A Quaker Congregation in Putney, Vermont ~ Worship, Fellowship, Education, Activist Support
a presentation of Sandglass Theater and Next Stage Arts Project
November 9, 2016
Dear Friends throughout New England,
As we gathered for our weekly worship this morning, we held all of you in prayer. From that worship, we feel led to write to you with a message of love, encouragement and support.
In the aftermath of this week’s election, many who are grieving, angry, fearful and isolated are likely to seek refuge and solace in Friends meetings across our region, this Sunday and in the coming weeks. While Friends can’t offer all the answers to those who join us in worship, we can offer them spiritual hospitality—a place where they can experience listening, connection, accompaniment and love. This is a simple and powerful action we can all take in the coming days to lift up a witness to the Light.
Below are some suggestions we hope you’ll consider as you prepare for worship this Sunday:
In our meetings for worship
Many of us who worship together often are also in need of refuge. We respond to stress differently; some may be more able to serve in this way right now than others. Let’s take care of one another, even as we offer hospitality to new visitors. It may help for those who share the care of worship to communicate in advance to ensure that some Friends who are more able to be available are ready to close worship, speak with visitors, or be open to pastoral care needs.
At the rise of meeting, even a simple invitation for those attending to turn to their neighbor and share briefly what is on their heart might be profoundly helpful. Parents of young children may particularly benefit from connecting with one another as they support their kids. Consider whether newcomers who express an interest might be invited to connect with groups in the meeting working to address racism, strengthen interfaith relationships, or address community needs. This can be an important way of helping them continue to find support, purpose and nourishment.
In our surrounding communities
Remember that because of the climate of fear and hostility fed by this election, many who have been explicitly targeted in the campaign—including People of Color, LGBTQ+ people, Muslims, immigrants and people with disabilities—may feel particularly unsafe, excluded or afraid.
More than ever, we encourage Friends to look for opportunities to publicly identify our meetings as places of refuge and sanctuary for our neighbors who might feel under threat. Posting and publicizing commitments to oppose racism, homophobia, Islamophobia and gender-based violence will be more important than ever. Look for opportunities for Friends to partner with and accompany marginalized communities. Participate in ecumenical, interfaith and community events promoting unity, connection, dialogue and mutual respect, and opposing hate and division.
Stay connected with your wider Quaker network
Please share information about upcoming events, as well as news, images, reflections and ideas from your worship, witness and community-building efforts by emailing events@neym.org. Your work will encourage and enliven the work of others.
We are publishing information about local activities on the Events Calendar at neym.org/events, and sharing news and updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NEYMOF, and through the monthly email newsletter. If you or your meeting is seeking additional support or connections in responding to the challenges of this time, please let us know—we’ll do all we can to connect you with resources, either in our wider Quaker networks or beyond. You can reach us at office@neym.org, or by phone at 508-754-6760.
Remember that we and many others are holding you in prayer, and that you are not alone.
In the Love that binds us together as a community of faith and witness,
Anna, Beth, Frederick, Gretchen, Hilary, Kathleen, Nia, Sara and Noah
Your New England Yearly Meeting of Friends Staff
This includes the schedule and registration for our upcoming hosting of the Quarterly Meeting on December 3rd and 4th and the Memorial Minute of Kay Frazer.
November 3, 2016
In North Dakota, the Standing Rock Sioux and their allies are struggling for the future of their land and people. Where those without worldly power stand in the Truth in the face of empire, God is at work and our faith calls us to support them.
For months, the Indigenous people leading this witness have embraced their role as “water protectors” in opposition to the completion of an oil pipeline that threatens the water supply, sacred sites, sovereignty and survival of Native people. Their nonviolent stand to protect the water, land, and climate for future generations faces escalating violence in a militarized, state-supported assault.
On behalf of Quakers in the six New England states, we affirm that we see God at work in the courageous actions of those in the protector camp in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. In their ongoing resistance, we see the convergence of struggles for Indigenous rights, climate justice, and liberation from white supremacy, moving with the power of the Spirit, raising up a vision of a world renewed.
Many New England Quakers and local Friends meetings are engaged in supporting this witness and we pray for those who plan to deepen their involvement. We are keenly aware that winter is coming to North Dakota and that direct material support is needed for those continuing this work.
We encourage all Friends to keep this unfolding confrontation in their prayers and to keep themselves and their communities educated about nonviolent resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock and elsewhere. We urge local meetings across New England to consider how we might offer practical and spiritual support to those standing for Life in the face of violence.
In support of this witness, we hope Friends and meetings will prayerfully consider the following possible actions:
In faith,
Fritz Weiss, Presiding Clerk
Noah Baker Merrill, Yearly Meeting Secretary
New England Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
P.S.– In recent days, New England Yearly Meeting’s Committee on Racial, Social and Economic Justice approved a minute in support of the Standing Rock water protectors. We encourage Friends seeking more background to refer to this minute, as well as the Minute of Annual Sessions 2016 affirming a divine call to respond to the climate crisis.
Sadelle Wiltshire will be hosting a peace labyrinth walk prior to the election.
Whatever your political views, and whatever the outcome of the election, all of us, our nation and the world will need prayerful grounding. Anyone is welcome to come to the Meetinghouse for any length of time, from 8am to 10pm Tuesday and Wednesday, to pray, worship, contemplate. On Wednesday, we will hold our weekly unprogrammed Quaker worship from 5:30 to 6:30pm followed by about 20-30 minutes of worshipful sharing. All are welcome.
WOOLMAN HILL QUAKER RETREAT CENTER 107 Keets Road, Deerfield
Tuesday November 8 Wednesday November 9
Meetinghouse open 8am to 10pm
For more information: 413-774-3431, info@woolmanhill.org http://www.woolmanhill.org
“We believe that every person is loved by the Divine Spirit. There are
Quakers of all ages, religious backgrounds, races, education, sexual orientations, gender identities, 
abilities, classes and experience. You are welcome to join us as you are.”
These words were approved by the Monthly Meeting today as an update to our welcoming language to the world. Our thanks to the Committee on Nurturing Ministries of Friends General Conference in allowing us to use some of their language.
How the Scandinavians got it right — and how we can, too
by George Lakey
Sat Oct 15 Keene, NH: Toadstool Bookstore, 4pm.
12 Emerald St. , the corner of Main St. and Emerald St.
Bill McKibben: “A completely fascinating account of the Nordics–and, in particular, of Norway, one of the planet’s most fascinating nations. Viking Economics shows us there’s no reason we couldn’t be making far more progress across a wide range of problems. George Lakey is great at explaining why.” Journalist, climate activist, Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College.
Frances Moore Lappé: “Brilliant, fun to read, and most timely–just what Americans need right now! Lakey busts key myths that keep us believing we can’t have the society we want. Bravo for this great source of evidence-grounded hope!” Author of Diet for a Small Planet and Getting a Grip: Clarity, Creativity and Courage for the World We Want.
Dean Baker: “Lakey gives a useful account of the development of the Nordic economic and social model. This model has proven extraordinarily successful in ensuring a decent standard of living for all the citizens of these countries, while at the same time keeping them open to international trade and at the forefront of technology. This short book is a great starting point for those looking for insights into the origins and structure of this model.” Co-Director of Center for Economic and Policy Research, Washington, D.C.
Chuck Collins: “Carrying student debt? Working longer hours with no vacation? Do you wonder if it is possible for the U.S. to reverse a generation of extreme inequality? It doesn’t have to be this way. Viking Economics helps us envision a different way of organizing our economy to put people and planet first. With this book, George Lakey stirs our imagination with practical and inspiring lessons from the Nordic countries for U.S. economy and society.” Senior Scholar, Institute for Policy Studies, and author of Wealthy, Come Home.
In this book, George Lakey, who has lived and worked in Norway, tells an uplifting story. What economists call “the Nordic model” puts Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden at the top tier of international ratings. That includes education, abundance of jobs, health care, and security for all people. Only Norway found substantial oil. All four Nordics were nimble in bouncing back from the 2008 crisis that still bedevils Europe and the U.S.
The book is not your regular economics book. It tells a very human story: what is it like to be a professional in Norway, or a parent or student or worker or entrepreneur or farmer or retired person or immigrant? The reader will meet people from many walks of life, even the author’s Norwegian family of in-laws. This book is lively and inspiring.
Surprises in the book include the fact that Norway has more start-ups per capita than the U.S., and Sweden outpaces the U.S. economy’s innovativeness. Denmark is racing ahead to achieve carbon neutrality and already generates enough wind power to sell surplus to Germany. Iceland’s low crime rate is the envy of Europe; in the years since 2008 Iceland increased its already high economic equality.
Nordic societies are not utopian. Racial and ethnic diversity challenges them. Women have not fully broken the “glass ceiling,” although they have 40% of corporate board seats and give significant political leadership. For brief periods Swedes, Icelanders, and Norwegians did de-regulate their financial sectors, with disastrous consequences that forced them back to their Nordic model. The book tells the dramatic story of how they waged their own struggles for democracy and freedom, and opened the space to create a model that others learn from
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October 15 – 16, 2016 White River Junction, VT
Lead Speakers: The Rev. Fred Small and Sherri Mitchell
Join us for two inspiring days of creative dialogue for collaborative action with luminary guest speakers, workshops, breakout groups, music and so much more!
The conference offers many options including: coming for one day or both days; signing up for conference-provided meals or bringing/buying your own meals; choosing from a dozen workshops and five breakout session tracks; and carpooling to and from the conference. The conference website has pages with information on registration & payment, speakers, workshops, schedule, sponsors, children’s program, & more.
Deadline to register for meals:October 7. Registration fee goes up on October 1.
Register online or print out the registration form at the conference website: www.dc4cj2016.org
For more information, contact Betsy Hardy at 802-434-3397.
info@vtipl.org 802-434-3397 www.vtipl.org
Connecticut for educators, students and other civic leaders focusing on how our systems of education might be transformed to foster racial justice and healing of multi-generational harm as an alternative to the devastating effects of current realities.
and more support each other in carrying the spiritual treasures of our tradition into our wider communities, sharing with humility and boldness what we have to share and learning alongside others who like us are called to seek and to nurture the Beloved Community, here and now.
We’re living out this invitation in many ways. The image to the left is of another group of New England Friends – this time in Boston – taking part on September 12 in an interfaith witness as part of the 
Putney Friends Meeting 