Announcements last updated January 20th, 2020:
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:
- Climate Crisis Action Group
A group of individuals from Third Haven are forming an environmental action group in response to the climate emergency which we are experiencing. We are inspired to focus on three areas: First, the current legislative session in Maryland, to support the passage of environmental legislation which will be introduced. Second, we want to focus on local initiatives and on working with our local legislators (state and local) to effect change on the Mid Shore, and third, we want to explore what changes we can undertake at Third Haven to respond to the climate crisis.
We are taking a lot of inspiration and direction currently from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and their lobbying arm, the CCAN Action Fund. There are three legislative bills that CCAN is endorsing this year: One is a large bill, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act (GGRA) of 2020. This will update the bill that was passed in 2016 and bring us in line with the latest science, which says that wealthy communities in wealthy countries such as ours need to take the lead by reducing our emissions by 60% by 2030. That's an aggressive goal although possibly not aggressive enough. I'm going to attach several items, one is related to this bill, and one to another proposed bill which will require the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to consider climate effects when evaluating requests for new electricity generating facilities in Maryland. The PSC made a public statement last year that they have never considered climate effects in the past, and that they are "bound by historic precedent." This bill will correct that by requiring the PSC to consider those effects. The third bill that CCAN is endorsing is a fix to the Clean Energy Jobs Act which passed last year, which would remove incinerated trash and toxic "black liquor" from the list of renewable energy sources.
January 18 [Saturday], Public Hearing: Climate
More immediately, some of us are going next Saturday, January 18, to Ocean City to a public hearing of the PSC regarding the two offshore wind projects which have been approved in Maryland but which once again are being challenged. Click here to register and meet us at 10am at the Third Haven parking lot if you would like to join us.
The next meeting of Third Haven's Climate Crisis Action Group will be Saturday, Feb. 8 in the Common Room, 11am to 1pm. We hope to offer other ways for Friends to get involved through letter-writing sessions following meeting for worship on some days. - January 19 [Sunday], First Day Conversation:
First Day Conversation will meet on Sunday, January 19th, from 9AM - 9:45AM in the Common Room. Our topic is: "Mystical Experience, the Bedrock of Quaker Faith". We will be working from an article written by Robert Acthley in the February 2017 Friends Journal available here. Coffee and pastries will be served. Everyone is welcome to join the conversation or come and listen and drink coffee. - Memorial Intentions Form:
For your personal planning, here is the link for the updated form for all members and attenders in keeping with the Meeting's latest burial policy. Please provide as much detail as you want and forward to The Pastoral Care Committee. The committee and the Meeting will help you fulfill your Memorial Intentions. - First Day School Updates:
- Updates from the Upstairs (and Outside) of the Meetinghouse: Today First Day School debuted our first Peacemakers series, led by Kulveen Virdee and Lisa Kluepfel—lessons to give kids a toolbox for creating inward peace. The topic today explored how to manage big emotions—what can you do when your heart feels hurt? or angry? or is racing with excitement? We read together the book, "In My Heart: A Book of Feelings", and shared how each us of feels better when upset. Ideas were hugs, yummy food, breathing calmly, exercising, and beating drums. And another tool we explored is using a little stress ball to squeeze. With balloons, rice and copious amounts of flour, our group of nine kids crafted and decorated homemade stress balls—and, boy, do they work well! Thank you to our teachers for leading such a meaningful and fun lesson! Next week, Susan (with assistance from Candace) will begin her Godly Play series, with the story of Creation.
- January 23 (Thursday), Thursday Evening Book Group:
All are invited to join the Thursday Evening Book Group. On January 23 at 6:30, we will discuss chapters 4-7 of Ben Pink Dandelion's book, The Quakers: A Very Short Introduction. Next meeting dates are: February 13 and March 19 (next readings to be announced). Contact: Gwen Beegle for more information and feel free to join us. - January 29 & 30 [Wednesday & Thursday], Beyond Diversity:
Talbot Family Network in partneship with Talbot County Public Schools will bring the Beyond Diversity training on racism and equity to the community! This is an interactive seminar that requires active engagement. They are seeking participants from diverse racial backgrounds to foster a rich discussion. Please share and/or plan to attend! For more information or to register, click one of the links below. Free and open to the public.- January 29 & 30, 2020, 8:15am - 4pm [also March 5 & 6, 2020]
- Register for January dates: https://bd-january.eventbrite.com
- Register for March dates: https://bd-march.eventbrite.com
- Location: Talbot County Education Center, 12 Magnolia St., Easton, MD
- Lunch will be provided. Seminar begins at 8:30am.
- January 25 [Saturday], Visitor/pen pal immigrant training:
The local Immigration Task Force is offering training for volunteers interested in being a visitor or a pen pal for people held in immigration detention in Snow Hill jail. There will be an information and training session on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 2-4 pm at the Faith Lutheran Church, 1416 Old Ocean City Road, Salisbury, MD 21804 co-sponsored by the DC Visitation Network and Worcester Immigration and Support Center. After training you will be able to participate in the monthly visitation program, held on the last Friday of the month, as consistently as you choose. Volunteers grow in their understanding of themselves and others, in their compassion for all people, and in their knowledge of our nation's immigration system and its impact on American and immigrant families alike. Your RSVP is necessary: Jane Conly. They are looking for a minimum of 10 people.
News of Friends, or friends of Friends:
- The Meeting is asked to hold Marie Leonard and her family in the Light. On December 25, 2019, Marie's father, Charles Willis Haines, who was 80 years old passed away, after a three month struggle with serious spinal injuries.
- Please hold Cathy and Norval Thompson in the Light. Cathy's mother, Carolyn Marvel, passed away during the night on December 20th. She had been living with them for almost three years.
- In the Light: Clay Owens's sister passed away Saturday, 12/7, morning at 4:30am at Easton hospital. We hold Clay and his family in the light.
Events at Third Haven:
Be sure to check out the Calendar for more events not listed here!
- Tuesday, January 21st, THE PRACTICE OF COURAGEOUS INQUIRY WORKSHOP:
6 Tuesdays 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. January 21 – February 25, 2020
At Third Haven Friends Meeting 405 S Washington St., Easton MD 21601.
During the workshop, participants will use questions on spirituality to live with purpose and courage. They will be chosen through quiet reflection, prayer and group discussion. Poetry, scripture, other inspirational material, contemplative and journaling exercises will be utilized to deepen the conversations each week. Participants will leave the Workshop knowing a way to form questions to live and practices to enable them to listen for answers. Pre-registration is required by Tuesday, January 14.- $75.00 per person
- Moderator: Linda Mastro
- Online: http://bit.ly/wisdomcirc
- Email: info@retreathousehillsboro.org
- Mail: The Retreat House, P. O. Box 3, Hillsboro MD 21641
- Tuesday, January 21st, 7pm to 8pm: Light Meditation Group
All are invited to join in a Light Meditation at 7-8 pm in the Common Room on the following dates: January 21, February 6, February 18, March 5, and March 17 (first Thursdays and second Tuesdays). This is a guided meditation based on Rex Ambler's Experiment with Light. Contact Gwen Beegle for more information, and feel free to join us. - Thursday, January 23rd, 6:30pm: Thursday Evening Book Group
All are invited to join the Thursday Evening Book Group. On January 23 at 6:30, we will discuss chapters 4-7 of Ben Pink Dandelion's book, The Quakers: A Very Short Introduction. Next meeting dates are: February 13 and March 19 (next readings to be announced). Contact: Gwen Beegle for more information and feel free to join us. - Sunday, January 26th, 12pm to 1pm: Aging as Friends, Advocate Choice
An interactive session led by Dee Rein designed to help Friends choose family members and/or friends to serve as Health Care Advocate and/or Financial Power of Attorney and provide general support as we approach the end of life. - Sunday, February 16th, 11:30am: Aging as Friends, End of Life Planning:
Presentation by Connie Crow and Tom Corl centering around the Health Care Power of Attorney, 5 Wishes, and the Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatments (MOLST) forms. Participants will gain a better understanding of which forms apply to their circumstances. - Sunday, March 15th, 11:30am: Aging as Friends, Housing Options:
Presentation by Dee Rein and Adrienne Rudge on housing options for Friends who are unable to remain in their homes as they approach the end of life.
Announcements from Third Haven's Committees:
- From our Treasurer:
- Here is a recap of the Treasurer's financials for the 2nd Quarter of our 2019/2020 fiscal year, July 1 – December 31, 2019:
Member Contributions = $31,250 = 59% of annual budget
Total Income = $39,367 = 60% of annual budget
Total Expenses = $37,542 = 57% of annual budget
Net Income = $1,825/li> - Contributions Welcome! Please consider making a tax deductible contribution in support of our annual budget to:
Treasurer, Third Haven Monthly Meeting
PO Box 2379, Easton, MD 21601 - The following are now available: Approved Budget FY 2019-2020, Balance Sheet, 12/31/19; Income & Expenses Budget vs. Actual Year-to-Date, 12/31/19; Income & Expenses Budget, Prior Year Comparison, 12/31/19.
- Here is a recap of the Treasurer's financials for the 2nd Quarter of our 2019/2020 fiscal year, July 1 – December 31, 2019:
- Aging as Friends:
Pastoral Care Committee will sponsor three Aging as Friends Programs in 2020. All are welcome to attend.- JANUARY 26, 11:30am, Advocate Choice: An interactive session led by Dee Rein designed to help Friends choose family members and/or friends to serve as Health Care Advocate and/or Financial Power of Attorney and provide general support as we approach the end of life.
- FEBRUARY 16, 11:30am, End of Life Planning: Presentation by Connie Crow and Tom Corl centering around the Health Care Power of Attorney, 5 Wishes, and the Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatments (MOLST) forms. Participants will gain a better understanding of which forms apply to their circumstances.
- MARCH 15, 11:30am, Housing Options: Presentation by Dee Rein and Adrienne Rudge on housing options for Friends who are unable to remain in their homes as they approach the end of life.
- First Day School:
- Updates from the Upstairs (and Outside) of the Meetinghouse: Today First Day School debuted our first Peacemakers series, led by Kulveen Virdee and Lisa Kluepfel—lessons to give kids a toolbox for creating inward peace. The topic today explored how to manage big emotions—what can you do when your heart feels hurt? or angry? or is racing with excitement? We read together the book, "In My Heart: A Book of Feelings", and shared how each us of feels better when upset. Ideas were hugs, yummy food, breathing calmly, exercising, and beating drums. And another tool we explored is using a little stress ball to squeeze. With balloons, rice and copious amounts of flour, our group of nine kids crafted and decorated homemade stress balls—and, boy, do they work well! Thank you to our teachers for leading such a meaningful and fun lesson! Next week, Susan (with assistance from Candace) will begin her Godly Play series, with the story of Creation.
- From Outreach Committee:
- In 2020, Outreach Film Series:
The Outreach Committee is planning a new film series for after the first of the year. The committee needs Friends' help to identify themes. The themes for our first two film series were Race Relations; and Environmental Stewardship. The committee is already considering a few options: Immigration; Sexual Discrimination, Harassment and Abuse; Economic Inequality; Health Care. But they are also eager to hear your ideas. In addition suggesting a theme, please feel free to suggest specific movies (documentaries or feature films) that follow your theme. Please share your ideas with one of our committee members: Jeanne Halpin, Mary Yancey, Henry Lane, or Pete Howell.
- In 2020, Outreach Film Series:
- From Worship & Ministry:
- Evening Book Group will be meeting for the next 6 months on third Thursdays at 7:00 pm in the Common Room. Quaker and related spiritual books and pamphlets will be the focus of conversations. If you'd like to join this group, please contact Gwen Beegle. The book selected for September 19 is "The Quaker Way: A Rediscovery" by Rex Ambler. This book is also a key reading for the upcoming Quakerism 101.
- From Testionies & Concerns:
- Climate Crisis Action Group
A group of individuals from Third Haven are forming an environmental action group in response to the climate emergency which we are experiencing. We are inspired to focus on three areas: First, the current legislative session in Maryland, to support the passage of environmental legislation which will be introduced. Second, we want to focus on local initiatives and on working with our local legislators (state and local) to effect change on the Mid Shore, and third, we want to explore what changes we can undertake at Third Haven to respond to the climate crisis.
We are taking a lot of inspiration and direction currently from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and their lobbying arm, the CCAN Action Fund. There are three legislative bills that CCAN is endorsing this year: One is a large bill, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act (GGRA) of 2020. This will update the bill that was passed in 2016 and bring us in line with the latest science, which says that wealthy communities in wealthy countries such as ours need to take the lead by reducing our emissions by 60% by 2030. That's an aggressive goal although possibly not aggressive enough. I'm going to attach several items, one is related to this bill, and one to another proposed bill which will require the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to consider climate effects when evaluating requests for new electricity generating facilities in Maryland. The PSC made a public statement last year that they have never considered climate effects in the past, and that they are "bound by historic precedent." This bill will correct that by requiring the PSC to consider those effects. The third bill that CCAN is endorsing is a fix to the Clean Energy Jobs Act which passed last year, which would remove incinerated trash and toxic "black liquor" from the list of renewable energy sources.
January 18 [Saturday], Public Hearing: Climate
More immediately, some of us are going next Saturday, January 18, to Ocean City to a public hearing of the PSC regarding the two offshore wind projects which have been approved in Maryland but which once again are being challenged. Click here to register and meet us at 10am at the Third Haven parking lot if you would like to join us.
The next meeting of Third Haven's Climate Crisis Action Group will be Saturday, Feb. 8 in the Common Room, 11am to 1pm. We hope to offer other ways for Friends to get involved through letter-writing sessions following meeting for worship on some days. - MCC detainee care kits:
Friends in Maryland may wish to participate in providing supplies for detainees with the Mennonite Central Committee. MCC is partnering with the South Texas Response Team, a group of local pastors working with Catholic Charities Respite Center in McAllen, Good Neighbor Settlement House in Brownsville, Loaves and Fishes in Harlingen, Angry Tias & Abuelas in the Rio Grande Valley and other partners to distribute kits to people as they leave detention and are taken to bus stations or airports to reconnect with their families. When people who have been placed in immigration detention centers are released, they sometimes have nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Kits containing clothing and hygiene products can help them to rebuild their dignity as they transition into life outside the detention center. Kit contents packing list and shipping information, please click here.
- Climate Crisis Action Group
Announcements about Local Non-profits or Faith Organizations:
- January 29 & 30 [Wednesday & Thursday], Beyond Diversity:
Talbot Family Network in partneship with Talbot County Public Schools will bring the Beyond Diversity training on racism and equity to the community! This is an interactive seminar that requires active engagement. They are seeking participants from diverse racial backgrounds to foster a rich discussion. Please share and/or plan to attend! For more information or to register, click one of the links below. Free and open to the public.- January 29 & 30, 2020, 8:15am - 4pm [also March 5 & 6, 2020]
- Register for January dates: https://bd-january.eventbrite.com
- Register for March dates: https://bd-march.eventbrite.com
- Location: Talbot County Education Center, 12 Magnolia St., Easton, MD
- Lunch will be provided. Seminar begins at 8:30am.
- January 25 [Saturday], Visitor/pen pal immigrant training:
The local Immigration Task Force is offering training for volunteers interested in being a visitor or a pen pal for people held in immigration detention in Snow Hill jail. There will be an information and training session on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 2-4 pm at the Faith Lutheran Church, 1416 Old Ocean City Road, Salisbury, MD 21804 co-sponsored by the DC Visitation Network and Worcester Immigration and Support Center. After training you will be able to participate in the monthly visitation program, held on the last Friday of the month, as consistently as you choose. Volunteers grow in their understanding of themselves and others, in their compassion for all people, and in their knowledge of our nation's immigration system and its impact on American and immigrant families alike. Your RSVP is necessary: Jane Conly. They are looking for a minimum of 10 people. - 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.
- DREAMERS: Friends concerned about the well being of the DREAMERS in our local community and throughout the US may join with the PEACE Vigil on Thursday evenings in front of the courthouse grounds on Washington St in Easton from 5-5:30 pm. We have placards for the DREAMERS or you may bring your own. Contact Jeanne Halpin.
- If you would like to make a public statement of your commitment to our Peace Testimony, the opportunity to do so exists each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Peace Vigils are held each Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. The Tuesday vigil is held in Centerville in front of the Queen Anne's County Court House and the Thursday vigil is held in Easton in front of the Talbot County Court House. You are welcome to come at any time during the vigil and stay as long as you wish.
Announcements from Quaker Organizations:
- From Philadelphia Yearly Meeting:
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Survey:
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting asks all members/attenders to send in a "self portrait" reflecting their talents/ gifts/ ideas etc. Please go to this link and share your portrait.
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Survey:
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.