MARCH MONTHLY MEETING HIGHLIGHTSA member expressed concern regarding the decline in attendance at Meeting for Business. The question was raised: “Is attendance not perceived as part of the responsibility of being a member of our faith community?” Discussion followed leading to additional reflection: Perhaps it is thought that representation from each committee at Meeting for Business suffices and that individual members need not attend?” “Would providing child care help additional members to attend business? Would going back to having committee meetings during the week encourage attendance at our monthly Meeting for Business? Would offering a shared pot-luck before Meeting for Business help increase attendance?” As part of the overall discussion Friends agreed that the following excerpt from NEYM Faith and Practice should be included in this Newsletter: “… responsibilities implied by membership [include] faithful attendance at meetings for worship and business, service on committees, a willingness to share a just portion of the financial support of the meeting, and participation in larger Friends’ groups.” Faith & Practice of NEYM, p. 236. Other Monthly Meetings around New England have employed various and creative methods to make it possible for Friends to participate in the life of their meetings while balancing other important demands on their time. One example is an experiment by Fresh Pond Meeting as follows: “The Meeting has also begun a one-year experimental committee structure. Three umbrella committees – Westport Friends are encouraged to reflect upon the chapter on membership within Faith and Practice. In addition, Friends are asked to ponder ways that our Meeting could make attending Meeting for Business realistically possible for more members and attenders. Please speak with Marion Athearn, Clerk of Meeting with your suggestions and comments. All ideas are welcome. Meeting agreed to offer an invitation to Sylvia Graves, FUM General Secretary, for a pot-luck and informal discussion on Friday, March 28th at 6 PM in the Macomber Community House. Betsy Cazden, a well known New England Friend and Quaker historian will be our guest in the near future as part of our Second Sunday series. A pot-luck meal is planned and Betsy will speak on the history of Quakerism. Date to be announced soon!
Peace and Social Concerns (ad hoc) Committee: The Winter Conversations series will continue with the fourth topic of Israel and Palestine being moderated by Martha Yager on Sunday March 2nd, 3-4:30 PM at the Macomber Community House. All are welcome and encouraged to gather around the fireplace. The joint Peace & Social Concerns committees of Allen’s Neck, Smith Neck and Westport (ad hoc) invite you to their open meetings on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 PM in the living room of the Macomber Community House. The next meeting is Monday, March 10th. Property Committee: Dave Sutton reported with an eye on spring and the upcoming season of weddings, that our Meetinghouse is available to be rented for holding wedding ceremonies. The spring cleanup day is scheduled for April 3rd following worship, pizza and beverages provided. Committees normally meeting at that time are encouraged to switch their date so as not to conflict. Book Fair Committee: Mark your calendars! Our Annual Book Fair will be held on Saturday, July 12th! The Committee reminds Friends that book sorting is ongoing now and your help is needed. Please speak with Mark Bauer, Deana Chase, Barbara Wicks or Emily Sutton for times when working groups of book-sorters are gathering. It is also possible for Friends to come over and sort during a time frame that works for themselves too. Please…… more help is needed! MEETING NEWS New Meeting Directories are here! After many months of hard work by Gretchen Baker-Smith, sending and receiving Directory Update Forms, fielding phone calls, deciphering random slips of paper and untangling the web of hyphenated last names, the latest and most up-to-date Meeting Directory has been printed. A second printing will be done in early spring. If you see a typo or omission please let Gretchen know. If you didn’t get your info in on time, you have another chance! But please do so ASAP! And again….good work, Gretchen! Please see Religious Ed.’s update on the last page. RETREATS AND WORKSHOPS Upcoming retreats at Woolman Hill Conference Center: “Being and Becoming Friends” with Beckey Phipps and Laura Melly, March 28-30, 2008. (Co-sponsored by NEYM Ministry and Counsel. A great retreat for new Friends and attenders. “Forgiveness As A Spiritual Practice” with Sue Regen, April 4-6, 2008. “Getting Outdoors: A Place for Folks in the Natural World” with Bonner McAllester, April 4-6, 2008. “Holy Resistance, Sacred Surrender” with Mary Kay Glazer, April 25-27, 2008. Exploring our Emotional, Physical and Spiritual Reality: What I Used To Believe, What I Believe Now” a journaling retreat with Molly Duplisea-Palmer, April 25-27, 2008. Flyers are posted in the Meetinghouse. For additional information contact Woolman Hill at 413-774-3431 or online at www.woolmanhill.org. Speak with June Correia or Deana Chase if scholarship help is needed. Funds are available. This month’s quote, “Does God keep you up at night?” comes from a 1993 promotional brochure from Andover Newton Theological School. The quote, perhaps more than any other, not only pulled me in as a student into their M. Div. program but draws me still, every day, many years later. |
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