Announcements last updated September 27th, 2023:
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New Announcements | News of Friends | Events at Third Haven | Committee Announcements | Announcements about Local Non-Profits | Announcements from Quaker Organizations | Regular Announcements
New Announcements:
- First Day School Updates:
Greetings from FDS: this past Sunday we had a wonderful turn out of kids, 9 kids in all representing 6 families. We welcomed a new family, the Sevons, and we welcomed back the Whalen/Virdee family. During the kids’ program, the children shared "their favorite place". Later they shared more in depth in pairs. We ate apple slices and heard the poem “Johnny Appleseed.” Later we walked around in the grounds collecting different leaves and identifying some of our tree species. Sally Claggett, with a US Forest Service background assisted in teaching the kids. Afterwards all families got to enjoy waffles and made-to-order omelets in the common room. Special thanks go to Kevin Walsh for the waffle brunch idea, making waffles and for setting up the room, Steve Meixner for omelet making, Evan Claggett as sous chef, Melissa Grant provided yummy fresh eggs and helped with clean up, Megan D’Arcy for a yummy chickpea salad. Finally, an EXTRA BIG thanks to Mary Yancey who helped with set up AND clean up and prepared much of Sunday’s meal. Thank you, Mary!!!
- Oct 1: Integrity, Cherie/Kristin
- Oct 8: Peace
- Oct 15: Community, Cherie
- Oct 21: Halloween 🎃 Family Fun night Common room 5-8pm. Dinner provided, please bring pumpkin to carve or a spooky story to share.
- Oct 22: Simplicity
- Oct 29: Stewardship
- October 8 (Sunday) Meeting for Worship, Followed by Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business:
Meeting for Worship will be held in the Old Meeting House from 10-11 a.m. with simultaneous virtual meeting. Meeting for Business will convene at approximately 11:30 a.m. If you have items for the Meeting for Business agenda, transmit then to co-clerk, Tom Corl by e-mail by Tuesday October 3rd. Information can be presented orally. If you intend to request Meeting action, please present you item in writing and submit it by Wednesday October 5th to Tom Corl and recording clerk, Dee Rein. It is advantageous for Meeting understanding to have items written, in advance. - October 15 (Sunday) Southern Quarterly Meeting:
Lewes Worship Group is excited to welcome all to the next Southern Quarterly Meeting on October 15th, 2023. Meeting for Worship will be held at The Moorings (formerly Cadbury) at Lewes located on Gills Neck Road, Lewes, DE
Schedule for Quarterly Meeting:- 9:30am Welcome & Coffee in Kalmar Nyckle Auditorium
- 10:00am Meeting forWorship
- 11:00am Program
- 12:30pm Lunch provided by the Moorings and Lewes Worship Group
- September 29 (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. - Co-Clerk Absences Tom Corl will be away September 1-5. Molly Brian will be away on September 10. Molly will be in New Zealand, departing about September 13, and returning in January 2024. In her absence, direct items and information concerning the clerk to Tom.
- Nanticoke River Jamboree:
Mary Yancey recommends an event important to our Nanticoke Indian friends and suggests a group from Third Haven attend in the spirit of equity. Nanticoke River Jamboree is coming on October 14, 2023 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join us for the Mid-shore’s largest living history event! As a designated Heritage Area in Dorchester County, Maryland, sponsored by the volunteers and Trustees at Handsell. Contact Mary Yancey for further information or CLICK HERE for more information. - Third Haven Friends Art Show & Sale 2023:
We are planning an Art Show & Sale for Saturday, December 2nd from 11am-3pm. Third Haven Friends Meeting and affiliated artists are invited to show their artwork & crafts. Participation fee is $20 and a portion of each artist’s sales will be donated to Third Haven. If you are interested in participating or have questions, please contact Marie Leonard by September 29th for more details. - It's A Super Quaker Weekend Just Ahead of World Quaker Day! Get ready for a Super Quaker Weekend! During the last weekend in September, PYM Youth Staff will be joining in youth and family-centered events throughout the region, leading up to World Quaker Day on Sunday, October 1st, hosted by our friends at Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC). No matter where you are located within PYM, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and participate in during this Fall weekend. All are welcome! Super Quaker Weekend link
- Faithful Green Leaders:
Third Haven will be hosting an online Faithful Green Leaders Training taught by Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake (IPC) on Thursdays, October 12, 19 and 26 from 7 to 8:30 pm. This training is to build a strong team of environmental stewards and action leaders in the Meeting and among other congregations. We will be inviting other congregations to join us in the Common Room to participate in the training together. More information can be found at interfaithchesapeake.org. Save the dates and plan to become one of our Chesapeake champions! Let Mary Yancey or Jon Williams know if you're interested, and/or register online at the IPC website.
News of Friends, or friends of Friends:
- 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.
- Our condolences go to the family of David Stout. A memorial service at Third Haven will be planned.
- Memorial Reception: The Family of Dr. James Gieske will hold a family receiving line in the Third Haven Common Room on Wednesday August 23rd from 12-3pm. This is held for the community to give condolences. Since there will be a large crowd expected, please park on Trippe Ave if you plan on coming to show your respect. If you are able to help the gathering as an attendant or as a car parker, please contact Molly or Tom Corl.
- Friends are asked to hold in the Light Tom and Samantha McCall and their family as they deal with Samantha’s health challenges.
- Our condolences go out to Robert Gladney on the loss of his brother, Ed.
- Tom Corl requests we hold in the Light his sister Helen and her son Craig.
- Dee Rein asks for you hold in the Light her brother, Roland, and his wife, Robin, as she commences an 18 week course of chemotherapy to be followed by radiation.
Events at Third Haven:
Be sure to check out the Calendar for more events not listed here!
- October 8 (Sunday) Meeting for Worship, Followed by Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business:
Meeting for Worship will be held in the Old Meeting House from 10-11 a.m. with simultaneous virtual meeting. Meeting for Business will convene at approximately 11:30 a.m. If you have items for the Meeting for Business agenda, transmit then to co-clerk, Tom Corl by e-mail by Tuesday October 3rd. Information can be presented orally. If you intend to request Meeting action, please present you item in writing and submit it by Wednesday October 5th to Tom Corl and recording clerk, Dee Rein. It is advantageous for Meeting understanding to have items written, in advance.
Announcements from Third Haven's Committees:
- 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.
- Oct 1: Integrity, Cherie/Kristin
- Oct 8: Peace
- Oct 15: Community, Cherie
- Oct 21: Halloween 🎃 Family Fun night Common room 5-8pm. Dinner provided, please bring pumpkin to carve or a spooky story to share.
- Oct 22: Simplicity
- Oct 29: Stewardship
Greetings from FDS: this past Sunday we had a wonderful turn out of kids- 9 kids in all representing 6 families. We welcomed a new family, the Sevons, and we welcomed back the Whalen/Virdee family. During the kids’ program, the children shared “their favorite place.” Later they shared more in depth in pairs. We ate apple slices and heard the poem “Johnny Appleseed.” Later we walked around in the grounds collecting different leaves and identifying some of our tree species. Sally Claggett, with a US Forest Service background assisted in teaching the kids. Afterwards all families got to enjoy waffles and made-to-order omelets in the common room.Special thanks go to Kevin Walsh for the waffle brunch idea, making waffles and for setting up the room, Steve Meixner for omelet making, Evan Claggett as sous chef, Melissa Grant provided yummy fresh eggs and helped with clean up, Megan D’Arcy for a yummy chickpea salad. Finally, an EXTRA BIG thanks to Mary Yancey who helped with set up AND clean up and prepared much of Sunday’s meal. Thank you, Mary!!!
- 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:
- Hispanic Heritage Month:
Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center is sponsoring an annual celebration from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in recognition of the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans in their history, culture, and achievements for the United States. - Nanticoke River Jamboree:
Mary Yancey recommends an event important to our Nanticoke Indian friends and suggests a group from Third Haven attend in the spirit of equity. Nanticoke River Jamboree is coming on October 14, 2023 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join us for the Mid-shore’s largest living history event! As a designated Heritage Area in Dorchester County, Maryland, sponsored by the volunteers and Trustees at Handsell. Contact Mary Yancey for further information. - Faithful Green Leaders:
Third Haven will be hosting an online Faithful Green Leaders Training taught by Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake (IPC) on Thursdays, October 12, 19 and 26 from 7 to 8:30 pm. This training is to build a strong team of environmental stewards and action leaders in the Meeting and among other congregations. We will be inviting other congregations to join us in the Common Room to participate in the training together. More information can be found at interfaithchesapeake.org. Save the dates and plan to become one of our Chesapeake champions! Let Mary Yancey or Jon Williams know if you're interested, and/or register online at the IPC website. - 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. - 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. - 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:
- 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:
- October 15 (Sunday) Southern Quarterly Meeting:
Lewes Worship Group is excited to welcome all to the next Southern Quarterly Meeting on October 15th, 2023. Meeting for Worship will be held at The Moorings (formerly Cadbury) at Lewes located on Gills Neck Road, Lewes, DE
Schedule for Quarterly Meeting:- 9:30am Welcome & Coffee in Kalmar Nyckle Auditorium
- 10:00am Meeting forWorship
- 11:00am Program
- 12:30pm Lunch provided by the Moorings and Lewes Worship Group
- Legislative survey by Quaker Voice of Maryland:
Quaker Voice of Maryland is taking an input survey, and asks F/friends across Maryland to share with us what legislative topics speak to them. Learn more and complete the survey by going to our website: https://www.quakervoicemd.org/get-involved/provide-input-on-issues. - Updates from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM):
- It's A Super Quaker Weekend Just Ahead of World Quaker Day! Get ready for a Super Quaker Weekend! During the last weekend in September, PYM Youth Staff will be joining in youth and family-centered events throughout the region, leading up to World Quaker Day on Sunday, October 1st, hosted by our friends at Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC). No matter where you are located within PYM, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and participate in during this Fall weekend. All are welcome! Super Quaker Weekend link
- Hispanic Heritage Month:
Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center is sponsoring an annual celebration from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 in recognition of the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans in their history, culture, and achievements for the United States. - 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.
- 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.