The Farmington Friend

Transcription

1 The Farmington Friend Margaret Webb, Pastor VOLUME 70 NUMBER 4 FARMINGTON, NY April 2015 For the Church at Work From illusions of grandeur From obeisance to power From vanity that demands notice From certainty that exterminates novelty From uncertainty that precludes action From neutrality that blesses what is From arrogance that speaks for others From dalliance that trivializes agony From advocacy that tinkers at transformation From cowardice during times of contention From capitulation to threats without and within From charity that perpetuates inequality From pity that precludes partnership From heroics that disintegrate democracy From procedure that prolongs injustice Awaken us in mercy Strengthen us in crucifixion Forge us in resurrection That we may give Though it make us insecure That we may depend Though it offend our pride That we may challenge Though it cost our reputation That we may hope Though it seems unreasonable That we may love Though scorn feels righteous That we may build Though tearing down be expedient That we may speak Though silence would be safer That we may venture Though we may not see the end. In the strong name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. Noelle Damico, PC(USA) Campaign for Fair Food Copyright 2009 Westminster John Knox Press

2 Margaret s Musings Happy Birthday! We are just beginning to see signs of spring here in Farmington. There are snowdrops in the yard at the parsonage and the grass is beginning to look greener. We pray that the snow that fell on Easter was the last snow of the year. There is something predictable and constant about the changing of the seasons. The changing of the seasons is a slow rhythm that Farmington, as a traditional farming community, has always been attentive to. The rhythm of the seasons mirrors the rhythm of life. Loved ones grow older. Sometimes we lose loved ones through death or separation. New babies are born and we make new friends. Our communities change and stretch and grow in ways that would have been unimaginable 10 or 20 years ago. Although we all know that life has seasons, just as the natural world has seasons, that does not lessen the pain of needing to let go or change when the time comes. I think often this time of year of scripture: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven... A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:1 &4) I pray for all of you what I pray for myself: that we be wise enough to recognize what season we are in and to embrace fully whatever we are experiencing in this season of life. Sermons on the Website Margaret Webb could be working a little magic. Did you see her slyly turn on her iphone voice recorder just before Sunday s message on March 8? Did you see her turn it off? I didn t see either and I was looking for this slight of hand! You can now hear that message on John 2, when Jesus cleanses the temple on the church website. The website committee managed to record several other sermons late in 2014 including our song-filled Christmas Eve Service. Now, with Magician Margaret s iphone trick I think we have solved the problems involved in recording and posting sermons for all to hear, or hear again as I often do. If you enjoy this service, or have other comments, the web committee would greatly appreciate hearing from you! MAY 1 Kathleen Raulli 5 Carol Rourke 6 Jacob Lloyd 7 Kenneth Walton 10 Anna DiDomenico 10 Ruth Kinsey 10 William Kipp 11 Brendon Travis 12 Martin Bontrager 13 Jeremy Parker 14 Jeanette Bay 14 Annabeth Lee 16 Edna Aldrich 21 Anthony Ceddia 21 Marion Cole 23 Anton Richmond 28 Karen Baker 29 Noah Melendy 30 John Ceddia FARMINGTON FRIEND STAFF Editor: Keith Egnor Co-editor Jeff Parker Front Page: Kathy Dudarchik Society Editors: Margaret Baker, Jeanette Bay Treasurer: Scott Parker Address Labels: Susan Sharp Mailing Staff: Dick McClurg (co-clerk), Pat Ford (copying), Evelyn Sadler, Margaret Hartsough, Lloyd Hartsough, Margaret Baker, Linda Doyen Leave articles in Meetinghouse folders or mail to the editor by the 2nd Sunday of the month. Mail: 193 Howell Street, Canandaigua, NY egnork@yahoo.com Telephone: February Treasurer s Report Income: $ Expenses: $ Cash Flow: ($ )

3 Society Baby Dedication Cole Thomas vander Velden was dedicated at Farmington Friends Meeting on April 5, He is the son of David and Jena vander Velden and the grandchild of Rudy and Diana vander Velden. Birth Announcement On April 3rd, Luke Alan Sadler was born to Shawn and Heather Sadler of Farmington, NY. The baby Luke is the great-grandson of Evelyn and Tom Sadler, and the first grandchild of Alan and Robin Sadler. Upcoming Events April 19th Presentation John Lindsay-Poland will be speaking after Meeting for Worship and Potluck on April 19th about U.S. involvement in Central and South America. He has extensive knowledge about militarism in South America, and the effects U.S. military aid and the war on drugs policy has on the population. He is being sponsored by Peace & Social Concerns. John Lindsay-Poland has written about, researched and organized action for human rights and demilitarization of US policy in Latin America for more than 30 years. From 1989 to 2014, he served the interfaith pacifist organization Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), as coordinator of the Task Force on Latin America and the Caribbean, as research director, and founded the FOR Colombia Peace Presence accompaniment team. He has authored books on this topic as well as articles, reports and books on U.S. military bases, policy, and history in Latin America. From 2003 to 2014, he edited a monthly newsletter focused on Colombia and U.S. policy, Latin America Update. Go To Page 8 - Militarism Watch Finger Lakes Camerata returns to Farmington Friends Church on Saturday, April 25 at 7:00 PM. Director Dennis Maxfield has put together a musical 3 program entitled: "Favorite Songs of Times Gone By." On the program are such favorites as the Stephen Foster classics: "Gentle Annie", "Oh! Susanna"and "Camptown Races." Other songs include "My Old Kentucky Home", "Shenandoah," and "Down In The Valley." Also included is an 1890s Medley arranged by the director. Pie will be served after Saturday's concert! Camerata's other Spring Concert will be on Sunday, April 26 at 3:00 PM at the United Church of Canandaigua. Ines Draskovic will be accompanying. May 17th Presentation On May 17th Getry Agizah, a Quaker woman from Kenya who is the Coordinator of the Friends Church Peace Teams in Kenya, will be giving the sermon, and a talk after Meeting for worship. She is being sponsored by Peace & Social Concerns. She will also be attending Spring Gathering on the 16th. Autobiographical Sketch, by Getry Agizah The longer I am involved in this peacemaking work the more I am aware of the spirit s presence, of the many ways that God is at work in and through people s conflicts. Even the time when sin and evil are clearly present, I find the spirit breaking through in amazing ways. Indeed I am finding that the rocky soil of conflict is fertile soil. The connection of human spirit through deep listening, dialogue and entering into experience of another, the healing and restoration of a relationship, the emergence of a new trust and commitment, the retrieval of justice all call to and emerge from, the deepest part of us. They connect us in new ways to the mystery of life. They demand and produce vulnerability and risk to awaken and enliven us. My name is Getry Agizah Anguva, a 33 years old active and enthusiastic adult. I work as the Coordinator of the Friends Church Peace Teams in Kenya. I am married to Mr. Joseph Thuita and have two children, Dennah Khasiala, 10 years old, and Daniel Njuguna, 2 years old. I am a seventh born in a family of nine. I was born a Quaker and lived all my life as a Quaker. Being a Quaker, my ministry of peacebuilding has given me a strong background understanding why Quakers have been known as a Peace Church. Go to Page 7 - Speaking Topics

4 Meeting Minutes Summary Farmington Friends Monthly Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business March 22, 2015 Meditation and Prayer Farmington Friends Monthly Meeting with a Concern for Business met Sunday, March 22, 2015, at the rise of worship with the following persons (12) attending: Dianne Aldrich, Annie Bontrager, Willie Bontrager, Marion Cole, Norm Cole, Linda Doyen, Darleen Farley, Anne Gilson, Cyndi Marvin, Carol Nicholson, Polly Nicholson, and Jean Parker Marion Cole, clerk of the Meeting, opened with a reading from Jim Beggs s To a Friend followed by a time of silent reflection and prayer. Minutes of the previous Meeting No corrections or changes were noted. Health of the Meeting We joyfully welcomed Bea Kimball to meeting for worship. We lovingly hold Carrie Donato, Jessica Dudarchik, Kathy Dudarchik, Bea Kimball, Helen Kirker, Gerry and Dick McClurg, and Marion Milne in the Light. We are pleased to learn that Floyd Sheldon is doing well and will be worshipping with us again in the near future. Pastor s Report In the pastor s absence today, Marion Cole highlighted the pastor s report: continued pastoral visits in person and by phone, continued leadership work for the ecumenical Easter service, completion of the Quakerism 101 class, assisting people in need with referrals, contributing information to Spark and Quaker life, attending committee meetings, and clergy council. The Meeting accepted this verbal report. Treasurer s report The Meeting accepted the verbal treasurer s report, which Annie Bontrager gave. Total income for February, 2015, was $ and total expenses were $ She clarified the question carried over from last month s monthly meeting regarding 4 the check to Michele Finley; the check was for fire services, water drainage, and similar services at both the meeting house and the parsonage. Standing Committee Reports: Ministry and Counsel Willie Bontrager gave the report for M&C with an update on the clerking workshop for April 18; Sophia Circle meets first and third Saturdays from 2-4; young families potluck will be laid down if there is not sufficient interest on March 28. The Meeting previously approved the transfer of Jen Perry s membership from Rochester Monthly Meeting to Farmington Friends. However, Griffin Perry s request was for full membership even though he is not a member anywhere else. Ministry and Counsel is working with Jen and Griffin about Griffin s desire to have a Clearness Committee before his membership is finalized. The Meeting accepted the verbal report given. The meeting received and approved the following 2014 State of Society report as amended during the Meeting was a year for many opportunities that helped us to grow and stretch. Welcome continues to be central to our life together and we continue to focus on providing a loving and compassionate space to all members and attenders of our community. Music continues to be central to our faith lives and our community life together. This year we again hosted several community events including Trunk or Treat, our annual Harvest Supper, an ecumenical sunrise Easter service, and an ecumenical Christmas choral service. As is our tradition, we held two services this past year that were designed and lead by our youth and two services that were primarily music and scripture (Mostly Music Sunday in May and our Christmas Eve service). In the spring of 2014, we held several called meetings to help us discern how to move forward with providing intentional space for unprogrammed worship. We came to unity around establishing an hour long unprogrammed service every Sunday from 8-9am. We are in the process of building a new bench for our Meeting room that will help provide Friends

5 who gather for unprogrammed worship a comfortable space. This past year we have welcomed two new families into membership and at least 8 new attenders. We have celebrated 3 baby dedications: Ella Grace Melendy and our pastor s son Theodore Webb and our pastor s new baby, Claire Webb. Our pastor, Margaret Webb, was away on maternity leave for a month in the fall and during her absence a number of members of the Meeting lead worship. This provided the Meeting with a refreshing opportunity to hear from some new voices during worship. Since our last State of the Meeting report, Farmington Friends has started several new projects and hosted several new events. In the fall, we held an intergenerational AVP workshop and a correlating programmed service around nonviolence and peace. We finished designing and have begun utilizing our new website through Quaker Cloud. The website includes information about Meeting events, a statement about what we believe as a Meeting, information for newcomers, a statement from the teen group as well as audio recordings of Margaret s weekly sermons. The website has already helped us to attract a number of new attenders and we are excited about building a vibrant online presence. The Meeting gathered study snacks and letters of encouragement for finals gift packages for the young adult members who are in college. We have also continued to hold uncoffee hours frequently at the rise of programmed worship. The Meeting s committees take turns hosting our un-coffee hour and we have found that this provides us with a wonderful opportunity for regular fellowship time after worship without putting too much of a burden on any one committee or person. After the start of the new year, the Meeting has begun hosting monthly potlucks for families with young children and we have also started a twice monthly group for women to gather and talk about issues around gender, feminism, social justice and spirituality. This winter we have offered a six week Quakerism 101 class centered around Philip Gulley s book Living the Quaker Way. The class has included 25 participants including a number of teenagers, new attenders, new members and life-long Quakers. 5 The year has also seen the laying down of some projects including the weekly writing group which was laid down in August and the monthly potlucks at the parsonage which came to an end in July at the end of Margaret s first year as pastor. Love continues to be central to our spiritual identity as a Meeting. We are always looking for new ways to spread God s Love to everyone whom we encounter and new ways to grow our loving relationship to each other and to God. Unprogrammed worship offers many members of our community the opportunity to seek God s Loving Spirit in the silence and listen for the Still Small Voice amid the chaos of life. Programmed worship offers us an opportunity for us to express our love for God through song and prayer and an opportunity for us to learn how to better love God and love each other by engaging with scripture. All of our worship opportunities offer us the chance to come together as an intentionally intergenerational community and welcome with love, newcomers and familiar Friends alike. Peace & Social Concerns The Meeting accepted the report given by Annie Bontrager for P&SC: The Committee approved the allocation of funds to Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Partners in Restorative Initiatives (PIRI), and National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT). John Lindsay Poland will be here April 19 to speak on issues of peace in Colombia and Getry Agizah on May 17 to speak on peace projects in Kenya. The Meeting approved the use of the education wing for potlucks April 19 and May 17. Mennonite Central Committee canning project will be taking place March 30 April 2. The Bontrages are going on April 1; if others are interested they should let them know. The auction for the Good Neighbor Fund will likely take place in the fall. Missions -- Monthly Meeting did not receive a report from Missions Committee. House & Grounds The Meeting accepted the following verbal report from Norm Cole for House and Grounds: the Meetinghouse is still without water; some ceiling

6 damage from ice dams has been noted in the bathrooms The benches for unprogrammed worship are nearly complete. Spring cleanup will be coordinated with the town clean up possibly May 2. Opening and cleaning lists are posted up and down Religious Education Anne Gilson gave the report for RE which the meeting accepted: the Easter egg hunt is scheduled for Easter Sunday, April 5. Youth Sunday/ Sundae Sunday is set for June 14. An will be sent about Easter Sunday activities and a possible bowling activity April 19. Carol Nicholson and Kathy Dudarchik will attend Playing in the Light at Powell House March Music -- Monthly Meeting did not receive a report from the Music Committee. Library The Meeting received the following report from the Library Committee: The Library committee will start regular meetings soon. The committee has some decisions to make concerning the overflow of books. We need more shelf space possibly in other parts of the church. We will sort through books and decide what to keep or give away. Library Committee Clerk Jeanette Bay Old Business: The Meeting received and accepted the following report from the Spring Gathering Coordinating Committee 2015: March 22, 2015 SGCC2015 has met several times, and we have accomplished the following things: We have established the theme for the weekend: Only a Verb Will DO: Peace, Love, and Justice as Action We have secured our plenary speaker Nick Rozard, Alfred Monthly Meeting, who will address how he came to his leading to work on the design and production of ceramic water filters for the developing world, how his leading and his work have been supported by the Quaker community, the 6 work in which he is currently engaged, and the technical aspects of the work. A save-the-date flyer has been published online and is printable and available for distribution. The registration form is available both as a paper form to be used and as a form to be completed online. At Winter Gathering, the Farmington-Scipio Regional Meeting approved our request to change from a fee-based method of financing Spring Gathering to a donation based model. Persons attending Spring Gathering are invited to donate what they can afford rather than having the individual s cost be based on accommodation choice and number of meals. NEYM experimented with this model last year with considerable success. Workshops/interest groups are in development. ARCH Being Mortal Really?; Israeli/Palestinian relations Deborah and Ted First; Blended Learning Keith Blackburn; Earth Care Margaret McCaslands and Liseli Haines; Roots of Iniquity, Seeds of Change Susan Wolf. We have reached out or will soon reach out to some members of our Meeting for help with preparing the community agreements, with help in the healing center, with an origami crane project, and for help in preparing ways for attenders at SG to relate their experiences to NYYM s priorities. We have contacted person(s) to lead Bible study. We are involved with securing a contradance band and caller for Saturday evening. And we have scheduled a visit to Watson Homestead for March 23. Cyndi Marvin, Darleen Farley, Dianne Aldrich, Kathy Dudarchik, and Margaret Webb Reminders: Finger Lakes Camarata - April 25, 2015, 7:00 PM; Guiding Eyes for the Blind Puppy Foundations Class - 3/23 and 4/20; Easter Sunrise Service 6:30 A.M. The Meeting did not receive any additional information regarding Hosting Unprogrammed Extended Meeting The Meeting had no new business to conduct.

7 Other concerns A member brought up a concern about the archiving of our minutes from the summary in the Friend. The matter was laid over to the next monthly meeting. The recording clerk will check on how our minutes have been archived in the past and how we might go forward. Correspondence NYYM Spring Sessions will meet April at Oakwood Friends School, Poughkeepsie, NY Contradance at Perry City Friends Meeting, March 28, Our meeting is urged to support our Friends at Perry City. Next Meeting Date: April 26, 2015 Speaking Topics - Getry Agizah 1. Responding and Healing from Deadly Conflict: From 2006 to 2008 a rebel movement called the Land Sabaot Defense Force (SLDF) on Mt Elgon on the border of Kenya and Uganda led to over 600 deaths and the displacement of about 100,000 people. This is an area that has rich soil that produces enough food to supply the whole country if there is peace. Friends Church Peace Teams has been doing Healing and Rebuilding Our Community (HROC), mediation, and Alternatives to Violence (AVP) workshops to the residence of Mt Elgon since 2007 in order to restore peace and reconciliation to the community. 2. My Journey as a Peacemaker -- Standing in the midst of conflict, being present, and listening to the power within: I attended my first AVP workshop in 2003 when I was 21 years old. It turned my life around, leading me to realize that peacemaking was my calling. I lived through the 2008 post election violence in my home town of Kakamega, but then organized 250 workshops, mostly working with youth, dealing with the aftermath of the violence. Friends Church Peace Teams (FCPT )was formed from this conflict and in 2009 I became its coordinator. 3. Friends Church Peace Teams -- Kenyan Quaker involvement in Peacebuilding: Friends Church Peace Teams (FCPT) was organized at the end of January 2008 during the post election violence. It immediately responded with humanitarian assistance to those not served by the Red Cross. Listening sessions were held in Turbo Division, hard hit by the violence. First we listened to the victims and then in seven additional sessions to the perpetrators of the violence. FCPT programs include Alternative to Violence (AVP), Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities (HROC), listening sessions, transformative mediation, community dialogues, and non-violence movement for social change. 7 USFW Meeting The March meeting of USFW was held at the church, hosted by Dick and Carol Deys. They were greeted with a beautiful table arrangement with yellow tablecloths, flowers, and platters of fruit, vegetbles, cheese and crackers, sandwiches, and desserts and candy. After the delicious food they settled in silence. The program was the video Take Joy, the life of Tasha Tudor, a children s author and illustrator. It was a beautiful movie showing her life and writing experiences. This was an excellent program very worth seeing. Carol also had several of her books available. Carol closed the program with an inspirational reading. We had a short meeting -- minutes, treasurer s report, health of the meeting. We agreed to give $25 to a charity of our choice. Our next meeting will be on April 21st with Rosemarie Brehm as our hostess. Notice of Passing Richard Padgham As a result of an automobile accident, Richard Padgham of Farmington passed away on Friday, April 3, His wife Marilyn suffered minor injuries and is at home with family. Richard was predeceased by his parents, James and Miriam Padgham, and was the brother of Evelyn Padgham Sadler. Geraldine C. McClurg Geraldine "Gerry" C. McClurg of Farmington passed away on Monday, April 6, 2015 at age 81. She is survived by her husband Richard McClurg, and her daughters, Kathleen Dudarchik, Carol (Dave) Rourke and Colleen (Keith) Horan.

8 Militarism Watch An invitation to activists, scholars and journalists From John Lindsay-Poland (Updated 4 February 2015) There is a widespread need, not just for information about militarism and its many manifestations, but for collective skills in how to conduct research for such information and effectively use it for actions that address militarism s diverse negative consequences. This is the set of needs that Militarism Watch will seek to fulfill. The strategic use of research for effective journalism, for social change and for academic investigation requires more than information. Militarism Watch will ask those who have done research on aspects of militarism to share their process and the methods they used to acquire information and learn its significance. I envision not only the creation of online tools, curricula, and guides, but spaces in which participants teach and learn how to use such tools, such as workshops, webinars, skills exchanges, and strategy sessions. Some of these tools and workshops will be integrated with broader programs to build capacity for organizing and advocacy. The scope of militarism proposed so far is our nation s pervasive preparations for and use of armed force, of guns, of physical coercion, and of warfare to address conflict and to impose the will of the state on citizens and other actors at home and abroad. It includes the Pentagon, police departments, DHS, Dept. of Energy, Border Patrol, drug enforcement, prisons, and intelligence agencies. Scholars who care about peace, war, and its consequences, and peace and justice activists who wish to be effective have a critical need in common: to research and understand militarism in its many forms. To effect change in the militarization of the United States and other countries, activists and campaigners need to know how militarization is working, about potential allies, and history, and what are potential obstacles, and how the money flows. Journalists, for their part, often rely on activists, whistleblowers, official sources, and academics for their material, while activists need investigative 8 journalism for information and its dissemination to the impacted and responsive public. We know that academics, journalists, and activists often don t talk with each other. They speak different languages, confront different institutional requirements, and work on different timelines. Yet many activists want their campaigns to be better informed by research and more strategic. Journalists often need information that activists have, and viceversa. And many young scholars seek ways to apply their disciplines and skills to serve social change. This project also aims to bridge these communities and construct a platform that facilitates collaboration between them. Some possible services of Militarism Watch: Train activists in how to draw on existing research tools, databases, and people with relevant knowledge; and how to use information about aspects of militarism effectively Develop and facilitate skills collaborations between scholars and specific activist campaigns Serve as a clearinghouse to connect people with specific skills to campaigns Support collaborations between journalists covering military issues and activists who have both firsthand information and an interest in media attention to the issue Support alliances between efforts U.S. activists and researchers and campaigns in other nations that are affected by U.S. militarism and can use research findings to address it Choose specific movements in which to support a strategic research capacity that is accountable to those movements: e.g. Black lives matter; drug policy reform; others Develop support among funding organizations for strategic research capacity, so that those with skills to offer can be compensated for their labor and campaigns don t need to draw resources from other parts of their work Help organizations develop research leadership and appreciation for strategic use of knowledge - support for researchers who may be introverted, techie; guide researchers to channel their research energies in directions strategic to the group or movement.

9 Farmingtonn Friend May :00-4:00 Sophia Circle Group Meets 3 8:00 Unprogrammed Worship 10:00 Sunday School All Age Groups 10:00-11:00 Adult Bible Study 11:00 Worship 4 5 Noon AA 6 6:15 RE Meeting 7:00 Senior Choir :00 Unprogrammed Worship 9:00 Handbell Practice 10:00 Sunday School Youth Group 10:00-11:00 Adult Bible Study 11:00 Worship Friend Notes Due Noon AA 13 7:00 Senior Choir :00-4:00 Sophia Circle Group Meets Farmington-Scipio Spring Gathering 17 8:00 Unprogrammed Worship 10:00 Sunday School All Age Groups 10:00-11:00 Adult Bible Study 11:00 Worship Getry Agizah Talk following Meeting Noon AA 6:30 Ministry & Counsel 20 7:00 Senior Choir 21 6:00 Peace & Social Concerns Farmington-Scipio Spring Gathering 24 8:00 Unprogrammed Worship 9:00 Handbell Practice 10:00 Sunday School Youth Group 10:00-11:00 Adult Bible Study 11:00 Worship Monthly Meeting on Rise from Worship 25 Memorial Day 26 Noon AA 27 7:00 Senior Choir :00 Unprogrammed Worship 10:00 Sunday School All Age Groups 10:00-11:00 Adult Bible Study 11:00 Worship

10 Front Page For the Church at Work Page 2 Margaret s Musings/Sermons on the Website/Birthdays/ Treasurer s Report Page 3 Society/Upcoming Events Page 4-7 Meeting Minutes Summary Page 7 Speaking Topics - Getry Agizah/USFW Meeting/ Notice of Passing Page 8 Militarism Watch - John Lindsay-Poland Page 9 Calendar FARMINGTON FRIENDS CHURCH 140 Church Ave. Farmington, NY Purple Shamrock Blossoms