Meeting for Worship was well attended, a little larger than last year. There was plentiful ministry, from many sources, and it spoke to a wide variety of concerns, from the deeply personal to the social, ecological and political. There was also plenty of rich and deep silence. "Afterword," our ten minutes of worship sharing after the close of meeting for worship, continues to be a treasured part of the worship experience. There were many newcomers, and Friends have been active in welcoming them. We have made a serious effort to begin meeting when the first person sits down, and it is now customary for silence to begin before the hour. We have also stopped limiting the times for entry after 11:00, and the flexible entry is working well.
Meeting for business has been quite taxed, but a called meeting helped to clarify our intent to priorize our agenda and simplify it as best we can. When conflict arose among us, we confronted it with care and respect, and have been able to move on. We celebrated three new members by convincement and one by transfer. One Friend, who had moved, transferred her membership out of HMM and another, while continuing on her spiritual journey, withdrew her membership from the Religious Society of Friends.
A number of activities were arranged this year with the specific goal of increasing trust and deepening the sense of community in Hamilton Monthly Meeting. In February, a spiritual retreat was organized around a theme of "Seasons of the Spirit", with Winter being a time of quiet reflection, Spring a time of exuberant life, Summer for sharing our spiritual journeys, and finally Fall a time of reaping the benefits of the time together. Attended by a dozen people, the retreat featured times of quiet reflection, of sharing, singing, dancing, sketching and more. Those who attended felt it had been worthwhile; those who arranged it had hoped for participation by more people.
Most Sunday mornings before Meeting for Worship a group of about 6 to 8 people gathered to read aloud, then reflect together. In 2002, our sources included Barbara Kingsolver's Small Wonder, a Pendle Hill pamphlet on AJ Muste, and a book titled, The Emotional Life of Nations. The discussions were often passionate, the atmosphere trusting, and the sharing very personal.
Potluck suppers were held, usually on a monthly basis, focusing around a theme for discussion or a presentation for education. Subjects varied from the civil war in Sri Lanka, homelessness, jails and justice, a young attender's experience teaching in Angola, discussion of the working draft of the new Faith and Practice. A small crowd of regulars is to be found most months, with some topics attracting wider attendance. Another type of potluck with a more social focus is usually well attended.
As in the past, Friends once more opened their garden to us in the spring for a meeting for worship followed by a potluck lunch. The annual Thanksgiving supper was a convivial occasion, where family and friends who do not usually attend meeting are often present. On December 31st, F/friends said good-bye to the old year, and welcomed in the new with a potluck supper at the meetinghouse (a new twist this year), games and sharing, and celebratory hugs and good wishes at midnight. These events have become cherished traditions for us, and we recommend them other meetings.
In early May, a swap fest and plant sale was held outside on our new patio, which was also advertised locally in the hope of making some contact with our neighbours. In this it was not very successful, although it was enjoyed by the meeting group. In spite of being held on a chilly day in November, there was a good turnout for a cleaning bee at the meeting house, where fellowship was to be found cleaning windows, raking leaves, scrubbing, dusting and tidying. In mid-December some members of M & C and a few others gathered on a Saturday morning to bake Christmas cookies, and in the afternoon went to deliver them and sing carols to some older Friends who are not able to attend so regularly any more. This was heartwarming for all concerned! It is another activity we recommend to others.
2002 was a year in which our Native Species teaching garden mostly fended for itself, showing how well it could do that by surviving a very hot and dry summer, with no extra water. Almost everything which was originally planted has thrived. Plans for use of the garden in education and outreach need to be made.
Our youth religious education program is enjoying a slight increase in activity. As many as nine families bring up to 14 children to First Day School, some regularly and some sporadically. In 2002 we continued the monthly cycle of trips, programmed curriculum and 'discovery days'. The multi-generational format is less satisfactory than we expected and is under review. Curriculum has focused on two testimonies: simplicity and peace. School backpacks were prepared by the senior children for donating to a project to help needy school children in the area. A Christmas drama event was enjoyed with good participation. Several adults have given generously of their time to design interesting programs for the children. A continuing concern is how to engage the young teenagers. We are experimenting with mentoring and with all-generational worship.
One of our parents suggested that we have "Meeting of the Whole" from time to time in order to make the children more a part of the Meeting for Worship. The children have stayed in the Meeting for worship for the hour, with a soft play area in the corner. Adults participate with the children, and both come and go from the group peacefully; these movements are not disruptive. Some Friends were initially skeptical, but the practice has proven to be a very rewarding way to nurture and cherish the children in Meeting. This has been very successful and we plan to continue it.
HMM was part of the Sacred Sites architectural tour of the Art Gallery of Hamilton, for which we enjoyed a performance by a guest, who played the part of an Ontario man involved in the Underground Railroad. For this occasion, we also put on a garden party for our community. We maintained a web site, and we had a display at Clubsfest, an exposition of on and off campus activities for McMaster students. The outreach committee has begun work on literature to attract people to our meeting. A local film maker has made a short film of our meeting for worship, and has been extending it by filming a potluck and the Sacred Sites event. Meeting was given a copy of the short video, which apparently was shown in the Hamilton Detention Centre. The film is being expanded by following a couple of friends more closely.
Following on the events of Sept. 11, 2001, which affected us all a great deal in the previous year, the Meeting has seen a level of peace activities which we haven't seen since the Cold War. During 2002 we had a series of meetings to develop our peace witness, with the result that we sent a delegation to the Department of Foreign Affairs, meeting with seven individuals and establishing a continuing relationship of semi-annual visits, with a rotating membership in the delegation. We hope to maintain the meetings' level of engagement, and to develop a deep level of mutual understanding with folks at DFAIT. This whole process was a first . We also worked diligently to produce a letter to our local newspaper from the Meeting as a whole. As well, on September 11,2002, we kept the Meetinghouse open for both HMM people and others who wished to keep vigil. Some Friends participated in Ottawa and elsewhere. Two Friends of our Meeting gave a thoughtful and thought-provoking presentation on Iraq, based in their experience living there. One of these Friends was also part of the International Quaker Working Party on the Israel/Palestine conflict, which travelled to both Israel and Palestine, and presented to us after his return. He continues to work with the Working Party to produce the final report. Many Friends have participated in writing letters, speaking truth to power.
One of our members ran "Quakerism 101" this year once in the spring and again in the fall. Seekers engaged in a romp through Quaker history and theology, exploring and questioning Quaker principles and practices. It was a very positive experience and we plan to repeat it in 2003. As well, several sessions of "Quaker Lite" were held for inquirers.
Hamilton Friends continue to be involved with a number of wider Quaker activities. Hamilton Friends serve and attend YSHYM, and also Canadian Yearly Meeting in the following capacities: Representative Meeting; Camp NeeKauNis Committee; CFSC; Co-Recording Clerk of CYM; CYM representative to Project Ploughshares; CYM representative to Friends General Conference.
HMM Friends have worked with and attended FGC Gathering, and Young Friends have been very much involved in Young Friends' retreats in Southern Ontario.
Hamilton Friends also serve locally and farther afield in many and various ways with peace groups, social issues, outreach and as activists. We have wrestled with how best to spend our donation for relief of poverty, and also with a loan fund for members and attenders and others in need. We are happy to see our adult Young Friends begin to take on concerns at an adult level outside of meeting. When traveling in Canada and abroad, Friends from HMM often visit other meetings, taking our greetings and bringing greetings back to our Meeting. As well, Hamilton Meeting has welcomed a number of outside groups with compatible ways to use our Meetinghouse on a regular or occasional basis.
Hamilton Friends have continued to find support and nurture within Meeting for their work and concerns outside meeting. Individually and corporately, we seek to support and uphold activities and initiatives which are in accord with Quaker testimonies. Demands within Meeting have been great as we attempt to sustain and care for aging Friends and Friends who are experiencing personal struggles, and cope with a certain amount of dissonance within meeting, as well as responding to our inner promptings regarding the great distresses in the outer world. There are times when individually or as a group we have felt over-extended. However, we feel that we are still maintaining our Meeting family, and we value one anothers' gifts. Meeting for Worship continues to be the center of our Meeting life, as we strive to walk in the Light, both inwardly and outwardly.