For Manasquan Friends, the query concerning the advancement of truth among us speaks to the heart of our condition as a shrinking monthly meeting. We encounter truth in worship together and often feel gathered by its presence yet fail to convey the power of this experience to prospective Friends. In the past year, we have directed much energy to interaction with our surrounding community, offering opportunities for public awareness of who we are and what we believe. Yet, our membership decreases. Thus, as we pause to consider the state of Manasquan Meeting, we ask how our efforts might be more faith evident and more fruitful.
In 2009, Manasquan Friends laid a broad foundation for heightened awareness of racial issues. In August, Peace and Social Concerns showed the film “Free Indeed,” which was followed by a discussion facilitated by Lori Heninger of Shrewsbury Meeting.
When Manasquan hosted Half Yearly Meeting in September, we invited Vince Buscemi from the Yearly Meeting Task Group on Racism to speak. His talk, "Through our Testimony of Equality, NYYM is Becoming Whole,” led to a powerful discussion of Friends’ experiences and concerns regarding this issue, and we recognized that this was only the beginning of a period of discernment and opening. In 2009, Manasquan Meeting learned about the Barrington Dunbar Scholarship Fund, and made an initial donation. We have decided to explore partnering with Shrewsbury Meeting to attract new members in Asbury Park, a nearby community with a large population of people of color. Friends have chosen the topic of racism for our retreat at Powell House in May, 2010. In the months to come, race and racism will be themes of several additional events for which the initial planning began in 2009.
In 2009, Manasquan’s youth ministry focused on efforts to blend our community in terms of age. Young people were given opportunity during first day school to consider issues to be discussed in monthly meeting for business. The relatively new Intergenerational Committee comprised of young adults and adults initiated several projects designed to attract all age groups. These activities included a bike ride, cleaning the meeting, a barbeque dinner, a movie night and a dinner-and-a-movie night. The children played a bigger role in the Christmas Entertainment, buying, wrapping and distributing presents and playing parts in Charlie Brown’s Christmas. They collected donations of toiletries and personal care items to be used by the Interfaith Hospitality Network in hosting the homeless. Our young people also spearheaded improvements in the meeting nursery, discarding some old toys and creating a more welcoming appearance in general. In September, the First Day School hosted a visit from Plainfield First Day School children and parents. For our present group of youngsters, this event represented their first opportunity to interact with other Quaker children.
Our meeting is on sound footing financially, a blessing we attribute mainly to the Friendly Fair. The annual Fair raises nearly one third of the money spent each year. Months of pricing and days of baking and setting up tables precede the second Saturday in July when between fifty and sixty Friends turn out to carry priced items outside to display tables, to man tables and to help clean up. Largely because of this event, Manasquan Friends do not need to hound members for donations, and Friends with lower incomes can receive assistance to attend events like the Powell House Retreat.
In the future, we hope to compensate for Friends who have recently died or moved away. We are feeling our smallness, and our State of the Meeting discussion quickly became a brainstorming session regarding how we might grow. Should we post a question or expression of welcome on our new sign? Should we hand out fliers to new faces at films sponsored by Peace and Social Concerns or make such materials available at the Friendly Fair? The Advancement Committee intends to redouble efforts to find answers to the question that is always foremost in our minds: How should we advance our faith? Ultimately, the solution depends less on our choice of films and programs than on Fox’s commandment to let our lives speak. When we live truth, truth prospers.
Approved before monthly meeting for business 2nd Month 21, 2010.
Emily Fulton, Clerk