Westport Friends Meeting

March 2005 Newsletter

Jesus promised those who would follow his leadings only three things: that they should be absurdly happy, entirely fearless, and always in trouble. - Marty Babcock

Note: Book Sorting weekly Thursdays 1- 3:00 P.M. (See Deana Chase for details)

2 Film Presentation: "The War On Our Civil Liberties" 7:00 PM, BCC, Star Store Campus, New Bedford. See Correspondence, next page.
5 COFFEE HOUSE PERFORMANCE TO BENEFIT AFSC WITH JESSE PALIDOFSKY IN OUR COMMUNITY HOUSE. DOORS OPEN 6:30 PM. Details at right!
4-6 Junior High Yearly Meeting Retreat at Hartford
6 Property Committee, 8:30 AM
10 Finance Committee at Ruth Howland's home, 7:00 PM. Ministry and Counsel, 11:45
15 Market Ministries (Can you help? Speak with Barbara Wicks)
18-20 Young Friends Gender Retreat at Hartford Meeting
20 Monthly Meeting for Business
26 NEYM Sessions Committee, Location TBA
27 Easter

13 Katey Baker-Smith
13 Blair Tatman
16 Deana Chase 1
6 Kate Marin
26 Buddy Baker-Smith
30 Nick Bauer

Ministry and Counsel: The worship sharing session held on Feb 13th to reflect on our Meeting's state of society was very fruitful. Additional written and/or spoken reflections can always be shared with Steve Correia, Clerk of M and C.

Peace and Social Concerns Committee: They plan to begin meeting regularly on the 4th Sunday following worship.

Monthly Meeting assigned oversight and sponsorship of the March 5th Coffee House Concert to the Peace and Social Committee.

Special Program: Coffee House Concert to benefit AFSC/SENE Office, with Jesse Palidofsky and Richard Broadbent. Doors open at 6:30. Concert is at 7 PM. Tickets are $10.00 and available from Deana. Our Meeting's young people are baking goodies. We need more help too! We need set-up and clean-up crews! For help with setup, earlier in the day, contact Deana Chase. For help with clean-up, contact Kevin Lee. Even if you're unable to attend, everyone is encouraged to purchase a ticket! Thanks to Gretchen Baker-Smith and Deana Chase for their work in scheduling, planning and publicizing this event which is being sponsored by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee.

Property Committee: Has received the Meetinghouse exterior renovation contract. The total is $56,500.00, a slight decrease from the initial estimate. Business Meeting authorized Buddy Baker-Smith, Clerk of Meeting, to sign the contract. Work is scheduled to begin, mid to late April and conclude, by the end of May. The (very) old furnace in the Friends Residence needs to be replaced. Also, depending on final Meetinghouse renovation costs, the Meeting's ride-on mower will need to be replaced as well as our aging Book Sale tent(s).

Correspondence: Buddy Baker-Smith, Clerk, reported that the Meeting received cards of thanks for our recent support from the following area organizations-Westport Council On Aging's Outreach Committee, AFSC's Southeastern New England Office, and Market Ministries of Greater New Bedford. The Robert Greenwald Film "Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties", will be screened on March 2 at 7 PM, at the Bristol Community College Star Store Campus, 188 Union Street, New Bedford, Room 168. Sponsored by ACLU of MA. Free admission. For more info, call 508-672-1383, or see posted flyer in Community House.

Other Business: Following the leading of other meetings and individuals, Monthly Meeting approved a public witness of mounting a large plywood sign in front of our property. The sign will highlight the numbers of US soldiers and Iraqi civilians who have died in the Iraq War.

Deana Chase announced that a small working group of meeting members and concerned local residents are meeting on Fridays at 9:30 AM in the Community House living room to write letters to elected officials. Greg Stone has provided guidance on the most useful form and content. Topics vary, but include expressing opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, detainee abuse at Guantanamo Bay and other human rights issues. If interested, please come, and "bring a friend!" See Deana Chase or Greg Stone for details.

Then Jesus took his disciples up the mountain and gathering them around him, he taught them saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; Blessed are the meek; Blessed are they that mourn; Blessed are the merciful; Blessed are they that thirst for justice; Blessed are you when persecuted; Blessed are you when you suffer. Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven. "Then Simon Peter said, "Are we supposed to know this?"And Andrew said, "Do we have to write this down?" And James said, "Will we have this on a test?"And Phillip said, "I have no paper." And Bartholomew said, "Will we have to turn this in?"And Thomas said, "I doubt if I can memorize all this." And John said, "The other disciples didn't have to learn all this." And Judas said, "What does this have to do with real life?" Then one of the Pharisees asked to see Jesus' lesson plan, and inquired of Jesus, "Where is your anticipatory set and your objectives in the cognitive domain?" Then Jesus wept.

Professor Robert Pazmino, Andover Newton Theological School

Posted by Greg Stone at March 2, 2005 12:47 PM