The New Garden Friend Newsletter of New Garden Friends Meeting February 4, 2015 Listening Session dates to remember. Seekers Group Continues: The Seekers Group got underway last week with great attendance and even better discussion. Join us this Sunday as we examine the concept of the inner light, discerning when to speak in meeting for worship, and the concept of consensus. Sunday February 8, 3:00 -5:00 p.m. in the parlor. February 4 7:00 p.m. Friends Homes Guilford [Hinshaw Hall Solarium] Note: Friends attending this session can park in the parking deck and walk from the top of the deck straight into the solarium. February 15 9:45 a.m. Sessions in the Adult Forum 5:30 p.m. Gathering in the parlor The Young Friends Have Big News to Share: Our conversations will center around several queries: What does past experience suggest is essential to the character of New Garden Friends Meeting? What have been watershed events, high and low, in the life of the meeting? Sunday, February 8: Valentine's Day Race This is a fund-raiser for the HSYF trip, a running race that will be run in teams (or by yourself if you want to get a little marathon practice in). Normally registration is $50, but only $20 needs to be paid to the registration, and then any additional amount goes to HSYF. For more information contact Joanna Flynn for registration information and the discount code. Saturday, February 21: Cafe Ami Save the date and be sure to join us for our second annual Cafe Ami (Friend Cafe) event. It will be a night of arts, entertainment, and dessert that will showcase the many talents of our HSYF! We are also seeking donations to the silent auction and the dessert table! For more information contact Alyzza ([email protected]) Saturday, March 21 and 28: The Flea Market It's that time of the year again, and the spring sale is upon us! We're now seeking donations that are in good quality to be sorted and sold by the High School Young Friends to fundraise for their spring trip. We've begun setting up Norvell Hall, with some slight changes to the layout as a result of the recent leak that was in the carpeted area. We can't wait for the sale, so help us make it happen! For more information contact Alyzza at ([email protected]). How might we characterize New Garden's theology, denominational commitments and involvement among Friends in the wider community? What is the role of the pastoral minister in leadership? Where is the Spirit at work among us, and how can we encourage this? Where would the Holy Spirit want to make adjustments or corrections in the life of the meeting? What will be our leadership needs for the future? What skills and traits do we seek in a new pastoral minister? Where is the Divine Spirit leading New Garden as we move into the future? We hope you Friends will reflect on these queries and plan to attend at least one of these sessionso give us your feedback and to listen to others as we discern a way forward in this important part of our journey together. FCP Annual Joint Worship Scheduled There is a new location for our Annual Joint Worship Service by the Friendship Community Partnership – • Collins Grove Methodist • New Garden Friends • Persimmon Grove African Methodist Episcopal • Raleigh’s Cross Roads Methodist • Saint Barnabas Episcopal This year’s service during Black History Month will be at: RALEIGH’S CROSS ROADS UMC 715 GUILFORD COLLEGE ROAD 27410 Sunday, February 22 at 3:00 p.m. Each of the five churches will take a part in the service. from the TransitionTeam--Bill Eagles, Karen Garraputa, Donna Allred, Max Carter, Scott Gibson, Charlie White, Mary Louise Smith, Bill Hamilton, Lizzie Biddle and Judy HaugheeBartlett New to New Garden ? If you would like to receive the weekly newsletter by email, please call or email the office so you can be added to the list The newsletter contains information about upcoming events, programs, and opportunities. Stay in touch with what is happening at New Garden! Phone: 336-292-5487 Email: ([email protected]). Contact Cathie Holcombe if you would like to help. 288-7555, ([email protected]) 1 New Garden Meeting Feeds Hungry Neighbors Recycling in Greensboro, the Future of Styrofoam and the Planet New Garden recently received a thank you from Greensboro Urban Ministry (GUM) for providing a total of 3,787 pounds of food for the food bank in 2014. Last year the Social Concerns Committee organized two food drives at New Garden, one in the summer when donations to the food bank were especially low, and once during the Christmas Season when the need was especially great. In addition, New Gardeners continued to donate boxes of Quaker Oats throughout the year, as has been our custom for many years. Another way the Meeting contributed to the food bank was by providing volunteers to collect food at the Lowes Grocery on New Garden Road one day in the spring and one day in the fall. Val Marshall, office manager for the GUM food bank, reports that they give families a 25-30 pound bag for each family member, so approximately 138 people received a week’s worth of groceries thanks to our efforts. Apart from the food collections, an ad hoc group of New Gardeners provides a nutritious supper of stew and sandwiches to about 100 homeless people at GUM once a month. New Garden adults make the stew and Young Friends assemble the sandwiches. A group from the Meeting takes the food to GUM and serves the dinner. This project has been ongoing for years. Anyone who would like to work on this project can email Happy Rieth at: [email protected]. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to New Garden’s efforts to feed our neighbors. New Gardeners recycle a lot, including plenty of Styrofoam. Where is all this stuff going? What more could we do? Environmental Stewardship Greensboro (ESG) is hosting a discussion with Alex Arnett, the City’s recycling coordinator and representative from Dart and Recycling Management Resources, two companies in our region that handle polystyrene (Styrofoam). Come learn what is happening to all that we recycle, what impact it has on the environment and what you can do to help save Planet Earth. WHERE? Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library 1420 Price Park Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410 February 15, 2015, 2:15 p.m. WHEN? For more information contact: Bill McNeil, ESG convener, at [email protected]. Birthdays 4 5 5 7 7 8 8 9 10 Cathie Holcombe Laine Parker Roxanne Snider Bob Benbow Ben Lassiter Sharyn Carwile Christopher Fields Lizzette Potthoff Jennifer Bills Reaching Out is Easy Weekly scheduled meeting calendar Wed 02-04 Mon 02-09 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal / Choir Room HSYF “Whine & Cheese” / Qave Mindfulness Meditation / Worship Room Meditation / Parlor 2 Bring clean, gently used items to include: gym or walking shoes; hats, scarves, gloves/mittens; socks for shoe sizes 9 & up; LED flashlights. Items may be left in "Kicks for Kids" bin in NGFM forum. Thank you. Barbara Leland ([email protected])