By Nancy Marstaller<\/p>\n
We met on a perfect summer evening at Helen Clarkson\u2019s lovely home with its fantastic view.\u00a0 Margaret Wentworth led us in devotions and the program – taking highlights from the last two programs from our Blueprints<\/span> lessons book.\u00a0 One was based on the story of Jesus healing the man who had been crippled for 38 years.\u00a0 Jesus asked if he wanted<\/span> to be healed.<\/p>\n We pondered how sometimes we cling to old ways of life, even if new ways of being open to us.\u00a0 The known feels safer, even if we know the new way will be better for others and ourselves.\u00a0 We wondered how we might need to change our Woman\u2019s Society so that we continue to be a group that meets women\u2019s spiritual needs.<\/p>\n We talked about the past split in New England Yearly Meeting of Friends, and what might have happened if we had lived up to our ideals and the split never occurred.\u00a0 It\u2019s sometimes hard to remember that we are looking for God\u2019s will in our lives, not our own will\u2019s desires.<\/p>\n In the business meeting, we sent \u201cthinking of you\u201d cards to several. \u00a0Our treasurer reported a balance of $3540.93, of which $2000 is earmarked for the meeting sound system.<\/p>\n We decided to donate to several of the USFWI projects: $150 each to Keys to the Kingdom, Four Funds, Peace and Christian Social Concerns, and the Christian Service Fund and $100 to the Thanks Offering.\u00a0 Locally, we approved donating $100 each to Opportunity Farm, the Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine, and Tedford Housing.<\/p>\n We are asked to pray for those attending the Friends United Meeting Triennial, especially visitors from Kenya, many of whom have been denied visas by our government so won\u2019t be able to attend.\u00a0 We pray for our policy makers, that their hearts be opened.<\/p>\n Our nominating committee reported that most positions have been filled for the coming year.\u00a0 They still have a couple more people to ask.\u00a0 We are so grateful to all who are willing to share in the roles needed to keep our society working.\u00a0 Jo-an volunteered to produce an updated contact list.<\/p>\n The Tedford meal in July was vegetarian and hot dog macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, green salad, watermelon, and cookies.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t already receive the NE USFW newsletter and would like to, let Clarabel Marstaller know.\u00a0 You may receive it by email or post.<\/p>\n Our August meeting will be our annual eat out on August 15 at 6 PM.\u00a0 We agreed we would like to go back to the Lion\u2019s Pride.\u00a0 Theresa will check out making arrangements.<\/p>\n We polished off our evening with Helen\u2019s delicious raspberry and cherry pies, and other goodies, after that we continued to enjoy each other\u2019s company before heading into the warm summer night.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Nancy Marstaller We met on a perfect summer evening at Helen Clarkson\u2019s lovely home with its fantastic view.\u00a0 Margaret Wentworth led us in devotions and the program – taking highlights from the last two programs from our Blueprints lessons … Continue reading