Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship for the conduct of business on Sunday, March 17, 2019 with 20 people present. Clerk Susan Rice opened the meeting by reading from the 1985 New England Faith and Practice, “The Quaker Method of Making Decisions,” paragraph 2.
1.The February 17, 2019 minutes were approved.
2. Ministry and Counsel: Martha Hinshaw Sheldon reported that they met in March to share pastoral care concerns and discuss possible changes to meeting for worship. A few new modalities will be introduced over the next few months to get a sense of what if any changes might be made. Feel free to share concerns and responses with the committee. The opening theme of “Leadings” will continue through March shared by the Care of Worship person at the beginning of worship in the form of a reading or prayer. The theme for April through June will be “Attending to the Light.” More information on this theme will be included in the Newsletter.
A welcoming dinner happened with Cush and Maureen Anthony and Bruce Ludders. Other dinners will occur as needed.
The State of Society Report was shared, and we expressed appreciation for this report.
3. The State of Society Report was approved with revisions; it is attached.
4. Christian Education and Youth Minister: Katherine Langelier sent her report and reported that the committee met on March 3rd. The intergenerational game night and potluck supper on March 9th was very enjoyable. They thank everyone who came: 19 in attendance. Wendy Schlotterbeck reported that there will be a Ukrainian egg painting on April 6 at 2:00, and an Easter breakfast with children’s activities on April 21.
5. Trustees: Leslie Manning reported that they met with Kim Bolshaw, our custodian and with Kitsie Hildebrandt our treasurer to get caught up on recent events at the parsonage and expressed gratitude for all the work done to handle the freeze up and problems with the pellet boiler. The tenants are concerned about energy use and Kitsie’s son, Willis Beazley, who does this for work, has agreed to look at the parsonage with an eye toward weatherization. Things seem stable now. They will be looking at alternatives for the laundry pipes placement soon.
The water filtration system in use at the Meetinghouse is 15 years old and obsolete. The installer, who is still in the business, will come to consult and make a recommendation. The water is safe but does contain minerals and has a brackish taste. We are using a Brita filter and continue to use water jugs brought from home to keep us supplied. We hope to have this all resolved later this year.
The lock on the front door has been replaced by Dan Henton; if you need a key, please see Kim.
They are pleased with the repair work on the ceilings and will get an estimate from the same painter for the painting of the walls of the meeting room, which they will have done this spring, after Easter.
They appreciate that everyone is cooperating with the closing of the Meetinghouse at the end the day or meeting. Please keep it up so that we can continue to reduce our heating costs.
They ask the Nominating Committee to name replacements for Trustee vacancies.
Everyone expressed satisfaction and gratitude for the custodial work being done by Kim Bolshaw and the plowing and sanding being done by Andy Higgins who continues to donate his services.
6. Finance Committee: Sarah Sprogell brought the year-end report for 2018: revenue income for the year, expenses listed by category totals, a breakdown of designated accounts, and a breakdown of our savings and investments. A second page listed detailed expenses line by line for each category. We ended the year with total income of $57,047.79 and total expenses of $45,409.96. Attached are these reports. We expressed gratitude for this detailed report.
7. Nominating Committee: We approved the appointment of Margaret Copeland to serve on the Lisbon Area Christian Outreach Board.
8. Peace and Social Concerns Committee: Brown Letham reported for the committee. Upcoming events were announced for April: April 27 – vigil at BWI at the christening of a destroyer; April 28 – the committee will bring the message, have a finger food potluck, and following worship a discussion on the meeting’s corporate discernment for the committee’s direction. Brown brought a brochure regarding the call for a conversion to peacetime production at Bath Iron Works. The committee recommends that Durham Friends be a co-sponsor of the vigil for conversion of BIW to peacetime production at the warship christening.
On May 10, the committee is cooperating with the Brunswick Unitarian Church to hold an event on climate change and how congregations can get involved on different levels of action.
Details and information about these events will be included in the Newsletter.
9. We approved supporting the April 27 vigil at Bath Iron Works as a co-sponsor, including our meeting name on a flyer, and possibly displaying a banner.
10. We approved the following persons to be representatives at Falmouth Quarterly Meeting which is meeting on May 4 in conjunction with the All Maine Gathering: Sarah Sprogell, Wendy Schlotterbeck and Betsy Muench.
11. New England Yearly Meeting Permanent Board has asked to meet at our Durham Meeting on May 11, and we approved. Sukie Rice will be the point person for arrangements for our hosting them.
12. It is with sadness that we report that our member Julianna Fogg died at age 56 on February 22, 2019.
The meeting closed with expressions of love and appreciation for our time together.
Dorothy Hinshaw, Recording Clerk
