Bennington Friends Meeting

Bennington Friends Meeting

Minutes for Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business

July 26, 2009

Our shared experience of waiting for God’s guidance in our meeting for worship and for church affairs, together with careful listening and gentleness of heart, forms the basis on which we can live out a life of love with and for each other and for those outside our community.

                                                London Yearly Meeting, 1994, cited from

                                                Quaker Faith & Practice, Second Edition, 10.03

Present were Juliet Wright, Timmy Bullock, Arnold, Ricks, Priscilla Tracy, Peggy Kahn, Maurice Kahn, Auberta Galusha, Bain Davis and Ruth Hawes.

Out of the silence the clerk read the above quotation.

2009-47 The minutes for meeting for worship on the occasion of business from June 21, 2009 were read and approved.

2009-48 The ministry and counsel minutes were read and approved.  They are appended.

2009-49 The meeting approves having a post potluck workshop in October to create a Mayfest handout to succinctly express Friends undergirding tenets and ways of proceeding.  We are also planning to develop a series of questions or talking points that those of us at the booth consistently put forward to the children and families who approach us.

2009-50 It has been decided that when Maggie Pesce moves to another meeting we will send with her a letter of introduction to her new meeting.

2009-51In light of the likely participation in the Bennington Battle Day parade peace contingent on August 16, meeting for business will be deferred to August 23.  Arnold Ricks will be recording clerk.

2009-52 We will continue our discussions with our under-age-35 attenders on how we can be more accessible and responsive to young friends. 

2009-53 Auberta Galusha gave the report on behalf of nominating committee.  We have approved and attached the slate as presented and have deleted the position of newsletter editor as there is no longer a newsletter.

After a period of silent worship, the meeting adjourned.

Timmy Bullock, acting clerk

Juliet Wright, recording clerk

July 12, 2009

Meeting of Ministry and Counsel

Present:  Timmy Bullock, Priscilla Tracy (Co-Clerks), Bain Davis

Pastoral concerns discussed

14.09 Ministry & Counsel reflected on the proposal from Kristina and Callid Keefe-Perry for our September 19 retreat and will be in touch with her to underscore the emphasis we wish to be placed on how to create spirit-led worship; understanding how to move into expectant waiting; how to tell the difference between the spirit-led and the nagging neurosis concern; how does one prepare for meeting; how does one move from the everyday to worship?

The (likely) schedule will be from 8:30 to 4:30, potluck lunch, site of Pompanuck, 494 Chestnut Hill Road, Cambridge, NY 12816, 518-677-5552.  Pompanuck is the creation of Lisa and Scott Carrino.  Started with the hope to develop into an alternative community, it is used for retreats, various programs, summer camps, and can comfortably absorb a group in its grounds and its several buildings.

15.09 Ministry & Counsel proposes developing a more formalized outreach for future Mayfest activities.  This year’s theme that encouraged children to paint “How can one create peace through peaceable means?” was very successful. It was felt, however, that we could perhaps have a stronger presence.  Tentatively, we recommend that Priscilla Tracy and Timmy Bullock co-lead a post potluck workshop in October with the emphasis on developing both a handout that would quite succinctly express Friends’ undergirding tenets and ‘ways of proceeding;’ at the same time, we might develop a series of questions or talking points that those of us at the booth consistently put forward to the children and families who approach us.