To request log-in information for Zoom Worship: Zoom [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org (subject: %E2%80%9CWorship%E2%80%9D%20Zoom%20Link%20Request) .

“For the real difference between happiness and joy is that

one is grounded in this world, the other in eternity. 

Happiness cannot encompass suffering and evil.  Joy can. 

Happiness depends on the present. 

Joy leaps into the future and triumphantly creates a new present out of it.”

~ Elise Boulding, 1920-2010

Experience Inter-generational First Day School after our potluck!  Heidi and Ruth are leading this program where you will get a feel for the First Day program, and take home a craft you have made.

Beginning in January we’ll be meeting at 9:00 a.m. on first Sundays (hybrid) to explore our Quaker history, culture, and practices.  Heidi B is organizing the program, but we hope that friends of all levels of experience will come to share questions, answers, doubts, struggles, joys and inspiration and we strive together to find greater meaning and appreciation of our shared experience in the Religious Society of Friends.  Each month will offer a “free-standing” program, so you don’t have to commit to attending all.  Coffee, tea, and the nourishment of community will be provided.

On Saturday, 21^st December, join us for an evening of fellowship, song, good food and “wassail” (hot cider or cocoa).  The two new families in our neighborhood are delighted to have us come carol to them.  If you wish to carol outside, come at 6:30 p.m. prepared to walk across the road and then down the road a tenth of a mile.  If you just want to come for the indoor party, come at 7 p.m.  Snacks are welcome, but we'll provide the beverages.  An RSVP would be helpful  603-724-4343 to RuthHeath [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org (subject: Carol%20Singing%20at%20the%20Heaths) (Ruth).

We will continue our Christmas Eve tradition of caroling through the nursing home area of Havenwood, 33 Christian Ave, Concord.  They have asked me to tell them how many will be coming, so please let me know by email RuthHeath [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org (subject: Christmas%20Eve%20Carol%20Singing%20at%20Havenwood) or text 603-724-4343 if you will be coming.  Afterward there will be a short, programmed worship at the Meetinghouse at 6 p.m., followed by a potluck.  Again, please let me know if you plan to attend that.  (You can attend any or all parts.)

Let's ring in the New Year together (or perhaps Western Greenland New Year together at 9 p.m.?).  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 p.m. with potluck snacks 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.  Contact RuthHeath [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org (subject: New%20Years%20Eve%20at%20Meetinghouse) (Ruth) or Greg for questions.  This will be open to the public (an outreach opportunity) and we've had people join us.

Yesterday, I (Jennifer S.) received from Maggie F (AFSC), the request below.  It would be challenging to meet this need without others who live closer to Meredith than I do.  But it would be a great thing if I could find 4 others.  I am trying to reach out within the Quarter, too.

In Summary:

International Rescue Committee is urgently looking for a private sponsor group (of at least 5 individuals; no need to be a formal organization) for a refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  Because of Trump 2.0, the refugee resettlement is working on an emergency basis before Jan. 20.  Here is the information.  International Rescue Committee needs to find this sponsorship in 3-4 days.

Needed Today

• 5 individuals committed to form a Private Sponsor Group [4] with Welcome Corps at Work
• Application for Welcome Corps at Work (includes resettlement service plan, background checks, and commitment forms).  We can support this directly with you today.
• Funding ($2,425) required has been secured (by a separate donor), which means the sponsor group does not need to provide financial cash support to be considered as a sponsor.

Case Details

• 1 person (M25) arriving from DRC
• Has Job offer from Goldenview Health Care Center (including living wage and benefits) in Meredith.
• Has intermediate/advanced English language
• Is in US Refugee Admissions Program processing, pending travel and private sponsor group, anticipated to arrive in 6-8 weeks

Program Details:

Welcome Corps at Work [5] is an innovative program that connects refugees with a job offer before they resettle to the United States.

Private Sponsor Groups [4] (groups of at least 5 community members) come together to support the refugee in the local community and provide resettlement services for the first 90 days of arrival.

Concord Friends were honored to have Denise and Paul Pouliot of the Cowasuck Bank of the Pennacook-Abenaki People share their first showing of their educational film on the story and impact of Hannah Dustin and our neighboring monument.  The film is intended for school audiences studying this history and although we saw it in one continuous showing, it is intended to be seen in four parts with a study guide. 

Since it was a first showing, they would love some feedback on the film, both on the production/presentation itself and how the material came across to us - basically how well we understood it.  I would like people to email me or call me to give the feedback and I will summarize it to Denise and Paul.  Email me PSECC [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org to give feedback or ask for my number (Sara). 

This program is a series of panel discussions on the theme of Imagining Just Economies: Quaker Approaches to Divestment and the Kin-dom of God [1].

For more information and to register, click the button below.

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 [9] 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 [10] (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"

[10]

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 [at] neym [dot] 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 [12] or via Minutes_of_ConcordMonthlyMeeting [13].

For corrections, missing documents, and/or clarifications of the minutes, please reply to web clerk, Concord Friends Meeting webclerk [at] concordfriendsmeeting [dot] org (subject: CMM%2011th%20Month%20Minutes) (<webclerk [at] concordfriendsmeeting [dot] org>).