Westport Meeting Newsletter, May 27, 2022

Westport Meeting News:

Monthly Meeting for Business was held on Sunday, May 22, at 8am. The following items were approved:
 
Ministry and Counsel Committee presented the State of Society report for 2022 for consideration for approval. After a period of discussion the Westport Monthly Meeting State of Society for 2022 was approved. Friends may read the document HERE.
 
The memorial service for Steven Correia, previously scheduled for May 7, which was postponed due to Covid and other family illnesses, will likely be rescheduled to later in August or September.
 
Peace and Social Justice Committee met with members of  Allen’s Neck Monthly Meeting recently to discuss holding a potluck with members of both meetings. More to come on this as plans develop.
 
Pride Day, normally held each year at Buttonwood Park in New Bedford, will return this year on June 4, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. As in previous years, Westport Friends, in partnership with other area meetings, will sponsor a table offering face painting for kids and handouts and resources on diversity and indigenous issues. Please be in touch with Barbara Sullivan, P&SJ co-clerk, or Gretchen Baker Smith, and how you can be involved. Volunteers to work on the table are needed. June is considered Pride Month, and more information about what the LGBTQ community is planning can be found HERE.
 
Friends also approved putting up a rainbow spotlight on the front of the Meeting House for Pride Month in June.
 
The committee has been asked to run the Quaker Corner at the Book Fair.  Jen Moura is going to make signs for the entrance ways regarding how we spend the money raised at the Book Fair.
 
Child Care Working Group proposed that the next intergenerational gathering for fun and connection be held on June 18, behind the Community House,  likely between 4-7pm. Yard games, badminton, crafts, rock painting, etc, are being considered. Pizza and beverages would be offered. RSVP on the morning of June 18 requested to determine how many pizzas to order. Friends enthusiastically approved this proposal!
 
The next monthly meeting for business will be held on Sunday, June 26, at 8am.

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Midweek worship will continue to be offered each week on Wednesdays at 3:30 PM. Please note that the link for midweek worship is not the same as our regular worship on Sunday. A link for joining Midweek worship (which is the same link each week) will be emailed each week on Wednesday mornings. To insure security, we never post Zoom links on websites or portals visible to the general public. Questions? Contact Kevin Lee.

Help with Zoom Connections: Instructions for connecting to worship each Sunday, and Monthly Meeting for Business each month, is HERE.
 
Westport Monthly Meeting Minutes may be read in Google Docs HERE.
 

MEETING CALENDAR: (All meetings held via Zoom, in person, or hybrid (meaning in-person and via Zoom), as noted)

  • Worship each Sunday in meetinghouse and via Zoom at 10am (hybrid)
  • Midweek worship, Wed, June 1, 3:30-4pm (link sent day of, Zoom only)
  • Book Fair Committee, June 1, 7pm
  • Pride Day, June 4, 10am – 3pm at Buttonwood Park (Details above)
  • Seekers Group, Mon, June 6, 7-8:30pm. (Hybrid)
  • JHYM Retreat, in person, June 11-12, at Framingham Meeting. Details soon.
  • Ministry and Counsel Committee, June 13, at 7pm (Zoom only)
  • NEYM Meeting leaders call, Tues, June 14, 7pm. via Zoom.
  • Westport Friends Intergenerational Gathering, June 18, 4-7pm (Details above)
  • Monthly Meeting for Business, June 26 at 8am, Zoom only.
  • Peace and Social Justice Committee, Monday, June 27 at 7pm
  • BOOK FAIR: July 9-17
  • Sandwich Quarterly Meeting, July 24 at W. Falmouth Meeting
  • NEYM Annual Sessions, Castleton, VT, August 6-11. Important Details

MIDWEEK WORSHIP, via Zoom, WEDNESDAYS, 3:30-4:00pm!

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Yearly Meeting/Wider Quaker News:

Gretchen’s JYM-JHYM latest newsletter, issue of May 27, 2022,  contains an opening reflection, programming and retreat info for young people, parents and Friends throughout New England Yearly Meeting. This issue also introduces Kenzie Burpee, the new JYM Sessions Coordinator, and Rainer Humphries, the new Sessions Child Care Coordinator.   Read her latest bi-weekly newsletter HERE.

New England Yearly Meeting Newsletter, “How are We Known?,” May 6, 2022, by Philip Maurer, Northampton Friends Meeting, can be read HERE.

Introduction
Support for racial justice work
Nurturing Faithfulness
Annual Sessions is coming!
Friends Camp reunion
Building the resilient church
Stoking the Fire retreat
New England Friends to speak at FGC Gathering
Send a teen to camp!
Welcome Kara Price
Sessions news!
News from Faith & Practice
Legacy grant deadline
Committing to anti-racism
New podcast episode
Help Ukrainian refugees
Quakers in the news
A last word

Recurring virtual events

Other events coming soon 

June 14, at 7 PM: An online check-in for Friends serving in leadership roles in their local meetings.

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Sandwich Quarterly Meeting News:

From Deena Kinsky, SQM Newsletter Editor:

Here are some upcoming events.

West Falmouth Peace and Social Order 2nd Sunday lecture series. These will be Sundays from 12-1:00 on Zoom, and registration is required. Check with Brenda Nolan  nolanbab@gmail.com if you’d like to register or be put on a mailing list.

  • Sandwich Quarter Meetings for Business
    -July 23 at W. Falmouth Meeting
    October 22 at Westport Meeting)
  • SQM Ministry & Counsel
    -September 24 at Mattapoisett

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Closing:

Hold on to what is good, even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe, even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do,
even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life, even when it is easier letting go.

– Nancy Wood

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Thank you, Friends,

Kevin