Doncaster Friends Newsletter : February/March 2006

(Website : http://homepages.tesco.net/~d.swift/Doncaster.htm)

Sunday 5th  February              Meeting for Worship

                                                Followed by Preparative Meeting

                                                (collection for M25)

Saturday 11th February           Monthly Meeting at Doncaster Meeting House, 2.15pm,              

Sunday 12th February             Meeting for Worship

                                                (collection for M25- Doncaster centre for the homeless)

Saturday 18th February          Northern Friends Peace Board York Friargate Meeting   House – all welcome, theme: possible replacement by Britain of the Trident nuclear weapons system

Sunday 19th February             Meeting for Worship

                                                Followed by Lunch

(collection for M25)

Thursday 23 February            Interfaith Meeting: ‘Christian Science’

7.00pm Christian Science Church, York Road

Sunday 26th February            Worship sharing on the theme 'Silence and Song'  led by Denise

                                                (collection for M25)

Sunday 5th  March                   Meeting for Worship

                                                Followed by Preparative Meeting

                                                (collection for a youth disability charity)

Sunday 12th March                  Meeting for Worship

                                                (collection for a youth disability charity)

Saturday 18th March               Meeting House Party 4pm to 7pm.  

Sunday 19th March                  Meeting for Worship

                                                Followed by Lunch

(collection for a charity to be chosen by our young people)

Wednesday 22 March             Interfaith Meeting:‘ The role of faith in education’

7.00pm Unitarian Church, 60a Hallgate

Sunday 26th March                  Worship sharing on the theme 'Looking inside ourselves'  led by Bruce

                                                (collection for a youth disability charity)

 

Meeting House Party

This ever popular annual event will this year take place on Saturday 18th March starting at 4pm for the younger members and running until 7pm.   Friends are asked to bring contributions of games and food to make the event its usual success

Barmoor

has been reserved for Doncaster meeting on the weekend of 15th –17th April.  Barmoor is a big house run by a Quaker trust, situated on the North York Moors just outside Hutton-le-Hole. It has 9 bedrooms of various sizes and 27 beds - thus the numbers which can in practice be fitted in depends on who is prepared to sleep with whom! Doncaster PM's weekends there tend to follow a pattern. On Friday night people arrive when they can and make their own arrangements for eating. On Saturday there is usually a longish walk for everyone, taking up much of the day. On Sunday a party usually goes to Meeting in Kirbymoorside, while others find other things to do. The village
offers sheep on the grass, the Ryedale Folk Museum, a stream to play in, and good ice-creams while there are plenty of walks around and tourist attractions including the North York Moors railway further afield.  Richard has once again this year offered to cook a meal for everyone, this will be on Saturday night, while Sunday night's meal will be a shared effort. Breakfasts and packed lunches are your own responsibility. This year we are able to stay till Monday but another group is coming in that day, which means that the cleaning of the house will need to be pursued energetically straight after breakfast.
The cost is variable according to the numbers in the party. However it usually works out to something approaching £20 per person for the weekend, including certain shared basic supplies such as milk, tea and toilet rolls. If you are interested in coming please let me know as soon as you can.     Joy

Premises feasibility study

As noted in the January newsletter, we are commissioning a feasibility study to help us explore various options for the use and development of the Meeting House, and checking that such development is appropriate.    Reasons for this include money being made available that could be used to develop the building, a recent physical survey, an approach by Interfaith and Central Doncaster Partnership about possible use of the building, and the increasing responsibility for the premises that rests  with a small number of people.  Vandalism and security are also major problems: we are presently having to replace two damaged fencing panels, use laminated glass to replace broken windows and explore window grills or other protection.   Whilst the small grant application to Doncaster Community Empowerment Network was unsuccessful, we have received some excellent bids and are currently selecting the most appropriate.    

Ease of communication

We are seeking easy to read or taped introductions for those visitors to the Meeting who would find this useful.    Friends house library do not have suitable materials, and we are exploring other avenues such as Quaker websites.   Suggestions gratefully received.         In the absence of suitable materials, we will consider producing our own.  

 

Nominations Committee

Denise Cann has kindly agreed to be our representative to Monthly Meeting Nominations committee.

 

Correspondence 

The correspondence Clerk has received the following items which she will be happy to forward to Friends on request:

·         Easter Settlement – Quakers in Yorkshire details and application forms for the annual event 14 -18 April, Cober Hill , Cloughton, Scarborough Theme: ‘Asking awkward questions’

·         Quakers in Yorkshire – Calendar of events for 2006

·         Yorkshire Friends Holiday School – details and application forms – ages 13 -18 years

·         Yorkshire General Meeting Children’s holidays 2006, age 9-12. Details and application forms

·         Balby MM – minutes of meeting 15 Jan 2006

·         Doncaster CEN – letters re. bid for funding

 

Thought of the Month

Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing. 

The Australian Woman’s Diary