August 2021
Meeting for Worship on Sunday is In Person

Ministry and Worship has suspended our “hybrid” Meeting for Worship option through August. We invite you to join us in person, with a mask, on Sundays.

The option to worship in-person is at two locations: Third Street Meetinghouse and Hector Meetinghouse. Both events are on Sundays at 10:30am.

There is also online-only midweek Meeting for Worship at 6-6:30pm. See below for more information about Hector and Midweek meetings.
Working through Me and White Supremacy

You are invited to join a group that is forming to work through the exercises in Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad.

This is a 28-day set of reflections in which Saad invites each of us to examine ourselves in relation to 28 aspects of White Supremacy. Clarification: There is a distinction between White Supremacy (the dominant and Euro-centric culture in this country and thus the foundation for its institutions and for many cultural norms) and white supremacists (individuals who are blatantly and often violently racist). Most of us who are European-Americans are not white supremacists, but we have been raised within this white-centric system and its legal, financial, educational, religious, cultural, etc institutions. This means we have much to learn about the ways in which we are blind to the assumptions we make about the supremacy of our culture.  

We will be working with two topics per week on our own and then meeting each Thursday at 9:30 a.m. beginning August 5th to share our explorations. The workbook is available on line as a pdf (133 pages) and it is available as a journal for $15 if ordered from Buffalo Street Books. [There are two books by Saad. You want the journal.] There are definite advantages to the book which we can discuss on Friday.
 
The self reflections are challenging and intense. We will discover things about ourselves that we did not know and that make us uncomfortable. Many participants report being transformed by this process.
         
Layla Saad describes it this way:
 
You do not have to believe in religion, spirituality or God to do this work. I choose to speak and write through the lens of spirituality because it is one of the foundational pillars that guides my work and my life. However, it is my belief that this is soul work because it requires you to go deeply inside yourself and face your darkest shadows. It is work that will help you root out those parts of yourself that are harmful to you and to others. It is work that invites you to be a better person than you have been in the past. It is work that will bring up all kinds of challenging and painful feelings, and ask you to sit in those feelings and not run away from them. It is work that will ask you to move through the discomfort, rather than allowing your ego to protect you from going deeper. It is work that will pull out the worst of you, so that you can get to the best of you. It is not work that tolerates spiritual bypassing, New Age “Love & Light” platitudes, or skimming the surface. It is work that requires depth of spirit, critical thinking, a heart of integrity and an empowering vision for a new world. It is Love work
 
You are welcome to come to the first meeting to see whether this is for you. We will discuss the level of commitment involved, how we will share leadership and how we will help each other stick to this work. 
 

— Nancy Riffer
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance: August 9, 6p

There has been an annual tradition of Friends and others taking the time to remember the dropping of the first atomic bombs in 1945 on Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9). The Remembrance is in the form of a vigil held around the Peace Pole in front of the Friends Center for Racial Justice, 227 North Willard Way in Ithaca. This is a vigil of mindfulness and remembrance of the thousands of persons who were killed 76 years ago at the instant of the blasts, those who later died from their injuries, and those who suffered from their injuries.
    
We wish all who come to feel comfortable gathering around the Peace Pole, so we will place chairs 6 feet apart. But chairs can be moved as people arrive so that each of us can feel comfortable with the distancing, including if you are coming with someone and wish to sit next to each other. Individuals may choose to wear masks depending on their own situation. Of the many years this Remembrance has occurred, it has rained only once. If it is a light rain, we may be able to remain around the Peace Pole with an umbrella, so bring one if rain is possible. But we can also adjourn to the side porch of FCRJ. Depending on the number of persons in attendance, it would be challenging to provide the same social distancing, but a real effort will be made. If you have any questions, contact Elizabeth Schneider (neschneid@aol.com or 607-351-0057).

— Elizabeth Schneider
CRC Seeks a Diverse Group of Compassionate Volunteers

A cancer diagnosis can be one of the most devastating things to happen to someone. When clients walk into or call the Cancer Resource Center, they are greeted with a smile, empathy and hope by our wonderful volunteers. These volunteers also assist the CRC staff with various projects critical to the smooth running of our agency. 

Some of our volunteers are a daily comforting presence at Cayuga Medical Center, in both Radiation Oncology and Chemotherapy Infusion, offering a warm blanket, a snack, or just an ear to listen. They provide support and information to cancer patients and their caregivers. 

We would love to have you join our amazingly dedicated team! Our needs require commitment to a 3-4 hour shift on a weekday during office hours. Bus service is available to both the CRC office as well as Cayuga Medical Center. 
If you'd like to help make a difference, please visit our website crcfl.net  or contact Sharon Kaplan at sharon@crcfl.net or call our office 607-277-0960.

Worship at Hector

Meeting for Worship at the Hector Meetinghouse, 10:30a on Sundays, will be outdoors when weather permits. Bring a chair if you can.

The Hector Meetinghouse is located 5 miles northwest of Ithaca at 5066 Perry City Road, off Route 96. There is no running water or electricity, but a port-a-potty is available. Park along the road on the same side as the Meetinghouse, keeping driveways clear.
Midweek Meeting for Worship is on Zoom

Friends can join online Meeting for Worship using a computer, with or without a video camera, or by phone. Join online with this link or from your Zoom app with Meeting ID: 372 632 479 and password: friends. You can also join by phone by calling (929) 205-6099 and entering Meeting ID: 372 632 479 when prompted.

These instructions and more are available in the ithacamonthlymeeting.org site. Look for "Remote Meeting for Worship" on the right menu and then use the big Connect to Meeting for Worship button.
Where are Monthly Meeting minutes?

The minutes from Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business can be found on the right-side column of our website.
August Calendar of Ithaca Monthly Meeting
Memorial for Beth Jolles
Saturday, July 31, 10a

There will be an in-person gathering at Jolles home, 404 East Miller Road, Ithaca. There is a Zoom option for those who are unable to make it in person.  Friends are welcome to join the family at Taughannock Falls State Park after the memorial for a leisurely walk; plan to meet at 1pm.
Repairing the Breach - New York: Songs for the Journey
Saturday, July 31, 7p

Annie Patterson & Peter Blood (creators of the songbook Rise Up Singing) in conjunction with The Friends Center for Racial Justice will lead an online singalong concert via Zoom. FCRJ, located in Ithaca, New York, was formed out of the longing for a deeply rooted spiritual community united by authentic and just relationships, forgiveness and love, and from a recognition of the need to overcome the barriers that separate us. FCRJ serves as a resource for those wanting to run anti-racism programs and events. 100% of proceeds from the concert will go to FCRJ.
For more information or to purchase “pay as led” tickets visit

 
Please help us spread the word to others!
Mens Fellowship
Thursday, August 5, 7p

We are going to Ithaca Bakery! In the evening! Quaker men—and anyone who wants to hang out with Quaker men—are warmly invited.
Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business
Sunday, August 8, 12:30p

Please send agenda items to the Clerk by the preceding Monday. (Contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.)
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance
August 9, 6p

Join this remembrance at the Peace Pole, in front of the Friends Center for Racial Justice, 227 North Willard Way. See above for more information.
Peace and Social Justice Committee
Sunday, August 15, 12:30p

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: 
  • Meeting ID: 874 5684 8390
  • Password: peace
If you have any questions, please call Elizabeth Schneider 607-351-0057.
Spiritual Poetry Sharing
Sunday, August 22, 9:30a

Sister Janie E. Bibbie, a deaconess at Calvary Baptist Church, will be making a presentation of some of her Spirit-inspired poetry. She would be happy to share with you "in person," but her presentation, which will start at 9:30, will also be available by Zoom.
Womens Chair Yoga now by Zoom
Monday & Thursdays, 11a to noon
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.
120 Third Street • Ithaca NY 14850
Gina Varrichio, Clerk
clerk@ithacamonthlymeeting.org
607-272-2512

Pat Sewell, Treasurer
treasurer@ithacamonthlymeeting.org
Marin Clarkberg, Newsletter editor
clarkberg@cornell.edu
Newsletter contributions due on
last Monday of the month at 5pm