Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends, September 18, 2016
Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship on Sunday, September 18, 2016 with 18 people present. Clerk Sarah Sprogell brought us into the spirit of worship with a meditative chant on the words of Isaac Pennington.
- Ron Turcotte brought the report from Ministry and Counsel following M&C’s day long retreat on September 17.
As Doug Gwyn is leaving the meeting at the end of December, M&C recommends a six-month trial period of being a semi-programmed meeting, just as we are now, but without a pastor. Worship would still have the singing and messages as we currently do, but there would not be a paid pastor during this period. Ministry and Counsel is planning an open M&C meeting in October for conversation and discernment to consider this recommendation.
At the retreat, they considered what this would mean for the parsonage and the increased role and burdens of the committees and on the Youth Minister. They see that it would give people more opportunities to express their gifts in carrying our increased responsibilities.
2. Annie Paterson and Peter Blood would like to do a concert at the Meetinghouse on either November 18 or 19. The meeting enthusiastically approved that Ministry and Counsel should proceed in making arrangements for this.
3. Tess Hartford reported for Christian Education. They are considering redefining the role of the Youth Minister. There is also discussion about how to bring in more families. Both of these issues are important now with the advent of Doug Gwyn’s leaving the Pastor’s position.
4. For Finance Committee, Kitsie Hildebrant reported that $3386 was received in response to the mid-year appeal. This is especially heartening as we heard from people who live far away but hold us dear in their hearts.
Sukie Rice passed out the attached revision of the 2016 budget for Friends to peruse.
5. Margaret Wentworth gave a report for Trustees, which have a number of projects in the works. There will be a joint meeting of Trustees and Finance Committee on September 27 to prepare for an Open Meeting on October 2nd at which time all will be invited to discuss the information and purpose of solar panels and heat pump, as well as the costs for replacement of the roof, including how we might pay for them.
6. Falmouth Quarterly Meeting will be held on October 22 at Durham. The program will be a discussion of the future of Falmouth Quarterly Meeting. Representatives will be Sarah Sprogell, Joyce Gibson, Margaret Wentworth and Clarabel Marstaller.
7. Sarah Sprogell reported that Friends Committee on National Legislation will be doing a program at Friends School Portland on October 1 from 2:00-4:00.
8. She also announced that New England Yearly Meeting will be holding a series of gatherings, “Living Faith,” bringing together Quakers from across our region for Nurturing Spirituality, Fostering Community and Strengthening Witness. The first of these will be held on Saturday, November 5 at Friends School Portland from 9:30 to 5:30. These semiannual, day-long gatherings will include large group worship, fellowship, relationship-building and workshops. For more information and registration, go to www.neym.org.
9. The minutes of Monthly Meeting were approved during the meeting.
The meeting adjourned in the Spirit at 12:40.
Sukie Rice, Recording Clerk
