Pelham Half Yearly Meeting – October 30 2011

Rising at 6:00 am on Sunday morning, I drove for an hour and a half or so through southwestern Ontario – Waterloo to Sparta and arrived at the lovely old Meeting House in Sparta where Yarmouth Monthly Meeting was hosting Pelham Fall Half Yearly Meeting.  The building, with decades of tradition, is lovingly cared for by the members.

It reminds me a bit of Yonge Street Meeting House where I attended from time to time as a child.  There are the old, traditional men’s and women’s sides of the building separated by a wooden wall that can be raised or lowered as needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friends were already busy making coffee, tea and laying out breakfast food.  I heard mention of Meeting for Eating often during the day, and the potluck mid-day meal was amazing – looking, smelling, tasting of harvest time in this lush farm country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About 30 Friends attended.  Tony McQuail served as Clerk for Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business. We settled into a listening silence in the old meetinghouse.  The fire in the wood stove warmed us.

Baby Elliot – 16 months – offered happy sounds in silence. Noted by a Friend – Elliot’s presence lowering the median age of the gathering a bit. We heard regrets from June Etta Chenard who is in Germany supporting her daughter who is recovering from surgery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In response to roll call we heard from the following – Coldstream, Kitchener Area,  Pelham Executive and Yarmouth Meetings, and Lucknow Worship Group,  No one from Guelph Worship Group was present.

Jane Zavitz-Bond reported that The War Museum will have a peace exhibit in 2013 and that they have tripled the space for the display.  It will eventually be an international traveling exhibit.  The principal researcher spent 3 days at the CYM archives with Jane.  Jane asks how we could engage our local communities and local media in this, and added, “The things we do…count.”

Pelham Executive Meeting presented a minute about markers being prepared to represent Quaker conscientious objector activity in the War of 1812.  Pelham EM and Hamilton Monthly Meeting are working with Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches on this project, each placing markers in places with meaning for their faith community. A Friend noted that this (war of 1812) was the time of demilitarizing the border between the US and Canada. Pelham also reported that the Mennonite Central Committee had set up $1000 as a beginning fund and divided it among the 3 churches.  Other donations are welcome.

Friends were asked about the possibility of meeting jointly with Yonge Street Half Yearly Meeting at Camp Neekaunis in the spring.  We heard that there was some discussion about this at Yonge Street HYM and also at Kitchener Area MM (who is on the list to host Pelham HYM in the spring.  A minute was passed asking Kitchener Area MM to work with Yonge Street HYM to plan to carry this out on a one-time trial basis, and to keep the Clerks informed on progress.

Coldstream MM reported they will have a retreat in February and Lyn Adamson of Toronto MM will be a guest. 

Kitchener Area MM reported they have been doing some letter writing, and are looking for some support in learning about Quaker ‘basics’.  A Friend from Cambridge has offered to help with this learning.

Lucknow worship group reported that some friends had been affected by tornadoes in Goderich.  Other Friends had worked to stay connected with them to see if support would be required.

Pelham reported that their Meeting worked through the CYM minute on Justice last year and have contacted Canada’s Minister of Justice (who is their local MP) to see if they could begin working on a relationship. They had received a reply, so they think door is slightly ajar for continuing dialogue. They did note that when he is in his constituency office, he does constituency business, and they may have to contact him in Ottawa if they want to talk about ‘Justice’ business.

Yarmouth MM spoke of the Uganda project – There will be some alternatives to violence work done there.  Yarmouth MM held a fund raiser and fed 250 people at a dinner.  They also held a retreat in February last year and with a lot of new attenders, the topic was meeting.  Yarmouth is still offering a first day program and there is usually at least 1 child in attendance.  One member went to ‘Occupy London’ and was impressed with the commitment to a non-violent approach.  Yarmouth is St. Thomas.  The Meeting is also creating a website and appreciation was expressed for the newsletter that is circulated.  One Friend noted that Yarmouth Ministry and Counsel decided to write letters of encouragement to each young person connected with the Meeting as school began.  The wrote letters to 18 young people. 

 

Later during Meeting for Worship, I was quite aware of the community of Friends seated there in that historical building.  While listening, I noticed the sound of the wood stove in action – fire crackling – metal expanding/ contracting, and found myself reflecting on how the various parts of Yearly Meeting experience such expansion/contraction, stretching, stress in a variety of ways.  I’m reminded to look for the warmth, the energy, movement of Spirit.

In ministry, a friend said – “Long ago people looking at friends said, ‘How these people love one another!’.  I found myself wondering what people would say today?

In the afternoon, we had a learning/sharing session using Advices and Queries 27 and 28, 

27. Live adventurously. When choices arise, do you take the way that offers the fullest opportunity for the use of your gifts in the service of God and the community? Let your life speak. When decisions have to be made, are you ready to join with others in seeking clearness, asking for God’s guidance and offering counsel to one another?

28. Every stage of our lives offers fresh opportunities. Responding to divine guidance, try to discern the right time to undertake or relinquish responsibilities without undue pride or guilt. Attend to what love requires of you, which may not be great busyness.

Friends were asked to reflect on what area they would like to explore, and gather with a group for sharing – ‘Conversations not yet had’, ‘Adventures not yet taken’, Service not yet given, ‘Creation not yet tried’, and a fifth – those who were contented right now.  Those who chose ‘contented’, recorded their thoughts about being in that place.

 

 

At the end of the day, the familiar Quaker good-byes were offered – wishes for safe travels, hugs, gratitude expressed for time together.