Westport Meeting Newsletter, October 20, 2023

Westport Meeting News: 

From Betty Ann, Clerk of Westport Meeting:

Our current Nominating Process for 2024, (2nd year), depends on our committees’ clerks to review members’ willingness to continue their service, including outreach to members/attenders, whose names arise during discernment, who are not currently serving. Please remember during the discernment process, to reach out to our Zoom/online Friends who may wish to serve virtually. Recognizing and appreciating members and attenders who are already serving, or want to be, is an important way of expressing our gratitude for their participation in our community.

The present Nominating Slate in PDF may be read HERE. You will notice the service years are listed. If a member has a date of 2023, or beyond, please check to see if they wish to continue. If they wish to discontinue, or to serve elsewhere, that should be noted. The committee should also discern if additional members to the committee are needed, while recognizing names that may arise, including Zoom/online Friends. While reviewing your committee membership, please note any new volunteers who have joined this year.

As clerk, I’ll be reaching out to volunteers serving in non-committee roles. The current Nominating Slate and invitation for volunteer service, will be posted in our newsletter. If there are questions, concerns, gaps etc., please let me know. 
 
Please be prepared to report on your committee’s progress at our November 19th, MMfB. I hope to have the final draft Nominating Slate, for 2024 and beyond, for our December MMfB.
 
Most Gratefully Yours,
Betty Ann Lee, Clerk
 
Peace and Social Justice Committee: 
Letter of Support from Westport Friends Meeting’s Peace and Social Justice Committee for Our Bodies, Our Lives Coalition:

“Equality is one of the key testimonies of the Society of Friends (Quakers).
We respect that of God in each of us. To that end, we support the autonomy of each woman to make
decisions regarding her body and health care, including reproductive issues. We also support trans
people and their right to make choices about their bodies and for everyone to have access to safe,
competent, compassionate health care.

Signed in the Light,
Peace and Social Justice Committee
Westport Monthly Meeting of Friends”

(Additional information about the Coalition may be read HERE. – K. Lee, editor) 

Security Cameras Installation: Please be advised that Wayne Electric will be installing security cameras on the exterior of our buildings beginning Monday, Nov 20, and continuing on Tuesday, Nov 21, and Wed, Nov 22, from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM. Technicians will be working inside and outside of the Community House, Potter House, Book Shed, and meetinghouse during daytime hours. Daytime rentals are suspended during these days and Friends are asked to avoid being in our buildings during daytime working hours. (Book donations can continue uninterrupted)   

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.

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) 
  •  
  • Finance and Property Committe joint meeting, Tuesday, Oct 24, at 7:30 PM
  • Sandwich Quarterly Meeting at Allen’s Neck Meeting, Oct 28
  • Seekers Group, Monday, Oct 23, CANCELLED
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Nov 1, 3:30-4pm. Via Zoom 
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Nov 8, 3:30-4pm. via Zoom
  • NEYM Meeting Care Day, Nov 11. Details below
  • Peace & Social Justice, Sun, Nov 12 at 8:30 AM. Hybrid
  • Ministry and Counsel, Monday, Nov 13, 7-8:30 PM
  • NEYM check-in for Friends serving their home meetings, Nov 14, 7-8pm
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Nov 15, 3:30-4pm. Via Zoom
  • Monthly Meeting for Business, Sunday, Nov 19, at 8am Via Zoom
  • Security Cameras Installation, Nov 20, 21, 22. All Buildings closed. See above
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Nov 22, 3:30-4pm. Via Zoom.
  • Seekers Group, Monday, Nov 27, 7-8:30 PM. HYBRID
  • Dates to Save: Advent Potluck Sunday: Dec 10, at rise of worship. Details to follow
  • Dates to Save: Christmas Eve Service, Dec 24, in Meetinghouse, 7:00 PM. Details to follow

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

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Yearly Meeting/Wider Quaker News:

NEYM’s October 2023 Newsletter introduction may be read HERE.

Introduction
Workshop: financially supporting ministry
An invitation from West Epping Friends
World Quaker Day
Meeting Care Day
We’re hiring!
Legacy Gift news
Sessions bookstore needs you!
Have you subscribed?
New from QuakerSpeak
Friends in South Pittsfield
Lobbying for peace
A last word

New England Quakers’ Meeting Care Day Nov 11, 2023: Registration is open!

Join Friends from across New England at Moses Brown School in Providence, RI on Saturday, November 11th for Meeting Care Day. This training and consultation gathering focuses on service to one’s local Quaker Meeting and features five workshop topics: 
  1. Best practices in nominating
  2. Serving as recording clerk
  3. Pastoral care
  4. Meeting communications & outreach
  5. Adult religious education (Elements of Quakerism)
This event is for anyone looking to grow in their service to their local Quaker meeting or worship group. Learn more and register for this in-person event here.

Recurring NEYM virtual events

Monthly check-in for Friends serving their local meetings takes place every second Tuesday of the month, 7-8 PM.
Upcoming dates are:
Nov 14

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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.)

Program at New Bedford Friends Meeting, Sunday, Oct 22, at 1:00 PM: 

“Marian Baker is coming to visit New Bedford Meeting this weekend and will present on her work with Friends in East Africa; the schedule is meeting for worship at 10, followed by potluck lunch, followed by Marian’s presentation at 1:00 PM.” – From Martha E. Mangelsdorf, New Bedford Friends Meeting. Questions? Email Martha at: m_e_mangelsdorf@hotmail.com

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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)

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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:

First, silence makes us pilgrims.
Secondly, silence guards the fire within.
Thirdly, silence teaches us to speak.

– Henry J.M. Nouwen

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Thank you, Friends,
Kevin