Clear Creek Friends Meeting News

This month the quarterly meeting endorsed traveling minutes for two Friends. Diann Herzog of Fall Creek Meeting will be traveling within Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting, and Rex Sprouse of Bloomington Meeting will be traveling among Friends in the Midwest.

The next quarterly meeting will be at…

Clear Creek Annual Retreat
On April 11, Clear Creek held a meeting retreat at Virginia Cottage on the theme “From Deep to Deep: Exploring Prayer.” About a dozen participants considered various approaches to prayer through poetry, art, and music, and enjoyed a series of activities, worship sharing, and discussion led by Jennie Isbel. It was a nice time, deepened in meaning for many by awareness of the importance of coming together as a community to support Michael B. and his family at a time of grief over the death of his father.

Whitewater Quarterly Meeting
Whitewater Quarterly Meeting was held at the Stout Memorial Meetinghouse on Saturday, April 18, 2009 starting at 10:00 a.m.  The meeting began with a period of worship followed by Business Meeting.  A pitch-in lunch provided by Clear Creek Friends, who were the host meeting,  followed the business meeting.  The afternoon activity involved the reading and discussion of the State of the Meeting Reports of the various meeting in attendance.

• The meeting opened with a period of silent worship. Twelve Friends were present. The clerk read the Queries for the fourth month and Friends reflected on how we maintain simplicity in our lives.
• Lonnie V. brought a request for travel funds for Adriane L. to go to an Interfaith Youth Core workshop in Chicago in June. The Meeting approved offering her $100 from the PSC travel fund. If she needs more than that, the amount can be reconsidered at the May business meeting.
• Treasurer’s report: Income for the third month was $1050 and expenses were $1852. Friends are asked to consider how much they are able to contribute to the Meeting. Jennie I. may develop an Adult Religious Education discussion on contributions and use of resources.
• Milly M. presented the final draft of the State of the Meeting report prepared by M&O. The report was approved after minor changes.
• Gwen H. presented the M&O committee’s thoughts on the possibility of changing the time of Meeting for worship. The committee brought several possibilities and recommends that we focus on the needs of those attending now rather than whether we could get new people to attend. The main options would be meeting starting at 10:00, 10:30 or 11:00. A 10:00 time would just shift our current schedule a little later. A 10:30 or 11:00 time for meeting would allow for the discussion period to occur before worship but business meeting would remain after worship, maybe with a potluck lunch in between. After considerable discussion, it was decided that M&O should send a message to the clear creek email list concerning the options that were discussed and asking those who wish to make their opinions known to send them to M&O and/or attend the May business meeting.
• P&SC committee report: On April 26, Mindy R. from Habitat for Humanity will give a presentation after meeting. The revised version of the minute on Seeking Right Relationship with Food and Land was presented.  This minute was approved after some minor wording changes. This will be brought to Whitewater Quarterly Meeting this month.
• The schedule for Quarterly Meeting was discussed. It will start at 10:00 am on April 18th at Stout Meetinghouse. Our clerk will send details to Ron H.
• Clerk reported that there will be a meeting on May 2nd at Hopewell Meeting to discuss the future of the OVYM Advancement and Nurture Committee. Also, OVYM is looking for people interested in serving on the planning committee for the 2010 gathering of FGC, as well as those interested in serving as assistant clerk and assistant treasurer for OVYM.

Bloomington Friends Meeting will host the next session of Whitewater Quarterly Meeting on 7th Day, First Month 17, 2009, at Bloomington Friends Meetinghouse, 3820 E. Moores Pike (just west of S. Smith Road), Bloomington, IN 47402. (From I-465 on the south side of Indianapolis, take IN-37 S; exit onto IN-46 E toward Bloomington; turn left onto IN-45 E (E. 10th St.); turn right onto N. Smith Rd.; turn right onto E. Moores Pike; Meetinghouse is on the left side of the road.) This gathering will offer Friends an opportunity for worship, worship sharing, and fellowship with a wider body of Friends in the region.
Please contact Rex S. (812-272-3332; rsprouse@indiana.edu), if you have any last-minute concerns.