DFM Sends Aid to Brunswick UU Church

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At the July Monthly Meeting we decided to send $1,200 to the Brunswick Unitarian Universalist Church to help the rebuilding of their church following the fire on June 6th that destroyed the entire rear of the sanctuary.  We also discussed that Friends be invited to contribute to that endeavor.  If you are so  moved, donations may be mailed to:

Unitarian Universalist Association,

Northern New England District,

Brunswick Fire Fund,

10 Ferry Street #318,

Concord, NH 03301.

To donate online, http://uuworld.org/news/articles/184523.shtml

For more information, please see:

http://www.nned.uua.org/

From Wayne

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As we can see from Tess Marstaller’s article, she is doing marvelous work in Africa.  The package we sent was well received and my understanding is that we will probably try to send another.  Please speak to Nancy Marstaller concerning future needs.

Rally Day: Sunday, September 11

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By Wendy Schlotterbeck

Rally Day marks the beginning of the new year for Children and Youth activities at Durham.  Activities start early on Rally Sunday with the kid-chefs cooking up breakfast for the meeting.  Come join us right from the start of our new year.

Breakfast creation 8:45 AM – kids who like to cook, come help!!

Breakfast 9:30 AM Open to all

Program 10:00 Come learn what’s happening in Christian Education

Meeting for Worship 10:25 – Inter-generational, kid friendly service – no Sunday School.

Schedule 2011 – 2012:

This year we will have three age groups meeting on different Sundays.

As usual, childcare will be provided for babies and toddlers.

Elementary Grades (preschool age through grade five) meet 1st and 3rd Sundays beginning at 10:25 AM.  We will be using the Godly Play curriculum.

The middle school age group (grades six – eight or nine) will meet 2nd and 4th Sundays beginning at 10:25am.  The curriculum will be announced shortly.

Passages, the high school group, will meet 1st and 3rd Sundays, beginning at 10:15 AM.

After September 11th, the regular Sunday School schedule begins:

September 18: Godly Play and Passages

September 25: Middle School

Events and Newsletter Delivery

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By Jo-an Jacobus, Editor

As editor of our newsletter, some things have become clear to me as I work with Wayne to get the newsletter to you in a timely manner.

The most obvious to me is I can’t guarantee you will receive the information about events happening during the first week of the month before they occur.  The turn-around time after monthly meeting is just too short.  It is a virtual certainty that the paper copies will not have arrived until late in the first week of the month.  It is tight in some months for the email version as well.

The most important area of clarity involves a positive step that can be taken by those submitting articles concerning upcoming events.  Tell us in advance.  Put an October event into September’s newsletter.  Even if your event is in late October, September is better.  Send it to us early, at least a month early.  Get the news in a month early to be sure Friends can attend your event.

Another positive step for those submitting articles is not new but bears repeating.  Please get your articles to me by 5 P.M. on the Wednesday following monthly meeting.  If I don’t have it by then, it won’t go in.

My last thoughts on hearing about upcoming events in a timely manner I have said before but it does make a difference.  If you want to receive your newsletter in time to see notices about events occurring in the first week of the month, email is the way to go.  This might not be an issue for you.  If it is, I’m doing everything I can to get it to you on time.  Once the newsletter is in final copy, that’s the end for the email edition but only the beginning for a paper version.  It must be copied, collated, prepared for mailing, and go through the US Mail.

I spoke with a Durham (F)friend this week who was very upset with the quality of the photographs in the paper copy of the newsletter.  This friend felt the photos weren’t worth printing, although having seen them once online thought those were terrific.  This friend is adding email delivery to paper delivery, wanting to see the lovely photos but still wanting to have a copy to hold.  A “twofer” that works for one friend: early news with great photos and paper to hold.

Society of Friends Family Tree

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From our Pastor, Daphne Clement

“I would like to see us (the Religious Society of Friends) turn our family tree upside down,” I said.  And Margaret Cooley, Director of Woolman Hill, immediately saw what I was envisioning and responded: “The branches would then be our roots.”[1]

Our family tree turned upside down?  The branches now the roots?  If this were so, would it mean that Friends have learned from the mistakes of the past?  This version of the Family Tree would surely portray a mature Society of Friends in which real Christian love of God, of the Light and of each other would help us to be tolerant and respectful of difference.

Here in New England where so much of American Quaker history originated, we have had lots of opportunities to practice and nurture this sort of tolerance and love of each other; throughout our 350 year history, we have at times done this well … and at other points, when it came to bearing with diversity among Friends … we fell quite short … short on Love.  The problems among us have reflected the larger human condition and are illustrative of how we humans tend to think and act when we are not centered in the Light.

It is so easy to be swept up in controversy and be swayed by the warmth of emotion generated by strong opinion.  It is the real work of elders and ministers in the face of such controversy to hold fast to the Light … allowing the Light to transform and make room for a potential “new thing” to be wrought among us.

I propose to you that since George Fox abolished the laity … making us truly the “priesthood of all believers” … we are all ministers.  And because we Friends are all ministers now, this is our task: To trust in Light of God and in the awesome diversity of God’s creation, knowing that really, there are as many ways to worship as there are people.  And because we know this, let us join together, as kindred: Friends General Conference (FGC), Friends United Meeting (FUM), Evangelical Friends International (EFI), Conservative, Independent, Programmed and Un-programmed … let us value each other … let us love each other … letting go of divisive judgment  … let us turn our family tree upside down. 


[1] Several weeks ago we, the Durham Friends Meeting, hosted a Woolman Hill Board Meeting. Before worshiping together they presented a slide show portraying the beauty of Woolman Hill Retreat Center in Western Massachusetts. Part of their presentation was an opportunity for us to respond to their inquiry about the ways Woolman Hill might better serve the program needs of New England Meetings.

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, June 19, 2011

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Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened on Sunday, June 19, 2011, at 12:15 pm with 11 people present.  Co-clerk Edwin Hinshaw read “Quaker Education Should Be Experiential” from the World Conference, 1937.

1.  The Clerk read thank you notes from the Woolman Hill Board members who met at our meeting on the weekend of June 5.

2.  The Clerk read a letter to Kris Reed expressing the Meeting’s affirmation of his commitment as a conscientious objector, offering our support for him in his efforts to live a peaceful and nonviolent life.

3.  Jo-an Jacobus reported that the Meeting telephone was connected May 20th.  She described the full agreement with FairPoint Communications.  All agreement information will be held by the Trustees.  The meeting thanked Jo-an for all the work she has put into this to tailor our agreement specifically to our needs.

4.  We decided to send to the Finance Committee the need for a $360 budget revision to cover the cost of the telephone for 2011, with the suggestion that they transfer some funds currently allocated in the budget for snowplowing to the telephone cost.

5.  Daphne Clement gave her Pastor’s Report for May.  Along with many visits, hosting Woolman Hill board members, attending the Beacon Hill Friends House board, and the contemplative prayer group, she spent a great deal of time preparing the meeting garden (in which the Youth Group is planting) and preparing to paint the Meeting sign.

The meeting approved the layout for the sign that Daphne presented with minor adjustments.  We were very pleased that she has taken on this challenge and we look forward to the new sign with great anticipation.

6.  The Treasurer’s Report (attached) was distributed by Eileen Babcock and was accepted with thanks.  Income for May was $5,267.61 and Expenses for May were $5,684.05.  Requests for NEYM Equalization Fund will be announced from the facing bench over the next three weeks.

7.  Eileen Babcock, reporting for Finance Committee, said that Durham Oil Company has published its contract prices for oil for the coming year.  Trustees will research the options and will bring their recommendation to Monthly Meeting in July.

8.  The Meeting requested Susan Rice write up a report on the Kakamega Project for the newsletter.

9.  The Meeting approved the following people to be our representatives at the sessions of New England Yearly Meeting of Friends (NEYM):  Daphne Clement, Nancy Marstaller, and, pending their agreement, Wendy Schlotterbeck and Leslie Manning.  We approved Theresa Oleksiw as our representative to serve on NEYM Nominating Committee.  The Meeting requests that Durham’s Meeting on Ministry and Counsel send to Monthly Meeting its recommendation for the Meeting’s representative for NEYM Ministry and Counsel.

10. Representatives to Quarterly Meeting, Sunday, July 24 at Portland Meeting are Glenice Hutchins, Clarabel Marstaller, Alexandrine and Joseph Godleski and Daphne Clement.  The program for the day will be on Global Warming.

11.  Daphne Clement will look into the needs of the Brunswick Unitarian Universal Church since its big fire last month.  She will report to both Monthly Meeting and Woman’s Society.  As we have had the experience of strong support and friendship from other churches when we had a fire in 1986, we want to reach out to the UU church in some way.

12.  Monthly Meeting will not be held in August.

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

14. The Meeting adjourned, continuing in the spirit of worship, at 1:55 P.M.

 

Susan Rice, Recording Clerk

July Refreshments

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3              Kitsie Hildebrandt, Clarabel Marstaller

10           Glenice Hutchins & Al Anderson
17           Brenda Masse, Wayne Hollingworth
24           Dotty DeLoach, Don Goodrich
31           Sukie Rice, Susan Wood

Woman’s Society Report for June

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By Angie Reed

The Woman’s Society met on June 20, 2011 for a High Tea (light suppa) at the home of Dorothy and Ed Hinshaw.  12 women dined on cucumber sandwiches, beets, soda bread and jam, strawberries, cheesecake, among other delights, and of course freshly brewed tea.  These were served by the beautiful hostess, Dorothy with help from her male family members, Ed and grandson Chris, all with good humor.  All women who attended felt like queens for the day and had a wonderful, unforgettable time.  A HUGE thank you goes out to Dorothy, Ed, and Chris for providing those gathered with a wonderful way to begin the summer.

Following the tea, we gathered in the parlor for our program and meeting. Jo-an Jacobus lead devotions by reading the children’s book, “Praying with our Feet”.  The program for the evening was titled “Working for Peace” and was read jointly by all attendees. It described the work of Charlotte Stangeland and a team of people who are developing a Peace Curriculum to be taught to young people in Kenya.

In business, we were asked to pray for the team of people we had just discussed who are developing the Peace Curriculum in Kenya and have been hindered by government regulations and are doing their best to complete the curriculum before the next presidential elections in 2012. The Tedford meal for June was Sloppy Joes, 2 salads, rolls, ice cream and rhubarb sauce. We discussed the book list for the next season of the reading program.  Please let Angie know if you have any books you would like to share with the Meeting for the next reading program which starts in Sept. of 2011.   Nancy read a list of donations for Tess Marstallar’s camp program in Cameroon.  Items donated included soccer balls, crayons, pens, pencils, 10 jump ropes and lots of stickers. Please check Tess’s blog to see how your items are being used.  Thank you to all those who contributed to the care package Tess Marstaller will use in her camp program

Last but not least, we discussed the Yard Sale which made a grand total of $1,789.75 and is a record for us. People were pleased with the new pricing system for Jumble items, and expressed regret that Syretha Brooks was not home to share in the kitchen fun this year. We decided to spend some of these funds to continue contributions to the “Adopt a Nurse Program” and also send monies to the youth funds that were listed as under funded in the last “Advocate”.  Some of the money was placed in reserve to fund community needs throughout the year, especially as winters have been so hard on people lately.

The meeting ended by Dorothy Curtis who read silly quotes and messages of friendship. The next meeting will be on July 18 at the home of Helen Clarkson.  All are invited to attend.

Boxes for Earthquake and Tsunami Relief in Japan

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By Ann Ruthsdottir

I sent two boxes to the relief project for Japan.  After I took all the packaging off (mostly around tooth paste), I was able to tightly pack all of the generous offerings into 1.75 boxes.  I filled the last quarter box by adding a small, child-safe wooden toy, a small baby quilt and some wash clothes.  I used wash clothes for packing material.  Everything in the boxes could be of use.

Thank you all for your wonderful offerings to a people who have been harmed in so many ways.

Falmouth Quarterly Meeting is July 24 in Portland

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By Margaret Wentworth

Falmouth Quarterly Meeting will be held Sunday, July 24 at Portland Friends Meeting.  The schedule is:

9:00 AM    Register and refreshments

9:30 – 12:30 Program, Part I

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch, provided by Portland Friends

1:30 -3:30 Program, Part II

3:30 – 4:30 Wrap up

4:30           Falmouth Quarterly Meeting

5:00           Meeting for Worship with Portland Friends

6:15           Potluck supper

 

The program, “Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream”, facilitated by Young Adult Friends, is given in preparation for Yearly Meeting sessions, and is related to the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) World Conference to be held next year with the theme “Being Salt and Light: Living the Kingdom in a Broken World”.

 

Four questions are considered:

  • Where are we?
  • How did we get here?
  • What’s possible for the future?
  • Where do we go from here?

 

If possible, participating in both parts of the program is important, Childcare will be provided if requested by July 15.  A donation of $10 for the FWCC Travel Fund is requested, but not required.  Make checks out to Portland Friends Meeting, earmarked for FWCC Travel Fund.  This will help Latin American Friends attend the Conference.

 

For more details, please contact:

  • Andy or Dorothy Grannell (878.8698)
  • Linda Johnston (933.4922)
  • Margaret Wentworth (725.6935).

 

This will be a long day, but it promises much food for thought and positive action!

Adulty Sunday School Class Study

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By Clarabel Marstaller

The Adult Sunday School class has just finished its consideration of a Pendle Hill pamphlet by Bill Taber on “Four Doors to Worship.”

On Sunday, June 26, we will begin a study of an article from each of three issues of “Quaker Life,” on Friends Peace Testimony, Friends Testimony on Integrity, and Friends and Authority.

The Adult Sunday School class meets from 9:30 to 10:20 on Sunday mornings, in the Christian Education room.  Join us!

2011 Annual Woman’s Society Yard Sale

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Jo-an Jacobus

This year’s annual Woman’s Society Yard Sale raised a record total of $1,789.75.  Customers and sales volunteers alike were pleased with the new pricing system for Jumble items.  Customers were invited to offer an amount they thought their choices were worth rather than all items being priced.  Only the more obviously “priceable” items received a price tag.

Syretha Brooks’ energetic and warm sales style was missed in the kitchen this year.  The food was still as delicious as ever but I, for one, missed Syretha bringing trays out to the parking lot to entice us inside.

There were books galore, clothing to dress countless families, the beginnings for many a craft project and plants to “seed” many gardens.

The money raised was placed in Woman’s Society reserves to fund local, regional, national and international programs that the Woman’s Society sees helping to make a difference in the world.

From our Pastor, Daphne Clement

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In the 20th century Friends’ witness in the world placed a high value on our Testimonies and our community has made strong statements for Equality and Civil Rights and for Peace.

But it is important to remember that early Friends saw their witness in the world mainly as a reflection of their inner life and they “described themselves as persons who had undergone a radical transformation.”  Their immediate first-hand experience of the Light of the Living Christ changed them.  As this inward change took place, there was a corresponding change in the way Friends lived their day-to-day lives.  Living the Testimonies was the natural outward expression of the inward life, the natural expression of doing “what love required.”

George Fox suggested that Friends become “patterns witnessing to the Truth” and the “pattern” to which he referred was an inward opening to continuing revelation of the Living Truth, which when followed leads us to witness with our lives.  This is what we mean when we say: “Let your life speak.”

Our Testimonies have been described differently in different times and places.  Some suggest that there are 4 and name them as: “Harmony, Community, Equality, and Simplicity.”  Others say: “Equality, Peace, Simplicity, & Truth.”  Recently our Testimonies reflect the collective longing for deep integrity and cohesive community, bringing the number to 5: “Community, Equality, Integrity, Peace, Simplicity.”  And the NEYM Faith and Practice adds “Stewardship.”

No matter how we name or number them, the beauty of Friends’ Testimony in the world is our ability to adapt, to meet the most significant issues of the day in meaningful and relevant ways.

We no longer testify to equality by speaking plain; it is no longer necessary to address people with the familiar / singular pronoun ‘thee’ as it was in 17th Century England when the noble class expected to be addressed with the formal / plural ‘you’ to acknowledge their ‘divine rights.’  Early Friends acknowledged “that of God in everyone” (not just in the nobility) and gradually society has achieved new understandings of equality.  We are now less class bound and though we are probably not conscious of it when we address each other as ‘you’ we are really recognizing Equality – “that of God in everyone” when we say ‘you’.

Another early Testimony was to Simplicity – dressing plain.  Plain dressing was a response to fashion as a lavish expression of wealth by the English gentry … and an early call to an intentional, thoughtful life style.  Unfortunately, plain dressing quickly became a badge, an ‘outward sign,’ an empty form. Even Margaret Fell, wife of George Fox, protested it, saying that to dress “all in one dress and all in one color” is a “Silly poor gospel!”   She goes on to say: “It is more fit for us to be covered with God’s eternal Spirit … clothed with the Light … which leads us and guides us …”

Today we might say that Simplicity is our testimony if we are intentional with our time and energy.  Lloyd Lee Wilson says that the simple life is one in which there is “time to remember the divine purpose behind our tasks, time to listen for a possible divine amendment to the day’s schedule, and time during the day to be thankful for the divine presence …”

And Friends’ witness for Peace – that is: living in the life and power that takes away the occasion for all war – will, of course, always endure.

Each of our testimonies is born of Friends’ commitment to Integrity or Truth … integrity / conscience rises out of God’s concern for us.  It is by listening to the ‘still small voice within,’ that we are able to tend with integrity our witness for Equality, Simplicity, Community and Peace.

The beauty of Friends’ testimony is that we tend not to get stuck (at least for very long) in empty form.  Our capacity to adapt speaks to the strength of Friends’ “creedless” witness of our faith, the transformative potential of simply allowing the Light of Christ to lead … and to open Friends to the new Light of continuing revelation.  In the future Friends’ witness in the world will inevitably need to address new leadings that arise to meet new needs … but because Spirit is consistent, certain principals will always prevail.

It is important for us, while living the testimonies, that we do not get the “cart before the horse” and look outward for confirmation of their value.  When we ask, “Are we making a difference?”; “Are we changing the world?”; “Are we still fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?” we risk growing discouraged.  If the testimonies are acted upon with a misplaced expectation that the world will change we do indeed risk becoming both exhausted and dispirited. It is enough to tend and stay obedient to the Light, the inward guide. And then to do just what love requires of us, for love’s sake. This is living our testimony. This is enough.

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, May 15, 2011

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Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened on Sunday, May 12, 2011, at 12:20 P.M., with 14 people present.   Clerk Edwin Hinshaw read a gentle prayer by Mary Stewart of Longmont, California (1904).

1. Susan Rice was approved as Recording Clerk for 2011, with thanks.

2. Jo-an Jacobus reported that Durham Monthly Meeting now has a two-year contract with FairPoint Communications for a landline telephone.  It will cost approximately $45 a month.  It should be hooked up on May 20th.  The phone number is:  207.725.0411 and we will be listed as Durham Meeting of Friends.  It was agreed that we should have voice mail along with call forwarding and conference calling.  It was also agreed that we should have a block on 900 and international calls.  It was agreed as well that Clarabel Marstaller and Jo-an Jacobus would be our contacts with FairPoint.  Despite our wishes to have a copy of the contract held by the Trustees, there is no contract with FairPoint, only a verbal agreement.  Jo-an Jacobus will write a report of all the items agreed to by both parties and provide it to the Trustees so it may be held by them.

3.  The Meeting would like to recognize our graduates for this year:

From high school:  Kristopher Reed, Amanda Curtis, and Sarah Freshley.

From college:  Keegan Brown and Nicholas Gorgone.

From graduate school:  Wesley Marstaller.

A gift certificate from Quakerbooks of Friends General Conference (FGC) for each graduate was approved to go with our hearty congratulations.

4. Katharine Hildebrandt, Treasurer, presented the Treasurer’s report for April.  Income for April was $4,761.92; expenses were $4,862.55.  The report was accepted with thanks.  (Report attached.)

New England Yearly Meeting of Friends sent us a $100 donation to help with costs for the wonderful Godly Play Workshop supported by FGC.  We agreed to send that $100 to FGC along with $160 from Christian Education Committee and the fees taken in for the workshop.

Katharine has been researching all the Meeting’s funds to determine which were given with restrictions.  At this time the only fund that Katharine was able to determine has a restriction is the Goddard Fund, with a restriction on the principle.  She requests that someone else do a similar check of all our trustees’ and finance files to confirm this and to help establish the base amount of the Goddard Fund which is being held and invested by the New England Yearly Meeting of Friends Pooled Funds.

5.  David Reed reported for Trustees.  Saturday May 21 will be clean-up day for the inside and outside of the Meetinghouse.

6.  Finance Committee reported:

A. The organ that is in the Meeting Room was donated to us by Friends Camp.  Finance Committee encourages anyone who would like to thank Friends Camp for this gift to do so by making a contribution to the Meeting and we will gratefully send it to Friends Camp.

B.  There was discussion about having people make their donations to the Meeting through automatic monthly transfers from their bank account to ours.  For some people this might be a more regular, manageable way to make their contributions.  This method of receiving donations was approved.  The Finance Committee is being asked to announce this at Meeting and through the newsletter.  They were also asked to create a form for automatic transfers that friends could give to their bank with our bank account and routing numbers included.

7.  Susan Rice reported that the Peace & Social Concerns dinner to benefit the Lisbon Area Christian Outreach Food Pantry will occur on Saturday June 25th at 5:30.  It will be a pig roast with a locally grown pig.  The menu will include vegetarian baked beans, cornbread, a variety of salads, and our famous Strawberry Shortcake.  There was a discussion concerning serving pork as it excludes Muslims and Jews.  It was decided to proceed with the menu as planned with a request for deeper discussion for future dinner menus. There will be a strong effort to invite people who live in the local area.

8.  Clarabel Marstaller reported for Christian Education Committee that June 12 will be Children’s Sunday.  It was requested that there be a second offering on that day to go to the United Society of Friends Women International children’s projects.  This was approved.

9.  Clarabel Marstaller reported on the Quarterly Meeting that gathered on April 30 at Friends Camp.   The July 24th Quarterly Meeting will be held at Portland Meeting and the program will be on the Friends World Committee on Consultation theme of “Salt and Light”.

10.  Daphne Clement gave a pastor’s report which included special thanks for her support committee.  A contemplative prayer group has started on Tuesday evenings at the Meetinghouse.  She will begin to repaint our old sign.  Hooray!

11.  Wendy Schlotterbeck gave a very full Youth Minister report.  (Report attached.)  We accepted this report with appreciation and admiration.

12.  A letter of greeting from Durham Monthly Meeting will be carried by Elizabeth Muench to the Intermountain Yearly Meeting.

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

14. The Meeting adjourned, continuing in the spirit of worship, at 2:10 P.M.

 

Susan Rice, Recording Clerk

Durham Young Friends Activities

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Please join DYF (Durham Young Friends) on Children’s Day Sunday, June 12 for Meeting for Worship.  That is Children’s Day Sunday and they have care of worship that morning.  A picnic will follow with food, games and activities.

DYF and all of Durham Meeting are warmly invited to the Annual Campout taking place June 17 – 19, at the summer home of Betsy and Stuart Muench in Georgetown.  Even if you can’t stay overnight, come for a few hours during the day for kayaking, swimming, beach activities, singing and wonderful conversation.  Please contact Wendy Schlotterbeck for more details.

Durham Meeting Hosting LACO Benefit Dinner

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From Durham’s LACO Team

Durham Monthly Meeting is hosting a Pork Roast and Strawberry Shortcake Dinner to benefit the Food Pantry of Lisbon Area Christian Outreach (LACO). to be held on Saturday, June 25 at 5:30 pm at the meetinghouse.  The menu is pork roast, vegetarian baked beans, cornbread, a variety of salads, and dinners at Durham are never complete without our luscious strawberry shortcake.

The LACO Food Pantry serves hundreds of people every month, people who otherwise cannot afford to put enough food on the table for their families.  Donations of food and money are vital for the success of the Food Pantry. Many people in our community depend on it and the numbers of those in need have increased greatly over the last two years and continue to rise.  Come join us for a delicious meal while helping LACO help so many others.

Tickets:           In Advance    At the Door

Adults                          $10                  $12

Seniors & Teens          $8                    $10

Family of 5                  $25                  $30

Children                      $5

For more information and tickets, please call Daphne Clement, pastor, at 353.6354.

Woman’s Society Newsletter Report for May

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By Angie Reed

The Woman’s Society met on May 16, 2011 at Nancy Marstaller’s house. 15 women gathered for a devotional prayer by Dotty DeLoach, and a program by Sarah Sprogell. Sarah shared her experiences with Bobbie Jordan in the last months and moments of Bobbie’s life here on earth. We were all touched by the pure love and devotion these two wonderful women share for each other and join Sarah in prayers for her next steps in her journey.

In business, Prayers were asked for the recipients of the Joy fund who are Christine Wood of Kickapoo Center; Brenda White of Mesquakie Center; and Ann Kendall of MOWA Choctaw Center. We would also suggest you include Joseph Makokha in your prayers. He is the clerk of the Friends Church Peace Team in Kenya and is much involved with the Peace Curriculum being developed for Kenyan schools. The Tedford Meal for May was hot dogs, and buns, green salad and 2 wonderful deserts.

Kitsie Hildebrandt has purchased four platters to be used for Woman Society sponsored events and was asked to purchase a few more in the event of breakage. The new Blueprints for 2011-2012 are available for purchase for $5.00 from Margaret Wentworth. Angie Reed asked that members review the book list for the coming year in the Advocate and let her know if there are any books on this list you would like to read during our next year’s reading program. Final plans were made for this year’s yard sale to be held May 28th at the Meeting House. Please look for new pricing on our Jumble items.

Lastly, Nancy Marstaller read an email from Tess who is in the Peace Corp in Tombel, a province of Cameroon. She has asked for a care package for her students to help her put on a summer camp for girls this coming summer.  We will put together a care package similar to that sent to Japan to be mailed out after Father’s day. See newsletter article for more details.

The meeting was closed by Kitsie who read a poem by Mary Oliver which in part said… in life “it is not the weight you carry but how you carry it.” The next Meeting will be hosted by Dorothy Hinshaw on June 20th at her home at 5:30pm.

Youth Minister’s Report Spring 2011

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By Wendy Schlotterbeck

1. Durham Young Friends held a very successful “Rise Up singing” sing-a-long concert on March 19th.  It seemed that all who came had a wonderful time and the youth made $1001.  My highlight of the year was watching the young friends in the front row thoroughly engaged and enjoying both the concert and one another.

2. The April Young Friends Meeting was held at Aunt Bee’s house and the youth, as always, had a fabulous time.  Special thanks to Brenda Masse for helping with the group as Wendy was at the Playing in the Light workshop along with Jeanne Baker-Stinson and five others.

3. At our May 20th meeting, we had a sleepover at the Meetinghouse.  We held a wonderful, lengthy Quaker discussion about whether we wanted to sponsor a Kakamega child.  The sense of the meeting was that we would indeed sponsor a child and accept the responsibility of continuing the sponsorship year by year.  The youth were excited about writing letters and hope that in a few years, some of us may participate in the Summer Trip to Kakamega to meet the children.

4. As the school year comes to a close, I am amazed and humbled by our youth who in a short time (the Philadelphia trip was just last year!) have really bonded into a lovely group.  Some remarked how Durham Young Friends (DYF) feels like family, they love coming to Meeting, and really enjoy being friends and Friends.  We at Durham are so very blessed to have such incredible young people in our midst.

5. Passages has been focusing more on Conscientious Objection this spring, our final gathering on May 22nd featured excerpts from the documentary “Soldiers of Conscience,” and a special guest who is a member of Veterans for Peace.  We hold Kris Reed in the Light as he ventures forward in his journey after graduation from high school in June.  Next fall, we plan to continue the high school “Passages” group and look forward to more study of faith communities especially Islam and Judaism.

6. Please attend “Children’s Day” on Sunday, June 12th when the youth will have the care of worship.  There will also be a picnic after meeting with food, games, and activities.

7. On June 17 – 19 our annual campout will be held at Betsy Muench’s summer home.  All of Durham Meeting is warmly invited.  If you can’t stay overnight, come for a few hours during the day for kayaking, swimming, beach activities, singing and wonderful conversation.  Contact Wendy Schlotterbeck for more details.

Special Children’s Day Offering

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By Clarabel Marstaller for the Christian Education Committee

Sunday, June 12, is Children’s Day with meeting for worship and special events to show appreciation for our children.  A second offering will be taken during meeting for worship which will go to the Youth and Children’s Project of the United Society of Friends Women International.  That project supports three ministries helping young people:

1.  Children and Youth programs at three Friends Indian Centers–MOWA Choctaw in Alabama, Kickapoo in Oklahoma, and Mesquakie in Iowa.

2.  Eli and Sibyl Jones scholarships for the Friends Schools in Ramallah.

3.  Support for girls’ education in Turkana, Kenya.

Please help us make these programs come alive in all three areas.  Thank you!

Thanks!

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By Jo-an Jacobus

Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends (DMM) has received two donations of computers.  Thank you to both donors.

Kitsie Hildebrandt as Treasurer will use the first computer donated by John Curtis A laptop it can be used at Kitsie’s home to prepare reports and also brought to Monthly Meeting so she is able to answer questions about the meeting’s finances.

The second donated computer came from Sarah Sprogell.  Bobbie Jordan bought it not long before she passed away.  Sarah felt the meeting would be a good home for this computer.  It is also a laptop which allows Jo-an Jacobus to do the newsletter and website work on a computer dedicated to DMM of Friends.

Care package for Cameroon

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By Angie Reed

Tess Marstaller is currently serving in Tombel, Cameroon as a Peace Corp Volunteer.  She has asked the Woman’s Society and Durham Meeting of Friends to put together a care package for the children she works with.  Woman’s Society will collect items from now until Father’s Day in the box next to the piano in the Gathering Space at Meeting. The box will be small so keep that in mind when planning donations.

Items Requested:

Jump ropes (large ones held by 2 people are best), a tie-dye kit (colors, no shirts), shiny prize items to be used in a summer camp setting and as educational prizes, such as stickers or pens. Also books of stories, games, theater sequences (especially of a Christian nature), other camp type games, and fixin’s for s’mores. Items with a Christian theme are especially well received.  For more information, check out Tess’s Blog at   tessincameroon.blogspot.com   Thank you.

Meetinghouse now has phone service

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By Jo-an Jacobus

Durham Monthly Meeting has had local landline phone service installed in the meetinghouse.  Because of the difficulty with cell phone reception on the property, the number of evening events and to deal with possible medical emergencies, the meeting decided it needs to have local phone service in the building.

The phone number is 207.725.0411.

Currently, there is a phone on loan to the meeting. However we need a permanent replacement.  A corded phone would be best in case the power goes out.  If you have a corded phone, not wireless, that you would like to donate to the meeting, please contact Jo-an Jacobus at 666.3213 or jacobusj@gwi.net .

Having phone service means we will now be listed in both the white and yellow pages of the Brunswick phone book.  The listing will read Durham Meeting of Friends.

From our Pastor, Daphne Clement

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“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”

John 1:9

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead I call you friends, for everything that I learn from my Father I make known to you.”

John 15:15

It’s Easter!  The Eternal Christ is revealed anew!  It is not only the mystics and poets who share in this… we all do.  The word ‘eternal’ has more than one meaning: it means both the Light of God that has been with us since the 1st day of creation and ‘eternal’ means a single moment in time that has particular quality … it is a Presence full, Light filled moment.  George Fox & John Woolman share such moments often in their Journals, as do Whittier, Wordsworth and Elizabeth Vining in their poetry.

Light filled eternal moments are available to us all; but sometimes I think that the mystics and poets describe them too well.  So well that when we ordinary folks experience these sweet and simple moments, the heart lifted Light filled moments, we tend to discount them.  Somehow our own moments don’t quite measure up.  Most of us when asked: “So when was your last experience of the Eternal?” … will shake our heads doubtfully … and wonder … wonder if we are valuable enough …

But Easter is here … and though we may have only fleeting glimpses of the resurrection … the Eternal Christ Light within … the love of Jesus that is alive and always with us. When we honor these ‘eternal’ moments and understand them to be our spiritual sustenance .… our ‘soul food’ .… gifts of God … blessings … we will begin to notice them more and more often.

So, let our prayer this season be for that other kind of wonder … a prayer of noticing … Let us gaze, oh God, upon all your creation with wonder … seeing everywhere your Eternal Presence.

Thus, our relationships – with God and with each other – will deepen and grow.  Eternal Presence filled moments awaken us intuitively and emotionally to God and to each other.  They resurrect us.  So, look for and notice with wonder your glimpses (no matter how humble) … for it is by their Light that we are refreshed and made whole.

Durham Monthly Meeting Minutes, April 17, 2011

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April 17, 2011

for every family in every part of the earth, and also for people who are poor and their governments.  Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends convened on Sunday April 17, 2011 at 12:30 with 12 present. Co-Clerk, Edwin Hinshaw, read from Daily Readings from Quaker Writings Ancient and Modern, an article by James Newby, p. 84, ed. Linda H. Renfer: “We live in a world of mystery;… deeper faith will produce deeper questions…”

Dorothy Hinshaw was approved as recording Clerk for the day.

1. Margaret Wentworth circulated the Statistical report, prepared by Dorothy DeLoach.  The report was accepted with appreciation, to be forwarded to New England Yearly Meeting of Friends [NEYMF].  It was noted that parents need to request junior membership for their children so that they may be counted in the meeting’s annual statistics.

2. A letter from NEYM Young Adult Friends concerning climate change was received and referred to Peace and Social Concerns Committee.

3. Carried over from March Monthly Meeting, the need for a land telephone line was discussed. The Meeting approved a three year contract with FairPoint Communications for $420 per year which enables unlimited calls to numerous towns in this area, provides 911 emergency service and facilitates in-coming calls.  The towns included in this calling area are Durham, Lisbon, Lisbon Falls, Brunswick, Freeport, Topsham, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Woolwich and Georgetown.  No long distance calls will be able to be made. Jo-an Jacobus will follow through on this matter.

4. It was reported that a letter of introduction for Markus Schlotterbeck to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting was prepared and given to him by the Co-Clerks.

5. Joseph Godleski for Katharine Hildebrandt, Treasurer, distributed the monthly financial and year-to date reports. They were received with appreciation and are attached.

6. Daphne Clement, Pastor, suggested that we facilitate automatic transfers from a donor’s bank account to the Meeting bank account. It was approved that the Treasurer be asked to arrange for this procedure.

7. A request was received for Ariana Andrews for a campership to Friends Camp. It was approved to provide $250.

8. In response to a letter and photos of Durham Meeting, a letter was received from our sister meeting, Velasco Monthly Meeting, Cuba. This letter was read in Meeting for Worship and Monthly Meeting.

“A thousand thanks for this wonderful Bridge of Love which you share with us Cubans – and more importantly, Quakers – in Velasco.  This session of the yearly meeting has been full of love and that is why I’m writing, to extend that love to you all.  We never forget you and we pray We hope a group of you will be with us this year, if God permits.”

9. Leslie Manning reported for Ministry and Counsel:

a. In response to NEYM’s request that we consider Friends United Meeting’s personnel policy, Durham Ministry Counsel reports: “Prior to 1988, Friends United Meeting did not have a Sexual Ethics portion of their personnel process. After prayer, discussion and discernment, we recommend that it be replaced with the following:

Recruitment.

Application with references.

Applicant asks for a Clearness Committee from Monthly Meeting where membership is held, which provides a letter of recommendation to Yearly meeting, if approved.

Yearly Meeting (or its interim body) provides a letter of recommendation, if approved.

Friends United Meeting makes final decision in conjunction with applicant.”

The above was approved in principle to be forwarded to NEYMF for further consideration and to QM for their information. Monthly Meeting recommended that the above policy change be set in context of the FUM policy.

b. Friends General Conference Gathering of Friends will be held at Grinnell College, Iowa, July 3-9, 2011. “Yes to the Joy of Love,” Friends General Conference’s 2010 annual report, was circulated.

c. Special mugs will be used to identify members of Ministry and Counsel at “coffee” hour to facilitate inquiries about Friends and Durham Meeting.

10. Peace and Social Concerns Committee reported on the concern from Friends Committee on National Legislation about the fact that 39 cents of every tax dollar goes to war and militarization.  The Committee’s major effort will be devoted to supporting Lisbon Area Christian Outreach.  Monthly Meeting approved selling tickets to LACO events held at Durham Friends meetinghouse and other local churches.

11. The All Maine Gathering and Falmouth Quarterly Meeting will be held at Friends Camp on April 30, 2011. Representatives approved are Clarabel Marstaller, Daphne Clement, Alexandrine and Joseph Godleski.

12. Daphne Clement, Pastor, reported attending the spring gathering of New England United Society of Friends Women, NEYMF and New York Yearly Meeting of Friends Ministers and Clerks conference, on local pastoral visits, and meeting with Young Friends at “Aunt Bee” Bernice Douglas’ home. She also volunteers at LACO and attends LACO Board Meetings.

13. Clarabel Marstaller reported for the Adult Sunday School Class on a discussion of the Yearly Meeting “Minute of Sending Forth.” The class concluded that the minute was too abstract, that the four priorities were something we can take hold of and work on: the call to forgiveness; the call to strengthen our ability to love and to build our community; the call to name, cultivate, and exercise gifts of ministry, eldership, and leadership; and the call to undertake clear leadings for witness. The following was also suggested by the Class for NEYM consideration:

The call to work together as a Society to become better able to serve the world and to be faithful to the Gospel of love and peace.

Since we are non-creedal and we come from so many different faith backgrounds, we might try to learn more about our Quaker faith, suggesting that for the year ahead each Meeting have a study of George Fox’s Journal and of one of the Gospels.

The Adult Sunday School class will be considering Bill Taber’s pamphlet, Four Doors to Worship in May.  Meeting members are encouraged to attend.

The meeting closed with prayer, keeping in mind controversial issues and concerns facing our Meeting and the Society of Friends.

Dorothy Hinshaw, Recording Clerk, pro tem

Yard Sale 2011 in May 28

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By Angie Reed

The Annual Woman’s Society Yard Sale will be Saturday, May 28, 8-1. This is Memorial Day weekend, and please plan to share some time with us that weekend. Remember, please save your “yard sale” items to donate.  They can be dropped off at the meetinghouse no earlier than Sunday, May15. Plants can be dropped off up to the morning of the sale. Plant pots are available in the vestry and horse shed. Unsold donated items larger than a small microwave are the responsibility of the donor and must be removed if unsold. Volunteer sign-up sheets are up.  Sorting and pricing will take place during the week before (see sign up sheet for times). Sign up now for your favorite volunteer spots.