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“TThe only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it,

move with it, and join the dance..”

~ Alan Watts (1915-1973)

An English writer, speaker, and self-styled "philosophical entertainer",

known for interpreting and popularizing Buddhist, Taoist, and

Hindu philosophy for a Western audience.

Here are the links to the Statement of Operations and Balance Sheet that will be presented on Sunday.  Please note that the heading for column one of the Operations report reads Jun 24-May 25.  This is due to a software limitation.  It should read Jun 24-Oct 24.  The overall report heading is correct.  Major differences in the Balance Sheet from last month show an increase to our assets due to the purchase of the solar array, a new short term loan liability to reflect the financing, and the elimination of our prepaid electricity account which was also part of financing the purchase. 

After fellowship on 3^rd Sunday this month, November 17, we will spend about 20 minutes to a half an hour cleaning up the Meeting House.  There will be outdoor work as well as indoor work offered.  Please stay and help if you are able.

For over fifty years, I have been affiliated with several pacifist organizations including the Baptist Peace Fellowship, the Fellowship of Reconciliation/International, and the War Resisters League/International and some that no longer exist, such as the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors and Center on Conscience & War (formerly known as NISBCO).

In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth nations, Monday, the 11^th of November is known as Remembrance Day where there is a tradition of wearing an artificial red poppy.  The Poppy Factory that manufactures them is a few hundred yards from my flat for 25 years in Richmond, Surrey, and not far from Richmond Friends Meetinghouse and the former Royal Star and Garter Home for injured military veterans. 

What many people may be less aware of is the tradition of   wearing a white poppy which was started by the Peace Pledge Union.  The pledge reads “War is a crime against   humanity.  I renounce war, and am therefore determined   not to support any kind of war.  I am also determined to   work for the removal of all causes of war”.

Belatedly, I have ordered two five-packs of white poppies.  They stand for three things.

“We are not for names, nor men, nor titles of Government, nor are we for this party or against the other...but we are for justice and mercy and truth and peace and true freedom, that these may be exalted in our nation, and that goodness, righteousness, meekness, temperance, peace and unity with God, and with one another, that these things may abound.” - Edward Burrough, 1659

Our faith calls us to hope and to action. Our faith calls us to persist in our advocacy and never give up.

The recent elections have filled many with fear and anxiety, and the return of a Trump presidency presents enormous threats to our work at FCNL and our democracy. Much is still to be determined as vote counting continues in some congressional races. But we celebrate the historic step of a woman of color running for the White House as a major party candidate.

We are grateful that people came out to vote and that efforts to disrupt our elections were met with calm responses to ensure everyone had the opportunity to vote.

The people have spoken but we know our country is deeply divided and our work is desperately needed now. We know we are called to live as a prophetic witness for the world we seek at this time. We also know we are called to do it together in beloved community. Our hearts are heavy, but rather than giving in to anxiety and fear, we get to work. 

Will you join us on Monday, November 11, at 8 p.m. ET for a special post-elections call?

RSVP

We will share the post-elections outlook for our work and how we can support our communities and one another in the work ahead. As a community. we will find strength and connect to the power of love that binds us.

We're going to need your help, especially for the next four years.  We face enormous challenges: horrific violence in the Middle East and around the globe, the escalating climate crisis, growing economic inequality, a society mired in white supremacy, and a democracy that is being strained and tested.  We are ready to meet these challenges and to persist with faith, and with hope.

I know change is possible because I have seen it in my lifetime, and I know we have a role to play.  May the Inward Guide and those who have gone before us—the organizers, the advocates, the peacebuilders, and changemakers—inspire us to persistently speak truth to power.  And may our advocacy never give up.

I hope to see you on November 11. Thank you for all you do for the world we seek.

3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Christ The King Parish, 72 South Main Street, Concord N.H.

(Sponsored by the Greater Concord Interfaith Council)

Please join us!!  All are welcomed

In August, the Biden Administration approved a series of arms sales to Israel totaling more than $20 billion. Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs) led by Senators Bernie Sanders (VT), Peter Welch (VT), Jeff Merkley (OR), and Brian Schatz (HI) would block the sale of many offensive weapons that have been used in strikes that have killed thousands of civilians, including aid workers and journalists, in Gaza over the last year.

These weapons include joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs) and 120-millimeter tank shells, which the Israeli military has repeatedly used in attacks that have killed civilians in densely populated areas.  The JRDs do not implicate missile defense systems such as the Iron Dome and David’s Sling.

The United States cannot claim the high ground when it sends billions of dollars in weapons to a government that has shown so little regard for civilian life, and which credible reports allege has engaged in actions that violate international law.  Congress must pass these resolutions and use all forms of U.S. leverage to bring a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon, and across the region.

Cosponsor and vote in favor of Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block the sale of offensive weapons to Israel (S.Res.111, 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116).

Why Congress must pass these Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to stop the sale of offensive weapons to Israel:

With the crisp air of autumn and the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, the bodies of the trees become more apparent and the views of the textured landscape expand. Woodstoves cast their warmth in cozy circles and hands curl around soothing cups of tea.

Have you been feeling unsettled by the state of the world? Or been so busy trying to address challenging issues of the day that you've had little time to ground and breathe and just be? This week, and in upcoming months, Woolman Hill is offering multiple chances for re-connecting to the Deeper Source, re-centering, re-defining what lies ahead. And, as always, there are opportunities for personal retreats in our cabins – just to get away from the hustle and bustle of it all… 

We're also looking for a Retreat Center Coordinator to join our staff. We are seeking a warm and dedicated individual, with an appreciation for spirituality, diversity, and simple living, to inhabit the spirit of welcome and wonder, curiosity and connection, on a daily basis. 

Please join us, here in this peaceful place, and share these opportunities with others who might be restored by the calm and beauty of our meadows and woods.

We will have a special presentation on Sunday November 24^th, 2024 after our Potluck.  At 12:30 we will be showing a just-created film by the Cowasuck Band of the Penacook Abenaki People on the story behind the monument to Hannah Dustin on the nearby island.  They have carefully researched how the story has been told and what historical data is available.  It will be a useful lesson in how history is told and used over generations.  More details to follow.

Meeting Care Day, November 16^th, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Click here to register

Marian Baker of Weare Monthly Meeting is off on her annual trip to Central and Western Kenya.  This time her visit starts with a workshop of Kenyan Quakers of all ages working on an archiving project.  She sends a weekly email to those who want to receive it.  I love reading her adventures there and the photos and stories of Kenyan Quakers she visits.  She travels with a ministry of uplifting women's ministry (in a male dominated society).   If you wish to be on her email distribution list, email her at QuakerBonnet [at] gmail [dot] com.  The first week's report is attached.   As she says in her email this week "These messages are one way you can travel with me." 

Thank you for your annual gifts supporting our work. I am writing today about our shift towards 'sustaining partners,' versus the original '1-to-1' sponsorship model that served us for many years. As our program in Kenya developed we moved from sponsoring individual students to supporting entire families as they rise out of poverty.

The first group of families from our Family Care program are now standing on their own, having proven the model's effectiveness beyond our expectations. As new families join Family Care, as whole families, we will no longer be asking supporters like you to take on one specific family for sponsorship. Instead, we are asking you to continue in the same spirit you have long carried, now as a "sustaining partner" or annual donor. This will enable all of our students and families to find brighter futures.

The challenges of maintaining 1-to-1 sponsorship connections became too many. Among them:

With this change, you will continue receiving updates about your giving's impact. In fact, this new direction gives us the time and opportunity to share even more.

If you currently have a relationship with a student or family and wish to stay informed or continue exchanging letters, contact us. We will do everything we can to help you maintain that connection. From our very first years, the success of our work has been lifted up by the yearly faithfulness of donors like yourself, and also by the generosity of those who have had the confidence to include us in their IRA charitable distributions or their estate plans.

As we move into this next chapter, I ask you to keep walking with us, and to keep giving each year so that we sustain and grow our impact assisting students and families rising out of poverty.

We are always delighted to talk. You can reach me at carra [at] friendsofkenyarising [dot] org or (802) 490-0522. Or contact our Executive Director, John Chisholm, at john [at] friendsofkenyarising [dot] org or (978) 999-2583.

The silent vigil for a ceasefire in Gaza continues every Thursday from Noon-1 p.m.  The vigil meets at the (Northwest corner of) North Main Street and Park Street in Concord on the plaza in front of the State House. 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.