Monthly Archives: January 2014

“A New Smell” – Peter Crysdale

Posted on by

Slowly, silently the molten core bursts

Turning everything up side down.

Leaving radical amazement- smoke and ash.

There are streams of Concern at the heart of existence-

bursting forth in places like Bethlehem and Lisbon Falls.

Creation is infused with Divine Concern-

so the Prophets say.

Rouses some of us from sleep –

waking into the Life and Power.

Christ is not Jesus’ last name.

Christ is the Divine Concern-

the Boundless-Source and Center-

Mustard Seed- the Question?

Early Quakers let let their lives speak the answer-

“We live in the same Life and Power as the Prophets and the Apostles.”

Isaiah 43 [19] Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. — Peter Crysdale, Dec. 18, 2013

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, December 15, 2013

Posted on by

Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, at 12:05 p.m. with 10 present. Clerk Sarah Sprogell read a portion of the 2013 New England Yearly Meeting of Friends gathering epistle. Dorothy Hinshaw volunteered to be Recording Clerk for the day.
1.) The 2014 budget and 2013 Treasurer’s report will be presented at the January Monthly Meeting for approval.
2.) Edwin Hinshaw reported that the Nominating Committee will have a completed report in January. Most committees are full.
3.) Margaret Wentworth suggested that we meet for Meeting for Worship in the Vestry during the winter to save fuel.
4.) We approved that we meet in the Vestry in January, and at January monthly meeting revisit this decision.
5.) Edwin Hinshaw reported on behalf of an ad-hoc committee of Peter Crysdale, Nancy Marstaller and Edwin Hinshaw appointed by Ministry and Council. The committee was instructed to seek professional leadership from Craig Freshly, director of Good Group Decisions, to lead two Vision Sessions. The committee met with Craig and recommends the following: that the Vision Sessions be held Jan. 12 and Jan. 26, and that Craig be appointed as the facilitator of these meetings. He will prepare an invitation to members and attenders to participate in the Vision Sessions, and record themes, conclusions, etc. to be shared with the meeting. “The purpose of the sessions is for Durham Friends Meeting to develop clear vision regarding how we define ourselves as a meeting, what characteristics we seek in a new pastor, and how to handle compensation for the new pastor.”
6.) The meeting approved Craig Freshley as facilitator for the two Vision Sessions.
7.) The meeting approved the estimated fee for Craig’s services be taken from money budgeted for the Pastoral Search Committee.
8.) The Christian Education Committee reported that they recommend Wendy Schlotterbeck as our Youth Minister for 2014. The committee expressed appreciation for her dedication to the youth, as reflected in the many positive responses to the evaluation questionnaire.
9.) We approved continuation of Wendy Schlotterbeck as Youth Minister, January to December 2014.
Peter Crysdale encouraged all to hold this transition period in prayer. Sarah Sprogell re-read a portion of the New England Yearly Meeting epistle.
The meeting adjourned at 12:55 p.m.
— Dorothy Hinshaw, substitute Recording Clerk

Woman’s Society Festive December Meeting

Posted on by

Untitled-Dec 2013 Women's ScietyBy Angie Reed
Woman’s Society met Dec. 16 at Angie Reed’s home. Twelve women attended. The Program and Devotions were offered by Daphne Clement from the Blueprint program written by Martha Hinshaw Sheldon, “Courage Takes Many Forms.” We all chose and read papers that had various courageous acts written on them, such as “The courage to be patient,” “the courage to tell someone you really like them,” and “the courage to speak up when your views are different from the majority.”
The secretary’s and treasurer’s reports were read and approved. We agreed to send $100 to Kickapoo and for December’s Adopt-a-Nurse. Woman’s Society funds are low and we decided we need to do a fund-raiser. We will have a silent auction at our February Meeting at the Meetinghouse at 6:30 p.m. with the meeting taking place at 7 p.m.
The annual Yard Sale and other fund-raisers were discussed. Kitsie Hildebrandt and Nancy Marstaller said that they would no longer be organizing the Yard Sale and it was agreed that Woman’s Society would not sponsor it this year. We have offered this event to other groups in the Meeting and there has been interest expressed by the Youth Group to take over sponsorship. Woman’s Society members are still available to help with portions of this sale, especially the book sale portion that funds Meetinghouse Library purchases each year. We also discussed sponsoring a spring bean supper or another type of dinner to fund Woman’s Society Projects.
The Tedford meal for December did not happen and the January Meal is to be done by Kitsie’s team. The Card Ministry was completed and Daphne Clement graciously offered to fill the vacancy as the organizer of this ministry.

Prayers were asked for Zadock Malesi, who is Education Secretary for African Friends United Meeting and has been doing good work educating local schools on a curriculum of non-violence.
As this was our annual Christmas Meeting, gift bags were prepared and dispersed and the mitten tree donations were inventoried and packed to be transported to the agency that will do the dispersal. We enjoyed a wonderful gift exchange with Abby Fortune acting as gift elf, and enjoyed refreshments provided by Angie.
The next meeting will be on Jan. 20 at 7pm at Sue and Daphne’s home. All are welcome.

Visioning meetings with Craig Freshly

Posted on by

By Margaret Wentworth
The first step in seeking a new pastor is to decide what sort of person we want and what we would expect him or her to do. So on January 12 and 26, we will hold two visioning meetings, facilitated by Craig Freshly. We will start with a potluck right after meeting, and hold the discussions from 1:00 to 2:30. This is an opportunity to help the Meeting decide what our needs are, and how we can go about fulfilling them. Please plan to come!

“T’was First Day Before Christmas” – Leslie Manning

Posted on by

Created by Leslie Manning and presented at the Christmas Program, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013
T’was First Day before Christmas and all through the Meetinghouse

Not a creature was stirring, not even the Meeting mouse.

The Mitten Tree was hung by the doorway with care,

In hopes that each knitter would donate a pair.

Worshipers were nestled all snug on their benches,

Musing on Quakers from Foxes to Denches.

Nancy and Clarabel were planning to groove,

While Sukie and Choir would get us to move.

When out in the parking lot there arose such a clatter,

Some sprang from their seats to see what was the matter.

And there, on a blanket of new fallen snow,

Two weighty Friends were going at it, toe to toe.

Oh, No! “We ought not have a program,

A tree in the Meeting Room! We don’t have a liturgy,

that’s gone – Just like Naylor’s groom.”

“But, Friend, can’t you see we are all kinds of Quakers!

If we don’t adapt, we’ll be gone – like the Shakers!”

Right into that fray jumped a jolly old elf,

Our own fount of wisdom, Margaret Wentworth, herself.

“Christmas”, she said, “is more than the day.

Christ’s birth is lived as a path, as a Way

For all homeless parents to find room in our hearts,

Whether out at a manger Or working at WalMarts.

We are called to feed all of God’s children,

Bellies and souls, so shall we fill them;

To treat each other with love and respect,

To offer to ease the weight of neglect.

We don’t need a star to show us the Light,

We know in our hearts to do what is right.

So, friends, let us gather, As we do every week,

And honor the meaning of

“Let your life speak.”

Recipe for Caramel-apple Pudding

Posted on by

This recipe comes from Margaret Wentworth. She hosted the November Woman’s Society meeting at her apartment and served this creation. There were many requests for her to share the recipe.

Caramel-apple Pudding

Dough:

1 ¼ C brown sugar

1/3 C shortening

¾ C milk

2 C flour

4 tsp baking powder

A little salt

Syrup:

1 1/3 C brown sugar

3 C water

1/3 C butter

Boil for 2 minutes Mix dough ingredients together. Put 1 ½ C apples (or more) into a baking dish. Pour the batter over the apples and pour the syrup on top. Bake at 350 Fahrenheit for about an hour. The baking dish should be no more than half full, as it rises about double while cooking. The dough will rise to the top and the syrup will make a very sweet gravy below it.