Westport Meeting Newsletter, October 6, 2023

Westport Meeting News: 

From Betty Ann, Clerk of Westport Meeting:

Our current Nominating Process for 2024, (2nd year), depends on our committees’ clerks to review members’ willingness to continue their service, including outreach to members/attenders, whose names arise during discernment, who are not currently serving. Please remember during the discernment process, to reach out to our Zoom/online Friends who may wish to serve virtually. Recognizing and appreciating members and attenders who are already serving, or want to be, is an important way of expressing our gratitude for their participation in our community.

The present Nominating Slate in PDF may be read HERE. You will notice the service years are listed. If a member has a date of 2023, or beyond, please check to see if they wish to continue. If they wish to discontinue, or to serve elsewhere, that should be noted. The committee should also discern if additional members to the committee are needed, while recognizing names that may arise, including Zoom/online Friends. While reviewing your committee membership, please note any new volunteers who have joined this year.

As clerk, I’ll be reaching out to volunteers serving in non-committee roles. The current Nominating Slate and invitation for volunteer service, will be posted in our newsletter. If there are questions, concerns, gaps etc., please let me know. 
 
Please be prepared to report on your committee’s progress at our November 19th, MMfB. I hope to have the final draft Nominating Slate, for 2024 and beyond, for our December MMfB.
 
Most Gratefully Yours,
Betty Ann Lee, Clerk

Book Shed News: Effective September 1, our Book Shed will be open seven days a week, 9am – 5pm. If you are able to help unlock and relock the Book Shed every now and then, please be in touch with Gretchen.

MEETING CALENDAR:

(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) 
  •  
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Oct 18, 3:30-4pm. Via Zoom 
  • Fun For Everyone Committee, Mon, Oct 9, 3:30 PM
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Oct 25, 3:30-4pm. via Zoom 
  • NEYM check-in for Friends serving their home meetings, Oct 10, 7-8pm
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Oct 11, 3:30-4pm. Via Zoom.
  • Monthly Meeting for Business, Sunday, Oct 15, at 8am Via Zoom
  • Midweek Meeting for Worship, Wed, Oct 18, 3:30-4pm. Via Zoom 
  • Peace and Social Justice Committee, Mon, Oct 22, 7pm via ZOOM
  • Seekers Group, Monday, Oct 23, 7-8:30 PM. HYBRID
  • Sandwich Quarterly Meeting at Allen’s Neck Meeting, Oct 28
  • NEYM Meeting Care Day, Nov 11. Details below
  • Ministry and Counsel, Monday, Nov 13, 7-8:30 PM
  • Seekers Group, Monday, Nov 27, 7-8:30 PM. HYBRID

MIDWEEK WORSHIP, via Zoom, WEDNESDAYS, 3:30-4:00pm. (Kevin sends link day of)

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Yearly Meeting/Wider Quaker News:

NEYM’s October 2023 Newsletter introduction may be read HERE.

Introduction
Workshop: financially supporting ministry
An invitation from West Epping Friends
World Quaker Day
Meeting Care Day
We’re hiring!
Legacy Gift news
Sessions bookstore needs you!
Have you subscribed?
New from QuakerSpeak
Friends in South Pittsfield
Lobbying for peace
A last word

New England Quakers’ Meeting Care Day Nov 11, 2023: Registration is open!

Join Friends from across New England at Moses Brown School in Providence, RI on Saturday, November 11th for Meeting Care Day. This training and consultation gathering focuses on service to one’s local Quaker Meeting and features five workshop topics: 
  1. Best practices in nominating
  2. Serving as recording clerk
  3. Pastoral care
  4. Meeting communications & outreach
  5. Adult religious education (Elements of Quakerism)
This event is for anyone looking to grow in their service to their local Quaker meeting or worship group. Learn more and register for this in-person event here.

Recurring NEYM virtual events

Monthly check-in for Friends serving their local meetings takes place every second Tuesday of the month, 7-8 PM.
Upcoming dates are:
Oct 10
Nov 7

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Sandwich Quarterly Meeting (SQM) News:

(Special thanks to Deena Kinsky, SQM Newsletter Editor for her fine work here throughout the year! –ed.)

Program at New Bedford Friends Meeting, Sunday, Oct 22, at 1:00 PM: 

“Marian Baker is coming to visit New Bedford Meeting this weekend and will present on her work with Friends in East Africa; the schedule is meeting for worship at 10, followed by potluck lunch, followed by Marian’s presentation at 1:00 PM.” – From Martha E. Mangelsdorf, New Bedford Friends Meeting. Questions? Email Martha at: m_e_mangelsdorf@hotmail.com

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Quarter calendar for the rest of the year

Business and M&C meetings start at 10:00.  Possibly in-person, hybrid, or virtual.

October 28 in Allen’s Neck (…and Allen’s Neck was slated for July)

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Quaker Programs, Study, Retreats, and Spiritual Nurture:

Woolman Hill Retreat Center

Beacon Hill Friends House

Powell House

Pendle Hill

QuakerSpeak (Our Quaker faith as shared by those who experience it firsthand, every day, via weekly video interviews)

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Local Happenings of Interest to Friends:

If you have something that could go in this space, let let me know! – editor.

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Closing:

Blessed are those who can give without remembering
and take without forgetting.

– Elizabeth Bibesco

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Thank you, Friends,
Kevin