CMM 2019-04-14 Possible Items for Agenda

Here are some possible agenda items for Third Month’s Meeting for Worship with attention to Business, which will be on the 14^th (the second First Day) of Fourth Month.  Some of the items from Third Month may have been carried forward.  Some of the proposed items may need further seasoning.  They are in no particular order at the moment.  [See also http://quakerspeak.com/quaker-decision-making-consensus/ [1]]

During worship, please hold in your heart the following from the “Advices on Corporate Discernment” in the 2014 Interim Faith & Practice of NEYM [2].  Friends are also asked to consider the “Queries on Corporate Discernment [3]”.

6.  Address the clerk rather than another individual and speak only to the matter under consideration.  Do not attempt to speak for Friends who are absent as they are not present to sense the movement of the Spirit in the gathered group.

• Minutes of Third Month’s Meeting for Worship with attention to Business [4].
• Budget Committee report
  • “How does our Meeting engage its members in the support of the Meeting’s work, its ministry, and the upkeep of its property?” ¹
• Property Committee report
  • “Does our Meeting serve social and economic justice in its uses of property and money?” ¹
• Peace, Social, and Earthcare Concerns Committee (PSECC) report
  • “We do not own the world, and its riches are not ours to dispose of at will.  Show a loving consideration for all creatures, and seek to maintain the beauty and variety of the world.  Work to ensure that our increasing power over nature is used responsibly, with reverence for life.  Rejoice in the splendour of God’s continuing creation.” ²
  • AFSC’s Sanctuary Everywhere [5]
  • FCNL’s #LoveThyNeighbor (No Exceptions) [6]
  • AFSC-NH’s, GSOP’s, and NH Council of Churches’ Immigrant Solidarity Network [7]
• Youth Religious Education Committee report
  • Children and young people need love and stability.  Are we doing all we can to uphold and sustain parents and others who carry the responsibility for providing this care? ³
• Outreach Committee report
  • “Are you patterns, examples; do your lives preach among all sorts of people, and to them?  Do you walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one?” - NEYM 1985 Faith and Practice, Queries 5.4 and 5.5 [8].
• Ministry & Counsel Committee report
  • Query 2. “b) Are we aware of the roles we fill as heirs of the meetings of ministers and elders?  What do we do to support each other in the use of our gifts for God’s work?  Do we actively seek to identify and nurture these gifts in each other?”  NEYM Minute of Exercise, 2015-09-15 [9]
  • NEYM is developing a data protection and information security policy.  Concord Monthly Meeting may wish to revisit its policy as stated at https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/ContactInformationForm [10], which is based on CMM Minute 2009-05-10#5.4 [11] and CMM Minute 2009-06-14#06.8 [12].  Draft versions of a possible data privacy policy [13] and data consent form [14] are available for perusal and consideration.

Announcements & Events:

Mar 17 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.   Greeting: Jennifer ;  1^st Day School  Jonah, Dave ; Closing: Jennifer, Sara ; Boiler Cleaning: Jennifer.

Mar 24 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.   Greeting: Kathy U. ;  1^st Day School: JJ, Mark ; Closing: Heidi, Kathy U? ; Boiler Cleaning: Rich.

Mar 31 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by potluck and Dover Quarterly Meeting.   Greeting: Greg? ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Greg, Ruth ; Boiler Cleaning: Greg.

Mar 31 (Sun)  12:30 p.m.  Dover Quarterly Meeting at Concord Friends Meetinghouse with the Souhegan Friends providing a program.

Apr   2 (Tue)   9:00 – 10:30 a.m.  (First Tuesday) Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice [15] [Joshua 6:1-27 [16]] for those reporting to ICE [17] for deportation that day at the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street in Manchester.  This will be followed by the Sanctuary Support Network [18] meeting at Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Elm Street, Manchester where there will be refreshments.  We have signed the pledge to stand with our immigrant neighbors.  If you have not seen a copy of the revised solidarity statement, it can be found here [19].  [Also, see resources at the website [7] of the NH Council of Churches.]

Apr   2 (Tue)   9:00 a.m.  Senate Judiciary Committee votes on the death penalty repeal.

Apr   3 (Wed)   7:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Mid-week worship (First Wednesday) at the Meetinghouse.

Apr   4 (Thu)  12:00 – 1:00 p.m. “Dignity at Work” Legislative Advocacy Day. Faith & Labor and Allies standing together in solidarity. A press conference with an MLK/Faith & Labor context, articulating the urgent issues, including the relevant bills/bill numbers and outlining state worker collective bargaining position.

Apr   4 (Thu)  12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  Lenten Lunch: Beth Richeson “Experiencing God at the NH Women’s Prison” at the the Bow Mills United Methodist Church [20], 505 South St., near the Bow/Concord town line.   Beth Richeson serves as the chaplain at the NH Correctional Facility for Women now in Concord, NH.  She was called into this ministry in 2005, while she was in seminary at Andover Newton Theological School.  Ordained in the Presbyterian Church USA, Beth continues to be humbled in experiencing God in the midst of women in prison.  (Host: First Congregational Church, UCC; Beneficiary: Friends of Forgotten Children)

Apr   4 (Thu)   6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  Robert Azzi, “Ask a Muslim Anything” [21] at the Meetinghouse.  The event is free and open to the public for respectful dialogue and learning.  Robert Azzi is a journalist and will share about what it means to be a Muslim in America.  Please invite friends and acquaintances!  Any donations will go to support the Concord Friends Meeting Social Justice Fund.

Apr   6 (Sat)   7:00 – 9:00 p.m.  Song Circle: “Sing Your Heart Out” at the Meetinghouse.

Apr   7 (Sun)   8:45 – 10:00 a.m.  Youth Religious Education (YRE) Committee at the Meetinghouse.

Apr   7 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by Study Group.   Greeting: Jennifer ;  1^st Day School   ; Closing: Rich, Kathy M ; Boiler Cleaning: Jonah.

Apr   7 (Sun)   3:00 – 4:00 p.m.  “Stop the Wall” rally in front of the NH State House, 107 North Main Street, Concord.  ‘Divest from hate!  Invest in our communities!’  Hosted by AFSC-NH Program and 4 others.  See https://www.facebook.com/events/2196499070443433/ [22].

Apr   8 (Mon)   1:00 p.m.  Ministry and Counsel (M&C) Committee at the Meetinghouse?.

Apr   9 (Tue)   6:30 p.m.  “A View from the Underside: The Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer,” a One-Person Play Adapted and Performed by Al Staggs brings the life of one of the great heroes of the twentieth century to the stage at Bass Hall, 19 Grove Street, Peterborough, NH.  The audience is brought into the prison cell where Bonhoeffer awaits execution and listens to his struggles with evil, injustice, and God.  Sponsored by the New Hampshire Council of Churches [23].  Link to a flyer for the play [24].

Apr 11 (Thu)  12:00 – 1:30 p.m.  Lenten Lunch (Interfaith Seder): Rabbi Robin Nafshi at the Bow Mills United Methodist Church [20], 505 South St., near the Bow/Concord town line.  Rabbi Robin Nafshi (known as Rabbi Robin) was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2005.  She joined Temple Beth Jacob in July of 2010.  Before that, she served as the Assistant Rabbi at Temple Emeth in Teaneck, NJ and the Associate Rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Hillsborough, NJ.  Rabbi Robin sees her two primary roles as a teacher and as a provider of pastoral counseling.  Rabbi Robin was born and raised in northern New Jersey and attended New York University and Cornell Law School.  After moving to San Francisco, she worked as an attorney, and as a legal author and editor.  In 2000, Rabbi Robin began her studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem.  (Host: Temple Beth Jacob; Beneficiary: Families in Transition)

Apr 11 (Thu)   6:30 – 7:30 p.m.  Study Group at the Meetinghouse (moved from First Thursday, April 4^th)

Apr 13 (Sat)  10:00 a.me – 1:00 p.m.  Spring ‘Make and Take’ event at the Meetinghouse.  Get ready for Spring with sustainable crafts for the season.  Make Homemade Soap, or a reusable Sandwich/Cheese Wrap (from beeswax and cotton); create Easter (or Spring) Baskets and decorate Easter eggs; construct a bird nest materials dispenser to help the birds in your area.  Something for all ages.  Choose the craft(s) you wish to do.  Donation of $1-$5 per craft requested (to cover costs of materials).  Contact Ruth Heath for more info 724-4343.

Apr 14 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by potluck and Meeting for Business.   Greeting: Kathy U. ;  1^st Day School: JJ, Mark ; Closing: Jonah, Mark ; Boiler Cleaning: Dave.

Apr 16 (Tue)   9:00 – 10:30 a.m.  (Third Tuesday) Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Immigrant Justice [15] [Joshua 6:1-27 [16]] for those reporting to ICE [17] for deportation that day at the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street in Manchester.  We have signed the pledge to stand with our immigrant neighbors.  If you have not seen a copy of the revised solidarity statement, it can be found here [19].  [Also, see resources at the website [7] of the NH Council of Churches.]

Apr 17 (Wed)   7:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Mid-week worship (Third Wednesday) at the Meetinghouse.

Apr 18 (Thu)   6:30 – 7:30 p.m.  Study Group (Third Thursday) at the Meetinghouse

Apr 21 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by Meetinghouse Clean Up.   Greeting: Jennifer ;  1^st Day School:  ; Closing: Pat, Faith ; Boiler Cleaning: Mark.

Apr 28 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by potluck and Fourth Sunday Program.   Greeting: Greg? ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Rob Y, Kathy U ; Boiler Cleaning: Rob Y.

May   2 (Thu)   6:30 – 7:30 p.m.  Study Group (First Thursday) at the Meetinghouse

May   5 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by Meetinghouse Clean Up.   Greeting: Mark ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: JJ, Sara ; Boiler Cleaning (if needed): JJ.

May 10 (Fri)   7:00 – 9:00 p.m.  AFSC Singalong Concert [25] at Unitarian Universalist Church [26], 274 Pleasant Street,Concord, NH. For more information see https://www.riseupandsing.org/events/petes-100th-concord-nh [27]. or https://www.afsc.org/event/pete-seeger-100th-birthday-singalong-concert [28].

May 12 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by potluck and Meeting for Business.   Greeting: Kathy M ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Pat, Heidi ; Boiler Cleaning (if needed): Greg.

May 19 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.   Greeting: Jennifer ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Dave, Penny ; Boiler Cleaning (if needed): Dave.

May 26 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by potluck and Fourth Sunday Program.   Greeting: Greg? ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Greg, Ruth ; Boiler Cleaning (if needed): Greg.

Jun   2 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by Meetinghouse Clean Up.   Greeting: Mark ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Rich, Kathy U.

Jun   9 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by potluck and Meeting for Business.   Greeting: Kathy M ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: JJ, Sara.

Jun 16 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.   Greeting: Jennifer ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Rob Y, Kathy M.

Jun 23 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by potluck and Fourth Sunday Program.   Greeting: Greg? ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Mark, Faith.

Jun 30 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.   Greeting: Ruth? ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Dave, Penny.

Jun 30 (Sun)  12:30 p.m.  Dover Quarterly Meeting at North Sandwich Friends Meetinghouse [29]; program Dover Friends Meeting.

Jul   7 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.   Greeting: Mark ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Jonah, Kathy U.

Jul 14 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by potluck and Meeting for Business.   Greeting: Kathy M ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Greg, Ruth.

Jul 21 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.   Greeting: Jennifer ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Rich, Jonah.

Jul 28 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by potluck and Fourth Sunday Program.   Greeting: Greg? ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Dave, Penny.

Aug   4 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.   Greeting: Mark ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Heidi, Pat.

Aug 11 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship followed by potluck and Meeting for Business.   Greeting: Kathy M ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: Mark, Faith.

Aug 18 (Sun)  10:00 a.m.  Worship.   Greeting: Jennifer ;  1^st Day School: Greg, Faith ; Closing: JJ, Sara.

Aug 21–24 (Wed–Sat)   Immigrant Solidarity Walk from Concord to Strafford County Jail in Dover.  Details to come.

First Day School Help:  If you would like to be a helper in the children’s program, and have not yet filled out the Youth Worker Screening Form [30].  Please download and print one out, fill it in, and pass it to Kathy Urie.  You can find it at Youth Worker Screening Form [30].  We need one helper each week.  Look for a sign-up sheet on the left bulletin board this Sunday.  And thank you!  The children thank you too!

Volunteers to be ready to support Manchester Unitarian Universalist Church as a Level 1 physical sanctuary in the New Hampshire Immigrant Solidarity Network.  Contact MarkBarker [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org (subject: Volunteering%20for%20sanctuary%20support%20at%20U-U%20Church%20in%20Manchester) .  Here’s a list of the support roles needed.

• Day Citizen Companions
• Provide Food
• Provide Transportation
• Offer Entertainment (games or movies)
• Provide Emotional Support
• Provide Language Translation
• Provide Legal Support
• Provide Medical Support
• Raise Funds
• Provide a Gift Card
• Organize other Volunteers
• Laundry
• Other support you could offer

In August 2017, we published a statement in response to the tragedy in Charlottesville, Virginia [31].  Please also see “Such a Time as This: A Response to Hate and Violence [32]” as well as the “2017 Epistle of New England Yearly Meeting [33]”, Ruby Sales’ Plenary Message [34] on NEYM’s Youtube channel, and the audio recordings of the 2017 Annual Sessions Bible Half-Hours by Marty Grundy [35] focusing (exegeting [36]) on Romans 12:2 [37].  Draft booklet of Bible Half Hour texts [38].

^1. See https://www.pym.org/faith-and-practice/guidelines-and-procedures/general-queries/nurturing-our-community/ [39]

^2. See http://qfp.quaker.org.uk/chapter/1/ [40] № 42

^3. See http://qfp.quaker.org.uk/chapter/1/ [40] № 24