Newsletter of the Yellow Springs Meeting of the Society of Friends

December, 2015 The QuakerShaker Newsletter of the Yellow Springs Meeting of the Society of Friends Every Week: SUNDAY 8:30 am Early Meeting for Worship 10:00 am First Day School 10:40 am Group hymn singing “for joy” (and 10am on last Sunday of month) 11:00 am Meeting for Worship (childcare available, beginning at 11:15) Noon Social time and snacks/potluck THURSDAY: 2:00 pm Worship Sharing Group, Rockford SATURDAY: 12-1 pm Peace Vigil, corner of Limestone and Xenia Ave.

MEETING FOR BUSINESS First Day, December 6th, preceded by a potluck.

POTLUCKS: First and Third Sundays at noon, but the snacks are usually generous on the other weeks!

QUAKER LUNCH at 1pm first Weds at Rockford. Come enjoy monthly Quaker fellowship.

FIRST DAY SCHOOL Heather Snediker-Morscheck will be leading First day School from 10:00-10:35. The themes are: Dec. 6 The Exodus Dec. 13 The Story of Moses Dec. 20 The Mystery of Christmas Dec. 27 The 10 Best Ways Jan. 3 No First Day School!

ADULT MEETING FOR LEARNING 10:00-10:35 Adult Meeting for Learning 10:00-10:35 Our December Adult Meeting for Learning will explore the mystery of Mary in our Christmas story. December 6 The Annunciation Luke 1:26-38 December 13 Mary of the Gaelic Tradition December 20 “Who are the Shepherds?” December 27 Singing for Joy

SINGING: given the confusion about 4th vs last Sunday singing starting at 10am, we will now always sing on the LAST Sunday, whether that is the 4th of 5th Sunday. The remaining weeks singing starts at 10:40.

A PIANIST needed to accompany hymn singing Weeks 1, 2 and 3 of every month, until Cheryl returns in June. Jackie has volunteered to play for the hour of singing on the last Sunday. Bev Logan would appreciate any time you can free her up. Even just playing the right hand would be helpful!

Label maker needed: do you a label maker that they could loan me to be used in the kitchen for labeling locations. However you want to word it is fine. Hopefully they can also instruct me quickly on how to use it....Veronica

Lauren Shows wrote a wonderful blog about our meeting and how she and her daughter have come to know Quaker silence http://ysnews.com/news/2015/11/blog-silently-now

Gratitude: Bill Houston's family is grateful for all the ways that the Meeting helped with his memorial on October 31st. It was a beautiful occasion, and all the contributions made it all seem effortless. Special appreciation to Bruce Heckman for opening the meeting, Claire Winold & Susan Hyde for their hospitality 2 efforts, and all who helped set up & take down chairs. Thank you to everyone for helping bring Bill's spirit alive as we remembered him!

Heidi Eastman writes: I found this snippet of from The Grapes of Wrath among Bill Houston's things, all underlined and clearly a passage that was special to him. I thought it makes a beautiful postscript to Bill's memorial, and helps clarify references to his atheism. Casey spoke again, and his voice rang with pain and confusion. “I says, ‘What’s this call, this sperit?’ An’ I says, ‘It’s love. I love people so much I’m fit to bust, sometimes.’ An’ I says, ‘Don’t you love Jesus?’ Well, I thought an’ thought, an’ finally I says, ‘No, I don’t know nobody name’ Jesus. I know a bunch of stories, but I only love people. An’ sometimes I love ‘em fit to bust, an’ I want to make ‘em happy.’ Anyways, I’ll tell you one more thing I thought out; an’ from a preacher it’s the most unreligious thing, and I can’t be a preacher no more because I thought it an’ I believe it.” “What’s that?” Joad asked. Casy looked slyly at him. “If it hits you wrong, don’t take no offense at it, will you?” “I don’t take no offense ‘cept a bust in the nose,” said Joad. “What did you figger?” “I figgered about the Holy Spirit and the Jesus road. I figgered, ‘Why do we got to hang it on God or Jesus? Maybe,’ I figgered, ‘maybe it’s all men an’ all women we love; maybe that’s the holy sperit – the human sperit – the whole shebang. Maybe all men got one big soul ever’body’s a part of…’”

Yellow Springs Friends Meeting PO Box 45 Yellow Springs, OH 45387