praise the glory of the green earth, its gorgeous flowers, the wisdom trees, the myriad birds, all God's creatures, and two legged and four legged, large and small. The Prince of Peace will keep them safe. Praise be to all God's Creations! The sacred of earth are also the sacred of heaven!" Shining Eagle has fallen in the soft snow. Tears are scattered on his face, the tears of generations before him, As Shining Eagle raises his face to the sky they become frozen diamonds on his face.
Christine Lundquist Wozich
Christian Service
The popular media would have us believe that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. Hollywood portrays the ultra-violent passion of Christ as the central mystery of the Christian faith. Our born-again president has initiated a war that violates the fundamental Hebrew commandment upheld by Jesus: "Thou shalt not kill." --- The world is too much with us!
Among Friends, Jesus seems to be a dividing line. Our signs read: "Everyone Welcome". Our main criterion for membership seems to be good will. Christianity is often no longer required or mentioned. Some come for the silence, others for politics. A common saying springing up among us today is: We are all seekers.
The question ultimately amounts to whether to dethrone Jesus as Lord and put him in a place of honor beside the other prophets throughout history from the other religious traditions.
This is a very perplexing situation for one who has followed the gospel that Jesus is the Son of God --- the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Early friends called themselves "The Friends of Jesus".
"But don't we have continuing revelation for changing times? Don't the problems in the modern world call for new and different solutions?"
What's a Christian Quaker to do?
Lewis Benson, a Friend interested in Quaker renewal, in his book, Catholic Quakerism, (1966) gave us these teachings:
"From Fox's view of Christian ethics it should be evident that he understands the Christian's moral life as proceeding from a dynamic personal relationship with Jesus Christ, whose word is experienced as a divine command that can and must be obeyed. Stand in the will of God, with thy own will offered up as his was who said, 'Not my will but thine'...
"In the Quaker experience it is not the will of the group, but the will of God, that stands over against self will...
"The Christian Community as Fox envisaged it is a community that stands committed to certain definite leadings that it has received from Christ which are binding on the whole fellowship....
"Jesus did not come to found an institution that would carry on after he was gone, but he came to die and rise again and continue to be present in the midst of his people as their abiding head...
"When the church declines or disappears from the historical scene, the path of renewal leads directly to Christ who is the new covenant. As persons turn to Christ the light, they will be formed into a community --- the children of the light...
"This community is not like any other community. Christ is the author of it. It is not man-made. This kind of community, based on hearing and obeying the living God, is the spiritual home that God intended for mankind in creating us."
From Benson, I conclude that whenever friends gather in the name of Jesus, whether in the meetinghouse or in the coffee shop, meeting for worship goes on. Friends in Christ, let us continue to seek each other out to share our faith in his holy name.
Jeanne Kinney,
Peace and Social Concerns
Next Newsletter Deadline is August 31, 2004. Please send your articles, thoughts, graphics to:
USFW News <usfw@neym.org> or PO Box 1401, Shirley, MA 01464-1401
See you at USFWI Triennial Conference 8-11 July 2004, Greensboro, North Carolina and
New England Yearly Meeting 7-12 August 2004, Bryant College, Smithfield, RI.
Bryant College, Smithfield, RI
8 August 2004
4:15 program in Janikes Auditorium
Mary Juma lives in Kaimosi (Tiriki) Kenya and works for the Rural Service Program or RSP. She is a member of USFWI in East Africa Yearly Meeting. She helps to organize people in the country side, particularly widows, to take their lives into their own hands to help themselves and their children. Prejudice against widows and particularly those whose spouses have died of AIDS makes life extremely hard. RSP offers assistance with agricultural techniques, micro-lending, appropriate technology, and health seminars which emphasize nutrition and disease prevention focussing especially on HIV/AIDS. RSP tries to serve all 14 Yearly Meetings in Kenya, including Nairobi. There are over forty women's groups that Mary has helped to organize in the Western province of Kenya.
5:30 Business Meeting in Dining Hall
Our business meeting is a combination of banquet, laughter and decisions. Items for on our agenda include: nominating slate, program for fall meeting, report from Eden Grace on her service in Kenya, and reports from the USFWI Triennial.