Bennington Friends Meeting

Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business
Held at the Senior Citizens’ Service Center,
Bennington, VT
August 20, 2017

Present were Priscilla Tracy, Arnold Ricks, Auberta Galusha, Eliza Navias-Bell, Lucie McKee, Timmy Bullock and Juliet Wright

Out of the silence, the clerk read the above quote.

The minutes for meeting for business for June 18, 2017 were read and approved.

2017-24 Meeting reacted positively to the idea of developing an extended paragraph about the State of the Meeting.

2017-25 Priscilla Tracy reported on behalf of Ministry and Counsel.

2017-26 Arnold Ricks spoke to his suggestion of possibly pursuing a meeting space in the redeveloped downtown. We feel that it was a positive possibility to explore, but we do not feel that it is a proper possibility to pursue further at this point. We thank Arnold for his efforts.

2017-27 We approved holding annual retreat on Saturday, October 14, at Bain and Marj Davis’s home. The proposed schedule:
9:00 AM – gather/breakfast snacks/singing?
9:45-10:15 worship
break
10:30-11:00 individual readings (approximately five minutes each)
11:00-11:30 worship
11:45-12:30 potluck lunch
12:30-1:00 reflections on readings
1:00-1:30 – closing worship
(some flexibility in timing)

2017-28 We approved doing an extended singing and music session on the second Sunday of each month, from 9:30-10:15AM, followed by worship from 10:15-11:00.

2017-29 We think it is a good idea to undertake another Friendly Bible Study. It will require further arrangement. We wish to not make attendance at every session mandatory.

2017-30 Eliza Navias-Bell reported as treasurer and on behalf of the Finance Committee. The minutes were approved.

2017-31 The discussion of request for funds to attend YM was deferred until a later meeting.

2017-32 The State of Society Reflection was deferred until the next Business Meeting.

2017-33 We discussed a request for a donation to support the resurrection of the Bradford Smith Memorial Garden. Further discussion was postponed.

Minutes for Ministry and Counsel
July and August, 2017

July 9, 2017

Present were Priscilla Tracy, Auberta Galusha and Juliet Wright

Pastoral concerns discussed.

17 -12 Arnold Ricks presented a vision of the possibility of a meeting space in the redeveloped downtown. Basic questions of zoning need to be addressed before we can have any further discussion.

17-13 Ministry and Counsel recommends holding our annual retreat on Saturday, October 14. Our suggestion is that it be relatively un-programmed.

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August 13, 2017

Present were Priscilla Tracy, clerk, Timmy Bullock, clerk ex-officio, Auberta Galusha and Juliet Wright

Pastoral concerns discussed.

17-14 Ministry and Counsel recommends that we have our annual retreat at the home of Bain and Marj Davis on Saturday, October 14. Here is the proposed retreat schedule:
9:00 am – gather/breakfast snacks/singing?
9:45 – 10:15 worship
break
10:30 – 11:00 individual readings (approximately five minutes each)
11:00 – 11:30 worship
11:45 – 12:30 – pot luck lunch
12:30 – 1:00 – reflections on readings
1:00 – 1:30 – closing worship

17-15 Ministry and Counsel recommends doing an extended singing session on the second Sunday of each month, from 9:30 – 10:15am, followed by worship from 10:15 – 11:00.

17-16 Ministry and Counsel suggests that we reflect on whether we want to undertake another Friendly Bible Study? One suggestion would be that we hold discussions on the fifth Sunday’s of the month.