Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business
March 12, 2023
Clerk: Barbara Chase
Assistant Clerk: Marin Clarkberg
Recording Clerks: Marin Clarkberg, Antonia Saxon
(The @ signifies that the minute has been read and approved during Meeting. Copies of all written reports are on file with and available from the Clerk or Recording Clerk.)
2023.3.1 Opening Worship
Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends met online, using Zoom remote conferencing service, for Monthly Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business on March 12, 2023. At 12:36pm, 18 Friends settled into worship.
Clerk recognized Nancy Gabriel, who was holding the meeting in the Light, and Gina Varrichio, who was helping with tech.
Clerk shared ministry about Quaker process and practice during Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business.
2023.3.2 State of the Meeting Report, First Reading
Carol Clarke presented the first reading of Ithaca Monthly Meeting’s State of the Meeting report prepared by the Ministry and Worship Committee. The query from New York Yearly Meeting this year is, How are Friends living their faith?
The report speaks of the way the meeting is mending, rekindling, stirring, and reweaving itself together in the presence of Spirit.
Gratitude was expressed to the committee for the detail and thoroughness of the report. A Friend recommended changes to the text that better reflect Friends’ differing views and abilities. A concern was voiced about the scarcity of children and adolescents in the meeting. Wider Quaker bodies offer support and resources to our families. Another Friend noted that Ithaca Friends are working together with other meetings on how to bring children back to our meetings. A request was made for the meeting’s new assistive listening system be included. Concern was expressed about the use of the word “broken” when so many helped to carry the Meeting through the pandemic. It may be that sundered ties and relationships are now being renewed.
The State of the Meeting Report will go back to Ministry and Worship for changes. The report will come before the body again in April.
2023.3.3 Clearness Committee for the Marriage of Cai Quirk and Joshua Quirk under the care of Ithaca Monthly Meeting
Gina Varrichio presented the report of a Clearness Committee for Marriage convened at the request of Cai Quirk and Joshua Quirk.
[NOTE: The final text of this minute was not approved in the March MfWwAtB. See April 2023 MfWwAtB Minutes for full text of this Minute.]
With joy, the meeting is clear to take the marriage of Cai Quirk and Joshua Quirk under its care.
2023.3.4 Ministry and Worship: Recommendation to move the date of April MfWwAtB
Ministry and Worship recommends that, in light of the date of Easter this year, April Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business be moved one week later, to the third Sunday, April 16.
A conflict was noted: that is the weekend of New York Yearly Meeting’s Spring Sessions.
The decision is referred to Ministry and Worship.
The remaining items on the agenda – the Treasurer’s Report, and the report from Nominating Committee were laid over until April.
The clerk announced that the Hector Meetinghouse would open for the season with a sunrise Meeting for Worship on Easter Sunday, April 9.
At 3:06, 15 Friends settled in worship before adjourning. No date has been set yet for April’s Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business.
Antonia Saxon, Recording Clerk