Westport Friends Meeting

October 2005 Newsletter

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

- Saint Francis of Assisi

1 NEYM Committee Day, Auburn, ME
2 Ministry and Counsel, 11:45
14 Property Committee, 8:30 AM
14-16 YF Retreat, Portland Meeting
16 Monthly Meeting, 11:45 AM
17 NEYM Ministry and Counsel, Location TBA
18 Market Ministries
22 Sandwich Quarterly Meeting at Yarmouth
23 Finance Comm. 8:30 AM
Peace and Social Concerns, 11:45 AM

 
           

1 Oscar Martinez Cardenas
6 Frank Lepreau
5 Holly Rebello (10/5/88)
21 Jeanne Robinson
24 Nancy Dubler
30 Jackie Bullis

Due to low attendance at business meeting, Buddy Baker-Smith, Clerk, announced that major business items that required careful discernment with the greatest number of people would be postponed until next month. Finance Committee reported to business that Gregory Marcello has been selected as their new clerk. Greg brings considerable experience to the position, having served as treasurer and on the finance committee at his previous meeting. Friends expressed their appreciation to Greg for his willingness to step into this important role within our meeting. The meeting also wishes to extend its gratitude to outgoing Finance Committee Clerk Gretchen Baker-Smith. Gretchen also served as our meeting's treasurer for many years as well.

Finance Committee recommended to Business Meeting that a sum of money bequeathed to the meeting from the estate of Jean Kennison be utilized to purchase a new Book Sale tent, with the remaining balance earmarked for religious education purposes within the meeting. Friends did not act on this item at this time.

Property Committee would like the meeting to consider using the present equipment shed solely for books and purchase another (prefab) shed for storing the meeting's tractor and related yard equipment. They are currently gathering quotes and will report back to Business Meeting with prices and to engage in further discussion.

Gail Nixdorf will become the meeting's statistician when Frankie Kirkaldy relocates to Vermont in mid October.

 

The Meeting's Pot-Luck Gathering to honor and celebrate Frankie and Stewart Kirkaldy's retirement and relocation to Vermont was held recently in the Community House. A full house of Westport Friends shared touching, personal stories, reflections and humorous recollections spanning the last forty years with Frankie and Stewart. The food was glorious, with one Friend calling the occasion, "high pot-luck!" Meeting presented Frankie and Stewart with a photo keepsake album that Friends signed with notes and best wishes. The Meeting also gave our relocating Friends something practical ... a brand new snow shovel, which they surely will need! And for reading on snowy Vermont evenings, they also received a signed first and last edition collection of Westport Meeting First Day School plays written by Steve Correia. After October 10, the Kirkaldy's new address will be: 402 Buttolph Drive, Middlebury, VT 05753. Their new phone number will be 802-388-7202.

The Religious Education Committee asks Friends to check out the First Day School teacher chart posted in the Community House. Please consider signing up to teach FDS on one our more Sundays. Speak with Beth Bauer and/or Betty Ann Lee with questions.

The Hospitality Committee has posted a calendar in the Community House and encourages Friends to sign up to bring in goodies for sharing during fellowship after worship. And speaking of bringing refreshments...

...."FGC Fizz" This is a naturally carbonated, politically correct beverage made with the finest Philadelphia municipal tap water from pipes installed by William Penn himself. Each batch is liberally flavored with pure essences and extracts of fruits, nuts and berries imported from tropical rainforests and certified organic orchards from around the world" (From Quaker Lite, by Stan Barker.)

Editor's Note: Over the years a number of Westport Friends have entrusted old and historically significant photos of meeting members and scenes to Kevin Lee for copying or safekeeping. If you have old documents or photos that the meeting might like to receive or preserve for its library and archives, please speak with Kevin.

Please send items for Newsletter to Kevin Lee. kevin@jymretreats.org. 508-994-1638

Posted by Greg Stone at October 6, 2005 04:04 AM