Friends, and friends of Friends, were invited to join members of AFSC's Northeast Regional Executive Committee in a silent witness for peace in front of the NH State House last weekend. People associated with our meeting as well as several other NH meetings were amongst those standing with signs in beautiful weather. At the end of the event a circle was formed so that all participants could introduce themselves, followed by a tour of Concord locations where "radical" ideas and actions had been elevated into public view.
The Meeting Calendar
| Day | Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | May 8 | 10:00 a.m. | Worship in Song in Fellowship Room followed by Meeting for Worship (in-person and via Zoom). For Zoom link, email Zoom [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org (subject: %E2%80%9CWorship%E2%80%9D%20Zoom%20Link%20Request) . Fellowship including a pot-luck meal will be followed by a Meeting for Business (in-person and via Zoom). Closing: Kathy C & Faith; Boiler Cleaning: JJ |
| Thu | May 12 | 7:00–8:00 p.m. | Mid Week Worship (no Zoom) |
| Sat | May 14 | 2:00 p.m. | Richard Cornelius memorial, Keene UU Church (see below) |
| Sun | May 29 | TBA | Dover Quarterly Meeting, on Zoom and perhaps in-person at Dover meetinghouse |
| Sat-Thu | Aug 6-11 | multi-day | NEYM Annual Sessions; Carleton College, VT and Zoom more... |
The draft minutes of the April Meeting for Worship for the Conduct of Business are available at https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/2022-04-10_CMM_Minutes [1]. Of note is 1) the proposed budget for fiscal year beginning in June that was presented in detail to be acted on in May, and 2) the Meeting's now-approved land acknowledgment.
The one-hour daily international worship for peace, coordinated by Friends House Moscow, is followed by 45 minutes of "breakout room space". The breakout rooms are labeled by topic and often a particular attendee will choose the same breakout room each time. A few rooms have become the source of letters with some relationship to exposing why peaceful means did not prevent the conflict and/or encouraging the next right steps to a peaceful resolution. A letter currently in the signing phase is directed to the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC). Here are 4 of the 8 paragraphs in the letter entitled "Letter to FWCC to review security concerns of Russia and western border states":
"...Noting that the resort of Russia to military action in Ukraine had been preceded for several months by repeated demands by the Russian Government for security guarantees in the light of the stated Ukrainian Government policy to pursue NATO membership,
Speculating that if effective negotiations had succeeded before February 2022, between Ukraine and Russia, to establish verifiable mutual security guarantees, the ensuing Russian military action might have been averted,
Further noting that the Russian Government has expressed similar security concerns in the light of the stated policy of other states on the western borders of Russia to pursue NATO membership, most recently Finland and Sweden, with potential for increasing tensions in the region with devastating consequences,
We entreat the FWCC to urgently recommend the UN to proactively address the security concerns of all the UN member states on the western borders of Russia together with the expressed concerns of the Russian Government. The general consultative status of the FWCC would provide a privileged channel of communication to register such a recommendation in a formal capacity..."
(To read the entire letter, see our webpage In Support of Friends Concerned with Suffering Due to Ukraine-Russian Conflict [2], that also includes specifics about donations and meetings.)
We have received this letter from Judy Reed, Dick's wife. Though they moved to Keene many years ago, Dick and Judy were active in Concord Friends with their two children Roma and Galya for more than a decade in the 80s and 90s.
Dear Friends and Family,
Our memorial gathering for Dick is coming up soon, on Saturday May 14, at 2:00 PM in the Parish Hall of the Keene Unitarian Church: 69 Washington Street Keene NH 03431.
I know many of you are unable to attend in person, but your support and your affection for Dick has been expressed and is deeply appreciated.
For those who will be present, this will be a gathering of people from Dick’s life, coming together to share thoughts, memories, and feelings through our own words and music. In the manner of Friends (Quakers), there will be no predetermined program and no spiritual leader other than our inner selves. After a short period of silence, members are invited to offer words or music if and when they feel called to do so, leaving a few moments of silence between offerings.
Afterwards, there will be time to mingle and converse informally over an array of tasty vegan refreshments.
Please feel free to get in touch if you have questions.
Love,
Judy (603-357-4905)
Effective April 24, 2022 please be aware of the following update to our current COVID status regarding mask requirements in the Meeting House. Following meeting for worship, individuals are asked to please continue to wear masks in the Fellowship Room while participating in fellowship and potluck events. Please only remove masks while actively eating and drinking. Friends are encouraged to eat outside and to physically distance. If you choose to eat inside, please choose a well-ventilated place to sit, such as near an open window.
Doors to the common hallway should remain closed during times when the Fellowship Room is in use. Masks are required during singing in the Fellowship Room.
Friends, an exciting update on plans for Sessions 2022:
At this writing we are expecting that, after two years' absence, Friends will be able to joyfully gather together, in person, at Castleton University for the Annual Sessions of New England Yearly Meeting of Friends, August 6–11. All of us, especially youth staff, are looking forward to welcoming children, youth, and their families to what will be for many the first time together in two years.
We are aware that not all will be comfortable or able to gather in a large group and are planning some hybrid events so that those who so choose may participate again by Zoom.
Friends responsible for Sessions planning continue to wrestle with balancing a desire for a good number of different events/activities with the awareness that the busyness of Sessions can feel like “too much.” And with how to provide meaningful experiences for both in-person and remote participation. While in-person and remote can in no way be “equal,” our hope is all Sessions participants will find spiritual comfort and meaning, and will come away from the experience a bit richer.
Add to this the exhaustion of staff and volunteers from two years of the extra burden of planning events in an unfamiliar platform, now needing to plan hybrid (in-person and virtual) events, and you will understand that this year’s Sessions will likely be based on a simpler schedule.
While the schedule and details are yet to be resolved we do have news to share:
Watch for further news and the official Sessions invitation coming soon, but for the time being, mark your calendars!
Bruce Neumann, Presiding Clerk
clerk [at] neym [dot] org
Phillip Veatch, Clerk of Sessions Planning
sessions [at] neym [dot] org
Visit this page on our web site: Past Announcements [3]
Visit this page on our web site for more information: Donations [4]
|
Canterbury, New Hampshire 03224-2043 USA
Links:
[1] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/2022-04-10_CMM_Minutes
[2] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/UkraineRelief#DailyIntlFriendsM4W4PeaceLtr2FWCC
[3] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/PastAnnouncements
[4] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/Donations