June 2005 Newsletter
And so I find it well to come
For deeper rest to this still room,
For here the habit of the soul
Feels less the outer world’s control;
The strength of mutual purpose pleads
More earnestly our common needs;
And from the silence multiplied
By these still forms on either side,
The world that time and sense have known
Falls off and leaves us God alone.
- John Greenleaf Whittier, “The Meeting”
“Dear God: Thank you for the baby brother but what I prayed for was a puppy.”
Joyce, age 8, from Children’s Letters to God
JUNE CALENDAR
Note: Book Sorting weekly Thursdays 1- 3:00 P.M.
3-5 Young Adult Friends Retreat, Location TBA
5 Meeting Clean-up Day! See Meeting News.
6 Ministry and Counsel, 11:45 AM
Property Committee, 8:30 AM
9 Booksale Committee, 7PM in Community House
12 Meeting Cookout following worship! See details.
12 Following cookout, (available) discussion on NEYM “Minute of Exercise.” See below.
12 Book Sorting following cookout and discussion.
12 Congressman Barney Frank to speak at our meeting at 5:00 PM. See Meeting News.
21 Market Ministries
26 Monthly Meeting for Business. 11:45 (Note: Being held on the 4th Sunday instead of 3rd.)
Dates to Save: Annual Booksale, July 9! All hands are needed! See Meeting News.
NEYM Sessions, August 6-11, at Bryant University, Smithfield, RI. See Wider Community News.
JUNE BIRTHDAYS
6 Judy Keller
9 Jason Moura
17 Larissa Correia
24 Gretchen Baker-Smith
25 Ben Baker-Smith
26 Beth Bauer
30 Drew Lizak
MONTHLY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Ministry and Counsel Committee: Steven Correia, clerk, reported that monthly meetings are being asked to reflect and respond to the “Minute of Exercise” that was approved last year at Sessions. The minute details NEYM’s response and deep concern for the Personnel Policy of Friends United Meeting and their refusal to employ gay, lesbian and non-celibate unmarried heterosexuals. Copies of the minute are available in the Meetinghouse. After a period of discussion, Friends agreed to set aside time on June 12 for discussion. Business Meeting will consider a response from our meeting on June 26. Speak with Steven Correia or Deana Chase. (Deana serves on the FUM Committee for our yearly meeting and has additional materials.)
The Spiritual Nurture Group facilitated by Gretchen Baker-Smith, has fulfilled its mission and has been laid down. A new series will begin in the fall. Friends interested in being a part of the next group should contact Gretchen.
Ministry and Counsel also expressed concern for the low attendance at monthly meeting for business. Discussion centered on the pros and cons of changing location from the meetinghouse to the Community House, time of day, etc. No changes were approved at this time.
Property Committee: A new ride-on mower has been purchased. Our neighbor Daniel Michaels consulted with Property Committee Clerk Buddy Baker-Smith on suitable plantings that he will purchase and plant on the northeastern corner of our property.
Buddy Baker-Smith, reported as clerk of the works for the Meetinghouse construction project. Work was scheduled to begin on May 23. The contractor remains confident that the project would be completed before our annual Booksale on July 9th.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee: Deana Chase, clerk, presented for consideration the committee’s proposal for our meeting to begin using environmentally friendly paper and cleaning products. Peace and Social also proposes that our meeting make a commitment to use Fair-Traded coffee and teas, and to familiarize ourselves with the concept and mission on the Earth Charter Initiative. (This international organization focuses on environmental ethics, social justice and sustainability.) Some Friends expressed concern to make certain that whatever “earth-friendly” cleaning products we choose actually work as advertised. Friends agreed to try the new products for six months to access their effectiveness. Fair-Traded coffee use will begin now.
The need for greater awareness and education on the use of environmentally friendly products and concern for the earth was discussed. The committee plans to facilitate a Second Sunday discussion about this in the fall. To learn more about the global concern for earth care and the work of the Earth Charter Initiative, visit http://www.earthcharter.org/. To read the NEYM Minute created at Sessions last year, that supports the work of the Earth Charter, go to the YM Web site at http://neym.org/earthminutes2002.html.
The Friday morning letter-writing group to elected officials, under the care of Peace and Social Concerns Committee, will be taking a break over the next several weeks. The startup date will be announced in the Meeting Newslet
MEETING NEWS
Congressman Barney Frank to Speak: Sunday, June 12, 5:00 PM in our Meetinghouse. US Representative Frank is expected to speak on the reported prisoner abuse at Guantanamo Bay, the war in Iraq and the proposed Peace Tax Fund. Please bring your questions!
Friends are encouraged to arrive early for seating. A press release will be issued in advance and media is expected to be present. Friends from neighboring meetings, other activists and the general public will be invited. Again, arrive early! For additional details contact Joe Devlin at 508-636-4891 and/or Deana Chase at 508-636-8980.
Deborah Nixdorf Martinez attended the Annual National Farmworkers Health Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico May 12-18. While there, Deb also worked at
the Migrant Health Care Clinic providing alternative health care to patients. Deb is completing her fifth year of studies in both Naturopathic and Oriental degree programs based in Portland, OR.
Jason Moura graduated, summa cum laude, on May 21 with his MBA from Babson College! Congratulations, Jason! (Just in time for twins…. and the Booksale!)
Meeting Clean-up Day: Our spring (okay, almost summer!) clean-up day will be Sunday, June 5, following worship. There will be windows to wash, leaves and sticks to pick up, brush trimming and a dump-run or two! Your help is needed. Lunch (pizza) provided for all!
Annual Booksale, July 9th. Many hands are needed beginning at 7:00 AM all day on Saturday of the Booksale! We also need help during the daytime and evenings of the week prior to the Booksale. Please help as you are able. The tent goes up, depending on the weather, four to five days in advance. We’ll need at least eight to ten able-bodied persons just to raise the tent. Contact members of the Booksale Committee on how you can help: Blair Tatman/Deana Chase at 508-636-8980, Mark Bauer at 401-247-1583 or Stewart Kirkaldy at 508-636-4711.
WIDER COMMUNITY NEWS
GC Gathering, July 2-9, Blacksburg, VA. See meeting bulletin board for details or online at www.fgcquaker.org.
FUM Triennial, Des Moines, Iowa. July 13-17, 2005. See bulletin board or visit www.fum.org for details.
NEYM Annual Sessions, August 6-11, at Bryant University, Smithfield, RI. Financial assistance from the Equalization Fund is available prior to June 30th. See Buddy Baker-Smith, Clerk of Meeting, for application forms.
A Moment in the Life of Lucretia Mott
In London, while admiring the gorgeous plumage of some beautiful birds at the Zoological Gardens, a gentleman who disapproved of Quaker garb remarked to Lucretia Mott, who was standing by: “You see, Mrs. Mott, our heavenly Father believes in bright colors. How much it would take from our pleasure if all the birds were dressed in garb.”
“Yes,” retorted Lucretia, “But immortal beings do not depend on their feathers for their attraction. With the infinite variety of the human face and form, of thought, feeling and affection, we do not need gorgeous apparel to distinguish us. Moreover, if it is fitting that woman should dress in every color of the rainbow, why not men also? Clergymen, with their black clothes and white cravats are quite as monotonous as Quakers.”
While this silenced her opponent, it only convinced him that Lucretia Mott was a strong minded woman, and that strong-minded woman did not make pleasant company.
THE GREATEST AMERICAN WOMAN, by Lloyd C.M. Hare, 1937
Please send items for Newsletter to Kevin Lee. kevin@jymretreats.org. 508-994-1638
Posted by Greg Stone at June 16, 2005 05:40 AM