Bennington Friends Meeting

Bennington Friends Meeting
Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business
Held at the Senior Citizens Service Center,
Bennington, Vermont
November 17, 2013

Present were Timmy Bullock, Beth Cheadle, Eliza Navias-Bell, Arnold Ricks, Auberta Galusha, Dorothea Izzo, Priscilla Tracy, Joseph Tracy and John Maloney.

We know that as individuals we have no adequate check upon the development of mere notions within our minds; and so we insist upon the discipline of the worshipping community in which mere waywardness of mind or individualism will be seen for what it is. And we know that the stimulus and personal interchange of the religious community will enable the individual to rise to a grater degree of perception than would be possible for him alone.
Kenneth C. Barnes, 1960, Quaker Faith and Practice, Britain

Out of the silence, the clerk read the above quotation from Kenneth C. Barnes.

The recording clerk read the minutes for meeting for business for October 20, 2013, which were approved.

2013-43 The meeting discussed if the topic for the Bennington College Interfaith Group is on the afterlife and immortality or pacifism. It was determined that both topics will be presented.

2013-44 Beth Cheadle read the minutes from the November 10th Ministry and Council.
The meeting has approved the minute from Ministry and Council for marking of the Christmas holiday to be held on Sunday, December 22. Singing of carols will begin at 9:30 and potluck will follow meeting. We will be asking ourselves to reflect on “If it were in your power, what gift would you give to the meeting?”

2013-45 Meeting for Business approved the Finance Committee Report

Because the GNMA fund administered by Vanguard is losing some value the finance committee has decided to consider alternatives to GNMA, including investing with the fund used by NEYM and many meetings throughout New England..

In light of the improving contribution figures for this year, meeting for business has approved the finance committee’s request that an additional $250 be donated to BROC. $50 would come from Peace and Social Concerns budget line and the remaining $200 from Sufferings budget line.

Meeting for business has approved finance committee’s recommendation that we contribute $200 to NEYM as an appreciation for Noah Baker Merrill’s work in facilitating our retreat. The clerk will write a note of appreciation for Noah’s work.

2013-46 The meeting will pay 8 years back payment of $136 to Amy D. Moore for renewing our Domain Name Server. Sadelle Wiltshire has agreed to manage the renewals going forward. She will report on the on going annual cost.

2013-47 Friends have agreed that Timmy will organize the order of speakers for the Bennington Interfaith Meeting discussion on afterlife through the lens of pacifism.

2023-48 Meeting for business has determined that individual contributions (check made out to Bennington Friends Meeting or cash) will be collected at our Christmas celebration. Half of the collected contributions will be sent to RSWR and half to Heifer International, which has been active in relief work in the Phillipines.

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Minutes for Ministry and Counsel

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Present were Timmy Bullock clerk ex-officio, Auberta Galusha, Beth Cheadle and Juliet Wright

Pastoral concerns were discussed.

13-17 Ministry and counsel recommends that the Christmas party be held on Sunday, December 22. Singing of carols will begin at 9:30 and potluck will follow meeting. We will be asking ourselves to reflect on “If it were in your power, what gift would you give to the meeting?” We will then move on to worship with Peggy and Maurice Kahn.