2023-09-22 Newsletter of

Concord Friends Meeting

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

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“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

President Barack Obama

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
Sunday September 24th 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) . No 4th Sunday Program. First Day School Teacher: Ruth; With Children: Juliet & Sharon; Closing: Kathy U. & Chris.
Sunday September 24th 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Concord Multicultural Festival, Keach Park, Concord Heights
Mid-Week Worship TBD TBD If interested please contact Rich at klnschmdt [at] gmail [dot] com (subject: Mid-week%20Worship)
Sunday October 1st 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) . First Day School Teacher: Ruth; With Children: Kathy & Chris H; Closing: Jennifer & Kathy.
Saturday October 7th 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Yard Sale at Henniker Friends Meetinghouse
Saturday October 14th 12:00 p.m. NH CROP Hunger Walk Registration
Saturday October 14th 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. AFSC-NH "Fun"draiser: Concord Friends Meetinghouse
Saturday October 28th 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. AFSC-NH "Fun"draiser: Dover Friends Meetinghouse
Saturday November 4th 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. AFSC-NH "Fun"draiser: Hanover Friends Meetinghouse


 

From NetZero to $30,000

Dear Friends,

Now that the Geothermal installation is complete, we must embark on the journey of raising funds to pay for it.

Our Capital Campaign goal is $30,000 and we now formally invite you to help us reach our goal.

Quaker Earthcare has awarded us a mini-grant for $1,500!  While the remaining grants we submitted could bring us another $17,000 (but are not assured), there is still a lot we will need donated by individuals.  If we reach this goal, the Meeting will keep long-term loans to a small amount.

We are hopeful that some members will make large donations (over $1,000) for this purpose, but many small gifts are also necessary to reach our goal.  We are already on our way, having already received one major gift and two others.  We are grateful to these 'early responders' who gave without formal invitation. Will you join them now?

Discern what you can give; any amount will be appreciated.  If your aspiration is larger than your current budget allows, or you can give later but not immediately, consider a pledge (which could be a lump sum or extended over a one, two or three-year period).

We are asking for pledges and donations to be submitted before Tuesday, October 31st.

Checks can be made to Concord Monthly Meeting (“Geothermal” in memo) and mailed to Greg Heath, 49 Wyven Rd, Canterbury 03224.  Direct deposit instructions are available here:  https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/Donations.

Pledges can be emailed (to Greg Heath gregoryheath1951 [at] gmail [dot] com (subject: Fundraising%20Pledge) ), including the total amount and when you anticipate being able to complete it.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration of how you might participate in this important project.

Fundraising Committee: Juliet Curran, Ruth Heath, Dave Woolpert

Concord Multicultural Festival: Sunday, September 24th

AFSC-NH Fundraiser: Share your talent on October 14th

Do you have a song to play, a dance to dance, a joke to tell or a story to share? Join AFSC-NH for our in-person Fall fundraiser gathering "Lift Our Hearts and Raise Our Spirits" to share and celebrate our community’s gifts and stories.

AFSC-NH invites you to sign up for 1-2 open spots in our program.  Please be mindful that this event is for a diverse, multi-age community. Each spot will be 4 minutes or less.

We will come together on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at the Concord Friends Meetinghouse.  Doors open at 1 p.m.  Join us for refreshments and the program begins at 2 p.m.

All performers and storytellers are welcome to join the event for free and will receive complimentary refreshments, however, donations are appreciated!  Deadline to sign up is: Friday, Sept 29th.  Here's the link: https://forms.gle/wnKbE36P3mj4u4Dy6.

And of course, if you aren't performing, please come out and support those who do!

SAVE THE DATES:

Concord Friends will be hosting one of three "fun"draisers for AFSC-NH on Oct. 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. Expect to be invited to participate by contributing an hors d'oeuvre, or a talent in performance, or a hand with clean-up later this Fall. We'll provide info about signing up later. But most of all, plan to come! If you can't make it for our own event, there are two other Meetings hosting similar events so there's sure to be one you can attend. The word from AFSC-NH:

Friends, you are invited to join AFSC NH at Lift Our Hearts & Raise Our Spirits, three unique in-person events for our annual Fall fundraiser to support our work to help build a more just and loving community. These afternoon gatherings will be opportunities to connect and inspire each other with games, song, spoken word, art and delicious food. All are welcome!

  • October 14 - 1pm-4pm: Concord Friends Meeting - Join us for music & spoken word!
  • October 28 - 1pm-4pm: Dover Friends Meeting - Join us for arts, crafts & games!
  • November 4 - 1pm-4pm: Hanover Friends Meeting - Join us to hear from AFSC's General Secretary Joyce Ajlouny and Economic Justice Director, Rick Wilson!

All are welcome to join us! The suggested donation is $20 to $50 to support the work of AFSC-NH. Please pay as led; we do not want money to be an obstacle to your joining the celebrations. Contact //afscnh [at] afsc [dot] org" target="_blank" title="Link to AFSC NH Program webpage">afscnh [at] afsc [dot] org with any questions or comments.

Lindi Friends School, Nairobi, Kenya

Friends might be interested in connecting with the Lindi School, the school in Nairobi to which we are sending a contribution.  I wrote to Karla Jay, Global Ministries Coordinator at Friends United Meeting to find out how to connect. She wrote:

Thank you for your concern for the Lindi School. There is a fund set up for them to receive donations, please see below to connect.

Lindi Friends School

Lindi Friends School is a refuge of hope and joy for the children of Kibera, a large urban slum in Nairobi.  The school provides quality faith-based education, a safe place for children to play, and serves families who struggle to pay school fees.  For many children, the meal they receive at school is their only meal for the day.

Again, thank you for your concern and getting your meeting involved.

Karla Jay, Global Ministries Coordinator

Subscribe to our FUM's weekly e-newsletter https://www.FriendsUnitedMeeting.org.

39th Annual Concord, NH CROP Hunger Walk: Saturday, October 14th

CROP Walk is an annual fundraiser held nationally to alleviate the challenges of disease, disaster, and displacement that leave people hungry locally and internationally.  The prolonged war in Ukraine and other disasters is causing a global food crisis.  Millions are on the brink of famine.  Locally, congregations form teams and members make donations to support those teams.

The CROP Walk is planned as a traditional in-person walk starting from the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) on Clinton St. in Concord.  Registration will begin at 12:00 with a kick-off rally at 12:30 and the walk beginning at 1:00 on Saturday, October 14.  There will be refreshments at the church afterward.

Over the years, CFM has been a strong contributor to this effort.  This year’s CFM team, so far, includes Elanor, Rowan, Ruth, and Sheryl.  Want to join them … or support them with a donation?

To Join as a Walker and/or Support the Team:

  1. Click here: https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2023/team/concord-friends-meeting.
    1. Click “Join The Team” to sign up as a walker (you will be able to donate if you’d like from this link), or
    2. Click “Make a Donation” to donate via credit or debit card.
    3. Note that donations online can be made anonymously if you wish.
  2. Alternatively, you can donate by writing a check payable to CWS/CROP Walk and mail to: Sheryl Ingraham, 4 Fogg Street, Concord, NH. 03301

Please contact Sheryl Ingraham if you have any questions at: sheryl [dot] ingraham [at] gmail [dot] com (subject: NH%20CROP%20Walk) !

Yard Sale in aid of East African women’s work: Saturday, October 7th

Come to a YARD SALE at:

the Quaker Meetinghouse

529 Quaker Street, Henniker, NH

Saturday October 7th, 2023

9-3 Rain or shine

Decades of quality items for sale!

All proceeds go toward women’s work

in East Africa.

Geothermal Update

UltraGeothermal has told us the heating system is ready to use now should we get a cold snap.  We will have a formal "tour" of the system during the first week of October.  They plan to offer us a choice of two dates to help accommodate our various schedules.  Presently I have Chris, Rich, Mark, Ruth, JJ, and Elaine as interested in attending. Please let me know if you would also like to be included. - Greg

Plastic-Bag Recycling Reminder

Concord Friends Meeting has agreed to begin collecting plastic bags to reduce the amount of plastic sent to the landfill and turn it into benches that will be placed on community trails.  A box to collect the plastic will be located in the mechanical/utility room of the Meetinghouse.  The plastic does not have to be marked as recyclable; any clean, flexible plastic bag-like material can be collected.  If you have any questions, contact Sheryl Ingraham at 410-972-1222.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Silence

Silence

Gives me peace

So I can breathe

In this chaotic world

Silence

Is more than the absence of speech

It is a free moment

When we clean the air

Have time to think

to clear our soul

And go deep into our selves,

into our minds

Silence

Is my friend

I want to go there again and again

(Tonje Smidt Hundevadt, Norway Yearly Meeting)

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

From Past Issues:

  • Ben Lomand Quaker Center
  • September Minutes
  • How to Make Submissions

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

Concord’s September Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business

The draft minutes for the September 2023 meeting for worship with attention to business are available at https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/2023-09-10_CMM_Minutes or via https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/Minutes_of_ConcordMonthlyMeeting.

For corrections, missing documents, and/or clarifications of the minutes, please reply to web clerk, Concord Friends Meeting (WebClerk [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org (subject: CFM-Ninth%20Month%20Minutes) )

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, Newsletter Editor

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

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

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