Westport Meeting News:
Peace and Social Justice Committee (P&SJ):
At Monthly Meeting for Business on March 24, Friends were in unity with P&SJ’s recommendation that it was time for our Meeting community, as a whole, to reexamine our public witness regarding racism. We will gather following worship on Sunday, April 14, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. All are encouraged to attend, attenders and members alike. Questions? Contact Barbara Sullivan at 774-454-1498, or email at:
barbarasullivan900@msn.com
The Fun for Everyone Committee:
“Buddy Baker-Smith reporting. In regards to Bread Day, it was a great gathering and the energy in the room was amazing! The age range of attendees was from about 2 – 94 years old. Everyone pitched in and helped with clean up which was much appreciated. An Easter Egg hunt will take place next week. Postcards were sent out to families. There may be an egg hunting option for adults as well. First Day
school offering on the first Sunday of the month will likely happen starting in May.” [Thanks to Jay Vieira, Recording Clerk, for this copy]
“Alternative: An Exhibition of Alternative Photographic Processes” at Gallery X featuring Meeting member John Wojtowics, David Stephen Graves, Jill Law, Marc St. Pierre and David Walega. April 3-27. 169 William Street, New Bedford. Gallery hours: Wed-Fri 11:00-3:30 PM. Sat & Sun 12:00-3:00 PM. www.galleryx.org.
(All meetings held in person, via Zoom, or hybrid (meaning in-person and via Zoom), as noted)
- Worship each Sunday in meetinghouse and via Zoom at 10am (hybrid)
- “Alternative: An Exhibition of Alternative Photographic Processes” at Gallery X
featuring Meeting member John Wojtowics and others! April 3-27. Details above - NEYM/YF/JHYM Retreat at Westport, April 4-7
- NEYM “Living Faith Gathering,” Dartmouth, MA, April 6. DETAILS
- NEYM Meeting Leaders Call, Tues, April 9, 7pm via Zoom. Details
- Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, April 10, 3:30-4pm
- Discussion regarding Meeting’s witness to racism, April 14, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM in Potter. Hybrid
- Ministry and Counsel Committee, April 15, at 7:00 PM via Zoom
- Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, April 17, 3:30-4pm via Zoom
- Monthly Meeting for Business, Sunday, April 21, at 8am via Zoom
- Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, April 24, 3:30-4pm via Zoom
- Peace & Social Justice Committee, Sunday, April 28, at 8:30 AM
- Seekers Group, Monday, April 29, 7-8:30 PM. HYBRID
- Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, May 1, 3:30-4pm. via Zoom
SAVE THE DATE:
- NEYM/JYM Retreat at Westport, June 14-16
- NEYM Annual Sessions, Aug 2-7, 2024, at Castleton U., Vermont
- Sandwich Quarterly Meeting at Westport, Sat, Oct 26, 2024
MIDWEEK WORSHIP, via Zoom, WEDNESDAYS, 3:30-4:00pm. (Kevin sends link day of)
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New England Yearly Meeting/Wider Quaker News:
NEYM’s April 2024 Newsletter may be read HERE.
Support for Friends in leadership roles
Contributions Criteria Working Group listening sessions
Help find the next Sessions site
Local youth minister support
Registration is open for Meeting for Listening
USFW Northeast Region gathering
Gathering for Friends with a concern for Gospel ministry
Other events coming soon
Sessions announcement!
Help make Sessions happen
Update on Quaker Indigenous Boarding Schools Research
News from Ramallah Friends School
Black Quaker Project explores Bayard Rustin’s legacy
Work at Friends Camp
Our hopes for this newsletter
Quakers in the news
A last word
- Every Tuesday, online: FWCC Prayer for Peace
- Every Friday, online: Meeting for Worship with Attention to Peace in Palestine and Israel
- April 6, North Dartmouth, MA: Living Faith Gathering
- April 12–14, online: FGC Encountering Spirit Retreat
- April 12 & 13, online: Living within your New Call: Discovering Vocational Joy In Retirement
- April 22, online: Local Youth Minister Support
- April 25, online: An Introduction to the Foundations of Reconciliation Leadership
- April 27, Westerly, RI: Yielding to the Power of the Living Seed
- May 24–26, Poughkeepsie, NY: USFW Northeast Region spring gathering
April 9
May 14
June 11
July 9
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Sandwich Quarterly Meeting
Meeting for business:
April 27 at Dartmouth/Smith Neck
July 27 at New Bedford
October 26 at Westport
Meetings start at 10:00 am– most likely hybrid, but will be coordinated with each meeting. Meet for coffee and greetings at 9:30
SQM Ministry & Counsel
September 28 at Mattapoisett
Meetings start at 10:00 am.
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Quaker Programs, Study, Retreats, and Spiritual Nurture:
QuakerSpeak (Our Quaker faith as shared by those who experience it firsthand, every day, via weekly video interviews)
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Closing:
There must be always remaining in every one’s life some place
for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathlessly beautiful
and, by an inherent prerogative, throws all the rest of life into a new and creative relatedness,
something that gathers up in itself all the freshest of experience from drab to commonplace
areas of living and glows in on bright white light of penetrating beauty and meaning —then passes.
– Howard Thurman
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Thank you, Friends,
Kevin