CMM 2018-03-11 Possible Items for Agenda

Here are some possible agenda items for Third Month’s Meeting for Worship with attention to Business, which will be on the 11^th of Third Month.  Some of the items from Second Month may have been carried forward.  Some of the proposed items may need further seasoning. They are in no particular order at the moment.  [See also http://quakerspeak.com/quaker-decision-making-consensus/ [1]]

During worship, please hold in your heart the following from Eden Grace’s paper “An Introduction to Quaker Business Practice” [2].

Quakers profess a theocratic understanding of authority. “The primary authority is that of God, as the God whose will is sought, as Christ who presides, and as the Holy Spirit who inspires and empowers. Thus the task of the meeting is to listen in worship, putting itself under that authority, to discern the right way forward on any piece of business.” ^* All human leadership is subordinated to the authority of Christ, the true shepherd of any gathering of Christians. All participants in the Meeting are equally capable of being used by the Holy Spirit, and those who moderate the Meeting are seen as servants of the gathering discernment process.

* Scott, Janet “Business Meetings”, manuscript submitted for inclusion in the forthcoming Dictionary of the Religious Society of Friends, 1999.

• Minutes of Second Month’s Meeting for Worship with attention to Business [3].
• Budget Committee report
  • “How does our Meeting engage its members in the support of the Meeting’s work, its ministry, and the upkeep of its property?” ¹ [4]
• Property Committee report
  • “Does our Meeting serve social and economic justice in its uses of property and money?” ¹ [4]
  • “[Dave Woolpert] talked with AMTP’s creator and former Executive Director Donna San Antonio ... and she has requested there be a commemorative event re: the transfer of the land to honor and acknowledge the role that the Booths played in making this gift possible.  She didn’t think it needed to happen close to the property closing date but we agreed it would be good to have it soon enough to have Lois Booth attend.  Can ... Ruth or Sara ... look into this and come up with some suggested dates?”
• Solar Committee report
  • “We do not own the world, and its riches are not ours to dispose of at will. Show a loving consideration for all creatures, and seek to maintain the beauty and variety of the world. Work to ensure that our increasing power over nature is used responsibly, with reverence for life. Rejoice in the splendour of God’s continuing creation.” ² [5]
• Peace, Social, and Earthcare Concerns Committee report
  • AFSC’s Sanctuary Everywhere [6]
  • FCNL’s #LoveThyNeighbor (No Exceptions) [7]
  • AFSC-NH’s, GSOP’s, and NH Council of Churches’ Immigrant Solidarity Network [8]

  Request for sponsorship of training by Chris Crass on April 8th at Brookside UCC [9].

• Youth Religious Education Committee report
  • “Children and young people need love and stability. Are we doing all we can to uphold and sustain parents and others who carry the responsibility for providing this care?” ³ [10]
• Outreach Committee report
  • “Are you patterns, examples; do your lives preach among all sorts of people, and to them?  Do you walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one?” - https://neym.org/faith-practice/part-3/queries [11]
• Ministry & Counsel Committee report
  • Query 2. “b) Are we aware of the roles we fill as heirs of the meetings of ministers and elders? What do we do to support each other in the use of our gifts for God’s work? Do we actively seek to identify and nurture these gifts in each other?” https://neym.org/sites/default/files/2015-09-15Minute%20of%20Exercise%20... [12]

Announcements & Events:

2018 Concord Cold Weather Shelter Mon Dec 18, 2017 – Sat Mar 31, 2018 You can volunteer for the 2018 Concord Cold Weather Shelter at https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/2132470/false#/invitation [13].  The shelter is located at St. Peter's Church, 135 North State Street, Concord, NH  03301.  Your participation is critical to the success of this year's effort.  For new volunteers, training on the various shift duties and responsibilities will be provided.

Next Year’s Budget for the Meeting.  Committees are asked to consider their budget request for the coming year that begins June first.  Committees and individuals are encouraged to be in touch with the Budget Committee in February with any input or questions they may have.  The Meeting will get it’s first look at a proposed budget at the Meeting for Business in March. Members of the Budget Committee are Chris Haigh, Jonah Sutton-Morse, and Greg Heath.

Feb 13 (Tue)  8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Faith in Action: Legislative Advocacy Day 2018 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 21 Centre Street, Concord, NH.  Join us for a morning of strategizing how to put Faith into Action!  A day for prayer, training, inspiration, and education to be effective advocates for social and economic justice.  All faiths, spiritual practices, and anyone looking to effect change is WELCOME.  Topics could include:

• Death Penalty and Criminal Justice,
• Democracy and Voting Rights,
• Education and Public Schools,
• Energy and Climate,
• Family Friendly Policies,
• Guns,
• Health Care,
• Labor Rights and Worker Protections,
• LGBT Rights. 

The session will be followed by witnessing or advocacy at the State House or Legislative Office Building (just across the street!)  Register online here [14].

Feb 14 (Wed)  7:30 – 8:30 a.m.  Ecumenical Ash Wednesday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 21 Centre Street, Concord, NH.  The NH Council of Churches will sponsor a Service of the Word with Distribution of Ashes for our state Senators and Representatives who will be in the neighborhood of the State House that day.  Bishops and senior clergy from many denominations will participate as well.  This event is sponsored by Senator Jeb Bradley and Senator Jeff Woodburn.  Our hope is to pray together in a spirit that crosses both church and party boundaries.  See the Facebook event page here [15].

Feb 15 (Thu)   6:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Quakerism 201, Week 2 [16]: “The Testimony on Integrity” discussion.  Printed booklets for each session are available from MarkBarker [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org.  At the end of each session, we will agree the date and time that is most convenient for the next session.

Feb 18 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship; Closing: Greg & Ruth; Boiler Cleaning: Greg.

Feb 18 (Sun)    3:00 – 5:00 p.m.  Keeping the Dream Alive in Concord [17]: Let’s Talk About Racial Issues panel discussion with Dawn Berry, Ken Barnes, and James McKim at South Congregational Church, 27 Pleasant St., Concord, NH.  Read or download A Framework for Anti-racism and racial Reconciliation Training in the Episcopal Church [18].  “So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.  Sponsored by the Greater Concord Interfaith Council [19] (GCIC).

Feb 20 (Tue)   8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice [20] for those reporting to ICE for deportation that day at the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street in Manchester.

Feb 22 (Thu)   11:50 a.m. for 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.  Lenten Luncheon 2018: “Creating a Listening Community: Stories from Restorative Circles” with Sarah-Elizabeth Anderson.  Sarah-Elizabeth's life is focused on creating harmony, peace and beauty.  Sarah-Elizabeth is a Facilitator of Restorative Circles, a conflict resolution process for communities.  She is a leader and trainer of restorative circles locally and across New England.  Sarah-Elizabeth is a NH licensed massage therapist, with a private practice in Concord and is the mother of two teenagers.  She enjoys leading the Dances of Universal Peace.  Ticket Price (Per Luncheon):  $7.00 (tickets available at the door)  All proceeds benefit the charitable work of the Friends of Forgotten Children [21].  Other donations are gratefully welcomed!  Hosted By: Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South Street, Bow, NH  03304 [22].

Feb 22 (Thu [4^th Thursdays])   6:00 p.m.  NAACP Manchester [23] Monthly Membership Meeting:  Come and join the Manchester NAACP where Manchester’s first female mayor, Joyce Craig, will be the speaker.  This will be a time to engage and dialogue with our new mayor in an intimate setting at Brookside Congregational Church, UCC in the Manning House Parlor, 2013 Elm Street, Manchester, NH.  You are encouraged to invite and bring interested friends.

Feb 25 (Sun)   10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by pot luck and 4^th Sunday Program.  Brian Drayton [24] will lead us in a program of “Faith and Action: Spiritual grounding in this era of engagement”.  The topic applies to all of us whether or not we think of ourselves as ‘activists’ or ‘quietists’.  Closing: Pat & Faith; Boiler Cleaning: Jon.

Feb 25 (Sun)   All Day.  National Reparations Awareness Day [25] sponsored by N'COBRA [26] Northeast Region.  Useful action information is available for download at http://www.ncobraonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/HR40-Primer-1.pdf [27].

Mar   1 (Thu)   11:50 a.m. for 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.  Lenten Luncheon 2018: “Faith and Solidarity with Immigrant Communities in NH” with  Maggie Fogarty.  Maggie is the Co-Director of the NH Program for the American Friends Service Committee [28], a Quaker founded organization working for justice and peace throughout the world.  Maggie’s work includes advocacy and organizing for immigrant rights, visitation of detained immigrants at the Strafford County jail, the creation of a sanctuary network in the Dover area, and ongoing interfaith vigils and other actions to defend families against the threats of detention & deportation.  She will describe how increased enforcement activity is affecting immigrant communities in NH, and opportunities for people of faith to take action in solidarity with affected individuals and families.  Ticket Price (Per Luncheon):  $7.00 (tickets available at the door)  All proceeds benefit the charitable work of the Friends of Forgotten Children [21].  Other donations are gratefully welcomed!  Hosted By: Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South Street, Bow, NH  03304 [22].

Mar   1 (Thu)   6:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Quakerism 201, Week 3 [29]: “Simplicity (or Purity)” discussion.  Printed booklets for each session are available from MarkBarker [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org.  At the end of each session, we will agree the date and time that is most convenient for the next session.

Mar   2 (Fri)   All Day.  World Day of Prayer [30]:  Christians around the world celebrate World Day of Prayer, led mainly by women.  Information, worship, and promotional materials are available here.  Board member Marian Baker adds, “The Hillsborough-area World Day of Prayer will be held at Valley Bible Chapel, 14 W Main St, Hillsborough, NH [31].  The program was written by women in Suriname (on the northern coast of South America), on a theme of God's Amazing Creation.  Their program starts at 6 p.m. with potluck supper followed by program at 7 p.m.”

Mar   2-4 (Fri-Sun)  Woolman Hill Retreat, HANDS TO WORK, HEARTS TO GOD [32]: Handwork, Fiber and Knitting Retreat with Gini Barker and Friends at Woolman Hill Quaker Retreat Center, 107 Keets Road, Deerfield, MA 01342 phone: 413-774-3431

Mar   4 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship; Closing: ; Boiler Cleaning: .

Mar   6 (Tue)   8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice [20] [Joshua 6:1-27 [33]] for those reporting to ICE for deportation that day at the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street in Manchester.  This will be followed by the Sanctuary Support Network [34] meeting at Blessed-Sacrament Church, 14 Elm St, Manchester where there will be refreshments.  We have signed the pledge to stand with our immigrant neighbors.  If you have not seen a copy of the revised solidarity statement, it can be found here [35].

Mar   8 (Thu)   11:50 a.m. for 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.  Lenten Luncheon 2018: “New Directions at the New Hampshire Council of Churches” with Rev. Jason Wells.  Jason is the executive director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches [36].  Prior to this position he served Episcopal congregations in New Hampshire for 13 years after his ordination in 2004.  Jason is also a board member of the ACLU-NH, former president of the Greater Concord Interfaith Council and has served on the Episcopal Church's committee on ecumenical and interfaith relationships.  Jason lives in Pembroke with his wife Courtney and their daughter Lydia.  Ticket Price (Per Luncheon):  $7.00 (tickets available at the door)  All proceeds benefit the charitable work of the Friends of Forgotten Children [21].  Other donations are gratefully welcomed!  Hosted By: Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South Street, Bow, NH  03304 [22].

Mar   9-11 (Fri-Sun)  Woolman Hill Retreat, PARENTING THROUGH THE LENS OF QUAKER FAITH AND PRACTICE: Exploring the Mission and Work of the Quaker Parenting Initiative [32] with QPI facilitators Harriet Heath, Melinda Wenner Bradley, Emma Richter and Martha Smith.  How does parenting fit into one’s spiritual journey?  How can a meeting help support children and families and the children’s spiritual journeys?  This weekend is designed to reflect on what we offer Quaker parents.  We will spend time sharing experiences of raising Quaker children, discussing the needs of parents in our meetings, reviewing current programs and envisioning next steps.  Come with curiosity, leave with new ideas, skills and F/friends!  Woolman Hill Quaker Retreat Center, 107 Keets Road, Deerfield, MA 01342 phone: 413-774-3431

Mar 10 (Sat)     2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  SouperFest 2018 [37]:  The SouperFest to benefit the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness soup dinner starts at 4:00 p.m. in an expansive and tastefully decorated function room at Rundlett School, 144 South Street, Concord, NH 03301 [38]. Attendees can sample 30 unique specialty soups crafted by chefs from around Concord including cheddar cheese and broccoli, Tovar black bean, chilled blueberry, Linsensuppe, soup pistou and borsht as well as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.  Artisan breads are available in abundance, along with a vast selection of desserts prepared by over 25 bakery chefs.  Mike Bilodeau of Strings and Things Music will provide music, and food-safe bowls hand-crafted by local potters and schools can be purchased for $10 and up.  Sponsorship brochure [39].  Volunteer to help [40].  Purchase Tickets [41].

Mar 11 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by pot luck lunch and Meeting for Business.  Closing: ; Boiler Cleaning: .

Mar 15 (Thu)  11:50 a.m. for 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.  Lenten Luncheon 2018: “Faith and Caregiving” with Leanne Tigert, M.Div., D.Min.  Leanne is Hospice Care Services Manager at Concord Regional VNA [42].  She manages social work, spiritual care, bereavement & volunteer services for the agency.  She was a spiritual care counselor with CRVNA offering spiritual and emotional support to community hospice patients, providing information through public presentations, leading group discussions & participating in memorials.  Tigert is a licensed pastoral psychotherapist and is a fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.  Ticket Price (Per Luncheon):  $7.00 (tickets available at the door)  All proceeds benefit the charitable work of the Friends of Forgotten Children [21].  Other donations are gratefully welcomed!  Hosted By: Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South Street, Bow, NH  03304 [22].

Mar 15 (Thu)   6:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Quakerism 201, Week 4 [43]: “Equality, including Antislavery, Women’s Rights, Social Justice” discussion.  Printed booklets for each session are available from MarkBarker [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org.  At the end of each session, we will agree the date and time that is most convenient for the next session.

Mar 18 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship; Closing: ; Boiler Cleaning: .

Mar 18 (Sun)  1:30 p.m.  Maranatha Indonesian United Church of Christ 14^th anniversary celebration will be held at 20 Town Hall Rd., Madbury, NH 03823.  A celebration, filled with Indonesian music, dance and food.  It will be a good day to learn about our culture.  I hope you will come.  Thanks and blessings, Sandra Pontoh, Pastor.

Mar 20 (Tue)   8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice [20] [Joshua 6:1-27 [33]] for those reporting to ICE for deportation that day at the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street in Manchester.  [Also, see resources at the website sponsored by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops https://justiceforimmigrants.org/what-we-are-working-on/immigration/daca-resource-page/]

Mar 22 (Thu)   11:50 a.m. for 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.  Lenten Luncheon 2018: “Kairos Prison Ministry” with Tony Coriaty & Francine Sullivan.  Tony Coriaty currently serves as the state Chair of Kairos NH [44]. He has been an active volunteer for over 22 years in the states of NJ and NH serving in many different positions as well as a National Trainer for Kairos Prison Ministry International.  Fran Sullivan has been an active volunteer with Kairos Outside in NH for the past 19 years. She has held many positions including weekend Leader and member of the Advisory Council.  Fran is proud to say that she experienced God’s unconditional love during her Kairos Outside weekend in 1995 before which, she struggled with the loneliness of trying to start a new life after incarceration.  Ticket Price (Per Luncheon):  $7.00 (tickets available at the door)  All proceeds benefit the charitable work of the Friends of Forgotten Children [21].  Other donations are gratefully welcomed!  Hosted By: Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South Street, Bow, NH  03304 [22].

Mar 25 (Sun)   10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by pot luck and 4^th Sunday Program.  .  Closing: ; Boiler Cleaning: .

Mar 31 (Sat)  9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  Money & Spirit: Taxes, Contributions & the Life of Our Meetings [45] at Mt. Toby Meeting, 194 Long Plain Rd., Leverett, MA  01054.  United in Spirit & Finances ... A consultation for monthly and quarterly meeting finance committees, treasurers, and clerks.  All others with an interest in finance are also invited.  For additional information, contact Bob Murray, FC Clerk, Finance [at] NEYM [dot] org

Apr   1 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship; Closing: ; Boiler Cleaning: .

Apr   3 (Tue)   8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice [20] [Joshua 6:1-27 [33]] for those reporting to ICE for deportation that day at the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street in Manchester.  This will be followed by the Sanctuary Support Network [34] meeting at Blessed-Sacrament Church, 14 Elm St, Manchester where there will be refreshments.  We have signed the pledge to stand with our immigrant neighbors.  If you have not seen a copy of the revised solidarity statement, it can be found here [35].  [Also, see resources at the website sponsored by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops https://justiceforimmigrants.org/what-we-are-working-on/immigration/daca-resource-page/]

Apr   7 (Sat)  8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  New England Youth Environmental Justice Summit [46] at Brookside Congregational Church, Manchester, NH.  This summit is open to all middle school, high school, and college students, as well as teachers, mentors, pastors, lay leaders and advisors, and anyone interested in acquiring tools for facing the pressing moral issue of climate change.

Apr   8 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by pot luck lunch and Meeting for Business.  Closing: ; Boiler Cleaning: .

Apr 14 (Sat)  NEYM - Living Faith Gathering [47] in Portland, ME.  Our April 14^th Living Faith Gathering will focus on how Friends are living—and can more fully live—our faith in the world, helping to bring about the Beloved Community for all.  Through worship, workshops, small groups, and more, we will be deepening our capacity to foster the relationships of healing and justice so needed at this time.  Living Faith provides child care of ages infant-4 years, and a youth program for elementary and middle school students.  High school-aged teens can choose to attend the youth program or the adult program.   Registration will open in early March, so save the date!

Apr 15 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship; Closing: ; Boiler Cleaning: .

Apr 27-29 (Fri-Sun)  Woolman Hill Retreat, LOVE IS ALL AROUND [32]: A Singing Weekend with Peter & Annie Blood-Patterson.  Celebrate & rejuvenate with song!  A music weekend with Annie & Peter is like no other.  They weave magic into the fabric of their workshops, teaching and leading songs out of their songbooks, Rise Up Singing and Rise Again.  This is a time to sing songs that inspire and renew, songs that open up the hearts of those present as well as songs that are just plain fun!  The pace is easy-going with space for relaxing and sharing.  Woolman Hill Quaker Retreat Center, 107 Keets Road, Deerfield, MA 01342 phone: 413-774-3431.

Apr 27-29 (Fri-Sun)  Tending the Flock [48]:  A weekend to encourage Friends called to pastoral ministry, at Powell House Retreat and Conference Center [49], Old Chatham, NY.

First Day School Help:  If you would like to be a helper in the children’s program, and have not yet filled out the Youth Worker Screening Form [50].  Please download and print one out, fill it in, and pass it to Kathy Urie.  You can find it at Youth Worker Screening Form [51].  We need one helper each week.  Look for a sign-up sheet on the left bulletin board this Sunday.  And thank you!  The children thank you too!

In August 2017, we published a statement in response to the tragedy in Charlottesville, Virginia [52].  Please also see “Such a Time as This: A Response to Hate and Violence [53]” as well as the “2017 Epistle of New England Yearly Meeting [54]”, Ruby Sales’ Plenary Message [55] on NEYM’s Youtube channel, and the audio recordings of the 2017 Annual Sessions Bible Half-Hours by Marty Grundy [56] focusing (exegeting [57]) on Romans 12:2 [58].  Draft booklet of Bible Half Hour texts [59].

^1. See http://www.pym.org/faith-and-practice/queries/11-stewardship-of-resources/ [60]

^2. See http://qfp.quaker.org.uk/chapter/1/ [61] № 42

^3. See http://qfp.quaker.org.uk/chapter/1/ [61] № 24