Every meeting in the Quarter probably spent 2021 juggling the logistics of how to attend meeting for worship in their meetinghouses as safely as possible during the pandemic. Quakertown was no exception. Everyone wore masks and sat far apart.
Some stayed home, went online and “zoomed” other meetings’ worship sessions. Our meetings for business seemed strained and conversations often did not “flow” as they normally did. Our efforts to study the queries in Faith and Practice were not inspiring. We did, however, recognize our local Food Pantry’s need for a consistent flow of donated food and money to supply the increased need in our community. All extra donations were directed to them.
We also, were able to continue our tradition of sending Christmas gifts and hand knitted hats and scarves to fifty 3-6 year old children at Mercer Street Friends school.
In October, a meeting attender organized a dedication ceremony for an historic marker that honors the Nixon burial grounds which Quakertown Meeting offered to non Quakers in the 1700s. Franklin Township was instrumental in creating and placing the marker on the site. The marker also mentions the site across the street that was a former cemetery for enslaved Africans. The ceremony was well attended and afterwards refreshments were offered at the meetinghouse about two miles away. Everyone sat under the trees on the front lawn and enjoyed the beautiful weather and homemade cookies. An article about the ceremony with accompanying photographs was in the local paper.
In spite of pandemic restrictions with smaller attendance at meeting for worship and the strains of uneasy verbal communication, Quakertown did gain two new, wonderful members. Both of them have been attending and contributing their time to extra tasks. One is our lovely gardener.
This January we closed the meetinghouse for all of January and February because of concerns about the increased pandemic. We will reopen at the end of February when we can open windows. A good number of our members and attenders have been Zooming with other Bucks Quarter meetings on the First Days when we are not gathering and are really enjoying your worship sessions. We will devote a special business meeting to hearing what they have learned and how we can benefit from their experience. So, thank you for your “unknown,” very welcomed contribution to our Quakertown Monthly Meeting.
