Announcements

November 6, 2005

Food for Thought

BOB KETRON IS A NEW GRANDFATHER: Bob's daughter Alexa gave birth to 6 lb., 2 oz., William Bodie Weitz October 20, in California. The Stony Run community shares Bob's joy in this new life.

LITTLE MEETING: Religious Education offers "Little Meeting" which is designed for any child who is still learning to center into prayer or who may be new to the Meeting and the practices of Meeting for Worship. The children develop a sense of community as they work together to discover ways of being calm and peaceful, settling down and centering. This allows them to join their parents in 'Big' Meeting for Worship with a sense of silence as a pleasant state. Little Meeting takes place from 11:00 -11:20 a.m. in Room 214 (to the right of the office) and will be held again, on November 20, and December 4 and 18. At 11:20 the students attend their regular First Day School classes.

WELCOME TO VISITORS: Please sign the guest book in the hall (include e-mail address if you have one) and pick up a Newcomer Packet that contains information about Stony Run Meeting and the Religious Society of Friends. Feel free to introduce yourself at the rise of Meeting. Everyone is invited to stay for Simple Lunch after Meeting for Worship.

THE SHEPHERD'S CLINIC will receive November Social Order Box contributions. The Shepherd's Clinic, Inc. located at 1901 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, provides quality, low-cost health care to those who are uninsured. Last year, volunteer doctors and nurses provided over 3,000 patient visits.

WE HAVE NEWS FROM BARDHI, the student from Kosovo, who Stony Run helped come to Baltimore two years ago to attend his senior year at Towson High School, He is now a sophomore at Brigham Young University and is doing very well. He was one of only three applicants out of fourteen to be accepted into his chosen major, graphics design. Bardhi sends his regards to the Meeting, fondly recalling memories of taking part in Meeting activities, and living with the Robson family. Bardhi also reports sad news. His mother who lived in Kosovo, died in late September, after a long illness. Cards or notes of sympathy can be addressed to: Bardhi Haliti, 231 S 100 E, Provo, UT 84606.

WINTER CHILLS ARE COMING: Your gently worn, warm, jackets, coats and sweaters will once again be gratefully appreciated by clients of Advocates for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (ASTT). This organization works with those fleeing imprisonment and torture and trauma. Please leave all donations, clearly marked "For ASTT," on the coat hooks to the right of the Meeting office.

YOUNG FRIENDS ASK: "Do you have an interesting job, hobby or passion you would like to share with a younger generation?" Young Friends, Stony Run's own inimitable high school fellowship group, is seeking adult members of our Meeting who would be willing to join us for an hour some Sunday to share their knowledge and wisdom. Young Friends typically meets each Sunday at 11:00 a.m. to Noon in the Meetinghouse library. Anyone who is interested in sharing time and conversation with our high school students in this way, be it this fall, winter, or next spring, please contact Lynn Jordan.

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION: What is it? Does it apply to you? If you are a young person who has begun to wonder whether or not you will be able, for reasons of conscience, to participate in war, this program will help you start to clarify your thinking. On Sunday, November 13, attorney J.E. McNeil of the Center on Conscience and War will talk with the general audience from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. From 10:30 a.m. to12:00 noon, J.E. will speak with young people only, in the FS Lower School Assembly Room. This program is open to the General Public. Parents and any interested young people are invited. The program begins with bagels and beverage in the Dining Room at 9:00 a.m.

NEXT SATURDAY IS A WORKDAY AT THE MEETING HOUSE: On Saturday, November 12, the Property Committee would like to do some yard work (Friends School is removing leaves around the Meeting House), cleaning of closets and the boiler room. Work will begin at 9:00 a.m. and finish about 1:00 p.m. Please give what time you can; come for part, or all of the time. Juice, coffee, and morning snacks will be provided. If you have, or know of items in the closets or boiler room that should be saved, please contact Michael Vermehren.

DON'T MISS JOSIE LABUA, AS MARY, in Friends Upper School presentation, "Pride and Prejudice," an adaptation of Jane Austen's early 19th century romantic comedy about five sisters. The play will run Friday and Saturday, November 11 and 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 and may be purchased at the door.

WARM HATS AND GLOVES NEEDED FOR WOMEN'S HOUSING COALITION (WHC) HOLIDAY PROJECT: Stony Run will again sponsor the Women's Housing Coalition holiday project. As in past years, we will provide the women residents of WHC with gift bags filled with necessary toiletries, warm hats, and gloves. Friends School second and third graders and their families will be decorating 40 gift bags and filling them with toiletries. Stony Run's Senior Hi-Q's will be decorating 60 gift bags and filling them with toiletries as well. Stony Run Meeting families are being asked for donations of women's warm hats and gloves. We would like to provide a hat and glove set for each of the 100 gift bags. We are told that bright colors and lively patterns would be particularly enjoyed. While hats and gloves are our main goal, other items such as lip balm, combs, brushes, socks, and knee high stockings would also be welcome. Boxes will be in the Library to collect donations of hats, gloves, and other items. Monetary donations will also be accepted and may be placed in the collection box in the Library. The final date for collecting items is December 4th. For more details, contact Denise Wible. Thank you, for your continuing generosity.

CARES, a project of GEDCO (Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation) is an emergency service center providing food and financial help to the needy, needs food and personal care items on an ongoing basis. At this time of year, CARES needs to gather 400 bags at Thanksgiving and another 400 bags for Christmas and Hanukah. Friends are urged to contribute more generously than ever at this season. Please put items on the ledge inside the lower level doors. Items are gathered several times each month and delivered to CARES for distribution.

FAIR TRADE COMES TO TOWSON November 2005 through January 2006: Come visit Ten Thousand Villages (TTV) at a new seasonal store in Towson, on the first floor of the Shops at Kenilworth, 800 Kenilworth Drive, 410.337.5005. TTV provides vital, fair income to artisans in developing countries by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories. TTV works with artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed. TTV Needs Volunteers at the Fells Point and the new Towson store during this busy time of year. Interested in getting involved? Please call the TTV Fells Point store, 410.342.5568, for more information on volunteering at either location.

CARDS for CARES program invites you to participate in its fundraising. CARES is a project of GEDCO (Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation) and operates a food pantry and financial assistance center at St. Mary's Church in Govans. CARES will supply groups (ages 10 and above) with card making supplies and direction. The handmade cards are then sold and the proceeds are donated to CARES. Ways you can help: Organize a group to make cards. Come to CARES on a Saturday morning, 10:00 a.m. to noon, and help make cards with clients and other volunteers. Call ahead for a schedule of Saturdays. Let CARES know of good places to sell the cards. Buy some cards; they make great gifts and the cost is tax-deductible. Spread the word about the CARDS for CARES project to others who might like to make, sell, or buy the cards. Contact Becky Boynton (CARES volunteer) for more information. Cards are available at Stony Run, on the bench across from the Book Sale Table (please note the price increase, $3 per card or 4 for $10). The selection of cards will change every few weeks.

VEGETARIAN COOKING CLUB - Unity with Nature Committee invites Friends to a Vegetarian Cooking Club dinner on Saturday, November 19, from 4:30 to 7:30 pm in the Stony Run kitchen. We will cook together, share the recipes and enjoy the fruits of our labors. RSVP to Stan Becker if you plan to attend. UNITY WITH NATURE COMMITTEE MEETING (NEW TIME/PLACE) will be held Sunday, November 20 at 9:00 a.m. in the Library of Homewood Meetinghouse Everyone is welcome.

TWO EVENINGS IN NOVEMBER: Friends School will host two lectures in November. Elam Ray Sprenkle, renowned composer, will present "Music is a Scary Thing," Monday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Sprenkle serves on the faculties at the Johns Hopkins University and Peabody Institute, and is a frequent classical music commentator for National Public Radio. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions of Mr. Sprenkle. This lecture is made possible through a music enrichment grant given by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Klein, Jr. '49. PLEASE RSVP by November 10. Bart Walter, Maryland Sculptor, will present "A Journey Shared," Tuesday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Walter, a '76 Friends School graduate, will speak about his life as an artist and experiences with his family on the Maasai Mara in Kenya. His sculptures have appeared in solo and group exhibitions throughout the U.S. and in Europe. There will be opportunities to ask questions of Mr. Walter. This event is made possible through the Class of 2000 Lecture Series endowment. PLEASE RSVP by November 18. Both lectures will be held in the Friends School Auditorium and are free and open to the public. There will be a reception immediately following each presentation. To reserve seats, please call 410.649.3206.

BYM WOMEN'S RETREAT: This annual event will take place January 20-22, 2006, at a new location: Summit Lake Retreat Center near Emmitsburg, Md. The theme is Living from the Center, the same as last year's, since the event was closed down due to snow. Details and registration form are available in the Susan B. Anthony Room. Registration deadline is December 16; space is limited and early registration is encouraged. For further information contact Meg Meyer.

CHECKOUT THE CHALLENGES OF LONG TERM CARE: You are cordially invited to join a lively monthly discussion to delve into the issues surrounding Long-term Care. Consider: How often does long-term care occur? How is long-term care different from chronic or acute care? Why are governors concerned about Medicaid being used by the mid-upper income sector? And any other topics you want to bring to the table. Experts will answer questions and promote discussion. Discussions which will be of interest to adult children and their parents, business owners, employees, retirement-related specialists, and others interested in planning a comprehensive approach to retirement living, will be held Wednesday, November 9, and Monday, December 12 at 3:00 p.m. at the Johns Hopkins Greenspring Station Conference Room, located at 10753 Falls Road, Suite 125A. For more information, call 410.850.4868. Directions: From Baltimore Beltway I 695, exit at Falls Road (23B going North). Take Falls Road to light. Turn Right onto Joppa Road. Make an immediate left into the complex. Follow the signs for Pavilion 2. Come in to the 1st floor coffee shop and enter the conference room in the back.