Concord Friends Meeting

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

Click here to subscribe to this newsletter

There is that near you that will guide you. O, wait for it and be sure to keep to it…

Isaac Penington (1616-1669)

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. (more info).

An Update from Sue L:

My surgery went well yesterday.  I’m home, my daughter is staying with me for a few days and I am not experiencing any pain.   I’m mobile with a walker, and not driving for the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for all the well wishes!

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.

Pellet Bin Help Needed

On Thursday Greg began emptying the pellet bin.  It should take about 8 hours to run the auger to fill bags with pellets for sale. Once the bin is empty we can take the bin apart and store the pieces for sale.  This work needs to be completed by July 28 when Greg leaves for two weeks.  The reason for the rush is that the childcare program needs to set up a classroom in the Fellowship Room to market effectively.  They can't do this until their furnishings can be stored on Sundays, and that requires the space the pellet bin occupies.  Please help with this work if you are able.  Contact Greg to learn more.

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!"

Weeding

It seems as though weeds are beginning to take over the landscaped area in front of the meeting house.  Anyone who has some time to pull a few would be providing a wonderful service.  There are kneelers in the mechanical room.  Weeds themselves can get tossed in the woods.

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

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

Update From Anne S

Beth writes: Our Friend Anne Saunders is a gifted writer and I encourage you to read her blog about her travels. Her latest entry is about Alaska. She has made it all the way there, towing her beloved teardrop trailer, Moominmama! Read her blog entry here: https://moominmamasadventures.blogspot.com/2023/07/moominmamas-adventure-juneau-alaska.html?m=1

Update From Matt S

Hello all,

I want to update you with my most recent endeavors. Now that I have settled here in Ireland I have slowly gotten in the habit of taking pictures which I will now include. Immediately after I wrote my prior ‘dispatch’ I squeezed in a quick tour of Glendalough - one of Ireland’s most famous monastic sites. The two loughs or ‘lakes’ within the valley for which the monastery is named provide stunningly beautiful vistas to behold - especially the upper lough. Pictures clockwise from top left are Glendalough, a Glendalough cemetery, Giant's Causeway and the Giant's Causeway coastline.

After making my way back to my apartment in Dublin for an evening, I took the train up to Belfast in Northern Ireland.  After I got settled in at my hostel - I went on several tours including an excursion that took me through some of the areas and murals that featured in the Troubles - the sectarian civil war that rocked Northern Ireland for about thirty years up until the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.  I also attended the July 12th parade in Belfast and featured many Protestant pipe and drum bands who marched through the city in celebration of the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.  This battle was a pivotal turning point in Irish history when the Protestants under King William of Orange were able to defeat the forces of the Catholic Kings James II and exercise a sort of religious and political supremacy over the Catholics in Ireland for the next several centuries. Given the political and religious connotations of this parade, the July 12th marches continue to prove controversial in Northern Ireland.

Aside from the activities touched upon above, I also visited several museums including one devoted to the Titanic which was built here in Belfast.  The museum was consciously built right near the specially built berth where the Titanic and its sister ship - the Olympic was constructed.  Along with their sister ship the Britannia, the Olympic and the Titanic were the largest ships ever built up until this point in time and required a massive, specially built crane system to construct both ships.  The museum went into incredible detail as to how the Titanic was planned and constructed by its designers.  As you can imagine, they also delved into the psychology, and the associated errors behind why the ship ended up sinking after hitting an iceberg.

Finally, while in Northern Ireland, I went on a tour of the Giant’s Causeway.  Although the weather was quite rainy, I was able to take many great pictures including one here from the cliffs above.

The final photo I have included is one taken up close which allows you to see the distinctive hexagonal stones for which the causeway is famous.

I will continue to keep you updated on my travels. I hope all is well and wish you the best.

Matt S.

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: Sunday, August 13-Friday, August 18, 2023. Details & registration: ferrybeach.org/circle-of-music.html
• 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