To request log-in information for Zoom Worship: Zoom@ConcordFriendsMeeting.org.

[3]

“Rather than waiting for life to simply happen,

I'm choosing to run toward it with open arms, no matter what it holds.”

~ Unknown

Christmas Eve Carol Singing at Havenwood Nursing Facility (Followed by short Worship and Potluck at the Meetinghouse)

Caroling would start at 4:30 p.m. at Havenwood lasting about an hour.  Those interested in short worship and potluck at the Meetinghouse would get there about 6PM.  Please let Ruth know if you would like to participate in all or any part of this Christmas Eve tradition.  603-724-4343 or ruthmheath@comcast.net.

Let’s ring in the New Year together (or perhaps Icelandic New Year together at 9pm?).  Gather at the Meetinghouse on New Year's Eve for a non-traditional (non-alcoholic) family friendly Game Night on New Year's Eve.  We'll begin 6:00-6:30 with potluck snacks/heavy appetizers and beverages, bringing our favorite games (card, or board, or parlor).  Bring friends!  Toasts to the New Year will be offered hourly so you can leave when you need to.

Here are the links to the Statement of Operations [4] and Balance Sheet [5]

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 [6] 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.

I hope this email finds you well and cared for at the beginning of this wintry season.  My name is Collee Williams, and it’s with great joy that I get to tell you that our Midwinter YAF retreat will be February 14^th-17^th [7](President’s Day weekend) at Woolman Hill Retreat Center in Deerfield, MA.  Please save the date - we'd love to be with you there.

The theme of this retreat is:

"A Gift to Be Received: Covenant Community"

[7]

This retreat is for young adult Quakers and Quaker-curious individuals (ages 18-35) who want to center spiritual growth, build community and explore Quakerism. Young Adult Friends (YAF) retreats are an opportunity to "try on" Quaker spiritual practices, connect with peers in a similar life phase and/or in a similar stage in their spiritual journey, enjoy time spent in joy & worshipful togetherness, bring a spiritual lens to the decisions in our lives, and cultivate our friendships and spiritual connections with one another.

Throughout the retreat we will hold questions like:

• Who/What am I living my life for?
• How can leaning into community nurture me spiritually?
• What are the costs and benefits we experience in the parts of our lives where we have a choice between individualism and a community orientation? 
• How is community-based Quaker tradition in dialogue with the individual-based society we live in today?

As always, there will also be space at the retreat for resting, hiking, playing, eating, singing, worshiping, and enjoying the peaceful beauty of February at Woolman Hill. Participants should show up ready to (mostly) unplug and contribute to making the retreat wonderful for us all.

We'll email you again when registration opens. When we send out that registration email, we will provide a little more information around the content of the retreat and attendance options. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to email collee@neym.org. So looking forward to the connections we'll share the new year!

The *draft* Minutes for the November 2024 Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business are available at 2024-11-10_CMM_Minutes [9] or via Minutes_of_ConcordMonthlyMeeting [10].

For corrections, missing documents, and/or clarifications of the minutes, please reply to web clerk, Concord Friends Meeting .