Our main connectedness is in the space of Meeting for Worship. There is found in this still quiet hour a place for all to be- reflecting on their personal connection with Spirit and the Light Within. The stillness of those around us eases us away from our individual retelling of our week again and again to a deeper place in this spiritual community. There is a commonality in each attender’s un-self conscious repose. The deepness of this stillness brings forth messages, both spoken or not, that relate our lives to the Spirit and help us see and feel on a different level. At the rise of worship we continue to share our concerns, joys and thoughts. This sharing makes very real the support that we derive from one another and from hearing about another’s journey. We feel that this is made clear in a tangible way by our circular handshake at the rise of Meeting.

We nurture our spiritual language by having discussions once a month on a given topic. A number of these topics come from articles that we have read. The time spent is lively and freewheeling. We create a space where all feel that they can share their own truth and have it be heard from the tender place that it originates.

Individually, we engage in life by witnessing to the Spirit by visitation, volunteerism and vocational accountability. .Somehow, what we do collectively in worship gives us the notion that we can count individually as well. When we come together, that sharing of the individual allows all to feel the connection. We do have as a concern our lack of corporate connection to the wider community. However, by being open to the Spirit we have built up, we have an impact on those whom we meet daily.

We mark with sadness the passing of an attender, Milton LeRoy on September 16, 2010. He gave us much by the example of his life and the openness to sharing that was present in his facing of death. We feel blessed by his presence in our community and his connection to Spirit.

We also meet in homes, so there is no central place that can be called “home” to which attenders can gravitate. This also impacts attracting new attenders who may feel awkward at going to a new place. However, those who host feel that their holding the space for others to feel the connection to Spirit is a special thing, and they strive to make the space comfortable and centered on several levels. They also experience the grace that is left behind by having others worship in their living space.

Those who attend are on a variety of spiritual paths that have led them to this place. We also have very different concepts of God. Somehow, in the space of Meeting for Worship there is found a place for all to be- reflecting on their personal connection with Spirit This stillness can move us away from ourselves and into a collective consciousness. Sometimes, thoughts are shared by a message during meeting or in the time at the rise of meeting when many different ideas can come forth. Perhaps, it is present in the small exchanges that occur during the social time. However it is done, there is the sense of acceptance, of feeling that others will make an effort to listen to what is being said with the open heart necessary to hear behind the words.

Individually, we engage in life by witnessing to that Spirit by visitation, volunteerism or involvements in the political process. All attenders are well read in a variety of disciplines and have deep spiritual experiences. This nurtures the thoughts that can be shared. .Somehow, what we do collectively in worship gives us the notion that we can count individually as well. When we come together, that sharing of the individual allows all to feel the connection. We do not have a corporate witness to the community as such but by being open to the Spirit we have an impact on those whom we meet daily.

Further exploration and connectedness occurs as we share at the rise of Meeting. These may be statements of what has occurred internally during the silence, joys, concerns, or just what has been happening in the rest of our lives. Often, we are able to be of assistance as we learn of needs in this way. Then, individual connections occur as we gather for fellowship and the “kitchen conversations” that happen spontaneously. We genuinely like and respect one another and are happy for the opportunity to be together.

We meet together for discussion and food either in evening potlucks or after meeting lunches where we can explore more fully a specific topic. We have looked at articles from Friends Journal and of late, have been considering the queries and advices that have been proposed by the Yearly Meeting committee. Any time we do this we are made richer by the diversity of thought and ideas.

Once again our holiday worship sharing took the form of adding flowers and greenery to a central bowl of water. Our individual selves were represented by the stems and our common spirit was symbolized by the water. This experience provided much for Friends to contemplate and gave rise to many messages of growth and hope.

We mark with sadness the passing of an attender Rich Ridgway, a birthright Friend, this fall.. His memorial service provided the opportunity to reach into the community as well as celebrate his remarkable life.

We also took a step into the community by jointly sponsoring with two other groups the “Eyes Wide Open” display from the American Friends Service Committee. We gave money, labor and time to be with the exhibit. This experience reminded us of our need to move from our spiritual base into the issues that Friends have long supported. We may do this individually, but we also know the power of corporate witness.

We continue to explore what is required of us in this faith tradition. This can occur as we use our time after Meeting to share on a range of topics as way opens. We try to encourage sharing of what has happened in the silence as well as sharing joys and concerns as a way of keeping the tone of worship flowing. At times we are better at this than others but whatever sharing takes place is reflective of where we are as individuals on any given First Day.

Our challenge this year has been the addition of children to our group for the first time. We are joyful with the parents of our two youngest additions and feel the responsibility of integrating their needs with the group needs. At present, we have a spontaneous child care arrangement as some Friends go out with the children but know that we have spiritual needs to meet for both the children and parents and will be seeking ways to meet those as a group.

As we meet together monthly for potluck and discussion, we continue to discover the different paths that our spiritual journeys have taken us and continue to take us. We have explored diversity of thought and belief as the basis for most of what we have discussed this year. This diversity can provide times of isolation for those who feel that their viewpoints meet with polite acceptance rather than with a spirit of acknowledging a different way.

Our holiday worship sharing took the form of adding flowers and greenery to a central bowl of water. The stems as our individual selves coming together in the common spirit as symbolized by the water provided much for Friends to contemplate. Friends expressed unity with this new tradition.

We feel that we have a sense of connectedness to one another evidenced by our circular handshake at the rise of Meeting. Perhaps, the energy passed from one to the other will help to balance the spiritual energy that we feel corporately – those who have more to give share with those who are feeling “dry”. We trust that these shared feelings are expressed in our daily lives with the rest of the world