HAMILTON MONTHLY MEETING
of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
7 Butty Place, Hamilton, ON L8S 2R5
www.hwcn.org/link/hmm
905-523-8383
NEWSLETTER - JUNE 2002
Greetings Friends and Attenders - here is some summer reading for you, as this is the last newsletter until September. In this issue there is a large section devoted to our Ottawa Delegation Project, in hopes of generating widespread interest and involvement in this effort. Have a wonderful summer, and I will look forward to your submissions for the fall! tamara
SUMMER START TIME FOR MEETING FOR WORSHIP: beginning July 7, 2002, we will meet at 10 am, rather than 11 am. Sunday, September 1, 2002, we will recommence the 11 am start for MfW.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, September 1: Sacred Sites Tour day at HMM
Thursday, September 5: Meeting for Worship for Business, 7pm.
Sunday, September 22: Called Meeting to discuss issues related to MfWfB, 1pm.
Sunday, September 29: Threshing session on the idea of establishing an interest free loan fund, 1pm.
COFFEE LIST
July 7 John Milton
July 14 Bev Shepard
July 21 Andy Muller
July 28 Tamara Fleming
Aug. 4 Carol Leigh Wehking
Aug. 11 Kris Wilson Yang
Aug. 18 Dick Preston
Aug. 25 Helen Brink
Sept. 1 Susan Wortman
Sept. 8 Mona Callin
Sept. 15 Ray Cunnington
Sept. 22 Ian Graham
Sept. 29 Grace Inglis
QUAKER LITE
(submitted by Bev Shepard)
QuakerLite will be pausing for the summer, and will start again in September. During the summer, however, if anyone is interested in informally exploring Quakerism and HMM in particular, Bev and Ian are both agreeable to conversations after M4W any Sunday that either of them are around.
REPORT OF WORKING GROUP ON NOMINATIONS PROCESS
**In June of 2001, this report was adopted by HMM as a guide. Over the next months, the Working Group and Nominations Committee will be reviewing nominations process and preparing a report to be presented at the September MfWfB.
Reference to the discipline
The relevant pages in Organization and Procedure which refer to Nominations Committee guidelines are 38, 39, 52,56, 69.
Introduction
We wish to encourage the involvement of all members and attenders, old and new, in the work of the Meeting through its committees, Meeting for Worship for Business,
and activities. We welcome expressions of interest in the work and positions of HMM, CYM, and other Quaker bodies. We encourage all to find out what is involved in a particular and the criteria for selection for it, by contacting Nominating Committee, Ministry and Counsel, the Clerk, or committee clerks. Friends should understand that volunteering for a position may not lead to nomination. Volunteers will generally be informed of the reasons for non-acceptance, and a suitable place will be found for them if possible.
Process
Nominating Committee (NC) will circulate widely brief descriptions of the term and
responsibilities of each position, ahead of the time when nominations must be made, and will clarify for which positions membership in the Society of Friends is required. At that time NC should advertise widely that attenders are welcomed in many of the
committees. Nominating Committee will ascertain the interests, abilities and willingness of attenders and members by personal poll when possible, or by other means as decided by NC. It is especially important to talk to newcomers, in order to engage them in work in which they can gain fellowship and spiritual nourishment.
From the information gathered, NC should compile the recommended slate in the most open-minded and worshipful way possible. Consideration should be given to rotation of duties to widen the experience of Friends, and this consideration should be balanced by the need of the committees for continuity in their work. We suggest that NC's report not only present the recommended slate, but also mention any challenges the committee confronted, such as not being able to fill all the positions. There should be occasion for discussion at M4B on the factors that create such challenges.
Volunteering
We recognize that much of the work of some committees is done by people who are not
members of the committees, who may request to be recognized in the membership of that committee. As well, committees are free to invite participants from within Hamilton MM, under guidance from the committee clerk. These volunteers or invitees are recorded as members for one year terms on the HMM Committee List.
To remember
In the work both of Nominating Committee and of all the committees NC seeks to fill, working together in loving kindness and being responsive to Spirit at work takes
precedence over mere task completion.
Ad Hoc Appointments
When a request comes to M4B for an appointment, it should be turned over to NC if it is not an urgent matter. Those who would be glad to perform the service needed are
encouraged to voice their interest to NC with the understanding that NC will take many
things into consideration and that volunteers may not be chosen.
If the need is urgent , then M4W4B should enter into silence to consider the need. Some names may occur to Friends in the silence. If the silence persists for some
time without suggested nominations, then anyone present who would be willing to serve should be permitted to volunteer. Those who are nominated or who volunteer themselves should be asked to absent themselves from M4W4B while discussion about membership of the committee occurs.
If the request is for a committee of care, then Ministry and Counsel may be asked to name a committee of care in consultation with the person requesting it.
Respectfully submitted,
Don Woodside, Beverly Shepard, Ian Graham, Dawn Lepard
FROM SUNDERLAND P. GARDNER
(submitted by Mona Callin)
I assume that God never in a single instance commanded directly or indirectly men or nations to make war upon or to destroy each other - Jesus, the highest authority in the New Testament said: "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” If we accept the precepts of Jesus, it follows that God is a peacemaker, and if once a peacemaker, then always a peacemaker, for He changes not.
Sunderland P. Gardner, 1890
as quoted by Betty Polster in Genesee Friend: The Life and Times of Sunderland Pattison Gardner. Canadian Quaker Pamphlet Series, no. 39.
ARCHIVES REMINDER
(submitted by Mona Callin)
If friends wish to submit photographs for the archives or bulletin board, please indicate the who, when, where and why (ie. the occasion) so that the arhives can be complete.
CHINESE WISDOM
(submitted by Beth Barron)
"Grant yourself a moment of peace and you will understand how foolishly you have scurried about. Learn to be silent and you will notice that you have talked much too much. Be kind and you will realize that your judgement of others was too severe."
Tschen Tschi Ju
as quoted in Springs of Chinese Wisdom
QUAKERISM 101
(submitted by Ian Graham)
Hamilton Meeting will offer the Quakerism 101 course again in the fall of 2002. I hope to start mid October with class #1. We learned in the spring session that the content is ambitious and more than can comfortably be covered in six two-hour sessions. However, it is meant to be a 'tasting' with many interesting avenues to pursue through personal study and reflection.
The program includes six areas of interest to new and experienced seekers
- The experience of early Friends
- The Light within
- Quaker Universalism
- Worship and Ministry
- Living the Light: Quaker Witness
- Getting Down to Business
Books required are
- Friends for 300 Years, Howard Brinton (C$14.50)
- The Journal of George Fox (Nickalls editor version)
(available online if you prefer at or
)
- Encounter with Silence (John Punshon)
- Beyond Majority Rule (Michael Sheeran)
You can order these from Quaker Book Service in Ottawa MM or FGC Bookstore (easier, can do online www.quakerbooks.org or by 800 phone call), and the price is the same.
Cost for materials: $15 per person.
The classes are open to people not active in the Meeting, as well as members and attenders. Anyone interested in being participant, please let me know by the usual
means. We had fun last time, hope to replicate the experience. Contact Ian Graham (T) 905-336-0163.
HELP NEEDED: OPERATION PACK FOR SCHOOL
(submitted by Harriet Woodside)
We need your help in the form of donated NEW school and craft supplies, lunch bags, and backpacks. All supplies and packs will be assembled and distributed to primary (K-6) schools in both the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and Hamilton-Wentworth Separate School Board in September of this year.
Think of us over the summer when you see 'Back to School’ Sales!
FAIR TRADE COFFEE
(submitted by Mona Callin)
Friends will be pleased to know that Starbucks is committed to buying fair trade coffee. It has been available in the United States for over a year. It is now available in Canada. I heard this at the CFSC Spring General Meeting in March. My niece, who is an Area Manager for Starbucks, told me the reason for the delay in getting fair trade into Starbucks stores in Canada was difficulties in obtaining packaging which was bilingual and in metric measures.
DONATE ONLINE TO HAMILTON MEETING AND OUR PROJECTS
(submitted by Ian Graham)
Our Meeting is quite active in social justice areas like peace and the environment. We support the work of Canadian Yearly Meeting to a healthy degree. We are sponsoring an Afghani family to settle in Canada. We are setting aside money to insulate the Meetinghouse. We are supporting the Quaker Working Party on. the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict. We are sending a delegation to Ottawa to advocate for peace with government officials. We are supporting the Sri Lankan Children's Peace Camp event in Toronto this summer.
Are you asking yourself if you give a right proportion of our financial resources to support the work and life our faith community? We encourage you to give via the Internet using our website at . This is fast, easy and less paperwork for anyone with a computer and internet hookup. You get your charitable receipt immediately and the donation is made from your VISA or Mastercard. You can give anonymously too if that is your preference. The tradition of post-dated cheques, and weekly deposits in the donation box is not affected.
You can give to specific funds, namely Quaker Education, Afghani family sponsor, Insulation fund, or West Hamilton Child Poverty Interfaith Coalition or the General Fund. The latter covers library, outreach, First Day School, donations to organizations, as well as the Native Plants Garden, Maintenance, Insurance, the newsletter, utilities, and a few others.
We give to the following groups:
- Canadian Friends Service Committee,
- Friends Committee on Unity with Nature
- Friends General Conference
- Friends World Committee on Consultation
- Nonviolent Peaceforce Canada
- Peace Brigades Intl
- Peace Research Institute, Dundas
- Quaker International Affairs Program
- Quaker United Nations Office
- The Bridge (ex-convict transition program in Hamilton)
- Culture of Peace Network (Hamilton)
Giving of our time and money to the life and work of our faith community nurtures the spiritual growth of each seeker as we find strength and comfort in building community together. No contribution is too small. Every offer is precious.
____________________________________________________________
The following 5 items provide background, thoughts and suggestions to further the Ottawa Delegation Project:
1) SYNOPSIS OF CALLED MEETING CONCERNING THE OTTAWA DELEGATION, MAY 30, 2002
(submitted by Susan Wortman)
NB This is not the official minute that came out of this meeting; that minute is elsewhere in the newsletter, and on the bulletin board.
This meeting was one of a series, that have dealt with sending a delegation to Ottawa to express our concern with the position and actions of our government concerning the international response to the tragedy of September 11, 2001.
At the May M4W4B disappointment had been expressed that the trip to Ottawa had not yet taken place, and Dick and Rick reported on the slow and frustrating progress to date. The importance of this project was affirmed, and this meeting was called to determine our way forward.
We heard from Dick and Rick about the progress made thus far in trying establish contacts in Ottawa, both Quaker and governmental. This has been slower and more difficult than originally imagined. Some general help had been offered by Quaker individuals and bodies, but nothing concrete. It seems that arranging to speak to those who influence the government leaders, rather than the leaders themselves might be both easier, and ultimately more effective.
During the evening, different ideas of how to proceed were discussed, that were more involved than a meeting in Ottawa. Two of these were a nation-wide caravan so as to reach the wider audience of the Canadian public, and networking with other Monthly Meetings to determine their responses and coordinate with them. It was decided to focus on the less complex project of the delegation to Ottawa, while encouraging other actions as Friends felt so moved.
Trying to arrange the schedules of the originally nominated four (Dick Preston, Rick McCutcheon, Diana Shepard and Hanna Newcombe) was proving very challenging. A breakthrough occurred halfway through the meeting when the suggestion was made that the appointment date be set, and then we would see who was available to attend. Rick was moved and relieved to lay down this concern at this time. The way forward seemed to clear substantially with the recognition that the project was the focus, not the individuals selected.
There was considerable discussion on who to contact, and the desire to establish ongoing connection with that/those contacts. Conscience Canada was named as a model for a long term process of this nature. Ultimately, we decided that a meeting with the Standing Committee on International Affairs, or with individuals who sit on that Committee, would be our goal.
We were reminded that in changing attitudes, the PR people's approach is to repeat the message frequently, and to stay focused on the same message, and that this strategy would serve us as well.
It was felt that the content of our message was well expressed in our letter (by the Kitai's) to the Spectator of Wednesday, February 6, 2002, and that it was still relevant. Diana, in conjunction with her sisters and cousin have produced a statement that emphasized the importance of maintaining a position that is independent of the United States. These two documents, as well as the statements from Friends' organizations that we used in the previous meetings on this topic and a statement posted on the internet by Beverly Shepard will all be used to write a brief, with an executive summary, to take to the Ottawa meeting. If something is needed in the meantime, in the negotiations to establish the meeting, the Spectator letter will serve.
We were also reminded that the letter, the brief, any other Quaker statements, and our own letters can all be sent to our MP's, CEO's etc.
Logistics of how to proceed closed the meeting, with several people willing to assist with each of the now identified aspects of the project:
* making the contacts in Ottawa
* developing the brief
* determining the delegates
We acknowledged that the task had been too great for only four, and that there had been some lack of clarity regarding the Ottawa Four's role as leaders vs servants of the Meeting concerning this project. We hope that many in the Meeting will be involved as they feel led, and that all will hold this project in the light.
The meeting felt caring, respectful and productive as we negotiated our way through some difficulties. It was clear that we all wished to find a way to contribute to the spreading of the idea that there is an alternative way to react to violence in the world, a way of peace and justice.
2) LETTER TO THE SPECTATOR (FROM FEBRUARY 2002)
On February 6, 2002 the Hamilton Spectator published the following letter from the Hamilton Society of Friends:
"Hamilton Quakers deplore the current Canadian military involvement in Afghanistan , as we had deplored the military involvement in the Gulf war. Canada has a unique legacy and record of peacekeeping. This has now been eroded to our own detriment, and to that of the world.
We believe that there are alternatives to violent retribution, following events such as the September 11 attack in New York. First and foremost, violent retaliation will not produce the end of terrorism, but will only sow more seeds of hatred and further violence. Also, perpetrators of terrorist attacks should be dealt with under established principles of international law so that justice is done and can be seen to be done.
In the longer term, we believe that no nation can ensure its own security unilaterally. Only through multilateral consensus among nations may this be approached. Furthermore, the root causes of suffering in the world need to be addressed compassionately, responsibly, and consistently if the seed beds of violence are to be rendered infertile.
We sincerely hope that Canadian involvement in international conflicts will always be by dialogue aimed at reconciliation, by adherence to international law, by peacekeeping, and by reconstruction."
3) STATEMENT FROM DIANA SHEPARD
I am very concerned about the long-term implications of our actions in Afghanistan and of our present relationship with the United States. For the most part since World War II, Canada has maintained a tradition of peacekeeping, gaining a reputation as a non-aggressive, reasonable country whose government makes the effort to negotiate in conflict situations. The US does not share this reputation. In my own experiences abroad last year, I saw first-hand how much more Canadians are respected and admired than Americans. It could well be this reputation which protected our cities on September 11th; however, I believe we are putting it in jeopardy by engaging in aggressive action as allies of the US. Canada is not part of the Unites States, and we should make political decisions based on what we as Canadians believe is right. We should strive to live up to our positive reputation, because a lack of enemies is the most efficient form of defense a country can have. Moreover, such efforts on our part would serve to set an example for the international mediation and cooperation which are so desperately needed at this time. As it is, we are helping to perpetuate a cycle of violence that could last for generations. We are also contributing to the environmental crimes, so often ignored, associated with the arms industry and the results of making war.
We need to consider who, if anyone, is benefitting from our actions and who will thank us for them later. I am among many Canadians who believe that, regardless of short-term economic gains, our increasingly complicit relationship with the United States does not benefit Canada in any way. On the contrary, we must more carefully guard our independence on economic, environmental, political, and social levels. More importantly, as a country which welcomes as its citizens people from all countries, we must recognize the senselessness of what we are doing. We are failing to support our own citizens by engaging in violence against their former compatriots, and we are fostering the racial hate crimes which have been fragmenting our communities since September. We know this is not justice. We will be a just country when we make the sanctity of life our priority over politics.
4) SUGGESTIONS FOR AN APPROACH FROM BEVERLY SHEPARD
(reprinted from Intranet site)
Our peace envoys - or whatever it is they choose to call themselves as a group - are going to Ottawa to "speak truth to power", I believe. Quakers have done this for three centuries and it has often proven to be a powerful action. The three key concepts here are "speak", "truth", and "power". I'd like to explore them a little.
I believe the primary thing our envoys should do is to speak personally with one or more people in the government. They should have talked among themselves ahead of time to have a clear idea of what they and HMM agree on, and probably to have a general notion of which of them should say what, but after that they should speak pretty much extemporaneously and from the heart, as well as the mind. Each of the four has a different perspective on life and the world and each should have something
to say from his or her special perspective. BUT: I feel that they should also have a written version of their message, though it can't be expected to be a verbatim record. The written version can be left with the person(s) with whom they have spoken personally, sent to those with whom they tried to have an audience but couldn't, kept in HMM's archives, printed in the Canadian Friend, and, if and when it seems appropriate, given to the news media. The written message, while being agreed upon by all four and accepted by HMM, could still be in four parts from the four individuals
involved. I believe the fact that we have four people, selected with considerable care, should be made the most of - they shouldn't try to blend into a single voice.
Now to "truth". Quakers of course believe in an ultimate and ineffable truth (as do most true religionists of whatever faith), and it is this truth I think that drives us to speak to power. Our testimonies should be and should be acknowledged to be the ground of our message, and should be made explicit. The peace testimony is the most obvious one to pertain here, but equality is also an issue (would we treat a "Christian" nation the same way? or a rich one? or a "white" one?), and unity with creation certainly figures in, too (most bombing is really not at all good for the planet). But beyond the testimonies are truths that are more "demonstrable" in pragmatic and political terms. Violence doesn't work to resolve conflicts, and any studies done on this issue provide evidence that it doesn't. Violence creates or prolongs conflict. Hanna has reams of material that can back this up. Another truth is that Canada - her land and her people, not just the CEOs of her largest corporations - does not benefit from jumping to the USA's orders. Free trade has meant that I pay $22 to receive a Christmas gift from a friend, the softwood lumber dispute rages worse than ever before, and the US demands to buy our fresh water to maintain the luxurious lifestyles of those who have chosen to move to the desert. And what exactly has it done for Canadians? The reason I'm talking about free trade is because, unlike war, it was supposed to be something that would be just super-great for everybody, and it's mostly super-great for the US (and if it's not, they raise hell) - so what can we expect from doing what the US says to do in a situation where "collateral damage" is part of the equation, killing is the purpose, and international cooperation has been replaced by "If you're not with us, then you're against us?" It beats me why any thinking person would care to be allied with George W. Bush, but that sort of bafflement wouldn't be a helpful approach; more practical arguments would probably be of assistance here.
Now, "power". As we said in our HMM discussions on this topic, our envoys should seek to speak to the most senior people they can, but should also recognize that someone not at the top (that is, not so wedded to public image) might be a person with the greatest behind-the-scenes influence and long-term power. The PMO, DoD, and Foreign Affairs are all reasonable places to approach, and I don't think our envoys should feel they have to choose. Go everywhere, see everyone!
The more I think about this the more I feel that this is one of the most important ventures undertaken by our Meeting since I have been a part of it. I wish our envoys well and will pray for them, as I'm sure HMM as a whole will be doing.
5) THOUGHTS FROM REX BARGER
I see no compelling reason why we need to refer to our Spectator letter. I have rewritten the basic content of that letter in an effort to make it stronger & more inclusive of our (or at least my) long range vision.
"As Canadians who are trying to be responsible citizens of the world, the Hamilton Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) urges an end to the current Canadian military involvement in Afghanistan. We would like Canada to set an example for the rest of the world as peacemakers. Our present involvement is not contributing in a positive way to the peace of the world. We believe that there are more positive ways to respond to tragic events such as the September 11 attack in New York. First and foremost, we fear that violent retaliation will not produce the hoped-for end of terrorism, but will only sow more seeds of hatred and further violence. Certainly, any perpetrators of terrorist attacks should be dealt with under established principles of international law. We must strive to see that justice is done and that it can be seen to be done. In the longer term, we believe that no nation can ensure its own security or the security of its citizens completely--certainly it cannot be done unilaterally. Only through multilateral consensus among nations may a more secure world be approached. Much more importantly, the root causes of suffering in the world must be much more strongly addressed: compassionately, responsibly, and consistently, if the seed beds of violence are to be rendered infertile. We sincerely hope that Canadian involvement in international affairs will always be (1) by honest, open dialogue that includes careful listening & searching until all positions are well understood so that creative solutions can be sought that will result in justice for all, (2) by the refining of international law in ways that lead toward repair of relationships rather than punitive judgments, (3) by peacemaking & peacekeeping that accords the highest respect for all who are committed to respect all life & uses minimal violence to arrest all actions that are not respectful of all life, and (4) by restoration of damaged relationships of our damaged planet to a state of health. Our concern extends to all the current areas of conflict where peacemaking is crucially needed. It extends also to our own civil liberties & those of other nations & to all the prisoners captured in Afghanistan who remain in captivity without any charges being laid. In light of the above, we urge Canada to call the other nations of the world to show more respect for all who are committed to respect all life & to respect the earth that supports life, and to reserve the use of any force for those who are not committed to all inclusive respect.”
MINUTES OF CALLED MEETING, MAY 30
(submitted by Susan Wortman)
Present: John Milton, Dawn Lepard, Diana Shepard, Beverly Shepard,
Mona Callin, Helen Brink, Rex Barger, Helen Paulin, Don Woodside,
Harriet Woodside, Dick Preston (clerk), Susan Wortman (recording
clerk), Reuven Kitai, Ruth Kitai, Roberta McGregor, Tamara Fleming,
Rick McCutcheon, Andy Muller
1. Meeting began with silent worship.
2. Peace Camp (Raj Ramanathapillai)
HMM agreed to support the Peace Camp for Sri Lankan children in
Toronto this summer. We committed $500 to this project, the full budget
of which is $1,6000. Peace Studies at McMaster has committed $400,
and Raj is approaching Toronto Monthly Meeting to take the Peace
Camp under their care. While aware that HMM recently has approved
several expenditures over budgeted expense lines, we move forward in
faith, and encourage Friends to donate to this worthy cause.
3. Ottawa Delegation to Ottawa
A long and spirit-filled discussion, synopsis of which will follow, resulted
in the following minute:
We affirm that HMM still wants to take a message to our political
representatives of our Quaker principles of non-violence. We wish to
express our concerns about Canada's role in the current and future
international situation, as expressed in our letter to the Hamilton
Spectator, dated Wednesday, February 6, 2002.
We heard from the `Ottawa Four' about some of the difficulties that they
have run into in the investigations thus far. Three areas of work were
identified to carry this leading forward:
1) Making the contacts in Ottawa From preliminary investigations, Dick
and others felt that the Standing Committee on International Affairs, or
it's constituent members, would be the place to aim to make our voices
heard. Dick, John, Dawn and Tamara will continue working to establish
these contacts, and get a date set for a meeting.
2) Developing a brief The Spectator letter, the statement already
developed by Diana, the synopsis of this meeting, and a statement written
by Bev will be published in the newsletter, along with previously developed
documents on this topic. Andy, Rex and Reuven will work on condensing
this material into a brief to be used by our delegates to Ottawa.
3) Delegates At this meeting Rick McCutcheon laid down his role as a
delegate for this project. Once the date for the Ottawa meeting is
established, the remaining three original delegates will be asked about
their availability, and others nominated as, and if, needed.
4. Meeting closed with silent worship.
REPORT OF YONGE STREET HALF YEARLY MEETING
Camp Neekaunis
May 31, June 1 & 2, 2002
About thirty Friends and half a dozen assorted children representing
Simcoe-Muskoka, Yonge Street, Toronto and Hamilton Monthly
Meetings spent a very restorative, sunny and windy weekend on the shores
of Georgian Bay. The cabins were comfortable and the fabulous food was
prepared by Cook, Bethany Shepard with assistance from Simcoe-
Muskoka Friends.
The focus of the Adult Programme was "The Ministry of Money: How is
our money helping heal the world?" The programme was facilitated by
Caroline Balderston-Parry. Caroline made it clear at the outset that she
was not an authority on money but had some skills in facilitation. The
programme began on Friday evening with an informal sharing of our
stories about gifts of money. On Saturday morning we continued with an
"Introduction to Ministry of Money" with the whole group, followed by
listening triads on the topic of "Ethics of Money". As one person spoke
the other two listened attentively, and did not interrupt or comment until
all three had spoken. Money is a sensitive topic and the listening triads
were liberating and many Friends shared thoughts they had not shared
with anyone before. In the afternoon, we again formed into groups, a
little larger this time, on our own choice of one of four topics: "Giving,
Getting, Spending and Saving". I joined the "Saving" group. We had an
honest and open Claremont dialogue in which Friends felt able to share
important personal thoughts and beliefs. The programme ended on
Sunday morning with a wrap-up "From a less aware Ministry of Money
towards a more aware Ministry of Money." Caroline based the
programme on "Is Your Money Working for the World? a study pack for
individuals and groups to help bridge the gap between faith and practice."
by Jennie Levin and published by the Joseph Rowntree Quaker Charitable
Trust in England. I have ordered a copy from Quaker Book Service which
I will be happy to share with Hamilton Friends.
The Children's Programme was creatively facilitated by Kris Wilson Yang
with help from Beverly Shepard. There were many shrieks of joy and
delight, often from the tree house. I did not see any tears. On Saturday
we had an intergenerational evening of games and circle dancing led by
Bev Shepard.
The Meeting for Worship for Business was brief with little business other
than setting the date and place for the fall Half Yearly Meeting and
nominating a new Clerk and Recording Clerk to take office in June 2003.
The Fall gathering will take place on Saturday, October 19th, in the care
of Yonge Street Monthly Meeting. Vivien Abbott and I were nominated
to find the new Clerk and Recording Clerk.
In a change from the usual format, State of Society Reports were
presented at the first Business Worship session on Saturday morning.
Several Friends spoke to me about Hamilton's Report, suggesting that we
must be a large meeting to have so many projects and so much activity.
One such Friend was Harry Holloway, who told me of his experience in
Sri Lanka. He offered to send me a statement he had prepared about how
Gandhi might have responded to the Sri Lankan situation (attached with
covering letter). I will forward this material to Raj.
There was a special, gentle and nurturing atmosphere during the whole
weekend. I think we were particularly aware of God in ourselves, in others
and in our surroundings. To me it felt like a warm enveloping embrace.
Mona Callin, Delegate
ADDENDUM BY BEV, EMILY AND BETH SHEPARD
Bev spent relatively little time in the adult programme but had some
wonderful fun playing with the kids. We had one small incident of
disharmony on Saturday afternoon but, with a little coaching and some
on-the-spot queries, everything was smoothed out. Bev also spent a half-
hour after Saturday lunch retrieving the minutes of the fall meeting from
the patient Robbie, at home with Bev's computer, as an administrative
glitch had caused them not to be circulated. Beth would like Friends to
know that she received kitchen assistance, not only from the able Simcoe-
Muskoka Friends, but from Helen Yang, a cheerful and competent helper.
Emily, too, found her joy and renewal mainly in time spent with the
children. She especially enjoyed the intergenerational evening when all
the children joined in with adults of all ages in games and silliness and
dance. We agree with Mona's description of the lovely feeling about the
whole weekend. Bev expressed her thanks to the many Friends who
joined in the intergenerational games and dancing Saturday night - these
things aren't much fun by yourself!
ONE LAST THOUGHT
(submitted by Mona Callin)
"Be humble because your experience is limited. Be bold because God has
empowered you."
Eden Grace, FWCC Section of the Americas - Annual Meeting 2001
CONTACT INFORMATION
Just a reminder that submissions to the newsletter can be emailed to me at: . You can also place items in the folder at the
Meeting House located on the bulletin board by the coat rack.
Please send submissions for the September newsletter to me by Thursday,
September 12th.
Until then,