Plumstead Friends Meeting is a small, quiet meeting with people speaking during Worship only rarely. We do invite those in attendance to offer their afterthoughts, and these are always listened to with quiet respect, occasionally eliciting responses. I think many of us simply enjoy the communal silence during worship – the opportunity to listen to the popping of the fire in our wood stove in the winter, and bird song in summer, as we center down on our own spirituality and thoughts. Others of us may really not feel the sense of safety necessary to voice leadings. Attenders unfamiliar with our Meeting’s ways, and the loss of some key members during the Covid pandemic – those who often led the way – may partially account for this uncertainty.
One of the goals our Meeting has set for the coming year is to encourage more of us to speak out as the spirit leads us during worship. A number of our Members would like to hear more messages on Sunday. Right now we plan to address this primarily by continuing to get to know each other better – becoming better and closer Friends. We are scheduling a monthly discussion group after Meeting for worship, wherein we have the opportunity to “practice” voicing our insights in a slightly less intimidating manner than the interruption of a long silence may represent, and can discuss even personal issues in an atmosphere of acceptance and even intimacy, secure in the knowledge that issues discussed will not leave the Meeting House.
We have also held potluck dinners and brunches at one generous Member’s home this past year, and need to figure out a way to offer at least coffee or tea on a regular schedule at the end of Meeting, to go with cookies already provided weekly by another loyal member. (Since we have no kitchen or plumbing facilities, this is not as easy as it might otherwise seem.) This winter, people are already lingering after Meeting to talk more around the dying fire, and a hot drink might convince them to stay even longer. We would be extremely interested in hearing about any steps other Meetings have taken to address these issues themselves.
Though we have been pleased to see attendance at Plumstead Meeting recover fairly well from it’s low point following the worst of the Covid pandemic (we average 10-15 people at Meeting for Worship weekly, depending largely on the weather), we would also welcome suggestions for attracting new Attenders and Members. This past year we offered a lecture by Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania leader Adam DePaul in July, which was very well attended by members of the wider community. As far as I know, none of our visitors returned to join us at a Meeting for Worship this winter, but both postcard invitations and a news release that went out about the event put our name before even more people than actually attended the lecture. This summer we will offer another lecture at the Meeting House in connection with an exhibit at the Mercer Museum on the Revolutionary War period Doan Brothers. They were associated with Plumstead Meeting and may be buried on property across the road from it. Plans for publicity and a mailing about this event are already under way.
The one group of Members who have not returned to Plumstead Meeting are the children (we averaged around four weekly), primarily I suspect, because most transitioned from pre-teen to teen during the Covid years, and their lives became filled with distractions. We do have a small classroom separate from the Meeting House, and would certainly be glad to have children join us. Any ideas that PYM could give us for attracting kids would be most welcome. One problem we have is that many (most) of our members are senior citizens. Some of us enjoy working with kids, but we don’t ordinarily run into them much on a day-to-day basis. Offering something like a week-long summer camp seems as though it might be difficult for us, though I know a local Mennonite church that attracts children that way every summer. Has anyone had experience with, say, a kids’ community garden? A half-day GAME DAY? Even a graveyard Halloween party? Again, we would welcome any guidance from PYM.
Another thing we will try to do this year is recognize Juneteenth with an activity that 1) recognizes and honors the emancipation of enslaved Americans and their sacrifices, and that 2) educates all of us about the day’s affirmation that we are all created equal and are all entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This year we will do something for our Meeting alone, but recognition of the day may present an opportunity in future to involve the wider community with Plumstead Meeting.
Leslie May, Clerk
Plumstead Friends Meeting
2024
