Westport Meeting News:
NOTICE: The Candle Light Vigil of Remembrance to be held on Meeting property outdoors, is this Saturday, JUNE 12, 8-9 PM. Help with setup and cleanup is needed. If you can help, please arrive at 7 PM. The parking lot will be closed off to the public, but if you arrive to help, use the entrance in front of the meetinghouse and someone will let you in. Please let Kevin know if you can help at 508-742-8709. (Thank you!)
The Vigil of Remembrance is intended name and reflect upon the many forms of loss that the Covid 19 Pandemic is leaving in its wake, from loved ones who have died, lingering Covid symptoms, opportunities lost, and milestone/life events sacrificed. Meeting member and educator, Pamela Drouin, will be one of the speakers at the upcoming vigil in which she will address the kinds of losses that children have experienced over the past year. Pamela has graciously agreed to share her written piece among Westport Friends ahead of the vigil. Pamela’s reflection may be read HERE.
Reopening Meetinghouse, Spring 2021: Ministry and Counsel committee continues to support reopening our meetinghouse for worship in greater numbers as Friends feel comfortable to attend. Worship each Sunday via Zoom also continues. Ministry and Counsel’s “Reopening Meetinghouse Statement Spring 2021” may be read HERE.
Fellowship and Refreshments to Return Soon Following Sunday Worship! A number of Friends are feeling that it’s time for us to gradually return to offering time for fellowship and light refreshments following meeting for worship on the back deck of the Community House, perhaps beginning NEXT week. More on this in the week ahead. (New tile flooring will have been completed in the kitchen, hallway, and both accessible bathroom by this Saturday, so let’s plan on fellowship beginning next week, not this week, so that the new flooring adhesive has time to cure.)
MEETING CALENDAR: (All meetings via Zoom)
- JHYM 8th Grade Retreat, June 12. Details
- Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance on Meeting grounds, Saturday, June 12 8-9 PM (see below)
- NEYM Meeting Leaders Call, Tuesday, June 15, at 7 PM
- Midweek worship, Wed, June 16 , 3:30-4 PM. (link sent morning of)
- Seekers Group, Monday, June 21, at 7 PM. (Gretchen sends link)
- Peace and Social Justice Committee, June 27, 6-7:30 PM
- SAVE THE DATE: NEYM Annual (virtual) Sessions, Aug 7-12, 2021. Preliminary details
MIDWEEK WORSHIP, via Zoom, WEDNESDAYS, 3:30-4:00 PM!
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Yearly Meeting/Wider Quaker News:
United Society of Friends Women (USFW) Newsletter may be read HERE.
Resources for spiritual growth and education offered by our Yearly Meeting: *
Friends, though we are living in challenging times these days, many individual Friends, monthly meetings, Quaker organizations, and our Yearly Meeting as a whole, are offering an amazing array of opportunities to expand our knowledge and improve our practice as Friends in a variety of ways. Check out the following links and see what we are being offered! Also, take a few minutes and explore additional programs offered by NEYM by visiting the Events page HERE.
Gretchen’s JYM-JHYM latest bi-weekly newsletter of June 11, containing programming and retreat info for young people, parents and Friends, can be read HERE.
“The Spring Must Be Opened:” NEYM June 2021 Newsletter featuring Jan Hoffman, may be read HERE
In NEYM’s June Newsletter:
Introduction by Jan Hoffman
Envisioning Quaker spaces as racially welcoming and inclusive
Training for committee clerks
Sessions is coming!
Right relationship workshop
Proposed chapter for Faith & Practice
Unexpected blessings
Right Relationship resource group news
Responding to the call to racial justice
Quaker parenting resource
Resources for online and hybrid gatherings
Tech Corner
What’s new in the Archives
Roadmap for action on Climate Change
A new book from Brian Drayton
The difference between a welcoming and an inclusive space
Television visits the former Meeting School
New website for The Gatherings
Quakers in the news
Recurring virtual Quaker events:
- Daily at 8 a.m., Beacon Hill Friends House: Meditation practice
- Mondays at 3 p.m., Facebook Live: Singalong Concerts
- Sunday–Thursday at 9:30 p.m. Calming Pajama Party
- Alternate Thursdays at 4 p.m., Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL): Thursdays with Friends
- Thursdays at 7 p.m.: Taizé worship
- Thursdays at 8 p.m.: Parents’ Tea-and-Chat
- Alternate Tuesdays at 7 p.m.: Support for Friends Serving in Local Meeting Leadership Roles
- Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. Open Heart Worship Group
Events coming soon:
- June 13: The Gatherings: A conversation with the authors
- June 21-24: Quaker Spring
Connect, Learn, Explore, and Be in Service among Friends Regionally and Globally.
Check out an array of Quaker schools, camps, retreat centers, other yearly meetings and Quaker organizations listed on NEYM’s website.
Local Community News:
NOTE: Postponed to June 12! Save the Date: Candle Light Vigil of Remembrance outdoors on Meeting grounds, June 12, 8-9 PM:
Earlier this month our Meeting was approached by Westport resident, Donna Amaral, who asked us to consider hosting and holding a candlelight vigil on Meeting property, with the goal of holding in prayer and remembrance the lives lost due to Covid-19 over the past year. Donna is coordinating a number of planned events during May in Westport to highlight May being “Mental Health Awareness Month. The vigil, initially scheduled for the end of May, but rescheduled to June 12, was intended to serve as the culmination of the month’s events. Donna, who is a psychiatric Registered Nurse working in the mental health field, also serves on the Westport Board of Health. Donna is passionately involved in educating the public regarding the need for increased awareness of mental health initiatives.
View Candlelight Vigil flyer HERE.
Given the nature of this proposed event, it was forwarded to Ministry and Counsel Committee for its consideration. M&C was clear to support this proposal, and Property Committee also indicated its approval for the event to be held on Meeting property, out-of-doors. A working group comprised of Deana, Randy, Pamela Drouin, and Kevin have been meeting with Donna Amaral via Zoom, and will continue planning up to the vigil on June 12. Other Westport Friends are welcome to participate in planning as well. We will also need help with setup and breakdown following the vigil on the evening of June 12.
Closing:
Jesus promised those who would follow his leadings only three things:
that they should be absurdly happy,
entirely fearless,
and always in trouble.
– Marty Babcock