CMM 2018-04-15 Possible Items for Agenda

Here are some possible agenda items for Fourth Month’s Meeting for Worship with attention to Business, which will be on the 15^th of Fourth Month.  Some of the items from Third 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 Third 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]
  • Discern endorsement of Quaker City Unity Friends Meeting’s Minute 2018-01 of Concern for the Treatment of Inmates in the New Hampshire Department of Corrections [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]
  • State of Society 2017 [13] - 3^rd Draft

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 [14].  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.

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 [15].  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 [16].  Other donations are gratefully welcomed!  Hosted By: Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South Street, Bow, NH  03304 [17].

Mar 15 (Thu)   6:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Quakerism 201, Week 4 [18]: “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 [19] [Joshua 6:1-27 [20]] 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 [21]. 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 [16].  Other donations are gratefully welcomed!  Hosted By: Bow Mills United Methodist Church, 505 South Street, Bow, NH  03304 [17].

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

Mar 29 (Thu)   6:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Quakerism 201, Week 5 [22]: “The Peace Testimony” 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 31 (Sat)  9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  Money & Spirit: Taxes, Contributions & the Life of Our Meetings [23] 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: Gini & Mark ; Boiler Cleaning: Mark.

Apr   3 (Tue)   8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice [19] [Joshua 6:1-27 [20]] 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 [24] 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 [25].  [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   4 (Wed)   11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Honor MLK’s Legacy of Worker Rights [26]:  Help keep Martin Luther King’s legacy of bringing faith and labor together by joining NH faith leaders, union leaders and the Poor People’s Campaign NH at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Concord — 50 years, to the day, from Dr. King’s assassination.  As a clergy person and civil rights leader, King was known as a powerful advocate for unions and worker rights.  On April 3, 1968, he delivered his last speech – in support of Memphis, TN sanitation workers on strike for dignity, respect, fair wages, safe working conditions and union recognition.  The next day Dr. King was gunned down.  Now 50 years later, we will gather to reflect on this history and on the moral imperative for faith and labor to combine forces to carry on King’s still-relevant message that all labor has value and all workers deserve respect, safe working conditions and fair compensation.  Following a 90-minute gathering at St. Paul’s Church, we will stand in solidarity with NH State Employees to honor their ongoing contribution to the common good and to building beloved community.  Please email economicjustice [dot] nhcucc [at] gmail [dot] com to let us know you plan to join us – and please spread the word.

Apr   7 (Sat)  8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  New England Youth Environmental Justice Summit [27] 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.  Closing: Pat, Faith; Boiler Cleaning: Rob Y.

Apr   8 (Sun)  2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.  A 4-hour interactive workshop to be led by Chris Crass and Andres Mejia on the topic of “Creating Sanctuary with Anti-racism and Collective Liberation at the Heart [28]” currently scheduled for April 8^th 2018 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Brookside Congregational Church [29] in Manchester, NH.  Friends may register for the event by sending an e-mail to Maggie Fogarty at MFogarty [at] afsc [dot] org.

Apr 13 (Fri) 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  New American African Friday Family Fun Night: African Drumming and Dancing [30].  Our next Friday Family Fun Night is happening at Grace Capital Church, 542 Pembroke Rd., Pembroke.  This is a chance to hear excellent African drumming, with Sayon Camara.  They will bring a dance teacher who will get the audience up and off of their feet.  We will have free Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, and as ever, Batulo is making her world famous traditional Somali meat pies (and a not-so-traditional vegan version) for everyone to sample.  The suggested donation is $10 / person or $20 / family.  This is a chance to check out a performance by our dance class.  This class, generously underwritten by the NH State Council on the Arts, has recently moved from Immaculate Heart of Mary to Rundlett Middle School’s 21C after school program.  It will be exciting to see what teachers Avid and Kevin have prepared for the show.

Apr 14 (Sat)  NEYM - Living Faith Gathering [31] 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 14 (Sat)  1:00 - 5:00 p.m. The NH Poor People’s Campaign will hold its first training session for Nonviolent Moral Fusion Direct Action at Brookside Congregational Church UCC, 2013 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03104.  We have had hundreds say that they are interested in this preparation.  This will be the first of several in New Hampshire.  Please register for the event here: REGISTER HERE [32].  This time and date were chosen as Rev. Dr. William Barber will address the group via video conference!  PLEASE NOTE:  This will be the first of several Nonviolent Moral Fusion Direct Action training events.  Please attend on Saturday if possible, but we will soon have future dates and locations so that you won’t miss out!

Apr 15 (Sun) 10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by pot luck lunch and Meeting for Business; Closing: JJ, Sara; Boiler Cleaning: Sara.

Apr 15 (Sun)  The film “Persona Non Grata [33]” will possibly be shown at St. Paul’s School.  Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.

Apr 16 (Mon)  5:30 p.m.  Holocaust Remembrance Service at Temple Beth Jacob [34]:  Katrina Swett and her mother, Annette Lantos, will participate with Katrina interviewing her mother. (A podcast of something similar is on the Lantos Foundation [35] web page.)

Apr 17 (Tue)   8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice [19] [Joshua 6:1-27 [20]] for those reporting to ICE [36] 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/]

Apr 17 (Tue)   7:00 p.m.  Same Boat Now: An Evening of Immigration Storytelling at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Eastern Slopes (UUFES), 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth Village.  Five tellers share stories of coming to these shores from Côte d'Ivoire, Greece, the Philippines, Bosnia and elsewhere.  Join us for an unforgettable evening of reflection on experiences that set people apart ... and bring us together.

Apr 19 (Thu)   6:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Quakerism 201, Week 6 [37]: “The Testimony On Earthcare (a.k.a. Unity With Nature)” discussion.  Printed booklets for each session are available in the meetinghouse or 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.

Apr 21 (Sat)   2:00 p.m.  Memorial Meeting for Worship for Shawn Donovan [38].  Shawn was a member of Hanover Friends Meeting and the Support Committee of AFSC-NH.  He passed away suddenly on February 19^th.  A memorial meeting for worship for Shawn will be held in Rollins Chapel on the Dartmouth College campus [39].  (The chapel is a big, Romanesque building just off the corner of the Dartmouth College green.)

Apr 22 (Sun) 10:00 a.m.  Worship, followed by pot luck lunch and 4^th Sunday Program: The Woman at the Well (“Fourth Sunday this month will be an opportunity for worship sharing around a passage from the Scriptures, specifically in the story of Jesus of Nazareth as told by John. This is Chapter 4, verses 1 to 24 [40]. This version of Jesus’ life has many things that have led some to call it the “Quaker Gospel”. This story in particular resonates for me as leading us into the heart of the gospel (good news) that so inspired early Quakers when it was revealed to them by other seekers and not just used as part of the established church’s lectionary. I’m not a bible scholar but I have read fairly widely In and about the background that makes this story come alive for me. I don’t intend to be didactic when we meet but rather to pose some questions to ponder and maybe provide some information to those who aren’t deeply familiar with these writings.  J.J.”)  Closing: Greg and Ruth; Boiler: Greg.

Apr 27-29 (Fri-Sun)  Woolman Hill Retreat, LOVE IS ALL AROUND [41]: 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 [42] and Rise Again [43].  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 [44]:  A weekend to encourage Friends called to pastoral ministry, at Powell House Retreat and Conference Center [45], Old Chatham, NY.

Apr 29 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.  Closing: Pat, Faith; Boiler Cleaning: Jon.

Apr 29 (Sun)  10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  Dover Quarterly Meeting at the Weare/Henniker Quaker Meeting (also known as Weare Monthly Meeting of Friends). Worship: 10:30-11:30, Lunch: 11:30-12:15, Meeting for Business: 12:15-2:00.  The Weare/Henniker Meeting will provide salads, bread, dessert and hot and cold beverages (bring a sandwich if you wish).  The Quarterly Meeting will consist of business items first and then sharing highlights from our State of Society reports and continuing our discussion of meeting outreach efforts and the role of Quarterly Meeting. DIRECTIONS:  The Weare/Henniker Quaker Meetinghouse is located at 529 Quaker St., Henniker, NH 03242.  (If anyone gets lost, 566-2409 is a cell phone number to call).  GPS directions are usually accurate, but these directions also work:  From the center of Henniker, go south on Rt. 114 about .3 miles (past town hall and small green) and turn right onto Flanders Road.  Go partway up the hill and take the first right, Gulf Road.  Go about 1.5 miles to a four-way intersection and turn left onto Quaker Street.  Follow to the top of the hill and start down the other side.  The Meetinghouse is on the left, just after the unpaved road begins.

Apr 29 (Sun)    4:30 p.m.  Interfaith March for Peace and Justice [46] is a positive, non-partisan event meant to “affirm the freedom of religion (guaranteed by the 1^st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution) and to condemn all acts of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or violence directed at people because of their religion, race, or place of origin.”  We also march for justice fo LQBTQIA folk and condemn ableism.  Where & when: 3:30 p.m. Meet at Concord High School for a welcoming message; 4:30 p.m. Leave Concord High School and March to State House; 5:30 p.m. Rally at Concord State House.  Registration encouraged; contact Doreen [at] NHPeaceAction [dot] org to register.  FaceBook event: facebook.com/events/185219182251516 [47].

May   1 (Tue)   8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  (First Tuesday) Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice [19] [Joshua 6:1-27 [20]] for those reporting to ICE [36] for deportation that day at the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street in Manchester.  This will be followed by the Sanctuary Support Network [24] 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 [25].  [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/]

May   2 (Wed)   6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Building a Culture of Peace Forum.  The Forum will host two members of Combatants For Peace [48] at the Concord Unitarian Universalist Church, because we expect this to be a well-attended event, we will meet in the Sanctuary instead of our usual space.  Doors will open at 6:30.  Combatants for Peace is a grassroots organization founded by ex-fighters from opposite sides of the Palestine/Israel conflict.  The Combatants help us all see that peace is possible even between former enemies in the most entrenched conflicts on our planet.  This program offers a rare opportunity to meet people on opposing sides of conflict who have learned to honor both their own and their enemies’ narrative in order to work towards their common goal of a just and lasting peace.  Palestinian Kholud Abu-Raeya and Israeli Netta Hazan will share their personal stories of transformation and will describe their work to bring peace to their respective homelands.  Audience members will have opportunities to ask questions of the presenters and to put themselves in the shoes of the “other” as a first step in understanding the other side’s perspective.  A moderator will ensure that the discussion remains respectful for everyone who wishes to participate.

May   3 (Thu)   6:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Quakerism 201, Week 7 [49]: “Continuing Revelation, How New Testimonies Are Born” discussion.  Printed booklets for each session are available in the meetinghouse or from MarkBarker [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org.  This will be the final session of Quakerism 201 and we’ll gather at Mark and Gini’s for supper and discussion.

May   6 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.  Closing: Rob Y, Jon; Boiler Cleaning: Rob.

May 13 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by pot luck lunch and Meeting for Business; Closing: Dave, Penny; Boiler Cleaning: Dave.

May 20 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.  Closing: Rich, Kathy U; Boiler Cleaning: Rich.

May 27 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship, followed by Fourth Sunday program with Marian Baker will speak to us about her ministry and travels in Kenya and specifically about her work to empower women's ministry there.  She will have just returned from a six month sojourn in Kenya.  Marian, a member of Weare Meeting, has built up relationships in Kenya over 40 years.  Closing: Mark, Gini; Boiler Cleaning: Mark.

Jun   5 (Tue)   8:30 – 10:00 a.m.  (First Tuesday) Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice [19] [Joshua 6:1-27 [20]] for those reporting to ICE [36] for deportation that day at the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street in Manchester.  This will be followed by the Sanctuary Support Network [24] 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 [25].  [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/]

Jun 22 (Fri)  12:00 – 5:00 p.m. The Conference of Quaker Historians and Archivists have set up sessions on the afternoon of June 22 which provide a great opportunity to learn more about best practices for both Meeting recordkeeping, a tour of the NEYM Archives at Umass SCUA and preservation of family collections.  With the Conference taking place at the Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts,  the Archives Committee encourages those who want to get a tour of our records as well as to learn more about best practices for record keeping in you Meeting to try to attend.  To pre-register,  visit http://library.guilford.edu/cqha/home [50] or https://umass.irisregistration.com/Home/Site?code=CQHA [51].

Sep (xxx)  Manchester NAACP Annual Meeting:  Debby Irving, author of Waking Up White [52], will be the featured speaker.

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 [53].  Please download and print one out, fill it in, and pass it to Kathy Urie.  You can find it at Youth Worker Screening Form [53].  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 [54].  Please also see “Such a Time as This: A Response to Hate and Violence [55]” as well as the “2017 Epistle of New England Yearly Meeting [56]”, Ruby Sales’ Plenary Message [57] on NEYM’s Youtube channel, and the audio recordings of the 2017 Annual Sessions Bible Half-Hours by Marty Grundy [58] focusing (exegeting [59]) on Romans 12:2 [60].  Draft booklet of Bible Half Hour texts [61].

^1. See http://www.pym.org/faith-and-practice/queries/11-stewardship-of-resources/ [62]

^2. See http://qfp.quaker.org.uk/chapter/1/ [63] № 42

^3. See http://qfp.quaker.org.uk/chapter/1/ [63] № 24