CALENDAR

Every Sunday -- Meeting for Worship 10:00am -- Burgess House

BFPM Children's program --- Burgess House ~ email quebrown1@gmail.com
Last Sunday of each month--- BFPM Business Meeting after worship --- Burgess House

BURGESS HOUSE is at 559 ROUTE 149, (south of Rt.6) 
MARSTONS MILLS (P.O. Box 718) MA
(exit 5 off of route 6 turn south on 149 Burgess House is about 3 miles on right.
There is a large parking area just beyond the house and a walk through the hedge on your right.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unprogrammed Worship

meditation, contemplation, silent prayer

At the center of Friends worship is the core belief in God as “present in dwelling teacher”. The silence of unprogrammed worship is not empty silence. During the silence there are heroic things happening. The Spirit is gently nudging each person in worship toward a central truth. The gathered meeting is the way of discerning that truth and ministry is the way that truth breaks the silence and is experienced.

FOR INFORMATION ON QUAKERISM IN GENERAL VISIT:
http://www.neym.org/ ~~ OR ~~ http://www.quaker.org/

Minute on War and Peace

Minute on War and Peace

It is with tears that we mourn the deaths of soldiers, freedom-fighters, babies, mothers and fathers, children, victims of endless wars.

It is with sadness that we welcome home our war-shocked veterans who take their own lives when they find a future without hope.

We live in a world of wars without end.

The longest war in the history of our nation,

in a mountainous land that has never been subdued,

A seven-year war of torture and destruction in the cradle of civilization,

Now a desert war of “humanitarian intervention” to save lives by killing,

And a half-war by unmanned drones that kill whole families of tribal peoples.

With all life, we suffer the pains of our precious Earth from wounds by careless missiles, tanks and bombs.

We decry the wasteful destruction of finite resources that are desperately needed at home;

to house the homeless,

to cure the sick,

and to tutor our children in ways of peace.

We vision a world which embraces peaceful means of resolving conflict with equality with justice,

…where before the idea of violence is entertained, grievances are addressed with concrete steps,

…where conciliation, mediation, arbitration, fact-finding, and adjudication are codified international laws and practices of international organizations like the United Nations.

The Society of Friends, born in the chaos of the English Civil War, has offered its testimony of peace and nonviolence.

William Penn, former warrior and statesman taught us how to meet violence:

 We are too ready to retaliate, rather than forgive, or gain by Love and Information. And yet we could hurt no Man that we believe loves us. Let us then try what Love will do: For if Men did once see we Love them, we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue, but Love gains: And he that forgives first, wins the Laurel. If I am even with my Enemy, the Debt is paid; but if I forgive it, I oblige him for ever.

Fruits of Solitude, 1693, 542 – 547.

Penn put this truth to test, achieving peace with the Leni Lenape, Susquehannocks and the Delaware Indians, instituting what was known in Indian terminology as a "chain of friendship."

Let us then try what a chain of friendship, try what Love will do.

Approved April 3, 2011 by Barnstable Friends Meeting,

a Preparative Meeting of Mattapoisett Monthly Meeting

Rachel Carey-Harper, clerk

Minute on Racism

New England Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends affirms its commitment to becoming an open, affirming, anti-racist Religious Society. Our understanding of racism is that it is a system that accords advantage or disadvantage based on racial identity. Racism is fundamentally inconsistent with the divine guidance that has led our Religious Society to testimonies such as Equality, Peace and Community. We seek divine assistance and the help of other friends of Truth to examine our individual and corporate complicity in racism. We aspire to a more perfect union with the Author of all, who shows no partiality in the diversity of creation.

Those of us who have grown up with a white identity in America have a particular challenge in that we have been conditioned not to notice the system of racism and white privilege. Our well-intentioned attempts at colorblindness can have the unfortunate result of blinding us to the system of racism in which we unwittingly participate. Let us remember Jesus’ admonition to remove the log from our own eye before seeking to remove a speck from our brother’s or sister’s eye. We all pray for clarity of vision so that in the words of George Fox, we may “be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations wherever you come; that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone; whereby in them you may be a blessing, and make the witness of God in them to bless you.” approved New England Yearly Meeeting 2003

Same Gender Marriage Minute

Barnstable Friends Meeting affirms that we give the same care and concern to all who want to marry regardless of sexual orientation. By tradition, the Society of Friends recognizes domestic partnership in a celebration of marriage under the care of the Meeting. Barnstable Friends affirm the goodness of committed, loving relationships as a personal, spiritual and communal rite of passage. We offer full recognition and support to all, regardless of sexual orientation, who share this ideal and wish to enter into a permanent union.

We come to this from our belief that all discrimination is contrary to the working of the Divine, the Spirit within each of us. The capacity to join soul to soul, the desire to love unselfishly should be celebrated in All its forms as the true manifestation of the Divine in Our Lives. -- approved Barnstable Friends Meeting 8/26/2007

STATE OF SOCIETY 2011  ---  Barnstable Friends Meeting
When considering the spiritual health of the our beloved Barnstable Friends Meeting for 2011, a visualization came to us of a tapestry of our own making. Rather than well defined and recognizable forms in this tapestry we see a vibrancy of color- threads that each of us has sewn in. The texture of this thickly woven tapestry speaks of a year in search of the Light, truth, justice and always love. This tapestry is not yet finished, ever evolving, one end awaiting the threads of continued growth and ever deeper devotion to prayer.

Looking close at our tapestry there is the warp which provides the comfort of spiritual foundation and there is the weft which runs back and forth, an ebb and flow, the duality of busy/quiet forming patterns, the examples, the challenges of leading a spirit center life. As George Fox said  "And this is the word of the Lord God to you all ... be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people."

In 2011 there was a lot of activity in these warp threads for Barnstable Friends as we interacted with other Meetings and groups taking stands on Friends principles. This included disseminated in various newspapers and among wider Friends, a peace minute beginning with the words “It is with tears that we mourn”  and ending with “Penn put this truth {nonviolence] to test, ... instituting what was known in Indian terminology as a "chain of friendship”. Let us then try what a chain of friendship, try what Love will do". Members and attenders also were involved with Occupy activities,  initiatives to help the homeless and assistance to elders in need. In addition we outreached to communities of color with funds and a letter of support for their activities. We approved a decision to withhold proportional contributions to NEYM that supports FUM. Minuting that we take this stand based upon a 8/26/07 minute which states, "...We come to this from our belief that all discrimination is contrary to the working of the divine, the spirit in each of us, the capacity to join soul to soul, the desire to love unselfishly should be celebrated in all its forms.”

Some outward actions were challenging. These included members sleeping outside 12/23/11 in solidarity with those who sleep in the dust every night, supporting our clerk as she also clerked a Yearly Meeting committee that led one of the Plenarys at Sessions and the burden of traveling off Cape to attend meetings and events at our monthly meeting and Quarter. Some question whether we challenge ourselves sufficiently in ways that are useful for spiritual awakening while others ask if with our busyness and attention to Quaker bureaucracy was getting in the way of the simplicity that Quakers advocate & cherish.

Meanwhile we are blessed by the threads of the warp firmly grounded in a rich deep worship and personal commitments to a spiritual life. All deeply appreciate the depth of love and support felt one to another and the wisdom within the meeting shared in both messages during worship which connect us to the beauty of the infinite Spirit and afterward during times of discussion and one member’s lovingly presented hospitality. We feel blessed not only by relationships among us, including the welcoming of two new members, but also by the loving care of Friends from Mattapositt Monthly Meeting and by the space we have in our precious Burgess House.

There are places in the tapestry of our meeting which require our prayerful attention. We are saddened that some feel feel dissatisfaction with us as a meeting. We will continue to hold them in the light and look forward to a day of peace and reconciliation. Another concern is that we would like to grow our meeting particularly in ways that could attract young people how to make it fun and speak to their spirits.

If one stands close to a tapestry, one sees many individual threads, but if one steps back one sees only the whole. If we step back the above detail blurs into that vibrancy of color. We are left with simply
“In Light we are seen, in Love we are known, in Peace we are whole, and in Light, in Love and in Peace we are One.”

STATE OF SOCIETY REPORT 2010

Barnstable Friends Meeting, a Preparative Meeting of Mattapoisett Monthly Meeting (BFPM), continues to find inspiration and Truth in our connection to the Divine. In 2010, this motivation guided us to work in comforting the suffering of people in a number of big and small ways, including the problems of the homeless and of the low-income elderly’s lack of access to compassionate care. An abiding faith in this transcendent Source strengthened our resolve this past year to be true to our Quaker roots, practices and faith.

In the early summer, as avenues to our continued membership in New England Yearly Meeting were closed, Mattapoisett Friends offered us a home as a preparative meeting within their beloved community. We have worshiped together and have felt blessed that we were in each other’s lives — including cross fertilization in business meetings. The blessings of this union have been astonishing.

There is also an aspect of this Truth that BFPM finds in the deep valley of the rich, dark silence of the soul. It is here that we find an inner comfort, knowing that there is a heavenly force that holds us in Its love. It is out of this depth that the still, small voice of Creator guides our discernment of a positive way forward with forgiveness, dignity and faith in the ultimate triumph of Truth, wholeness and peace.

Social testimonies were frequent topics of conversation. This outward practice of our faith expanded to include partnering with a local motel to provide homeless women respite from the streets for one week a month and helping a Wampanoag elder publish her book. We distributed “War is Not the Answer” signs around Cape Cod and also expanded our publication on death, dying and bereavement. Our worship has helped us clear our minds and feel Spirit bring us together, giving us the strength to face the week ahead.

Some discussion also took place around the concept of “submitting to an authority” beside that of Creator. BFPM expressed concern about this phrase. We were reminded of this relevant quote: “These things we do not lay upon you as a rule or form to walk by, but that all, with the measure of Light which is pure and holy, may be guided; and so in the Light walking and abiding, these may be fulfilled in the Spirit, not from the letter, for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.” — George Fox.

We move into 2011 with a strong sense of the abiding presence of Divine beauty. We thank Creator for our blessings: the difficult times for they are an opportunity for growth, and the joyful times for they nourish and sustain us. We held all in NEYM in the Light and prayed for a time of healing. We are eager for a reconciliation with all in our Quarter to bring everyone back into loving harmony.

Creator, Spirit has such a calming and warm effect, it speaks to Love, the Light. This inspires us — along with the words that came during the silent worship at a Sandwich Quarter Meeting, “blow on the coals of one's heart” (from JB, a play about Job, by Archibald MacLeish). When one feels all is lost, there is more hidden within, — just blow. Approved 3/6/11

STATE OF SOCIETY REPORT 2009

Barnstable Friends Meeting

In 2009, Barnstable Friends Meeting celebrated the beginning of its fourth year of gathering for worship and business. What began as a fledgling group has become a family whose members love and care for one another. Our worship is deep and meaningful, and our outreach into the community truly is inspired by our inward leadings. We strive to be faithful to the certainty of Creator’s light and love in the individual’s soul.

We decided this year that each of us would write a personal statement describing the spiritual state of our meeting. The following statements are the outcome of that effort:

• Barnstable Friends Meeting is my spiritual home, and I mean this apart from the physical building that houses us, as special as the Burgess House certainly is. This past year I feel very strongly the presence of “seeking” within the meeting. During challenging and difficult times this question has often directed us: “What is it that Creator would have me do?”
• Our Meeting has become more cohesive as we accept each other and perceive our roles within our community. Although concerned about our status within the greater Quaker community, our angst has diminished and we proceed forward. I think the search for our path is honest and we do well.
• Just some small words of thanks for being open to the experiment of a mid-week meeting…Being in touch with this group of Friends has been very gratifying. While the 80 mile drive (RT) and Sunday meeting time presents some personal challenges, we have found there a place of peace, comfort and connection, and we are hoping to resume attendance of some Sunday meetings.
• As those present on first day settle down, a sense of communion permeates the room. The thoughtfulness and love generated carry over to the social time after meeting for worship. Discussions are thoughtful and well reasoned. The caring of each other is always evident. I feel that my spirit has been refreshed and that my strength to carry through another week has been replenished; I am thankful.
• It is most satisfying to worship with such dedicated Friends. It is obvious that the small, nine or ten, active members make a committed group but also a fragile entity: for it is conceivable that if a couple were to leave due to health or attrition we would most assuredly be concerned. Our clerk has been exemplary in expenditure of time, energy, physical needs, and spiritually all the while adhering to the proper proceedings as laid out in Faith and Practice.
• A passage in Faith & Practice, Chapter 1. The Quaker Message speaks of what I'm trying to say. “Since those early beginnings, Friends have continued to hold that their faith is one of first-hand experience of God in their lives. Spiritual life, they say, does not depend upon the acceptance of certain doctrines, nor … external authority in religion, because they feel that for them these do not serve the life of the spirit. … They seek to be obedient not only in the quiet gathering for worship together, or in their meeting for settling practical affairs, but also as they are led as a group to be concerned for those about them, particularly those suffering injustices or inequities. ” I feel so strongly and proudly that Barnstable Friends Meeting is so very grounded in this. I pray that Quarter will understand this about us, love this about us and welcome us as a monthly meeting.
• Barnstable Friends Meeting grounds me, and helps me remember to stay aware of The Light; the meeting provides me with friends on whom I can rely and a weekly sanctuary that spreads peace throughout my week.
• Barnstable Friends Meeting is the source of my spiritual strength. When I feel discouraged my heart and mind turns toward these Friends with whom I worship each Sunday. I feel restored. Like David in the psalm “Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” It is this worshipping together that grounds my life as I feel present with Friends who love me with all my flaws. In those last few moments of silence before the hour hand hits 11 o'clock, I breathe deeply that stillness; for meeting is where I find the sustenance to continue the journey of service to Creator. A harmony is present without sound as in the following poem by a George School classmate.
• Words for the Silence, by Shmuel Klatzkin

Harder than finding

words for the thoughts

is finding words for the silence,

when the last note has played

and no one moves for fear

of disturbing that which is now left,

the harmony that now

no longer wants expression

and is present without sound.

We look forward in hope to the restoration of loving unity of all Friends on Cape Cod, and patiently attend the labors of Quarterly Meeting in achieving this goal. May the spirit of Love that binds Barnstable Friends to each other and the wider Quaker community of Friends bless all we encounter along our path of spiritual devotion.