The Vassalboro Monthly Meeting continues as a strong and vibrant community of faith; while an unprogrammed Meeting, VMM Friends receive joy from singing before Silence. Diverse in our individual spiritual quests, we have a number of young and old social activists and inward seekers. The Meeting draws its membership from a broad geographic area, not limited to the Vassalboro community. VMM is a learning community where differences represent an opportunity for spiritual development. Though income growth has slowed somewhat after several years of significant increase, VMM has survived the economic down turn with a balanced budget.
Meeting has experienced several significant losses this past year. Two of our active young members have moved away or have found a spiritual home in another Meeting. One of our elder members passed away in November; her leadership and enthusiasm were an inspiration to us all, and Meeting is diminished for her passing. Joyfully, VMM has welcomed two new members to our Spiritual Community. Noteworthy, we still miss the presence of a young family which has returned to Europe after years of service to our Meeting, but we are grateful for the leadership they are giving to Friends in Central Europe.
The future of the Vassalboro Meeting is always a concern; we have a number of young, deeply involved families, but we are unclear as to how to assist them in assuming the role of membership, supporting the process of their taking over the leadership of Meeting, as a number of us age. There has also been a decline in the number of children in the early years of First Day School, as several have moved into their teen years, with sporadic participation. Last year, though, a number of babies were born into the Meeting Community, but their impact has not yet been felt. It is also clear that the current family responsibilities of younger adults often does not permit them to participate consistently in Meeting activities.
Meeting has addressed several practical problems this past year. Importantly, it has adopted a policy on the use of the burial ground, consistent with guidance in Faith and Practice. VMM has also responded to an infestation of mold in its library. To address the problem, Meeting has invested in a new propane heater and a dehumidifier for the library, as our Property Committee and Library Committee have worked very hard to remedy the mold problem. Addressing the issue of mud, Meeting has paved the entire driveway, improving its handicap accessibility by also paving the handicap parking space; in addition, Friends utilized a workday to build beautiful raised flower beds in the front and side of the Meeting House. Significantly, VMM has improved winter plowing and cleaning of the Meeting House by contracting with a local husband and wife.
As in past years, VMM had special activities to celebrate Christmas and Easter. Contributing to the Life of Meeting, VMM’s educational-communication opportunities have been expanded significantly during the past year; in addition to our attractive, comprehensive monthly newsletter, we have added an extensive VMM web site, with Meeting-specific information and detailed links to worldwide Quaker sites. Importantly, the Adult Education Committee has organized meaningful workshops and speakers to stimulate the spiritual growth of the VMM Community… and our evening Friends and Flicks showing of several videos again proved to be an enjoyable opportunity for community sharing.
Members of the Meeting provided leadership to Quarterly Meeting (youth presentation, Clerk of Ministry and Counsel, Recording Clerk and Treasurer) and Yearly Meeting (Permanent Board, Ministry and Counsel, and workshop leaders… and Board of Maine Council of Churches). The Meeting is also involved in local ecumenical projects: emergency fuel fund, community Thanksgiving Service, etc.)
The Friends of VMM have ongoing work to accomplish as we are led to deepen the shared inward experience of our Spiritual Community; in this vein, we continue to hold our brothers and sisters of the World in the Light.