"P" is for People - Part 2 . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

                                      Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

In whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV

OK, most of this was, at one point, a part of my original “P” is for People blog post . . . I pulled this out and have been trying to figure out what to do with it. The thought this afternoon was to make a “P” is for People, Part 2. So, here goes - Part 2 . . .



FCS Display at
FUM Triennial

I attended the Friends United Meeting Triennial as the FUM Representative to Friends Committee on Scouting (FCS) and as the Clerk of FCS. I set-up the FCS display and scheduled two 'Special Interest Group Sessions.' It was disappointing that no one attended either of the Special Interest Group Sessions, but a couple of Friends helped me to see that all the one-on-one conversations that I was having with Friends about Friends Committee on Scouting, the religious awards programs and Quakers & Scouting was having a greater impact than would have been achieved in a group setting and I do have to agree with them on that point. If I were to have counted, and kept track of, all those one-on-one conversations I expect that over the course of the Triennial I spoke with 40-50 Friends . . . not a bad number.

What was shocking for me was that except for a couple of Friends that I spoke to, no one had ever heard about Friends Committee on Scouting. So conversations centered on explaining who we are and what we do.



FCS Committee Patch
with 25th Anniversary Ring

I had the opportunity to speak to several Friends while I was helping out in the Bookstore. One of those conversations that sticks out in my mind was the Friend whose daughter, a Girl Scout, had just completed the 5th grade – he wanted to know if she could still do the ‘That of God’ material (for Young Friends in grades 2-5). I asked him several questions and then said, Yes, she may still do ‘That of God,’ as she has a couple of months this summer without any school work and she should be able to complete it easily at her age. He seemed very happy to be able to tell her this. I’m looking forward to seeing her name come through on one of my monthly reports from P.R.A.Y. (Programs of Religious Activities with Youth).



'Friends Emblem'
Adult Recognition
Worldwide

Friday evening heading to the cafeteria for dinner I caught part of a nametag “Do-----” and called out the name of a Friend I knew was to be there, but had never met in person, yes, that's who it was! I think this Friend was just as excited to meet me in person as I was to meet her and HUGS were exchanged, right there in the doorway!  We talked the rest of the way to the cafeteria, through the line and sat down and talked through dinner. The connection we made began in July 2011 when she nominated a member of her Meeting for the 'Friends Emblem' recognition (for adult Scouters/Guiders). Over a 6 month period, we exchanged a lot of emails and phone calls trying to get all the information for this nomination. Part of our conversation revolved around this member of her Meeting and his nomination but most of it was just a lovely conversation among two Friends meeting in person for the first time. It was great to finally meet this Friend and to sit down and have such a wonderful conversation.



'That of God' award
(Grades 2-5) US

Sunday morning as I headed off to breakfast, I commented to a Friend who was walking a bit ahead of me that I was glad it to find it warmer out than it had been on Saturday morning. We got to chatting and I noticed he was from Baltimore Yearly Meeting. I commented I had just been to Sandy Spring Meeting, a part of BYM, a couple of months earlier and asked what Meeting he belonged to. When he told me I threw out the name of a Young Friend from that Meeting and asked if he knew him. He looked really surprised and said, "Yes, that's one of our Young Friends." And I told him I was Clerk for Friends Committee on Scouting and that on Tuesday I had received the May awards report from P.R.A.Y. with that Young Friend's name on it – so I knew he had just received his ‘That of God’ award (for Scouts in grades 2-5) in May. "Why yes, we just presented that to him during our last Business Meeting. He's so proud of that." We talked all the way to the cafeteria about this Young Friend and his award.

Most other conversations with Friends revolved around just learning more about who we are and what we do – they had seen the display, but had questions.

So, while the FUM Triennial theme was all about ‘A Great People to be Gathered: in Christ, in Community, for Mission,’ it was also about Friends being gathered in great conversations and making great connections with one another and making new Friends and connecting with old Friends during the gathering. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Now for more “P” recipes . . . Peanut Butter Crispy Treats – if you like the traditional Rice Krispies Treats then you’ll love this variation with peanut butter mixed in and the option of chocolate & butterscotch melted over the top! YUMMMMM. Next is Pork Cutlets with Apple Stuffing, another family favorite. I’ve also included my quick and easy version of Pork Cutlets with Stove Top Stuffing that you might want to try – I’ve made these and taken them to Friends who needed a hot meal with rice and a vegetable.

Peanut Butter Crispy Treats

1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup white sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

In saucepan, heat syrup, sugar and peanut butter. Bring to a boil, and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add Rice Krispies. Press into greased 9x13 inch pan. Cool. Cut into 2x2 inch squares.

VARIATION: Make recipe as above and then – melt 6 ounces chocolate chips and 6 ounces butterscotch chips . . . pour over the above. Let set and then cut into squares.

 

Pork Cutlets with Apple Stuffing

1 pound (3 large) pork cutlets
Salt & pepper to taste
All-purpose flour to coat outside of cutlets
1 cup water
1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour

Open cutlets and spread with stuffing. Fasten with toothpicks. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and flour. Put in a hot skillet and brown on all sides. Add water and bake at 350-400˚F for 30 minutes.

Remove meat from the oven and remove top grease. Add flour to broth to make gravy. Stir until sauce boils – cook 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve over meat.

Apple Stuffing

3 Tablespoons butter or margarine
3 Tablespoons onion, chopped
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup bread cubes – heaping
½ cup apple, chopped
Few grains pepper

Put butter and onion in pan and cook until onion is tender. Add salt, bread cubes, chopped apple and pepper and moisten with hot water.

 

Pork Cutlets with Stove Top Stuffing

4 cubed pork cutlets
Box of Stove Top Stuffing – pork or cornbread
Apple juice – instead of water for stuffing

Mix stuffing according to box except use apple juice in place of water. Set aside.

Open cutlets and flatten out (don’t want them to be too thick). Spread stuffing on each cutlet – to within 1/8 inch on three sides and ½ inch or so on the forth end. Roll cutlets (the short way) towards the end without stuffing. Fasten with a couple of toothpicks. Spray a bit of non-stick cooking spray in hot skillet. Place rolled cutlets in a hot skillet and brown on all sides. Turn heat down and add more apple juice to skillet. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes, turning every 5 minutes or so to cook evenly. Watch as you may need to add more apple juice from time to time.

You can either scrape what’s in the pan over the top or add more apple juice (or water) and some flour to make a bit of gravy.

Serve with rice, remaining stuffing, pan scrapings or gravy and a vegetable of your choice.

"P" is for People . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

In whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV

 

Friends Gathered . . .
in Christ

“P” is for People . . . or more specifically "A Great People to be Gathered: in Christ, in Community, for Mission" . . . the theme for Friends United Meeting (FUM) 2014 Triennial Session, June 11-15, at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. The scripture for the gathering was from John 4:35b: "I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields. They are ripe for harvest."

 

The thought of doing "P" is for People, with a focus on the FUM theme, came to me a few weeks ago - which explains why I rushed through my "M," "N" & "O" posts so that I would be ready for "P." As I took notes during sessions I thought I might write a bit about some of that, but I'm sticking with my original thought of focusing on the people that were there.

 

Friends listening

First, I was amazed when I took a look at the list of those registered for Triennial - I knew so many Friends, about 25% of those attending. I pulled off the list and started to highlight those Friends I knew in color - and when I mentioned this to a new Friend last weekend, I found he had done the same! But as the weekend progressed and I started having conversations with Friends, I found that I actually knew a lot more than I had thought - maybe closer to 40%. And now, after 3 1/2 days with nearly 300 Friends . . . I expect the number of them that I know and have had conversations & connections with is closer to 75%, or more!

 



Irish & American Friends
in conversation

Now to get back to the theme "A Great People to be Gathered" - those gathered came from several countries, mostly around the United States but we also had two Friends from Cuba and a visiting Friend from Ireland, The Irish Friend was one that I had met while I was in Ireland on Pilgrimage last summer and it was great to see and talk with my Irish Friend Charles again and get some more Irish hugs.

 



Discussion after the
Johnson Lecture

It wasn't just 'people' who gathered, but 'Friends' who gathered . . . for business sessions; celebrating Global Ministries; approving & welcoming three new Yearly Meetings (in Africa) & a new Association (from the United States) into FUM membership; dialogue; devotions & worship; singing of hymns & music; the Johnson Lecture; shopping - in the FUM Bookstore & the Global Market; workshops; a memorial - to remember those Friends who had died since the last Triennial Session; a movie with popcorn (where were the chocolate covered raisins???); conversation; meals . . . and Friends gathered - to learn, to share, in Christ, in community and to learn more about FUM missions.

 



Friends Gathered . . .
in Community

I had opportunities to have a lot of amazing conversations with not only Friends I knew well but also with some that I really only knew through Facebook, emails & phone conversations and a lot of new Friends. Conversations while waiting in line for meals, during meals, walking from here to there, during free time, while waiting for sessions to begin or after they ended, while volunteering in the Bookstore and during worship sharing group time.



Friends after Sunday
morning worship

I made connections with Friends just by learning what Monthly or Yearly Meeting they belonged to . . . now those where fun! Monthly & Yearly Meetings where I knew Friends or ones that I had connections because of Friends Committee on Scouting awards/recognitions. I sat with different Friends during the 3 1/2 days I was at Triennial - during sessions, workshops and meals. I made connections just in having conversations with Friends.

 

My roommate was from Kenya! The other two Friends that we shared our suite with, well one was working in the Bookstore selling old Quaker books and the other is the Pastor at a Friends Meeting not too far from mine that I've met this last year.

 

Music

A Friend I met last July at the USFWI/QMI Triennial (United Society of Friends Women International/Quaker Men International) posted to my Facebook page the week before Triennial asking me if I was attending. I replied back that I was and she said she was looking for a ride from Triennial down to Indianapolis to catch a bus up to Chicago on Sunday afternoon and asked if I had room for her. Well of course I did. It was nice to have someone, other than myself & the radio, to talk to on the way home. We found the bus stop and had a couple of hours until her bus would be there and so we found a Taco Bell where we enjoyed some sweets, a drink and more conversation.

 



Peace Panel

For me this was a new experience, as I had never attended an FUM Triennial before, but I found parts of it to be similar to the USFWI/QMI Triennial that I volunteered at last July.

 

Another phrase was used during the Triennial: 'Energizing, Equipping and Connecting Friends in Global Partnership.' After all was said and done . . . I not only feel Energized, Equipped and Connected to Friends on a Global level, but I also felt that we were "A Great People (Friends) to be Gathered: in Christ, in Community, for Mission."

 

Friends after worship

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Recipes for the letter "P" are plentiful! So choosing was really tough to limit myself here. So Peanut Blossoms - great any time of the year, but always have to have these at Christmas. Poultry Stuffing or Dressing - make large batches of this, it's totally awesome, and for Thanksgiving - I have made like 6 times the recipe . . . leftovers are always good to have! And since I've got the stuffing/dressing for Thanksgiving gotta have Pumpkin Roll . . . Sorry, I know that Thanksgiving is an American Holiday, couldn't help myself . . .

 

Peanut Blossoms

(makes 48 cookies)

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup margarine

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ cup creamy peanut butter

½ teaspoon salt

1 large egg

½ cup white sugar + some for rolling cookies in

2 Tablespoons milk

½ cup light brown sugar (packed)

1 teaspoon vanilla

48 milk chocolate candy kisses (or stars)

 

Preheated oven to 350˚ F.  Ungreased cookie sheets.

Combine all ingredients except candy in large bowl. Mix till dough forms - will be stiff. Shape dough into balls, using rounded teaspoon for each. Roll balls in white sugar; place on cookie sheets.

 

Bake for 8-10 minutes. Top each cookie immediately with a chocolate Kiss; press down firmly so cookie cracks around edge.

 

 

Poultry Stuffing or Dressing

(for 5-6 pound chicken)

4 cups stale bread

1 ½ cup stock - can use fresh or canned

4 Tablespoon butter  or margarine, melted

1 teaspoon salt

pepper to taste

¼ cup celery, finely chopped

1 Tablespoon onion, grated

1 Tablespoon chopped parsley

1 large egg, slightly beaten

sage to taste

 

Remove crusts (if desired) and cut in cubes (toast) and add seasonings. Mix lightly with fork. Melt butter (margarine) in stock (or water). Toss lightly with bread being careful that it does not become soggy. Add rest of seasonings.

 

Triple recipe for a 12-15 pound turkey.

 

Bake in covered casserole about 1 hour.

 

Can be use with others meats also.

 

If desired, cook giblets till tender and put them through grinder and add to dressing.

 

 

Pumpkin Roll

3 large eggs

1 cup white sugar

2/3 cup canned pumpkin

1 teaspoon lemon juice

¾ cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ teaspoon salt

 

Preheat oven to 375˚F. Line jelly roll pan with wax paper.

 

Beat eggs 5 minutes on high. Add sugar, pumpkin and lemon juice. Mix well. Add flour baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt. Mix. Pour in jelly roll pan (11x15x1 inch pan). If you want, top with 1 cup chopped nuts.

 

Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar. Turn out on cloth (woven cotton dish towel works well) and roll cake and towel up till cool – unroll and fill.

 

Filling:

1 pound powdered sugar

4 Tablespoons butter or margarine

½ teaspoon vanilla

6 ounces cream cheese

 

Mix till creamy. Spread on cake and roll. Wrap in saran wrap. If freeze, wrap over in foil. Store in refrigerator.





"O" is for Onward . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

In whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV


Picnic

“O” is for Onward . . . the 2014 theme for Quaker Haven Camp sessions.

Alright, I’m signed up and ready to go . . . but I’ll be going to camp two weeks later than I have in the past few years – they’ve switch ‘Adventure Camp’  (incoming 5th & 6th graders) with one of the 'Senior High Camp' weeks.

The camp brochure begins with: “Are you excited to see all your old friends and make new friends at camp this summer? You excited to play some crazy awesome games? You ready to see and experience God move in a mighty way? This summer we want to direct your life ONWARD towards Christ and His Kingdom. Camp is going to push you ONWARD through the mess of life . . . and the messy games. So get excited for everything as we trek . . . ONWARD!”



Water games . . .

The scripture reference is Philippians 3:12-14: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press ONWARD to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting who is behind straining toward what is ahead, I press ONWARD toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”



"My Girls"

So, I know the theme and I know the scripture for the week/summer, but where in the world is this going to take us? And as it has been the last 4 years that I’ve served as a Counselor, yes I’m a Counselor and not a camper, other than the brochure that comes out I’ve got no clue what’s gonna happen during our session at camp until after I get there and then sometimes you’re still not quite sure what’s up! That being said . . . I do like to think about it and try to envision what kind of journey we will go on together during the week.



Singing in the Chapel

Seeing old friends and meeting new ones, whether they’re campers, CIT’s, Counselors, or Camp Staff is always lots of fun. Playing crazy games – not sure I’d call them awesome or not, but the campers love them and that’s what really matters, right? Seeing and experiencing God moving in camp is a pretty awesome sight.

Now, we get down to it . . . we’re going to ‘direct their lives,’ ‘push them through the mess of life . . . and the messy games’ and ‘trek’ ONWARD! I’m only concerned about one little tiny piece of this . . . and that’s ‘the messy games’ part! I don’t even want to know where that’s going!



Popcorns ready!

After Friends United Meeting Triennial (FUM) next weekend, I will begin to move ONWARD . . . to begin to prepare myself for a week up at Quaker Haven, with a cabin full of what I expect will be another amazing group of giggly young ladies. I can’t wait to meet them all that Sunday afternoon and their families when they come into our cabin for the first time that week . . . and then to see how they blossom and grow in God’s love during our week together. I’m eager to see how this ONWARD theme will play out through the week and where it will take us.

I’m looking forward to:

The amazing conversations that will happen;

The amazing camp food that Steve and his staff will prepare for us, including the cookout and maybe a piece of Sugar Cream Pie?????;

Not having to think about what I’m going to eat and the when & where of it and not having to cook & wash dishes for a week;

Enjoying a chocolate malt cup or two as well;

Watching the swans out on the lake;

Going on a pontoon boat ride around the lake;

Watching the campers play 4-way kickball and all camp dodge ball in the Quack;

Going ‘hiking’ with the campers . . . I did that last year and it was so much fun . . . we saw some parts of camp that none of us had ever seen before and had some amazing conversations along the way;

The popcorn pop down by the lake and Kevin leading us in some crazy songs and telling some tall tales;

Some awesome games of Gaga Ball;

The talent show;

Sunrises and sunsets;

Chapel time – the singing, the stories and the sharing;

Cabin devotions – and spending that outside, somewhere around camp – our time to share, talk about God & the scripture and spend some time in quiet reflection and prayer;

The sounds of the campers laughing, singing, playing games and having fun!



On Sunday morning, July 6th, I will leave home about 7am and travel northeast, about 170 miles, up to Quaker Haven Camp. I'll either stop at a Friend's Meeting along the way or head straight to camp and join Friends at Dewart Lake Community Friends Meeting at camp.

 

Pontoon boat ride . . .

My last two blogs were about "Ministry" and "Nurture" - both come into play when I go up to Quaker Haven Camp as a Councilor - I get to do both, yes I just said that. I minister to those around me and I also get ministered to, which feels really good! I also will nurture those that I come into contact with and I expect some will nurture me a bit here and there . . . that's what ministry and nurturing are all about. I feel really blessed . . . and I haven't even gotten to camp yet!

So, as I close out this blog post, I’d ask each of you reading this to stop and say a prayer for Quaker Haven Camp, for the Camp Staff – Brandon, Kevin, Dottie, Steve, Lynn and Larry & the young adults that help them and for Nurse Kelly. Please pray for the campers, CIT’s, Counselors, session Directors and the two Yearly Meeting Christian Ed Directors – Pat & Aaron – as we all prepare for the roles that we will have at camp and that God will be with us, directing us, keeping us safe, blessing us each and every day . . . as we ‘trek . . . ONWARD!’

Amazing sunset . . .

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

I never thought that finding a few “O” recipes would be so hard – unless those are the ones that I didn’t like so I didn’t pull them out and copy them to use! Anyways I’ve got a couple to share, both are desserts, go figure. First off is Oat-Peanut Butter Cookies – yummy, and the second one id for Old Fashioned Sugar Cream Pie – and I LOVE Sugar Cream Pie, made a version of the Quaker Haven Camp Sugar Cream Pie to share with Irish Friends while staying at Moyallon Center in Northern Ireland last summer, but this recipe actually comes from one of my mom’s cousins, Eleanor Rummel, from Nappanee, Indiana, Amish Country, so it’s ‘GOOD’ as my mom noted on the recipe card!

 

 

Oat-Peanut Butter Cookies

(makes 6 dozen cookies)

1 cup soft shortening (Crisco shortening)
1 cup brown sugar, packed
¾ cup white sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda     
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup oatmeal

Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Ungreased cookie sheets.

Beat shortening and brown sugar together until creamy. Add eggs. Mix well. Add peanut butter, flour, soda and salt. Mix well. Stir in oatmeal. Shape into 1” balls. Press top with fork to make cross.
 

Bake for 8-10 minutes.
 

Old Fashioned Sugar Cream Pie

(serves 6)

½ cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup white sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter
1 cup boiling water
1 cup Milnot Evaporated Milk
1 unbaked pie shell

Preheat oven to 350˚ F.

Mix brown sugar, white sugar and flour together. Mix butter and boiling water together and add to the sugar/flour mixture. Mix and add Milnot.

Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake 10 minutes at 400˚ F.  Reduce temperature to 350˚ F and continue to bake another 35 minutes.