Westport Meeting Newsletter, September 2, 2023

September 2, 2023
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Westport Meeting News: 

Editors Note: The Meeting’s Calendar below, has been updated, but the fruits of our Meeting’s tradition of  “taking a break” each August is evidenced by the lack of Newsletter content below! However, our book sorters report that large numbers of books still needed to be sorted even though our Book Shed was officially “closed” for the month of August from some large donations that somehow found their way in! Mid week worship each week online continued on Wednesdays, as did Seekers Group and Property Committee. 
 
Book Shed News: Effective September 1, our Book Shed will be open seven days a week, 9am – 5pm. If you are able to help unlock and relock the Book Shed every  now and then, please be in touch with Gretchen.

Property Committee met on July 20, and among the items expressed was a decision to recommend to Monthly Meeting for Business that the Meeting consider installing security cameras on the exterior of our buildings, due to recent vandalism and property damage over the last several years. A detailed report chronicling the types of damage to Meeting property may be read HERE.

Update on above as of Aug 30: The Meeting has sent in the required deposit for the installation of security cameras on the exterior of our buildings. The necessary equipment and parts have been ordered. Once all the parts and equipment have been received the job will be scheduled for installation. Best educated guess, if none of the parts are back-ordered, the install will begin the middle of September or the start of October. Once the work begins, the Community House will need to be closed during week-day hours until the project is completed. 

MEETING CALENDAR:

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

  • Worship each Sunday in meetinghouse and via Zoom at 10am (hybrid) 
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Sept 6, 3:30-4pm. Via Zoom
  • Book Fair Committee, Wed, Sept 6, at 7pm. Via ZOOM
  • NEYM Meeting Leaders Call, Sept 12, 7-8 PM via Zoom. Details below
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Sept 13, 3:30-4pm. Via Zoom
  • Monthly Meeting for Business, Sunday, Sept 17, at 8am Via Zoom
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Sept 20, 3:30-4pm. Via Zoom.
  • Seekers Group, Monday, Sept 25, 7-8:30 PM. HYBRID
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Sept 27, 3:30-4pm. Via Zoom 
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Nov 4, 3:30-4pm. Via Zoom 

 

MIDWEEK WORSHIP, via Zoom, WEDNESDAYS, 3:30-4:00pm. (Kevin sends link day of)

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Yearly Meeting/Wider Quaker News:

(Waiting for their Sept. Newsletter…ed.)

 NEYM’s July/Aug 2023 Newsletter introduction, “Listening In Love,” comes from Honor Woodrow from Putney, VT, Friends Meeting, may be read HERE.

Introduction
Monthly drop-in for end-of-life interest
Talking circles among BIPOC Friends
Workshop: financially supporting ministry
Aging resources news
Update on Quaker Indigenous Boarding Schools research
Service opportunity
A last word

Recurring virtual events

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FWCC in conducting a “soft launch” of their “Find Friends” World Map. Nearly all of the info that they have for our Meeting at this time is incorrect, and I have used their provided Google Form to summit updated contact info for Westport Meeting. You can visit the site, but be aware that it may take some time for them to correct our contact info that they corrently have listed. Visit Find Friends here.

 

Monthly Check-In for Friends Serving Their Local Meetings

Sept 12, at 7 PM: An online check-in for Friends serving in leadership roles in their local meetings. (Ask Kevin or Gretchen for link).
 

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Sandwich Quarterly Meeting (SQM) News:

(Special thanks to Deena Kinsky, SQM Newsletter Editor for her fine work here throughout the year! –ed.)

A Quaker museum is in the makings on the 2nd floor of the meeting house in East Sandwich. Please reach out if you have any Quaker artefacts to house there (especially from Sandwich Quarter).  Also looking for a case for a life-size mannequin!

West Falmouth

Second Sunday Forums:

September 10 12:30 – 2:30:  Quaker Indian Boarding Schools a Facing History, Facing Ourselves program with leaders ZOOMing from 3 states: Paula Palmer (C)), Andrew Grant (VT) and Gail Melix (MA). Flyer and Registration HERE.

October 8 12:30 – 2:30: An Introduction to Reconciliation Leadership: A Methodology to Reconcile Relationships and Building Trusting Communities. With Virginia Swain who used this methodology working in the United Nations. Flyer and Registration HERE.

New Bedford

Sunday, September 10

Work party after worship followed by lunch (every second Sunday) 

Quarter calendar for the rest of the year

Business and M&C meetings start at 10:00.  Possibly in-person, hybrid, or virtual.

October 28 in Allen’s Neck (…and Allen’s Neck was slated for July)

Quarterly Ministry and Counsel:

Sept. 23 in Mattapoisett 

 

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Quaker Programs, Study, Retreats, and Spiritual Nurture:

Woolman Hill Retreat Center

Beacon Hill Friends House

Powell House

Pendle Hill

QuakerSpeak (Our Quaker faith as shared by those who experience it firsthand, every day, via weekly video interviews)

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Local Happenings of Interest to Friends:

If you have something that could go in this space, let let me know! – editor.

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Closing:

Lord, make us masters of
ourselves that we may be
the servants of others.
Take our minds and think
through them, our mouths
and speak through them,
and take our hearts, and
set them on fire.

– Theodore P. Ferris

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Thank you, Friends,
Kevin

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