Eleven Friends gathered both in person and by Zoom connection and entered into quiet worship. We accepted the minutes of Second Month [1] as posted on our website.
We opened with a brief period of Worship.
03.01 Treasurer’s Report: We’re three quarters of the way through our fiscal year and total income is at 77%, contributions are at 80%, and expenses are at 66%. We did have a few unexpected property expenses so extra donations are appreciated if Friends are so led. Committees are encouraged to spend their budgets; we don’t seek to have a surplus. Committees are also invited to begin thinking about their budgets for next year. What do you want to accomplish and what might that cost? A review of our balance sheet shows us to be in good financial health. Finance committee is still considering where we should invest a portion of the $26K that we now have in checking and savings. The Income & Expenses report and Balance Sheet are attached.
| Total Income: | $21.363 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Expenses: | $18,412 | |
| Net Income: | $2,950 |
03.02 Ministry & Counsel recommends acceptance of Thomas Hedberg’s request for membership to Concord Friends Meeting. We joyfully approve his membership. His letter to the meeting clerk requesting membership is attached. We express our deep gratitude for this moment and hold our new member in prayer. The full committee report is attached.
03.03 Ministry & Counsel presented the draft of our State of Society Report; a summary of the life of our meeting during the past year. The draft is approved with this correction [in ¶ 4]: “For Friends who spend part of the year away from New Hampshire, the investment in technology has enabled continued participation. It also provides an option that eases participation for people with disabilities or other health issues.”
03.04 Property Committee hopes to have various options for acoustic improvements for us to consider within a few months. We should bear in mind that a new heating system may be required in the future. Our next cleaning session will be the first Sunday in April. A full report is attached.
After a brief time of quiet worship, Meeting adjourned, purposing to meet again on the Second Sunday of the Fourth month.
| Submitted by, | Accepted as the Approved Record, | |
| /s/ Heidi Babb, Recording Clerk | /s/ Mark Barker, Presiding Co-Clerk |
| Concord Monthly Meeting Budget vs. Actual | 2021-06-01 – 2022-02-28 | Budget – FY 2021-22 | Budget $ Remaining | % of Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | ||||
| Contributions | $20,418 | $25,672 | $5,254 | 80% |
| Interest Income | – | $810 | $810 | 0% |
| Prior Year Funds | – | $723 | $723 | 0% |
| Rental Income | $705 | $300 | ($405) | 235% |
| Solar Roof Lease | $240 | $240 | $0 | 100% |
| Total Income | $21,363 | $27,745 | $6,382 | 77% |
| Expenses | ||||
| Program | ||||
| Finance Committee | – | $30 | $30 | 0% |
| Hospitality | $42 | $100 | $58 | 42% |
| Library | – | $140 | $140 | 0% |
| Ministry & Counsel | $140 | $400 | $260 | 35% |
| Outreach Committee | $20 | $475 | $455 | 4% |
| Peace, Social & Earthcare Concerns | – | $150 | $150 | 0% |
| Right Relations | – | $500 | $500 | 0% |
| Website Expense | – | $300 | $300 | 0% |
| Youth & Religious Education | 13 | $300 | $287 | 4% |
| Total Program | $215 | $2,395 | $2,180 | 9% |
| Property | ||||
| Data Usage | $820 | $1,000 | $180 | 82% |
| Debt Service | $2,855 | $3,805 | $950 | 75% |
| Donation in Lieu of Taxes | – | $500 | $500 | 0% |
| Electricity | $749 | $1,000 | $251 | 75% |
| Grounds | – | $100 | $100 | 0% |
| Insurance | $1,801 | $2,200 | $399 | 82% |
| Maintenance | $1,030 | $500 | ($520) | 206% |
| Replacement Reserve Expense | $2,858 | $3,810 | $953 | 75% |
| Snow Removal | $800 | $1,700 | $900 | 47% |
| Supplies - Bldg. & Maintenance | $118 | $300 | $182 | 39% |
| Wood Pellets | $1,360 | $1,300 | ($60) | 105% |
| Total Property | $12,390 | $16,215 | $3,825 | 76% |
| Support | ||||
| AFSC [3] | $1,200 | $1,600 | $400 | 75% |
| Dover Quarterly Meeting | – | $10 | $10 | 0% |
| FCNL [4] | – | $153 | $153 | 0% |
| Friends Camp [5] | – | $306 | $306 | 0% |
| FWCC [6] | – | $66 | $66 | 0% |
| Interfaith Council [7] | – | $50 | $50 | 0% |
| NEYM [8] - Equalization Fund | – | $306 | $306 | 0% |
| NEYM - General Fund | $4,607 | $6,334 | $1,727 | 73% |
| NH Council of Churches [9] | – | $75 | $75 | 0% |
| Woolman Hill [10] | – | $235 | $235 | 0% |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | – | – | – | – |
| Total Support | $5,807 | $9,135 | $3,328 | 64% |
| Total Expense | $18,412 | $27,745 | 66% | |
| Net Income | $2,950 |
NB. The Income & Expenses Sheet was created with two decimal points, which were removed for readability, the cents being unimportant to the overall understanding. This can have the effect of throwing off any given sum by a dollar due to compounded rounding. — Prepared by Greg Heath and Chris Haigh.
| Concord Monthly Meeting Balance Sheet | 2nd Month 28, 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | |||
| Current Assets | |||
| Checking/Savings | |||
| Checking 123410166 | $19,456 | ||
| Money Market 101049498 | $6,604 | ||
| Total Checking/Savings | $26,060 | ||
| Accounts Receivable | |||
| Accounts Receivable | $0 | ||
| Total Accounts Receivable | $0 | ||
| Other Current Assets | |||
| Prepaid Electricity | $6,251 | ||
| Prepaid Insurance | $2,347 | ||
| Total Other Current Assets | $8,597 | ||
| Total Current Assets | $34,657 | ||
| Fixed Assets | |||
| Building | $466,455 | ||
| Land (including new lot) | $144,400 | ||
| Total Fixed Assets | $610,855 | ||
| Total Other Assets - NH Community Loan Fund [12] | $23,123 | ||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $668,635 | ||
| LIABILITIES & EQUITY | |||
| Liabilities | |||
| Current Liabilities | |||
| Accounts Payable | |||
| Accounts Payable | $0 | ||
| Total Accounts Payable | $0 | ||
| Other Current Liabilities | |||
| Building & Grounds Fund | $485 | ||
| Friendly Assistance Fund | $1,000 | ||
| Operating Reserve | $2,000 | ||
| Solar Grant Funds | $1,209 | ||
| Special Projects | |||
| Asylum Seekers Support Fund | $1,035 | ||
| Blended Meeting Technology | $183 | ||
| Christine / Kakamega Care Centre | $794 | ||
| Mindful Mortality | $200 | ||
| Social Justice Fund | $603 | ||
| Woolman Hill | $0 | ||
| Total Special Projects | $2,816 | ||
| Total Other Current Liabilities | $7,510 | ||
| Total Current Liabilities | $7,510 | ||
| Long-term Liabilities | |||
| Mortgage Loan 1 | $12,942 | ||
| Replacement Reserve | $48,010 | ||
| Total Long-term Liabilities | $60,952 | ||
| Total Liabilities | $68,462 | ||
| Equity | |||
| General Fund Balance | $597,222 | ||
| Net Income | $2,950 | ||
| Total Equity | $600,173 | ||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY | $668,635 |
Report to Meeting For Business from Ministry and Counsel [13]:
March 2022
State of Society Report was redrafted and approved by Ministry and Counsel and is sent separately from this report.
Fourth Sunday Programs
March Fourth Sunday – AFSC and Ukraine. We proposed the following topic for our Fourth Sunday program with AFSC NH program staff, Maggie Fogarty and Grace Kindeke. How should we be helpful in the current situation? We decided that we would see if Maggie and Grace felt able to lead a discussion of how we can be helpful to Ukraine (and Russia) as the war progresses there. We are very concerned over the current situation but would love their perspective. This will be up dated when confirmed.
April Fourth Sunday – Future goals? We realize we did not finish all the topics and queries that Rich and Lucy discerned for us when we were discussing the State of Society. Traditionally State of Society is a look back on the previous year. We think there is much benefit from looking forward as well and thinking about what we need to be focusing on next. We will be sending out some topics and queries for this discussion.
February 18, 2022
Richard Kleinschmidt
Co-Clerk
Concord Friends Meeting
Dear Richard,
This letter is to convey my wish to become a member of Concord Friends Meeting. I am making this request as both the Spirit within me and the Spirit of this Friends Meeting says this is where I belong.
I have been a member of many churches throughout my life and find this Friend’s Meeting is the most soulful and spiritual body I have ever experienced. I love the people and I am delighted every time I can be with them.
Please let me know if you need anything else from me for this process.
Sincerely yours,
Thomas D Hedberg
Modern technology and our faith in the Divine have helped Concord Friends Meeting to weather the second year of the Covid-19 global pandemic. Early in the year, we worshipped only remotely by Zoom video conferencing. As vaccines became available in the spring, we joyfully opened the meetinghouse to in-person worship while taking precautions to prevent potential disease transmission. In addition, we invested in technology that enabled hybrid in-person and remote worship.
Friends in the meetinghouse can clearly see our fellow worshipers on a large-screen TV as they Zoom in. An in-house panoramic camera gives remote Friends the opportunity to see inside the worship room. Some Friends find the integration more seamless when sitting in the meeting room than remotely. For some online, hybrid worship feels more fragmented than when we were all on Zoom. Nevertheless, we are grateful for the connections we’ve retained in difficult times. Our vocal ministry is thoughtful, and post-worship check-ins bring fresh reflections and wisdom. We have joyfully brought back worship-in-song in hybrid form. Whether it is a Covid variant or a Nor’easter, we can count on being together on First Day.
Some Friends find that the technology needed to connect us interferes with deeper worship. Thus, a small group meets for worship in the meetinghouse on Thursday evenings using no technology.
Zoom continues to enable us to offer programs and hold monthly meetings for business in either hybrid or online formats depending on the level of danger posed by the Corona virus. For Friends who spend part of the year away from New Hampshire, the investment in technology has enabled continued participation. It also provides an option that eases participation for people with disabilities or other health issues.
One of the benefits of online connection has been small group meetings, in some cases just a weekly chance to touch base with an assigned group of Friends, or regular meetings to discuss a book or general topic of interest. Quaker Basics and Quakerism 201 (Testimonies) moved to online meetings, allowing people to participate more easily from home. A regular “story hour,” where members and attenders can hear life stories from one another has been a special gift. All this has allowed many of us to deepen connections to individuals in the meeting and to the meeting as a whole. During warmer weather, efforts to bring Friends together in the outdoors, with camping trips and picnic-style gatherings also helped grow and deepen our connections. These efforts have deepened our sense of faith and have shown what we can accomplish when we work together.
We feel a need to engage in outreach to families with children who have had a harder time participating in the meeting during this pandemic whether remotely or in person. We have missed the consistent presence of youthful energy and enthusiasm.
As a community, we are seeking to discern God’s will going forward. We are grateful for the Friends who worked together in faith years ago to build the beautiful space that is our meetinghouse. Are we being called to a new project? Given the beautiful parcel of land we steward, what opportunities exist for an outdoor worship space, spiritual walks or fellowship in the great outdoors?
We feel called to retain technology that makes the meeting more accessible, including the steps taken to ensure people who are hard of hearing can fully participate. We will try to keep the valuable aspects of the past two years as we move forward. We will not “go back” to what was “normal” before. God willing, we will go forward and build on what we have, recognizing we gained something from the challenges of the pandemic.
We continue to encourage our newcomers to grow in the Spirit with us. We seek to encourage the participation of families with children, and for those children to have other children to play with. We maintain a commitment to our First Day School, and to the needs of younger, working people. We are looking for ways to make it easier for young people with busy lives to participate meaningfully in the life of the meeting. In the year to come, we hope to consider events that enable diverse participation and that attract families to our midst. We all look forward to the day that potlucks can resume inside the meetinghouse!
Having met the challenges of the last two years, we look forward to the days ahead, feeling strong in our commitment to one another and to the Divine. God willing, we will be grateful for another year together.
We now have enough input from the Armstrong tech department to work on decisions about the type, placement and quantity of acoustical material needed. The acoustical results show that we may need a slightly higher quantity of acoustical treatment product than originally estimated. But they are assuming a noisier type of worship than we conduct so maybe not. We can now move on to get a firm price for the materials. It is our hope that installation can be accomplished easily with a non-specialized, small crew. Putting together a plan to move forward will be on the next property committee agenda to prepare for possible decision making at April M4W with attention to business.
The pellet furnace chimney was cleaned in February for the first time since installation over ten years ago. Committee clerk was present and the crew said that there was not an excessive buildup in the chimney so this may not need frequent cleaning at all. There was some noticeable increase in darkness coming from the chimney in just this last year so ten years is likely too long. The furnace itself acted up with several overheating shutdowns for a while after this but seems to be doing OK now. At some future point, replacing combustion with heat pump technology will likely become desirable since nothing lasts forever and cold weather electric heat pump technology has improved and is proving pretty reliable so far. Pellet delivery was later than the clerk could stay on the scheduled day so there was no ability to discuss with the driver how to minimize mess from pellet overflow but they had gotten the message and it was better this time. Emptying the indoor overflow sock between deliveries may be the key. That will need to be passed on if responsibility for these transfers in the future.
We will be delaying the every other month extra cleaning session from March 3rd Sunday to April 1st Sunday after fellowship. With further decline in COVID risk and better weather possible, this may be better for everyone. Send email about things that need attention to PropertyCommittee [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org or write it down in the notebook hanging on the wall to the left of the sink in the food prep space.
– Jennifer Smith, Property committee clerk
|
Canterbury, New Hampshire 03224-2043 USA
Links:
[1] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/2022-02-13_CMM_Minutes
[2] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/sites/all/files/documents/CMM-IncomeExpenseFY2022asof2022-02-28forMar13.xlsx
[3] https://www.afsc.org/
[4] https://www.fcnl.org/
[5] https://www.friendscamp.org/
[6] http://fwcc.world/
[7] https://www.greaterconcordinterfaithcouncil.org/
[8] https://neym.org
[9] http://nhchurches.org/
[10] http://woolmanhill.org/
[11] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/sites/all/files/documents/CMM-BalanceSheetFY2022asof2022-02-28forMar13.xlsx
[12] https://www.communityloanfund.org/
[13] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/sites/all/files/documents/CMM-2022-03-13-MinistryAndCounselReport.docx
[14] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/sites/all/files/documents/CMM-2021StateOfSociety-draft.docx
[15] https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/sites/all/files/documents/CMM-2022-03-13-PropertyCommitteeReport.doc