2023-07-28 Newsletter of

Concord Friends Meeting

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

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Peace.  It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work.

It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.

(Unknown)

The Meeting Calendar

As of July 9th, 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).

Day Date Time Event
Saturday July 29th 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Canterbury Fair!!! (see below)
Sunday July 30th 10:00 a.m. Meeting for Worship & Fellowship.  For Zoom link, email Zoom [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org (subject: %E2%80%9CWorship%E2%80%9D%20Zoom%20Link%20Request) . Closing: TBD With Children: Ruth and TBD.
Sunday July 30th 10:00 a.m. Dover Quarterly Meeting at North Sandwich Friends (See below for more information)
Mid-Week Worship TBD TBD If interested please contact Rich at klnschmdt [at] gmail [dot] com


 

Update from the Childcare Committee!

Pathfinders, the name of the new child care program, has received its license pending the final fire inspection.  They are scheduling an Open House on the evening of Wednesday August 2nd and will be staging for it on Monday July 31st.  Congratulations are in order for them!  If anyone is in the building on those days please be mindful to not disturb their setup.

Renovations Update:

Suddenly everything is happening very quickly.  To our surprise and delight the well drilling company expects to be on site in about 2 to 3 weeks.  The fire alarm company will be installing equipment during the second week of August.  The fundraising committee had its first meeting last night and we have received a $500 earmarked donation for this work.  And we haven't even asked for donations yet!

The well drilling is expected to have quite an impact until it's cleaned up and landscaping restored.  The process is quite messy, but the contractor will do his best to "restore us to grade."  There will be two 400-foot wells drilled, and we expect them to be placed in the corners of the landscaped area between the two sidewalks close to the asphalted parking.  We are working out a plan right now to preserve our investment in the plantings that will be affected.  Stay tuned.

Quarterly Meeting at North Sandwich Friends

Hello, Friends,

We gather again as a Quarter this coming Sunday, in-person for the first time in many months!  We will be meeting at North Sandwich, worship at 10 a.m. and business meeting at 12 noon.  At the start of the business meeting, we will have a short program presentation by a North Sandwich Friend on recent pilgrimages.  After the meeting, if the weather is nice, there may be an opportunity for a walk to the historic meeting cemetery and a covered bridge.

The draft agenda is attached, along with the minutes from our last meeting on April 30th.

I look forward to seeing you in North Sandwich.

—Jeremiah

Draft Minutes from April 2023 Quarterly Meeting

Draft Agenda for July 30th, 2023 Meeting

Hello again, Friends,

In thinking about gathering this Sunday in North Sandwich for Quarterly Meeting, I realize I forgot to remind everyone to bring a brown bag lunch.

Remember, worship at 10, program and business meeting starting around 12 or a little later.  The weather looks to be sunny and warm so it will be a delightful day to be in North Sandwich.

Looking forward to being together.

—Jeremiah

Canterbury Fair - July 29th: 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 363rd 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

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
  • Pow Wows in New Hampshire
  • How to Make Submissions

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. 

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Juliet Curran / Wendy Lapham Newsletter Editors

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