NEW GARDEN FRIENDS MEETING

 

FOUNDED 1754 - 255 YEARS OF
CONTINUOUS QUAKER MINISTRY IN THE
NEW GARDEN/GREENSBORO COMMUNITY
 
8th Day, 11th Month, 2009

 

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10:30 – 11:00 a.m. - Silent worship in the MEETING ROOM

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11:00 a.m. - SEMI-PROGRAMMED MEETING FOR WORSHIP

 

At any given time today in America, there are about half a million people who are "homeless" -- they don't have a “permanent, safe, decent, affordable place to live.” Around the world there are about 100 million homeless people, and many of them are women and children. 

Robert Alan

 

Each item in the order of worship arises out of the silence that encompasses the whole hour of meeting for worship. As Quakers, we value these quiet moments in the presence of God and our gathered congregation.

 

WORSHIPFUL MUSIC                                  Music of J. S. Bach

     

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS           

 

HYMN NO. 22                                    “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”

 

READING      James 2:14-17; Selections from II Corinthians 8-9; Britain Faith and Practice, 21:20, 21                                                    

 

WE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE MEETING BUDGET

to maintain the meeting house as a gathering place.

"The question is not, how much of what is mine do I give to others. The question is, how much of what is God's do I reserve for myself. The answer we give is a faith issue, a stewardship issue."                                              - William Avery

MESSAGE         UNSEEN AND UNHEARD        David W. Bills      

COMMUNION AFTER THE MANNER OF FRIENDS

After the planned message we enter into a period of worship that is based upon silent, expectant waiting. It is a distinctly Quaker form of worship. It is slightly different from meditation. This kind of worship (about 30 minutes) may be completely silent, or there may be those who are led to stand and speak. When we hear a speaker, regardless of whether we agree with what is said, or whether we understand what is being said, we hold that speaker in the LIGHT (pray for them) and consider that we may learn valuable lessons or be moved spiritually by what is being said. After the speaker finishes, we return to the silence and continue to worship expectantly. Early in the silence we may use our mind to think about words and music we have just heard, but hopefully we will get beyond the process of thinking to a place where the Divine Spirit leads and guides us into a deeper level of worship.

 

GREETING AFTER THE MANNER OF FRIENDS

Friends extend the hand of fellowship in recognition that we are all Children of God.

 

LOOKING AHEAD AT NEW GARDEN

FIRST DAY

        9:00    Unprogrammed Meeting for Worship

        9:30    First Day School Classes for Youth

        9:45    First Day School Classes for Adults

      10:40    Fellowship Time Coffee/Juice/Snacks

      10:30 - 11:00  SILENT WORSHIP IN THE MEETING ROOM

      11:00 - 12:00  Semi-Programmed Meeting for Worship

        5:00    Middle School Young Friends (7th & 8th grade)

        5:00    Middle School Young Friends (5th & 6th grade)

        5:00    High School Young Friends

        5:00    Library Committee

        7:00    The Course in Miracles Study Group. Newcomers are welcome.

SECOND DAY

        7:00    Finance and Stewardship Committee

        7:45    Meditation Group: Meditations on the Tao Te Ching. All are invited.

THIRD DAY

        2:00    Louetta Knight Gilbert Circle meets at Friends Homes

FOURTH DAY

      11:00    Healing Prayer Group meets at Friends Homes Guilford, 7th floor, Woolman Hall. All are welcome.

        6:00    Choir Rehearsal

        6:00    HSYF Whine and Cheese meet for dinner

        7:00    HSYF Whine and Cheese meet for discussion

FIFTH DAY

        7:00    House Committee

       

THE FLOWERS TODAY are given by Bill and Catherine Eagles in honor of the Brotherhood Class.

 

THE BROTHERHOOD CLASS (9:45 AM, Brotherhood Room)

November 8: A Chosen People

November 15: A Suffering People

November 22: A Faithful People

 

FIRST DAY FORUM (9:45 AM, Parlor)

November 8: Preserving Human Rights in Sovereign States and Failed States, a discussion with Jean Gordon.

November 15: Islam: an outline, views on Pakistan and Afghanistan, and workable approaches for the US in seeking to resolve problems there. A discussion with Zaki Uddin Khalifa and his wife, Rashida.

November 22: Buddhism, a discussion with Eric Mortenson.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Nov 10  Adeline Greene, Mitchell Harris, Mandy Lotz

        11  Andy Kennedy, Gilbert McKee, Jessica Westervelt

        13  Cheryl Hopkins, Jane Kelman, Joyce Parkhurst

        14  Mike Haris, Judith Potthoff, Dennis Rieth

 

THANKS TO TODAY’S CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS:

Crib – Lisa Underwood

3-year olds & up – Cyndy Wolfe and Charles Merritt

 

OUR HEARTFELT SYMPATHY is with the family of Dorothy Brown, who died Saturday, October 31, 2009.

 

MAX CARTER will be speaking at Forsyth Friends on November 12, 7:00 PM. The title of the talk will be “Quaker Influence on Early American History,” drawing heavily from David Yount’s book How the Quakers Invented America.

 

THE 18TH ANNUAL WINTER WALK FOR AIDS is Sunday December 6, 2009, War Memorial Stadium.  Registering is easy, simply go to www.winterwalkforaids.kintera.org or call the Triad Health Project office at 336-275-1654.  The Winter Walk for Aids flyer says, “ At the heart of every major religion there is a devoted marriage between prayer and social action.  In the case of AIDS, which thrives on silence, fear and prejudice, the need for visible action and support has never been more keenly felt.  Please, please walk with us…and for us.”  Flyers will be available in the lobby at the rise of meeting.

 

NEW GARDEN will again be responsible for the midnight portion of the 24 Hours of Prayer for Peace service at First Friends Meeting on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2009 to January 1, 2010.  Kate Hood is coordinating plans for this service and would like to invite others to help with music, speaking, reading and luminaries. 

   Please contact her if you are interested in being a part of this collaborative Friends’ tradition of welcoming the new year: khood@guilford.edu or 292-4275.

 

PEOPLE OF FAITH AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY (PFADP) is launching a major effort to get a bill to abolish the death penalty in North Carolina in the next session of the legislature when it meets in January.  PFADP is asking churches, synagogues, other worship groups, civic clubs and businesses across the state to support a resolution asking for abolition. 

   This resolution was presented to New Garden Monthly Meeting on November 1.  Members present agreed to allow this resolution to “season” until the December monthly meeting for worship and business in order to allow Friends to consider it thoughtfully and to give Friends who were not present on November 1 the opportunity to read and consider it. Interested Friends may then attend December monthly Meeting for discussion of the proposal.

   If you need a copy of this resolution contact Dot Mason at hmason@triad.rr.com or at 288-2852.

 

FRIENDS MAY WISH TO HOLD IN THE LIGHT: Faith Heider.

 

PEOPLE OF FAITH AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY will be celebrating its 15th anniversary! Come hear keynote speakers and Triad residents Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton, authors of the New York Times bestseller, Picking Cotton, a memoir detailing their powerful story of forgiveness and hope.  The annual awards banquet will be held on November 7at 6 PM at Temple Emanuel, located at 1129 Jefferson Road in Greensboro.  For more information or to buy tickets, please visit www.pfadp.org or contact Kristen Smith at 933.7567 or ksmith@pfadp.org.           Sue Mengert

 

THE UNITED WAY is hosting “You’re Invited to Tell Us What You Think…” This is an opportunity for you to tell the United Way, local foundations, and local leaders about the strengths, challenges, and barriers you see related to quality of life for all in Greensboro. Your insights and ideas are valued. Your voice is important. Meetings are  scheduled for Tuesday, Nov 10, 6:30 PM, at Aycock Middle School, 811 Cypress Street; Thursday, Nov 12, 6:30 PM, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 1301 Alamance Church Road; and Tuesday, Nov 17, 6:30 PM, Smith High School, 2407 S. Holden Road. For more information contact Sarah Glover, sarah.glover@unitedwaygso.org. 

 

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED to drop in for a simple meal of soup and bread any time between 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Thursday, November 19 for the 18th annual Feast of Caring.  This meal, in the soup kitchen tradition, kicks off the Greensboro Urban Ministry’s annual operating fund campaign.  Attendees are requested to make their 2010 Annual Pledge or Gift at the event.   The event is free and no reservations are necessary.

Rev. Mike Aiken, Executive Director, Greensboro Urban Ministry

336-271-5959x302, http://www.greensborourbanministry.org

 

ANNE MORRISON WELSH to speak as Judith Weller Harvey Quaker Scholar at Guilford
        Anne Morrison Welsh, author of "Held in the Light:  Norman Morrison's Sacrifice for Peace and His Family's Journey of Healing," will speak at
Guilford College on Monday, November 9, 7:30 pm in Bryan, Jr. Auditorium.  Her presentation, "Being Held in the Light," will cover her husband's self-immolation on the steps of the Pentagon in 1965 in protest of the American war in Vietnam - and her family's long path toward healing from the grief and trauma.
        In conjunction with Anne's visit, Stevie Westmoreland, a
Guilford parent and daughter of General William Westmoreland, will speak at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, November 10 in Bryan, Jr. Auditorium on her own journey of reconciliation to Vietnam.
        Anne Morrison Welsh's and Stevie Westmoreland's visits are sponsored by
Friends Center and are free and open to the public.  For information, call 316-2445.

 

CARING FOR OUR OWN AT DEATH  Crossings, an interest group at New Garden Meeting, will host a workshop on home-based after-death care of the body and green burial options. The workshop includes a discussion of simple rituals for the family and community, care of the body, laws, practicalities, expenses and personal
experiences of those who have provided a home-based funeral for a loved one. The workshop will be held: Friday, 11/13/09 from 7:00 PM  to 9:00 PM, Saturday, 11/14/09 from 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM at 3305 Kettering Place, Greensboro, NC 27410
   The workshop will be led by Elizabeth Knox, founder of the national
Crossings, a non-profit educational organization.
   Cost: $135 includes workshop, resource guide, lunch and snacks
Contact: Sandy LaGrega, SunSan52@aol.com or 336-292-7947
Registration Form: www.crossings.net/events

 

AGENDA FOR THE FOUR CIRCLES BUSINESS MEETING, November 15, 2:00 p.m., Friendship Hall:
1.
Opportunity for each circle to share what they have been doing this past year in terms of programs, activities, and projects.

2. Presentation of the annual treasurer's report that covers
7/1/08 through 6/30/09 and a report for 7/1/09 to the present.

3. Shall we close the New Garden USFW checking and money market accounts and disperse the funds? If so, how do we disperse them?
   Note these considerations if we dispose of these funds: (1) Future cookbook sales--go directly to NGFM? (2) There would be no more funds to subsidize the Spring Banquet. (3) No more memorials from NG-USFW, although individual circle could still do memorials.

4. Spring Banquet--shall we have one and if so, who will be in charge?

5. Any proposed changes in the monthly flower assignments?

6. Is there a need for a business meeting a year from now? If there is one, it's the
Margarets Circle's turn to host.

7. Other business and announcements

If you have any questions, comments, or additions to this agenda, please contact Joyce Mers, 288-4921, or e-mail mersj@earthlink.net.

SIMPLE CHRISTMAS DEC 5, 2009

11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

FRIENDSHIP HALL

Part of the cutting edge of the Quaker faith is trying to understand how to actually live by our faith in our multicultural and amoral society. Some religions, like the Amish, have withdrawn from society and live by their own rules and theologies in special communities. Other religions have pretty much succumbed to society and are guided by the same principles that our society has accepted. Christmas has been a problem for Quakers as we observe the unseemly emphasis upon materialistic gifts and wasteful spending by people who already have everything they need while there are multitudes who are hungry and homeless. We are planning a day of Simple Christmas (5th Day, 12th Month) to help us all understand better how the testimony of simplicity can influence our Christmas giving and our Christmas spirit. Sure, we want to experience joyful times with our families and friends and to give gifts---but what about a simple home-made gift or a donation to some of the New Garden projects or the budget in honor or memory of a special person? What about being part of a special day together with people who are struggling to make Christmas a meaningful time for all from older adults to young children. We are creating Christmas memories for everyone who participates. We are charting new courses. We are enjoying simple Christmas again this year. We hope you will be a part of it on December 5th.