Fourth Month, 2004

QUERIES for the Fourth Month: Unity Within The Meeting

• 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 discern?

CALENDAR NOTES

• Help us welcome the newest member of our Quaker fellowship, Patricia Ulrey. Gene and Dick Beardsley have invited us to their home for Da Bin Low - Mongolian hot pot. Please bring a vegetable, chicken or shrimp for the hot pot, or dessert. Sign up at the Meetinghouse or call the Beardsleys. Patricia tells about herself:

  I was born in Nicaragua into a Catholic family. I have two adult daughters and I recently started my own business (and labor of love), elderly home care, Peaceful Sunsets. I started attending Annapolis, Maryland Meeting in the mid-eighties and later, the Ft Myers, Fl Meeting. I moved to Gainesville November 2002 and in February 2003 met Dick and Don at the corner of University and 13th St. while protesting the Iraq war. Both Friends invited me to Meeting. I haven't stopped coming since! Although I've been attending Quaker Meetings for some time, this past October I decided to apply for membership to Gainesville Meeting. I finally felt ready to commit my spirit to follow Quaker principles and to try to live my life in the light of Friends' testimonies. Silent worship is spiritually nurturing to me. I'm grateful to be a member of Gainesville meeting and for the welcome this meeting has given me. This is my spiritual home. You're my spiritual family. Peace on Earth

• Steve Blay, coordinator of Friends Across the Ages, will lead the forum.
• Michael Wajda is Associate Secretary of Friends General Conference and is coming here after SEYM. He plans to talk briefly about the work of FGC as well as facilitate spiritual sharing. Depending on what Friends want he may lead a session on resting into the arms of God or deepening meeting for worship. Place TBA.>
• The House and Hospitality Committee is sponsoring a workday to paint the exterior of the Meetinghouse in preparation for putting it on the market. This is an essential step toward making our dream of a new Meetinghouse come true because we are depending on the receipts from the sale of this property to help fund the new one.
• From the moderator, Don Smith: To prepare for the Bible Seminar I would like participants to read the book of Ecclesiastes in a modern translation.
• Come enjoy the hospitality of the Buskirks as we join in feasting, fellowship and spiritual nourishment. The topic this month is The Ripening of Quaker Worship, the 1997 Michener lecture by David Bills.
• This workday will be used to complete our painting project

MEETING NEWS

• Please hold Judy Shea, George Newkirk, Scott Minor, and Karen Tyson in the LIGHT as they meet health challenges
• Friends Across the Ages is dedicated to reaching out to residents of nursing homes, especially the lonely and forgotten. As the name implies, we attempt to establish true friendships with these individuals in order to enrich their lives and ours. Imagine for a moment what it would be to not have a friend. The need is desperate. In only one hour you can restore hope, dignity, and sense of belonging. You will be a connection to the outside world. In time, you will become a friend and confidant. You can eat dinner together, play cards or other board games, read to them, watch sporting events or other TV shows with them . Help them write a letter or go out on the porch for some fresh air and sunshine. FGA also sponsors special group events. This month there is a Mountain Dulcimer Concert, Irish Guitar Music concert, World Championship of Bingo, and Birthday celebration for all March birthdays. For more information go to http://www.acrosstheages.org or call 381-1117
• Laura Winefordner is our new Meeting treasurer and her previous offices have been taken by:
  • Membership Recorder: Annie McPherson
  • Corresponding Clerk: Marilyn Muller
  • Clerk of Finance Committee for New Meetinghouse: Betty Odum
  • Clerk of Ministry and Nurture Committee: Jeannie Buskirk
• On March 13, Friends from Gainesville and Jacksonville, met for worship, potluck and sharing at the Peace Education Farm. We walked the labyrinth, shared home-remedies, followed paths for hiking, nibbled on fresh strawberries and delicious vegetarian food, horseshoed, told delightful stories.....
• The Chain of Prayer with Earth-Heart Drum, Rattle and Song was a spiritual high. Their theme is treating earth and each other with love and respect. They use Native American chants and drums to express this. We had a great time. The Stone soup was delicious. Thanks Mona.
• ACTION ALERT! Many of us have a serious concern that there be a paper trail for the balloting in the upcoming elections. An effort is being made to let Glenda Hood, Florida Secretary of State know that this is very important. There is still time before the November vote to put printers in place in the 15 Florida counties that use touch screens. You can express your concern by E-mail: secretaryofstate@mail.dos.state.fl.us. Please ask this small effort of everyone you know who cares about an honest Election 2004.

• Proposed Trip to Nicaragua

  The Peace and Social Concerns Nicaragua sub-committee is planning a visit to Nicaragua to experience first hand the daily living of the average Nicaraguan person. We'd also like to define our interest and desire to help Nicaraguans through the work of Pronica and/or The New Haven/Leon Sister City. Tim Fogarty is in Nicaragua until July and he's working with Lillian Hall, Pronica coordinator, on the logistics of hosting a group from our meeting. A group of 10 is manageable in Nicaragua, considering transportation limitations and poor road conditions. In 10 days we could visit project(s) from both groups. For additional information please contact one of the Nicaragua sub-committee members: Tim Fogarty, Sheree Sims, Karen Porter, Rick Augfeld or Patricia Ulrey. The date is still to be determined. The cost of $600 will include accommodations, meals and transportation in Nicaragua, following Pronica's schedule. The cost of Airfare to and from Nicaragua, as well as Spirits, Souvenirs, and Any personal items, will be extra. .