Announcements last updated August 2nd, 2022:
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Update on Third Haven Zoom Account and Live Group Meetings:
Dear Friends, It is wonderful to be back inside the Old Meeting House again as we restart our hybrid services.
Due to the spread of variants, COVID infections and hospitalizations are rising around the country again. Friends are encouraged to take appropriate precautions, watch for symptoms, test and quarantine as may be needed. Thank you all for your care and concern for our beloved Third Haven Friends Meeting community. Thanks all. Be safe. Have fun.
~Tom Corl, Co-Clerk
New Announcements:
- An Open Letter to the Talbot Community from Faith Leaders:
We write to extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the recent mass murders in Buffalo, NY and in Uvalde, TX. We are horrified that so many innocent lives were lost in just moments. We surround those grieving with light and love. We are called upon to do more than offer words. In the US, violent acts at schools, grocery stores, houses of worship, and other public spaces happen over and over again. It does not need to be this way. The brutal mass murder at the grocery store in Buffalo was a blatantly racist act directed at African Americans. Racism is deeply rooted in our society. Racist violence is fueled when leaders and pundits espouse division and hate with their rhetoric and lies, and is amplified when misinformation spreads on social media platforms. When racism is combined with ready access to assault weapons the results are deadly. It is a recipe for tragedy again and again. In Uvalde, we know the victims at the elementary school shooting were vulnerable children and teachers. While we do not yet know the motivation of the shooter, he identified with the ubiquitous culture of violence and had ready access to weapons. Violence happens when we lose sight of our shared humanity. Violence recurs when the roots of discrimination, bigotry and hate are not challenged. Violence becomes a norm when we believe it is inevitable. A common thread across our faith traditions is the belief that all are worthy and that we have a collective responsibility for one another. As we look around our community, we find hope in the increasing willingness to be honest about our local challenges. There are no miracle 'fixes' to patterns of systemic racism and violence. In part we need to live into the rules and policies already in place. Where changes to policies are needed, we need to make the changes now. We need to change hearts and attitudes that privilege some over others. These violent tragedies do not need to continue. They are not inevitable. As President Biden said in his address to the country this week, “When in God's name will we do what we all know in our gut needs to be done?” As we extend our love to all in Buffalo and Uvalde and the many others impacted by violence, may we recommit to work together to create a community and country where all are valued, respected and safe.
Molly Burgoyne Brian & Tom Corl, Co-Clerks
Third Haven Friends Meeting - The Budget and Finance committee is pleased to note that we finished fiscal year 2021-22 in excellent shape. Income was 101.5% of our budgeted income of $70,250.00, and expenses were 100.1% of budgeted expenses at $70,250. We ended the year with a surplus of $992.73. Actual expenses showed a fairly wide variation, both positive and negative, from the budgeted amount, indicating that we need to pay closer attention to our budgeting process, but happily, the variations were on both sides of the ledger. The two major overages were in Communications and Planning. I both cases the overages were the result of deliberate decisions on our part which took into account the underages in other categories. Many thanks to all for making FY 21-22 a financial success.
- An Urgent Call to the Religious Society of Friends:
This call to action from PYM was authored by a group of nineteen Quakers, who see forces at work in our country that undermine some of our basic values of equality, truth-telling, and deep listening. - Announcing the national Quaker Call to Action over the threat to Democracy, sponsored by the Earlham School of Religion. Please visit QuakerCall.net for more information.
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions:
At Annual Sessions, there is something for everyone. On the schedule below, you will see opportunities for spiritual reflection, community connection, commitment to learning and action, and care for the Business of the Yearly Meeting. We welcome you to come as often or as little as fits in your schedule. Most events this year are Virtual, which means we welcome you on your lunch break at work, or after the kids have gone to bed. Your presence matters, and we can't wait to see you. To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvd-mhqTkjEtFpqpzfZwlp8r9nTAP6jmz3. - Fridays, Zoom Happier Hour 7 PM:
Hospitality would also like to remind the community that the zoom happier hour conversation is still happening on Fridays at 7:00 pm. Typically, about 7-10 people use the hour to reconnect, share news and again, offer fellowship. Please contact John Turner for more information. - Quaker College Fair, Vision & Renewal
The Quaker College Fair is for students interested in Quaker higher education. Students from across the country were invited to attend a series of conversations + panels to ask questions, meet current Quaker college reps, and get to know other students. - August 12-13 [Friday & Saturday], Talbot Hospice Kid's Grief Camp for children and youth ages 6-17.
Link to register and for more information: Talbothospice.org/events/calendar.html/event/2022/08/13/grief-camp - Talbot Interfaith Shelter July statistics:
We are currently serving 48 people, including: 10 single individuals, 12 families, 22 children—guests range in age from 3 months to 60 years old. Third Haven is volunteering the day-time staffing and dinners for the Shelter each month on the 17th. Don't forget to help out. Please contact Sarah Sayre for more information. The Testimonies & Concerns Committee has agreed to reimburse the cost of food to anyone who prepares a meal for Talbot Interfaith Shelter. Our committee just needs the receipts. - First Day School Updates:
- Third Haven hosted its annual mindfulness outdoor summer camp this past week. We had 15 kids sign up with our wonderful FDS teachers Cherie Baron and Kristen Hanlon as teachers. Each day the kids arrived at 9 am and we're greeted by our Junior Counselor, Liam Ewing. Kids played and connected with others as the teachers set up for the day.
- Day 1: with helpers John Schreiner and Jonathan Williams, the kids made telescopes from cut out paper to see objects in nature more closely. During their walk about the grounds the kids collected bits of nature to be spray painted later.
- Day 2: Today's theme was concentric circles and making mandalas. The kids looked for and collected more objects to make natural mandala art that can still be seen down by the stream bed.
- Day 3: The theme this day was "Communities" and the kids learned about communities in the ground as well as on earth and in the sky. The ending project was painting an old wooden pallet from Clays stock using the boards as environmental layers. (This is currently against the wall near the common room) The day ended with Jonathan Williams volunteering again to let the kids play his ukuleles and Susan and the camp singing "All God's Critters".
- Final Day: the campers spent the morning making beautiful bead work which was woven around a wooden stick frame. This creation was later presented to the residents and staff of Candlelight Cove. As the kids made their way there, they followed a story of just pictures along the paths to the stream. Once at the stream Bill Lane showed up with a healthy box turtle which he found on the grounds and the kids enjoyed immensely. Kristina Herold walked with the camp all the way to Candlelight Cove where the kids presented their homemade gift.
- Third Haven hosted its annual mindfulness outdoor summer camp this past week. We had 15 kids sign up with our wonderful FDS teachers Cherie Baron and Kristen Hanlon as teachers. Each day the kids arrived at 9 am and we're greeted by our Junior Counselor, Liam Ewing. Kids played and connected with others as the teachers set up for the day.
- Detention Center Library:
A small group from Third Haven and friends maintain the library at the Talbot County Detention Center. This was started many years ago by Ralph and Mary Young. The group would benefit from added members to replace the ones we've lost in the past couple years. Each volunteer works with a partner about once a month for about two hours. It involves checking books in and out with contact only with detention center staff. If you have time and inclination to join us please contact Stephanie French or Molly Brian. - The Quaker Voice Maryland website link is: https://www.quakervoicemd.org/resources/advocacy-presentations, e-mail quakervoicemd@gmail.com,, to join their e-mail list: https://www.quakervoicemd.org/get-involved/join-our-contacts.
News of Friends, or friends of Friends:
- First Day School welcomes our youngest member, Leila born to Kulveen Virdee and Luke Whalen on July 2, 2021. She joins older brothers Daven and Fio.
- In The Light:
Our revered member, Esther Leeds Cooperman died on June 21. Please hold her and her family in the light. Her daughter, Emily Cooperman writes, "Good Job, dear I Leeds. All your trials are over." Please click here to read her obituary. - Please hold Clay Owens and his family in the Light.
- Let us all hold Connie Lewis and Larry in the light.
- Please Hold In The Light: Please hold in the Light the family of our beloved member Mark Beck who passed away on December 16.
Events at Third Haven:
Be sure to check out the Calendar for more events not listed here!
Announcements from Third Haven's Committees:
- From our Treasurer:
- The following are now available: FY 2022-2023 Budget, Income & Expenses Budget vs. Actual Year-to-Date, 6/19/22
- How to Support Our Quaker Meeting:
Since its incorporation in 1948, the Trustees of Third Haven Monthly Meeting have been able to grow an endowment fund for the support of the Meeting through gifts, bequests and thoughtful investing. Thanks to these financial reserves, the Trustees are able to pay the annual insurance bill and assist each year with capital expenses that are beyond the budget of the Property and Grounds Committee. Projects have ranged in size from recent improvements to the Common Room to the 1990's major restoration of the Old Meeting House, at a cost of $435,000.
The majority of the funds held by the Trustees are invested in three accounts at Friends Fiduciary Corporation, a Quaker non-profit organization that provides socially responsible investment services to Friends meetings, schools and organizations. Third Haven Friends Meeting also has been judicious in its expenditures and managed investments, some of which are held at Friends Fiduciary as well.
Friends Fiduciary offers help with Planned Giving for individual Friends. The Trustees of Third Haven Meeting's mission of preservation of our historic property and Third Haven Friends Meeting, our active Quaker meeting, are certainly two worthy recipients of our donations.
Gifts to the Trustees are vital for maintaining and improving our buildings and grounds. Donors may consult this pamphlet for help "letting their lives speak" during their estate and contemporary donation planning. Please consider an outright gift or a planned gift to the Trustees of Third Haven Meeting, c/o Diana Rein, Treasurer, 9249 High Banks Drive, Easton, Md. 21601
Gifts to Third Haven are essential to sustaining our operating budget. Donations are encouraged annually and through estate planning to Third Haven Friends Meeting, Cynthia Quast, Treasurer, P.O. Box 2379, Easton, Md. 21601.
- Thoughts on a more Settled Meeting: Quakers have come up with practices that are most conducive to a settled meeting. Please review the following link.
This document was prepared by Third Haven Friends Meeting Facilities Use Committee is attached here to guide us through the process of setting up and running our meetings.
- Third Haven hosted its annual mindfulness outdoor summer camp this past week. We had 15 kids sign up with our wonderful FDS teachers Cherie Baron and Kristen Hanlon as teachers. Each day the kids arrived at 9 am and we're greeted by our Junior Counselor, Liam Ewing. Kids played and connected with others as the teachers set up for the day.
- Day 1: with helpers John Schreiner and Jonathan Williams, the kids made telescopes from cut out paper to see objects in nature more closely. During their walk about the grounds the kids collected bits of nature to be spray painted later.
- Day 2: Today's theme was concentric circles and making mandalas. The kids looked for and collected more objects to make natural mandala art that can still be seen down by the stream bed.
- Day 3: The theme this day was "Communities" and the kids learned about communities in the ground as well as on earth and in the sky. The ending project was painting an old wooden pallet from Clays stock using the boards as environmental layers. (This is currently against the wall near the common room) The day ended with Jonathan Williams volunteering again to let the kids play his ukuleles and Susan and the camp singing "All God's Critters".
- Final Day: the campers spent the morning making beautiful bead work which was woven around a wooden stick frame. This creation was later presented to the residents and staff of Candlelight Cove. As the kids made their way there, they followed a story of just pictures along the paths to the stream. Once at the stream Bill Lane showed up with a healthy box turtle which he found on the grounds and the kids enjoyed immensely. Kristina Herold walked with the camp all the way to Candlelight Cove where the kids presented their homemade gift.
Please contact Susan Claggett with any questions.
- The Guide for Giving:
Testimonies and Concerns Committee has prepared The Guide for Giving, an annotated list of non-profit, charitable organizations who sustain values and priorities in keeping with our Queries. Please click here to view the guide. - Minutes for Testimonies and Concerns Meeting, 9/06/20.
Announcements about Local Non-profits or Faith Organizations:
- Detention Center Library:
A small group from Third Haven and friends maintain the library at the Talbot County Detention Center. This was started many years ago by Ralph and Mary Young. The group would benefit from added members to replace the ones we've lost in the past couple years. Each volunteer works with a partner about once a month for about two hours. It involves checking books in and out with contact only with detention center staff. If you have time and inclination to join us please contact Stephanie French or Molly Brian. - Help Needed to Reopen Asbury:
Work at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Easton is nearing completion. Friends helped last year with major fundraising which enabled complete safety renovations for stable floors and improved indoor air quality. During renovations in 2021, town inspectors identified and required certain design changes which have delayed reopening and increased construction costs by $50,000. More than half of that burden has been raised. A funding gap of just over $20,000 remains. The contractor believes that temporary access for congregants can be granted for use of the sanctuary in September, with completion of the first floor fellowship hall and kitchen some time in October. If Friends are moved to help reopen the doors for Asbury's food mission, contributions should be sent to:
Historic Easton Inc., P.O. Box 1071, Easton, MD 21601, marked "Asbury Building Fund".
Alternately, a GoFundMe fundraiser for Historic Easton's Help Reopen the Church that Feeds Our Neighbors Campaign can be accessed by clicking here. - Talbot Interfaith Shelter:
- Talbot Interfaith Shelter July statistics:
We are currently serving 48 people, including: 10 single individuals, 12 families, 22 children—guests range in age from 3 months to 60 years old. Third Haven is volunteering the day-time staffing and dinners for the Shelter each month on the 17th. Don't forget to help out. Please contact Sarah Sayre for more information. The Testimonies & Concerns Committee has agreed to reimburse the cost of food to anyone who prepares a meal for Talbot Interfaith Shelter. Our committee just needs the receipts. - Letter in Support of Talbot Interfaith Shelter
- Good News from the Talbot Interfaith Shelter: "We had a hearing with the Town of Easton Board of Zoning Appeals (BOZA) to determine whether we would receive a special exception permit to operate a second shelter facility at 109 Goldsborough Street, directly next door to Easton's Promise. We are thrilled to announce that the Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously to award us our permit, and that we will be moving forward with the purchase of 109 Goldsborough!" For more details, click here.
- Talbot Interfaith Shelter July statistics:
- PEARLS:
Stacy Ewing, of the Talbot County Health Department writes to our meeting, "I wanted to let you know about a home visiting program called PEARLS (Programs the one who should be able to get for Encouraging Active, Rewarding Lives)." Please click here for a brochure with more information. - Maryland Citizens's Health Initiative (MCHI) Request:
Third Haven has received a request from Nikki Richards of Homewood Friends Meeting in Baltimore asking us to endorse a resolution brought forward by their Maryland Citizens's Health Initiative (MCHI). If our Meeting supports the concept of equal access to quality, affordable healthcare for Marylanders we can help on this new Initiative to improve health equity. Health inequities based on race, ethnicity, and place of residence persist throughout the state, and have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Maryland Citizens's Health Initiative requests that community organizations, faith groups, small businesses, and others around the state sign on by September 16 in support of this life saving initiative. If it is the sense of our Meeting that we endorse this, our response can be forwarded to them. The Initiative's Resolution can be reached by clicking on this link. - Feed The Front is organized to connect donors, restaurants and volunteers to feed essential workers in Talbot County.
- Acts of Kindness: A Task Force volunteer provides interpretation services between Mid Shore ProBono attorneys and immigrants. Another volunteer has been reaching out to immigrant children through the arts, as part of an after school program sponsored by the Chesapeake Multi Cultural Resource Center. Another, expert in immigration law, filed objections to proposed regulations that would raise barriers to documented immigrants becoming citizens. 2 volunteers from the task force have reached out to the many other congregations throughout the county to expand the network of congregations associating with the task force. There are 6 local congregations that are already associated with the task force and include Temple B'nai Israel, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship At Easton, Third Haven Friends Meeting, Easton Church of the Brethren, Scott's United Methodist Church and Grace Lutheran Church.Reach out to: Helpingimmigrantstc@gmail.com.
- Talbot Interfaith Shelter:
Talbot Interfaith Shelter is opening their second house! Talbot Interfaith Shelter will be able to open the doors of "Evelyn's Place" right next door to the original shelter, "Easton's Promise." This means that more people will be able to benefit from the extraordinary program TIS provides to help people get from homelessness to self-support. For Third Haven Friends Meeting this means that our commitment must increase as well. Instead of every other month, alternating with Grace Lutheran Church, our meeting will provide dinner to one of the houses every month. We will work with Grace Lutheran to fill the shift teams. Sarah will not be in town on June 17, July 17, or August 17 this summer. We need volunteers from Third Haven to take the lead on these three dinners. Sarah has plenty of ideas for menus which can be easily put together, as well as instruction for delivery. The number and ages of the dinner guests will be provided a week or so ahead. Please contact Sarah Sayre for more information. The Testimonies & Concerns Committee has agreed to reimburse the cost of food to anyone who prepares a meal for Talbot Interfaith Shelter. Our committee just needs the receipts. - Opportunity: If you are interested in helping to start a worship service at Eastern Shore Correctional Institute, please call Molly Brian. No set schedule is yet formed on this, but we are trying to see if there is genuine interest in a project there.
- If you would like to make a public statement of your commitment to our Peace Testimony, the opportunity to do so exists eachThursday afternoon. Peace Vigils are held each Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. The Thursday vigil is held in Easton in front of the Talbot County Court House.
Announcements from Quaker Organizations:
- Quaker Voice of MD update: "Hard to believe we are already into week 2 of the General Assembly..." Please click here for more updates about Quaker Voice of MD!
- Updates from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM):
- An Urgent Call to the Religious Society of Friends:
This call to action from PYM was authored by a group of nineteen Quakers, who see forces at work in our country that undermine some of our basic values of equality, truth-telling, and deep listening. - Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions:
At Annual Sessions, there is something for everyone. On the schedule below, you will see opportunities for spiritual reflection, community connection, commitment to learning and action, and care for the Business of the Yearly Meeting. We welcome you to come as often or as little as fits in your schedule. Most events this year are Virtual, which means we welcome you on your lunch break at work, or after the kids have gone to bed. Your presence matters, and we can't wait to see you. To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvd-mhqTkjEtFpqpzfZwlp8r9nTAP6jmz3. - Supporting Children & Teens After Violent News:
In the last two weeks we have been repeatedly confronted with gun violence. The 3 recent events have happened in the kinds of everyday places that should be safe—the grocery store, church, and school. How do we talk to children about gun violence? - Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Response to the Crisis in Ukraine: Quakers from around the world are in anguish and deeply concerned with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Our hearts are with the people of Ukraine and Quakers in the affected areas in this dark time. As a historic peace church, we join our call for peace in the world to their cries for peace and help.
- Quaker Fund for Indigenous Communities:
Quakers from all parts of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting who support Indigenous communities through grants as well as advocacy. have adapted a new name, Quaker Fund For Indigenous Communities (formerly known as the Quaker Indian Affairs Committee). The Quaker Fund for Indigenous Communities provides seed money for projects identified and implemented by Native communities in the Philadelphia area and throughout North, Central and South America. These include projects to support language and culture so that children and youth benefit from the transmission of unique heritages from elders in their communities. This is an area with urgency as the elders of Native communities pass away and take with them irreplaceable knowledge. The committee hopes to build the fund, based on restricted endowments, to develop long term projects. - Quakerism and Constructive Conflict Addressed by Dr. Sa'ed Atshan
Dr. Sa'ed Atshan offered the closing keynote to 106 Friends at Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's 341st Annual Sessions with a talk on managing conflict within the Religious Society of Friends. He spoke of the powerful healing force of a humble, empathetic approach to difficult conversations. - Introducing Annual Sessions 2021 Keynote Speakers:
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's 341st Annual Sessions will be held virtually this year from July 27 through August 1, 2021. This year we have five keynote speakers, one for each day of Sessions week. We will be offering five and a half days of programming—including a retreat, All-Ages worship, business, youth programs, affinity groups, worship sharing, and bible study. - Part 2: Where are we going? Supporting Families and Religious Education in Meetings
This is the second of a two-part story focused on local meetings and the people who support children and youth programs and families in their community. Part two looks ahead to what's next in building all-ages spiritual community, with ideas and tools for meetings to use as they think about continuing or resuming RE programs in the fall. How can we balance new possibilities, health and safety, and support for adults who care for young people? - Help Us Address Racism
A sprint (a goal-oriented short-term team that tackles a project and does the work quickly) has formed under the care of PYM's Administrative Council to propose ways for our yearly meeting community to intentionally hold the work of anti-racism and anti-oppression. Learn more on how you can help. - Pathways to Ending Gun Violence: Legislative Solutions
On Saturday, April 10, the Legislative Policy Collaborative of PYM sponsored a virtual workshop on Pathways to Ending Gun Violence: Legislative Solutions. Nearly 120 people registered for this event—clearly, this is a topic of great concern to F/friends, as representatives from more than 30 meetings tuned in to get informed and to get involved. - Epistles And Minutes:
Before the first reading of the PYM epistle on Saturday night, PYM rising clerk, Melissa Rycroft, described an epistle as a letter that is "not written for those of us in PYM. It is our outgoing letter to others in the world". Epistles are not meant to be a recitation of everything that happened, instead minutes capture those details. Nor are epistles a travel-log or documentary. Melissa emphasized that an epistle actually tracks how the spirit has moved among us.
- An Urgent Call to the Religious Society of Friends:
- From Pendle Hill:
- May 25 (Wednesday), Revelation and Revolution:
Pendle Hill's Reading Group May 25, 2022 6:30-8:00pm Eastern Time via Zoom. Discussing Steve Chase's June 2015 pamphlet, Revelation and Revolution: Answering the Call to Radical Faithfulness (PHP #431). To register for free, click here. - Live Streaming links
- Online Meeting for Worship at Pendle Hill: In these challenging times, with social distancing particularly important for the safety of all our community members, Pendle Hill will now be offering online Meeting for Worship via Zoom each morning at 8:30am from the comfort of your home.
- May 25 (Wednesday), Revelation and Revolution:
- From Friends Committee on National Legislation:
Support The Bill: At the PYM ecojustice conference this past week, information was given on the Clean Energy Protection Program (CEPP). This will be debated in the US Congress in the next few weeks. If you want to support the bill, here is an easy link for you to send an email to our Congress people: https://fcnl.quorum.us/campaign/34603/?utm_source=fcnlaction. The instructions are simple, however it's a good idea to make the email your own by writing at least a personal statement at the start and the finish. The bill would help us move towards clean energy by 2030. For extra punch, mention the Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator (Called a National Climate Bank in the Senate), as this bill would help low income communities with a series of environmentally friendly loans.
Regular Announcements:
- Please remember to greet visitors to meeting—answer what questions they have about Friends, our buildings, our programs and activities. We are all emissaries of Third Haven.
- Contributions to the meeting can be made by way of the contributions box in the Brick Meetinghouse entranceway. Checks can also be sent to THMM, P.O. Box 2379, Easton, MD 21601; or by clicking on the button below:
- Are your names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail listings all correct in the Third Haven Directory? Please review your information at Directory. The online directory remains protected: please e-mail taniahharrison@gmail.com or hawkjm@goeaston.net if you need the password. If you have corrections for the Directory, please send them to 3rdhaven@gmail.com.
- Faith and Practice can be read and portions extracted from the PYM website at this link.
- If you have material for the newsletter, additional announcements, or added information about any of these posted events, please send it to 3rdhaven@gmail.com.