Westport Friends Meeting

November 2004 Newsletter

The old man said, “You have tasted of death now. Is it good?”
“It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.”
“No,” said the old man. “It is only more life.”

THE GOLDEN KEY, by George MacDonald
(From Jean’s Newsletter, August, 1973)

Meeting for Worship and First Day School each Sunday at 10:00 AM. All are welcome!

2 Election Day....Vote!
5-7 JHYM Retreat at Woolman Hll
7 Property Committee, 8:30 AM
7 Ministry and Counsel Committee, 11:45
7 Booster Book-Sorting Session after worship
12-14 NEYM Ministry and Counsel Retreat at Woolman Hill.
13 AFSC Program: Challenging the Policy of War: The Human Cost. (See Meeting Community News for two dates.)
14 Service of Remembrance for Jean Kennison. (See details)
16 Market Ministries (Want to help? Speak with Barbara Wicks)
19-21 JYM Elementary Retreat at Westport
20 NEYM Permanent Board
21 Monthly Meeting for Business, 11:45
28 Religious Education Committee,11:45

1 Phyllis Brightman
1 Logan Minnehan
12 Betty Ann Lee
27 Eva Kelly

Finance Committee reports that donations to Meeting this year are just covering our expenses. Friends are encouraged to be generous when giving. Donations to Meeting should be made payable to Westport Monthly Meeting of Friends, c/o: Deana Chase, Treasurer.

Religious Ed Committee reminds Friends that volunteers are needed to teach upcoming classes of First Day School. Speak with Beth Bauer or Betty Ann Lee for details.

(Speaking of FDS: The editor fondly remembers hearing this at the end of a First Day School class some twenty-five years ago: Having proudly completed her second day of class, a little girl rushed to greet her grandmother, when grandma asked, “Did you talk about God today?” “Oh no,” replied the first grader, “We finished talking about God last week!”)

Expressing a concern that closing the inner isle way doors in the meetinghouse makes late-comers to worship feel less welcomed, Ministry and Counsel recommends leaving these doors open. Friends approved. (Please note that query #2 in Faith and Practice still asks, “Are you faithful and punctual in attendance?”)

Our special “booster” book-sorting session last month was very successful. Next special sorting will be Nov 7th following worship. Several Friends are also sorting weekly on Thursdays, 2-4 PM. If your schedule allows speak with Mark Bauer and Deana Chase for details.

Aware that some Friends and community members were not able to attend Jean Kennison’s Memorial Service in late August, Ministry and Counsel will offer a Service of Remembrance for Jean on Sunday, November 14 from 12:30-1:30 PM.

Buddy Baker-Smith, Clerk of Meeting, will facilitate this special time of worship-sharing, casual stories and recollections. Knowing that Jean’s presence and ministry within our Meeting touched so many, we're hoping that everyone who knew Jean will want to attend. We’ll begin with fellowship over a potluck lunch before the service at 11:30 AM. Please join us!

Special Speaking Tour by AFSC-SE

Challenging the Policy of War: The Human Cost With Rick McDowell and Mary Trotochaud, AFSC Iraq Country Representatives

Two dates, four locations:

Nov 13th 11AM, Mattapoisett Friends Meeting, 7PM, Beneficent Congregational Church, Providence RI

Nov 15th 12PM, Bristol Community College, Fall River and 7PM, Westerly Public Library, Westerly RI

Details: AFSC Southeastern NE Area Office
401- 521-3584
Email: sene@afsc.org Web: www.afsc.org/sene

Around the table of death and life, bread and wine, where we can still meet each other, there are sounds to hear if we listen carefully. There is the sound of going down into the abyss and being lifted up, heart and body, not to heaven but to the good earth. There are the sounds of the living ghosts of God, laughing still with love. There are the sounds of men and woman stirring, standing. There is the sounds of the seasons” changing. And wine. There is the sound of the day breaking. And bread.
- James Carroll

Please send items for newsletter to Kevin Lee,
48 Carlton Street, Dartmouth, MA 02748
508-994-1638. Email: Kevin@jymretreats.org.

Posted by Greg Stone at December 8, 2004 05:54 PM