Learn how Friends Journal is growing the audience for Quakerism, using video to nurture and educate new generations of seekers, and standing up for Quaker values in a changing world.
Presentation by Friends Journal director, Gabriel Ehri
Where: Portland Friends Meeting, 1837 Forest Ave., Portland 04103
When: Sunday, March 4, at 12:00
What: Potluck and Program
February 22, 2018
Jay O’Hara will be giving the message this Sunday, February 25. Jay is known among Friends and beyond for his faithful prophetic work on climate change, which has included blockading a 40,000-ton shipment of coal and helping shut down 5 tar-sands pipelines in 2016. He travels in the ministry among Friends in New England under a minute of Sandwich Monthly Meeting on Cape Cod with a “concern for the spiritual foundation that gives Life to Friends’ actions in these times of crisis.”
Upcoming Programs at Portland Friends Meeting 1837 Forest Avenue, Portland
An Open-Hearted Inquiry into Racial Identity Sunday 1/14/18; 12:30-2:00
Facilitators: Julie de Sherbinin (Portland) and Susan Davies (Vassalboro)
Format: Interactive workshop for everyone; bring your lunch if you wish
Description: This workshop offers an entry point into the conversation about racial identity for all Friends, wherever we may be on the journey toward increased awareness, action and racial healing. Julie de Sherbinin and Susan Davies have co-led a number of sessions on inquiry into racial identity in Maine. Both are members of NEYM Permanent Board’s ad hoc Work Group Challenging White Supremacy.
Cracking the Codes: The System of Racial Inequity Sunday 1/21/18; 12:30-2:00
Facilitators: Julie de Sherbinin
Format: Film Clips & Discussion; bring your lunch if you wish
Description: Shakhti Butler’s film delves into the internal components and external relationships that perpetuate the system of racial inequity. We will watch pre-selected clips and focus discussion on responses to the issues posed therein. “Cracking the Codes” is designed for dialogue and is being used at meetings around New England as a catalyst for conversation.
Voices of Color/Color Of Change Sunday 2/11/18; 12:30-2:00
Facilitators: Julie de Sherbinin & Dorothy Grannell
Format: Discussion of selected text & film clips; bring your lunch if you wish
Description: Further exposure to the heartbreak of racism and the ways it shows up in Quaker communities. Getting comfortable with the words “white supremacy.” Readings will come from “Black Quakers”; October 2014 volume of Friends Journal (the articles are available online at Friends Journal and some copies may be available in the library)
White Fragility and Dismantling Racism Sunday 2/25/18; 12:30-2:00
Facilitators: Julie de Sherbinin, Melissa Brown & Maggie Nelson (Portland)
Format: Readings/small group sharing/discussion; bring lunch if you wish
Description: Moving from learning to action ideas on advocating for racial justice. What holds us back? Where do we start? How do we discern future action?
Privilege Walk Sunday 3/11/18; 12:30-2:00
Facilitators: Sophie Szatkowski & TBA
Format: Experiential activity for middle school, high school, and adult ages
Description: A Privilege Walk is a group exercise enabling participants to investigate how a range of types of privilege manifest in their lives. Possible sources of privilege and identity include social, economic, gender-based, age-based, racial, and cultural. Participants will be invited to discuss their experiences of the Walk after the exercise.
Worship Sharing Sunday 3/25/18; 12:30-2:00
Convener: PFM Facilitators
Format: Worship sharing
Description: Join with others to both listen deeply and share as led on two key questions: “Racism, Privilege & Quakers – What have we learned personally and as a meeting? Where or what do we do next personally and as a meeting?”
Child Care will be provided as needed for those planning to attend any of the series of programs offered through Portland Friends Meeting on “Racism, Privilege & Quakers” To ensure that your child has care, please contact Susan Grannell at grannell8@gmail.com or call 401-413-5951. Indicate the dates you will plan to attend, you name and the child’s (children’s) name.
From Martha Hinshaw Sheldon
The Adult Sunday school class will be reading the book Eternal Promise by Thomas Kelly starting in January. We will be using a study guide written by Colin Saxton. All are welcome at 9:30. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Because Jo-an Jacobus is the contact person between the Meeting and the 12 Step meeting that calls Durham Meetinghouse home she has become aware of the importance of the Trustees’ calendar that hangs in the entry way. When events, regular or not, are not entered on that calendar it is as though those events do not exist. And the whole process actually starts one step earlier than entering your event on the calendar.
If you have an event that is not a regular Durham event – a committee meeting or a scheduled time for worship – but rather a one-time event, or something non-Durham related, you must check with the Trustees for approval for use of the building. Margaret Wentworth is the clerk of Trustees. Once that has happened then your event, and the date and time need to be entered into the calendar. If those things haven’t been done, other events may be happening during the time you expected to be able to use the meetinghouse.
Whether or not your event is regular it needs to be listed on the Trustees’ calendar in the entry way. This allows Friends to schedule meetings around yours rather than on top of them.
Jo-An Jacobus and Margaret Wentworth
Phyllis Wetherell’s knee surgery May 16 went well and she returned to Friends Fellowship Community in Richmond, Indiana the next day. She will begin the rehab process there. Please keep Phyllis in your prayers for a full recovery of strength and renewed mobility.
Saturday, June 4, At Durham Friends Meetinghouse, From 10:30 to 1:00
Brian Drayton, from Weare, (NH) Meeting, has a concern to gather Friends from Falmouth and Vassalboro Quarters who are feeling a calling to ministry, to provide an opportunity for worship and fellowship. If you have a concern for Gospel Ministry, if you sense a calling to being a spiritual nurturer, if you find yourself often called to vocal ministry in worship, or if you hunger for deep Spirit-led fellowship, please come to join us.
We will follow a simple format: after introductions, Brian will share the concern that led to the gathering. Then we will have a period of worship, followed by conversation. Friends of all ages are encouraged to attend.
For more information and to RSVP contact Doug Gwyn, pastoral minister, Durham Friends, at doug.gwyn@gmail.com or 207-407-3211. Bring a bag lunch.
The Christian Education Committee minutes its appreciation for our beloved Friend Clarabel Marstaller’s many years of faithful work in Christian education for Durham Friends Meeting. When she resigned from our Committee in March, she mentioned that she has been involved in the work here since 1949 – 67 years! She has seen our Meeting and its work in religious education go through many changes over the years, and has worked creatively every step along the way. We are grateful for the continuity and resilience she has lent the Committee’s work. She has offered a deep well of experience and knowledge to draw upon. We hope we can continue to draw upon her insights and encouragement in the future. Thank you, Clarabel! For the Christian Education Committee, Tess Hartford, Clerk Approved at Monthly Meeting, April 17, 2016
“I Believe” will be back next month.
Because so many people had plans to be out of town on the weekend of June 28, it was decided to cancel the Kakamega Benefit Dinner.
By Clarabel Marstaller
During the month of November we will have the opportunity to contribute to the Kickapoo Friends Indian Center in McCloud, Oklahoma. Friends work with the Kickapoo tribe began in 1883 when a school was started and farming took place on the Center’s property to educate the Kickapoo in raising crops.
For a while the Kickapoos lived for the summer season in Oklahoma and went to northern Mexico for the winter. In Oklahoma their homes were wicki-ups, created of tree limbs and bark. For many years now their homes have been of modern construction.
Directors of the Kickapoo Center are Brad and Christine Wood. Christine is a Kickapoo. They lead a Friends Meeting with an active youth group, and sponsor several other activities.
Durham Meeting’s interest has focused on work with the Kickapoos due to the service of Isaiah and Affie Douglas and several of their children, who went to the Kickapoo Center in the first decade of the 20th century. Isaiah was the farmer.
Our contributions will go to the Kickapoo Center. During November there will be containers on the refreshment table for contributions. Thank you!
December 2013 to February 2014
Thank you for being willing to prepare refreshments!
Please switch if needed.
Directions are posted in the kitchen. Supplies need to be donated- check what is already available in the kitchen. “Basic” refreshments are coffee, milk and/or half & half, tea, juice, and crackers. People appreciate having cheese, sweets, veggies, or fruit, but it can be as simple as you like. The Woman’s Society makes this schedule with people who come to Meeting regularly and have been willing to prepare refreshments in the past. We have not checked with each person regarding dates. If you would like to be added to or taken off this list, see Nancy Marstaller. Thanks!
December
1 Kathy & Harmony Brown
8 Jeannie Baker Stinson & family
15 Linda Muller & Jim McCarthy
22 Eileen Babcock, Mildred Alexander
29 Nancy Marstaller, Jo-an Jacobus
January
5 Margaret Wentworth, David Dexter
12 Dorothy & Ed Hinshaw
19 Brenda Masse, Wayne Hollingworth
26 Kitsie Hildebrandt, Sarah Sprogell
February
2 Sukie Rice, Don Goodrich
9 Dotty DeLoach, Susan Wood
16 Angie & David Reed
22 Dorothy Curtis, Daphne Clement
Friends, as of Dec. 14, I will have a new address:
Phyllis Wetherell Apt. 206, Friends Fellowship Community 2030 Chester Blvd., Richmond, IN 47374
It is difficult to think of leaving this terrific Meeting and all you nifty folk but sometimes one doesn’t have another choice. I am having more and more difficulty walking and even standing so need to be someplace where I can have help. Friends Fellowship is a retirement place of 300 folk, some of whom I already know from the 20 years I lived in Richmond. Part of my heart will always be with Durham Meeting but I know how fortunate I am to be able to start this new venture. With much love and much good cheer to all, Phyllis
By Angie Reed
Please bring in notepads, pens, pencils, calendars, hygiene items, various small gift items and candies to help the Woman’s Society fill its Christmas Gift Bags. This will help continue the tradition of providing a package stuffed with goodies to people in our meeting community who are unable to share in the holiday festivities at the Meetinghouse. If you have someone in mind that may benefit from a bag, please let a Woman’s Society member know and we will try to honor the request. Donations for the bags will be accepted from now until Sunday, December 15. Thank you for your help!
By Clarabel Marstaller
The offering taken at our Christmas program, December 22, will go to Friends School in Ramallah, Palestine. The Girls School was started first, the result of a girl in Ramallah asking Eli Jones (visiting from South China, Maine, in 1869) if he would open a school for girls in Ramallah (a small school for boys existed in Ramallah at that time). Schools were started in homes and in 1882 a building was completed — which was the start of the Friends Girls School. Meanwhile, a boys’ school was held in a home in Ramallah. In 1914 a building was in place. However, it was used as a hospital during World War I, first by the Central Powers and, as England prevailed, by English troops. In 1918 it began serving its original purpose. Today the girls’ school is the Lower School and the boys’ school the Upper School, both coed. New England Friends were very much involved in the early years of the schools. Joyce Ajlouny, director of Ramallah Friends School, visited our Meeting a few years ago. The schools are very up-to-date in their academic and technological life, thanks to their value in the Mideast. Our offering will help them meet the challenges they face.
By Dorothy Hinshaw The Christian Education Committee would like to announce that the Christmas Potluck and program will be held on Dec. 22, Sunday evening, at 5:30 p.m. The snow date will be the next day, Monday. Supper starts at 5:30 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m.
A few recent events have nudged this issue into new territory and have made the publication
date a little fluid. Twice in the past two weeks we have lost dear friends and family members.
Macy Whitehead, our dear friend, passed away on Wednesday, May 16. On Sunday, May
20, his beloved wife, Edie, and their family attended meeting for worship, where they were
welcomed in by the Meeting.
At the Monthly Meeting that followed on that day, the Memorial Minute for Bobbie Jordan
was read.
On Saturday, May 26, Stuart Muench, cherished husband of our dear friend Betsy Muench,
passed away.
On Sunday, May 27, the Ad Hoc Fundraising Committee made a presentation at Meeting
that was intended for all to hear.
At the Monthly Meeting of May 20 it was decided that both Macy’s obituary and Bobbie’s
Memorial Minute should be published in our newsletter. The Ad Hoc Fundraising Committee
asked that their presentation be published as well. As you will see, these documents are each
quite long. The usual length of the newsletter has been close to doubled by their inclusion. All
of the additional costs above the usual five sheets of paper are being paid by two anonymous
donors who feel that these documents need to be made available to our members.
Our condolences go out to the families and loved ones of both Macy and Stuart. Our prayers
are with you.
From Liana Thompson Knight & Sam Knight
Stella Jean Knight, with a double first name for two of her great grandmothers, was born on Friday, April 27.
Welcome to the Durham Friends family!
Since Peace and Social Concerns is now back in the
rotation for the youth story, and there was some
switching due to other circumstances, the youth
story rotation has changed. The rotation is, for the
foreseeable future:
June – Library Committee
July – Ministry & Counsel
August – Peace & Social Concerns
September – Christian Education
And so on (until it changes again …)
Information from Leslie Manning
Leslie sent an email recently stuffed with information about what was happening with the Maine Council of
Churches. I couldn’t possibly fit it all in, even this month, but I chose three pieces that relate to the election
cycle that are important and current. The rest of this is directly from Leslie’s email.
We are happy to share via video, MCC’s Covenant for Civil Discourse, starring our wonderful Board
members. Please view, share and encourage others to do their part to keep disagreements
civil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvSZpCMZYCU
The first piece on our Covenant for Civil Discourse was written by our Executive Director, Rev. Jill
Saxby. This piece was published in the April 19 Bangor Daily News:
Next, our Public Policy Committee member Karen Hessel wrote a piece in support of Clean
Elections. Karen’s letter was published by the Sun-Journal on April 29:
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/columns-analysis/2012/04/29/karen-hessel-democracy-relies-voicescitizens/
1186605
June 2012 to August 2012
Thank you for being willing to prepare refreshments!
Please switch if needed.
Directions are posted in the kitchen. Supplies need to be donated- check what is already
available in the kitchen. “Basic” refreshments are coffee, milk and/or half & half, tea, juice, and
crackers. People appreciate having cheese, sweets, veggies, or fruit, but it can be as simple as you
like. The Woman’s Society makes this schedule with people who come to Meeting regularly and
have been willing to prepare refreshments in the past. We have not checked with each person
regarding dates. If you would like to be added to or taken off this list, see Nancy Marstaller. Thanks!
June 3 Harmony & Kathy Brown
10 Sarah Sprogell, Leslie Manning
17 Linda Muller & Jim McCarthy
24 Eileen Babcock, Mildred Alexander
July 1 Bee Douglas, Nancy Marstaller, Jo-an Jacobus
8 Margaret Wentworth, David Dexter
15 Brenda Masse, Wayne Hollingworth
22 Helen Clarkson, Sally Skillman
29 Kitsie Hildebrandt, Clarabel Marstaller
August 5 Dotty DeLoach, Don Goodrich
12 Sukie Rice, Susan Wood
19 Pam & Leonard Rainey
26 Martha Sheldon, Charlotte Anne Curtis
A celebration of the life of Stuart Muench will be held on Sunday, June 24 at 2:00 p.m. at Durham Friends
meetinghouse. It will be preceded by a gathering time beginning at 1:15. A reception and time for fellowship
will follow.
A committal service will be held on Saturday, July 28 at 2:00 p.m. It will be preceded by a gathering time
beginning at 1:15. A reception and time for fellowship will follow.
By Jo-an Jacobus
Get those creative juices flowing so you can add your something to the September Creative Issue of “The
Best of Friends.” Again this year we invite you to send something you created to be included in the September
newsletter. It can be anything “flat” or a photo of something “not flat.” Poetry, short prose, music lyrics,
drawings, paintings, photos, photos of sculptures or of a dance performance, of … If you think of something we
haven’t, check it out with us, Jim McCarthy, Daphne Clement, Jo-an Jacobus. We’ll let you know if we can
make it fit onto a piece of paper.
If you need help with having something scanned, get in touch with Jo-an. It must be a flat object no larger
than 8.5” X 11.” For written material it would be helpful if it was in some version of Word. If that is not
possible, please email me and let’s see what the options are. We will find a way! Images need to be in .jpg
format, high resolution is helpful.
Please note, the deadline is earlier for the creative submissions than for standard news submissions.
Creative works must be submitted to Jo-an by Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 5 p.m. at mjo.anjacobus@gmail.com.
Please bring your light out from under that basket and share yourself with the meeting.
at Durham Friends Meetinghouse
Come celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the
Friends Orphan
Care Center at
Kakamega, Kenya
Saturday, June 23rd
at 5:30 p.m.
Please stay for a presentation at 6:45 p.m.
See for yourself what a difference your help has made in the lives of these children
The Friends Orphan Care Center of Kakamega is an orphanage run by Kenyan Quaker women.
It is a highly successful grassroots effort to reach out to children who need love, care, and a
chance for schooling. The Orphan Project depends entirely on the kind generosity of others to
give the care, education, and hope these children need for a healthy future.
Tickets: $10/adult if ticket is reserved in advance ($12 at the door)
$ 8/seniors and teens if reserved in advance ($10 at the door)
$ 5/children Children under 5: free
$25 for a family of 5 ($30 at the door)
DURHAM FRIENDS MEETINGHOUSE is on the corner of Route 125 (Pinkham Brook
Road) and the Quaker Meetinghouse Road (Durham Road).
To reserve tickets, please call 353-6354 or email: pastor@durhamfriendsmeeting.org
By Jo-an Jacobus
Again this month comes sad news of the passing of another Durham Friend. Our beloved “Aunt” Bee
Douglas died at home surrounded by her family on the evening of June 26. At 103 ½ years old, Bee was our
eldest Durham Friend, Durham friend.
A memorial service, a celebration of her life, will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4, at Durham
Friends Meetinghouse. A reception will follow. The committal service will follow, but will be for family only.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Woman’s Society of Durham Friends Meeting. Checks
may be made out to that organization and mailed to Durham Friends Meeting, 532 Quaker Meetinghouse Road,
Durham, ME 04222, or to a charity of your choice.
By Jo-an Jacobus
With a heavy heart I share the sad news of the sudden and unexpected passing of Glenice Hutchins. She was
involved in a multi-car accident on Saturday, June 23, that resulted in her death. She was traveling near her home
with her dear friend and partner, Al Anderson. Al was bruised and “beaten up” but released from the hospital.
The memorial service was held on Tuesday, June 26, at Durham Friends Meetinghouse.
We send prayers and condolences to Al and to both their families. We also send prayers for Al to heal quickly
from his injuries.
By Jo-an Jacobus
The September issue of “The Best of Friends” will carry representations of what our community is doing
creatively. But that will happen only if you choose to share what you are doing. We would like to see what it is
that gives your heart its delight — if you would be willing to share that with us. Don’t hide your gifts under a
bushel; bring them into the light for all to see.
The nuts and bolts: It can be anything “flat” or a photo of something “not flat” (remember Glenice’s sweater
and Curt’s new family). Poetry, short prose, music lyrics, drawings, paintings, photos, photos of sculptures, of
a dance performance, of … If you think of something we haven’t, check it out with us, Jim McCarthy, Daphne
Clement, Jo-an Jacobus. We’ll let you know if we can make it fit onto a piece of paper.
If you need help with having something scanned, get in touch with Jo-an. It must be a flat object no larger
than 8.5 x 11 inches. For written material it would be helpful if it was in some version of Word. If that is not
possible, please email me and let’s see what the options are. We will find a way! Images need to be in .jpg
format, high resolution is helpful.
Please note, the deadline is earlier for the creative submissions than for standard news submissions.
Creative works must be submitted to Jo-an by Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 5 p.m. at mjo.anjacobus@gmail.com.
We would love to see your creative side. Please share with us.
Gather to prepare the ground and raise the trellis and to prepare to build
the Louis Marstaller bench at the Parsonage. We’ll meet on Saturday,
July 14, at 9 a.m., with a picnic lunch planned at 12:30 p.m.
Contact Daphne Clement for more information.
Contemplative Prayer group will be meeting in the meetinghouse on Tuesdays beginning at 7 p.m. through May. The group will then take the summer off.
By Jo-an Jacobus
I’m sure you’ve heard it before: “Be sure to take the copier paper you didn’t use out of the machine and put it in the ream wrapper in the case box and close the box.”
Annoying process isn’t it? And slow, when you are in a hurry. I mean, what can it really hurt? It worked fine without any hassles. What’s the big deal?
For whatever reason, the copier is very sensitive to the moisture level in the paper, even though we buy paper that is for use with machines that have paper-jamming difficulties. If the lid of the case box is not all the way down, if the ream wrap has been ripped off so it can’t be wrapped around again, even if those things happen at the beginning of a ream, it may be enough to jam the copier.
Then you could be the person on the other end of that conversation, “Who left the paper in the machine? It has jammed 6 (12, ___ ) times! I can’t get it to run through! I need this for Monthly Meeting ( ______ Committee), now!”
The meeting needs for all of us who use the copier to slow down and treat the paper the way it needs to be treated to keep the copier running smoothly. The copier repair person comes as needed to set it to rights again but often the paper is the issue. For us to find that out costs a minimum of $40. We can each do our part by being kind to the copier and in using less paper that will go straight into the recycle bin.
New, and hopefully easier and more effective, ways of storing the paper are being set up and will be in place before long. Until then, please take the paper out of the copier, put it back in the box and put the lid firmly on the box.