Westport Meeting Newsletter June 4, 2021

June 4, 2021
 |  No Comments

Westport Meeting News:

NOTICE: The Candle Light Vigil of Remembrance to be held on Meeting property outdoors,  HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO JUNE 12, 8-9 PM. 

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.

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.

​ MEETING CALENDAR: (All meetings via Zoom) 

  • JYM Retreat, June 4-6. Details
  • Midweek worship, Wed, June 9, 3:30-4 PM. (link sent morning of)
  • Building Power Together: Taking Action to Reclaim Our Civic Society, June 8, 7-8:30 PM (See below)
  • Vigil planning meeting, June 9, 7 PM
  • Seekers Group, Monday, June 7, at 7 PM. (Gretchen sends link)
  • Pendle Hill: Becoming Blended Worshipping Communities, June 11-13. Details
  • JHYM 8th Grade Retreat, June 12. Details
  • Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance on Meeting grounds, Saturday, June 12 8-9 PM (see below)
  • 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!

Sandwich Quarterly Meeting May and June News:

Upcoming Quaker Woman’s Gathering; West Falmouth Meeting program June 13, 2021, “Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act” via Zoom. Details HERE. Speaker info and bio.

________

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 May 26, containing programming and retreat info for young people, parents and Friends, can be read HERE. 

“One Thing Necessary:” NEYM May 2021 Newsletter by Maggie Edmondson,  may be read HERE

Recurring virtual Quaker events:

Events coming soon: 

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: 

Building Power Together: Taking Action to Reclaim Our Civic Society:

“Join us to learn specific ways South Coast residents are working for social justice and how you can get involved. There’s an opportunity to match your interests, and, we need you to be involved!” 7-8:30 PM via Zoom – Elizabeth Murphy, presenter and host. Preregistration is required. Sign up HERE. 

 

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:

Benedictine Sisters Prayer:

Lead me from death to life,
From falsehood to truth,
Lead me from despair to hope
From fear to trust,
Lead me from hate to love,
From war to peace,
Let peace fill our hearts, our world
Our universe.

(Prayed Benedictine Sisters the world over each day at noontime.)

Thank you, Friends,
Kevin Lee 

Announcements, Weekly Newsletters