Hamilton Monthly Meeting NEWSLETTER MAY 2002 (submitted by Jean Johnson)
We gather every Thursday evening in May and June, 5 to 7ish.
(submitted by Mona Callin)
Would all Friends and Attenders please check that the pink HMM Directory on the bulletin board is correct and complete. I hope to get the new 2002 - 4 Directory printed next month.
(submitted by Sian Baker)
Dear Friends,
(submitted by Harriet Woodside)
Fellowship of Friends
(submitted by Harriet Woodside)
HMM is a strong presence on the West Hamilton Interfaith Committee on Child Poverty.
of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
7 Butty Place, Hamilton, ON L8S 2R5
www.hwcn.org/link/hmm
quakers@hwcn.org
905-523-8383
"Take heed, dear Friends, to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts. Trust them as the leadings of God whose Light shows us our darkness and brings us to new life.” Advices & Queries, #1.
Dates to Remember____________________________________________________________
• Thursday, May 23: Potluck with Julia Hitchcock on her time in Angola
• Thursday, May 30: Called Meeting on the 'Ottawa 4’ project, 7:30pm
• June 1st weekend: Yonge Street Half Yearly Meeting at Camp Neekaunis
• Sunday, June 9: Meeting for Worship for Business, 1:00pm.
• Sunday, June 16: Meeting for Worship and potluck in the Brinks’ garden
• June 29 - July 6: FGC, Gathering of Friends, Normal, Illinois
Coffee List___________________________________________________________________
May 26 Dawn Lepard June 16 Robbie McGregor
June 2 Janice Muller June 23 Helen Paulin
June 9 Tamara Fleming June 30 Betty Preston
Meetings for Weeding_________________________________________________________
HMM Directory_______________________________________________________________
Deadline for correcting entries is Friday, May 24th. Thank you for your co-operation.
'Meeting as a Whole’__________________________________________________________
I was fortunate to attend Meeting for Worship, last Thanksgiving, in Ottawa. However this Meeting was significantly different to any other I have attended. I would like to share this experience with you.
I noticed after sitting in the Meeting room for a few minutes (I was early!) that a table was being brought into the room, and craft materials and natural objects such as leaves and acorns were set upon it.
Later, after a short time of gathered silence, a woman stood and sang "Harvest Home." Many of us joined in the repeat and then she announced that on this day, the children would remain in Meeting for Worship for the whole hour, and could come to the table if they wished, to make crafts. Indeed, she told us that anyone who wished to, could come and make crafts. As time passed, some children (and adults) did. Only one child remained at the table for the whole time, and the children returned to their parents in the Meeting room when they were done. The room was not completely silent, but was very quiet, and the noise at the table consisted of the occasional rustle of paper or whispering.
Several thoughts came to me as I sat there and watched.
Firstly, I wished I had taken my children to Meeting that morning. (They were sight seeing with their dad!!) Secondly, I thought, could we do this at Hamilton Meeting?
You might think why? The experience had a profound effect upon me. I enjoyed an occasion when the Meeting was whole. The children did not leave, we were together, worshipping as one. I loved it.
Ottawa does this once or twice a year, at most. At the last MfWfB, First Day School committee brought forward a proposal to try this at Hamilton Meeting on June 9. It was approved, and so here is what is planned for that morning:
I will set up a "craft table" close to the piano, and introduce it at the beginning of Meeting for Worship. We will leave the side door open so that children can leave if they need to. Perhaps someone would be willing to go into the small downstairs children's room with any child who wishes to leave.
I would not wish anyone to be caught unaware and feel uncomfortable in Meeting, so in addition to this newsletter notice, these plans will be announced every Sunday from now until June 9th. A suggestion box will be in place, so we can see whether it is something we might like to do again, some time, or not!
Thank you from the Chaplaincy Centre__________________________________________
42 Thorndale Crescent
Hamilton, ON L8S 3K2
Dear Harriet,
As we reflect on the past academic year, it has presented many challenges for our ministry and for the students on campus. It has been a year when developing a sense of community has been important for all of us.
On behalf of the students who come seeking fellowship, may I express our appreciation for your participation in the Cost Supper program. By providing a hot, home-cooked meal on January 17th, you shared a caring presence that is often missing from their academic experience. The students sincerely appreciate the meal and the special fellowship that happens around the table. Friendships often develop that continue beyond their term at McMaster.
For many, the Thursday Cost Supper becomes the equivalent of a Sunday dinner at home -- the Chaplaincy Centre community is their family away from home. Thank you for your partnership in providing this outreach to students.
We anticipate a move to the new University Student Centre at the end of April. Although our office space will be much less, we have arranged to use a meeting room for our weekly suppers. We hope that you may be able to join us in continuing this ministry in our new location.
Sincerely,
Donna M. White
Assistant to the Chaplains
An Invitation______________________________________________________________
We have been invited to a
Strawberry Social
Saturday, June 22
11:00 - 2:00
at 143 Lower Horning Road
Come out and help our neighbours at the Hamilton Mennonite Church celebrate their 50th Anniversary.
Operation Pack for School_____________________________________________________
Our Pack for School project was very successful last September: we filled 250 backpacks with school supplies and distributed them to many local schools. We've decided to repeat this activity.
One suggestion was that we get an earlier start this year. Look for a blue poster in the hallway with information. We are looking for donations of new school and craft supplies, lunch bags and backpacks. We'll gather everything by mid-September and once again ask our young teens to fill the backpacks.
A note from Larry and Gwelda_________________________________________________
To all the friendly people who attend Hamilton Monthly Meeting--
You always seem to be there
to help somebody out
You do so much for others
that's what Friends are all about!
Have a nice week,
Larry and Gwelda Pogue
Contact Information___________________________________________________________
Just a reminder that submissions to the newsletter can be emailed to me at: aq991@hwcn.org.
You can also place items in the folder at the Meeting House located on the bulletin board by the
coat rack.
The deadline for next month's newsletter submissions is Sunday June 16th,
one week after the Meeting for Worship for Business.
peace and blessings,
Tamara
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