2020-03-26 Announcements for

[1]

Sunday: Meetinghouse Closure Details. A message from the ad hoc pandemic response group

Dear Friends:

It is clear that NH is now in danger of a serious increase in spread of this COVID19 pandemic.  Social distancing and frequent disinfection of hands and surfaces is no longer an adequate response to the dangers.  Until further notice, Friends are asked to attend meeting via the Zoom link on a computer or phone.  It is also possible to join by a simple phone call and hear what messages, introductions and announcements are made.  There will be a small number of healthy, younger people there to run the technology side of this and anchor the Meeting space during worship.  Anyone over 60 or with serious health conditions should not be there in person.  Others are encouraged not to be there until this state of emergency is over as well.  We know that being there in person is more spiritually nourishing to many but we feel that the risks are now too great for that to be acceptable.  Friends can consider being on the Zoom from a cell phone in a car in the parking lot if that brings some additional sense of connection.  The clerk will signal the rise of meeting from his own Zoom link.

For the ad hoc pandemic response group,

J. J. Smith

As we receive information regarding cancellations and schedule changes we will pass them on.  We continue to list items here that may be cancelled so please check with event sponsors.  A listing in these announcements does not constitute a recommendation that you attend.  Be safe.

Cancellations:

• March 29:  Dover Quarterly Meeting
• April 24-26:  WORLD CONFERENCE 2020 [4]: Abolish Nuclear Weapons | Resist and Reverse Climate Change | For Social and Economic Justice

Report and Homework from Sunday Feb 23^rd Program on Racial Reconciliation.

[5] James McKim, our facilitator, has provided us with the PDF that he used as a slide show through the program and it is provided to you through the link that follows.  You can use it for review purposes and to help with the homework, or if you were unable to attend, you can follow the embedded links to short videos he presented.  This can help you catch up with attendees.  Don’t be daunted by it’s length.  The PDF is full of large images rather than text.  (For a copy of the PDF, please send an e-mail to Info [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org.) 

Here is our homework for our next session on March 29^th.

1. Write down at least one (1) example of a microaggression for each box on slide 16
2. Notice when you have or see implicit bias and record to share with the group during our next gathering
3. Notice when you see a microaggression and record to share with the group during our next gathering

James plans to do a quick review of the concepts in the first program (see implicit bias [“Peanut Butter, Jelly and Racism [7]” and “An Introduction to Unconscious Bias [8]”] videos and microaggressions [9] video), delve into the homework results attendees bring, and then move into some new territory.  We hope you will be able to attend.  Attendance at session one is not a prerequisite.  Everyone is welcome.

Click here to read James’ biography [10].  James writes of his program: "The paradox of persistent inequalities [between races and genders] amid improving racial and gender attitudes has led to a search for factors underlying ongoing discrimination and ways to create welcoming communities.  This program explores those factors and ways to minimize the impact of implicit bias in our interactions and decision making toward inner peace and creating a welcoming community.  During this highly interactive program we will discuss the following questions:

• What is The Growth Mindset?
• What are Gracious Spaces?
• What is Unconscious Implicit Bias?  Why do we have it?
• How does it manifest (e.g. Microaggressions, white privilege)?  Why is it a problem to have?
• How can we overcome implicit bias and white privilege to create a more welcoming and beneficial world individually and collectively?"

We recognize this first workshop with James is only a beginning and we expect it to be an ongoing process. We expect to be doing the second workshop in this series March 29^th.  Please save the date.

Ministry and Counsel

Arnie Alpert Action Fund

https://www.afsc.org/aaafund [11]

Quaker Basics meetings

“Quaker Basics” is a series of six informal, one-hour meetings to learn from one another through reading selections from Faith and Practice of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and New England Yearly Meeting.  The selections have been collected into six separate booklets that are available [12] on the “Library [13]” webpage on this website, but the MarkWBarker [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org (subject: %E2%80%9CQuaker%20Basics%E2%80%9D%20booklets%20of%20readings) (facilitator) will print copies for participants to mark up, underline, and dog-ear during their preparation for each meeting.  After opening with a brief period of worship, we begin with responses to the question “What spoke to you?”  We will close the meeting with another brief period of worship.  At the end of each meeting, we will agree the time and the venue of the next meeting.

Meeting for Business 3/23/20 minutes available at this link. Click here [14]

ZOOM

Please remember that Ruth and Greg Heath have offered to help everyone learn to use ZOOM.  It is not difficult, but a little practice is necessary.  Contact them by phone at 603-783-4401, 603-724-4343, or 603-219-4491.

Pendle Hill Invites us to join them through this message.

In the middle of all of this [COVID-19 crisis], we are sitting with the question, “What is Pendle Hill’s ministry in this time of uncertainty and social distancing?”  The answer is still unfolding, but today, we would like to share two opportunities with you.

Please join us for worship, 8:30-9:10 am any morning [15].  A handful of Pendle Hill residents gather each day in the Barn, continuing the 90-year-long tradition of daily worship.  This week, we start an experiment of opening the circle of worship to YOU in your home.  You can join us via Zoom by clicking here [15].

Also, this week, we commend to you Pendle Hill Pamphlet #447 [16] “Living in Dark Times” by Rex Ambler.  If you don’t have it on your bookshelf, you can read it online [16] until March 31 at no charge.

We feel connected to you, and we appreciate your support whether via prayer, donation [17], or joining us in worship.

For me, my spiritual discipline this week is joy. This is an eternal joy that walks hand-in-hand with worry and compassion.  The daffodils are still beautiful.  Music is still inspiring.  And in the stillness, I can still connect with my Guide, if only to sit together in the silence.

Bless us all,

Traci

Traci Hjelt Sullivan, Interim Executive Director

Ending Mass Incarceration - A Moral Imperative - 1:00 p.m. Saturday, 3/28

Zoom Only: ZOOM link will open at 12:30. https://zoom.us/j/509245428 [18]

There will be a presentation on Mass Incarceration, by Jeanne Hruska of the ACLU on March 28^th, at 1:00 p.m., at the Meetinghouse.  She will talk about the current use of incarceration as a response to every situation, which unfairly punishes those who cannot pay bail.  She will discuss Sentencing Reform, Bail Reform, Restorative Justice, Mental Health Court, and Drug Court, as well as other aspects of the issue.

From the minutes of our last Meeting for Business:  “PSECC would like the meeting to anchor the start of community-wide education and action. Friends approved. [19]”  This program is the beginning of that project.

Minutes from Meeting for Business:  Follow these links for the minutes to our most recent meetings for business.  https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/2020-03-08_CMM_Minutes [20].

(1^st Tuesday) Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice

Jericho Walk [Joshua 6:1-27 [21]] 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. 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 meeting at Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Elm Street, 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. [Also, see resources at the website of the NH Council of Churches.]

(3^rd Tuesday) Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice

Jericho Walk [Joshua 6:1-27 [21]] 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. for those reporting to ICE for deportation that day at the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street in Manchester. 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. [Also, see resources at the website of the NH Council of Churches.]