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AGATE PASSAGE FRIENDS MEETING Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business MINUTES, MAY 21, 2006 Seabold Hall,
OPENING: The Meeting opened with a reading from Faith and Practice on Meetings for Business by Ed Sheridan, Acting Clerk, followed by a few moments of silence.
PRESENT: Ed Sheridan, Acting Clerk, Diana Sheridan, Leyla Welkin, Millie Royce, Kathryn Keve, Barbara Morrison, Dorothy and Jim Rana-Meadows, Paul and Judith Larsen, Michael Moore, Eric and Virginia Hoyte
AGENDA: Approval of April, ’06 Minutes Treasurer’s Report Letters: to Grant, Ben and Toby Quaker 101 – Feedback Quaker Earth Care Quaker Witness – July 9th
MINUTES: The Minutes of the April 9 Meeting for Business, which included the, “State of the Meeting Report,” were approved as written in the copies given to those present with only a name spelling correction.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Michael Moore, our treasurer, told us that to date donations equal approximately 28% of our year’s budget, and that by the 5th month we should ideally have about 38% of what we will need for the year. A moderately increased level of gifts to the Meeting, he pointed out, will be needed to meet our 2006 projected expenses. ‘ ADVERTISEMENTS, PHONE LISTINGS: Our Treasurer explained to the group what advertisements we had been running to announce our presence on Bainbridge Island and in North Kitsap County, along with the time and place of our Meetings for Worship. After some discussion, those present agreed to approve of continuing a basic advertisement in three phone books, the exact wording to be at the Treasurer’s discretion,. A discussion followed about whether to use “Quaker” or “Friends.”
The Treasurer noted that we advertise in Friends Journal, and the question arose, Shall we subscribe to the Journal itself? The consensus was that we should order a two-year subscription for the Meeting that would be available on Sundays on the Library Table..
INTERGENERATIONAL WORSHIP: The so-nicknamed, “Kids Committee” or “First Day School Committee,” made it clear that they are concerned to serve the needs of the adult members/attenders as well as those of the children. They want to further, “the building of an intergenerational, spiritual community.” As a result of their discussions they have now come up with a new suggestion they have called, “The Middle Path.,” They are hopeful that this plan would both give the children the opportunity to get to know and learn from the older adults in the group, and at the same time would also allow for a silent Meeting for Worship on the Children’s Day Sunday once a month.
The First Day School Committee has concluded that it is important at this juncture to hear from as many members and attenders as possible about their needs for worship and community, including the “underneath needs” rarely talked about. They feel that the decisions we make now regarding intergenerational activities should take into consideration more than merely how to include the few children who attend once a month. They therefore have proposed the bigger group have a “threshing session” soon. They envision that at this session (or two) all of us would be invited to discuss our deeper needs for a spiritual community, plus intergenerational connections and how best to make these happen as a means of enriching young and old.. What does the Meeting really want and need, including underneath? These are the broader questions, and the Committee hopes that everyone in the meeting cares enough about this topic to come to a special “Threshing Session.”
The Business Meeting agreed with the Committee’s recommendations and chose to postpone Quakerism 101, now scheduled for June 11th at Barbara Morrison’s, and instead to plan the Thrashing Session for that afternoon, which would also include a potluck supper. The time-frame would be from 5:00 – 8:00 o’clock on that Sunday. …. Millie Royce also suggested that we each write out a statement about our principle concerns for and about Agate Passage Meeting and bring them to Barbara Morrison’s on the 11th..
SIGNING OF CARDS- Cards, purchased by Lisa Down, for Grant Smith, who has been ill, and our two graduates, Ben Speigle, and Toby Jacobrown were passed around and signed.
QUAKER 101 – FEEDBACK: The group expressed very positive reactions to the three Quaker 101 programs that have already taken place. Three or four people spoke to how stimulating they were and how much they learned. Several wanted us to consider continuing such talks and discussions as an adjunct to our other activities. It was agreed that Ministry and Council would talk about this as a possibility further. Business Meeting again thanked Ed Sheridan for organizing and making possible this recent Quaker 101 series.
QUAKER EARTHCARE WITNESS – JULY 9TH: This is a national organization and the Coxes, who will be visiting Michael Moore, would be open to meeting with Quakers from the region in an informal way around that time. Michael asked for official approval from the Meeting to go ahead with this at Diane Carle’s. Dorothy Rana-Meadows volunteered to help Michael Moore plan this gathering, and likely, it was hoped, Diane Carle would also agree to help plan the afternoon.
--- Ed Sheridan, Acting Clerk |
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