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Meeting for Worship continues to be vital to us, though it has not been quite as well attended as in the past. Ministry has generally been helpful.
We continue to strive to maintain and enhance our corporate health, within our Society and in our relationships to the larger society to which we belong. We find some similar problems both within and outside our Meeting.
When tensions have arisen among individuals in the Meeting, our Meetings for Worship for Business (and even Meeting for Worship) have been difficult at times, and have proven to be challenges for the clerk, some members and attenders, and Meeting committees.
Finding where we best fit in order to feel useful but not overburdened is a continuing need for each of us. Since we are all caregivers (ministers), we need to remember that even caregivers themselves need care. We continue to work at creating and maintaining an atmosphere so safe that we will feel free to ask for needed help for any problem we may be experiencing.
Three regulars moved away, but we had no formal requests for membership this year, no marriages or births and one death: Mary Rutty. It is of some concern to us that our business decisions are made without the full participation of all our members, but we assume that those who can participate do so.
First Day School continues to be a challenge with only 5 families and 9 children. They have enjoyed many outings and we still have leaders who keep up spiritual nourishment for the youngsters on the second and fourth Sundays each month. Older Young Friends, though not often participating in their home Meeting, are connected to other Young Friends around Ontario through retreats and other events, which are vital times for a lively and caring group.
In January, Roy Adams shared his human rights experiences in the labour movement at a potluck. We combined a Meeting for Worship for Business with a potluck and talk about the new Faith and Practice draft in February. Our peace delegation to Ottawa reported at a potluck in April. An experimental "show and tell" potluck was held in May. Our usual Thanksgiving feast was held in October, and this year we held two special celebrations as well: in June for a 50th wedding anniversary and in December we honoured the good work of the Peace Research Institute of Dundas and its founder, Hanna Newcombe.
Our Peace and Social Action Committee meets for supper once a month. We're still working on how best to relate to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Consensus statements regarding our Peace Testimony are sometimes difficult to achieve.
Attempting to build community in our Meeting, we have again held a very successful "cookies and Christmas carols event", reaching out to those unable to attend Meeting very often any more. Some Friends participate in supper groups which rotate around to each other's homes on a regular basis, sharing meals and much more. Many cheerful volunteers participated in a painting bee. So we gradually grow toward oneness in spirit!
Last updated: 21 April 05
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