Bennington Friends Meeting

Bennington Friends Meeting

Minutes for Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business

Senior Citizens Service Center, Bennington, Vermont

October 16, 2011

Present were Timmy Bullock, Juliet Wright, Priscilla Tracy, Peggy Kahn, Maurice Kahn, Beth Cheadle, Arnold Ricks and Bain Davis

It is not in differing from one another

That disunity arises –

it is in not listening to God

and each other.

Kenneth Sutton, 1989, cited from Plain Living: A Quaker Guide to Simplicity

Catherine Whitmire

Out of the silence the clerk read the above quotation from Catherine Whitmire, A Quaker Guide to Simplicity.

2011-53 The recording clerk read the minutes for meeting for business August 21, 2011. They were approved with corrections.

2011-54 The meeting reflected on our October 8^th retreat at the home of Timmy Bullock and expressed deep appreciation for the facilitators and participation on a wonderful day.

2011-55 Priscilla Tracy reported on behalf of Ministry and Counsel. The minutes are appended.

2011-56 Meeting for business approves Ministry and Counsel’s recommendation of reading the queries on the first Sunday of the month with an introduction to worship on the third Sunday of the month.

2011-57 Meeting for business approves an ad-hoc committee to develop readings from strong Quaker voices, with a particular request that women and current thinkers be included. Beth Cheadle will head up this committee, with Auberta Galusha and Arnold Ricks also serving as members. Our goal will be to have the first readings ready for the first Sunday in January.

2011-58 Arnold Ricks reported on behalf of Nominating Committee and meeting for business affirmed the following appointments: Timmy Bullock as clerk, Juliet Wright continuing as recording clerk. Beth Cheadle and Juliet Wright are joining Ministry and Counsel and Priscilla Tracy will serve as clerk of Ministry and Counsel. Bain Davis is considering the committee’s invitation for him to continue on Ministry and Counsel as he is able to participate.

2011-59 Auberta Galusha and Bain Davis reported on behalf of the Interfaith Counsel.

2011-60 Meeting for business approves buying a coffee pot with an automatic shut-off valve. Clerk Timmy Bullock will seek permission from the Senior Center.

The meeting closed with a few moments if silent worship.

September 11, 2011

Meeting of Ministry & Counsel

Present: Timmy Bullock, Co-Clerk, Beth Cheadle, Auberta Galusha, Bain Davis, Juliet Wright

Pastoral Concerns were discussed

17.11 Ministry & Counsel asks whether we should not re-introduce the reading of the queries from Faith and Practice. We would continue the brief message, or lead-in on one Sunday, either the first or third Sunday, with the query on the alternate Sunday.

18.11 Ministry & Counsel proposes that we develop an educational program for ourselves built around strong Quaker voices, from early Friends to current day. Some names that were suggested for readings and discussion were John Woolman, Rufus Jones, Lester Brown, Parker Palmer, John? Punshon.