Fourth Month, 2006
QUERIES for the Fourth Month: Are love and unity
maintained among you?
- Do you manifest a forgiving spirit and a care for the
reputation of others?
- When differences arise are endeavors made to settle them in
a spirit of love?
- Are you patient and considerate towards those whom you find
it hard to like or understand?
- Do you respect that of God in each one, though it may be
expressed in unfamiliar ways or may be difficult to
Advice for the Fourth Month:
- Try to maintain love and unity by avoiding tale-bearing and
detraction, and by settling differences promptly, in a manner
free from resentment and all forms of inward violence.
- Listen patiently, and seek the truth another person's
opinion may contain for you. Be ready to receive counsel and
help from one another.
- Seek to know one another in the things that are eternal,
and to enter with ready sympathy and sensitive discretion into
the joys and sorrows of each other's daily lives.
CALENDAR NOTES
- First-Day School: With our move into the new
meetinghouse, lessons on American Quaker history have begun for
children between the ages of seven and thirteen. Please come
join us at 11:15 in the library. We are still getting to know
each other and what we like to do, so we can plan activities.
We are going to be looking at some Quakers in American history
starting with William Penn, and thinking up fun ways to share
what we know with others in the meeting.
- Friendly Lunch at Books Inc., at
11:30 a.m. For further information, contact Betty Odum, Gene
Beardsley, or Laura Winefordner.
- Sushi Specialties for Quaker Market
Dinner! Come enjoy the April Quaker Market Dinner at 6 p.m. on
April 9 at Gene and Dick Beardsley's house. The menu will be
sushi rolled by Quakers (sans raw fish), Miso broth with
scallions, steamed fresh vegetables with chicken or tofu on
noodles, and fresh fruit with lime. Quaker Market dinners are a
fundraising effort for the new meetinghouse. Suggested
donations are $10.00 per adult, $5.00 for children over 5 years
old, and free for those under 5.
- Quakerism 101 is a class for people
who already know a little about Friends and would like to learn
more, but don't want to be overwhelmed. We will meet on the
second "First Day" of the month at the meetinghouse in the
library. We will use 4 books which you may want to buy ahead of
time: Friends For 300 Years, by Howard Brinton; George Fox's
Journal; Encounter With Silence, by John Punshon; and A
Testament of Devotion, by Thomas Kelly. You can buy these books
on-line from Friends General Conference at www.QuakerBooks.org.
or call 800-966-4556. If you want, you can buy one each month
in the order cited. We will use a 101 curriculum by
Philadelphia, but not strictly. In fact, it is often better to
follow a line of questioning that arises out of the discussion.
Ask Connie Ray for more information.
- Spring Creek Cleaning: It is time for our
spring cleanup of the Royal Park Creek and its watershed. We
will work from 9:00-11:00 a.m. on April 22 during Creeks Week
in Gainesville. Wear long loose light clothing, a hat, and
gloves and be on the look out for poison ivy.
- The Quaker Study Program continues
to focus on the Testimonies with a look at our Peace Testimony.
The readings for discussion are Howard Brinton's Friends For
300 Years, pp. 159-170, and George Lakey's 2004 Michener
Lecture, "New Theory: Old Practice." See Jeannie, Phil, or
anyone who has been before for directions or a ride. Potluck
supper is at 6 p.m.; the discussion will follow. Everyone
(member, attender, new-comer) is welcome. (Buskirk's phone:
591-0677)
Some of us asked Don for the complete lyrics to the song he
quoted from during meeting for worship on March 13. The
songwriter is Ken Medema, a blind Christian pianist whom Don
considers one of the prophetic voices of our time.
If This is Not a Place
If this is not a
place where tears are understood
Then where shall I go to cry?
And if this is not a place where my spirit can take wings
Then where shall I go to fly?
I don't need another place for trying to impress you
With just how good and virtuous I am - no, no, no.
I don't need another place for always being on top of
things.
Everybody knows that it's a sham - it's a sham.
I don't need a place for always wearing smiles
Even when it's not the way I feel.
I don't need another place to mouth the same old
platitudes.
Everybody knows that it's not real.
So if this is not a place where my questions can be
asked
Then where shall I go to seek?
And if this is not a place where my heart-cry can be
heard
Where, tell me where, shall I go to speak?
I don't need another place for trying to impress you
With just how good and virtuous I am - no no, no.
I don't need another place for always being on top of
things.
Everybody knows that it's a sham - it's a sham.
I don't need a place for always wearing smiles
Even when it's not the way I feel.
I don't need another place to mouth the same old
platitudes.
You and I both know that it's not real.
So if this is not a place where tears are understood
Where shall I go, where shall I go to fly?
MEETING NEWS
Introducing Bronwyn Lee Hall
"We are now the proud
parents of a 9-pound baby girl, born last night at 11:58 pm.
(March 16). It was a perfect home birth, with awesome midwives
and great support from Phil and my sister Sara. We should be out
and about to show her off by the beginning of next month. We are
so proud!!"
Marylynn Hall
Gift Wrap that Keeps on Wrapping
Would you like to use an
"evergreen" recyclable gift bag instead of wrapping paper? Bags
in various fabrics for various occasions are now available. The
largest sizes are about 12" square. Other sizes and fabrics can
be arranged. Contact Laura. Contributions requested for the bags
vary somewhat depending on size and price of fabric. All
contributions go toward our building fund.
Laura W.
Marriage of Eddie Atkinson and Crystal Taylor
Eddie
Atkinson (son of member Nancy Atkinson) and Crystal Taylor (now
Atkinson) were married on February 4, 2006, at the Austin Horse
Park in Weirsdale, Florida. The wedding was held outside in
chilly, but otherwise perfect weather. The bride arrived with her
father in a horse-drawn carriage. Eddie graduated Magna Cum Laude
from FSU in December; he majored in philosophy and physics.
Crystal graduated from FSU in August; she majored in art. They
are both teaching mathematics at Bellevue High School where Nancy
is a music teacher. Eddie plans to attend graduate school to work
on advanced degrees in physics.
Newsletter Submissions Sought
Is there a book that
changed your life? How did you become a Quaker or why did you
remain a Quaker? The Gainesville Friends Meeting would like
attenders and members of the meeting to consider submitting items
for the newsletter, including book reviews and information about
yourself or your families (including your own personal Quaker
history). For submissions, please email Catherine Puckett,
Gainesville Friends Meeting Newsletter editor at
catherinepuckett-at-bellsouth-dot-net
A Concern
Friends, we have one precious hour for meeting
for worship each Sunday. It saddens me that so many people come
from 5 to 20 minutes after the 11:00 start of the meeting.
Settling into worship usually takes some time and interruptions
can be disturbing. Another concern is that our children rarely
get to experience a settled meeting. One of our Queries asks us
whether we attend meeting punctually. Let's try.
Laura Winefordner
Interfaith Vigil of Remembrance
The Interfaith Vigil of
Remembrance on March 19, 2006, marking the third anniversary of
the invasion of Iraq, was attended by some Gainesville Friends
Meeting attenders/members, including Don Smith, Tom Clark, Arlene
Epperson, Karen Arrington, and Tim Fogarty. The participants in
the vigil sang songs, said prayers, and observed silence. There
was a ritual of ashes, stones, and flowers in memory of all
victims of war and terrorism in which participants renewed their
commitment to peace. An affirmation adapted from Archbishop
Desmund Tutu was sung:
Goodness is stronger than evil;
Love is stronger than hate;
Light is stronger than darkness;
Victory is ours; victory is ours,
Through Him who loves us.
Yearly gathering of Southeastern Yearly Meeting
The gathering will be held April 12-16, 2006, in Leesburg. The
theme of the gathering is "Here I Am, Lord," taken from Isaiah.
There will be 14 workshops, including Pam Haigh's "Worship
Shearing." (Grow your hair! Pam will cut it and the proceeds go
to her hairdressing school in Nicaragua.) Other highlights of the
meeting are Herb Haigh presenting up-to-date information on
Medicare, an Interest Group called "Nurturing Peacemakers in our
Communities," and Barbara Wolfe leading knitting activities. Alan
Schmalstig reported that the Youth Program will have "The History
and Structure of Quakerism" as its theme. Dan and Susan Vaughn
will talk to the youth about some historical Quakers, and the
youth plan to hold a mock business meeting. They will watch the
movie, "Friendly Persuasion," and discuss the Quaker testimonies
that they found in it. The youth plan to help out with the Wee
Friends and simple meals, and to interview adults as if we are
famous, historic Quakers. Winter Interim Business Meeting
expressed the hope that the clerks of monthly meetings will
attend the yearly meeting business sessions. Clerks of monthly
meeting Ministry and Worship, and Peace and Social Concerns
committees should attend the interim business meetings.
Administrative Secretary
The Executive Committee brought
a minute to WIBM worded something like this: The Administrative
Secretary's hours are to be increased to 40 hours a week in order
to handle the following responsibilities: closely managing the
web site, substituting for committee clerks who are not able to
do their own jobs, publishing both major lectures, filling in
where no one volunteers to take on needed jobs, and being aware
of what other meetings are doing so that one person or meeting
can be put in touch with another to get a concern or project
going; and as monthly meetings and worship groups we agree to
support this as we are able. This minute was agreed to and it
will be brought to yearly meeting for final approval. This will
mean an increase of 18.5% in the salary. Gainesville Monthly
Meeting was well represented with 5 of us there, and our views
were expressed. Everyone agreed to try to cover our meeting's
share of the increase in assessment for next year.
- Connie Ray
SEYM Budget
Caroline Lanker reported that monthly
meetings contributions are on track, but individual donations are
down. Eight people have given about $100 each. The budgeted
amount was $2,500. If everyone would give a little bit, we could
meet our budgeted amount.
- Connie Ray
Nominating Committee
Volunteers are needed to represent
SEYM to other Quaker organizations: American Friends Service
Committee, South East Regional Organization; Florida Council of
Churches; Friends Peace Teams (Africa); and Friends World
Committee for Consultation. Being an FWCC representative is
expensive, since there is travel every year. The Triennials are
partially paid for. This year the Triennial is being held in
Guatemala. If you are a representative to FWCC, you should ask
your monthly meeting for 1/3 of your travel expense and the
yearly meeting for another 1/3.
Announcements: Sarasota Monthly Meeting has retired its
mortgage after only two years. Ruth Hyde Paine will be moving to
a Friends retirement center in California. Pam Haigh will be the
new president of Pro Nica.
To volunteer or contribute financially to the work of
SEYM, contact Lyn Cope, Administrative Secretary SEYM,
admin@seym.org
- Connie Ray
"This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the
animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks,
stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor
to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have
patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to
nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go
freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and
with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air
every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you
have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss
whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a
great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words
but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the
lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body
. . . . "
Walt Whitman
Catherine Puckett, editor
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