Tenth Month, 2005

QUERIES for the Tenth Month: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE

• Do I seek to transform the world with my loving spirit?
• Do I take an active interest in the social and economic conditions of my community?
• Have I considered objectively the causes of discrimination and am I ready to abandon old prejudices and think anew?
• Do we, as individuals and as a Meeting, do all in our power to end governmental, social, economic and educational injustices in our community, and to create equal opportunity for all?
• What are we doing as individuals and as a Meeting to promote the welfare of those in need and to secure a just distribution of the world's resources?
• What are we doing as individuals and as a Meeting to understand and remove the causes of war and develop the conditions and institutions of peace?

CALENDAR NOTES

• The Gospel of Thomas continues to hold our interest. What would you like to explore in this informal format? Ellie and Larry Clayton co-convening.
• Enjoy an evening of hospitality and fellowship, good food and spiritual sustenance. Sybil Brennan will lead our study of Douglas Steere's Dimensions of Prayer.
• Come join us for an exotic evening of Latin fare. Patricia Ulrey will prepare a traditional meal of Central American favorites. After the meal be ready for a mysterious evening of exciting entertainment led by Gene Beardsley. John and Jean Burton are our gracious hosts for the evening. The dinners are a fundraising effort to benefit the building fund for the new meetinghouse. The suggested donation is $10.00 per adult and $5.00 for children over five years old.

MEETING NEWS

• A member of Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia, Brad Thompson, is with us as a sojourner for at least a year. He is working on his PhD. The question he wants to answer is: "how does environmental information (or not change) our behavior?"
  
  Welcome, Brad.
• The Sanga Center, a spiritual study group from Keystone Heights, visited our July Quaker Market dinner. We received a lovely note and an invitation to a Potluck meal the afternoon of Sunday, October 23rd. Local musicians usually play for the group; it is a lovely event.
  Sheree Sims
• John Graham Pole E-mailed our clerk, Don Smith, that he was off to Louisiana to work in the shelters for a few days.

• Carol and Tom Clark, who, to our pleasure, sojourned with us last winter write: Carol & Tom Clark, friendly, mature, responsible couple seek modest rental/housesitting/workexchange in Gainesville for Jan., Feb, (all/part of March) 2005 Our schedule is flexible. Room w/ kitchen privileges, preferably near University

  Carol taught economics & interdisciplinary studies at Guilford College. Tom also taught media analysis, interdisciplinary studies and psychology part-time at Guilford. Together we coordinated the Friends International Graduate Cooperative in Ann Arbor, MI for 6 years. Worked in Guatemala 3 years; developed a student service learning program in Guadalajara, Mexico. Careers related to social justice: e.g. leading work camps, advising student Amnesty International chapters. References on request. Carol & Tom 828 675 5424, cclark@yancey.main.nc.us

• Arlene Epperson writes: Healthy coastal wetlands are a natural barrier to hurricane strength. Scientists tell us that every mile of wetlands and marshes that lie between the Gulf of Mexico and terra firma reduces hurricane-related storm surge by one foot.

  Learn more about how restoring wetlands can help the Gulf Coast, and send a letter to Congress asking them to support it as they help rebuild Louisiana: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/restore_wetlands

• Friendly Lunch at Books, Inc at 11:30 on the first Tuesday of the month (October 4). For further information contact Betty O, Gene B or Laura W.

• Please hold Annie McPherson and Morrie Trimmer in the LIGHT as they recover in their homes from recent surgery...

• On Oct 20 our Meeting co-sponsors the annual United Nation Day Program -from 9:30 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. . The theme this year is CHILD HEALTH AND SURVIVAL. In the morning John Graham-Pole will participate in the panel. The Luncheon speaker will be Jane Roberts, co-founder of 34 Million Friends of the UN Population Fund. Call Gene Beardsley for lunch or more information.

Toward Community and Sustainability

In an antidote to the machine-like system in which we are immersed several initiatives are being brought to the LIGHT in our Quaker community.

• A tool-lending library is now available. How often have you bought a tool for a special purpose that you have only used a few times? By pooling our wealth of tools and lending them to each other when needed, we can personally save money and as a community save energy. Dick Beardsley has a notebook to sign up members who wish to take part in this exchange. He can answer whatever questions you might have.
• Last weekend, the Hooleys held a "canning party" at the Peace Farm. Thirteen people gathered to pick blueberries and grapes that they made into wonderful jams. Karen Porter took several of her students from her school for an introductory lesson in living off the land.
• In the Little Turtle Academy Newsletter, students related:

  Friday September 16 we went to Meadownmere farm and picked muscadine grapes.

  We met a very nice lady, Felicity Trueblood, who takes care of the grape vineyard. This vineyard is located at 781 State Road 21 North in Melrose. Felicity explained how to pick the grapes and gave us a great recipe for marmalade that we made at the Peace farm on Saturday.

  Students Erin and Eric: Grape picking is fun but hard work. It is hard to pick grapes. It is hot when you pick grapes. The bucket keeps getting heavier and heavier when you pick grapes. But when you are done you get to eat them or make jelly.