The Farmington Friend

Transcription

1 The Farmington Friend VOLUME 70 NUMBER 10 FARMINGTON, NY October 2015 The Ultimate Forgiveness When you forgive, you love. And when you love, God s light shines upon you.! Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild One of the most powerful prayers in the midst of suffering I have read was uncovered from the horrors of Ravensbruck concentration camp. The prayer, found in the clothing of a dead child Ravensbruck was a concentration camp built in 1939 for women. Over 90,000 women and children perished in Ravensbruck, murdered by the Nazis. Corrie Ten Boom, who wrote The Hiding Place, was imprisoned there too. The prayer, found in the clothing of a dead child, says: O Lord, remember not only the men and woman of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all of the suffering they have inflicted upon us: Instead remember the fruits we have borne because of this suffering, our fellowship, our loyalty to one another, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown from this trouble. From Sermon Central When our persecutors come to be judged by you, let all of these fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.

2 ! Pastor Speaking Schedule 2015 Happy Birthday! September Darlene Farley October Melissa Moore October Anita Paul October Bill Drexler October Sally Soule November Jenni Welch November Sister Barbara Moore November Mennonite Central Committee - (either this date or the 29th) with Potluck - not confirmed November Rebecca Schillenbach wildandpreciouslife@gmail.com November Mennonite Central Committee (either this date or Nov. 15 th ) not confirmed December AFSC December Rebecca Schillenbach wildandpreciouslife@gmail.com - not confirmed December December Anita Paul NOVEMBER 2 Jillian Baker 3 Max Dailey 4 Robert Baker 4 Andrew Sharp 5 Jean Parker 5 Taylor Holmes 5 Hayden Smith 6 Isabelle Ceddia 8 Kathleen Stone 10 Oscar Fenster 11 Kathleen Suhr 13 Anne Gilson 13 Joshua Parker 13 Amelia Santy 14 Ruth Smith 14 Richard Walton, Jr. 17 Debbie Kimball 24 Abigail Ceddia 24 Ann Ledgerwood 24 Heather Trapiss 25 Donald Bay 25 Timothy Sharp 29 James Gardner 30 Adam Fenster FARMINGTON FRIEND STAFF Editor: Keith Egnor Co-editor Annie Bontrager Front Page: Kathy Dudarchik Society Editors: Margaret Baker, Jeanette Bay Treasurer: Scott Parker Address Labels: Susan Sharp Mailing Staff: Pat Ford (copying), Evelyn Sadler, 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:

3 Society October -- For brave New England, cut her some slack. It s true o er winter s length and cold she reigns, And climbing o er giant drifts, we show disdain. But other seasons bring her praises back. Here October s season is her own. Her bright blue skies with French blue flowers take us By surprise, increase our step and artists make us. October s reds and golds drift by well-known. No other time of year makes quite so certain That we will fall in love again or learn Our hearts have kept deep love inside. We yearn To drop our fears, as maples do a leaf-curtain. October s golden light is quite a feast. Gulping crisp air, we re tasting life at best. Judy Bovet Egnor Upcoming Events October 18th -- Following worship there will be an Un-Coffee Hour in the foyer. October 20th -- USFW. All are welcome. October 25th -- Adult Handbell Practice 9:00 AM. October 25th -- Monthly Meeting following worship Farmington Quaker Meetinghouse October 24th Ann Morton, "Archeology of a Quaker Village: Macedon Center, New York," Farmington Friends Meetinghouse, Saturday, 2:00 p.m. Co-sponsored with Town of Macedon Historical Society. October 31st Milton Sernett, "North Star Country Revisited," Farmington Friends Meetinghouse, Saturday, 2:00 p.m. Co-sponsored with Rochester and Monroe County Freedom Trail November 14th Ansley Jemison and Michael Taylor, "Lacrosse, Iroquois Nationals, and Haudenosaunee Identity," Farmington Friends Meetinghouse, Saturday, 2:00 p.m. Co-sponsored with Ganondagan Historic Site. From the Children s Message, October 11th, Anita Paul: A memory device for Quakers: SPICES Simplicity Peace Integrity Community Equality Stewardship

4 Meeting Minutes Summary Summary of Farmington Friends Monthly Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business Sunday, September 27, 2015 Meditation and Prayer Farmington Friends met for monthly meeting for worship with a concern for business Sunday, September 27, 2015, at the rise of programmed worship with sixteen (16) persons in attendance: Dianne Aldrich, Annie Bontrager, Willie Bontrager, Marion Cole, Norm Cole, Ellie Ellingham, Darleen Farley, Anne Gilson, Margaret Hartsough, Bea Kimball, Helen Kirker, Cyndi Marvin, Melissa Moore, Polly Nicholson, Jean Parker, and Barbara Popenhusen. We began our time together with Love Grows Here from one of our choir s recordings followed by prayer. Continuing Quaker Education Continuing Quaker Education this month dealt with sense of the meeting and consensus. Sense-of-the-meeting and consensus are often confused because they have in common a non-voting process. A primary difference between senseof-the-meeting and consensus is the sense-of-themeeting method consciously invites spiritual awareness and guidance while a consensus method usually does not. In a majority-rule model, the question is, How do we vote? In a consensus model, the question is, To what can we agree? In a sense-of-the-meeting model, the question is, How are we led? The meeting expresses loving concern and support for the following persons who are dealing with health issues related to aging, illness, or accident: Claire Aldrich, Kathy Dudarchik, Henry Kula, Polly Nicolson, Floyd Sheldon, and Robert Sheldon. We also continue to pray for Jessica Dudarchik as the time for the birth of her baby draws close. 4 We hold these Friends, their families, their caregivers, all who are struggling in any way, our world, and its need for healing and peace in the Light and in our prayers. We are happy to have Don Bay with us in worship recently. Treasurer s report The Meeting accepted the verbal report from Annie Bontrager. The checking account balance at the beginning of July was $9, and at end of July $8, At the end August the balance was $12, The offering for July and August of 2015 was higher than the same time period in We have invested $63,000 in Friends Fiduciary; this represents the combined fund, the missions fund, and the elevator fund. Our November investments will come from the memorial fund. The Meeting approved a 3.75% increase in our NYYM Covenant Donation from $7, to $ (+$294.00/year) Ministry and Counsel The Meeting accepted the verbal report from Willie Bontrager. Pulpit supply has been filled for October. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) will provide speakers in both November and December. Anita Paul will speak October 11 and again in December. M&C is planning for someone from Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to come to speak with an emphasis on what can be done to aid Syrian refugees. A request was made for speakers to coordinate with the organist(s) on hymn selection. The Meeting approved holding pot luck dinners on the Sundays that AFSC and MCC speakers are here. Members of M&C will pursue efforts to schedule the intergenerational workshop to be presented by Mike Clark and Chris DeRoller, Youth Directors at Powell House and the community building workshop to be presented by Ann Davidson, Executive Director of Powell House. Peace and Social Concerns The Meeting accepted the verbal report from Peace and Social Concerns brought by Annie

5 Bontrager. Peace and Social Concerns has chosen for its theme for the year: Community Building. As its first event, P&SC has planned a meeting-wide picnic on October 17 at Ononda Park on Canandaigua. The exact time has not yet been determined. The Meeting approved this date for the picnic. P&SC is planning another event at Ganondagan to take place in November. Annie Bontrager and Theresa Zabliski attended an organizational meeting regarding revitalizing the Good Neighbor Fund. The meeting approved continuing our current relationship with the Good Neighbor Fund. House & Grounds Norm Cole updated the meeting on ongoing projects of House and Grounds: -The bushes at the meetinghouse have been trimmed by Tim Sharp. -The old oil tank is drained, filled, and covered thanks to the work of Terry Moore and friends. --The new window has been installed in the office. Both bathroom ceilings have been replaced. -Total Comfort had not yet returned the call regarding the cleaning of the furnaces at the parsonage and the meetinghouse. - Lawn mowing at the parsonage will be done this week by Norm; someone is needed to do it for next two weeks. -Bids for snowplowing have been solicited. Rick Padgham has said he would get back to us; Mark Weinman will charge $75.00 per plow; a few other snowplowers will be asked. A big issue is what to do with the parsonage. The parsonage was left in good condition with a few pieces left in the garage which the next pastor may be able to use. The question is shall we continue to heat it or shall we have the utilities turned off. The meeting approved keeping the parsonage heated at a low temperature to prevent the pipes from freezing with House and Grounds assuming responsibility of checking on the building periodically to make sure all is well. The Meeting also approved discontinuing garbage pick-up at the parsonage and checking to see if we can temporarily put a hold on phone service at the parsonage without losing the phone number. 5 Religious Education Minutes The Meeting accepted the verbal report Anne Gilson brought for the Religious Education Committee. Rally Day was Sunday, September 6 with tables and exhibits with the curriculum to introduce people to the Sunday school year. Sunday School opening last Sunday was vigorous. Teachers are Dianne Aldrich nursery, Melissa Moore kindegarten through second grade, Anne Gilson third through sixth grade, and Dave Vale teens (recently that was three twelve-year-old boys) An Apple Farm outing is planned for October 4; Nance Simkin s donation to RE will be used to offset expenses for this outing. A follow up project from this outing will be making and freezing applesauce, which will then be taken to those who we don t see often. A Bible was presented to third-grader Oscar Fenster. December 13 has been selected as the date for the Christmas program and materials for it have already been ordered. Trunk-or-treat will not be held this year. Plans for activities over the December break are being considered. The committee was asked to check on the letter-writing to youth members of the meeting. Music The new keyboard has been assembled. All choirs senior, bell, and junior bells are up and running. The junior bell choir will play October 11. Library When John Fitzgerald was here to speak, he gave five copies each of two of his books to our library. The Interim Pastor Search Committee The Meeting accepted the verbal report from Ellie Ellingham, clerk of the interim search committee. The committee has tried to contact 7 or 8 potential interim pastors. The three who have replied are all busy. The remainder have not replied. The search committee s use of the Center for Congregation Health (healthychurch.org) allows the

6 committee to contact potential pastors directly so the process is slow but ongoing. The meeting thanks this committee for its ongoing efforts. The Meeting received the following written report: 6 Nominating Committee Nominating Committee has met once. The Meeting approved including in the minutes the announcement made by Nominating during today s programmed meeting for worship. (See next page)

7 7 Other Matters Turkey Dinner The Meeting approved sending a letter composed by the clerk of the meeting to people closely associated with the meeting from whom we usually solicit donations expressing our gratitude for past help, explaining why we have laid down turkey supper, and mentioning how helpful a donation would be.

8 Appreciation The Meeting expresses its appreciation to Tim Sharp for trimming the bushes here at the meetinghouse and to Terry Moore for his work on remedying the issues with the old and no-longer-used oil tank. Further, the Meeting thanks Nance Simkin for her continued support of RE and also thanks John Fitzgerald for speaking at Meeting for Worship and for the donation of five copies each of two of his books. Building Use The meeting approved the following requests for use of the building: -for the dedication of the historic site marker dedication October 10 -for Susan Sharp s wedding October 17; -for programs associated with the 1816 Quaker Meetinghouse and Museum on November 14 and December 02; -Fellowship Hall on Tuesdays from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. for Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB) puppy classes beginning January, Friends Historical Association The Meeting approved providing a meal Friday, May 20, 2016, for a group (30-40 persons) from the Friends Historical Associaiton (PA) as they tour sites in Central New York May 20-22, Announcements Dedication for the Farmington Quaker Crossroads Historical Site Marker The Meeting received the following invitation, which Margaret Hartsough brought to Meeting for Worship and to Monthly Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business today: The Farmington Historic Preservation Commission would like to invite the members of Friends Church to the dedication for the Farmington Quaker Crossroads Historic District site marker on October 10 th at 12:30 pm on County Road 8. Parking is on Sheldon Road. If someone from the Church wishes to represent the Church and say a few words at the dedication, please contact me at either farmhistorian@yahoo.com or call Thank you for your participation and support. Donna Hill-Herendeen Farmington Town Historian [This site is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.] Correspondence Wider Friends Community Dianne Aldrich, assistant clerk of the Meeting, called the Meeting s attention to the NYYM InfoShare site online. Other The Meeting received the following correspondence: -a thank you from Margaret and Christopher Webb for the support of the Meeting during her pastorate and for the going-away gift which they used for moving expenses and Teddy s preschool tuition. A copy of her last sermon and prayer/blessing is posted in the vestibule. -a thank you from Pamela Boy, Regional Coordinator for Guding Eyes for the Blind (GEB) Monroe Region for the use of Fellowship Hall and the outdoor area for puppy clasees. A picture of the Monroe Region s current pups on program is posted in the vestibule; -a thank you from the 1816 Quaker Meetinghouse and Museum for the use of our buildings with a monetary donation included; -newsletter from Palmyra and Macedon United Methodist Churches; and -information from Pendle Hill. Next Meeting Date We will meet for our next Monthly Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business at the rise of programmed worship, Sunday, October 25, 2015.

9 Farmington Friend November :00 Unprogrammed Worship 9:15 Junior Handbell Practice 10:00 Sunday School 10:00-11:00 Adult Bible Study 11:00 Worship 2 3 Noon AA 4 6:15 RE Meeting 7:00 Senior Choir :00 Unprogrammed Worship 9:00 Adult Handbell Practice 10:00-11:00 Adult Bible Study 11:00 Worship Friend Notes Due 9 10 Noon AA 11 7:00 Senior Choir :00 Unprogrammed Worship 9:15 Junior Handbell Practice 10:00 Sunday School 10:00-11:00 Adult Bible Study 11:00 Worship Noon AA 18 7:00 Senior Choir 19 5:30 P&SC at Judy Bovet- Egnor s :00 Unprogrammed Worship 9:00 Adult Handbell Practice 10:00-11:00 Adult Bible Study 11:00 Worship Noon AA Thanksgiving :00 Unprogrammed Worship 10:00-11:00 Adult Bible Study 11:00 Worship 30

10 Front Page The Ultimate Forgiveness Page 2 Pastor Speaking Schedule 2015/Birthdays Page 3 Society/Upcoming Events Page 4 Meeting Minutes Summary Page 6 Interim Pastor Search Committee Report Page 7 Nominating Committee Announcement Page 9 Calendar FARMINGTON FRIENDS CHURCH PO Box Farmington, NY The Grand Canyon, Sunset, July 2015