Table Of Content

' mmS, Mpp MBH1 MH ..... From the Faim Sunday Feace Farade Editorial Friends Bulletin to Peacemalcing /^mong the [Redwoods A The officialpublicationofPacific, delightful surprise came mywaywhen I decided to attend the Palm Sunday North Pacific and Intermountain Peace Parade in Pasadena, CA. Instead of parking behind Orange Grove YearlyMeetings ofthe Religious SocietyofFriends (Quakers) Meetinghouse, I parked in front and walked along Orange Grove Boulevard to- (Opinionsexpressedarethose wards the Memorial Lutheran Church, the starting point for the parade. To my oftheauthors, surprise and delight, I saw a colorful mural (see cover) with the famous quotation notnecessarilyoftheYearlyMeetings.) from Quaker founder George Fox, “Walk Cheerfully Over the Earth Answering AnthonyManousos, Editor That ofGod in Everyone.” This also happens to be the theme ofthis summer’s 3223 Danaha St North Pacific Yearly Meeting’s annual session: see p. 22). Torrance, CA 90505 The mural was designed by Anita Williams, with help from Gary Bagwell 310-325-3581 and others. Raised a Quakerby Quaker parents in Ann Arbor, MI, Anita studied E-mail: [email protected] www.westernquaker.net fine arts and worked as a freelance muralist and set designer. According to Anita, the idea for the muralwas proposed by Dorothea Harrington, a senior member of Orange Grove Meetingwho loves artand often arranges Quaker art shows forthe BoardofDirectors AFSC and other venues. The Meeting responded enthusiastically to Dorothea’s Stephen Matchett, San Francisco (CA) idea. After a lengthy process ofdiscernment in the manner ofFriends, Anita was Meeting (PYM), Clerk asked to submit a design. Tom Vaughan, Durango (CO) Meeting WPA (IMYM),Treasurer “The style ofthe mural is reminiscent of [Works Progress Administra- Sandy Farley, Palo Alto (CA) Meeting tion] paintings that you see in post offices,” explains Anita. “The coloration is (PYM), Recording Clerk influenced by California artists. I used Quaker symbols, like the animals from the PollyKmetz,Phoenix (AZ) Meeting Peaceable Kingdom, with the San Gabriel mountains as a background.The mu- (IMYM) ral also reflects the cultural and racial diversity ofour region.” JeanTriol, Kalispell (MT)Worship Group (NPYM) Orange Grove Meeting approved the design, andworkbegan in2003. Ittook Rob RoyWoodman, Davis (CA), six months to complete since most ofthe work was done on weekends. Children Meeting (PYM) as well as adults took part in the painting. Jessica Bucciarelli, Bridge City “People walking by would come and talk and show their artwork,” recalls Meeting, Portland, OR (NPYM) Anita. “It was magical.” PeterAnderson, Durango (CO) Meeting (IMYM) I have never seen abetterartistic expression ofthe Quakerspirithere in south- ern California. I will cherish this image as I head to Pennsylvania, where the sun doesn’t shine quite so brightly and earth tones prevail. The image of a child gazing towards the mountains seemed fitting for an issue devoted to Ben Lomond Quaker Center and Friends’ schools.These institu- tions have helped instill Quakervalues in both Quaker and non-Quaker children. This spring I led my first workshop at Ben Lomond Quaker Center (QC), where 15 participants took part in a workshop entitled “Interfaith Peacemaking.” I’m pleased to report that a good time was had by all! QC is located in a beautiful setting, a hillside covered by redwoods not far FriendsBulletin (USPS 859-220) is from Santa Cruz, CA. The workshop took place in Orchard Lodge, which has a published monthlyexceptFebruary and Augustbythe Friends Bulletin Corporation kitchen and a wood stove, and is conveniently situated next door to the sleeping oDfanthaehaRelSti,giTooursraSnoccei,etCyAof9F0r5i0e5n.dsPhaotn3e2:23 quarters. It was fun to sit around the wood stove, sipping tea, reading books and engaging in friendly conversations. Because our hosts Gretta andJacob Stone are 310-325-3581. Periodicals postage paid at Whittier,CA90601-2222. both musicians, we had a sing-along on Saturday night that included everything from “Amazing Grace” to “Uncle Walter Goes Dancing with Bears.” Subscription Rates: $28 peryearfor Our meetings for learning and worship took place in the aptly named “Casa individuals. $21 peryear forgroup subscriptions throughyourlocal Friends de Luz,” a marvelous circular building higher up on the hillside, with floor-to- meeting. $18 introductoryrate. Checkwith ceiling windows providing a gorgeous view ofthe trees and the valley below. editorforastudentorlow-income I hope you have the chance someday to attend a workshop at QC, or just subscription. Firstclasspostage $10 additional. Foreignpostagevaries. Individual spend a day or two sojourning there. I can think of no better place to hang out copies: $3.95 each. with f/Friends, commune with the Spirit and experience the deep sense ofinner Postmaster: Sendaddress changes to: peace that comes from being among the redwoods. Friends Bulletin,3223 Danaha St, CA Torrance, 90505. NA'6M 0A.S;crx f o ? May 2008 Friends Bulletin. 3 New directors at £)en Lomond Qualeer (Lenten Jacob 5tone and(jretta T "Not oo Serious” Hriends What drewyou to Quaker Center? Whatprevious experience enrichment lead- with Friends andFriends’organization helpedprepareyoufor ers for the past new this role twelve years, and We came to Quaker Center to experience a final op- have led many GTroowS°°eerri^tnoiljs»«cr>jfz:icfiy' portunity for full-immersion Quaker service before settling couples enrichment s into retirement. As long-time members of Doylestown retreats throughout the US. In the year Meeting in PhiladelphiaYearlyMeeting,we served in many before we came to Quaker Center we served as Friends in capacities in our monthly, quarterly andyearly meetings. We Residence at Chena Ridge Friends Meeting, in Fairbanks, have also been Friends General Conference (FGC) couples Alaska. Also, Gretta worked for many years for two Phila- Inside this Issue 11 Brothers on theTrail, a poem by Harold Carson 3 NewDirectors at Ben Lomond Quaker Center: Jacob and Gretta Stone 12 The Woolman Semester 6 Teaching QuakerValues atthe San Francisco 15 God, a poem by Ruth Hatsough Friends Schoolby Chris Mohr 16 AreWeWilling to Hear Our Enemy? 7 FriendsWestern School byAnthony Manousos by Margery Post Abbott andJim Cason 8 Kaleidoscope ofActivities:The Wellsprings 18 Walkingfora Sustainable, PeaceableWorld Friends Schoolby Dennis Hoerner by Lisa Down 8 Friendly Responses 20 Memorial Minute 10 “Whatdoes Service Have to Dowith Being a 22 Call to Pacific YearlyMeeting byJoe Franko Friend?”by Barbara Luetke and Mike Gray 22 Calendar and Classifieds ? 4 Friends Bulletin. May 2008 delphia-based Quaker organizations: Friends General Con- meetings as intentional communities. We hope and believe ference and FriendsJournal. that these address the ideas and issues that are part of the One ofour greatest joys in the service of our monthly western Quaker conversation. meetingwasworkingwithyoungpeople in First-Day School, Another exciting part ofour work relates to the groups which we did for many years. The friendships that we de- to whom we rent Quaker Center. Many ofthem are doing veloped with young people and their parents have endured important work for social justice, and we are excited to be through the years, and we have been thrilled to see these able to serve as a resource for them. We hope to expand this children grow into honorable adults, many ofwhom remain function, and serve as a “hothouse” for new and small nor- active Friends. It is one ofour most important legacies. mative groups that are working inways that support Friends’ Anotherimportant road in our Quakerjourneyhas been testimonies and the mission ofQuaker Center. our steady attendance over the last twenty-five years at the Quaker Center also serves as a center for retreat and FGC Gathering. During this time we have developed many, renewal for individuals, families and groups, and we are many close friendships with people whom we may only see pleased to be able to offer this. The natural beauty ofthis during that one week each year, butwhose friendship is very environment has helped many people find renewed energy precious to us. The Gath- for their work, ering is a Quaker and we believe l Brigadoon, an intentional I that a ministry of communitythatspringsup hospitalityhere at | once a year and provides I Quaker Center is great sustenance to its I an important part members. It is also the I ofour work. “village square” of liberal And perhaps Quakerism, where the the most exciting | leading edges of Quaker- I partofourworkis ism are introduced, la- I the summer bored with, challenged camping pro- | and molded. The future of grams for young I unprogrammed Quaker- I people. Whenwe ism is at least partially I can teach young shaped at the Gathering I people about each year, and it thrills us I practical Quaker- to be part ofthat. I ism as it applies to commu- I living in Whathasbeen themostchal- * nity, that is per- lengingpart ofyourjob so PatHowe,Judi Wilson,Jacob Stone, SteveHarris, Gretta Stone, haps ourmostim- far? What doyou see as the Tristan Wilson, andJohn Devalcourt. portant and re- We biggestchallengefor Quaker warding task. Center in the upcomingyears'? have been able to offer these young people opportunities for fun, companionship and intentional community based on There are several exciting and interesting aspects ofour Friends’ testimonies, and we believe that we are helping to work here at Quaker Center. First and foremost, we have build the future ofQuakerism with these camps. met many wonderful friends and Friends, and we feel more completely connected to the world ofFriends for this expe- What surprisedyou when you came out to this area? How are rience. CaliforniaFriendsdijferentfom whatyouareusedtoelsewhere It hasbeen interestingto tryto “take the pulse”ofQuak- erism in the West so that we can develop programs that Quaker Center, and in fact all organizations that serve address the issues that are impacting us. We have tried our Friends, are likely to face several challenges in the coming utmost to make Quaker Center’s programs address the is- years. Here at Quaker Center we see a need to connect and sues we have encountered in this assessment. The pro- partner with other constituencies in the social justice and grams we have developed and are developing include restorative work that we support. The Friends community clerking, ecology issues, nontheism and religious natural- is a small one, and the graying ofthis community is a signal ism, spiritual self-assessment, Convergent Friends, Quak- that we must work hard to attract young Friends and young ers and class, storytelling as a spiritual discipline, and Quaker adult Friends to be full participants in witnessing our faith. May 2008 Friends Bulletin. 5 We also have the ongoingchallenge ofassuringourcon- one, and we are pleased to respond to it. We believe that tinued relevance to all of our constituencies, and offering music is an immensely effective community-builder, a way programs and other supports that address current issues in to bring people together and help them bond. Friends’ or- Quakerism and in society. Any religious discipline must ganizations can use this as effectively as any organization, always be alert to the possibility ofsliding into irrelevance, Friends’historic aversion to music notwithstanding. Among and one ofour ongoing challenges is to continue being alert small groups music can bring that group to a centered place to real issues and topics. Among other approaches to this, in wonderful ways. As a couple we take great joy in con- we regularly attend Friends’ gatherings, read the three ma- nectingwith each other regularly by singing and playing by jor Friends’ magazines, and speak informally with guests at ourselves, for ourselves. Quaker Center. We have also done a survey to determine There are other aspects of music of which Friends what sorts of programming would be of most interest to should be aware. Music has power to call forth vast re- Friends, and we will probably initiate a survey everyyear or serves of awe and wonder, and can be as meaningful as so. any more manifestly religious endeavor. Great songs have Anotherchallenge that the power to we (and any Friends orga- change our think- nization) face is the issue of ing about a social financial management that issue, and they can honors Friends’ testimo- be doorways to nies. Rightly-ordered new insights about stewardship of our re- our testimonies. We sources mandates that we should all be be conservative and re- attentive to the sponsible with them, but a power of music to countervailing and equally help us find the di- compelling leading is to vine. courageously employ our And there is resources in the service of one more benefit to our testimonies. Friends music: itcanbe alot have confronted this chal- of fun. Music can lenge for 350 years, and it help us relax,lookat is an important crucible in ourselves in new whichwe can test and hone ways, laugh a bit, our leadings. BenLomond “Labyrinth"Meditative Walk and in general learn not to take Whatsurprisedyouwhenyou ourselves too seri- cameoutto thisarea?Howare CaliforniaFriendsdifferentfrom ously. We have been delighted that liberal Quakerism whatyou are usedto elsewhere? has embraced music so strongly, and we see this as a rightly-ordered direction. The change in this in the past Since we have traveled widely among Friends for 35 century has been one of Quakerism’s great accomplish- years we were not surprised by much when we arrived here. ments, and we are pleased to play even a minuscule part We have observed a strong sense ofindependence here, per- in it. haps traced back to the Beanite influence. We have been In regard to the question ofmusic at Quaker Center, interested that PYM has not affiliated with FGC or FUM, we very much want to continue welcoming music here. andwe have been interested to find that there is a compara- We have often led sing-alongs or performed at events tivelylarge numberofworship groups and preparative meet- here, and we have hosted a community singing group here. ings in the west, both in PYM and NPYM. We have arranged for Annie and Peter Blood-Patterson, authors ofRise Up Singing to do a singing weekend here , You are both very entertainingmusicians andyour CDNotToo on August 15-17, including an instructional workshop , Serious isdelightful. Canyousaysomethingaboutyourwork/play on leading group singing, so that others can take those We as musicians andhow this might affectyour work as directors of skills back to their meetings and other groups. have , Quaker Center? Doyou see music as an important component of also arranged for renowned singer-songwriter Anne Hills Quakerism andperhaps offutureprograms at Quaker Center? to do a Songwriting for SocialJustice workshop in 2010. So, we hope to keep the energy ofmusic flourishing here. We Your question about our musical lives is an interesting believe it is an important part of our work. — 6 Friends Bulletin May2008 caching f" V Qualeer a ues l at the Y ,3an rancisco Y School riends by Chris Mohr San Francisco (CA) Meeting A buddy invites a ten- or eleven-year-old boy to walk out on the ice at the edge ofLong Island Sound. They go a San Francisco Friends Schoolopened its doors to two kindergarten classes in thefallof2002, andnow enrolls255students in kinder- mile ormore downshore.The boy’s motheris frantic, search- garten through5thgrade.Astheschoolmovesto its newhome in the ing for him in the neighborhood, calling out, little knowing Mission neighborhood it willexpandto become a K-8 ofover400 her son was on the ice. He comes back home and she scolds students. It wasstartedby agroup ofBayArea residents who share him for being away. She asks w—here he’s been, and he ex- a vision ofa K-8 coeducational independent school that combines plains, and he begins to realize ifonly now, years later outstandingacademics with Quakervalues ofsimplicity, integrity, howdangerous hiswalkhadbeen, and howscared his mother mutualrespect, andpeacefulproblem-solving. Foundersoftheschool is. — includeparents, educators, businesspeople, andvolunteers. Formore A — young teenager perhaps 14 or 15 is sitting in his information, go to http://www.sjfriendsschool.org. bedroom at 2 in the morning, waiting for his friend to come byin his father’s car,which he is illicitlydrivingin the middle ofthe night. The teen falls asleep, his friend comes by but rity, community, equality, stewardship.” This formula is sees no response, so he goes on his way. He gets in an acci- loosely adapted from the organization oftestimonies origi- dent, is caught, and gets grounded forunderage driving.The nally presented by Howard Brinton in Friendsfor300Years. sleepy teenager doesn’t tell anyone that he was planning to While we recognized this formula shortchanges the history go on thejoyride, too, until years later when he confesses to and depth ofthe testimonies, theyprovided a handy frame- his mother. workwithin which to talk about Quaker history and theol- These are stories from an annual series of workshops ogy with dozens of non-Quaker parents and educators in held at the San Francisco Friends School on the Quaker the school. testimonies. As I hope these brief stories illustrate, these Through the workshops, parents learn not just about workshops have succeeded notjust in building awareness of the history and present practices of the testimonies, they Quaker values and testimonies, but they also have provided also hear from teachers and administrators how they are experiential learning of Quakerism through worship shar- applied in the day-to-day life ofthe school. Teachers learn ing and getting to know one another in “that which is eter- more about the individual experiences and feelings of the nal.” parents.The workshops have provided a safe space forwhat For five years now, members ofSan Francisco Monthly has frequently been deep sharing about our deepest values, Meeting have been organizingworkshops on Quakervalues investigating the meaning offamily, ofparenting, ofteach- and testimonies, as well as introductory sessions on Quak- ing, and ofcommunity. erism. In addition to the intellectual contentprovided, these Theworkshopswerethe inspirationofPattyMcCormac, have become an important relationship-building exercise a parent with a student in the inaugural class at the school. within the school community as well as between the school Under the auspices ofthe Parent Education Committee of and the Meeting. the Parents Association, Patty, John Helding (a meeting The testimoniesworkshops h—ave been organized accord- member now sojourning with Lopez Island, WA, worship ing to the SPICES mnemonic ’’simplicity, peace, integ- group), and I put together an agenda combining commu- May200S Friends Bulletin. 7 nity-building, lecture, question and answer, and worship ever, in the same period, the school began a community- sharing. This has proved to be a powerful format for intel- wide, in-depth examination ofone testimony per year. Last lectual, emotional, experiential, and spiritual learning. I have year it was stewardship; this year it is integrity.The Quaker definitelylearned manylessons thatI have been able tobring values that underlie the school have thus received increasing into San Francisco Meeting and even into my own work as attention over the years as the result of Patty’s original in- an affordable housing advocate. spiration. The first three years,we held five to sixworkshops.This was starting to be foo much, especially as the school ex- CHRIS Mohr is a member ofSan Francisco Monthly Meeting, panded andthe communitygrewbusier. Startingin the2006- wherehe iscurrentlyclerk. HistwosonsattendtheFriendsSchool, 2007 school year, we organized just two workshops. How- andhe is aformerschooltrustee. Y Western School riends Yasadena, CIA in by Anthony Manousos Santa Monica (CA) Friends Meeting Friends Western School was started in 2002 by Robin Durant, a member ofOrange Grove Meeting, as an experiment in applying Quaker principles to education. As its flyer explains, “we are K-6 Quaker school dedicated to educating the mind, body and spirit ofeach child.” “We began with two students,” recalled Robin. “Now we have 15-25 kids.” I noted that Friends Western School is like the old-fashioned one-room schoolhouse. “Actually we have two rooms,” replied Robin. “But you’re right. In our school, as in the old one-room schoolhouse, the older kids care for the younger ones. Grade separation is unnatural. In real life we don’t separate people by age.” Friends Western School has high ideals. Its mission is to: • Awaken a love oflearning in each child while promoting academic excellence • Prepare students to use their knowledge with creativity and compassion • Practice and teach the Quaker values ofharmony, simplicity, integrity, community and equality. The mission ofthe school is based on the Quaker beliefthat there is more to education than simply passing standardized tests. As its website affirms: “Our teachers are committed to developing all aspects ofa child’s intelligence and to balancing direct instruction with discovery so that education becomes intrinsically rewarding.” Living up to these high ideals isn’t always easy, confesses Robin. “Sometimes parents come with unrealistic expectations,” she explains. “They think that because we’re a Quaker school, their kids won’t have We conflicts. Kids are very emotional and they always have conflicts. try to teach them to resolve their conflicts in a peaceful way.” Friends Western School is under the care ofthe Orange Grove Meeting. Robin is resigning as director after six years ofservice. The school is currently looking for a new director. For more information see notice on p. 23 or go to www.friendswesternschool.org. , 8 Friends Bulletin. May 2008 Kaleidoscope of Activities: Wellsprings Y riends OK of Portland, by Dennis Hoerner, Head Wellsprings Friends School support AVP workshops and Healing and Rebuilding Our Wellsprings Friends School is an alternative, nonresi- Communities programs. The students gave their rapt at- dential high school in our fourteenth year. We intentionally tention to his presentation, which also included illustrative exercises using student volunteers. focus on activities and exposure as powerful routes to learning for our student body, most of whom are not college- As I write we are about to go on spring break. Afterwe get back, we’ll be focusing on two of the most important bound. So far, 2008 has been a delightfully busy year, with manyfield trips takenbyindividual classes and the manyguest public events in the year: our fourth annual Free “Sale” and whom seventh annual Peace and Justice Festival. To be held this presenters teachers invite to their classes. Mid-January saw a unique “benefit concert” for our year on April 19th, the Free ‘Sale’ is like a yard sale where school which was held at a local music and meeting venue, dona—ted items from clothes to clothes dryers may be avail- Cozmic Pizza (all organic!). Two professional bands were able all absolutely free! Prior to the event, we notify local featured, in each ofwhich some of our teachers are mem- agencies whoworkwith lower income families, though any- bers. But the highlights ofthe evening were performances one is welcome. The Peace and Justice Festival will take by student singer/songwriters, an alumni rap duo, spoken place for a half-day at the school on Saturday, May 3rd. In word performers, and others. all we do, we try to interweave SPICES: the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, In early February, a once-a-week class on “Peace and Justice Issues” began. On the long Presidents’ Day week- and stewardship. end, six students from the class participated in an Alterna- Friendly Responses tives to Violence (AVP) workshop organized by members ofthe local Meeting. Dear Editor: I’m a walker, and to me there’s pretty much Several guests have spoken with the class on topics as varied as nonviolentcivil disobedience, school shootings, and nothing more sacred than walking. And so I enjoyed t human rights problems in the mental health system. Peg Friends Bulletins focus on this subject last issue (March Morton, an activist known to readers of Friends Bulletin 08). However, I was appalled by the demeaning state- talked with the class about the roots ofher personal convic-, ment in Brandon Wilson’s article: “Once in Serbia, our bicycle path morphed into roads with more bulges than tions and described her involvement in work to shut down — How a fat lady in Spandex.” insulting and degrading the School ofthe Americas including her prison time for — to women and anyone other-than-skinny! Donna “crossing the line.” Eyestone, Berkeley (CA) Meeting. Also in early February, many ofour students and teach- ersjoined the 800+ volunteers from the communityat Project Homeless Connect. This event is a one-day gathering of Dear Editor: First Timothy 1:10 reads: “These laws are for service providers in the Lane County Fairgrounds Building people who are sexually immoral, for—homosexuals and slave traders...” “Coming Out for Christ the spiritual journey to offer “one-stop” help to the area’s homeless population. On February 12th there was an all-school presentation on ofJoe Franko” (FB March ‘08) reflects all that is right and “The Cultures of,India.” Bhavani Manheim, a retired an- wrongwith Friends unprogrammed meeting. I am nearly as thropologist and member ofthe Eugene Friends Meeting, old asJoe, with my share oflife experiences. As an attender focused on “the history and the social, religious, and aes- of Salem Friends Meeting for seven years, I have watched the gradual decline ofunprogrammed meetings in Oregon. thetic significance of the saree” in the different regions of India. Two days later, the school made an excursion to the The spirit of Christ is joyful and holy. It is compassionate and non-judgmental. What then do we lackthat George Fox Cascade mountains for a chance to play in the snow. On Leap Day,parents ofan alumnus held a benefit dinto and early Quakers possessed? Any honest person can answer May 2008 Friends Bulletin. 9 this question, but that elusive quality fails in most ofus. An evangelical pastor woefully ad- FRIENDS FIDUCIARY mitted that he spends 90% of his time among fellow Christians. I spend 90% CORPORA T O N ofmy time among non-Christians. Ac- I tivism without holiness is a delusion. Keepers of the law do not administer grace. Howdowe find the living Christ? Not in our unprogrammed Meeting or — Quarterlies that I can tell you. The magic oftalkingwithwild creatures, the driving compassion to end war and sex — trafficking not in Quaker Meeting. Elite editors and wordsmiths of our Quakerpublications endlesslyjoustwith words, seeking consensus while their bodies age and the world around us dies. I began with the verse from the first letter ofTimothy, one ofa dozen verses that clearly state homosexuality is a sin. I chose this passagebecause it stands side by side with one of Quakers’ greatest — achievements putting an end to slavery. Today slavery has emerged in the new guise of corporate dominance. Responsible Investing Planned Giving , Without holiness, unprogrammed Friends Fiduciary Corporation (FFC) an independent Quakerswillwitherwith increasing evi- is dence of decline in numbers. Quakers Quaker nonprofit. Our sole mission is to assist will be ineffective in this newchallenge. Friends meetings and organizations in the stewardship Come out from among them. Reject of their financial resources. homosexual equivocation. Nature teaches us ofright relationship between — men and women. Peter Kelly, Salem PROVIDING FINANCIAL SERVICES GUIDED BY (OR) Meeting. ] FRIENDS TESTIMONIES AND CONCERNS Dear Editor, Goodjob on the March 08 issue. I enjoyed every article and read the whole thingthroughbefore I putit down. The Consolidated Fund, a socially responsible investment — LoisBarton Salem (OR) Meeting. fund for Friends Meetings and nonprofit organizations , Quaker House Planned Giving Services, providing Charitable Gift Annuities, Donor Advised Funds, and other planned giving services Fayetteville/Ft. Bragg IMC to support the development efforts of Friends Front-Line Peace Witness tax-exempt organizations 1969 Since Write for Our FREE & CO Packet: Draft Issues For information, please contact: Quaker House Friends Fiduciary Corporation 223 Hillside Ave. 215-241-7272 or [email protected] NC 28301 Fayetteville or visit our website at www.friendsfiduciary.org www.quakerhouse.org Chuck Fager, Director to Friends Bulletin. May 2008 What JQoes ,5crv,ce Mave to \)o with £>eing a Quaker? ARSC/ S Reflections on the Intermountain \caAy Meeting Joint erv'ce reject f* W by Barbara Luetke and Mike Gray hy would Friends the truck.Thatwoman, choose to camp for a born in La Mesa and week or more in isolated or now in her eighties, still desolate parts of the United rides horseback on a States or Mexico and work sidesaddle. Shewasn’tas with indigenous or native much movedbythe idea people?Those who have par- ofa truck for transpor- ticipated in the “Joint Service tation as she was its use Project” (JSP) respond to this to thresh beans. Before query in different ways. the truck, which arrived Many know that service is a in about 1979, the Quaker faith tradition, dat- people threshed beans ing back to the 17th century, byhand,with a stick.To when George Fox said he be- experience this time- lieved in “taking away the warp appeals to many a occasion for war.” Not long JSP participant, as does afterwards, early Friendsvisited the opportunity to con- each other in prisons and took nect with villagers and care of each other’s families. learn or practice Spanish Perhaps it is that our “work in phrases. love is ourwaytopray”(as David Juxtaposedwith fields Richie said in his pamphlet on plowed with burros and Quaker workcamps in 1973). crops hauled by animals, There is, ofcourse, biblical are occasional four-wheel- grounding for service work: the ers, solarpanels, and a so- story ofthe Good Samaritan in lar-powered pump instal- the book of Luke in the Bible, lation thatbringswaterup and our loving one another as ourselves (John 15). For from a spring at the bot- these and other reasons, Friends first joined Norman tom ofthe mesa. From the reservoir, gravity brings it down Krekler as he pioneered work camps in Sonora begin- to the homes. Now nearly every home has an indoor faucet ning in 1950 and Friends continue to go to Mexico in and a few have indoor toilets. Staying with local families, we service today. experience these aspects ofliving,andshowerwithwaterheated La Mesa de Abajo is literally the flat top ofa small bythe sun orwoodfiredboilers,trynative dishes, andjoin in to mesa located at the end of the road after Bermudez, sing and dance at the end ofa hard week ofwork! Mexico, about an eleven-hour bumpy drive from Tuc- JSP participants have been a part ofmuch ofthe mod- son, AZ. Some of the first summer work camps, orga- ernization in La Mesa. We have worked on the road to keep nized by the Sonoran Association ofFriends for the na- it passable.We have helped harvest the crops.We have made We tional office ofthe American Friends Service Commit- adobe blocks for homes and the chapel. have hauled dirt tee (AFSC), took place here. TheJSP, funded primarily and rocks to level ground for the reservoir, the road and the by Intermountain Yearly Meeting (IMYM) and the new cancha.We have hauled rock and excavated footings for We AFSC, have been doing work camps with the people the reservoir. have helped find appropriate add-ons for there more than a decade. the solar technology, like fluorescent bulbs and inverters The thirteen families which inhabitant La Mesa de which use 110 volt equipment and rechargeable batteries. We GMRS Abajo live simply, running cattle and growing beans and introduced radios and helped get cell phones in corn in the old ways. Mike Gray, the coordinator ofJSP, homes. As on every service project, Way opens for addi- asked the oldest women there to name the greatest in- tional volunteeropportunities as we talk and listen to villag- vention she had seen come to La Mesa. She said it was ers (and othervolunteers), and cookand help ingeneralways.