Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, October 16, 2016

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Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends, October 16, 2016

Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 12:30 with sixteen people present. Clerk Sarah Sprogell opened with a quote from an article by Howard Zinn expressing optimism as we look at the compassion, sacrifice, courage and kindness in history and how that gives us energy to live now as we believe human beings should live.

  1. Ron Turcotte reported for Ministry and Counsel.

a) Ministry and Counsel will hold an open meeting after worship on October 30 to discuss their recommendation of a six-month trial period of being a pastor-less semi-programmed meeting and the opportunities and ramifications of that.

b) Ministry and Counsel recommends that the meeting’s portion of the income raised at the Rise Again Singing concert of November18 be given to the American Friends Service Committee’s Wabanaki REACH program.

c) Daphne Clement will no longer be on the Pastoral Care Team because of her move to Rhode Island.

d) Ministry and Counsel recommends that four people will be discontinued on the meeting membership list because of long absence from meeting. One member has requested discontinuance, and the others have not responded to correspondence.

2. The meeting approved funds raised at the Rise Again Singing concert be given to the Wabanaki REACH program of AFSC.

3. It was approved that the following non-resident members be removed from our membership list: Karen Jonitis Rhoda, Barbara Wilcox, Elizabeth East and David Atherton.

4. Tess Hartford reported for Christian Education Committee.

a) Because of many changes in families and young people coming to meeting, and because of the changes the meeting is facing with Doug Gwyn’s leaving in December, Christian Education is looking at redefining the role of Youth Minister to consider whether this position can serve the meeting in a broader context. They would like to meet with Ministry and Counsel on this matter. This may be addressed to some extent at the October 30th open M&C meeting.

b) Christian Education conducted an evaluation of the Youth Minister in early summer and a summary will be reported in November.

c) Christian Education has invited families to meet in November at the home of Jeanne Baker Stinson to share what the spiritual needs are for families, with an eye to broadening their community in and outside of worship.

d) Clarabel Marstaller said the adult Sunday School Class is reading The Powers That Be by Walter Wink. Martha Hinshaw Sheldon is the new facilitator of the group.

e) The Adult Sunday School group continues the spiritual journeys program on the 4th Sunday of each month (taking a hiatus in November and December).

5. Wendy Schlotterbeck gave the Youth Minister report.

a) In response the New England Yearly Meeting minutes on Climate Justice and Racial Justice, Wendy has been working on how to teach about these things to youth and will be attending the NEYM workshop of October 28-30, “Prophetic Climate Action.”   She will also be participating in a webinar on “How to teach about racial justice to children.” Meeting youth she currently meets with have expressed interest in these two topics.

b) Wendy is creating the first of several banners on the Quaker testimonies and other themes. These banners will rotate and will be hung outside the meetinghouse.

c) Wendy is coordinating the November 18 and 19 Rise Again concerts at the meeting house and in Auburn. The theme for both concerts will be Racial Justice.

6. Margaret Wentworth reported for Trustees on the open meeting of October 2.

a) Estimates were presented for work needed for the replacement of the roof. A working group will be composed of Paul Wood, David Dexter and Daniel Henton will focus on the issue of the roof.

b) A proposal for solar panels and a heat pump was presented at the meeting, using Maine Solar Solutions as the contractor, the total cost being approximately $20,000-$21,000. She presented the possible ways of meeting the cost, including two grants. Although there was lack of clearness in the open meeting about moving forward with the solar project at this time, the meeting did affirm Monthly Meeting’s approval to proceed with applications for two grants for this project. We will not know the outcome of the grants until the beginning of 2017 at which time we can decide how to proceed.

7. Sukie Rice brought the financial report. In the period of January-September 30, the meeting has received $43,459 in Operating Fund Income, or 73% of our budgeted amount for the year. This is due to a wonderful response to the mid-year appeal which brought in $3565! Thanks to all who helped make this such as successful appeal. During this same period, the meeting expended $46,812, or 76% of our budget for the Operating Account.

It was reported that the new meeting room floor cost $5725. The full $8933 of the Pennell Fund was transferred to the Capital Account, closing out the Pennell Fund. This was used for the floor along with a $300 contribution, which was given for the flooring.

8. Margaret Wentworth is going off the Lisbon-Area Christian Outreach board of directors. There are three people interested in taking her place on the board.

9. Katherine Langelier proposed holding a Thanksgiving meal at 1:00 at the meeting- house November 24, with an open-house in the afternoon. She would like to extend an invitation to the community to expand the reach of who might like to attend. The meeting gave approval for this event.

10. Barbara Simon requested approval to apply for a grant from the Seed Garden Fund for the meeting garden. It would include both “crowd funding” and a merit grant. Grant money would be used to enhance the garden to plant vegetables and fruits for LACO as well as the meeting community. The meeting approved applying for this grant.

11. Falmouth Quarterly Meeting will be held October 22 from 9:00-12:30 at Durham Meeting. Joyce Gibson, Clarabel Marstaller, Margaret Wentworth and Sarah Sprogell will be our representatives. The purpose and future of Quarterly Meeting will be discussed at that time. Durham will provide the coffee and refreshments and attenders will bring a bag-lunch.

12. The meeting approved receiving donations for the Kickapoo Friends Center during the month of November.

13. LACO will be holding their Thanksgiving ecumenical worship on Sunday, November 20 at the West Bowdoin Baptist Church.

14The minutes of Monthly Meeting were approved during the meeting.

The meeting adjourned in the Spirit at 2:35.

Sukie Rice, Recording Clerk

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, September 18, 2016

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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.

  1. 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

 

Nuggets from Messages at Durham Friends Meeting in August, 2016

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AUGUST 7: DOUG BENNETT: “I’m with Stupid”:  I try to remember that Jesus’s Disciples regularly had difficulty learning what Jesus taught.  I take comfort and guidance in their showing that spiritual learning is hard, and not well or easily captured in any Creed.

AUGUST 14: DOUG GWYN: George Fox’s last words: “All is well.  The Seed reigns over all.” And “I’m glad I was here.”  The Seed is the eternal dimension hidden within each of us, hidden within time and place.  While we live, we exist in particular places and times.  When we die, we no longer exist, we’re in the eternal.  The point is to start living eternity now, which is the kingdom of heaven on earth.

AUGUST 21: NANCY MARSTALLER: To stay open to the Holy Spirit, it’s important to have an open heart, to keep listening to others’ stories, for the messages they bring in various ways, even if the language is not our usual or not to our liking. We need to stay open to Spirit’s promptings to share our own stories and act as Spirit moves.  As Stephen Grellet said: I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

AUGUST 28: DOUG GWYN: We exclude others through either/or thinking, like racism or sexism.  To build a civil society, we must work toward both/and, across our various identities and differences.  Life in community, especially religious community, goes still further, to neither/nor.  In community, we become real persons to one another, no longer this or that identity or difference.  And such communities are leavening agents, helping the wider society grow beyond either/or, at least to both/and.

How Do We Build Peace?

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September 25, 2016  – Program presented by Doug Bennett

This forum will provide a look at peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts of the United Nations, and of the work of Quakers to support and strengthen those efforts through the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO).  We will also consider what we can do to build peace.

Doug Bennett is a member of QUNC, the Quaker United Nations Committee, which oversees the work of QUNO.  QUNC members are appointed by the American Friends Service Committee and by Friends World Committee for Consultation.

Ann Audland, Early Quaker Prophet

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This is one of the stories I’ve been preparing for the New England Yearly Meeting sessions this month, about early Friends answering the call to radical faithfulness.

Ann Audland is one of the lesser known early Quaker prophets. She and her husband John were in their early 20s and among the hundreds of Seekers that responded to George Fox’s preaching around northern England in May and June of 1652. That was the ground-zero moment when the Quaker movement became a recognizable phenomenon. Ann and John Audland became part of the Valiant Sixty, a band of wandering prophets spreading the Quaker message. They clearly understood themselves as a latter-day version of the seventy disciples that Jesus sent out in pairs to preach the gospel (see Luke 10). They understood themselves as starting the Church all over again, from the ground up, as it began in the first place, by the power and leading of the Spirit.

John Audland paired up with his friend John Camm. In 1654, they invaded Bristol with the Quaker message. Bristol was the second largest city in England at that time and a hotbed of seeking groups. The two Johns, Camm and Audland, had spectacular success there.

Ann Audland teamed up with Mabel Camm, wife of John, and they began their own itinerant ministry. They were preaching in the streets of the Oxfordshire town of Banbury in 1655, when Ann was physically assaulted by some ruffians. She later told the local parish priest that this outbreak of violence was a symptom of his spiritual influence. For this and other provocative statements, she was arrested and charged with blasphemy. Someone posted bail for her and she resumed preaching around the area for some months before her trial. Many were convinced and local meetings were started.

But the local establishment was outraged by “that prating woman Audland.” It was reported that those who listened to her quaked and foamed at the mouth. Some said she was a witch and should be burned. But the judge at her trial was a more moderate man. He offered to free her if she would swear to stop causing trouble. But as a Quaker, she could neither swear an oath nor promise to desist from preaching. So she was sentenced to eight months in prison, kept in an underground cell that “did stink sorely; besides frogs and toads did crawl in,” she later wrote.

Like other Quaker prophets in these situations, Ann took her imprisonment not as a defeat but an opportunity to lay siege to the town with the truth. Other Quaker leaders converged there to nurture newly convinced Friends, to agitate among local sympathizers, and to protest Ann’s imprisonment. Richard Farnworth was also arrested and imprisoned. He preached to crowds through the grate of his prison window and many more Seekers became Friends. As her imprisonment wore on, Ann wrote to Margaret Fell, saying, “This is indeed a place of joy, and my soul doth rejoice in the Lord. I continue a prisoner in Banbury, but I witness freedom in the Lord.” Doug

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, July 17, 2016

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Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship on Sunday, July 17, 2016 with 15 people present. Clerk Sarah Sprogell brought us into the spirit of worship with remembrance of those who have recently lost their lives to violence, by reading from Pres. Obama’s recent speech in Dallas, quoting from Paul’s letter to the Romans, ‘Hope is God’s love poured out in our hearts,” and from Ezekiel, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you I will remove your heart of stone and give you an open heart.”

 

  1. Wendy Schlotterbeck brought a request to join other faith communities in signing a letter to the Maine Public Utilities Commission in support of continuing net metering for solar energy. This letter, created by Anne D. Burt of Midcoast Meeting and others, encourages the PUC to preserve net metering until the state legislature can approve a bill that further develops solar energy for Maine.

 

  1. The request to be a signatory on the petition to the Maine Public Utilities Commission was approved.

 

  1. Ron Turcotte brought the report for Ministry and Counsel. They have noted that the Meeting website is far behind. Wendy Schlotterbeck is doing an update for the time being and then will be handing it over to Katherine Langelier. They will develop guidelines for what gets posted onto the site.

 

  1. Doug Gwyn is continuing to arrange for speakers:

August 7 Doug Bennett

August 21 Nancy Marstaller

 

  1. a) He is getting things ready for his six-week absence in September and October, especially in regard to the pastor care team. He is also working with Joyce Gibson on further developing our communications for prayer needs. Joyce will work with Martha Sheldon to make sure prayer requests go through the telephone tree as well as email.
  2. b) Doug is working with a group of Meeting members about the possibility of having a banner to hang on the outside of the building. Inspired by the UCC banners in Brunswick, the banner group sees that we might have a rotation of banners with short messages like the Quaker testimonies written on them. The group wants to convey that we are alive and vital and welcoming of new people. They will season this idea more before bringing a final recommendation.
  3. c) Doug is working on an exhibit on the Meeting for NEYM sessions.

 

  1. Tess Hartford reported for Christian Education. They are working on the evaluation of Wendy Schlotterbeck as Youth Minister and considerations for her continuing contract.

 

  1. Sukie Rice reported for Finance committee. The mid-year January-June finance report shows that our Income for the first 6 months was $24,085 (or 40% of our budget) and the expenditures were $30,787 (or 49% of the budget) for the same period. That means we are currently running at a deficit of $6702 for 2016.

 

  1. Sukie Rice reported for the Fundraising Committee. The Mid-year appeal will be going out in August with a focus on reducing the deficit and encouraging increased weekly contributions.

 

  1. Margaret Wentworth reported for Trustees.
  2. a) They are working on a plan for mowing the cemeteries so that the grounds will be well maintained but not over-expend their funds.
  3. b) It has been decided that, for the integrity of the building, the large green metal roof of the meetinghouse does need to be replaced due to rust development. However, we do not need to go into structural supports for the roof. They are still seeking a couple of other estimates before making a decision on the contractor for the job.
  4. c) At the open Trustees meeting in June, there was a strong feeling that putting solar on the roof is a moral imperative. There is strong interest in a heat pump for the community room (vestry). A meeting subcommittee on solar has met with two solar providers and is currently looking at the new silver roof over the addition ell. It gets the same amount of sun that the large green roof gets (82% efficiency) and needs no support work for a solar array. Further bids for solar will be requested.
  5. d) The new flooring has been completed, is curing and looks beautiful. Trustees wishes to put felt on the bottom of the benches to protect the new floor.

 

  1. It was approved that there be an open Trustees meeting when the solar subcommittee gets all the information it needs to bring a proposal to the meeting. That proposal would include both the costs for a solar array and how we would pay for it.

 

  1. Ministry and Counsel and Monthly Meeting for Business will not be held in August unless something comes up that necessitates such meetings.

 

  1. It was approved that Christian Education will decide on the date and plans for Rally Day.

 

  1. The minutes of Monthly Meeting were approved during the meeting.

The meeting adjourned in the Spirit at 2:20.

Sukie Rice, Recording Clerk

Women’s Society meeting

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Seventeen women gathered at Helen Clarkson’s home in Freeport on Monday July 18 to share devotions, progress through business and to hear of struggles and joys. Two were visitors from Kenya – Margaret Namiloye Musalia, pastor and Agneta Injairu-Malara, student at the Friends Theological College. Both gave words of inspiration and joy. Dorothy Curtis gave a presentation on her trip to and participating in the recent USFWI conference held in Iowa. Other attendees were Leslie Manning and Miriam Baker (visiting from Weare, Vermont). Prayers were offered for all those involved and attended USFWI and that the follow up will be as God would have it. The next USFWI meeting will be in 2020. Dorothy expressed appreciation in being able to attend the conference. Prayers were shared by many in the evening gathering. The next Women’s Society meeting will be Monday, August 22nd. All welcome! Location to be announced.

Humbly submitted by Martha

The Phoebe Family: Empty-Nesters – or Not?

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I’ve enjoyed hosting a family of phoebes, a species of flycatchers, on the parsonage porch. I noticed them one day in May trying to build a nest on an impossibly narrow ledge under a corner of the porch ceiling. So I cut a triangular piece of corrugated cardboard and fastened it there. Within an hour, they were busy building their nest on this makeshift platform. Soon Mrs. Phoebe was sitting on her eggs. Before very long, both she and Mr. Phoebe were busy feeding their hatchlings all day long. Some warm weather in early June made the porch pretty hot, and one afternoon I could see a hatchling with its head resting against the edge of the nest in an open-beaked daze. But the weather cooled and they survived. Like a loaf of bread puffing up in the oven, the mass of baby birds kept rising higher above the top of the nest, constantly jostling. I wondered just how many small flying insects it took to grow these little birds. But I do know I’ve not been bothered by mosquitos anywhere near the house so far this summer. Caroline was here with me for this part of the drama. We watched and wondered when the crowding would get to be too much, or if the babies would just start spilling out of the nest. One day we decided to help them by putting a staging area near the nest, a place to flutter to. Caroline carried a small step-ladder to lean against the wall near the nest. But as she approached, all four baby phoebes bolted from the nest at once. Being flycatchers, I guess they were expert fliers from the start, because there was no fluttering around, just very competent flight. While three of them headed out into the open, one of them flew into the house through the door we had left open. But didn’t take long for me to chase it out to join the others. Knowing that some of our families at Durham Friends are moving into that empty-nest phase of life, I thought I would tell a story of successful transition. But wait – there’s more! A week or so later, I noticed a bird sitting in the nest again. At first I assumed it was one of the young phoebes. Perhaps a phoebe version of today’s millennials coming back to live with their parents, into their 30s. But now I think it’s Mrs. Phoebe. Could she be sitting on another batch of eggs? I thought birds raised only one family per year. Or is she experiencing empty nest denial? She’s still there as I write. Stay tuned. Doug Gwyn

Youth Minster’s Report

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Plant and yard sale The plant and yard sale held Saturday May 21, netted $333.30 which along with the funds raised from selling Christmas wreaths, will enable us to continue sponsorship of Cornelius, from Kakamega, Kenya who is now in high school. Thank you to all the many Durham Friends for your generous support! Children’s Day The annual “Children and Youth Day” was held on June 5, 2016. After a meaningful worship and a message from Tess Hartford about Godly Play, we honored the graduates with cards and bookstore gift cards and all the children and youth with a flower to plant. Then we were treated to an amazing array of picnic food. Special thanks to Dorothy Curtis, Dan Henton and Katherine Langelier in addition to the many yummy treats brought by others. Don Goodrich brought his human-sized “hamster wheel” which was enjoyed by many of the 11 children and youth. We also took a group photo to send with Kristna Evans on her visit to Cuba. Durham Young Friends Durham Young Friends gathered on June 13 for a dinner to celebrate the end of the school year and congratulate the high school seniors on their graduations. Annual family campout Durham families gathered June 18-19 at the summer home of Betsy Muench in Georgetown, Maine on the beautiful Atlantic ocean. This is a highlight of each year for many of us. Thank you Betsy for this special gift! School year 2016-17 Many children and youth activities are suspended for July and August. Sunday School and Durham Young Friends will begin again in full on our annual Rally Day which will be Sunday, September 18, 2016. In preparation for the new year, we plan to gather interested parents and children/youth to discuss what each child/youth/family needs to further their spiritual growth and connection to the Durham Friends community. Stay tuned for more information about this important process. NEYM Wendy Schlotterbeck, as youth minister, attended a day long retreat/workshop in Amesbury, Massachusetts on June 12, 2016 led by Nia Thomas, the New England Yearly Meeting Young Friends and Young Adult Friends coordinator. It was a very rich time for all participants. The group of 12 reflected on the joys and challenges of working with the youth of NEYM and discussed plans for the upcoming Yearly Meeting in Vermont August 6-11. Wendy will again be a full-time resource person (RP) for this gathering of about 50 high school youth from New England. All ages are encouraged to attend this annual event which provides amazing programs for all ages from birth to 100+. Check out <http://neym.org/sessions> for more information and to register

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, June 19, 2016

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Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends, June 19, 2016

Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship on Sunday, June 19, 2016 at 12:25 with 11 people present. Clerk Sarah Sprogell read a prayer written after the horrific shooting in Orlando, Florida by Fritz Weiss, Presiding Clerk, and Sarah Gant, Clerk of Permanent Board of New England Yearly Meeting (NEYM).

  1. Sarah Sprogell corrected item #8 from the minutes of the May 15th Monthly Meeting for Business. The website quoted as New England Yearly Meeting should read Friends General Conference.

2. Doug Gwyn gave the pastor’s report.

a) People bringing the message are as follows: Paul Miller on July 3; Leslie Manning on July 17; Mary Lord on August 7; and Nancy Marstaller on August 21.

b) Doug will be on leave of absence early September through mid-October while teaching a course at Pendle Hill. He is working with the Pastoral Care Team to work on coverage while he is away.

c) There were twelve people present for the June 4th meeting on Friends with the concern for ministry and spiritual nurture led by Brian Drayton.

d) There was a helpful clerks meeting with all the Meeting’s clerks on June 6.

e) Doug will be away from June 28-July 5 visiting family and at a conference at Barnsville, Ohio called Quaker Spring.

f) Doug is looking into the possibility of having banners outside the meetinghouse to help bring awareness of people passing by.

g) Mid-week meetings continue. June 14th worship was focused on the Orlando shooting.

h) Ministry and Counsel is looking at how hymns are selected at the beginning of worship. They ask that the person bringing the message call for a hymn that will help transition to the time of prayers of joys and concerns.

i) Doug drafted a letter from Durham Meeting to Velasco Meeting (our sister meeting in Cuba) which Kristna Evans is bringing with her on her trip to Cuba.

3. Wendy Schlotterbeck’s Youth Minister’s Report was read by Sarah Sprogell

a) The plant/yard sale netted $333 which, when added to the Christmas wreath sale, is enough for the sponsorship of Cornelius of the Kakaemga Orphans Project to go to high school. Thanks to all who helped!

b) The “Children and Youth Day” on June 5 had meaningful worship and message from Tess Hartford and an honoring of graduates. The young Friends group celebrated the end of the school year on June 13.

c) Many children and youth activities are suspended for the summer to resume on Rally Day, September 18.

d) Wendy will again be a full-time resource person for Young Friends and Young Adult Friends coordinator at NEYM sessions in August.

The full report is attached.

4. Jo-an Jacobus reported that Nominating Committee recommends Katherine Langelier to be on Christian Education Committee.

5. The Meeting approved that Katherine Langelier be a member of Christian Education.

6. Margaret Wentworth reported on the well-attended Trustees open meeting on Sunday, June 5. In regard to the flooring, trustees recommends that the floor be refinished and yellow pine be laid down where currently the wood differs. The facing bench flooring would be left as is.

She reported on further Trustees business, stating that an appeal has been filed by a neighbor with the Town of Durham concerning the Town’s approval of the cell tower.

Bids are being sought for the replacement or need for repair of the meetinghouse roof. It was agreed that we find out what the cost of the roof would be for both with and without the solar panels.

7. The meeting approved the Trustees recommendation for the flooring.   The Meeting approved that we contract Travis of T Square Woodworking to do this job.

Three quotes were given for this job.

8. Sukie Rice reported from the Fundraising Committee. The committee recommends that the Pennel Fund (with approximately $9000) and the Dwelley Fund (with about $5000) be used for the Capital fund needs.

Fundraising Committee would like to submit grant applications to the NEYM Legacy Fund (Meetinghouse Fund), the Friends General Conference Meetinghouse Fund (the Green Meetinghouse Fund) and the Philiadelphia Yearly Meeting Meetinghouse Fund. The applications would include our need for roof repair/replacement along with our wish to have solar energy meet much of our electric needs.

9. It was approved that the Pennel Fund money be used to pay for the flooring, and that the Pennell and Dwelley Funds be merged for Capital needs. It was agreed that the Finance Committee should work out the transaction.

10. The Meeting approved that we will seek funds for the repair and replacement of the roof with the intention of putting on a solar installation. It was approved that the Fundraising Committee proceed with applications for grants for these purposes.

11. It was approved that Trustees and the Fundraising Committee hold open meeting informational sessions about the vision of Durham Meeting’s “going solar” with all its ramifications, costs and options.

12. The meeting approved the following representatives to New England Yearly Meeting (NEYM): Sukie Rice, Sarah Sprogell, Doug Gwyn, Wendy Schlotterbeck and Leslie Manning and Joyce Gibson (with their approval)

13. Representatives to Quarterly Meeting on June 25 will be Doug Gwyn, Sarah Sprogell and Betsy Muench.

14. The minutes of Monthly Meeting were approved during the meeting.

The meeting adjourned in the Spirit at 2:20.

Susan Rice, Recording Clerk

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, May 15, 2016

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Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship on Sunday May 15, 2016 with ten people present.

In Sukie Rice”s absence Martha Hinshaw Sheldon agreed to serve as recording clerk for this meeting.  Minutes will be sent out to those present for adjustments and revisions needed.

Clerk Sarah Sprogell began the meeting with readings from Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom by Joseph Goldstein and from NEYM Interim Faith and Practice, 2014.

  1. Minutes from the April Monthly Meeting were approved with corrections.
  2. Ministry & Counsel recommended releasing Doug to take a leave of absence to teach an online class at Pendle Hill for 6 weeks, September 18 to end of October and for 4 weeks in the winter. The Pastoral Care Team will cover pastoral care needs during this time, worship planning to be done in advance. This would be a time for community involvement, nurturing of Doug’s gifts, create a balance of work with the meeting and extend Doug’s ministry outside of the Durham community.  Approved
  3. Pastor’s report given. Doug continues to work with LACO Board.  He joined the newly formed support committee of the Friends Community of New England in Bath.  The midweek meetings continue, recently with the “Experiment with Light” guided meditation and an upcoming DVD about the Penobscot nation’s control of the Penobscot River.  Doug continues to work with Christian Education and Falmouth Quarterly Meeting.    Doug confirmed that June 26 Dorothy Salebwa will speak.  He will attend the next Quarterly Meeting Planning meeting.  Doug’s travels this past month were to Central Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to talk of his latest book, to Indiana to visit his mom and visit with Phyllis Wetherell with the surprise benefit of visiting with Ed & Dorothy Hinshaw. Doug anticipates fewer travels for the next few months.  A suggestion was made and accepted that Doug and Ministry and Counsel write a longer article for the newsletter about Doug’s time at Pendle Hill in the fall. Report accepted.

A concern was shared regarding the potential low attendance at the Brian Drayton workshop on ministry raising the question, will there be enough to still have the event? If you plan to attend let Kristna know.  Kristna will talk to Brian to consider how to proceed.

  1. Kristna Evans will be travelling to Cuba June 15 to 25 for Friends United Meeting General Board meetings. FUM Board meetings are held outside of North America every 3 years.  This year, meetings will be in Cuba.  Kristna has been to Cuba before and speaks Spanish, so she will be an asset.  Velasco Friends Meeting, Cuba, has been a sister meeting with Durham for many years.  This would be an opportunity for Durham friends to send materials, cards and letters to Velasco friends.  Tess will talk to Wendy about the possibility of Durham Friends children and youth sending letters to children and youth at Velasco.  Doug is to write a brief greeting that Ron Turcotte will translate and may be included in a locally produced card.  Kristna will offer a report upon her return.
  2. Tess Hartford gave the youth minister’s report for Wendy.   The annual yard and plant sale is to be May 21 from 9 to 12.  Plans for the June 5 children’s day activities were presented.  Tess is to contact Donna Ross regarding putting details on Facebook.     May we keep Wendy in our thoughts and prayers after the recent death of her mother.  Report accepted as presented.
  3. Treasurer’s Report: Reports are now to be presented quarterly with the next report due in July.  Income tends to be lower than expenses.  All are encouraged to take note and consider how to respond.
  4. Christian Education Report was presented by Tess Hartford. Graduates will be recognized June 5 and given store credit at the Gulf of Maine book store. The youth minister’s annual review was sent out, waiting for returns due May 22 after which a report will be presented to Monthly Meeting. Discussion occurred on how to message to the wider community about what Durham has to offer to youth.  How do we comminicate what is going on?  Other churches have put up banners that say “God is still speaking.”  We could say “We’re still listening”,Or “Listening to God 4 miles that way” at the intersection of 136 and Quaker Rd.  More ideas were shared.  All agreed that this is an important conversation to continue having.  What do we have to offer?  Sarah pointed out that the New England Yearly Meeting  website has an outreach ‘toolbox’ for meetings to use.  The report was accepted with appreciation for the work of CE and for the support Doug gives to the committee clerk.
  5. Trustees report given by Margaret Wentworth. Margaret suggested that a treasurer’s report be posted in the Meetinghouse and reported that the carpet has been taken up in the meeting room.  Discussion followed on next steps and care of the bench cushions.  The cell tower is progressing after receiving approval from the town with some expressing concern that the land not be clear cut for many years.  The Meeting has agreed to this concern.  There will be an open meeting to review and discuss the meeting roof and possible solar panels June 5.
  6. NEYM bound archives are being moved from the Maine Historical society, where conditions have been detrimental, to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, who would become the owners of the materials. Meetings will continue to have full use of the archives.  Approval was given to this transfer of ownership.
  7. The meeting closed at 2:30.

Durham Friends Woman’s Society May 16, 2016

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The Woman’s Society met at the home of Nancy Marstaller with 9 present. Margaret Wentworth led the devotions and program from “Blueprints.” The author spoke of how during a family health crisis she learned to remember God’s presence in her life. She remembered little things that had happened in better times, which prepared her and helped ease the way during the stressful times. Those little things made a huge difference, for which she was grateful.

Dorothy Curtis presided at our business meeting. Next month we will meet at Dot Hinshaw’s in Sumner on June 20 at 5 PM. We signed several cards, including one for Jocelyn Wilkinson- granddaughter of Lon Fendall who is consultant at Friends Theological College in Kenya. The minutes were approved as corrected. Our treasurer, Clarabel Marstaller, reported that the April offering was $104. After donating $20 to the USFWI conference offering, our balance is $527.99. Her report was accepted with gratitude.

We will pray for the pastoral team in Samburu, Kenya, as they help resolve conflicts in the area.

The Tedford meal in May was Sloppy Joes, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, rolls, fruit cobbler, and blondies. Team A will prepare the June meal.

Martha Sheldon agreed to be the point person for the nomination process. Current office holders were queried as to their willingness to continue for the coming year, which starts in September. Others will be asked and the slate finalized in the next month or two. Clarabel does not wish to continue as treasurer. We will do the program schedule at our next couple meetings, and then fill out the booklets as a group.

We ended the meeting by sharing personal prayer requests and joys, and then Dorothy read a nursery rhyme reminding us to give thanks. We enjoyed each other’s company during refreshments.

Nancy Marstaller, secretary pro tem

Calendars, the Meetinghouse, and Trustees

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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

Prayer concerns

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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.

A Meeting for Those With a Concern for Ministry

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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 First Motion

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John Woolman said in his journal on one of the days he spent travelling in earnest pursuit of God’s will for him, that “Love was the first motion,” after which “a concern arose to spend some time with the Indians, that I might feel and understand their life and the spirit they live in, if haply I might receive some instruction from them, or they might be in any degree helped forward by my following the leadings of truth among them.”

I appreciate that Woolman’s words give precedence to the instruction he will gain from the people whose land and culture he visits. I like how humbly he hopes that his presence and witness to truth among them might “in any degree” be helpful to them. Living in Palestine has made me keenly aware of the margin for harm that is possible when outsiders arrive thinking they have the balm that will sooth whatever ails people here (before they have any idea what ails them). It seems if more people were like Woolman, and arrived keen to be instructed by the Palestinians’ remarkable resilience, solidarity and forgiveness, the rest of the world would benefit greatly.

I’ve been wondering about my own return home. I wonder what I will say when prompted to speak about Palestine. When I was in the courtyard with 11th graders the other day I asked them what they would want Americans to hear about them. This is a paraphrase of what they said:

“We express ourselves in the many ways. We dance, and sing, and play music, and write, and act. There is so much more to us than violence, violence is not the only way we respond to the Occupation. We live like the rest of the world, but for us there is a piece missing.”

“That piece that’s missing, it doesn’t overtake our whole lives. Sometimes the media shows it like we’re being bombed and shot every day. We live normal lives, but we do feel that piece missing.”

“And we don’t let it depress us. We don’t get depressed and sad living under occupation, we are still happy and living good lives. We don’t let it prevent us from having a good time and being happy.”

“And we don’t want any harm for the other side. I want to be able to go back to my home town, but I don’t want other people to be harmed in the process. I just want to have my right to my land acknowledged.”

These students had, earlier that day, analysed a passage from a novel by Yashar Kemal, providing their own witness to the truth embedded in literature through discussion and questioning. That is the strongest impression I have of these students: their remarkable ability to collaborate to create meaning around a text.

I wonder what John Woolman meant when he wrote that “Love was the first motion.” In literature, and it seems in life, the first motion is usually accusatory, or defensive, or dishonest. The first motion is often rooted in fear, and I can think of nothing more contradictory to love than fear. Woolman says this right before he felt a concern for the Indians. That makes me think the first motion was God’s motion, not anything coming from Woolman. God makes the first motion, and we are asked to follow through. That first motion is love. When the job at RFS became available, and I felt the tug, it must have been the tug of the motion of God’s love.

I hope to continue making a life of following through on that motion of love, big or small, close to home or far. Love’s motions can be tiny, as when a colleague asks me how a class went or a person in the street returns something I’ve dropped. I believe God gives us opportunities to follow his love’s motion every day, and that it is in following those motions that the world progresses toward greater peace. We can as profoundly change the world by turning toward a neighbor as by crossing an ocean.

Mimi Marstaller, Ramallah Friends School

Elizabeth Fry: Quaker Prison Reformer

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I’ve been reading a biography of Elizabeth Fry (1780 – 1843) that I bought from the USFW used book table in the meetinghouse. The biography is itself a century old and USFW used book table in the meetinghouse. The biography is itself a century old and better ones have probably been written since. But I’ve been inspired by reading it. I’m only about half-way through it at the time of this writing, but here are some interesting points so far. Elizabeth Gurney grew up in a wealthy Quaker banking family in Norwich, England. She was one of eleven children, mostly sisters. But a brother, Joseph John Gurney, would become a key actor in the evangelical renewal of Friends. His travels in America in the 1830s were a watershed event that strongly influenced Friends, including here in New England. Elizabeth and her sisters were “gay Friends” – which in those days meant that they rejected the traditional plain dress, speech and lifestyle of Friends. They enjoyed literature, “mirth,” singing and even dancing(!) Betsy wore purple boots with scarlet laces, even to meeting for worship. The family were members at the Goat’s Lane Meeting in Norwich. She and her sisters disliked going to meeting – or what they called being “goatified.” Elizabeth’s story reads something like a Jane Austen novel that goes off the rails. At age fourteen she asked her father to take her to see the women in the Norwich House of Correction. The conditions she saw there horrified her, causing her to ask, “If this is the world, where is God?” She became a religious skeptic, but still caught between her love of diversion and her grief at social conditions outside her comfortable home. A major turning-point came when she was seventeen and William Savery, a traveling Quaker minister from America, spoke at her meeting. His message (two and a half hours long!) reached her powerfully. He came to the Gurney home for breakfast the next morning and prophesied great things about Elizabeth. She wrote that Savery’s “having been gay and disbelieving only a few years ago makes him better acquainted with the heart of one in the same situation.” Her sisters were annoyed by the changes in Elizabeth in the following months. She became more serious, kind, and charitable to the poor. She preferred reading the Bible to dancing, became more patient, humble and plain. What a drag! During a trip to London, a “weighty” elder Friend, Deborah Darby, also prophesied great things of her. Elizabeth wondered, “Can this be?” At age twenty, she married Joseph Fry, of another Quaker banking family in London. She started a school for girls and did various works of charity. But her greatest work would take place at the Newgate prison in London. Its terrible conditions had claimed the lives of some Friends in the early days of persecution in the
1600s. On average, five deaths occurred there every month from lack of ventilation and overcrowding. The criminal and mentally ill were thrown together. Men, women and even minors were executed for offenses as minor as theft and forgery. About four executions occurred daily. The French evangelical Friend Stephen Grellet visited Newgate in 1813 and went at once to Elizabeth Fry to ask her to help the 300 women prisoners and their children there. The degrading conditions of the prison (and the alcohol available to anyone with money to buy it) led to degraded behavior, outright mayhem at times. Fry spoke to that of God in the women and children by treating them with respect, assuring them of God’s love and her own for them, and offering education for the children along with productive work for the women. The results were immediate and profound. The ventilation didn’t improve but the overall atmosphere among the prisoners did. Fry also campaigned against capital punishment for theft and forgery, arguing that it showed a higher regard for property than for human life. Stay tuned for more on Elizabeth Fry in the next newsletter. Doug

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, April 17, 2016

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Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship on Sunday, April 17, 2016 with twelve people present. In Sukie Rice’s absence, Doug Gwyn agreed to serve as recording clerk for this meeting. He will send out draft minutes to all present for additions/improvements. Clerk Sarah Sprogell opened the meeting by reading a quotation from the current revision of New England Yearly Meeting’s book of faith and practice, page 117, on the inward teacher and personal transformation. Doug Gwyn gave his pastor’s report. He continues to arrange for a variety of speakers to bring the message in worship. Sukie Rice spoke April 3 and Nelson Ida, pastor to the Kakamega orphanage, spoke April 10. Craig Freshly will bring the message April 24, while Doug is speaking at Central Philadelphia Meeting. Gene Boyington has agreed to speak May 10 and it is probable that Dorothy Selebwa of Kakamega will speak June 26. A meeting of committee clerks, released ministers and treasurer was a useful conversation held in the parsonage April 6. Midweek meetings have resumed and will utilize a variety of formats. Ron Turcotte reported for Ministry and Counsel. Friendly Eights groups have all met at least once, except for one that is still finding its way. Several other items of business are in process. Youth Minister’s report – Wendy Schlotterbeck is out of town and unable to report. Katharine Hildebrandt gave the treasurer’s report. For the first quarter of this year, she reported $17,008.55 in expenses, against $12,828.93 in income and $2859.43 in transfers, leaving a negative year-to-date balance of $1320.19. She noted that declining interest income from our various funds is impacting our finances. Her report was accepted with appreciation.
a. Sarah Sprogell’s suggestion was approved, that we have treasurer’s report quarterly instead of monthly, with the provision that the treasurer or finance committee can report anything more urgent at any monthly meeting. We will put the quarterly reports, in abbreviated form, in the Meeting newsletter. Tess Hartford brought the report from the Christian Education Committee. Their main business presently is Wendy Schlotterbeck’s annual evaluation. Tess will distribute an evaluation form to members of Christian Ed and Ministry & Counsel, and to the parents of the Meeting’s youth. They hope to renew Wendy’s contract/agreement in June. Tess raised a concern that the Committee is getting smaller. Jo-an Jacobus said she would relay this concern to Nominating Committee. Clarabel Marstaller resigned from the Committee in March. Doug Gwyn read a minute of appreciation from the Committee for her 67 years of service to religious education in our Meeting. The minute was heartily approved. Margaret Wentworth presented the Trustees report. They are obtaining estimates for replacement of the meetinghouse roof and reinforcement of its underlying structure, in order to install solar panels in the future. They plan to approach the Fundraising Committee to explore how to finance this undertaking. They are starting to explore creating guidelines for the interment of cremains, which are becoming a more frequent choice for those using our cemetery. We may need to consider smaller plots accordingly. The horse shed roof needs repainting and repair. Don Goodrich is removing large stones, stumps and seedlings from behind the horse shed so that it may be mowed this year. He is doing this for free, as he plans to use the stones elsewhere. Gene Boyington will continue with tree-removal near the entrance to the parsonage parking lot. Trustees plan to use a sign-up sheet again this year for spring cleaning, rather than to organize a clean-up day. A working party will be formed to remove the carpet from the worship room. Ron Turcotte, Katherine Langelier and Doug Gwyn were approved to work on this. They will see if Paul Wood and Craig Freshley can be recruited for this project as well. The Friends Community of New England has an air purifier they can lend to the Meeting to help with mold issues that are a problem for one attender. The cell tower plan has been presented to the Durham Planning Board and is going through their process. It was suggested that we may need to schedule an open Trustees meeting for concerned members and attenders to discuss issues surrounding solar panels on the meetinghouse roof. This was approved as a useful step. Sarah Sprogell gave some details from our 2015 statistical report to the Yearly Meeting. We gained seven new members (3 new Friends, 4 transfers from other meetings). We lost four by death or by aging out
from junior membership. Our attendance averaged right around 40, showing some slow growth. Falmouth Quarterly Meeting needs a representative to attend the June annual meeting of the Beacon Hill Friends House in Boston. Interested persons can contact Sarah. Clarabel Marstaller reported on the Falmouth Quarterly Meeting held at Windham Friends April 2. The morning was taken up with a worshipful hearing of State of Society reports from our various monthly meetings and a memorial minute for David Hall from Brunswick Meeting. Leslie Manning reported on the work of the Maine Friends Committee on Public Policy and the Maine Council of Churches. After lunch a presentation on Give Kids a Chance was given by two members of Windham Friends. Clarabel also reported for the United Society of Friends Women. The Durham women hosted a meeting for all USFW Friends on April 9, with 10 attending. A USFW Triennial will be held in Iowa in July. Two carloads will go from our Yearly Meeting. Sarah Sprogell reported that Portland Friends Meeting is exploring entering into sister meeting relationship with one of the Cuban Yearly Meeting meetings. One possibility would be for them to share our sister meeting relationship with Velasco Friends. But no definite action or request has been made. Clarabel Marstaller relayed a suggestion from Cynthia Muench that we add signs to the two doors into the worship room, requesting that people silence all electronic devices. Jo-an Jacobus volunteered to work on this. The meeting closed around 2:15.

Christian Education Committee Minute of Appreciation for Clarabel Marstaller’s Contributions

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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

Attracting an Audience

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current unit focuses on mass media, and how language is used to reach a certain audience and achieve a certain purpose. I figured that the lessons would be easier to plan and assignments simpler to grade if I helped the class narrow down the possible topics to three or four, and everyone could write on one of those; we could get some basic subject knowledge in each area, and they could supplement their own standpoint with individual research. In one of the first class sessions, a Dana pointed out that bloggers often don’t take full advantage of the freedom that blogging theoretically provides, since they are afraid of being labelled as biased, or of being attacked for their opinions. I thought quite a bit
about her point, which, although not new to me, struck me as more significant for Palestinian bloggers than for American ones, and it influenced the way I wanted to teach the unit. We began focusing on tactics to gain and maintain an audience, with a critical eye to how commonly used tactics to win “views” on the internet can alter a message. Provocative, exaggerated or gossipy headlines, polemical language, humor and metaphor are some of the popular devices employed as “click-bait,” a phrase the students taught me. But does the use of these tactics impact the message? “I’m writing about feminism,” said Nour. “I can’t use a gossipy tone.” Her classmates retorted that she could; “OK, but I wouldn’t” she clarified. Why not? I asked. “It would be unethical,” “It makes the topic seem unimportant,” “People wouldn’t take the topic seriously.” We discussed the dance that bloggers must do, in attracting an audience, while maintaining the integrity of their message. I’ve been impressed with how thoughtfully they have considered what degree of “self-selling” is appropriate to their topic, since many have chosen weighty issues such as stereotypes of Arabs, young girls sold into marriage in Syria, and the dangers Palestinian children face when travelling across occupied territory to get to school. I imagine Early Friends having contemplated a similar challenge: the truth they wanted to convey was too vital to be diluted for the sake of mass appeal. And yet they had to make their new message feel compelling and alive. In one sense, Friends then and now have it easier than bloggers. The blogger’s message is evident only through his written language. Friends can count on their lived example to attract others to their truth, a “click-bait” strategy which seems to speak louder than words. Mimi Marstaller, Volunteer Teacher at Ramallah Friends School

Woman’s Society Meeting June 2016

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Durham Friends Woman’s Society met at the home of Dorothy Hinshaw on June 20, 2016, with ten women in attendance for the meeting and the high tea which preceded the meeting. Angie Reed was not at the meeting so Katherine Langelier took minutes. Martha Sheldon presented the program from Blueprints which was written by Durham’s own Leslie Manning. In the business meeting, President Dorothy Curtis opened the meeting with Kitchen Table Wisdom, by Rachel Naomi Remen. The card ministry was discussed and carried out. Nancy gave the Treasurer’s report during which a collection was taken. The Children’s Day offering was $367.25 and we added to that from our treasury to make the donation $400, which goes to the USFWI Children and Youth Projects. The meeting discussed the previously approved donation toward expenses of our member attending the United Society of Friends Women International Triennial, which will be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, July 7 – 10. Prayers were requested for our member attending the Triennial, for all the people attending the Triennial and attempting to attend. Prayers were also requested for a member with difficult issues. The women on the Tedford meal team for May gave a report. It sounded delicious and the story of getting it there provided quite a funny tale. The Nominating Committee gave a report: Nancy Marstaller will be our new Treasurer. After thanking Dorothy Hinshaw and Martha Hinshaw Sheldon for their hospitality and program we all headed back home. The next meeting will be held on July 18 at the home of Helen Clarkson.

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, March 20, 2016

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Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends, March 20, 2016

Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship on Sunday, March 20, 2016 with thirteen people present. Clerk Sarah Sprogell was not available for the meeting. It was approved that Edwin Hinshaw clerk the meeting. The meeting was opened in worship with Ed reading quotations from Dr. Martin Luther King.

  1. Ron Turcotte brought the report from Ministry and Counsel.

a) Joyce Gibson has agreed to be the meeting’s representative to NEYM M&C. Doug Gwyn will also be attending M&C as our pastor.

b) Most of the friendly dinners have begun meeting.

c) People bringing the message: April 3 – Sukie Rice; April 10 – Pastor Nelson Ida from Kakamega Orphan Project; April 24 – Craig Freshley; June 25 – Dorothy Selebwa from USFW-Kenya and the Kakamega Orphan Project.

d) Brian Drayton will be at Durham Meeting on June 4, facilitating a meeting for Friends with a concern for ministry. This will be for Falmouth and Vassalboro Quarterly Meetings.

e) On April 6, there will be a joint meeting of the clerks of the different Durham Meeting committees at 7:00 at the parsonage.

f) A letter has been received from Charlene McPhee requesting that she be removed from membership from the Meeting. Ministry and Counsel recommends that she be discontinued as a member. They also recommend that her daughter Lexie McPhee be discontinued from Junior Membership.

g) Durham Ministry and Counsel has been working on feedback to NEYM on the NEYM Faith and Practice Revision section on Ministry and Counsel Queries and has sent this feedback to Revisions Committee.

h) Ministry and Counsel has started a discussion about collective prayer and finding opportunities to be able to do this.

i) Doug Gwyn, Clarabel and Sarah Sprogell have been appointed for Ministry and Counsel to Falmouth Quarterly Meeting in Windham on April 2.

The report was accepted with thanks.

2. It was approved that Doug Gwyn, Sarah Sprogell and Clarabel Marstaller be our representatives to Falmouth Quarterly Meeting on April 2.

3. The recommendation to discontinue Charlene McPhee from membership and Lexie McPhee from Junior membership was approved, with our appreciation for their previous involvement in the meeting.

4. Doug Gwyn gave the pastor’s report, much of which is an overlap with the Ministry and Counsel report. On February 9, he met with Portland Friends who are reading his book: Sustainable Life. He met with Tallahassee Friends February 19-21 who are also reading the book. On April 24 he will be visiting with Central Philadelphia Friends meeting. He is working with Brian Drayton on the June 4th meeting on Friends with a concern for Gospel Ministry. Mid-week meetings for worship will resume on Wednesday evenings beginning March 30th at 7:00 at the parsonage. Doug’s report was accepted with thanks.

5. Wendy Schlotterbeck gave the Youth Minister’s report. They have decided to postpone a trip to Quebec until the autumn. There will be a closing dinner for the seniors this spring. Wendy’s report was accepted with thanks.

6. Approval was given for changing recording clerks from Sukie Rice to Martha Hinshaw Sheldon.

7. Wendy Schlottertbeck gave the Christian Education Committee report. All are invited to attend a Seder supper on Thursday, March 24 at 6:00 in the Meeting house. On Easter Sunday, March 27 Christian Education Committee is planning activities for the children between breakfast and meeting for worship. Meeting for Worship, starting as usual at 10:25, will be a family worship organized by Jeanne Baker Stinson and Tess Hartford using Godly Play. Christian Education has changed its meeting time to the first Sunday of the month. This report was accepted.

8. The Trustees reported that the committee is in transition juggling projects that are in process or needing to be done in the near future. The cell phone tower work continues in process. The committee is considering putting solar panels on the Meetinghouse roof but needs to also look at the potential and likely need for a new roof prior to solar panels. The committee is seeking multiple recommendations regarding the roof and will report findings. This report was accepted.

9. The Treasurer’s report for the month of January was distributed. The Finance Committee is discussing the possibility of having monthly reports change to quarterly reports.

10. A proposal was made that Durham Meeting invite Portland Friends Meeting to join Durham Friends in a sister relationship with Valesco Friends Meeting in Cuba. Durham Meeting has been a sister Meeting with Valesco Friends since 1996. Discussion occurred on the format, process and benefits of this proposal. Approval was given to appoint three people to work with Sarah Sprogell to develop a workable relationship between the three Meetings being sensitive to historical and socio-political concerns. People appointed were Ron Turcotte, Joyce Gibson and Katherine Langelier.

11. May is Break Free from Fossil Fuels Month, as created by 350.org and other organizations. Wendy Schlotterbeck presented some climate actions the Meeting could take. 1. Durham Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends could endorse a public vigil that will be held in Albany New York May 14 to protest oil trains going through the US. Albany is a central city for such trains. 2. Invite a small group of activists to talk to the Meeting on April 2. Jay O’Hara may be able to speak at Sunday school hour. (He spoke at a Peace and Social Concerns event a year ago.) 3. Meeting could help advertise for participation in a temporary working group on climate change/action in the local area. Approval was given for these three items with Wendy or the Clerk of Meeting writing the endorsement for item #1.

12. Durham Friends will be the host for New England Yearly Meeting-United Society of Friends Women on April 9.

13. The minutes of Monthly Meeting were approved during the meeting.

The meeting adjourned in the Spirit at 2:20.

Sukie Rice and Martha Hinshaw Sheldon, Recording Clerks

Aspirations for Durham Friends Meeting

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March 2016

In 2014, Durham Friends Meeting held a series of Visioning sessions to better understand who we are and where we would like to go as a Quaker Meeting.   At the end, the Committee on Ministry and Counsel drafted the following statement of our aspirations.  It describes seven aspects or faces of our Meeting  that state who we are.  With each, it identifies (a) what we are currently doing and (b) our hopes for the future.

  1. Circle of Friends; admire, encourage, love each other.

Ongoing;  

  • Pastoral care team
  • Durham Young Friends
  • Occasionally support/clearness committees for individuals.
  • Contemplative prayer group
  • Women’s Society

 Going forward;

  • Repeat Visioning session( s)
  • Friendly Dinners and discussions to bring up some good ideas and become more familiar.
  • Improve our follow up with visitors/seekers ? could greeters attend to a new person during the coffee hour?
  • Is Pastoral care team able to meet the needs that arise? communication, organization?
  1. Learning community of truth seekers.

Ongoing;

  • Message bringers from within Durham Mtg and wider Quakerism, as well as pastor.
  • Our present pastor is a great fit and part time seems to be working for all.
  • Have some/need more newer people on committees, at business meeting.
  • Continue variety of spirit centered gatherings; adult Sunday school, Contemplative prayer, midweek worship, Godly play.

Going forward;

  • Outreach to seekers/engagement w/ seekers.
  • The work formerly done by publicity committee….visibility in the media.
  • Knowledge of Bible, Quaker testimonies and history.
  • Expand our spiritual language to be inclusive of other beliefs, as well as Christianity.
  • Need Webmaster to update/ recreate webpage, Facebook.

     3. Growing community; playful, joyful living in challenging world.

Ongoing;

  • Orienting/engaging newer members/attenders.
  • Excellent youth pastor, youth group and Godly play.
  • Outdoor play equipment assembled, available w/ supervision.

Going forward;

  • Improve Facebook, webpage presence.
  • Best ways to meet needs of young children during Meeting for Worship.
  • Provide opportunities for our young people to participate in meaningful service projects (intergenerational as well).
  • Wendy may want help creating a Durham Friends banner, for activism/ parades, to expand visibility.
  1. Service community; individually, collectively.

Ongoing;

  • LACO, Tedford, Kakamega.
  • A local 12step and environmental groups meet here.
  • Joys & concerns of individuals during worship.
  • Announcements of local activism opportunities.
  • Support in death & dying.
  • Carpooling, sharing/trading items together.

Going forward;

  • Exploration of further renewable energy project for our buildings( i.e. solar)
  • Immigrant community outreach.
  • Plan activism based on Quaker values to be local change makers.
  • Banner
  1. Spiritual community; based on Quaker/ Christian values and sense of the meeting.

Ongoing;

  • Study and worship groups, variety of gatherings.
  • Decisions at Monthly Meeting for Business…when there are differences.
  • We have a gifted and committed clerk.
  • Member who serves Council of Churches.

Going forward;

  • Continue our education and engagement w/ concepts like racism and white privilege.
  • Start meeting for worship, for business and M&C w/ query from Quaker roots.
  • Our involvement in local (nonmember) groups, to be available for inquiries.( i.e.. Bowdoin College, 7pm in the Chapel on Wednesdays)
  1. Tolerant and humble community; welcoming new ways of understanding God, blended with our traditional beliefs.

Ongoing;

  • Sunday potluck programs often educate and encourage .
  • Continuing revelation a central tradition of Quakers.

Going forward

  • Continue to follow leadings; P&SC and others.
  • Continue creating space for openness and respect of other faith traditions.
  1. Responsible community; financial viability, stewardship of our land and buildings, good governance and clear communication.

Ongoing;

  • Many projects completed in the last year( roof, outhouse,etc.)
  • Offering coming directly from people’s banks is helpful for consistency.
  • Fundraising/ publicity committee? Active

Going forward;

  • Consistently meet our budget with a pastor here.
  • Clear reports on proposed projects to aid decision-making.
  • Regular financial updates and education where ALL can see/ hear….rise of Mtg?
  • Cell tower project is in process, contract was signed.
  • Fund raiser activities to support our meeting, as well as the nonprofits we support

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, February 21, 2016

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Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends, February 21, 2016

Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship on Sunday, February 21, 2016 with thirteen people present. Clerk Sarah Sprogell read from Corporate Discernment in Meetings for Business (page 37) from the Interim Faith and Practice of New England Yearly Meeting..

  1. Sarah Sprogell read a letter from Ralph Greene expressing great appreciation for the gift Durham Friends Meeting sent to him, and brought news and greetings from the family. A letter was also received from Ralph’s daughter, Sadie and her husband, Nathan thanking us for the baby blanket they received.

2. Wendy Schlotterbeck brought the Youth Minister’s Report.   She says this is a time of beginnings (new young people) and endings (five high school students are graduating). The group is planning a trip to Quebec in April. Wendy is hoping to have some kind of special dinner or event for the high school graduates. They are also planning the Family Camp out at Betsy Muench’s home in Georgetown in June.

Wendy’s report was accepted with gratitude for the wonderful work that is happening with the youth in the meeting.

3. Ron Turcotte reported for Ministry and Counsel. They have sent letters to members who have been absent from meeting for some time.  A number of these people have either moved with no forwarding address, have not responded, or have requested to be removed from membership. In keeping with Faith and Practice, Ministry and Counsel recommends that twenty-one people be removed from the membership list:

–Six junior members;

–Ten non-resident adult members;

–Five resident non-attending adult members.

4. It was approved that these people be removed from the membership list, and will be informed by Clerk, Sarah Sprogell.

5. Ron Turcotte brought the attached Ministry and Counsel evaluation report of Douglas Gwyn. Sarah Sprogell, Linda Muller, and Ron Turcotte met with Doug in regard to his first year with the meeting.

Ministry and Counsel is in agreement that the mutual relationship between Durham Meeting and Doug Gwyn is working very well for both parties. They feel clear that Durham Friends Meeting is very fortunate to have Doug as its Pastor, Ministry and Counsel recommend that his contract be renewed.

6. The meeting heartily approved that our contract with Douglas Gwyn be renewed for the calendar year of 2016 with same terms as his 2015 contract.

7. There will be an Easter morning sunrise service at Wolfe’s Neck State Park.  Joyce Gibson and Wendy Schlotterbeck will organize this.   Katherine Langelier will be organizing the breakfast.

8. Ron Turcotte brought a report from Doug Gwyn that Pastor Nelson Ida of the Kakamega Orphans Care Centre will be bringing the message April 10.

Tess Hartford and Jeanne Baker Stinson will be leading a family worship for Easter in the practice of Godly Play.

9. Ministry and Counsel will be holding their meetings on the second Sunday of each month.

10. Tess Hartford reported for Christian Education. She noted that it has been very helpful to meet with Doug Gwyn in advance of the committee meetings to plan the agenda.

a) They will be now meeting on the first Sunday of each month.

b) They are finalizing the contract for Wendy Schlotterbeck. Christian Education will conduct her annual evaluation in May. They recommend that her contract year run from July 1 through June 30. This means her 2015 contract needs to be extended until June 30, 2016.   They recommend that Wendy get paid for the same amount as this past year, divided evenly through the 12 months even though she will not be working in July.

c) There will be activities for children on Easter and the committee will be asking for help to assist with that.

d) A thank you letter was received from Ariana Andrews for the assistance the Meeting gave so that she could attend Friends Camp last summer.

11. It was approved that the new contract year for the Youth Minister go from July 1 through June 30 and that her 2015 contract be extended until the new contract year begins July 1, 2016.

12. The Meeting has received a request for financial assistance to attend Friends Camp this coming summer. This request was approved, the amount to be determined at a later date. Daphne Clement agreed to put notice in the newsletter of the availability of assistance to attend the camp.

13. Sukie (Susan) Rice brought the attached 2015 Year End Finance report.   The good news is that the total income for the year was $64,579 and the expenses were $62,597. Great thanks to everyone who has contributed to the mid-year and annual appeals which meant we made our expenses!   The report was accepted with thanks.

14. When Pastor Ida of the Kakamega Orphans Care Centre comes on April 10, it was agreed that there will be a pot-luck at 12:00 and a presentation to begin at 1:00.

15. Margaret Wentworth brought the Library Committee’s annual report, as attached. The report was approved with gratitude for all the work the committee does.

16. Ed Hinshaw brought the final report from Nominating Committee for 2016. All appointments and changes on the report have already been approved by Monthly Meeting. The meeting thanked Nominating Committee for their good work.

17. Quarterly Meeting will be held on April 2 at Windham Meeting. The January Quarterly Meeting was cancelled due to weather. The memorial minute that had been scheduled for January will be read at the April meeting.

18. Woman’s Society will be hosting the New England Yearly Meeting United Society of Friends Women on April 9 to be confirmed by the clerk of USFW.

19. The minutes of Monthly Meeting were approved during the meeting.

The meeting adjourned in the Spirit at 2:20.

Sukie Rice, Recording Clerk

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, January 17, 2016

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Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends, January 17, 2016

Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship on Sunday, January 17, 2016 with eleven people present. Because Clerk Sarah Sprogell was not available, Nancy Marstaller clerked the meeting. Nancy read queries from the section on Personal Spiritual Condition from the Interim Faith and Practice of New England Yearly Meeting..

  1. Clarabel Marstaller brought the report from Ministry and Counsel.

a) They recommend that Cynthia Muench become a member of Durham Friends Meeting, transferring her membership from Acton Friends Meeting in Massachusetts.

b) The State of Society Report (attached) was read and approved with gratitude. It is beautifully written, and shows what a vibrant meeting we are.

2. The Meeting approved Cynthia Muench’s request for transfer of her membership into Durham Meeting from Acton Friends.

3. Douglas Gwyn brought the pastor’s report.

The Gospel of John study at the Adult Sunday Study group is continuing well, with the addition of personal journey stories occurring on fourth Sundays.

4. Jo-an Jacobus brought the Nominating Committee report.

The meeting approved continuing the appointments for a second term for Margaret Wentworth (Trustees); Susan Rice (Finance); Jo-an Jacobus and Angie Reed (Library). Newly coming onto committees are Jo-an Jacobus and Kristna Evans (Website). It was agreed that there would be further conversation regarding Special Events.

5. Christian Education will bring the children’s story in February.

6. A request was brought from Woman’s Society to have a book sharing/purchasing table for recycling good, meaningful books.   Any donations that are given for books would go for the library funds. This was approved.

7. The Trustees Annual Report (attached) was brought by Margaret Wentworth.   It was a busy and exciting year for the trustees. In addition to routine maintenance and decisions, there were many projects large and small. The report was approved with great appreciation and admiration for all that Trustees did this year.

8. Doug Gwyn was appointed as our representative to Falmouth Quarterly Meeting on January 23 in Portland.

9. The minutes of Monthly Meeting were approved during the meeting.

The meeting adjourned in the Spirit at 1:10.

 Sukie Rice, Recording Clerk

State of Society — Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends — 2015

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Over the past year Durham Friends Meeting is pleased and blessed that seven individuals became full members: some new and others by transfer. The statements and letters of these new members were an inspiration to all members. We also joyfully recognize the participation of 15 Young Friends; five will graduate from high school this year. We are inspired by the social concerns of our youth. Our average Meeting attendance is 40.

We appreciate our pastor Doug Gwyn: his Sunday messages, leadership style, listening skills, scholarship, optimistic manner, observations, and sense of humor. Under the care of Ministry and Counsel, Doug has organized and coordinates a Pastoral Care Committee.   Midweek worship, Sunday Adult Education, writing group and Woman’s Society help keep us connected and grounded. Hand-made baby quilts are given to families. There is an appreciation of being a part of the Society of Friends with its history and challenges.

We continue to be blessed with our creative and adaptable youth pastor and Christian Education Committee. Wendy Schlotterbeck’s leadership of the teen trip to the Southeast was a fine example. The group visited Quaker centers in North Carolina and had queries for each place they explored. There are two Sunday School classes for children and youth, the younger one using Godly Play. The facilitators and their work with our children is soulful and appreciated widely. Our need is for more children to be involved in Meeting for Worship and Sunday School and for more adults to be continually learning about our faith and our history.

We are making thoughtful choices about financial resources, facilities, and programs. We installed a metal roof for the parsonage and replaced our old outhouse with an insulated wall. A cell tower on our woodlot land is in process. We have welcomed community groups such as Twelve Steps and 350.org, and hosted a transgender meeting. Two workshops on Black Lives Matter were very much appreciated.   Some are active in Quarterly Meeting and New England Yearly Meeting.

We have a choir that sings at Easter and Christmas times, led by a fine musician. Our Christmas program took the form of a Latin American inspired Posada. This focused attention on migration and the experience of being “other” in our society. We each are learning, growing, assisting as able, and grateful to be part of this evolving spiritual community. The urgent worldwide and local human needs we see call us to educate ourselves and those nearby, as well as provide aid locally.

Each year the loss of elder Friends reminds us of their valuable contributions to Meeting and how important it is to honor and respect life. We remember with gratitude two members who were a valuable part of the Meeting who have died in the past year.

Approved at Monthly Meeting for Business on January 17, 2016, Sarah Sprogell, Presiding Clerk

State of Society — Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends — 2014

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2014 has been a year of transition for Durham Meeting.  The physical change was re-arranging the benches in the Meeting room into a rectangle.  Changes in pastoral leadership went from the end of one pastor’s regular service to her working with a former pastor to serve, then a new pastor arrived to serve us one-half time.  We have been blessed by their contributions to our Meeting’s community. Several people contribute vocally in Meeting for Worship, in addition to prepared messages.  We continue to be a semi-programmed meeting with hymn singing and an enthusiastic choral group which performs at various times.

During this transition period, four well attended vision sessions were held to consider our present and future needs, resulting in the bench rearrangement, and several aspirations.

Under the care of our Youth Minister we have a Sunday School program and a Youth Group.  Several new attenders with children have added to the growth of the Meeting.  The Youth Group has worked for some time to raise funds and plan a trip, scheduled to take place in February 2015.  The Youth support a boy at the Kakamega, Kenya, Orphan Care Center.

Some adults participate in a Sunday School class, a weekday evening Contemplative Prayer Group, and a Writing Group.  An active Woman’s Society, affiliated with United Society of Friends Women International, meets for inspiration, education, business, and socializing.  It prepared a meal once a month for a homeless shelter and supports financially projects in Belize, Ramallah, Kenya, Kickapoo Native American Center, and locally.  The Meeting has individuals who are active in the area food and clothing bank program.  Others are active in environmental issues.

One of our young adults served as a Meeting summer intern helping with visitation and other pastoral duties, and left in August to serve as a teacher at the Ramallah Friends School, a two-year commitment.

Trustees have paid diligent attention to property upkeep and improvement, harvesting trees on the property and the sale of land on Lunt Road.

Some in our Meeting community are active in New England Yearly Meeting of Friends, with Friends Camp, sessions, committees, and retreats.

We are thankful for Friends who live lives of commitment to God in their homes, Meeting community, workplace, local community, and with a concern for the world.

Approved by Monthly Meeting for Business, March 15, 2015, Sarah Sprogell, presiding clerk

‘Service is our sacrament’

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By Mimi Marstaller

One of the phrases from June’s Friends United Meeting Triennial that sticks with me is “As Quakers, service is our sacrament.” The man who spoke these words is named Ross and he works with the Quaker Voluntary Service program (www.quakervoluntaryservice.org). I heard these words after having had a few conversations with Friends about the existence and practice of sacraments in Quaker Meetings and appreciated Ross’s concise summary.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says a sacrament is sign of grace, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer calls a sacrament an outward sign of an inward grace given unto us, through which we also receive grace. Each definition contains the same two movements: We receive God’s grace, and by performing a sacrament receive another dose of the healing power and life of the Spirit.
I can easily see service in this construction. I am able to help a neighbor because of the life energy, skills and awareness that God gave me by grace. When I help that neighbor — watching her children while she does an errand, bringing in the recycle bin from the sidewalk, offering a joyful greeting in the morning, inviting her to a backyard barbeque — I feel closer to divine life.

In a QuakerSpeak video called “Form without Substance,” Michael Birkel explains that Early Quakers took issue with the formal nature of sacraments that could be performed without much attention being paid. Service, as I see Quakers perform it, solves this problem by reversing it. Opportunities for service — opportunities to experience divine life— present themselves without form, spontaneously through our days. And because acts of service are our own work, they are substantive: Service springs from our hearts and exists within our
daily living experience, rather than in a book or a church building.

As summer arrives and schedules become changeable, we might seek spiritual nourishment less in the formal activities of the school year, and more in the substantive but spontaneous sacrament of service.

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, June 15, 2014

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Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened in worship on Sunday, June 15, 2014, at 12:30 p.m. with 12 people present. Clerk Sarah Sprogell read a passage on Welcoming Change from the June issue of The New England Friend.

1.) Quakerism 101 will be a six-week “course” that begins June 22 at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings.

2.) The Clerk read the Youth Pastor’s report. Durham Young Friends made $1,200 at the Yard and Plant Sale and give many thanks to all who helped out. The Family Gathering will be held at Betsy Muench’s summer home Friday, June 20 – Sunday, June 22. Young Friends will be working to improve the interior of the horse shed. They wrote letters to Cornelius, their sponsee with the Kakamega Orphans Project.

3.) Daphne Clement gave her pastor’s report. She and Amelia (Mimi) Marstaller have been making visits together. Daphne has had eye surgery, which has been a great help to her. Daphne expressed deep gratitude that we have among us such a seasoned minister in Peter Crysdale and is very grateful for the spiritual depths and experience he brings to this Meeting.

4.) Peter Crysdale reported that Ministry and Counsel requests the Meeting to grant up to $400 for travel for Theresa Oleksiw to go to the Russian Orthodox Seminary in Pennsylvania in early July for training in Russian Orthodox liturgical music.

5.) The Meeting recognizes this as a spiritual leading for Theresa Oleksiw and approved up to $400 for her travel. It was decided that it would come out of the Pastor Travel Reimbursement line item in the budget. We would like a report back after her return.

6). Peter Crysdale gave his pastor’s report. He expressed his great appreciation for Margaret Wentworth who eldered him many years ago saying, “Quakerism didn’t abolish the ministry. Quakerism abolished the laity.” He has done many visits, especially with new people. Sitting and listening to people has been very rewarding. Peter, under the direction of M&C, is looking for new ways for people to bring messages of faith from their heart.

7.) Susan (Sukie) Rice brought the Finance Report for May. Our income for the month was $3,366 and our expenses were $2,087. The bank balance for the General Operating Fund is $9,342. The Capital Fund, with income from the sale of wood and the sale of the Lunt Road property, is now $26,000. The report was accepted with gratitude.

8.) Susan Wood has organized and submitted the minutes and attachments from meeting for business for Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends for years 2006 – 2011. She has submitted these documents to a bookbinder in Portland, who will make three copies. The cost will be approximately $800. One copy will be kept at the meetinghouse, and the other copies will be forwarded to the Maine Historical Society and New England Yearly Meeting.

9.) The meeting approved to have this be an item included in our budget under Meeting Expenses. Finance Committee should be cognizant that this will be an expense we should budget for in future years.

10.) Margaret Wentworth reported for Trustees. Building repairs have been evaluated and contractors have been found. All this work has to be done and if we don’t do it now it will be much more expensive in the future.

  1. a)  The Youth Group will paint the interior of the horse shed.
  2. b)  Gravel will be put down on the floor of the horse shed for drainage.

c) Don Goodrich will complete repairs on the meetinghouse and horse shed roofs, paint and repair gutters, trim and repair any rot that is found. Don will also scrape and paint the portions of the wooden addition that require attention.

d) A local “tree man” will fell and remove 23 trees around the meetinghouse, outhouse and horse shed that are effecting the foundations and roofs of these buildings. The estimate for this work is $100 per tree.

Estimates for all of the above work, including the trees, total $15,000.

The trustees are also looking into cleaning the chimneys for the meetinghouse and the parsonage. The trustees are continuing to explore the possibility of removing the outhouse rather than repairing it.

11.) The meeting approved the above expenses to come from the Capital Account.

12.) Trustees recommend that the meeting pre-pay Durham Oil for the coming heating year. Last year we used 932 gallons of oil. The pre-pay rate would be $3.49 per gallon. Trustees have been happy with Durham Oil in that they have come right away when needed and their prices are competitive.

13.) It was recommended that Daphne Clement sit with Trustees about alternative methods of heating the meetinghouse. If no other method of heating is determined as acceptable to Trustees, the meeting gives approval for a one-year pre-payment contract with Durham Oil.

14.) The auditor expressed deep appreciation to Margaret Wentworth for the work she is doing to enable the auditor to give an opinion on the Trustees’ accounts.

15.) The meeting approved the following representatives to New England Yearly Meeting (NEYM): Sarah Sprogell, Mimi Marstaller, Betsy Muench, Nancy Marstaller and Daphne Clement.

16.) The Meeting approved Daphne Clement to be our representative to NEYM Ministry and Counsel. No names have come forward for NEYM Nominating Committee. We give the clerk authority to name someone for this position if someone feels a leading to fill this position.

17.) The minutes of Monthly Meeting were approved during the meeting. The meeting adjourned in the Spirit at 2:10 p.m.

Susan Rice, Recording Clerk