Eighth Month, 2004

QUERIES for the Eighth Month: CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• What are you doing as individuals or as a meeting to carry your share of responsibility in the government of your community, state and nation?
• Are you conscientious in fulfilling all obligations of state and society that are not contrary to the leading of God?
• Do you do all in your power to assure freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and equal educational opportunities for all?
• Are you free from the use of judicial oaths, thus emphasizing by simple affirmation that your statement is only a part of your usual integrity of speech?
• What are you doing as individuals or as a meeting to understand and remove the causes of war, and develop the conditions and institutions of peace?

CALENDAR NOTES

• Contrary to the printed newsletter, Quaker Study Group and potluck will be at the Porter's house in July. The topic will be the Pendle Hill Pamphlet The Atonement of George Fox by Emilia Fogelklou.
  

• Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. - - psalms 98:4-6

• ATTENTION FRIENDS! QUAKER MARKET needs YOU! Our Student Yard Sale needs:
  • Your "gently" used yard sale items
  • Your time to help on the sale day
  • Your delicious home-baked goodies
  Sign-up sheets are located on the back table. Please help us make this event a success. All proceeds go to our new meetinghouse. Questions?
  Contact Sheree, Betty or Patricia.

• The focus of the Bible Seminar in Aug. will be the Old Testament prophet Micah. Try to read it in advance.

• Join us for a celebration of Community. Enjoy the company of F/friends, delicious food, and the inspiration of Patricia Loring's "The Hidden Center and Outward Scaffolding of the Quaker Spiritual Community."

• Threshing a proposed section to SEYM's Faith and Practice: Establishing New Communities of Friends.

MEETING NEWS

We are saddened by the death of our beloved Reuben Keppel on Wed., July 4. He has been a source of inspiration in his steadfast commitment both to preserving the environment and to our Meeting. The memorial service was held Saturday, July 17 at the Chapel in the Village where he and his wife of 63 years, Virginia, have recently resided. His daughter, Margaret, and five grandchildren spoke, volunteers from Habitat for Humanity, former colleagues from the University of Florida, neighbors, and of course members of the Friends Meeting attended, many of them speaking. In the words of a F/friend, "The fullness of Reuben's life and the magnificent person he was was portrayed through the words of those who knew and loved him." Virginia and Margaret, we hold you in the LIGHT as you grieve your loss.

A Gainesville Monthly Meeting Cookbook is in the works! Sybil Brennan writes, "Please consider participating by sending up to 3 recipes to Sybil Brennan". The book is being dedicated to Judith S. Shea who was delighted by the idea when it was shared with her in a timely way for her June 15th Birthday. Judy's warmth and F/friendly hospitality has often been felt by our Meeting. The cookbook will be sold for the benefit of our new Meetinghouse.

From FCNL Capital Campaign:
We expect FCNL staff to return to "A Place just Right" for enduring Quaker witness for peace and justice on Capitol Hill by February 2005... We met or exceeded every goal of the campaign, on time, and on budget. ...We are forever indebted to you for your hard work in bringing this successful and special fund raising campaign to completion.

The Building Fund on May 31, 2004 was $164,194.81. On June 30, 2004 it was $168,967. The meeting for business on August 8 is very important for all members and attendees of Gainesville meeting. Morrie Trimmer will be in the Meetinghouse at 9 AM with the plans, when he will ask and answer questions in preparation for the 12:30 pm business meeting that the Finance and Budget committees will attend. Options which need to be discussed include whether to add a cupola to the roof, whether to have a wood floor, and whether to have the inside walls should have wallboard instead of bare concrete block.

Introducing ...

After hearing Hap Taylor talk in our book club about attending Quaker Meeting, I asked Hap if I could go along with her sometime. I did and have been attending ever since. Of all the religious communities I have been associated with, this feels the most right for me. I've been searching for a group who is religiously tolerant, who does not think they have the Truth but are seeking the truth, and who care about each other as well as about social issues. And you are so much more. Diversity of thought seems to be your middle name. I have a BA degree from U of F in Anthropology. Acknowledging that all cultures have their own religion(s), I have concluded it is like the blind men and the elephant. We all have a hold of the same elephant, just different parts. I believe tolerance and diversity is necessary for spiritual evolution.

I live on 9-1/2 acres about 3 miles north of La Crosse in the country approximately 20 miles from the meetinghouse. I work from home as a medical transcriptionist and I share my abode with my dogs, Sandy, Buddy and Serendipity, all of whom I rescued from uncertain fates. I enjoy riding my bike, reading, enjoying nature, taking community classes such as quilting and digital camera photography.

Thanks for being a channel for my spiritual growth.

Arlene