Westport Friends Meeting

September 2006 Newsletter

“To watch the spirit of children, to nurture them in Gospel love, and to labor to help them against that which would mar the beauty of their minds is a debt we owe them…”

- John Woolman

• Clerk: Buddy Baker-Smith, 508-997-0940


• Ministry and Counsel Clerk: Steven Correia, 508-999-3798


• Friends In Residence: Emily Hoeffel and David Sutton, 508-636-4963

• 3 Property Committee, 11:45


• Ministry and Counsel, 11:45


• 10 First Day School begins, followed by cookout for all! (See details)


• 15-17 JHYM Retreat at Westport


• 17 Monthly Meeting for Business, 11:45


• 19 Market Ministries (See next page)


• 22-24 JYM Retreat at Woolman Hill


• 23 NEYM Sessions Committee, place TBA


• 30 NEYM Committee Day, Dover, NH

Dates to Save:

• Memorial Service for Ruth Howland, October 7th at 2:00 PM
  

• 2 Eleanor Minnehan
• 4 Julie Bilodeau
• 12 Glen Dubler
• 13 Max and Turner Dubler
• 16 Allon Dubler
• 21 Emmett MacGregor
• 23 Jeremy Baker-Smith

Note: Monthly Meeting for Business did not meet in August. Committee reports will appear next month

David Sutton and Emily Hoeffel, our new Friends In Residence, have begun moving in to their new home in late August and have joined us for worship on First Days. Though they were not expected to begin their duties until September first, in actuality they have already taken on many of the responsibilities of the Friends In Residence. (Note the smile on Buddy Baker-Smith’s face! :-) Welcome to David and Emily from everyone at Westport Meeting!

Emily and David will also be married on Saturday, September 9th under the care of Monadnock Monthly Meeting of Friends in Jaffrey, NH. Congratulations, David and Emily! (Our meeting had previously planned to hold a welcoming coffee hour for Emily and David on September 10th, but will reschedule that to a later date.)

Friends are reminded to schedule meeting space for committee meetings and other uses of the property with our Friends In Residence by calling 508-636-4963.

The Religious Education Committee is sponsoring a “Buy a Book” campaign to help offset the cost of acquiring books for the Sparklers Curriculum. There will be a display on the mantel in the Community House which will represent the curriculum. You are invited to donate a book or the money to purchase one. Used books in good condition are also welcome!

The Committee would also like to draw your attention to our First Day School Program pamphlets. Copies are available for distribution to interested families. The pamphlet is our way of advertising our great program!

All are welcome to our annual First Day School startup cookout on September 10th following worship. Please bring a side dish or salad to accompany the grilled offerings. Please speak with Betty Ann Lee if you have questions or suggestions.

Friends are reminded that Greg Stone continues to manage our Web site at www.westportquakers.org. A number of visitors to our Meeting have visited us for worship or contacted us by phone after having seen our Web site. Westport Friends can use the site to peruse previous Meeting Newsletters, see list of committee assignments, read our Meeting’s Property Use Guidelines, see First Day School related notices, explore Web links of interest to Friends and to reread special minuted items from meeting for business.

If you have suggested content for our Web site please speak with Kevin Lee.

A Roundup of College Bound Quakers:
Aliza Correia leaves on September 3rd to begin her freshman year at Salem State College. Good luck Aliza!
Larissa Correia, begins her senior year at UMASS-Dartmouth. Maggie Bauer will begin her sophomore year at Skidmore College and Nick Bauer enters his senior year at Brown University. Tristin Athearn-Hess will begin his junior year at Hampshire College. Ben Baker-Smith will enter his sophomore/junior year at Oberlin College. Katey Baker-Smith postponed starting college in order to do service work, and will leave for Bolivia on September 7th to work with children with the Sister Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Aimee Belanger will start her third year at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston.

A proud announcement from Gail and Russ Nixdorf - Deborah Lee Nixdorf Martinez graduated from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine on June 26 in Portland OR. Dr. Nixdorf Martinez completed degree requirements in both Naturopathic Medicine and Master of Science in Oriental Medicine and is a licensed acupuncturist. Congratulations Debbie, and Mom and Dad! Debbie and her husband, Oscar Martinez Cardenas reside in Portland where Debbie will begin her residency this fall.

Bill Nixdorf has a new address: 265 Charlotte Street, apt. #14, Asheville, NC 28801.

A Market Ministries Primer

The Market Ministries soup kitchen was founded over thirty years ago by the New Bedford Area Clergy and Religious Association. Sister Rosellen Gallogly, who took her vows with the Sisters of Mercy in 1948, began her ministry with Market Ministries in 1982 and soon became its director. Sister Rose, as she is affectionately known, also began an overnight shelter for homeless persons in New Bedford. In its infancy, the shelter had various locations but eventually was able to secure a permanent home at 60 8th Street in New Bedford (beside the Unitarian Universalist Church on the corner of Union and 8th streets). Today, the shelter has beds for 24 men ages 18 and over. Homeless woman are referred to other shelters or are placed in area hotels. The shelter provides two meals per day for its guests. Counseling is provided and referrals for medical attention is arranged.

Market Ministries also runs a week-day soup kitchen in the “church home” of The Pilgrim United Church of Christ located at the corner of Purchase and School Streets in New Bedford. People from twenty seven area faith traditions and civic organizations volunteer to work the Soup Kitchen, usually committing once a month. The Soup Kitchen is directed by Luke Almeida.

From our Meeting Barbara Wicks, J. R. Bullis, Jan Hodge, Deana Chase, continue to be faithful volunteers on the third Tuesdays of each month at the Soup Kitchen. Several other members and attenders have served as well in the past. Beginning at 9:30 AM, Friends arrive to set up, prep, cook, and serve lunch to the guests who arrive to be fed. Following cleanup, volunteers leave at about 12:45 PM. To learn more about what’s involved and to volunteer please contact Barbara Wicks at 508-636-2101.

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

Posted by Greg Stone at August 27, 2006 11:22 AM