Greetings from Fallsington Friends Monthly Meeting. I’ve divided the year in two parts, pre-pandemic, and post-pandemic.
Pre-pandemic, before recommendations and restrictions on public gatherings set in. These included our standard traditions and activities, punctuated by the film premiere.
- Contra dance
- Ministry to Chandler Hall (in person)
- Bucks Food for Friends
- Premiere of Polly Wells’ film “We began to sing” was held at the meetinghouse
After restrictions were imposed Then things got interesting. The Meetinghouse was closed, and Zoom meetings began. Major work this year was focused on undoing racism, which included:
- Minute on anti-racism, following the death of George Floyd
- Members participating in Black Lives Matters protests held over the year at different venues and locations across the area.
- Commitment to substantial funding over the next 3 years for two Trenton, NJ organizations supporting African American communities- the Men for Hope Reentry Program and the Father Center of New Jersey.
- Peace Center training on undoing racism (Three sessions were held, with more sessions continuing currently.)
Children’s programs
Our First Day Teachers did amazing work this year, continuing to engage our younger members both virtually, and out of doors.
- First Day School continued via remote connections; but also, FDS happened numerous times in person at Snipes Farm and once on the meetinghouse grounds
Activities conducted or continued despite social distancing required by the pandemic. These included:
- Easter and Christmas traditional programs conducted remotely. “We persevered through Zoom”
- Some outdoor activities at the meeting continued: leaf raking, taking care of the property
- Meeting for healing, led by Lisa Collins
- Jonathan Sprout continued to create his Force for Good films
- Wednesday MFW outside, when the weather allowed for it, was held several times in the fall
- Support to Wm Penn Center, through our funding for window replacement
- Mercer St Christmas gifts collected and delivered
- More effort to stay connected happened via email and also through the newsletter
- New and old Friends at a distance joined us for MFW; visitors too, enabled by the virtual nature; this was especially valuable for FDS
- Continued or expanded our engagement with Friends beyond our meeting (i.e., wider Friends’ groups), virtually
- Property committee efforts both inside and outside continued throughout the pandemic
- Care and concern committee continued their work, several members who were ill needed support and this was coordinated by C&C
- All committees have stepped up throughout the year, by looking out for each other
(A shout out to all our committees and clerks, who really stepped up during these trying times. C&C went above and beyond, keeping us connected and knowing that we were held and loved. The Property committee, working in concert with the Finance committee, made repairs possible on the William Penn Center, as well as keeping us abreast of the usage of the meetinghouse during the lockdown, and crafting a way forward to deliver on our promise of sizable donations over the next three years. Worship & Ministry kept us going with wonderful, innovative Zoom Holiday celebrations, as well as adult classes.)
Joys and Sorrows
- In sorrow, we lost two beloved members this year, Nancy Adams, for whom our Property committee was able to research and facilitate a Covid-safe memorial service, and Rich Wagner. Words cannot express our grief at their passing, and our love for their bereaved families. We will always hold them in the Light…
- In Joy, we welcomed three new members this year, Eugene (Zhenya) Pevzner, Anna Schwartz, and Washanna Rateze Leggett. Zhenya and Anna were also married by the meeting, in our first ever wedding held over Zoom!
All in all, a strange and epic year.
Respectfully submitted,
J. David Brimmer, clerk
