Bennington Friends Meeting

Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business
Held at the Senior Citizens’ Service Center,
Bennington, VT
January 15, 2017

Present were Timmy Bullock, Auberta Galusha, Juliet Wright, Lucie McKee, Arnold Ricks, Priscilla Tracy, Dorothea Izzo and Tim Newbold

It is good to remember that all ministry is one, and should flow from the same source. This is true of what we call ministry in a meeting for worship just as it should be true of everything which happens in a meeting – for worship – for business, for in that meeting we are ministering through our decisions either to ourselves or to the world beyond us…..
William Taber 1988

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

2017-01Meeting for business approves beginning a First Day School on the first Sunday in March, 2017. The Newbolds will connect with Marge Davis to look at the existing curriculum and plan. A rotation will be developed of people to come in and help. The meeting is very pleased that the Newbolds are opening up this possibility to us and we welcome this opportunity.

2017-02 Meeting for business discussed the allocation of the $2,000.00 Rachel Carey-Harper gift and has set itself the task of each of us being in touch with a member of the community who can help us locate projects of empowerment, of individuals and groups, with which me might help. Our goal is to make the decision in our February meeting for business.

2017-03 Meeting for business approved the following Appreciation minute to be sent to Rachel Carey-Harper:

Our thanks comes with a deep appreciation for what you are enabling us to perceive, the thrust of which is how we can help engender self-empowerment, both of individuals and of groups. We are eager to explore with others the possibilities of new paths to self-empowerment.

2017-04 Meeting for business welcomes Lucee McKee into membership with pleasure. We will have ice cream/hot chocolate after February potluck to celebrate her membership.

2017-05 The clerk distributed the draft copies of Faith and Practice.

2017-06 Meeting for business determined that we feel we can’t write a full State of Society report, but should have a meeting to reflect on the Meeting. Our target will be to set a date for that meeting by June 1.

2017-07 Auberta Galusha will continue to attend Interfaith Counsel meetings.

After a few moments of silent worship, the meeting adjourned.

Timmy Bullock, clerk
Juliet Wright, recording clerk

Minutes for Ministry and Counsel
Sunday, January 8, 2017

Present were Timmy Bullock, clerk Ex-officio, Juliet Wright and Auberta Galusha

Pastoral concerns discussed.

17-1 Ministry and Counsel were very happy to see Amy Newbold and her daughter at meeting on Sunday, January 8, 2017. Their visit raises the question of how we might approach relaunching a first day school.

17-2 Ministry and Counsel recommends that we develop a minute of thanks and appreciation to Rachel Carey-Harper for her gift of $2,000.00.

17-3 Ministry and Counsel has received twelve copies of the Interim Faith and Practice and recommend post potluck discussion on at least the first three or four chapter revisions. Discussion leadership and organization to be determined.