This is my first report since becoming Clerk of Lansdowne Friends Meeting and much of what is included here occurred under Dana Robinson’s stewardship as Clerk. This short summary of the important events in the last year is yet another reminder of how grateful we are for his many years of service as Clerk.
The Covid-19 Pandemic continued to greatly effect how we have been able to be with one another. As the number and severity of infections decreased we have continued to adapt our safety protocols. Under the guidance of our In These Times Committee we’ve had been alternating our Sunday Worship, moving from virtual one week to in-person the next, until finally this spring we moved to meeting together in the Meetinghouse all the time. The Covid experience was not all negative. We did, for instance, learn that genuine Worship is possible even in a virtual setting. It has also been possible for distant Friends and those with transportation issues to be part of the community. And there are some who still are not able to take the risk of being in person in the Meetinghouse. Thus, we need to be grateful that Zoom technology has enabled us to keep our community together, but nothing compares to actually being together letting our Light reflect directly from, and to, one another.
That need to be together became evident as a committee gathered to plan a return to having an annual full day retreat. The Committee quickly discerned that what the community really needed was an opportunity for live, in person, fellowship without a substantive agenda. An all day outdoor event was held on a chilly but beautiful late fall day at Ridley Creek State Park with one simple goal: fellowship. Centered around a campfire that provided metaphorical Light (not to mention heat), we worshiped, sang songs and told stories and jokes, kicked the fall leaves on one of the park’s hiking trails, shared two meals (and smores!), and generally relaxed and reveled in one another’s company.
Those of you who have been absent from the Meetinghouse for a while will find some changes when you next join us. In response to a concern about how welcoming our Meetinghouse is, we formed an ad-hoc Accessibility Committee and the Meeting accepted its recommendation to install both a new heating/cooling system and a hearing assistance system. Since the heating/cooling system was installed in late summer we have enjoyed being in the cooler, healthier (no mold or mildew) and more comfortable Meetinghouse. As winter heating season arrives, we are grateful that the system runs on renewable electricity rather than gas. The sound equipment is not yet fully installed but we look forward to making it possible for everyone to hear everything which is said in the Meetinghouse. We are blessed to be able to afford these improvements by using some of the healthy reserve funds generated by prior generations of Members and additional grants from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Friends General Conference.
After 21 years of service coordinating the Meeting/School Feeding the Hungry project, Linda Sena asked to be able to retire from her leadership role. Each month Linda faithfully and tirelessly asked for volunteers to make a casserole or cookies while she purchased the salad, rolls and butter, compiled it all, and drove it to the Life Center of Eastern Delaware County. Before the Pandemic forced the shelter to limit the number of people in their facility, Linda coordinated the volunteers who helped serve the meal. Unfortunately, we were unable to find anyone willing to take over the management of this
important ministry so the Meeting for Business reluctantly laid the formal project down. We are grateful that a few people have continued informally to provide casseroles on a regular basis.
Our numbers may be small, but our Worship together is vital, and we continue to have challenging and informative Meetings for Learning (including one group that meets regularly for Friendly Bible study); to provide support for those among us involved in Sprit led social action; to search for ways to support families and engage and teach our children; and, to strive to maintain our responsibilities to Lansdowne Friends School.
While we are grateful for all that we have as a community, we are not complacent. We need to seek God’s guidance on such questions as:
- How do we develop further understanding of the role of racism in our own hearts and how do we help others find similar understanding? Is there a way to focus our inquiry on the local community?
- How well are we serving the spiritual needs of our children? How well are we helping them grow into an understanding of Quakerism? Do we need to help them learn about the Christian roots of Quakerism?
- What is our relationship, engagement with, and obligation to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Chester Quarterly Meeting?
- Is there a concern that the number of people attending Worship and other Meeting activities is small? If so, how do we respond?
— Norman Janes
