State of Society Report 2008
In New England Yearly Meeting (NEYM) monthly meetings take time to reflect on their spiritual health. This reflection process ends with the preparation of The State of Society Report. Westport’s Ministry and Counsel Committee (M&C) has received the State of Society queries from NEYM M&C Committee and find them helpful in guiding our self-assessment as well as planning for the spiritual life of our meeting over the coming year.
We first want to bring to your attention conditions that Westport’s M&C has noticed:
· The tremendous growth of our meeting membership in the youngest age range and the development of our First Day School and related children’s activities.
· The difficulty for many of us to spend additional time in meeting events as many of our members have extensive time commitments with children, family, or health limitations.
· The movement of a large number of our members from adolescence into young adulthood and the consequent spiritual, personal, and professional challenges that they are facing with this transition.
· The still-fresh loss of several cherished Friends, both through death and through moving away.
· The need to nurture and develop a wide array of gifts in a new generation of elders across the adult age span, and the related issue of whether to record ministers.
Recognizing that an additional worship-sharing time that is typically part of our annual State of Society would not be possible for all. And, wanting input from all not just those who can more easily attend a separate worship sharing time, we propose that on Sunday March 30 we incorporate State of Society worship sharing into our regular Meeting for Worship as follows:
· 10:00 AM the format will be explained to members and attenders.
· The queries will then be read. (see below)
· Twenty minutes of silent worship will follow, as usual for meeting for worship
· When the First Day School children and adults leave, worship sharing will begin and continue for the remainder of the hour with several Friends recording what is shared
· We also ask FDS adults to consider the queries as they work with the children, and provide input individually or as a group as they see fit
QUERIES for Worship-sharing on March 30, 2008
1. Are your worship and meeting grounded in a strong relationship with and seeking after God’s will? Does ministry arise in response to God’s movement in your community? Are community and business action reflective of the presence of God?
2. Does your meeting nurture spiritual growth and development? Are there awareness and a “living into God” that are relied on and called upon in times of crises and challenge to individuals and the community as a whole?
3. When conflicts arise do you seek to respond in unity with God? Even during conflict can
community members live in love, truth, and connection that indicates unity with God even when you
grapple with how to go forward?
We encourage those unable to attend this worship-sharing to reflect at his/her convenience, prepare written a response on the back of this paper, to be submitted to M&C. We want to hear from you.