Announcements last updated March 16th, 2024:
Section Links:
New Announcements | News of Friends | Events at Third Haven | Committee Announcements | Announcements about Local Non-Profits | Announcements from Quaker Organizations | Regular Announcements
New Announcements:
- News of Friends:
- Please hold in the Light Amy Kimball and Amy's husband David, who were in a severe car crash on 3/10. Our thoughts are with them.
- Aging as Friends Estate Planning, March 17th:
The Pastoral Care Committee will conclude its Aging as Friends series, with a session on Estate Planning, on 3.17.24, in the common room, after hospitality. Web links, handouts and additional information will be provided. Bill Schauer and Tom Corl will present and facilitate the discussion. - March 24 (Sunday) Meeting for Worship followed by Quakerism 101
Meeting for Worship will be held in the brick meetinghouse from 10-11 a.m. with simultaneous virtual meeting available on Zoom. Quakerism 101: Decision-Making in the Manner of Friends, conclusion of the Quakerism 101 program, sponsored by the Worship and Ministry Committee, led by co-clerk Tom Corl, in the common room, following hospitality. Friends are encouraged to read the updated paper, "Decision-Making in the Manner of Friends”. - First Day School Updates:
It was great to have 5 kids at FDS this morning! Miss Cherie posed some thoughtful questions about inner peace and the kids created metal and clay sculptures. Miss Cherie is also teaching next week- yeah!!!! Summer Camp dates are here! June 24-27. Just a reminder of our annual Easter celebration on March 31. We hope you are making plans to attend and bring the whole family. Have a great week!!
First Day School Activities:
- March 17: FDS w Miss Cherie; please rsvp for these Sundays (Miss Cherie loves to plan!)
- March 24: Testimonies
- MARCH 31: EASTER EASTER EGG HUNT and POTLUCK; please bring a basket and 1/2 doz hardboiled eggs for dyeing by the First Day School children with Easter egg hunt to follow.
- April/May: outdoor learning
- June 30 - July 7: Friends General conference in Haverford PA. This is another exciting opportunity to gather with other Quaker families in community. Check out Friends General Conference: The Gathering.
- Susan Claggett is starting the ball rolling for our annual summer Mindfulness camp. I am excited our wonderful teachers will return as well as Amy O and her kids from NC. (Welcome back!!) The dates are June 24-27 with two camps, morning and afternoon. Susan Claggett has secured the common room for that week and will be point person for onsite preps. As the saying goes “It takes a village” so I am so appreciative of your support and help in making this camp a success and fun!!! Please contact Susan Claggett with any questions and to help with details.
- March 15 (Friday), Zoom Happier Hour 7 PM:
Zoom happier hour conversation is scheduled on Fridays at 7:00 pm. Typically, about 5-6 people use the hour to reconnect, share news and again, offer fellowship. Please consider joining our group this evening. - Join us for a day of peace and inward renewal! Inward Bound Quiet Day, March 19, 2024; 10am to 3pm (pot-luck lunch at 12 noon)
Common Room and grounds of Third Haven Friends Meeting
Join TH Friends in a silent retreat that offers a day of listening for the Light within, contemplation, reading, walking the grounds, writing, and self-chosen art activities. We enjoy a shared, silent potluck lunch, and end our session with a short sharing session. Come for all or part of the retreat. Information and/or RSVP: Katherine Johnson.
Please CLICK HERE for a flyer with more information! - March 21 (Thursday). Reading the Gospels as Friends continues 4:30-6:00 p.m. in the common room, continuing our reading of John.
- March Conversation on Race, 3/25:
You're invited to be part of the March Conversation on Race. Conversations on Race is a program that brings together interested community members for thoughtful and productive dialogue about the impact of race on their lives and in our community. Each monthly session has a new theme, allowing newcomers and returning participants to take part in the facilitated discussion. Please share this invitation with other concerned community members in your network. Even better, invite someone to come with you. A light meal and refreshments will be provided.- Monday, March 25, 2024 5:30-7:30pm at the Easton Family YMCA (202 Peachblossom Road)
- REGISTER HERE
- Annual Spiritual Formation Retreat, April 19-21, 2024
Listening One Another Into Wholeness
Nurture your spirit with a weekend retreat designed to uplift your sense of hope and interconnectedness through listening deeply to self, others and to nature. We will have the opportunity for loving conversations and activities with fellow travelers on the Spiritual Journey. We are pleased to provide an opportunity to gather with, O, a member of the Central Philadelphia Meeting and a seasoned facilitator of workshops focused on Quaker values rooted in love, peace, and social justice. Additionally, we will be joined by Molly Hicks, a member of Old Haverford Meeting, who will share her creative music and songs that express her spiritual relationship with God and with others. We will meet at Pendle Hill in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, a beautiful Quaker Retreat Center on 24 acres. Enjoy comfortable accommodations and delicious homemade meals, made with local organic ingredients.
REGISTER HERE.
News of Friends, or friends of Friends:
- Please hold in the Light Amy Kimball and Amy's husband David, who were in a severe car crash on 3/10. Our thoughts are with them.
- Condolences to the family of Debbie Rossiter Cox Deborah Cox 83, a longtime member of Third Haven Monthly Meeting, passed away after an extended battle with Alzheimer’s Disease on February 16th, 2024, at Talbot Hospice in Easton. As a nurse practitioner, Debbie’s love was for the less fortunate with the most challenging health care needs. She is survived by her daughter; Brittain Shaw, son; John Shaw, and her four grandchildren, her aunt Janine, stepson David Cox and step-granddaughter Jamie Cox, and husband Doyle. A memorial service will be held at Third Haven Friends Meeting House in the near future. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Talbot Hospice, 586 Cynwood Dr., Easton, MD or the Alzheimer’s Association
- Mary Yancey continues to recuperate at home. She is alert and can text and talk on the phone for brief calls. Speech is coming right along although still a little garbled. She still might not want visitors for a while.
- Beverley Martin has recently had surgery. She would appreciate being held in the Light, receiving cards and/or any warm, healing energy. Her daughter is staying with her for two weeks.
- Melissa Grant asks that we hold her cousin and the cousin’s son in the light during a family emergency.
- Jonathan Slocum asks we hold the family of Enrico Conti, recently deceased father of Jonathan’s brother in law, in the light.
- Paige Tilghman asks we hold in the Light previous attender Carol Reed and her family on the sudden loss of her nephew.
- CONDOLENCES: Our condolences go to Winslow Womack and his entire family on the passing of Helen on Friday, December 1. Helen was a huge contributor to the life of Third Haven Friends Meeting and will be missed.
- We send our condolences to Sumner Parker and family on the loss of his wife Fran.
- Tom Corl asks Friends to hold the Spirit of his nephew Craig Deem in the Light. Craig died in early October, age 69. Craig’s father Art Deem died in December 2020, age 95. Craig’s mother, Tom’s sister Ruth, died in September 2022, age 92. They are survived by Craig’s older Brother David Deem. Hold David in the Light as well.
- Dee Rein asks that we please hold in the Light her brother Max’s extended family and all other families in British Columbia, Hawaii and the U.S. West dealing with fire dangers.
- Connie Lewis asks that we hold Larry in the Light with surgery impending.
- Friends are asked to hold in the Light Tom and Samantha McCall and their family as they deal with Samantha’s health challenges.
Events at Third Haven:
Be sure to check out the Calendar for more events not listed here!
- Sunday, March 17th, 11:30am: Aging as Friends Estate Planning
The Pastoral Care Committee will conclude its Aging as Friends series, with a session on Estate Planning, on 3.17.24, in the common room, after hospitality. Web links, handouts and additional information will be provided. Bill Schauer and Tom Corl will present and facilitate the discussion. - Tuesday, March 19th, 10am to 3pm: Inward Bound Quiet Day
Join us for a day of peace and inward renewal!
Common Room and grounds of Third Haven Friends Meeting
Join TH Friends in a silent retreat that offers a day of listening for the Light within, contemplation, reading, walking the grounds, writing, and self-chosen art activities. We enjoy a shared, silent potluck lunch, and end our session with a short sharing session. Come for all or part of the retreat. Information and/or RSVP: Katherine Johnson.
Please CLICK HERE for a flyer with more information! - Thursday, March 21st, 4:30 - 6:00pm: Reading the Gospels as Friends
In the common room, continuing our reading of John. - Sunday, March 24th, Quakerism 101 following Meeting for Worship
Meeting for Worship will be held in the Brick Meeting House from 10-11 a.m. with simultaneous virtual meeting available on Zoom. Quakerism 101: Decision-Making in the Manner of Friends, conclusion of the Quakerism 101 program, sponsored by the Worship and Ministry Committee, led by co-clerk Tom Corl, in the common room, following hospitality. Friends are encouraged to read the updated paper, "Decision-Making in the Manner of Friends”.
Announcements from Third Haven's Committees:
- AGING AS FRIENDS:
Third Haven Friends Meeting Pastoral Care Committee invites you to join us for a series of conversations designed to assist Friends as we walk the path of aging together.- Estate Planning, Hosts: Tom Corl & Bill Schauer March 17
- From our Treasurer/Budget & Finance:
- Special Announcement from Budget & Finance Committee:
Dear Friends,
As announced at the close of Meeting by our Treasurer, we want to congratulate and thank all the Members and Attenders who generously helped us reach our financial goals this past year. With the extraordinary help of the Trustees, the Monthly Meeting was able to cover all Operating Expenses. THANK YOU!
Now, it starts all over again as the Meeting has approved a new operating budget of over $71000. This figure represents the financial commitment that clerks expect to spend to accomplish all the activities of the Meeting plus the routine operating and administrative expenses that allow the Meeting to function throughout the year.
We thank everyone and ask again for your continued generous financial support as we dutifully manage our expenses in our new 2023-24 fiscal year.
With respect and gratitude, Bill Lane, Clerk of Budget and Finance - Income & Expenses Budget vs. Actual Year-to-Date, 12/19/22
- 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.
- The following are now available: FY 2022-2023 Budget, Income & Expenses Budget vs. Actual Year-to-Date, 6/19/22
- Special Announcement from Budget & Finance Committee:
- 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.
It was great to have 5 kids at FDS this morning! Miss Cherie posed some thoughtful questions about inner peace and the kids created metal and clay sculptures. Miss Cherie is also teaching next week- yeah!!!! Summer Camp dates are here! June 24-27. Just a reminder of our annual Easter celebration on March 31. We hope you are making plans to attend and bring the whole family. Have a great week!!
First Day School Activities:
- March 17: FDS w Miss Cherie; please rsvp for these Sundays (Miss Cherie loves to plan!)
- March 24: Testimonies
- MARCH 31: EASTER EASTER EGG HUNT and POTLUCK; please bring a basket and 1/2 doz hardboiled eggs for dyeing by the First Day School children with Easter egg hunt to follow.
- April/May: outdoor learning
- June 30 - July 7: Friends General conference in Haverford PA. This is another exciting opportunity to gather with other Quaker families in community. Check out Friends General Conference: The Gathering.
- Susan Claggett is starting the ball rolling for our annual summer Mindfulness camp. I am excited our wonderful teachers will return as well as Amy O and her kids from NC. (Welcome back!!) The dates are June 24-27 with two camps, morning and afternoon. Susan Claggett has secured the common room for that week and will be point person for onsite preps. As the saying goes “It takes a village” so I am so appreciative of your support and help in making this camp a success and fun!!! Please contact Susan Claggett with any questions and to help with details.
- 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 Talbot County Detention Center Library needs an additional volunteer. It involves one session of about two hours a month. The time is somewhat flexible—what you and your partner decide. The work involves checking books in and out for the guards to distribute to the inmates. Contact Stephanie French if you have time and inclination to join us. - The Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform (MAJR) reports their efforts, in the 2023 Maryland General Assembly Session, found success in passing some bills, partial-success with others, and still are building support for many more important bills. See additional information at their website.
- Talbot Interfaith Shelter:
Because THFM has been a stalwart supplier of dinners since the very earliest days, we were asked to yield to a new team for the 17th of the month. So we are released from that commitment. Thanks to all of you who provided food and cooked over the years. Lately we have had fun cooking together in the Common Room kitchen. We are still charged with helping to provide "Housesitting" during weekdays on the 17th so that the staff doesn't have to answer the door or phone, or can go off-site. Please contact Sarah Sayre if you can help! - 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.
- 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 Maryland just launched their legislative priority survey and are seeking input from Quakers across Maryland. Results of the survey will guide discerning 2024 legislative priorities. Submissions are due by midnight on January 8th, 2024. You can access the brief survey link and learn more here: Quaker Voice Survey.
- Updates from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM):
- Annual Spiritual Formation Retreat, April 19-21, 2024
Listening One Another Into Wholeness
Nurture your spirit with a weekend retreat designed to uplift your sense of hope and interconnectedness through listening deeply to self, others and to nature. We will have the opportunity for loving conversations and activities with fellow travelers on the Spiritual Journey. We are pleased to provide an opportunity to gather with, O, a member of the Central Philadelphia Meeting and a seasoned facilitator of workshops focused on Quaker values rooted in love, peace, and social justice. Additionally, we will be joined by Molly Hicks, a member of Old Haverford Meeting, who will share her creative music and songs that express her spiritual relationship with God and with others. We will meet at Pendle Hill in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, a beautiful Quaker Retreat Center on 24 acres. Enjoy comfortable accommodations and delicious homemade meals, made with local organic ingredients.
REGISTER HERE. - Young Adult Friend Alex Emmert, Wicomico River Monthly Meeting, Shares Experience With Quakerism and Annual Sessions
Written on: August 3, 2023
We sat down with 19 yr. old Young Adult Friend, Alex Emmert from Wicomico River Monthly Meeting to find out what drew him to Quakerism from his upbringing as Baptist, what he enjoyed most about Annual Sessions and what he is looking forward to seeing from Quakers in the next decade. Alex shares his personal, truthful experiences with Quakerism and insights on outreach to other young adults seeking solid spiritual grounding. To see Alex's story, use this link: https://www.pym.org/young-adult-friend-alex-emmert-shares-experience-with-quakerism-and-annual-sessions/. - 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. - 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.
- 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.
- Annual Spiritual Formation Retreat, April 19-21, 2024
- 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.
- 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. - Food Pantry Donations: We continue to support our community at the Neighborhood Service Center with donations of nonperishable food. Please remember to bring an item First Day and contribute to the bin outside the Meeting House. Food is then delivered on Tuesdays to the Neighborhood Service Center.