Concord Friends Meeting

A Monthly Meeting in Dover Quarter of New England Yearly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends

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My best language has always come out of silence.

(Carrie Newcomer, Quaker Songwriter and Performer)

The Meeting Calendar

As of July 9^th, 2023, masks are optional in the Meetinghouse.  Vaccination, Quarantine Guidelines and Testing Protocols remain the same.  Please refer to the following link for more information. (COVID guidance for In-Person Worship).

News of Friends:

John Gfroerer, a former member of Meeting died on July 6 with his daughter Brinkley and wife Lisa at his side.  A significant member of our Concord Friends Meeting decades ago, John was a protagonist for equal opportunity in Concord and around the northeast US, and helped rediscover our Meeting’s history, including the fact that there is a Quaker cemetery next to a small one near the Concord’s center that is owned by the city.

When our Meeting was looking for an existing building in Concord in the 1990s to convert into a Meetinghouse, he encouraged us to buy the duplex he was living in on Franklin Street.  He had evidence that it been a Quaker Meetinghouse a very long time ago and had been moved twice before the original Concord Meeting was laid down in the mid-1800s.

His willingness to speak truth to power didn’t always make people comfortable, so he was a reminder of what some Quakers have bravely demonstrated over the centuries.

The Meeting benefited from his participation during the years he attended and those of us who attended back then enjoyed getting to know the three sets of his family members who often attended with him. Namaste – Dave

The memorial will be at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Hopkinton on Sunday July 16 at 1:00 p.m.

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Mary Mokler, who attended meeting for a decade or so before moving to New Mexico in 2021 to live with her son, Gibson, passed away peacefully at home after a long illness on Sunday July 9. If you wish to express condolences or share special memories, Gibson can be reached at gibsonmokler [at] gmail [dot] com.

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Hello Friends,

I am forwarding a message from Gonic Meeting about the recent passing of Friend Muriel Farrar. I had the privilege of working with Muriel on the NEYM Finance Committee where she was an able and gentle-spirited participant. She will be missed. — Jeremiah

I wanted to share Muriel Farrar's obituary with you all and let you know that we’ll be having a Memorial Service for her at Gonic Meeting on July 22^nd at 1 p.m. Her husband, Don Foster, would be glad to hear from friends who have fond memories of Muriel. His address is 148 Gear Road, Rochester, NH 03839, if you’d like to send a card. He asks for donations to your favorite charity in lieu of flowers. – Ginny

https://www.edgerlyfh.com/obituary/muriel-farrar

Big News: Meetinghouse Renovations

If you missed the Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business:

After much thought, preparation, discussion and worship over several months and meetings, we found unity to proceed with renovations to bring the Meetinghouse up to the fire codes.  These improvements in the safety and preparedness of our building will make it possible to host the proposed nature-based childcare program, and events with more than 49 in attendance.  To get all the details be sure to read your (draft) minutes from the meeting at https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/2023-07-09_CMM_Minutes or via https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/Minutes_of_ConcordMonthlyMeeting

In brief:

• To overcome the lack of a sufficient fire barrier around the Mechanical Room the Meeting plans to replace the wood pellet boiler with a geothermal or a hydronic heat pump system. As non-combustion systems they can eliminate the need for the fire barrier. We are evaluating contractors now and expect to contract that work soon.
• The Meeting has a clear preference for geothermal (ground water to inside floor water heat pump) due to its energy efficiency. Hydronic (outside air to inside water) is a good second choice and still under consideration. (Refer to link for more information supplied by Greg: https://apnews.com/article/geothermal-ground-source-heat-pump-home-cooling-heating-3e0a1a15751ee3c66e23fee2a170aa74)
• Work will begin soon on exit signs, emergency lighting and pellet bin removal.
• We plan to sell our wood pellets. Please spread the word.
• We will stop using the stove top burners to avoid having to install a costly sprinkler system in the kitchen. Perhaps some crock pots and an induction “burner” will meet our needs.
• A summary budget for anticipated expenses was accepted and approved by the Meeting which can be reviewed by clicking here.  Friends interested in more details are invited to speak with the committee members, Ruth, Greg, Dave, and Elaine.
• Deb Follansbee (Director and Owner of the childcare program) can now advertise for enrollment and has the fire chief’s provisional approval pending a final inspection.
• We set a fundraising goal of $20,000. Dave, Ruth and Juliet (Fundraising Committee) would love to hear from you with offers of help or a donation pledge.
• The Meeting is making plans for some short term loans to meet our cash flow needs. Part of the plan is to arrange roughly $15,500 in long term loans to stretch out 5 to 10 years.

Once again the Childcare Planning Committee thanks the Meeting for its thoughtfulness and serious attention to this momentous undertaking. Stay tuned for our progress reports.

- Ruth, Greg, Dave and Elaine

After-fellowship Cleaning on July 16^th

Update: Lots of rain is predicted for Sunday so our cleaning day will focus on cleaning soot and dust out of the mechanical room, getting junk down from and out of the attic, and window cleaning.  We hope you can join in this work to prepare for a more crowded meetinghouse as we host the new childcare program!

If the weather improves, Friends should plan to do mostly outdoor work.  If you know you can't be there for that time, we will have a list of residual tasks to send out afterward so that Friends can plan to do them over the next few weeks.  If you won't be available much for the following several weeks and are anxious to do some work around the Meetinghouse and grounds before 7/16, send a note to PropertyCommittee [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org and we will let you know what would be helpful.  The next scheduled group cleaning activity will be the third Sunday of September.

July 23^rd, Fourth Sunday Program: Humor, A Spiritual Gift

Led by Betsy Meyer.  We will explore Quaker humor, the use of humor in a spiritual community, teaching good humor to our children, and humor in the Bible.  Bring your favorite Quaker joke to share.

Canterbury Fair - July 29^th: Spread the Word about Quakers AND Have Fun

The YRE Committee is organizing outreach at the Canterbury Fair, July 29, hoping to reach potential families and others who might be in search of a spiritual home. We need your help!

Friday, July 28, in the late afternoon/early evening we'll need 2 people to bring tables, chairs, tents, and plastic boxes of supplies to the Center (and maybe set up the tents if no wind is predicted).

The Fair begins Saturday at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m.  For each 1½- to 2-hour shift we'll need:

• one person (at least) with the Puppets for Peace kids activity, and
• another person under the adult tent, to hand out ice water and outreach material (if requested) and answer questions.

When you're not helping out, there is so much to do and eat and buy: the legendary Book Sale, the scrump-deli-luscious Chicken BBQ, the antiques, the live music, the kids games, the frappes(!), the sundaes, the baked goods, the tacos, the "Grill", the What Not Sale, the Morris Dancers.  Plan to make it a day and spread the word about Quakers and what we offer to a world in need of peace and hope and love.

"Please email Ruth if you can help - ruthmheath [at] comcast [dot] net (subject: Canterbury%20Fair) . Thanks!"

An Invitation to Annual Sessions of New England Yearly Meeting:

Friends around New England and beyond—you are invited to the 363^rd Annual Sessions of New England Yearly Meeting, August 4–9, 2023!

Last year we pioneered hybrid sessions, with some of you attending at Castleton University, and others participating by Zoom. Continuing that successful experiment, our focus this year is building connections, strengthening local meetings, and practicing our faith together. Our schedule has been built with attention to creating time for sitting with old F/friends and making new ones.

Click here for more information

Black Heritage Trail unveiling of a historical marker for Nellie Brown Mitchell and Edward Everett Brown in Dover

This unveiling is part of our statewide program, Mapping Untold Stories, which makes New Hampshire’s Black history visible and brings to light the rich history and contributions of Black people in New Hampshire.

Nellie Brown Mitchell was a successful Black soprano concert singer, music educator, inventor, and activist.  She was a native of Dover.  Her brother, Edward Everett Brown was a lawyer and civil rights activist. He was also born in Dover.

The unveiling will take place Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 1 p.m. The event will begin with a tour of Dover’s Black history sites, beginning at 11:00 a.m., meeting at the Dover Friends Meetinghouse, 141 Central Ave. The tour will end at Dover Friends Meetinghouse.  The program will then continue with speakers including MC Steve Curwood, Dover Mayor Robert Carrier, and BHTNH Board Member Sen. David Watters.  Singer Jennifer Rachele will be performing songs sung by Nellie Brown Mitchell.  Ms. Rachele is a Haitian-American artist born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.  She has a deep love for music, theater, and words and respects the power it has to inspire and heal.

Following the speakers, attendees will then walk up the street to Pine Hill Cemetery for the unveiling of the marker and a prayer with Rev. Lillian Buckley at the Brown Mitchell gravesite.

After the unveiling attendees will be invited to view the display of historic memorabilia regarding the Brown family at the Woodman Museum.  Refreshments will be served at Dover Friends Meetinghouse.

Click here for a Schedule of Events.

Ben Lomand Quaker Center

Offers a daily online meeting for worship from 7:30-8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (10:30–11:00 a.m. Eastern Time).  You can join them from anyplace in the world! online meeting for worship

Questions, comments, suggestions?  Email us at: ConcordFriendsNewsletter [at] gmail [dot] com (subject: Newsletter%20Submission)

From Past Issues:

• Draft minutes for the July 2023 Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business
• Circle of Music
• Quaker Podcasts
• New Hampshire Pow Wows

• Draft Minutes for the July 2023 Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business are available at https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/2023-07-09_CMM_Minutes or via https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/Minutes_of_ConcordMonthlyMeeting
  
• Circle of Music:

• Sample of Quaker Podcasts:
  • https://quakerstoday.podbean.com/
  • https://quakersofnewengland.buzzsprout.com/
• Here is a list of Pow Wows in New Hampshire.  They are fun, interesting, and you can learn more about Indigenous culture. A great way to show support! https://calendar.powwows.com/events/categories/pow-wows/pow-wows-in-new-hampshire/

Submission for this Newsletter

Dear Friends,

If you have information to share via this Newsletter please have your information submitted to ConcordFriendsNewsletter [at] gmail [dot] com (subject: Newsletter%20Submission) by 5:00 PM on Thursdays. 

• Items should begin with a headline followed by text that can be copied and pasted without editing.
• Please remove any formatting if you are able.
• Please keep postings directly related to the Meeting or activities and groups supported by the Meeting, or personal news to share. 
• Typically the announcements will go out by Friday.  It is our intention to acknowledge receipt of all submissions.  If you don't receive an acknowledgment we probably have not seen your message, and it would be helpful if you followed up with us.
• The Newsletter Gmail account is owned by Wendy, but it is also used by Juliet.  Look for the signature to be clear who the actual sender is.
• And finally, it's best to keep your Zoom links in a handy place in case the announcements are not sent in a given week.

Juliet Curran / Wendy Lapham Newsletter Editors

Are you wanting information from past announcements and newsletters?

Visit this page on our web site: Past Announcements and Newsletters

Are you wanting to donate to Concord Monthly Meeting?

Visit this page on our web site for more information: Donations