Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting Newsletter

January 1984

Natalie Kempner, Clerk Roberta Kramer, Treasurer 825-1799 455-1966

Karen Cromley, Clerk of Overseers Selden Smith. Newsletter 242-3432 248-3202

Query for First Month: Education

Does your Meeting encourage its members to do their share to support and improve public education? If your Meeting maintains a Friends school, is the school conducted by persons who are in sympathy with the principles of Friends and ljhose character encourages the spiritual growth of their pupils? How is the Friends school contributing to the mental and spiritual growth of the comnity about it? Does the Meeting endeavor to see to it that its children are not prevented by lack of the necessary financial resources from obtaining appropriate education?

How do you show concern for the improvement of public education in your community? Are you aware of what Friends schools are doing and of their plans for the future, and do you give them encouragement and support?

Meeting for Worship is held each First-Day at 10:30 a.m. First-Day School and Child Care Provided.

Calendar for January

Wed., Jan. 4 Meeting of Committee of Overseers, 7:45 p.m. at Marion Fischer's home.

Sat. , Jan. 7 Seminar, "From Myth to Reality: The Soviet Image." Plans are to have a representative of the Soviet mission to the . 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friends Center.

Sun., Jan. 8 Monthly Meeting for Business, after Meeting for Worship and before lunch. Bring your own lunch; beverages will be provided.

Sun., Jan. 15 Forum, after Meeting for Worship. The subject will be war tax resistance; the speaker will be announced.

FRIENDS are urged to read carefully the enclosed minute from Yardley Meeting regarding world govennent. CHFM joins Yardley in asking that this subject be addressed at Yearly Meeting 1984. --Neighbors: We welcome the Cerebral Palsey Foundation as the new residents of the former Spring Garden College property. Friends will continue to be able to use the parking lot.

Representative Meeting: It was decided at November Representative Meeting to make some scholarship funds available for students who lose government scholar- ships because they have refused to register for the draft.

The Treasurer reported that we are able to pay the second half of our pledges to Friends' and other groups, and Monthly Meeting agreed to do so.

Karen Cromley was nominated as the new Clerk of Overseers, starting Jan. 1. The nomination was warmly approved.

First-Day School starts the "Sparklers" unit of the PYM Religious Education program, and plans a trip to the Please Touch Museum sometime this month.

Stapeley in Germantown seeks an Executive Director for its continuing-care facility. The position will start spring 1984. Applicants should be licensable as a nursing home administrator in Pennsylvania', have three to five years'experience in all phases of nursing or related health care administration, and have a college degree. Submit resume in confidence to: Search Committee, c/o R. D. Samuel, Suite 920, 1500 Walnut Street, 19102, before Jan. 20, 1984.

Witness for Peace in

Near the Honduran border of Nicaragua, a 14-person Witness for Peace team is maintaining a presence of U.S. Christians intended as a protective shield between U.S.-sponsored contras (counter-revolutionaries) based in , and Nicaraguans living near the border. It is hoped that the constant presence of North American church people in the war zone will hamper the operations of the contras, who are reported to have massacred and terrorized the people of the border region. The Witness for Peace will be carried on by successive rotating groups, broadly ecumenical, coordinated by a national steering committee and supported by groups throughout the .

At the last Monthly Meeting, the Peace and Social Concerns Committee briefly explained this innovative use of nonviolence to confront terrorization and military interventionism, and pointed out the urgent need for funds for air fares, organizing and support. Individual contributions (not tax-deductible) may be sent to the Philadelphia steering committee, with checks payable and addressed to Witness for Peace, 307 W. Mt. Pleasant Ave., Phila. 19119. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to the national steering committee, payable to the Jubilee Foundation, 300 W. Apsley St., Phila. 19144 (earmarked Witness for Peace).

Best wishes for a Happy 1984: Let's prove OrweZZ wrong. Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting Newsletter

February 1984

Natalie Kempner, Clerk Roberta Kramer, Treasurer 825-1799 455-1966

Karen Cromley, Clerk of Overseers Selden Smith, Newsletter 242-3432 248-3202

Query for Second Month: Outreach

Eat me ycm doing as a Meeting to interpret to non-Friends our religious principles and beliefs? What are you doing to invite persons not in membership to attend your meetings for worship, and how do you encourage their continued attendance? What are you doing to make others aware of Friends' principles? Does your manner of life as a Friend attract others to our Religious Society?

Meeting for Worship is held each First-Day at 10:30 a.m. First-Day School and Child Care Provided.

Calendar for February Sat., Feb. 4 Quarterly Meeting, at the Arch Street Meetinghouse. A speaker from the Friends Committee on National Legislation will address the meeting.

Sun., Feb. 5 The Meeting Faces Peace Issues. After worship, Friends will consider some of the issues raised in Bill Fischer's recent contribution to the vocal ministry. See note, over.

Wed., Feb. 8 Meeting of Committee of Overseers, 7:45 p.m. at Lois Taber's home.

Thurs., Feb. 9 Meeting of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee at Jesse Bryant's new apartment: 7901 Henry Ave., Arbor Building, 104-C. 7:45 p.m.

Sun., Feb. 12 Monthly Meeting for Business, after Meeting for Worship. Bring your own lunch; beverage provided.

Sun., Feb. 19 Forum, after Meeting for Worship. This month Phyllis Taylor, clerk of the Peace and Social Concerns Com- mittee of the Germantown Friends bleeting, will speak on her experiences with the "Witness for Peace" team on the Nicaraguan border with Honduras.

Please fiZl out the enclosed Nominating Committee form -soon and return it to the Veetinghuuse. Thank you. Fri., Feb. 24 Workshop on Social Justice: "In Search of Refuge," Sat., Feb. 25 a workshop on Central American refugees presented by the Medical Mission Sisters. The Friday evening pro- gram will include testimony by Salvadoran refugees and begins at 7:30 p.m. The Saturday program is from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The address is 8400 Pine Road, in northeast Philadelphia.

News and Notes The Meeting Faces Peace Issues. It is not difficult to assume that members of the Meeting, if polled, would conclude that our society faces a dangerous threat to its existence. How to best relate to the problems at hand? At a threshing session following Meeting for Worship, Friends will consider these questions: (1) What are the best means for preventing a nuclear exchange? (2) What do we have in common with the Soviets? C3) How can we implement an improved climate? (4) What organizations can 6e instrumental in pursuing our goals of limiting or reducing the ams race? (5) Finally, what can our Meeting best do to give voice to our conclusions? There will be a chairman and a rapporteur to take note of our thoughts. This is a large subject, but let us not be discouraged, but let us face the fact that divine guidance will generate conclusions of merit.

First-Day School is starting the unit, "Our Daily Bread," and, appropriately, plans to do some pretzel baking. Anyone interested in such twisted pursuits call Marthajane Robinson for details.

Remember that the Combined Appeal helps put our faith into practice. There will be some literature on the table outside the meeting room; we hope you'll read it and give what you can.

Bon voyage to Natalie Kempner, and our hearts are with you! Natalie will be picking cotton in the Nicaraguan mountains as part of the Witness for Peace.

According the Treasurer's Report, as of January 1984 we were $4000 short on contributions. That's meant to be a subtle hint.

We note with sadness the death of Charlotte Taskier, a member of our Meeting who for many years attended Cambridge, MA meeting. A letter from Cambridge attested that she was loved, admired and active in their meeting as in ours.

Ideas are still sought for this spring's Meeting retreat. If you have a topic or speaker in mind, call Bryce Kemp, Trudy Hubben, Phil Anthony or Betty Tiffany.

Will Hagner and Linda Shaw were married at Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting Dec. 17. The Rev. Wesley Crowther of Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church performed the ceremony. Their address is unchanged; their phone number is 271-5235. Congratulations!

Note: postage costs prevent including Natalie's thorough and thoughtful Annual Report with this Newsletter; look for it with the next one.

Once again, please fill out and return the enclosed Nominating Committee sheet as soon as you can. Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting Newsletter

March 1984

Natalie Kempner, Clerk RoGerta Kramer, Treasurer 825-1799 455-1966

Karen Cromley, Clerk of Overseers Selden Smith, Newsletter 242-3432 248-3202

Query for Third Month: The Social Order

How does your meeting work to overcome social, economic, and political injustices in your comnity as well as in the state and nation? What is your meeting doing to assure freedom of speech and religion? What is your meeting doing to aid those outside the meeting who are in need of help? How are you helping to develop a social, economic, and political system which will so function as to sustain and enrich life for all? To what extent do you feel personal responsibility for aiding those outside the meeting in need of help? In all your relations with others, do you treat them as fellow human beings and equals?

Meeting for worship is held each First-Day at 10:30 a,m. First-Day school and child care provided.

Calendar for March

Wed., March 7 Committee of Overseers meeting at Trudy Fuchs's home, 7.45 p.m.

Thurs., March 8 ?,ace and Social Concerns Comm.ittee meeting at Betsy Naghski's home, 7.45 p.m.

Sun., March 11 Monthly Meeting for Business, following Meeting for Worship. Bring your own lunch; beverage will be provided. At this Monthly Meeting we hope to pay particular attention to the budget for 1984.

Sun., March 18 Forum, following Meeting for Worship. The subject of this month's Forum will be the issue of sanctuary; Doug Bennett from Coulter Street Meeting and Roger Harless of the Tabernacle Church will lead the dis- cussion. A Central American refugee may also be there. Please help our Meeting grapple with this vital issue. Forum Report. In our February Forum, Phyllis Taylor, a registered nurse and clerk of Peace and Social Concerns at Germantom Meeting, presented a powerful forum discussion on the Witness for Peace in Nicaragua. She first discussed the intervention of the U.S. government in Nicaraguan affairs, which dates back to 1912 and includes U.S. support for the brutal Somoza regime established in 1936 and overthrown by the Sandinistas in 1979. Her experience as a member of the Witness for Peace provided a background for further discussion of the conflict between the Sandinista government and U.S.-supported counterrevolutionaries (contras). Witness for Peace is a creative, religiously based nonviolent program with supporters all over the United States. The presence of Americans on the Nicaraguan-Honduran border has been shown to reduce the violence which the contras have inflicted on the Nicaraguan villagers. Phyllis Taylor described her personal feeling on interacting with the people as one of "humility"--realizing the courage and faith she encountered in them. She urged us to write our lawmakers and do what we can to change U.S. policy.

Carpooling. Overseers are trying to set up a system for linking people who need rides to Meeting and related events with those who can offer them. We need to hear from those who have, and those who need--please call Karen Cromley (242-3432) or Mary Lou Hurwitz (233-1919). Thank you.

Retreat set for April. Our second annual retreat will be on Saturday, April 14 at the Meeting House from 10 a.m. to 4 p,m. The subject will be "The Roots and Branches of Personal Faith," a day of sharing and meditation similar to last year's retreat on prayer. Reading material to help prepare for the day will be on the library table.

Sanctuary. In addition to being the subject of this month's Forum, sanctuary is addressed in a film now playing downtown at the Ritz Three: El Norte. Profits from certain showings of this film will go to the Central America Refugee Action Group. Call Natalie Kempner for details (825-1799).

Mather on Hicks. Eleanore Price Mather, author of A Peaceable Season and Eduard Hicks--His Peaceable Kingdom and Other Paintings, will present a slide program about the famous painter on Sunday, April 15%

Greeters for March: March 4 Trudy Hubben March 11 Bryce Kemp March 18 ~uth~ross March 25 Mildred Soast

A visitor to our Meeting is looking for a house-sitting job. If you can use such a service, call Chris Larmi at V15-1615.

Annual Report. Be sure to read the enclosed account of the Meeting's progress during 1983. CFrestnut Hill Friends Heeting Newsletter

April 1984

Natalie Kempner, Clerk Roberta Kramer, Treasurer 825-1799 455-1966

Karen Cromley, Clerk of Overseers Selden Smith, Newsletter 242-3432 248-3202

Query for Fourth Xonth: Race Relations

Are the schools, hospitals and Boarding homes under your care, and are your Meetings themselves, free from practCces involving raciaZ discrimination? What action is your Meeting taking to heZp assure members of racial minorities in your community equal opportunities in education, housing, employment, business and the professions? What else are you doing as a Meeting to help remedy the consequences of raciaZ injustice? Do you endeavor to cleanse yourself of every vestige of racial prejudice, and firmly but lovingly oppose it in your home, among your friends and acquaintances, and in business? Are you open to personal friendships with individual members of racial minorities? Do you actively support equal opportunities for members of racial minorities in the business, educational and social organizations with which you come in contact?

Meeting for Worship is held each First-Day at 10:30 a.m. First-Day School and Child Care Provided.

Calendar for April FRIENDS, Please note: Xonthly Xeeting Supper in April will be covered dish at 5:30 p.m. See below.

Wed., April 4 Committee of Overseers Meeting at Karen Cromley's home, 32 E. Benezet, at 7:45 p.m.

Sun., April 8 Monthly Meeting for Business, 6:30 p.m. Monthly Meeting Supper at 5:30 will be a covered dish supper; if you bring food, please bring enough for six. We expect to spend some time discussing the budget.

Thurs., April 12 Peace and Social Concerns Committee Meeting at Trudy Fuchs's home;6120 Ardleigh, at 7:45 p.m.

Fri. and Sat., Sale of furniture at Stapely Hall, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 13 and 14 each day. Cash and carry. Stapely Hall is at 6300 Greene St. For more about it, call Mildred Soast, 836-5597.

ALSO ?.EMEXBER, our Spring Retreat is this montk-see page 2 Page 2

Calendar (continuedl Sat.,, April 14 Spring Retreat, at the Meetinghouse, 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. See text for details,

Sun., April 15 Forum discussion, following Meeting. Eleanore Price >Tather will present slides and speak on Edward Hicks, the artist who is the subject of two of her books, A Peaceable Season and Edward Hicks: His Peaceable Kingdom and Other Paintings. Edward Hicks, a cousin of Quaker preacher Elias Hicks and himself a preacher, reflected the attitudes and beliefs of Quakers during a time of controversy and turbulence, and Mather has made a deep and sensitive study which she will share with us.

Fri., April 27 to Pendle Hill Spring Weekend: "Quaker Roots and the Sun., April 29 Practice of Discernment," with Ed and Xarion Sanders. Information is posted on the Eleet&ng bulletin board.

Philadelphia Freeze Vote '84 is designed to identify voters who will pledge that the nuclear freeze will be a key in how they vote, and then to get those voters to the polls in November. The aim is a president and Congress committed to the freeze. Peace and Social Concerns Committee at Meeting for Business will outline how to get involved, or call Bill Ludlow (836-1412).

Our Spring Retreat: Roots and Branches of Personal Faith will provide time for personal reflection and for sharing in the hope that it will deepen and broaden our sense of community and commitment. If you plan to come, you may wish to read some of the designated materials on the library tables. No preregistration is required. Child care can be provided: call Fbrthajane Robinson (849-6146) or Betty Tiffany (438-3077).

The spirit of the retreat will be simple. The morning session will be devoted to reflections on the early personal experiences related to beliefs. The after- noon session will be led by Basil Burwell and will consider the "branches"-- vocation and religion. Friends are asked to bring a sandwich for lunch; beverage and fruit and cookies will be provided. For more information, call any member of Worship and Kinistry.

Xore About Rides. A service called ALERT Senior Citizen Taxi Sewice operates Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call the day before you need the service, by 4 p.m. They will ask your age and Social Security number. The cost is $1.50 within 4 miles and $3 beyond 4 miles. The number is 586-5995. For rides related to Efeeting activities, call Yary Lou Hurwitz or Karen Cromley.

Greeters for April: We still need someone for April 1. No fooling!

April 8: Karen Cromley April 15: Trudy Hubben April 22: liarion Fischer April 29: Dave Samuel

The report from the March Forum on Sanctuary to Central American Refugees is enclosed. Forum, March 18 Sanctuary to Central American Refugees Doug Bennett, professor of political gcience at Temple, gave the reasons for the presence of some 500,000 or more refugees from in this country: a ruthless regime which interprets any position but total support as "subversive." Many Salvadorians are threatened physically and leave for neighboring countries, for Mexico, and for the United States. Our government, supporting the El Salvador regime, takes the position that these refugees have no right to political asylum because they are "economic" and not "political" refugees. About 1000 are deported back to El Salvador each month.

An attempt is being made in Congress to have the U.S. grant "extended voluntary departure" to Salvadorians as it has to Iranians, Poles, Vietnamese and others. This would allow refugees to stay in the U.S. until conditions in their own countries become more normal. Write your Congressmen!

The term "Salvadoran refugee" was made meaningful to all present by Saul, a 20-year-old refugee who gave his personal history: how he had been threatened as an active member of a "Christian Base Community," and how he had fled, leaving his parents and four sisters behind. Saul also commented on the March 25 elections in El Salvador, saying that the only parties represented were from "the right to the far right."

Roger Harliss, community organizer, told of how his church, the Tabernacle Church of Christ, had decided to become a sanctuary church following a period of fact-finding, deliberation and discussion. Since Tabernacle is a small church (100 members), the support of Central America Refugee Action (CARA). Natalie Kempner is the convener for CARA and Fritz Kempner and Betty Naghski are active in the organization, which links congregations in Greater Philadelphia that are considering offering sanctuary.

Roger said he felt strong about this issue because he needed to disassociate himself as openly and unambiguously as possible from a government policy that returns refugees to possible torture and death. In the course of the discussion the implications of civil disobedience, such as harboring illegal aliens, were spelled out; ironically, while it is illegal to provide shelter, it is not illegal to provide employment. Those present decided that our Xeeting should send a letter of support to Tabernacle; a draft was presented at Meeting March 25 Editor's note: Since on P4areh 25 Business Meeting was stiZZ two weeks henee, the Zetter was signed by members and attenders as individuals, and is not from CXFM.

Chestnut Hill Friends I4eeting Newsletter

May 1984

Natalie Kempner, Clerk Roberta Kramer, Treasurer 825-1799 455-1966

Karen Cromley, Clerk of Overseers Selden Smith, Newsletter 242-3432 248-3202

Query for Fifth Ilonth: The Environment

Are you eoncerned that our inereasiy power over nature should not be used irresponsi5Zy but with reverence for life and with a sense of the splendor of God's continuing creation? What are you doing to conserve natural resources for the welfare of future generations? What are you doing to assure adequate food, shelter, education and iove for all people in all countries?

Seeting for Worship is held each First-Day at 10:30 a.m. First-Day School and Child Care Provided.

- SPECIAL NOTE: THERE HAS BEEN A rnalGE OF SCHEDULE FOR MONTHLY MEETING. WE WILL HAVE A SHORT EEETING FOR BUSI?IESS AFTER MEETING F09 WORSHI? ON SUNDAY, MAY 12. WE WILL STILL HAVE SUPPER AT 5~30--CALL-ROBEXTA KRAMER IF YOU PLAN TO COKE TO SUPPER.

Calendar for May Thursday, Hay 3 Peace and Social Concerns Committee meeting at June Dugan's home, 131 E. Yermaid Lane, at 7:45 p.m.

TTednesday, llay 9 Committee of Overseers meeting at Marion Fischer's home, 7:45 p.m,

Sunday, Hay 12 Monthly Meeting for Business, after Meeting for IJorship. The schedule has been changed so that Friends can attend the special worship service for a Salvadoran refugee couple, at Tabernacle Church. This promises to be an exceptionally moving and informative service, and to show our support for Tabernacle's offer of sanctuary, Friends are invited to go directly from supper at 5:30 at the Heetinghouse to the service at Tabernacle at 7:30.

Sunday, May 20 Our Forum program this month, after Meeting for Worship, features Allyn Miner, who will speak on Indian religion and music and will demonstrate classical music of North India on the sitar. page 2 CaZendar, continued

Monday, May 21 Joint meeting of the Committee on Worship and Elinistry and the Committee of Overseers. Potluck supper will be at 6 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Suggestions for agenda should be directed to Betty Tiffany or Karen Cromley.

Combined Appeal. Once again, it is time to remind Friends that the Combined Appeal provides funding for Yearly Meeting work that is important to us all. As you read the Queries, remember--the Combined Appeal is doing something to answer them. Meeting Budget. As you'll see from the enclosed report, CHW is seriously over budget. Even contributions to our favorite organizations have had to be cut drastically, so let's all do all we can. Greeters for May: Play 6 Betty Bodine Nay 13 Annaliese Gutkind-Bulling May 20 Elvira Brown May 27 Ruth Dross Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting Newsletter

Summer 1984

Natalie Kempner, Clerk Roberta Kramer, Treasurer 825-1799 455-1966

Karen Cromley, Clerk of Overseers Selden Smith, Newsletter 242-3432 248-3202

Query for Sixth Month: Peace and Nonviolence What is your Meeting doing: To understand the causes of war and violence and to work for the development of the institutions and attitudes of peace? To oppose and attempt to eliminate military conscription and other preparations for war? To understand the cuases of violence within the community and to help develop just and reconciling means of dealing with such violence? To help your members respond creatively and in a reconciling way to any conflict and hostility which they experience? To increase understanding and use of nonviolent approaches to the resolution of conflict? To what extent do you work for the establishment of peaceful means of settling differences: locally, nationally? Do you live in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of aZZ wars? Are you free from inward as well as outward violence? Do you faithfully maintain our testimony against military training, preparation for war and participation in war as inconsistent with the Spirit mzd teaching of Christ?

Meeting for Worship is held each First-Day at 10:30 a.m. First-Day School and Child Care are Provided. CaZendar for June Saturday, June 2 Quarterly Meeting, at Stapeley Hall, 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday, June 6 Committee of Overseers meeting, 7:45 p.m. at 'Trudy Fuchsss home.

Sunday, June 10 Monthly Meeting for Business, after Meeting for Worship. Bring your own lunch.

Sunday, June 17 Forum, after Meeting, 11:45 a.m. Dialogue with State Representative Joseph Hoeffel, Democratic candidate for Congress from the 13th Congressional District. This is an opportunity to get to know the candidate opposing Congressman Lawrence Coughlin.

Sunday, June 24 Picnic at Bartam's Gardens after Meeting. Meg Evans will show us around; bring your own lunch, and $3.50 to pay the fee. Drinks are available at a small cost. Friends and visitors are invzted to stay after Meeting for coffee, tea and fellowship. Nevs and Notes Many thanks to Allyn Miner for her lovely performance and discussion of the music of India; and to Annaliese, who made it happen. Friends are urged to think of ways that the Meetinghouse can be used by the community. It's such a good, useful space, and offering it can be a good form of outreach. Greeters for June June 3, Lois Taber; June 10, Bill Fischer; June 17, David Samuel; June 24, Trudy Fuchs. At the joint meeting of Oirerseers and Worship and Ministry, it was aecided to offer coffee and tea, informally, after Meeting for Worship, Greeters are therefore asked to put on a kettle of water before Meeting, and set.out a few cups, coffee, teabags, etc. Ve hope this will provide an opportunity for people to talk with each other and visit with visitors. Editor's Note This will be the last newsletter until September, unless there is enough news to warrant a special interim mailing. If you know of any news or events during July and August that Friends might not hear about any other way, feel free to call me (248-3202). Have a nice summer. Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting Newsletter September 1984

Natal ie Kempner, Clerl.:: Roberta Kramer, Treasurer 825-1 799 455-1 966

Karen Cromley, Clerk of Overseers Selden Smith, Newsletter 242-3432 248-3202

Query for Ninth Month: Interfaith Cooperation

What is your Meeting doing to encourage mutual respect and appreciation among persons of different religious beliefs? What is the Meeting doing to promote interfaith cooperation? Do you seek to under-stand and appreciate other religions Caiths and do you cooperate with them as way opens? Do you seek to recognize and respect the divine in those with whom you may have basic differences? ...... Meeting for Worship is held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. First-Day School and Child Care Provided.

Calendar for September

Wednesday, Sept. 5 Meeting of Overseers at 7:45 p.m. at the home of Mildred Soast .

Sunday, Sept. 9 Meeting for Business. Monthly Meeting Supper is at the regular time, 5:30, but Meeting for Business will be at 6:15, giving us time to reach the special welcoming worship service for the CentraL American refugees at FUMCOG, at 7:30.

Tuesday, Sept. 18 Forum, 6 p.m. Henry Wells will speak about U.S. policy in Central America. See statement by Prof essor We1 1 s, below.

Saturday, Sept. 22 Cornerstone Dedication +or the new Stapeley in Germantown, 10 a.m. Call 843-5650 before coming. page 2

STATEMENT BY PROFESSOR HENRY WELLS: "My thesis is that the Reagan Administration misunderstands the origins and present dimensions of the. crisis in Central America and has therefore been pursuing mistaken policies concer-ning it. I shal 1 examine the basic problems of the region from an hist.orica1 perspective and explain why current U.S. pol.icies toward the Central Ameri.can republics {especially Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras) not only exacerbate those problems, but a150 ~mdermineU.S. security interests in the area. "

PLEASE TAKE NOTE of the enclosed plea for funds to paint the Meetinghouse. It's not cosmetics, f ol !is, it's survival.

VISITORS' DAY is coming up sooner than you think--probably Sunday, November 4, so please share any ideas you have with coordinator Trudy Hubben. Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting Newsletter September 1984

Natalie Kempner, Clerk Roberta Kramer, Treasurer 825-1799 455-1966

Karen Cromley, Clerk of Overseers Selden Smith, Newsletter 242-3432 248-3202 Query for Tenth Month: --The Home Is worship part of your personal and family life, with inward retirement and communion with the Divine Spirit? Do you frequently read the Bible and other religious literature, including records of the lives and experiences of Friends? Is your home a place where friends are welcomed and where all members of the family, young or old, receive affection and understanding? Do you encourage your children to share in the activities of the home, the school and the community? Do you choose recreation which will strengthen the physical, mental and spiritual life of yourself and your family, and do you avoid those that may be a hindrance to you and to others? As parents, do you set an example of good taste and discrimination in reading and in the use of such means of communication as radio and television?

Meeting for Worship is held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. First-Day School and Child Care Provided

Calendar for October

Tuesday, October 2 Meeting of the Property and Finance Committee, at the Meetinghouse, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 6 Quarterly Meeting at 9:30 a.m., at Chestnut Hill Meeting. See page 2 for details.

Wednesday, October 10 Meeting of Overseers at 7:45 p.m. at the home of Mary Lou Hurwitz.

Saturday, October 13 Intervisitation weekend, this year at Germantown Meeting. See schedule for the day on page 2.

Sunday, October 14 Volunteers needed for Nuclear Freeze action at Super Sunday, on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Call 569-1974 or John Hirshberger (646-1581). Calendar continued

Sunday, October 14 Monthly Meeting for Business, 6:30 p.m. Monthly Meeting Supper, 5:30. Please mail enclosed supper cards.

Sunday, October 21 Forum, on the issue of sanctuary. After Meeting for Worship.

Saturday, October 27 The Philadelphia Yearly Meeting presents: Re-weaving the Web of Our Lives, a day of celebration for women. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Arch Street Meeting.

Intervisitation Weekend. Those who go should bring a generous dish to provide for outside guests. Schedule: 2:30 to 3:30, gather, introduce; 3:30 to 5, a walking tour of Germantown houses and/or a hike in Wissahickon park; 5 to 6, a tour of Germantown Friends School; 6 p.m., a pot luck dinner. The evening will include singing, worship sharing and activities for kids.

Quarterly Meeting. Meeting for Worship at 9:30 at Chestnut Hill Meeting. At 10, Friends will take up the topic of Quaker properties at Fairhill and Frankford. Bring a brown-bag lunch; coffee and dessert will be provided. No afternoon program scheduled.

Thanks to those who responded so promptly to the request for special contributions to the Meetinghouse "painting fund." The work has been started, but the funds have not yet reached our goal. We hope those planning to assist with this important project will not delay any longer. -----Be sure to see the attached for news of far-flung Friends and for the evaluation of First-Day School Program.

Forum Report. Dr. Henry Wells's lecture and discussion on U.S. policy in Central America drew 115 people to the Meetinghouse Sept. 18. "What next," in Central America, Wells said, "depends on the outcome of the November elections. A Reagan victory plus continuing failure to overcome leftist forces in El Salvador and Nicaragua could well lead to outright invasion by U.S. troops, he said. Mondale is committed to political settlement. Peace and Social Concerns noted actions programs by the Central America Organizing Project (726-6642) and the Witness for Peace (643-1981). Materials on these groups are available in the assembly room. --Bill Ludlow. Notes on Evaluation of the 1983-84 First-Day School Program

This April, the Committee of Overseers and the First-Day School Committee reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our religious education program.

There was unanimous recognition of the excellence of the programming. We thought that the breadth of experience offered the students was outstanding. Activities extended way beyond a weekly sit-down lesson to a guided nature walk and to a trip to Pennsubury Manor: Greene Street Friends First-Day School was invited to meet with us. The children shared and interacted with the Meeting at large via their baking, their stone soup lunch, their singing and their art.

Again, our major problem seems to be the small number of students and the extreme age span of these few students.

Last summer we met with Betsy Henderson, the Yearly Meeting resource person. In keeping with suggestions from this meeting we followed an intergenerational program. In general this approach does not speak clearly to the specific needs of the elementary student nor of the teenager.

We are sharing this report with all members and attenders because we are asking you to help us look creatively at ways to provide for the needs of our precious Young Friends. Please consider with us if there are any ways to enlarge the peer community for our children and our teenagers. Are there adults among us who have messages or talents to share with our First-Day School?

Throughout our examination of First-Day School we expressed our appreciation of those people who have worked with patience and intelligence to create our First-Day School programs. A few year acJo when we had no First-day School at all, Shirley Phillips and Steve Gable reopened regular weekly sessions; Marthjane Robinson and Beth Hudgins, along with David Samuel and Steve Gable, created this year's active, diverse program. For that, we thank them. It is our hope that all of us shall not only support them, but shall also consider ourselves participants in our Meeting's religious education.

--Mary Lou Hurwitz May, 1984 Notes on Returns to the Recorder

Wilson and Ellie Myers were in Greece until August making balloon photographs for their Aerial Atlas of Ancient Crete.

Robert and Anna Spiller moved in May to their new apartment in Cathedral Village, 0-207.

Susan Day wrote,"I will be married this summer to Hal Taylor (Atlantic City Meeting). We will settle at his home near Stockton State College. I have felt warmly welcomed and "at home" within Chestnut Hill Meeting; I shall miss you and will try to visit when possible." New address: Heidelberg Ave., Route 2 Box 57B, Egg Harbor, NJ 08215.

William Burnham writes that son Don-Don born in February 1983 is already rambunctious.

Henry Evans enjoys reading and getting out of doors and seeing a few visitors now and then, but do call before you plan to visit.

Samuel Mason sent happy news. He will be married to Diana Churchman of Kansas City, Kansas in October 1984. Warmest good wishes to Sam and his bride.

Anna Ruch, still enthusiastic about her retirement home in Florida, reports the marriage of her daughter, Barbara, to Hugh Patrick in June 1983. Anna's son, John, is president of the Harmony, Pa. Historical Society.

Jessie Bryant reports that Kendall Bryant received his Ph.D. from Berkley in May 1984.

Kevin Smith is practicing law in Washington, DC.

Judith Curcio tells us she started full-time work as a free-lance artist and interior house painter and that son Jamie started school at Oak Lane. Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting Newsletter November 1984

Natalie Kempner, Clerk Roberta Kramer, Treasurer 825-1799 455-1966

Karen Cromley, Clerk of Overseers Selden Smith, Newsletter 242-3432 '248-3202

Query for Eleventh Month: Simplicity

Do you keep to simplicity and moderation in your speech, your manner of living, and in your daily work? * Are you careful to keep you occupation or profession and your other outward activities from absorbing time and energy that should be given to spiritual growth and to the service of your Religious Society? Do you take your right share of responsibility in work and service for the Meeting? Are you punctual in keeping promises, prompt in the payment of debts, and ~ust and honorable in all your dealings? Are you free from the use of judicial oaths? Are you careful to refrain from membership in organizations in which secrecy of membership, attitudes or actions has a part?

Meeting for Worship is held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. First-Day School and Child Care Provided.

Calendar for November

Wednesday, Oct. 31 Peace and Social Concerns Committee meeting, 7:45 p.m., at Jessie Bryant's home.

Thursday, Nov. 1 At 8 p.m. at the Meetinghouse, Barbara Graves from Strawberry Hill Meeting in California and Mary Bye of Southampton Meeting in Pennsylvania will describe their experiences as small Meetings offering sanctuary.

Saturday, Nov. 3 AFSC annual meeting.

Sunday, Nov. 4 Visitors' Day. Please come at 10:15 [or earlier] to greet visitors; please bring a friend!

Tuesday, Nov. 6 Meeting of the Property, Finance and House Committee at 7:30, at the Meetinghouse.

Wednesday, Nov. 7 Meeting of Overseers at 7:45 p.m. at Karen Cromley's home. page 2 -- Calendar continued

Sunday, Nov. 11 Monthly Meeting for Business, 6:30 p.m., at the Meetinghouse. Monthly Meeting supper, 5:30 p.m. Please return enclosed supper card if you plan to come to supper,

Sunday, Nov. 11 Beginning of Peace and Social Concerns consideration ., of the issue of sanctuary; after Meeting for Worship.

Sunday, Nov. 18 Continuation of Peace and Social Concerns discussion of the sanctuary issue, after Meeting for Worship.

Wednesday, Nov. 28 Peace and Social Concerns Committee meeting, 7:45 p.m., Trudy Fuchs's home.

Saturday, Dec. 1 Annual Retreat, at the Meetinghouse, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A day of quiet reflection on our faith; the the specific topic is to be decided. Bring lunch.

Sunday, Dec. 2 David Ritchie and eight senior citizens from Mantua will join us for a covered-dish lunch and an illustrated talk on workcamps in Finland.

Recyclers! The Whosoever Gospel Mission picks up newspapers and glass at your home if you give them. a call. 438-3094.

News from members: Scott Silverman, having earned his masters degree in library science at Drexel, works in the Bryn Mawr library and lives at 2411 Meredith St., Philadelphia year at the Earlham School of Religion, "and very enthusiastic about it" . . . and Bobby Silverman is a freshman at Oberlin College. Good to hear from you all.

Visitors' Day is finally upon us. We should all have received postcards to be mailed or given to friends and Friends who may be interested in coming. Trudy Hubben is once again coordinating the whole affair (836-4956).

We have videotapes on new underground railroad transporting Central American refugees --potlucks will be held at Friends homes to view the tapes. Dates to be announced.

There is an adult first-day school, and those who've attended really enjoy it. 9:30 a.m.

Friends, please note: henceforth, the Greeter will close the door to Meeting for Worship promptly st 10:30, and remain outside the Meeting room with those who come in late. Latecomers will then join Meeting for Worship as the children are leaving. Pleas$ understand, if ;IOU are late, that this arrangement minimizes the disturbance to worshippers and helps keep the children's short time in Meeting as quiet as possible. Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting Newsletter 100 East Mermaid Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19118 ;beg, 1. -i,>I

Fri. Nov. 30 Potluck at Karen Cromley's home to meet Joel and Gabriella Morales-Ruiz, the Guatemalan refugee couple living at FUMCOG, and to see a videotape on the "new underground railroad." Sat., Dec. 1 Annual Retreat. Theme: "On Being Outside the Door ." The retreat will begin at 10 a.m., will include a silent lunch (bring your own; beverage provided) and will conclude at 3:30.

Sun. Dec. 2 David Ritchie and eight senior citizens from Mantua will join us for a covered-dish lunch followed by an illustrated talk on workcamps in Finland. See page 2 for details.

Wed. Dec. 5 Meeting of the Committee of Overseers at Lois Taber's home, 7:45 p.m.

Sun. Dec. 9 Business Meeting will be after Meeting for Worship, at 11:45, in December, January and February.

Mon. Dec. 10 SANE is honoring astronomer Carl Sagan with its annual peace award, in Philadelphia, at a $40-a-plate dinner. With 10 people we could get a whole table; call Bill Ludlow (soon)836-1412. - Sun. Dec. 16 Christmas Breakfast: Bring your spirit and yourself and celebrate a little, starting at 9 a.m. (promptly). Carol-singing will follow breakfast, and there will be no first-day school.

- Are you temperate in eating and drinking? Are you alert to the dangers involved in the use of alcohol and other drugs? Are you also aware of the dangers involved in the use of tobacco? Do you refrain from the use of alcohol and tobacco? Or have you considered so doing? In all relations with those who have problems with alcohol, tobacco or drugs, are you careful to be guided by compassion for the individual rather than by a rigidly moralistic attitude? Are you aware of the great waste of human and economic resources resulting from the use of alcohol and tobacco, and the misuse of drugs?

Meeting for worship is held every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. First-day school and child care are provided. Natalie Kempner, Clerk, 825-1799 Roberta Kramer, Treasurer, 455-1966 Karen Cromley, Clerk of Overseers, 242-3432 Selden Smith, Newsletter, 248-3202 The Stapeley Hall Sale will be accepting your china, glassware, houseware, Christmas items, clothes and jewelry and toys, new and used. No books, shoes or large furniture please. The sale will be in the recreation room, 6300 Greene St.; enter on the Washington Lane side. You are invited as a donor, buyer, helper or just to have fun--for more information call 844-9870 or Joan Hagner, Mildred Soast or Ruth Dross. Baked goods also welcome--deliver the day before or the morning of the sale, please.

Dave Ritchie on workcamps: Dave has had a lifelong commitment to the idea that workcamps are of value for both the participants doing the work and those for whom the work is done. In addition to having Friends join in the workcamp activities, he urges Friends to invite residents of Mantua to visit meetings. This month Dave will share his experiences with workcamps in Europe, and will show slides; call Betsy Naghski (233-1576) if you have any questions or can help.

EVERYONE'S INVITED to the annual Kempnerfest on New Year's Eve, starting at 6 p.m. at Fritz and Natalie's home and followed by Meeting for Worship at the Meetinghouse at 11:15 p.m. to welcome the New Year. Please come! (If you need or can offer a ride, call Mary Lou Hurwitz at 233-1919 or Karen Cromley at 242-3432.)

The following items are from the newly formed House Committee, part of Property and Finance. First, contributions of clothing for AFSC and food for the Food Cupboard are badly needed, so please keep them coming; however, do not leave larg_e_ donations of goods in the Meetinghouse office without checking with the House Committee. Second, free for the asking is a ping-pong table top, complete with net and paddles--just say the word. Finally, if you have a couple of two- or three-drawer file cabinets, in good condition, we can use them in the office if you care to donate them. Thank you, from: Ruth Dross, Trudi Fuchs, Joan Hagner, Betsy Naghski, Alois Gnielka.

The Nominating Committee reports that June Dugan is our latest representative to the Northwest Interfaith Movement.

It's December--last chance for 1984 donations. Also, thanks very much for the donations for painting the building. They covered the cost entirely, and the job is almost done.

Many thanks to Trudy Hubben for this year's very successful Visitors' Day. If you headed a Visitors' Day committee, please send your report to Trudy.

Our annual retreat, patterned after our two previous retreats, will be for members and attenders and will provide opportunities for personal exploration, meditation and sharing. The theme, "On Being Outside the Door," is planned to help us focus on outreach to those who have become alienated from religious faith and on those times which occur to all, sometimes, when faith may seem distant or weak. If you wish more information, call Betty Tiffany or any member of the Committee on Worship and Ministry.

FIRST-DAY SCHOOL, FOR GROWN-UPS. Here are some of the topics guiding discussion in Adult First-Day School, 9:30 a.m. every Sunday: What do you feel are the most important beliefs and practices of the Society of Friends? What do you do in silent worship to make yourself more available to the Spirit? How do you know when to speak? Why is the business meeting centered in worship; why don't we vote? Out of which beliefs did the testimony of equality arise? If you've ever wondered about what we in the Society of Friends believe and practice, or if you have ever wanted to share your ideas with others--or if you would just like to have an opportunity to get together with others, join us! Members, attenders and visitors are welcome.