Bennington Friends Meeting

Bennington Friends Meeting

Meeting for Worship for the Conduct of Business held at the

Senior Citizens Service Center, Bennington, Vermont

December 19, 2010

“All true Quaker action has its origins in the quiet seeking and life of Quaker worship, and the Society always fails on those rare occasions when action is taken that does not arise from that deep life….”

The Amazing Fact of Quaker Worship

by George Gorman, Swarthmore Lecture 1973, page 146

Present were: Auberta Galusha, Bain Davis, Maurice Kahn, Peggy Kahn, Arnold Ricks, Beth Cheadle, Priscilla Tracy, Timmy Bullock, Kerri Rainville, Ruth Hawes

Out of the silence the clerk read the above quote from George Gorman.

2010-64 Timmy Bullock reported on behalf of ministry and counsel. The minutes are approved and are appended.

2010-65 Ministry & Counsel recommends that the meeting incorporate a time at the beginning of meeting for worship that would allow Friends to name someone they wish to be “held in the Light.” We will revisit this decision in two months.

2010-66 Based on the reflections of the Ad Hoc Committee on Worship, meeting for business recommends experimenting with our ways of worship. Tentatively proposed are two variations in a month:

One first day, possibly the first Sunday of the month: possibly beginning with some music, or a reading, or a poem and/or a reflection, with a time limit, again tentatively, of 5 minutes.

A subsequent first day, possibly the third Sunday of the month: worship sharing, with the aim of sharing how God/the divine/the spirit is working in our daily lives. Timing to be discussed, tentatively suggested was 30 minutes of silence, 30 minutes of reflection or 30 to 45 minutes of reflection.

We will revisit this experiment in four months.

2010-67 The meeting has decided that with all urgency we will explore various avenues on how to fulfill the treasure’s function: this includes individual names as well as contacting other faith organizations in the community. Our target date is to accomplish this by January 15. The clerk will be in touch with Jane Radocchia to thank her and to inform her of our decision and our progress.

2010-68 Auberta reported on behalf of the Interfaith Counsel Committee Meeting.

2010-69 The meeting for business would be receptive to supporting, as needed, up to $100.00 Joseph Tracy’s leading to undertake the trip this week to Washington DC as part of the peace protest at the White House.

2010-70 The meeting approves a donation of $100.00 in appreciation for the use of the Second Congregational Church for our meetings. The clerk will send a note of appreciation with the check.

After a period of silent worship, the meeting adjourned.

Timmy Bullock, co-clerk

Juliet Wright, recording clerk

December 17, 2010

Meeting of Ministry & Counsel

Present: Timmy Bullock, Co-Clerk, Bain Davis, Priscilla Tracy, Co-Clerk, Auberta Galusha and Beth Cheadle; also Arnold Ricks, member of the ad hoc committee on worship

Pastoral Concerns were discussed.

29.10 Ministry & Counsel recommends that the meeting incorporate a time at the beginning of meeting for worship that would allow Friends to name someone they wish to be held in the light. The recommendation was prompted by those who attended NW Quarterly at Middlebury where the meeting for worship starts with a “healing circle.” Bennington Friends prefer the language of “holding in the Light.”

30.10 Based on the reflections of the Ad Hoc Committee on Worship, Ministry & Counsel recommends experimenting with our ways of worship. Tentatively proposed are two variations in a month:

One first day, possibly the first Sunday of the month: possibly beginning with some music, or a reading, or a poem, or a reflection, with a time limit, again tentatively, of 5 minutes.

A subsequent first day, possibly the third Sunday of the month: worship sharing, with the aim of sharing how God/the divine/the spirit is working in our daily lives. Timing to be discussed, tentatively suggested was 30 minutes of silence, 30 minutes of reflection or 30 minutes of silence, 45 minutes of reflection.

Potential topics might include:

What is there in the Quaker faith that draws you?

How has your concept of God, the divine, the wisdom of the universe, evolved since childhood?

How do you identify a message you need to share during worship from a thought that engages you?

What helps you become centered during worship?

Drawing on the experience of Quaker Quest

How do you experience or enact simplicity?

How do you enact the peace testimony?

Further topics: integrity, community, care for the earth.

31.10 Ministry & Counsel recommends supporting, up to $100, Joseph Tracy’s trip this week to Washington D.C. as part of the peace protest at the White House.