Hartford Friends Meeting
January, 2006

"Human life even at its best is so full of contradictions, paradoxes and conflicting needs that surplus energy for loving is absolutely necessary to keep human relationships from deteriorating." --Elise Boulding

Calendar

January 8 Fellowship Lunch
January 10 6-8:45 pm; "Social Investing" Potluck at Bill Upholt/Mary Lee Morrison
Home; RSVP 232-2966
January 15 Meeting for Business
January 22 11th hour-Dave Thompson & Eleta Jones sharing their trip to Bangladesh
January 28 Children's HOLIDAY Party Marionette Show (more info below--note this 2 pm is a change of date from last month's newsletter)
January 29 11th hour-Revision of NEYM Faith and Practice discussion
February 5 Quarterly Meeting, Fellowship Lunch (see p. 3)
February 12 NO FELLOWSHIP LUNCH

Meeting for Worship is held every First Day at 10 am. First Day School for children begins at 9:50 am. On Fifth Sundays, we have Family Meeting when all children and adults worship together.

Mid-week Worship--every Thursday at 7 pm in the Williams Room.

Pastoral Care News
Hartford Meeting Children's Holiday Party - Children of All Ages Invited - On Saturday, January 28, 2006 the Pastoral Care Committee invites children of all ages to a Holiday Party featuring famed puppeteer Dan Butterworth with his amazing Marionettes. Ice cream and snacks to follow. The party will begin at 2 PM at the Hartford Friends Meeting House.

Good Samaritan Help
We are updating our list of people who are willing to provide rides for our Friends who are unable to drive. If you are able to provide rides to Meeting, if you need a ride, or if you know of someone who needs a ride, please contact Linda Smith, 408-1383 or allsmithq@yahoo.com. If you email, please include the area in which you live.

Creative Listening Groups
We are still gathering names for those who are interested in creative listening groups-- about 8 people who meet in a worshipful environment once a month for a series of months to discuss topics relative to being a Friend. (See December newsletter for further description.) Everyone is welcome, the more the merrier. We are aiming to start the groups in late January. The gatherings could possibly include a potluck if people express are interested. Please let Beth Morrill know the following information: your available times. Eg. Saturday mornings and Thurs. evenings after 6; interest in potlucks with your group; and your willingness to host a meeting or a series of meetings. Beth's contact info: platosmom@comcast.net or 833-0099.

Eleventh Hour on January 22nd will be with Eleta Jones and Dave Thomposon talking about their family trip in June, 2005 to Bangladesh, Thailand, and Cambodia, places where Eleta and Dave had spent parts of their childhood and youth. Junior and senior high students will enjoy their stories and pictures also.

Called Meeting for Business 12/18/2005

Thirty-five Friends gathered in silent worship at 11:45 to begin the Called Meeting to consider the 2006 Budget.

Finance Committee: Jim Reik reported that the Committee had considered feedback to the first budget proposal, and the contributions total in hand of $52,000 to date. He explained changes in response to those two factors, and presented the proposed budget for 2006.

Concerns were raised about the actual postage budget, and whether it covered the actual costs of mailing out the Newsletter to those Friends not receiving it by E-mail. New England Yearly Meeting will be notified that cuts for 2006 will be revisited if we have good results from Development initiatives. It was noted that NEYM does accept individual donations as well as contributions from monthly Meetings. NEYM will be paid as usual at the end of this year.

Diane Randall reported that the Development Committee has met, will be working closely with the Finance Committee, and will put emphasis on educating Members and Attenders about the fiscal realities of the meeting. She pointed out that "What we give is a statement of who we are."

The point was also made that the Meeting needs to preserve Bequests, rather than use them for daily expenses.

It was the sense of the Meeting that the Budget for 2006 be accepted as revised (attached).

The need for a new Treasurer, and for Friends with Accounting backgrounds was reiterated.

Eleanor Godway, Clerk David Holdt, Recording Clerk

Yes Virginia, there is a Meeting Handbook!

The newly created Handbook for Hartford Monthly Meeting is ready to go to the printer, or to be sent to you electronically. You will find all you need to know, or didn't know you needed to know, about how the Hartford Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends is:
" Organized
" Functions
" Where to find what you need
" How to become a member
" How to get involved
" How to support the Meeting through your presence, your spiritual gifts, your expertise, your time, and your financial support
" And much, much more!

If you would like to receive the handbook by e-mail, please send an e-mail to Diane Randall randalldiane@sbcglobal.net (This will be in PDF form and can be downloaded with Adobe Reader software)

All of those who would like a hard copy please call Kiki Eglinton at (860) 561-3969,
or e-mail at kikiegl@att.net, or write to 152 Brace Road, W. Hartford 06107.

We can't know the cost of printing until we know how many hard copies are needed, so please let us know right away. Hard copies will be made available to all who wish them. Donations will be welcome to cover printing costs. On January 8th, copies will be available so that you can get a preview of this page-turner! No one should, or will want to, be without one!

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On Sunday February 5, 2006 Connecticut Valley Quarterly Meeting Will Convene At Hartford Monthly Meeting

10:00 AM: Meeting for Worship
11:20 AM: Presentation for Adults and Young Friends
(Lunch will be served to the younger children)

"Hartford Opt-Out Campaign: It's more than just counter-recruitment"

Join us for a discussion of this program involving a diverse group of urban and suburban high school students, initiated by Hartford Friends and AFSC.

Noon: Pot Luck Lunch
12:45 PM: Quarterly Meeting for Business

Child Care will be provided. Please call Donn Weinholtz (at 860 - 687 - 1236) by Jan. 29th, if you are requesting hospitality for the night of Saturday, Feb. 4th.

HARTFORD MONTHLY MEETING
Of the Religious Society of Friends
144 South Quaker Lane
West Hartford, CT 06119