CMM 2011-12-11

Minutes of Meeting for Worship for Business

Concord (NH) Monthly Meeting

Religious Society of Friends

12th Month 11, 2011

Concord (NH) Monthly Meeting gathered in Meeting for Worship for Business.  Friends present were: 11

The meeting began with a period of silent worship.

12.1  Tenth Month Minutes:  The meeting reviewed and approved the Minutes from the Tenth Month Business Meeting.

12.2  Finance Committee Report:  David Woolpert made the financial report.  The clerks of the Ministry and Counsel and Youth and religious Education committees had some questions about expenses attributed to their committees.  Additionally the business meeting noticed that the rental income line reflected $0, which is inaccurate.  The Finance Committee was asked to review the details of their report and bring an updated report to the next business meeting.

The Finance Committee reminded members present of the pledges they made at the beginning of the fiscal year.

12.3  Meeting Outreach and “In-Reach”:  The meeting was asked to consider potential opportunities for “in-reach” within our group.  This may take the form of a Meeting retreat or individual retreats for the women and men of the Meeting.  Ideas for retreat themes:

Use of the “Awakening the Dreamer” model; an opportunity to consider where we are as a meeting and where we would like to go.

We were reminded that many of us believed that once the new Meetinghouse was built, more people would join our community.  Considering that this hasn’t happened, we might want to give thought to

  1. how we might continue to grow our numbers;
  2. how much energy we all have now and how we feel called to serve the meeting at this point in time.
  • We might consider the “Quaker Quest” program which could serve as both outreach and an opportunity for strengthening the meeting.
  • Outreach idea: sponsoring an open-mic/coffee house night at the meetinghouse.
  • If we are to be a vital community, in-reach and outreach are equally important.  The “Awakening the Dreamer” program has the potential to serve in both ways.
  • A potential retreat should be fun as well as allowing space for “weighty” conversation.

Ministry and Counsel was asked to explore more specific ideas at their next meeting.

12.4  Quarterly Meeting Planning:

Could Quarterly Meeting provide an opportunity for a “weightier” event?

Minutes accepted when signed,

Ruth Heath, Co-Clerk

Alisa Barnard, Recording Clerk

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