Friends have multiple ways of engaging with their communities, and Third Haven Meeting seems to do many of them. They have created a sister church relationship with a nearby African American Church; they offer programs on aging, meditation, and addiction; and they organize a summer camp that is open to local non-Quaker families.
For this story, we’ve adapted excerpts from the Third Haven December Newsletter with thanks to their editor John Hawkinson.
Easton Holiday Parade
On the evening of Saturday, December 4th Third Haven families took part in the Easton Holiday Parade 5-7 pm in downtown Easton.
Co-sponsored with the PEACE group, after a two year rest, the peace dove was resurrected and reinforced for this year’s appearance. The float was accompanied by volunteer children and adults singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me.”
Reportedly the viewing stand exclaimed, “Here come the Quakers!” as the float approached, espousing Work for Peace.
Partnership with Asbury United Methodist Church
The Pastor and members of Asbury United Methodist Church report they “are very excited about being a sister church with Third Haven.” For many years, Asbury and Third Haven have built relationships within their various ministries and recently the members of Asbury made this relationship official.
The pastor, Alfred Handy, noted in a recent letter welcoming the relationship that the congregation is “looking forward to beginning this new journey with Third Haven” and are thankful for Third Haven’s “prayerfully being one with us at Asbury.”
As part of the sister relationship Third Haven is supporting Asbury’s December Church Bazar and is considering
Holiday Wreaths
The beautiful holiday wreaths on Third Haven’s Meeting House doors were made by the community’s young families during the first week of December. Children from three families participated in the outdoors children’s program with their Third Haven Meeting teachers Kristin and Cherie. In addition to making wreaths, they filled glass jars with natural materials and hand-written paper messages that documented their appreciation of connections with nature.
On December 19th the children’s program will offer a short holiday presentation at the rise of Meeting in conjunction with Pastoral care committee, followed by hot chocolate and cookies in the common room.
Philanthropy to Local Community & Trust Circle Program
The Third Haven’s Testimonies and Concerns committee has engaged in a number of worthy projects. They developed a Giving Guide in 2019 to recommend a list of organizations for contributions from the meeting community and individual members in keeping with their Monthly Queries. This year the be awarded to $3000 to Historic Easton Inc. and the Asbury United Methodist Church for renovations. Not only did the Meeting approve this recommendation, they identified additional funds that could be provided, bringing forward a total grant of $5,000 for the project. The meeting also administers and International Education fund, from which they allocated $300 to the Bolivian Quaker Education Fund, the Patamos School in Guatemala and an Agriculture Education project in Puerto Rico.
Worship and Ministry Committee is sponsoring a series of Trust Circles at Third Haven beginning in early 2022. This program encourages Friends to share perspectives about building trust and a sense of belonging across ethnocultural backgrounds in a format similar to worship sharing. It provides a safe space to express experiences, feelings, and concerns. All perspectives are respected and acknowledged in a non-judgmental environment.
Two Baltimore Monthly Meeting Stony Run, members, Clinton and Kathryn Pettus, developed Trust Circles to foster ethnocultural dialog and build worship communities that are a complete and pleasing whole. Each Trust Circle is limited to 10 participants so that everyone will have ample, uninterrupted time to speak to a series of queries. Meetings last up to an hour and a quarter.
SMART Help (Self Management and Recovery Training) Facilitated by Meeting Members
During the holiday season it is common for people to use unhealthy behaviors, like drugs, alcohol, gambling and over-eating to cope with difficult feelings. Third Haven Friends Meeting supports the Easton SMART (Self Management and Recovery Training) and Family and Friends meetings. Facilitators are meeting members Dee Rein and John Turner.
Self Management and Recovery Training helps participants find and develop the power within themselves to choose change and lead fulfilling and balanced lives guided by a science-based and sensible 4-Point Program®. SMART Family and Friends is a mutual support group for people with loved ones who exhibit unhealthy behaviors. Zoom and online meetings are available and are offered free of charge. The hope is that the loved one will take on the choice to pursue their recovery and that family and friends will learn ways of improving their own lives at the same time.
