Third Haven Monthly Meeting 2017
State of the Meeting Report
THMM continues as a vibrant community. This year we added three new members, lost three well-loved members, and received two membership transfers, bringing THMM total membership to 162. Meetings for worship offer strong spiritual nurture, and weekly attendance is stable (40-65/First Day). Our historical significance and rich spiritual life continue to draw Quaker visitors as well as seekers from many places and backgrounds.
The Meeting is strong financially, with adequate reserves, and finished the fiscal year with a healthy surplus. TH committees continued to function well, enabling us to fulfill the work we are called to do.
Ongoing programs include:
- Inward Bound Spiritual Retreats
- First Day Conversations
- PEACE vigils
- Marilla's Lunches
- Weekly Donations to local Food Pantries
- Talbot County Detention Center Library
- A Course in Miracles
- Spiritual Journeys
- Talbot Clergy and Laity meetings
- Midweek Meeting for Worship
- SMART Recovery group
Annual events including:
- New Member and Attenders Luncheon
- Participation in a Multicultural Fair
- Easter Egg Hunt
- "Moving Up" Day
- Wreath Decorating and Children's Christmas program
- Spring and Fall Clean Up Days
One of the more visible projects this year was a "functional update" of the Common Room, built in 1983. Highlights include sound control in the main room, conversion of lighting to LED, and updating the kitchen. The result is a more useable and attractive space that should serve us for many years to come.
In addition to ongoing programs, we had several special events this year.
- January: 25 members participated in a Clerking Workshop with Arthur Larrabee.
- February-March: Worship & Ministry held ongoing sessions discussing revisions in Faith and Practice
- February: THMM hosted the Friends General Conference nominating Committee Annual retreat.
- March: Marcelle Martin spoke to us kicking off our nine month Spiritual Formation Group in which 18 members and attenders of THMM participated.
- March: Property & Grounds began work on boundary restoration clearing of overgrown vegetation with environmentally sound land and stream work.
- Summer: Outreach held a series of Family Fun Nights at a local park for the community at large. First Day School placed a tire swing in our old magnolia.
- September: Revised the Facilities Use Policies for clarity and consistency.
Outreach and Overseers family picnic. - October: Scholarship awarded grants to nine of our Quaker students throughout the year.
- November: The Shoffner Education Fund continues to support Susana Ramirez's medical school education in Bolivia for the 5th year. We approved an increase in our annual charitable giving and sent checks to 13 different organizations. Testimonies & Concerns helped us pass a minute to stand for Nuclear Disarmament that we forwarded to FCNL. Over 200 trees planted!
- December: The Easton Christmas parade Peace float held Third Haven members and attenders. We have finished out our year by holding our Christmas Eve Day worship in our 333 and 1/3 year-old meeting house (with no heat) complete with a wonderful First Day program and a hot and hearty luncheon. This was a perfect way for us to appreciate our blessing especially that of our community of THMM.
Molly Brian, clerk