“Christ says this, and the Apostles say this but what canst thou say? Art thou a child of Light, and hast thou walked in the Light, and what thou speaketh, is it inwardly from God?” 

Ithaca Monthly Meeting (IMM) owns a house at 227 Willard Way, not far from the top of Ithaca Falls. Ned and Marjorie Burtt bequeathed their house to the Meeting in 1981. More recently, the Burtt House became the home of the Friends Center for Racial Justice (FCRJ).

Please join us in discussion of the Burtt House, whether or not you think you have something to share. A discussion of IMM’s relationship with the Burtt House is a way to get to know more about others in our community.

Consider one or more of the following opportunities:

At November 2021’s Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business, a Minute from Trustees was approved. The Minute reads, in part:

During the BHWG’s meetings, our first goal has emerged: community-building for IMM. We have been separate from each other for more than two years. We take our charge to mean, facilitating ways for everyone in IMM to be included, to be heard, on the subject of our relationship to the building which has been part of the life of IMM since the Burtts were active members.

Our individual relationships to the building vary. Some people have lived there; others have never seen the place. Each came to know the building at a different time in a different way. For some, the FCRJ is an important part of their relationship with the house and for others, it isn’t.

As the Meeting gathers, all those experiences can be heard and addressed. The metaphor that seems apt is that of a river, with many streams springing from different sources and gradually converging into a single flow.

These gatherings will be in the spirit of “come as you are.” Each person enters from a starting point that only that person can express; each needs a chance to reflect on their present state of awareness about the Burtt House.

These are not decision-making meetings. In the process of sharing, we will learn more about each other.

This is the first round. The sharing that takes place will guide the next round.

The minutes from Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business can be found on the right-side column of our website.

Join Friends to watch a brief QuakerSpeak video and discuss what you watched. In person at the Third Street Meetinghouse or through Zoom. You can also join by phone by calling (929) 205-6099 and entering Meeting ID when prompted.

This committee meeting is open to all who would like to attend. Please feel free to come and bring your own concerns or interests. At this time we are meeting via Zoom; use the gray button below or:

Meeting ID: 891 7172 6300

Passcode: earthcare

You can also join by phone by calling (929) 205-6099 and entering Meeting ID when prompted.

Please send agenda items to the Clerk by the preceding Monday. (Contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.)

Women’s Fellowship

Please join us every third Friday evening for a friendly, informal gathering. We are back to meeting in person, and can be found gathering in the Meetinghouse courtyard. Bring knitting or snacks... or not!

Join Friends to watch a brief QuakerSpeak video and discuss what you watched. In person at the Third Street Meetinghouse or through Zoom. You can also join by phone by calling (929) 205-6099 and entering Meeting ID when prompted.

This is an “open” committee, meaning that all are welcome; participation does not go through the Nominating Committee process. Please feel free to come and bring your own concerns or interests. At this time we are meeting via Zoom; use the gray button below or: 

You can also join by phone by calling (929) 205-6099 and entering Meeting ID when prompted. If you have any questions, please call Elizabeth Schneider 607-351-0057.

Men’s Fellowship

First Thursdays, Friends, join us at Ithaca Bakery! Quaker men—and anyone who wants to hang out with Quaker men—are warmly invited.

Women’s Chair Yoga now by Zoom

This long-running group, which met for years at the meetinghouse, now runs on Zoom, making it more accessible than ever. To join in, email <jaihari10@gmail.com> The group is about half Friends and half neighbors, nurturing the Inner Light. No yoga experience required. There is a sliding-scale fee. For more info or questions, Nancy Gabriel, 607-339-7123; ntg2@cornell.edu.