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We have forgotten how to be good guests,

How to walk lightly on the Earth

As its other creatures do.

~ Barbara Ward (1914-1981)

A British economist and writer interested in the problems of developing countries

and environmental issues.

The Meeting Calendar

Ministry and Counsel Report to Meeting for Business for Ninth Month

The committee met twice in August and covered these topics:

1. Fourth Sunday: We came up with the following ideas for 4^th-Sunday programs and hope to get feedback from the Meeting on these.
   
   1. PSECC hopes to have a Meeting for Worship at the Hannah Dustin Monument followed by a picnic potluck and program on Quaker involvement with Indian Boarding Schools and potential reparations idea raised at NEYM.
   2. Listen to the final Bible Half Hour of 2024 NEYM Sessions (which mentions an Emmaus Walk) and worship sharing on it.
   3. Palestine/Gaza/Israel situation
   4. Worship sharing around a story about our early religious education experience
   5. State of Society – reflection on our Meeting during 2024 (probably January)
   6. Discussion on the draft Faith and Practice Introduction that was first read at 2024 NEYM Sessions and will be considered again in 2025.
   7. Sometime before 2025 NEYM we will plan a program about NEYM that would help people learn about it, prepare for it, and engage in concerns arising within New England Quakers. Maybe titled: Where Are NE Quakers At?
      
      We’re open to hearing other suggestions.  With better advance planning we hope to increase attendance.
2. Pastoral Care: We regularly spend a portion of our meetings considering the pastoral care needs of our community.
3. We would like to see the Walking Group continue but have not found anyone to lead it.
4. Green Burial at Canterbury Cemetery: We were asked to survey members on their interest in green burial (or any burial) at the Canterbury cemetery.  Calls to members should begin soon.
5. Name Tags: Greg has printed out name tags for several recent attenders and has ordered (and received) new name tag holders.
6. Greeters: Ruth sent a draft job description of greeting to the current greeters and asked them to affirm their desire to continue.  We need someone to cover 3^rd-Sunday greeting.
   
   1. 1^st Sunday: Sara Smith
   2. 2^nd Sunday: Kathy Urie
   3. 3^rd Sunday:
   4. 4^th Sunday: Chris Haigh
   5. 5^th Sunday: Ruth Heath
7. Quakerism 101: We plan to hold a series of sessions on learning more about Quakerism that will be fruitful for both new attenders and those with years of experience.
8. Sept 1 Float Down Merrimack was a very successful, fun, intergenerational event attended by 15 of us on a perfect end-of-summer day.  Swimmers and birders were happy with the delights of the river.
9. Heidi relayed a request from PSECC that the Meeting co-sponsor two films at Red River Theatres organized by Not In My Name and in conjunction with NH Peace Action Palestine Education Network.  The movies are “Israelism” (9/19) and “Where Olive Trees Weep" (9/26).  Because a decision was required before our next business meeting, Ministry and Counsel (M&C) was requested to approve the request in accordance with our policy on time-sensitive issues: Time-Sensitive Statement Process.  We did approve that request at our August 26^th meeting with all committee members present.

Respectfully submitted,

Ruth on behalf of Ministry and Counsel

• CMM/Finance/2024/CMM-OperationsFY2025todate
• CMM/Finance/2024/CMM-BalanceSheetFY2025todate

Peace, Social, and Earthcare Concerns Committee (PSECC) requested approval to sponsor two films at Red River Theatre, put on by a group called Not in my Name which is associated with NH Peace Action. The movies are “Israelism” (9/19) and “Where Olive Trees Weep" (9/26). Because a decision was required before our next business meeting, Ministry and Counsel (M&C) was requested to approve the request in accordance with our policy on time sensitive issues: Time-Sensitive Public Statements.

Ministry and Counsel met on August 26th with all members present and approved this action on behalf of Concord Friends Meeting. We look forward to hearing reports from both M&C and PSECC at our upcoming business meeting.

Peace, Social, and Earthcare Concerns Committee (PSECC) requested approval to sponsor two films at Red River Theatre, put on by a group called Not in my Name which is associated with NH Peace Action.   “Israelism” was shown on September 19^th and “Where Olive Trees Weep" will be shown this coming Thursday.

The filmmakers journeyed to the occupied West Bank in 2022.  Background to the current crisis is given as the film examines the lives of people they met.  The Palestinians share their universally human stories of intergenerational pain, trauma and resilience.

Anne Romney is a member of Not in My Name and will moderate a discussion after each film.  Participants will be encouraged to share their reactions as well as questions about the films and the Israel/Palestine situation.  Anne is an educator and facilitator who  has traveled to Israel/Palestine on a Compassionate Listening Journey to meet with both Jews and Arabs living in and out of the Occupied Territories.  She has researched the background of the conflict for many years and is committed to promoting awareness and action around a humanitarian crisis that has long been in the shadows.

The silent vigil for a ceasefire in Gaza continues every Thursday from Noon-1 p.m. at the corner of Main and Park Street.  Make your own sign, use one provided, or just stand in silent witness besides others. This is done in coordination with NH Peace Action.  We suggest that people make signs that convey something about justice for Israel and Palestine.  Also please avoid the word genocide, ethnic cleansing, and similar terms.

Registration at Latter Day Saints on Clinton Street opens at 9:00 AM, we gather for introductions, etc. at 9:30, and the 2½ mile walk begins at 10:00 a.m.  This year the GCIC will be partnering with Domino’s Pizza, Constantly Pizza, and Sal’s pizza to give a $10 gift card to everyone who raises $100 or more.

Seven faith communities have already set up teams online: https://events.crophungerwalk.org/cropwalks/event/concordnh and five others have started fundraising offline. 

Contact GCIC if you have questions, need materials, or would like to help on Walk Day by providing desserts for returning walkers.

Look on the Greater Concord Interfaith Council’s Facebook page (link at https://www.greaterconcordinterfaithcouncil.org/) and share it to spread the word.

This is Jen Newman, Beacon Hill Friends House Executive Director! Following are some upcoming events:

Friends who weren't able to be at NEYM hybrid sessions this year may want to explore some of the recordings made. And some who were there may want to revisit some of this, too.

neym 2024-sessions-recordings

Join AFSC New Hampshire for "Rooted Resilience: Building a Solidarity Economy for People & Planet" on Saturday, September 28^th from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Tuckaway Farm in Lee, NH for a community workshop for people of all ages who are interested in learning more about how our economic system works, how we got here and how we create an economy that works for all of us.

Facilitated by AFSC's U.S. Economic Justice Director Rick Wilson and Emily Kawano, Co-Director of the Wellspring Cooperative Corporation and Coordinator of the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network, this interactive and inclusive workshop will grow our understanding of how we build a solidarity and resistance economy that can transform and strengthen our communities so that we all have what we need to live and thrive.

Learn more about inspiring work currently underway in New Hampshire and connect with diverse community members from across the state! This event is by donation. The full day workshop includes breakfast and lunch. Childcare and transportation support will be available for those who need it. All are welcome!

You are invited to register for our Fall Retreat! Our theme will be "The Costumes We Wear."

Each year on the last day of 10^th month (October), people across the country don costumes and assume new identities in celebration of Halloween. Though Early Friends did not observe this tradition, many Friends today do. But what about the costumes that we try on, both intentionally and unintentionally, during other times of the year? How do the costumes that we wear affirm and how do they obscure our identities? How do the Early Friends' customs of plain dress and “clothing ourselves in righteousness” resonate with our spiritual practices and traditions today?

Join Young Friends for a weekend of silliness, deep conversation, and reflection at Portland Friends Meeting. You can register for the retreat here.

Are you seeking to simplify your life and take personal steps to create a right relationship with our world? RSWR is offering a workshop titled The Power of Enough via Zoom. This workshop will be starting September 12th 2024 for five weeks, ending October 10th. Every Thursday participants will meet for 90 minutes at either 11:30am to 1:00 pm ET or 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm ET. In the registration please share your time preference. Each session will last 90 minutes.

Participants will explore new perspectives through various experiential activities. Attendees will leave with a deeper sense of self and connection to how our personal choices ripple forward to others.

This workshop will be lead by Nathan Kleban and is about how we can contribute to right balance in the world through our use of time, energy, and "things". In his past Nathan has served as an environmental volunteer with the Peace Corps in Mali, lived and served in Catholic Worker communities, worked as a Park Manager in Vermont, and is actively involved with the Alternatives To Violence Project on local and international levels. He currently lives in Iowa City.