The Farmington Friend

Transcription

1 The Farmington Friend Trish Eckert, Pastor Volume 72 Number 12 December 2017 As Christmas Comes On Christmas morning, all that we mean by the Christmas spirit becomes plain and simple. All the stories about Christmas, all the sermons and articles, all the efforts to wrest some new thought from the history of the event, condense to something as simple as the light in a child s eyes before a Christmas tree. Or something as simple as a Christmas carol sung by reverent people. Or something as simple as a family circle in which the spirit of love passes from one to another. Christmas sometimes suffers from too much elaboration. The epochal event which inspired it and which has divided history into two parts, seems from one angle as too important, too momentous, to be simplified to a mere sentiment or emotion. Yet everything about the story of the Nativity is the essence of simplicity. The only authentic record, as told in St. Luke and St. Matthew, has appealed through the ages because of the beauty of its simple, lucid style. Surely the principals in the story were of the humblest sort, the circumstances of the birth were of the plainest and simplest. Everything about the story seemed designed to go directly to the heart of humanity. The people who came after were responsible for whatever over-embellishment, controversy, pompousness may have obscured the inner meaning. So on on Christmas morning, especially where children have a part, we see Christmas reduced to its original purity and beauty. We may try to rationalize Christmas with our minds, but if we do not feel it with our hearts, we have missed its better part. Christmas is for children say some uneasy older folk, who are a little ashamed to give way to the Christmas spirit. So what? Is there any better medium through which to see the meaning of such words as love and kindness than through the eye of childhood? Christmas has endured for us, in dark times and bright, because it does mean for us such simple things as faith, beauty, kindliness, through which peace on earth will ever come. It means for us Merry Christmas. And that too is a simple expression of a heart-felt, enduring hope. (Reprinted from Dec Friend this was condensed from an article appearing on the editorial page of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

2 The Pastor s Corner Happy, Holidays, Friends! It s beginning to look a lot like Christmas with snow on the ground! The church is beautifully decorated and the Bell Choir and Senior Choir have been preparing and bringing beautiful Christmas music to our worship services. In thinking about this magical season, it might be helpful to consider what truly makes it magical. At this time of year often our expectations are especially high. Yet this season of paradox, in which so many things contradict each other, may actually be what is central to the mystery and the magic of this time of year. This is not only a time of light and dark, of good cheer and deep pain, of cold weather and warm gatherings. We celebrate the birth of Christ, who was born within the lowliest of circumstances. For the hope of the whole world to rest on a tiny baby, is in itself miraculous. This Advent in our worship services we have explored what it might mean to prepare the way and find the path that welcomes Jesus return beyond the manger. We will also delve into what it means to bear the light (and Quakers love thinking about the light). And at our two Christmas Eve services (10 am: a combined meditation and hymn sing, and 7 pm: our annual Christmas Eve service) we will revel in the beautiful Gospel readings and hymns that bring us the narrative of the baby Jesus and the gift that God has given us. As we seek ways to celebrate the season, to gather with loved ones, to honor grief and loss, and to reach out to those less fortunate, let us remember that so many aspects of the Christmas story are of humble origin. Out of the mundane comes the sacred. We can be present to the beauty and magic in small and unpretentious things. There is often pressure to make things perfect, to overspend, to fit in as many events and celebrations as possible. Yet, even the rhythm of the earth beckons us to slow down and to settle into quiet. It is dark. It is cold. And we are waiting. Let the mystery and the magic of Christmas truly wash over you. Many Blessings at Christmas and in the coming year, Trish Happy Birthday! JANUARY 3 David Zabliski 3 Jim Nicholson 3 Griffin Perry 5 Theresa Zabliski 6 Patricia Ford 6 John Pawlak 9 Gayle Walton 10 David Herendeen 16 Annaliese Parker 19 Dale Sadler 21 David Rourke 22 Nancy Herendeen 23 Polly Nicholson 23 Marion Milne 26 David Vail 28 Helen Kirker FARMINGTON FRIEND STAFF Editor: Anne Gilson Co-editor Annie Bontrager Front Page: Sue Ford Address Labels: Anne Gilson Mailing Staff: Anne Gilson, Clerk; Evelyn Sadler, Linda Doyen. Copying: Pat Ford Leave articles in Meetinghouse folders or mail to the editor by the 2nd Sunday of the month. Mail: 2238 Rt. 350, Macedon, NY agilson@rochester.rr.com cell:

3 3 Society s Margaret & Richard s winter home Margaret and Richard Baker are now at their winter home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. If you would like to send them an old-fashioned letter or card, their address is: 4325 Seamist Drive #148 New Smyrna Beach, FL They will be there until the end of March. February 22 nd will be their 67 th anniversary. Karen Parker travels with students: Karen Parker and a group of ten nursing students from St. John Fisher have spent since just after Thanksgiving in Peru operating clinics. Karen has done this before when she has taken nursing students to other locations outside the United States for the purpose of making lives better and for the learning students to learn hands-on. Karen and her students return this week. December 24, 2017 Sunday NO silent worship 10 a.m. service: A time of meditation and singing (NO 11 a.m. service) Christmas Eve service: 7:00 p.m. Family Promise of Ontario County update: As of a recent meeting of the board of Family Promise of Ontario County, it was agreed to move the opening date from February 2018 to September of We are still in active fundraising mode and still selecting people to be on the board. There have been some fundraising activities such as chicken barbecues, concerts, fashion shows and rock-a-thons. Each month at Monthly Meeting we bring updates and give people an opportunity to ask questions. Our next Monthly Meeting will be on Sunday, January 28 th at the rise of meeting. Family Promise of Ontario County will be on the agenda. Please come and find out what is going on with the county organization and see how Farmington Friends fits. We are a host congregation and are looking at what that means for us. There will be more information given out at church and in the Friend. Dianne Aldrich( ) and Anne Gilson ( /agilson@rochester.rr.com are the coordinators. If you have questions/would like more information, contact one of the coordinators and/or come to Monthly Meetings. Family Promise of Ontario County meets monthly the second Monday of the month at various host churches. The meeting is from 6:00-7:30 p.m. You are always welcome there. The January meeting will be at Willowbrook Christian Church at 169 High Street in Victor on January 8 th.

4 4 Monthly Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business November 19, 2017 Attendance: Norm & Marion Cole, Mareike Larsen, Carol Nicholson, Jen Perry, Linda Doyen, Trish & Paul Eckert, Anne Gilson, Annie Bontrager, Jim Hendrix, Louise Smith, Jean Parker, Ed Golem, Jenni Welch, Pamela Hawkins. Announcement & Prayer Request: Edna Tadayo, Secretary of Friends Theological College and a friend of Getry Agiza, was shot and killed last night in Kenya. Please hold that community in the Light. Pastor s Report: Trish will be off the week between Christmas and New Year, returning January 2. Exploring re-apportionment of Meetinghouse space for various purposes. Clerks: Please inform Trish of upcoming events/meetings for the Events Calendar. M&C Report: Approved Trish s vacation request. Advent Booklets available next Sunday 11/26. Starting in January, on 1st Sundays, coffee/fellowship hour will follow worship. Christmas Program December 17 Children will take over Worship Assistant duties/offering. Nominations: M&C: Jenni Welsh & Jeff Parker until Meeting approved. Finance Committee: Barbara Popenhusen until Meeting approved. Finance Committee: Will a few members extend their commitment until 2019? Investments/Auditors: Dates for the rotation of members are needed. Nominating Committee: Paul Eckert until Meeting approved. Hospitality Committee: Marion Cole and Ellie Ellingham until Meeting approved. Communications Committee Renamed Social Media/Outreach Committee: Meeting approved. Dates of rotation requested, with no further approval required. Meeting approved. Friends Staff/Mailing Staff now task-oriented positions partnered with the SMOC. Anne Gilson approved as liaison to SMOC(Social Media and Outreach Committee). Peace & Social Concerns: Core members approved until 2020: Willie Bontrager (Clerk), Annie Bontrager, Judy Bovet-Egnor, & Mareike Larsen. House & Grounds: Marion Cole & Louise Smith. Meeting approved. No rotation dates listed. Norm Cole will serve as Clerk through January House & Grounds Status: Should it become a task-oriented group? Or remain a committee, in light of our upcoming work with Family Promise? If a task-oriented group, will there be a hierarchy of who to contact under specific circumstances? Norm Cole will discuss latitude, structure and rotation dates with current members and bring recommendation to the Meeting. Meeting approved. Music Committee: Now a task-oriented sub-group with a Coordinator and support people. Jean Parker will be Coordinator. Meeting approved. Quarterly Center Outreach Group: Mareike Larsen & Trish Eckert. Meeting approved. Trustees: Treasurer (Gardner Soule), House & Grounds (Norm Cole until January 2018), and Assistant Treasurer (Scott Parker). Meeting approved. MM Clerks: Meeting approved Jen Perry Co-Clerk 2018 & Mareike Larsen Recording Clerk House and Grounds Report: Contracted with High Peaks for snow plowing. Furnaces cleaned 11/29. Awaiting call from Suburban Propane re. the cookstove. Seeking volunteers to paint Trish s office Dec 6-7 or Dec Reminder to close doors behind you in the heating season, except the kitchen door into the education wing. Lift button must be held continuously for operation. Door opens automatically; please do not manhandle it.

5 Treasurer s Report: Many thanks to Jim Hendrix for his service. 5 Family Promise Update: Meets the 2nd Monday of the month from 6-7:30 PM. Opening postponed to Sept /4 of the funds are raised. Amazon Smile dedicates.05% of profits to listed non-profits. Family Promise of Ontario County is listed. Upcoming events are on their website. Clarification of FF Commitment to Family Promise from October 2016 Minutes: It is one-year contract, with four non-consecutive, self-chosen hosting week/year. Follow-up re: contract status for Missions Report: Missions Committee received $ in loose offerings for October for UNICEF. This brings the total to $ year-to-date. Missions holiday project is the Open Door Mission. We will collect coffee, creamer, sugar, & paper products for this organization. RE Committee Report: Sunday school meets 1 st and 3 rd Sundays. Plans for December 17 underway. State of Committees Discussion: Committees that have yet to submit a description of duties/purpose: Please submit soon. An updated document will circulate before the January MM for further discussion. Old Business: Should FF provide disability coverage for Trish? Finance Committee s input needed. Discuss in January. New Business: Rochester Meeting asked if FF willing to host Farmington-Scipio Winter Gathering Jan 20 from 8:30-4, providing continental breakfast at 8:30. Rochester Meeting to bring lunch (crockpots for hot food if the stove is still off.) The Meeting approved. Announcements/Reminders: Dec 24 10:00 AM: Semi-Programmed Service Carols & Meditation Dec 24 7:00 PM: Christmas Eve Service Requests for use of Meetinghouse in 2018: August 19 1:00 PM Onward: Anne Gilson- Baker Family Reunion. Meeting Approved. August 25 11:00-7:00: Linda Doyen for a Family Reunion. Meeting approved. Next Meeting: Sunday, January 28. No MM in December unless there is a call for Meeting.

6 Farmington Friends Calendar January 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 7 Silent worship 9:30 adult Sunday School 11:00 Worship; Sunday School during last ½ of worship 14 silent worship 9 a.m. bells practice; ring in church 11 a.m. worship Notes due for the Friend 21 silent worship 9:30 adult Sunday School 11 a.m. worship Sunday School during last ½ of worhsip 28 silent worship 9 a.m. bells practice 11 a.m.worship Monthly Meeting (rise of meeting) 1 Happy New Year!! May your blessings be many in Family Promise of Ontario Co. Willowbrook Christian Church 619 High St. Victor 6-7:30 pm Ministry & Counsel 6:30 p.m pm

7 Table of Contents Front Page Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 6 Birthdays Society/Upcoming Events Meeting Minutes Summary Calendar FARMINGTON FRIENDS CHURCH 187 County Road 8 Farmington, NY 14425