News from Western Quaker Newsletters
December 2009
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Woodland Friends Church (ID), a congregation of 60 people in a farming community on a beautiful mesa in central Idaho, is looking for a pastor.
December will be the last month for Bill Peterson’s service as Pastor of First Friends, Whittier (CA). A farewell reception will be held on Sunday, December 27.
Friends at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are invited let their contemplative and creative juices flow to make a personal vision collage On Sunday, January 3rd.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) will hold a retreat Jan 22-23 at the Tempe Meeting House. The guest speaker, Lucy Duncan of Friends General Conference, will lead on the topic of telling spiritual stories and the technique of deep listening to the stories of others.
The Care of the Meeting Committee of Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) has concerns about the advices and queries on Personal Relationships. The Committee had concerns about reading the advices on sexual and other abuse during Meeting for Worship, particularly if children are attending. The Committee decided that the advices and queries on Home and Family of the 1985 edition of Faith and Practice were more appropriate for reading with children present. However, some on the Committee felt that the 1985 advices and queries were outdated in some respects. The Meeting asked the Committee to forward its reflections to the Pacific Yearly Meeting Discipline Committee with a cover letter explaining the meeting's particular concern.
Spring Valley Friends Community Church (CA) will hold its Annual Candlelight Service and Musical, “Joy to the Word,” on Wednesday, December 23rd.
A member of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) is working toward a gathering (probably in early 2010) of middle-schoolers from all the local Quaker meetings.
Fellowship Committee of Santa Monica Meeting (CA) has been approached by Friends about the presence of desserts/sweets at Fellowship. The Meeting expressed a desire to limit foods with sugar.
On the First First Day of each month Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) comes together to practice Holy Listening. In the center of the gathering, Friends place a bowl containing slips of paper with various short quotations. Each person takes one at random and reflects on the quotation until moved to speak.
A Friend from Santa Cruz Meeting (CA), noting that many Meetings have Young Friends groups and that Santa Cruz Meeting has an “Older Folks Group,” suggests that the Meeting form a self-identified group called Mid-Life Friends.
San Jose Meeting (CA) is Calling All Carolers to help bring good cheer and a bit of holiday music to others. Friends will meet on December 20 at 5 PM at Brinton House, and go to two or three selected homes to sing carols and share some time with friends. They will then go to Thomas and Emily Leo’s home for refreshments and tales of Christmases past and present.
Ruth Fraser of San Francisco Meeting (CA) hosts a Story Swap the first Sunday evening of each month at the San Francisco Meeting House, featuring different tellers each month. www.storysaac.org
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) Sermon Series includes “Why Christmas:
A Time for Celebration (Jerry Costley); A Time for Salvation (Chris Steiger); A Time for Reconciliation (Jason Morones). The Wednesday Night Small Groups will discuss a three-part DVD lesson series: The Purpose of Christmas.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) welcomes Friends to a Primetime New Year’s Eve Party. At 9-12 p.m. Eastern Time. Thus, Friends are to come at 6:00 p.m. So many people came last year that the entire Plaza level of the Center Building has been reserved to have more elbow room. Friends are to bring a potluck dish and a “White Elephant” gift. They'll have fun games, including an electronic bowling contest (Nintendo Wii on big screens). A devotional and Communion time will complete the evening at 9 p.m.
The Ministry Committee of Reno Meeting (NV) is planning a Quaker 201 series that will likely be held periodically over a three year period and focus on topics like: Theism/non-theism/universalism/Christ-centeredness among Quakers; Leadings; Sense of the meeting; and Eldering.
The 2009 Dessert Auction at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) procured $4500 for summer 2010 camperships.
Christmas is happening at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR)with a Fellowship Meal and Church Decorating, a Sing-Along Messiah, an evening of Music and Holiday Desserts, an Evening with Friends Christmas Party and a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service.
Pima Meeting (Tucson, AZ) has gone through a discernment process regarding the American Friends Service Committee returning to the Meeting House. Seasoning occurred and the Meeting agreed that it is in unity with leasing two rooms to the AFSC.
Pima Meeting (Tucson, AZ) is offering Hospitality to the homeless three times in December-January.
When Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) approves an upgrade project, it will appoint a committee of two or three Friends responsible for soliciting funding for the project. Those who are enthusiastic about the project may wish to serve. The upgrade project will not begin until sufficient pledges have been obtained to fund the project. If sufficient pledges are not obtained, a report will be made to Meeting and the existing pledges will be canceled.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) has set aside December 20 for an evening of singing Christmas songs and tasting Christmas goodies. Friends will gather in the sanctuary for Christmas Evensong, a casual gathering to sing favorite Christmas songs together. Adults and children will lead and also sing prepared songs. Then they will enjoy the annual Taste of Christmas in the social hall. For those who choose, there will be caroling in the neighborhood.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) set up Advent Stations on December 14-17 that were open in the morning and in the evening. The doors were open and the candles were lit for Friends to find space to be with God for the amount of time appropriate for them.
Bradley Angle House is naming their women's shelter, the Bonnie Tinker Shelter, for a deceased member of Multnomah Monthly Meeting (Portland, OR). A virtual ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony was held at the Friends Meeting House and people had the opportunity to share stories of Bonnie, the shelter she founded, and to honor her memory.y–Thursday,
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) has a monthly Amnesty International letter writing group which writes letters to government officials supporting prisoners of conscience in other countries and persons on death row in the United States.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) is in support of continuing the sale of grocery store gift cards to benefit the Colorado office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).
Mountain View Friends Meeting (Denver, CO) is accepting designated contributions to the Paul and Lisa Motz-Storeys’ work in Arusha, Tanzania: the Selian Hospice and the continuing repairs being done at the Selian Lutheran hospital.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) approved a minute of support for Bill and Genie Durlands’ participation in the Freedom March in Gaza.
The Library Committee of Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) has assessed work done to date – categorization and organization. A principle statement has been drafted – “We strive to attain a library which speaks to Quaker faith and practice.” This is an important step forward and a guide for future acquisitions.
Midtown Friends (Sacramento, CA) had its Grand Opening Celebration on October 4th in Fremont Park in Midtown Sacramento, playing drums, creating art, tasting fair-trade coffee and chocolate, followed by their first official public worship service.
Fresno Meeting (CA) supports the Representative Committee handling more of the Yearly Meeting’s business. At present Fresno Friends Meeting is very small and is not able to commit to sending representatives to the Representative Committee.
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
The Adult Religious Education committee of Corvallis Meeting (OR) is tentatively planning a Retreat on “Preparing for Death.” The committee hopes to include such topics as legal documents, medical concerns, advance directives, physician aid-in-dying, and Hospice, etc.
Corvallis Meeting (OR) has learned that it may be eligible for $500 federal stimulus money for Meeting House maintenance. Friends discussed the implications of taking the money, and what the Meeting would do with the money. The issue is seasoning another month.
Joe Franco will come to Claremont Meeting (CA) as a guest speaker in on the Fourth Sunday in February.
Canyon Hills Friends (Yorba Linda, CA) experienced a musical Christmas celebration called, "When Hope Came..."
Bridge City Meeting (Portland, OR) is once again planning a Christmas Eve celebration at the Multnomah Meeting House. There will be a short program and meeting for worship focused on the Christmas Story, followed by a social hour.
Berkeley Friends Church will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
Children from Albuquerque Meeting (NM) took a field trip to Lucky Paws at Coronado Mall to deliver the toys & blankets they had made for animals in City Shelters. The children were given a tour of the facility and had a chance to visit with one of the dogs at the site.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Arizona Half-Yearly Meeting will hold its Spring gathering March 27, 2010 at the Phoenix Meeting House.
Friends Center at Azusa Pacific is offering a course on Friends Theology, Worship, and Leadership, taught by Kent Walkemeyer, Friends Center Director. kwalkemeyer@apu.edu
Ben Lomond Quaker Center and Western Friend announce their first collaborative program, Rightly-Ordered Financial Management for Friends' Meetings and Organizations. It will take place at Ben Lomond Quaker Center on March 5-7, 2010.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Southern California – Representative Session and Equipping Community Dinner, Friday January 29, 2010; Serve Day, Saturday, January 30, 2010.
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
Friends are invited to join an Evangelical Friends Mission Vision Tour led by Chuck Mylander to Nepal, India, and Ireland, March 10-29, 2010. efm@friendsmission.com.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
Neighbors East and West is planning a trip to Iran April-May 2010. N.E.W, a Citizen-Diplomacy Community Education Organization led by Sam and Ruth Neff, is based in Richmond, IN and Whitefish, MT. http://neighborseastandwest.org/
The North Pacific Yearly Meeting Youth Committee asks if Meetings, Worship Groups, or individuals would be able to send a one-time donation (or to add a line item in annual budgets) to support the NPYM Youth Opportunity Fund.
Each year, the churches and meetings of Northwest Yearly Meeting take a Thanksgiving offering to support special projects of local or global outreach. This year, NWYM hoped to raise $9,000 to assist Del and Suzanne Livingston (Olympic View Friends, Tacoma, WA) begin three biosand water filtration micro-businesses in Burundi. They raised much more than that!
Midwinter High School Camp of Northwest Yearly Meeting is a camp for youth and their friends in the middle of winter. It will be held at Quaker Hill (McCall, ID) from December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010. It’s a chance for youth to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, worship, serve others, play games, and have a whole lot of fun. Information: rachelle@nwfriends.org
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Yearly Meeting seeks fulltime Youth Program Coordinator to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our pre-teens through young adults. Coordinator provides program support and coordination of youth activities; assists Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in engaging and educating their young people; develops an infrastructure that brings Friends together as a faith community; and provides a role model experienced in Friends' worship and practices. Frequent travel required. Expenses reimbursed. $18 an hour plus overtime, starting with two-weeks' vacation, holidays, sick leave and benefits. Quaker meeting membership required. By January 12th email letters of interest and résumés to Lanny Jay at landbird@comcast.net.
Utah Friends Fellowship Mid Winter Gathering will be in Salt Lake January 16-17.
Western Young Friends New Year’s Gathering will take place at Cazadero Arts Camp in Northern California, December 28, 2009-January 2, 2010. www.newyearsgathering.org
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Apple Seed Meeting (Sebastopol, CA) held a Threshing Session on its 2010 budget. Friends responded to the query, “What is our corporate witness as Friends?” Friends indicated they can still make a corporate witness in 2010, but they may have to do it more smartly and perhaps with less funding.
Berkeley Friends Church will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
In celebration of Santa Lucia Day and as a celebration of Light, Catya deNeergaard and Ingrid Hogle of Berkeley Meeting (CA) will lead a sunrise walk on December 13th at Cordonices Park.
The City of Berkeley Zoning Adjustment Board put the request from Berkeley Meeting (CA) for a permit regarding the Meeting’s renovation plans on the Consent Calendar and passed it without hearing arguments or engaging in discussion!
Bridge City Meeting (Portland, OR) is once again planning a Christmas Eve celebration at Multnomah Meeting House. There will be a short program and meeting for worship focused on the Christmas Story, followed by a social hour.
Bridge City Friends (Portland, OR) are collecting hats and scarves, socks and gloves for the women who daily deal with cold, rain, and deprivation. The Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter asks, “Could you expand your generosity to include journals and pens, books and Bibles, chocolate and hand sanitizers to be used as Christmas gifts?”
Chico Meeting (CA) takes on the responsibility of providing a meal monthly for homeless guests of the Torres Shelter. Oversight and Fellowship will coordinate this work and Finance Committee will include a line item in the 2010 budget.
Nominating Committee of Chico Meeting (CA) did not get the sense that anyone felt led to serve on Peace and Social Order committee so they will consider a proposal for the means by which to do this work.
Joe Franco will come to Claremont Meeting (CA) as a guest speaker in on the Fourth Sunday in February.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
As part of examining its decision making process, Davis Meeting Friends (CA) are participating in an exercise to help them express a concern and hear someone else's. Friends were to think of an unresolved issue, a concern, or something that feels it is still in process regarding the Friend and his/her participation in meeting. It could be as simple as not enough time to eat before Business Meeting or something systemic and deeply troubling.
Duncan Worship Group (BC) meets at Providence Farm in the “garden house” where on third Sundays the Meeting stages “Soup and Stories” – breakfast potluck and stories from Friends’ history and insights, starting with Betty Polster and then Linda Scheiber.
The Property and Building Committees of Eastside Meeting (Bellevue, WA) will hold an open meeting with Norlin Joyce, the contractor, for a progress report, walk-through of the new spaces, and question-and-answer about the building remodel project.
Eugene Meeting (OR) will hold a discussion about angels in Friends’ lives.
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
At Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) attendees that are not members are also being asked if they wish to consider membership. Ministry and Oversight is considering that a letter would be sent to these attendees to inquire into their possible formal membership in the Meeting. A possible “Seeker’s Meeting” may also take place to allow people to explore Quakerism as a spiritual and life path.
House and Grounds Committee of Honolulu Meeting (HI) notes that instead of urging all “memtenders” to get out for the Meeting’s monthly Work Day, the committee will urge each to come for at least ONE workday each year! With helping hands added to those of regular monthly stalwarts, more could be accomplished, and Friends could enjoy the satisfaction of work and fellowship.
Honolulu Meeting (HI) notes that fewer people are attending Meeting for Worship on Sundays. The Meeting is planning outreach efforts which may stimulate more interest. As a first step, Friends are asked to consider the following questions: 1) How did you first hear about Quaker Meetings? 2) What prompted you to attend your first Quaker Meeting? 3) What is it about Meeting that keeps you coming back?
The Program Committee of Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) urges Friends to come make Christmas crafts. Friends will bring their talents and supplies for a fun intergenerational event on Saturday, December 12th.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) will hold a Service of Consolation, December 6th, 4:00 p.m.
Eric Muhr will begin serving Newberg Friends Church (OR) as fulltime youth pastor on January 1, 2010.
Orange County Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) participates in SOS's Adopt-a-Family for Christmas program. This year, Friends have agreed to adopt one or two families and up to eight children. They will provide two wrapped gifts for each child in the family and the makings of a Christmas feast, plus clothing, if funds allow.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) will schedule a time outside of business meetings to discuss the philosophy of authority.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) notes that its buildings are heavily used. No week end time is available for continuing groups. The committee is suggesting that no Saturday events for outside groups be confirmed as scheduled more than 4 weeks in advance. This would make it difficult for a group to schedule a public one day event. Unity was not found, so the matter was laid over.
Oversight Committee of Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) is unable to shoulder the burdens of hosting Quarterly Meeting when it next comes to Santa Rosa. Several Friends volunteered to serve on an ad hoc committee, and a short note will be put in the newsletter asking for additional help. The ad-hoc committee will determine whether there is enough strength in RFFM to hold the winter Quarter here when it is next scheduled to be in Santa Rosa.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) presented this year's music/drama Christmas presentation, A Christmas Prayer-a story of reconciliation and love, featuring the Sanctuary choir, orchestra, drama cast, and several soloists. A journey of restoring family relationships was woven together with a journey of faith in this moving and meaningful presentation.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will offer Financial Peace University, a biblically-based video discussion series that will help Friends learn how to beat debt, build savings, and give like never before. Imagine what the people of God could do for the Kingdom of God if they lived by God's money principles. Previews in December; the class starts in January.
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) Finance Committee, is changed to Budget and Fundraising Committee. The Committee shall monitor the financial condition of the Meeting -- consulting, assisting and advising the Treasurer in matters pertaining to the Meeting's financial health, and in consultation with the Treasurer, reporting to Business Meeting from time to time at its discretion, but regularly every March and October, on the financial condition, needs, and prospects of the Meeting. When appropriate and approved by Business Meeting, the Committee shall oversee or consult on fund raising activities from within the Meeting and from third party donors.
The Peace and Social Concerns Committee of San Francisco Meeting (CA) will sponsor a program called From Violence to Wholeness, starting in February.
Worship & Ministry of Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) experimented with extended worship on November 29. Friends ended worship when they sensed that it was done, not when the clock said stop.
Santa Fe Friends (NM) had a lengthy discussion of the revision of the draft bylaws as they were posted online. Friends agreed that the issues boiled down to six major areas where the Meeting is called upon to make additional revisions for the purpose of clarity.
A member of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) is working toward a gathering (probably in early 2010) of middle-schoolers from all the local Quaker meetings.
Adult Religious Education (A.R.E.) of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) led a discussion on “The Soul.” What is the soul? What are Quaker views of the soul? What do you experience as the soul? Part of the time will be spent watching a section of a Parker Palmer video on "Circles of Trust" where he discusses the soul and an approach to it.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) held a Called Meeting for Business to consider if the Meeting should move ahead to seek Monthly Meeting Status.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) is finalizing plans for Friendly 8 dinners which will be held on Dec. 18 (Friday) and Dec. 19 (Saturday).
Friends at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are invited let their contemplative and creative juices flow to make a personal vision collage On Sunday, January 3rd.
The fourth Meeting-wide retreat in its Year of Discernment was held at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) on Saturday, October 24. Over 50 people gathered for worship, work on the building, an enormous potluck lunch, thoughtful discussion about the nature and meaning of community, and interest groups on three major UFM issues (building decisions, youth programs, and integration of worship and social action).
Vancouver Island Monthly Meeting of the Canadian Religious Society of Friends fully endorses the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 December 2007
Victoria Meeting (BC) is considering acknowledging Coast Salish Traditional Territory as part of the Meeting House address.
Woodland Friends Church (ID), a congregation of 60 people in a farming community on a beautiful mesa in central Idaho, is looking for a pastor.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Christian Friends Conference will meet next on Dec. 12, 2009 at Berkeley Friends Church.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Southern California – Representative Session and Equipping Community Dinner, Friday January 29, 2010; Serve Day, Saturday, January 30, 2010.
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
Friends are invited to join an Evangelical Friends Mission Vision Tour led by Chuck Mylander to Nepal, India, and Ireland, March 10-29, 2010. efm@friendsmission.com.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
The North Pacific Yearly Meeting Youth Committee asks if Meetings, Worship Groups, or individuals would be able to send a one-time donation (or to add a line item in annual budgets) to support the NPYM Youth Opportunity Fund.
Each year, the churches and meetings of Northwest Yearly Meeting take a Thanksgiving offering to support special projects of local or global outreach. This year, NWYM hoped to raise $9,000 to assist Del and Suzanne Livingston (Olympic View Friends, Tacoma, WA) begin three biosand water filtration micro-businesses in Burundi. They raised much more than that!
Midwinter High School Camp of Northwest Yearly Meeting is a camp for youth and their friends in the middle of winter. It will be held at Quaker Hill (McCall, ID) from December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010. It’s a chance for youth to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, worship, serve others, play games, and have a whole lot of fun. Information: rachelle@nwfriends.org
Angel Diaz, Latino Ministry Coordinator for Northwest Yearly Meeting, reports attendance at the yearly meeting’s Latino Ministry Points: 60 Newberg, 30 Greenleaf, 50 Caldwell, 30 Lynwood, 30 Vancouver First, 40 Reedwood, 25 McMinnville, 20 North Valley Church, 10 Salem, 5 in Clackamas Park -- 300 people together.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Yearly Meeting seeks fulltime Youth Program Coordinator to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our pre-teens through young adults. Coordinator provides program support and coordination of youth activities; assists Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in engaging and educating their young people; develops an infrastructure that brings Friends together as a faith community; and provides a role model experienced in Friends' worship and practices. Frequent travel required. Expenses reimbursed. $18 an hour plus overtime, starting with two-weeks' vacation, holidays, sick leave and benefits. Quaker meeting membership required. By January 12th email letters of interest and résumés to Lanny Jay at landbird@comcast.net.
The Proposal for revitalizing Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Committee and strengthening the voice of Monthly Meeting through their representatives includes the proposal that the Representative Committee (REPCOM) of the yearly meeting assume responsibility for acting on more of the business of the yearly meeting.
Utah Friends Fellowship Mid Winter Gathering will be in Salt Lake January 16-17.
Quaker Book Release Party - December 12 in San Francisco: Friends are invited to come to the Bay Area celebration of Western Friend magazine’s recent publication of Enlivened by the Mystery: Quakers and God, an anthology of work by Friends from Pacific, North Pacific and Intermountain Yearly Meetings and beyond!
Western Young Friends New Year’s Gathering will take place at Cazadero Arts Camp in Northern California, December 28, 2009-January 2, 2010. www.newyearsgathering.org
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
The Fall 2009 Woolman Semester Graduation Celebration will be on Saturday, December 19 at the Woolman Campus at Sierra Friends Center with the theme, “What Makes You Come Alive?”
Apple Seed Meeting (Sebastopol, CA) held a Threshing Session on its 2010 budget. Friends responded to the query, “What is our corporate witness as Friends?” Friends indicated they can still make a corporate witness in 2010, but they may have to do it more smartly and perhaps with less funding.
Berkeley Friends Church will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
In celebration of Santa Lucia Day and as a celebration of Light, Catya deNeergaard and Ingrid Hogle of Berkeley Meeting (CA) will lead a sunrise walk on December 13th at Cordonices Park.
The City of Berkeley Zoning Adjustment Board put the request from Berkeley Meeting (CA) for a permit regarding the Meeting’s renovation plans on the Consent Calendar and passed it without hearing arguments or engaging in discussion!
Bridge City Meeting (Portland, OR) is once again planning a Christmas Eve celebration at Multnomah Meeting House. There will be a short program and meeting for worship focused on the Christmas Story, followed by a social hour.
Bridge City Friends (Portland, OR) are collecting hats and scarves, socks and gloves for the women who daily deal with cold, rain, and deprivation. The Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter asks, “Could you expand your generosity to include journals and pens, books and Bibles, chocolate and hand sanitizers to be used as Christmas gifts?”
Chico Meeting (CA) takes on the responsibility of providing a meal monthly for homeless guests of the Torres Shelter. Oversight and Fellowship will coordinate this work and Finance Committee will include a line item in the 2010 budget.
Nominating Committee of Chico Meeting (CA) did not get the sense that anyone felt led to serve on Peace and Social Order committee so they will consider a proposal for the means by which to do this work.
Joe Franco will come to Claremont Meeting (CA) as a guest speaker in on the Fourth Sunday in February.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
As part of examining its decision making process, Davis Meeting Friends (CA) are participating in an exercise to help them express a concern and hear someone else's. Friends were to think of an unresolved issue, a concern, or something that feels it is still in process regarding the Friend and his/her participation in meeting. It could be as simple as not enough time to eat before Business Meeting or something systemic and deeply troubling.
Duncan Worship Group (BC) meets at Providence Farm in the “garden house” where on third Sundays the Meeting stages “Soup and Stories” – breakfast potluck and stories from Friends’ history and insights, starting with Betty Polster and then Linda Scheiber.
The Property and Building Committees of Eastside Meeting (Bellevue, WA) will hold an open meeting with Norlin Joyce, the contractor, for a progress report, walk-through of the new spaces, and question-and-answer about the building remodel project.
Eugene Meeting (OR) will hold a discussion about angels in Friends’ lives.
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
At Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) attendees that are not members are also being asked if they wish to consider membership. Ministry and Oversight is considering that a letter would be sent to these attendees to inquire into their possible formal membership in the Meeting. A possible “Seeker’s Meeting” may also take place to allow people to explore Quakerism as a spiritual and life path.
House and Grounds Committee of Honolulu Meeting (HI) notes that instead of urging all “memtenders” to get out for the Meeting’s monthly Work Day, the committee will urge each to come for at least ONE workday each year! With helping hands added to those of regular monthly stalwarts, more could be accomplished, and Friends could enjoy the satisfaction of work and fellowship.
Honolulu Meeting (HI) notes that fewer people are attending Meeting for Worship on Sundays. The Meeting is planning outreach efforts which may stimulate more interest. As a first step, Friends are asked to consider the following questions: 1) How did you first hear about Quaker Meetings? 2) What prompted you to attend your first Quaker Meeting? 3) What is it about Meeting that keeps you coming back?
The Program Committee of Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) urges Friends to come make Christmas crafts. Friends will bring their talents and supplies for a fun intergenerational event on Saturday, December 12th.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) will hold a Service of Consolation, December 6th, 4:00 p.m.
Eric Muhr will begin serving Newberg Friends Church (OR) as fulltime youth pastor on January 1, 2010.
Orange County Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) participates in SOS's Adopt-a-Family for Christmas program. This year, Friends have agreed to adopt one or two families and up to eight children. They will provide two wrapped gifts for each child in the family and the makings of a Christmas feast, plus clothing, if funds allow.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) will schedule a time outside of business meetings to discuss the philosophy of authority.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) notes that its buildings are heavily used. No week end time is available for continuing groups. The committee is suggesting that no Saturday events for outside groups be confirmed as scheduled more than 4 weeks in advance. This would make it difficult for a group to schedule a public one day event. Unity was not found, so the matter was laid over.
Oversight Committee of Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) is unable to shoulder the burdens of hosting Quarterly Meeting when it next comes to Santa Rosa. Several Friends volunteered to serve on an ad hoc committee, and a short note will be put in the newsletter asking for additional help. The ad-hoc committee will determine whether there is enough strength in RFFM to hold the winter Quarter here when it is next scheduled to be in Santa Rosa.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) presented this year's music/drama Christmas presentation, A Christmas Prayer-a story of reconciliation and love, featuring the Sanctuary choir, orchestra, drama cast, and several soloists. A journey of restoring family relationships was woven together with a journey of faith in this moving and meaningful presentation.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will offer Financial Peace University, a biblically-based video discussion series that will help Friends learn how to beat debt, build savings, and give like never before. Imagine what the people of God could do for the Kingdom of God if they lived by God's money principles. Previews in December; the class starts in January.
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) Finance Committee, is changed to Budget and Fundraising Committee. The Committee shall monitor the financial condition of the Meeting -- consulting, assisting and advising the Treasurer in matters pertaining to the Meeting's financial health, and in consultation with the Treasurer, reporting to Business Meeting from time to time at its discretion, but regularly every March and October, on the financial condition, needs, and prospects of the Meeting. When appropriate and approved by Business Meeting, the Committee shall oversee or consult on fund raising activities from within the Meeting and from third party donors.
The Peace and Social Concerns Committee of San Francisco Meeting (CA) will sponsor a program called From Violence to Wholeness, starting in February.
Worship & Ministry of Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) experimented with extended worship on November 29. Friends ended worship when they sensed that it was done, not when the clock said stop.
Santa Fe Friends (NM) had a lengthy discussion of the revision of the draft bylaws as they were posted online. Friends agreed that the issues boiled down to six major areas where the Meeting is called upon to make additional revisions for the purpose of clarity.
A member of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) is working toward a gathering (probably in early 2010) of middle-schoolers from all the local Quaker meetings.
Adult Religious Education (A.R.E.) of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) led a discussion on “The Soul.” What is the soul? What are Quaker views of the soul? What do you experience as the soul? Part of the time will be spent watching a section of a Parker Palmer video on "Circles of Trust" where he discusses the soul and an approach to it.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) held a Called Meeting for Business to consider if the Meeting should move ahead to seek Monthly Meeting Status.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) is finalizing plans for Friendly 8 dinners which will be held on Dec. 18 (Friday) and Dec. 19 (Saturday).
Friends at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are invited let their contemplative and creative juices flow to make a personal vision collage On Sunday, January 3rd.
The fourth Meeting-wide retreat in its Year of Discernment was held at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) on Saturday, October 24. Over 50 people gathered for worship, work on the building, an enormous potluck lunch, thoughtful discussion about the nature and meaning of community, and interest groups on three major UFM issues (building decisions, youth programs, and integration of worship and social action).
Vancouver Island Monthly Meeting of the Canadian Religious Society of Friends fully endorses the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 December 2007
Victoria Meeting (BC) is considering acknowledging Coast Salish Traditional Territory as part of the Meeting House address.
Woodland Friends Church (ID), a congregation of 60 people in a farming community on a beautiful mesa in central Idaho, is looking for a pastor.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Christian Friends Conference will meet next on Dec. 12, 2009 at Berkeley Friends Church.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Southern California – Representative Session and Equipping Community Dinner, Friday January 29, 2010; Serve Day, Saturday, January 30, 2010.
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
Friends are invited to join an Evangelical Friends Mission Vision Tour led by Chuck Mylander to Nepal, India, and Ireland, March 10-29, 2010. efm@friendsmission.com.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
The North Pacific Yearly Meeting Youth Committee asks if Meetings, Worship Groups, or individuals would be able to send a one-time donation (or to add a line item in annual budgets) to support the NPYM Youth Opportunity Fund.
Each year, the churches and meetings of Northwest Yearly Meeting take a Thanksgiving offering to support special projects of local or global outreach. This year, NWYM hoped to raise $9,000 to assist Del and Suzanne Livingston (Olympic View Friends, Tacoma, WA) begin three biosand water filtration micro-businesses in Burundi. They raised much more than that!
Midwinter High School Camp of Northwest Yearly Meeting is a camp for youth and their friends in the middle of winter. It will be held at Quaker Hill (McCall, ID) from December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010. It’s a chance for youth to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, worship, serve others, play games, and have a whole lot of fun. Information: rachelle@nwfriends.org
Angel Diaz, Latino Ministry Coordinator for Northwest Yearly Meeting, reports attendance at the yearly meeting’s Latino Ministry Points: 60 Newberg, 30 Greenleaf, 50 Caldwell, 30 Lynwood, 30 Vancouver First, 40 Reedwood, 25 McMinnville, 20 North Valley Church, 10 Salem, 5 in Clackamas Park -- 300 people together.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Yearly Meeting seeks fulltime Youth Program Coordinator to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our pre-teens through young adults. Coordinator provides program support and coordination of youth activities; assists Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in engaging and educating their young people; develops an infrastructure that brings Friends together as a faith community; and provides a role model experienced in Friends' worship and practices. Frequent travel required. Expenses reimbursed. $18 an hour plus overtime, starting with two-weeks' vacation, holidays, sick leave and benefits. Quaker meeting membership required. By January 12th email letters of interest and résumés to Lanny Jay at landbird@comcast.net.
The Proposal for revitalizing Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Committee and strengthening the voice of Monthly Meeting through their representatives includes the proposal that the Representative Committee (REPCOM) of the yearly meeting assume responsibility for acting on more of the business of the yearly meeting.
Utah Friends Fellowship Mid Winter Gathering will be in Salt Lake January 16-17.
Quaker Book Release Party - December 12 in San Francisco: Friends are invited to come to the Bay Area celebration of Western Friend magazine’s recent publication of Enlivened by the Mystery: Quakers and God, an anthology of work by Friends from Pacific, North Pacific and Intermountain Yearly Meetings and beyond!
Western Young Friends New Year’s Gathering will take place at Cazadero Arts Camp in Northern California, December 28, 2009-January 2, 2010. www.newyearsgathering.org
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
The Fall 2009 Woolman Semester Graduation Celebration will be on Saturday, December 19 at the Woolman Campus at Sierra Friends Center with the theme, “What Makes You Come Alive?”
Thursday, November 19, 2009
News from Western Quaker Newsletters
November 2009
During the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage, a program of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), Quaker youth (16-18) from all over the world form an intentional community and travel together for a month. This journey will happen in the Pacific Northwest next summer. The cost is $1300 and the application deadline is November 30th.
Is there a young person in your church or meeting who should have this life-changing experience? Contact me- nancym@fwccamericas.org, Bill Schoder-Ehri - bschodereheri@gmail.com, or the FWCC website, fwccamericas.org, for more information.
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Meridian Friends Church (ID) will host a Coffee Cup Coaching Seminar. Dr. Tony Wheeler from the Center for Strong Families will teach on how to offer encouragement to struggling families.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO): “The purpose of the School of the Spirit is to provide Friends with a weekend experience designed to broaden our understanding of Quakerism, and enhance the spirituality of our Meeting. It provides an opportunity to bring seasoned Quakers from other parts of the country, thus connecting us to the broader Quaker community. The School of the Spirit Committee attempts to discern the needs of the Meeting as well as its interests when selecting programs.”
The CALM committee (Children and the Life of the Meeting) of Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) incorporated strategies to protect the community from child abuse: “1) teachers are required to attend the Meeting for a year before teaching in our First Day School; thereby giving all of us a chance to get to know them and 2) two adults are to be present with the children during any First Day School classroom activity.”
All are welcome to join Multnomah Meeting’s (Portland, OR) ongoing Energy Circle, continuing the practices introduced by John Calvi, Thursdays at the Meeting House.
Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) now has a Medical Library housed in the basement that contains the following items available for check-out: a wheel chair, a knee brace, a lower arm brace, 2 pair of crutches, a mobile bed pan.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) will hold a Service of Consolation, December 6th, 4:00 p.m.
Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) agreed to schedule a time in a future business meeting to discuss the issues of the needs of persons appearing at Meeting asking for help (food, money, cooking facilities).
The Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) Book Club held an engaging and illuminating discussion of WALDEN, by Henry David Thoreau.
The Phoenix Friends (AZ) Peace and Social Concerns committee invites Tempe Friends (AZ) to join in a potluck on November 22 following meeting for worship. Friends will be sharing food, watching a documentary, and discussing the AFSC recommendation for immigration reform number 1: Create Justice with Humane Economic Policies, from their list of seven recommendations for immigration reform.
On Wednesday evening, November 25th, Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will hold its annual Thanksgiving Eve Service. Many people look forward to this unique service as their favorite church family gathering of the year. There will be times of thanksgiving, praise and worship through music, and shared testimonies. The elements of communion will be made available.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will offer a three-part DVD lessons series, “The Purpose of Christmas,” at Wednesday night small groups. Friends are invited for lively conversation as they get to know new people and prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth.
Seven students in Nairobi, Kenya are currently attending school because they receive tuition and school supplies from Friends in Sacramento. Sacramento Friends Meeting (CA) funds one student, individual Friends support four students, and Sacramento Friends Church (CA) two students.
Sacramento Friends Meeting (CA) has started a fan page on Facebook as part of its Quaker Quest outreach.
Oversight Committee of Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) hosted a get-acquainted hour, centered around the queries: "What drew you to the Quakers?" "What concerns or questions do you have?" It was noted that the session was for anyone interested in attending, no matter how long they’d been part of the Quaker world.
Meeting for Remembering at South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will take place on Saturday November 21, 2009 in the late afternoon at the Senior Center with a potluck to follow.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will hold a special called meeting for business to decide whether to begin the process of becoming a monthly meeting.
During Second Hour at the rise of Meeting for Worship, November 15, a Tacoma Meeting (WA) member shared about the experience of simplicity and Quaker faith and practice. The presentation was in the style of the presentations done as part of Quaker Quest and a continuation of the Meeting’s work toward deciding if it wants to present Quaker Quest for the community.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) asks that the Finance Committee send out another request to Friends to pledge donations for next year, and Friends are asked to return their coupons stating their intended donations for 2010 as soon as possible, and revisit the budget for final approval during Eleventh Month.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) continues to consider the question of hosting homeless people at the Meeting. At business meeting, a heated discussion with some emotional outbursts ensued. Some were hurt by the meeting’s process, others frustrated or disillusioned; some may have left with a sense of relief that genuine concerns previously unspoken had been shared. Friends agreed to hold a threshing session for the entire membership and attenders at the rise of Meeting for Worship the following First Day, preceded by a potluck lunch.
University Meeting (Seattle, WA) is seeking vendors and shoppers for its Crafts Fair. This simple yet fun and well loved annual event will be held Sunday Nov. 29 from 10:30am until 1 pm.
Visalia Meeting (CA) will host Fresno Meeting (CA) the Fifth Sunday in November.
Becky Memmelaar from North Carolina has accepted the call from First Friends, Whittier (CA) to be their pastor. She will assume the ministry on January 1, 2010.
The Friends Choir of First Friends, Whittier (CA) will present The Creation (A Rock Cantata) by David Bobrowitz and Stephen Porter. This piece is a musical expression of the seven days of creation.
Wyoming Friends Meeting will gather in Lander, WY November 20-22nd.
Due to concerns about personal privacy and security Agate Passage Friends (Poulsbo, WA) agree that their minutes will not be posted on the web.
Albuquerque Meeting (NM) has created a new budget category called “Friends in Need” as distinct from “Sufferings” which has traditionally been used for a need resulting from a spiritual leading. The new category is intended for a variety of personal needs as they come up.
Bellingham Meeting (WA) gathers in rented facilities. Their library was removed without warning, packed in boxes and locked away, inaccessible to the Meeting for several weeks. Some of the library has reappeared on an old bookshelf. There are missing books.
Naming Committee of Albuquerque Meeting (NM) asked for clear communication if someone was going to be turned down for a nomination.
Berkeley Friends Church will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
Boise Valley Meeting (ID) is making arrangements with a professional tutor to work with a Friend’s grandchildren to bring them up to grade level in school subjects.
Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) held a Child Dedication time during the three weekend services, November 14th & 15th.
Sergio Cardona, pastor of Canyon Hills Friends Church’s (Yorba Linda, CA) sister-church, Ministerio de Restauración Mahanaim, in Juárez, Mexico, recently spoke in all (3) Weekend Services. This Christmas, Canyon Hills will partner with this sister church to be a part of bringing real change into people's lives. Friends can help be a part of blessing the lives of the less fortunate families in Juárez this Christmas by signing up to sponsor a family.
The Student Ministries and Family Pastor of Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) works with junior and senior high youth. As well as working with the youth, he leads PUM – Parents Unite Meetings to talk about what is going on in the student's ministry and some hot topic issues that are relevant to the parents’ relationships with their students.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) will have a “Hot Chocolate Day” after Meeting on Dec. 13th. Friends are to invite any kids and parents they know that might be interested in Meeting.
Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) has altered Fifth Sundays. Songs will be geared a bit more toward children, with movements. Coloring will be available during the silence – “Color Your Prayer.” Adults are welcome to participate in the coloring!
Living Water Ministries, (Plummer, ID) a ministry point of NWYM, serves the people of the Coeur d’Alene Reservation in Plummer, Idaho. They recently held a “Spirit Jam” dance and music outreach.
Lower Columbia Worship Group (Seaview, WA) has scheduled a called meeting for business to discuss whether or not to join the Community of Welcoming Congregations and how that social justice witness might be carried out in the community.
More than one Meeting:
Several Meetings including Albuquerque Meeting (NM), Berkeley Meeting (CA), Eugene Meeting (OR), Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) San Jose Meeting, University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are inviting Friends to dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Many other churches and meetings will have Thanksgiving events surrounding the holiday.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Alaska Friends Conference will hold Fall Quarterly in Anchorage from November 27 – 29, Thanksgiving weekend.
After the success of this year's Spirit Camp, where teens from Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting gathered with Alaskan teen Friends in Alaska, Ohio Valley wishes to return the invitation. At business meeting during the Fall quarterly gathering of Alaska Friends Conference, Friends will discuss whether to take OVYM up on its generous offer to host Alaska teens in 2010.
Christian Friends Conference will meet next on Dec. 12, 2009 at Berkeley Friends Church.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Southern California – Representative Session and Equipping Community Dinner, Friday January 29, 2010; Serve Day, Saturday, January 30, 2010.
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
Midwinter High School Camp of Northwest Yearly Meeting is a camp for youth and their friends in the middle of winter. It will be held at Quaker Hill (McCall, ID) from December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010. It’s a chance for youth to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, worship, serve others, play games, and have a whole lot of fun. Information: rachelle@nwfriends.org
Angel Diaz, Latino Ministry Coordinator for Northwest Yearly Meeting, reports attendance at the yearly meeting’s Latino Ministry Points: 60 Newberg, 30 Greenleaf, 50 Caldwell, 30 Lynwood, 30 Vancouver First, 40 Reedwood, 25 Mcminnville, 20 North Valley Church, 10 Salem, 5 in Clackamas Park -- 300 people together.
The Immigration Ministry Team Update from Northwest Yearly Meeting includes the following vision: “We envision the ability of our citizen congregations in partnership with our growing number of Latino congregations to be able to provide the necessary and current information and trustworthy counsel about existing immigration laws and processes to pastors, church leaders, and those in the congregations, including their wider social networks, who are affected by US immigration policy.”
Meeting for Business of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting agreed to an increase in the Quarterly Meeting assessment, beginning in 2010. The Meeting also agreed to continue the pay-what-you-can fee policy, including for those who register late. It was understood that the Continuing Committee, at its meeting in January 2010, will decide upon the amount of increase in Quarterly Meeting assessment for 2010, subject to review by Meeting for Business in April 2010.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Yearly Meeting seeks fulltime Youth Program Coordinator to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our pre-teens through young adults. Coordinator provides program support and coordination of youth activities; assists Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in engaging and educating their young people; develops an infrastructure that brings Friends together as a faith community; and provides a role model experienced in Friends' worship and practices. Frequent travel required. Expenses reimbursed. $18 an hour plus overtime, starting with two-weeks' vacation, holidays, sick leave and benefits. Quaker meeting membership required. By January 12th email letters of interest and résumés to Lanny Jay at landbird@comcast.net.
The Proposal for revitalizing Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Committee and strengthening the voice of Monthly Meeting through their representatives includes the proposal that the Representative Committee (REPCOM) of the yearly meeting assume responsibility for acting on more of the business of the yearly meeting.
Western Friend will hold a BOOK PARTY at the Multnomah Meeting House (Portland, OR) on Sunday, November 22, 5-7 p.m. to celebrate the recent publication of Enlivened by the Mystery: Quakers and God.
Western Young Friends New Year’s Gathering will take place at Cazadero Arts Camp in Northern California, December 28, 2009-January 2, 2010. www.newyearsgathering.org
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
FWCC Website
Look at www.fwccamericas.org for information about the Section of the Americas.
November 2009
During the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage, a program of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), Quaker youth (16-18) from all over the world form an intentional community and travel together for a month. This journey will happen in the Pacific Northwest next summer. The cost is $1300 and the application deadline is November 30th.
Is there a young person in your church or meeting who should have this life-changing experience? Contact me- nancym@fwccamericas.org, Bill Schoder-Ehri - bschodereheri@gmail.com, or the FWCC website, fwccamericas.org, for more information.
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Meridian Friends Church (ID) will host a Coffee Cup Coaching Seminar. Dr. Tony Wheeler from the Center for Strong Families will teach on how to offer encouragement to struggling families.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO): “The purpose of the School of the Spirit is to provide Friends with a weekend experience designed to broaden our understanding of Quakerism, and enhance the spirituality of our Meeting. It provides an opportunity to bring seasoned Quakers from other parts of the country, thus connecting us to the broader Quaker community. The School of the Spirit Committee attempts to discern the needs of the Meeting as well as its interests when selecting programs.”
The CALM committee (Children and the Life of the Meeting) of Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) incorporated strategies to protect the community from child abuse: “1) teachers are required to attend the Meeting for a year before teaching in our First Day School; thereby giving all of us a chance to get to know them and 2) two adults are to be present with the children during any First Day School classroom activity.”
All are welcome to join Multnomah Meeting’s (Portland, OR) ongoing Energy Circle, continuing the practices introduced by John Calvi, Thursdays at the Meeting House.
Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) now has a Medical Library housed in the basement that contains the following items available for check-out: a wheel chair, a knee brace, a lower arm brace, 2 pair of crutches, a mobile bed pan.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) will hold a Service of Consolation, December 6th, 4:00 p.m.
Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) agreed to schedule a time in a future business meeting to discuss the issues of the needs of persons appearing at Meeting asking for help (food, money, cooking facilities).
The Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) Book Club held an engaging and illuminating discussion of WALDEN, by Henry David Thoreau.
The Phoenix Friends (AZ) Peace and Social Concerns committee invites Tempe Friends (AZ) to join in a potluck on November 22 following meeting for worship. Friends will be sharing food, watching a documentary, and discussing the AFSC recommendation for immigration reform number 1: Create Justice with Humane Economic Policies, from their list of seven recommendations for immigration reform.
On Wednesday evening, November 25th, Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will hold its annual Thanksgiving Eve Service. Many people look forward to this unique service as their favorite church family gathering of the year. There will be times of thanksgiving, praise and worship through music, and shared testimonies. The elements of communion will be made available.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will offer a three-part DVD lessons series, “The Purpose of Christmas,” at Wednesday night small groups. Friends are invited for lively conversation as they get to know new people and prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth.
Seven students in Nairobi, Kenya are currently attending school because they receive tuition and school supplies from Friends in Sacramento. Sacramento Friends Meeting (CA) funds one student, individual Friends support four students, and Sacramento Friends Church (CA) two students.
Sacramento Friends Meeting (CA) has started a fan page on Facebook as part of its Quaker Quest outreach.
Oversight Committee of Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) hosted a get-acquainted hour, centered around the queries: "What drew you to the Quakers?" "What concerns or questions do you have?" It was noted that the session was for anyone interested in attending, no matter how long they’d been part of the Quaker world.
Meeting for Remembering at South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will take place on Saturday November 21, 2009 in the late afternoon at the Senior Center with a potluck to follow.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will hold a special called meeting for business to decide whether to begin the process of becoming a monthly meeting.
During Second Hour at the rise of Meeting for Worship, November 15, a Tacoma Meeting (WA) member shared about the experience of simplicity and Quaker faith and practice. The presentation was in the style of the presentations done as part of Quaker Quest and a continuation of the Meeting’s work toward deciding if it wants to present Quaker Quest for the community.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) asks that the Finance Committee send out another request to Friends to pledge donations for next year, and Friends are asked to return their coupons stating their intended donations for 2010 as soon as possible, and revisit the budget for final approval during Eleventh Month.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) continues to consider the question of hosting homeless people at the Meeting. At business meeting, a heated discussion with some emotional outbursts ensued. Some were hurt by the meeting’s process, others frustrated or disillusioned; some may have left with a sense of relief that genuine concerns previously unspoken had been shared. Friends agreed to hold a threshing session for the entire membership and attenders at the rise of Meeting for Worship the following First Day, preceded by a potluck lunch.
University Meeting (Seattle, WA) is seeking vendors and shoppers for its Crafts Fair. This simple yet fun and well loved annual event will be held Sunday Nov. 29 from 10:30am until 1 pm.
Visalia Meeting (CA) will host Fresno Meeting (CA) the Fifth Sunday in November.
Becky Memmelaar from North Carolina has accepted the call from First Friends, Whittier (CA) to be their pastor. She will assume the ministry on January 1, 2010.
The Friends Choir of First Friends, Whittier (CA) will present The Creation (A Rock Cantata) by David Bobrowitz and Stephen Porter. This piece is a musical expression of the seven days of creation.
Wyoming Friends Meeting will gather in Lander, WY November 20-22nd.
Due to concerns about personal privacy and security Agate Passage Friends (Poulsbo, WA) agree that their minutes will not be posted on the web.
Albuquerque Meeting (NM) has created a new budget category called “Friends in Need” as distinct from “Sufferings” which has traditionally been used for a need resulting from a spiritual leading. The new category is intended for a variety of personal needs as they come up.
Bellingham Meeting (WA) gathers in rented facilities. Their library was removed without warning, packed in boxes and locked away, inaccessible to the Meeting for several weeks. Some of the library has reappeared on an old bookshelf. There are missing books.
Naming Committee of Albuquerque Meeting (NM) asked for clear communication if someone was going to be turned down for a nomination.
Berkeley Friends Church will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
Boise Valley Meeting (ID) is making arrangements with a professional tutor to work with a Friend’s grandchildren to bring them up to grade level in school subjects.
Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) held a Child Dedication time during the three weekend services, November 14th & 15th.
Sergio Cardona, pastor of Canyon Hills Friends Church’s (Yorba Linda, CA) sister-church, Ministerio de Restauración Mahanaim, in Juárez, Mexico, recently spoke in all (3) Weekend Services. This Christmas, Canyon Hills will partner with this sister church to be a part of bringing real change into people's lives. Friends can help be a part of blessing the lives of the less fortunate families in Juárez this Christmas by signing up to sponsor a family.
The Student Ministries and Family Pastor of Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) works with junior and senior high youth. As well as working with the youth, he leads PUM – Parents Unite Meetings to talk about what is going on in the student's ministry and some hot topic issues that are relevant to the parents’ relationships with their students.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) will have a “Hot Chocolate Day” after Meeting on Dec. 13th. Friends are to invite any kids and parents they know that might be interested in Meeting.
Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) has altered Fifth Sundays. Songs will be geared a bit more toward children, with movements. Coloring will be available during the silence – “Color Your Prayer.” Adults are welcome to participate in the coloring!
Living Water Ministries, (Plummer, ID) a ministry point of NWYM, serves the people of the Coeur d’Alene Reservation in Plummer, Idaho. They recently held a “Spirit Jam” dance and music outreach.
Lower Columbia Worship Group (Seaview, WA) has scheduled a called meeting for business to discuss whether or not to join the Community of Welcoming Congregations and how that social justice witness might be carried out in the community.
More than one Meeting:
Several Meetings including Albuquerque Meeting (NM), Berkeley Meeting (CA), Eugene Meeting (OR), Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) San Jose Meeting, University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are inviting Friends to dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Many other churches and meetings will have Thanksgiving events surrounding the holiday.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Alaska Friends Conference will hold Fall Quarterly in Anchorage from November 27 – 29, Thanksgiving weekend.
After the success of this year's Spirit Camp, where teens from Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting gathered with Alaskan teen Friends in Alaska, Ohio Valley wishes to return the invitation. At business meeting during the Fall quarterly gathering of Alaska Friends Conference, Friends will discuss whether to take OVYM up on its generous offer to host Alaska teens in 2010.
Christian Friends Conference will meet next on Dec. 12, 2009 at Berkeley Friends Church.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Southern California – Representative Session and Equipping Community Dinner, Friday January 29, 2010; Serve Day, Saturday, January 30, 2010.
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
Midwinter High School Camp of Northwest Yearly Meeting is a camp for youth and their friends in the middle of winter. It will be held at Quaker Hill (McCall, ID) from December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010. It’s a chance for youth to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, worship, serve others, play games, and have a whole lot of fun. Information: rachelle@nwfriends.org
Angel Diaz, Latino Ministry Coordinator for Northwest Yearly Meeting, reports attendance at the yearly meeting’s Latino Ministry Points: 60 Newberg, 30 Greenleaf, 50 Caldwell, 30 Lynwood, 30 Vancouver First, 40 Reedwood, 25 Mcminnville, 20 North Valley Church, 10 Salem, 5 in Clackamas Park -- 300 people together.
The Immigration Ministry Team Update from Northwest Yearly Meeting includes the following vision: “We envision the ability of our citizen congregations in partnership with our growing number of Latino congregations to be able to provide the necessary and current information and trustworthy counsel about existing immigration laws and processes to pastors, church leaders, and those in the congregations, including their wider social networks, who are affected by US immigration policy.”
Meeting for Business of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting agreed to an increase in the Quarterly Meeting assessment, beginning in 2010. The Meeting also agreed to continue the pay-what-you-can fee policy, including for those who register late. It was understood that the Continuing Committee, at its meeting in January 2010, will decide upon the amount of increase in Quarterly Meeting assessment for 2010, subject to review by Meeting for Business in April 2010.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Yearly Meeting seeks fulltime Youth Program Coordinator to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our pre-teens through young adults. Coordinator provides program support and coordination of youth activities; assists Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in engaging and educating their young people; develops an infrastructure that brings Friends together as a faith community; and provides a role model experienced in Friends' worship and practices. Frequent travel required. Expenses reimbursed. $18 an hour plus overtime, starting with two-weeks' vacation, holidays, sick leave and benefits. Quaker meeting membership required. By January 12th email letters of interest and résumés to Lanny Jay at landbird@comcast.net.
The Proposal for revitalizing Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Committee and strengthening the voice of Monthly Meeting through their representatives includes the proposal that the Representative Committee (REPCOM) of the yearly meeting assume responsibility for acting on more of the business of the yearly meeting.
Western Friend will hold a BOOK PARTY at the Multnomah Meeting House (Portland, OR) on Sunday, November 22, 5-7 p.m. to celebrate the recent publication of Enlivened by the Mystery: Quakers and God.
Western Young Friends New Year’s Gathering will take place at Cazadero Arts Camp in Northern California, December 28, 2009-January 2, 2010. www.newyearsgathering.org
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
FWCC Website
Look at www.fwccamericas.org for information about the Section of the Americas.
Monday, November 9, 2009
News from Western Quaker Newsletters
October-November 2009
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Wyoming Friends Meeting will gather in Lander, WY November 20-22nd.
Wyoming Friends Meeting has developed a Mission Statement that begins with the following paragraph: “The Wyoming Friends Meeting is unique in its geographic and demographic characteristics. Our meeting is made up of various small Quaker communities that are isolated by vast distances and often severe weather. We recognize that these unique characteristics place special stresses and strains on our worship communities and the meeting as a whole. We accept as our primary mission the creation of an environment within our meeting that energizes and
strengthens the spiritual growth and physical well being of each member/attender. Furthermore, this primary mission will direct the management of the meeting’s human, spiritual, and financial resources.”
Becky Memmelaar from North Carolina has accepted the call from First Friends, Whittier (CA) to be their pastor. She will assume the ministry on January 1, 2010.
The Friends Choir of First Friends, Whittier (CA) will present The Creation (A Rock Cantata) by David Bobrowitz and Stephen Porter. This piece is a musical expression of the seven days of creation.
University Meeting (Seattle, WA) is seeking vendors and shoppers for its Crafts Fair. This simple yet fun and well loved annual event will be held Sunday Nov. 29 from 10:30am until 1 pm.
The Ukiah Friends Worship Group (CA) held a session on “Lest We Forget Iraq.” Friends heard poems and a short film and then discussed what they could do.
Tacoma Meeting (WA) was visited by Vashon Friends. All joined in a potluck meal.
Tacoma Meeting (WA) brainstormed a number of ideas for short, midrange and long-term goals for improving the Meeting House. Subsequently the list was organized into categories. Meeting for Business was to consider prioritization, further seasoning opportunities, immediate action, delegation etc.
Worship & Ministry Committee of Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) developed a brochure on Vocal Ministry Practices; the brochure has now been added to those brochures now available on the Meeting’s Materials Table.
The Sunday School class of Friends Community Church, Spring Valley (CA) has been looking at nursery rhymes like “Jack and Jill, “Humpty Dumpty,” and “Old King Cole.” Each nursery rhyme has a story about a situation in the Bible.
Santa Fe Friends (NM) were invited to join a Threshing-Session type discussion on a Sunday during pot luck to share their opinions about how the Meeting should proceed with distribution of funds toward organizations which do good work in their community.
The Quaker Study Group of San Jose Meeting (CA) meets the first Sunday of the month at 5:30 pm for potluck, with discussion of the month's readings from 6:00 to 7:30. They are now reading Light to Live by Rex Ambler.
San Francisco Meeting (CA) considered the topic of service in a World Café format. For about an hour, Friends considered a series of queries in four rotating groups of 4-6 people each. Queries included: “What is my experience of service? And how have I been served? Have I experienced service as a form of worship? Or worship as a form of service? In what ways have I experienced service as transformational? What issues or activities would I like to get involved in? Or see the Meeting get involved in? What could I personally contribute to such activity?”
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) has revived its newsletter. Also, the Meeting website includes a section for Friends' writings with a introduction explaining that Quakers have no creed and no one person speaks for all of us.
Ministry and Counsel of Salt Lake Meeting (UT) developed plans to facilitate discussions on the Quaker testimonies of Community and Equality in the near future. The session on Community will be November 15, 2009 with the session on Equality, January 17, 2010, to round out the series on Friends' testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, and Equality ('SPICE').
Salem Meeting (OR) hosted an Alternatives to Violence Project Basic Community Workship on November 6-8 at the Salem Meeting House.
A one-day, Sunday afternoon Pastor's Class was offered at Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) on November 8th. This class, a prerequisite for membership, is open to anyone who is interested in knowing what Rose Drive Friends believe and why.
The Prayer Book Potluck Group of Reno Meeting (NV) will meet on Friday December 4th to discuss the book “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace… One School at a Time” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.
Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) is having a clothing, books, CDs, infant supplies, and toy exchange on Saturday, November 14. This is a great opportunity to reuse and recycle and a greater opportunity for fellowship.
Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) is co-sponsoring the visit of Os Guinness, Christian writer, lecturer, and social scientist, to Portland on November 20th. He will speak on “Impossible People –facing up to the challenges of faith in the advanced modern era.”
At Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA), action on a clearness committee report recommending a Friend’s membership was delayed to allow exploration of a member’s concern about faithfulness to the Peace Testimony. The Meeting approved the Friend’s membership, with one Friend standing aside.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) Visiting and Caring Committee, has asked to revert to its original name – the Visiting Committee – because its current charge is very broad .The two members want their committee to have a charge limited enough that it can be faithfully carried out. The Meeting was asked how it wants to assure care for one another, given that the Meeting’s needs for caring exceed the capability of a small committee, and yet these needs may not be well met unless they are accepted by specific people.
Pima Meeting (Tucson, AZ) asks Friends to not be offended if someone prefers to not shake hands or hug. They may have found a different way to show they care.
The Phoenix Friends (AZ) Peace and Social Concerns committee invites Tempe Friends (AZ) to join in a potluck on November 22 following meeting for worship. Friends will be sharing food, watching a documentary, and discussing the AFSC recommendation for immigration reform number 1: Create Justice with Humane Economic Policies, from their list of seven recommendations for immigration reform.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) plans to host a discussion on race based upon President Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech.
Newberg Friends (OR) Church Retreat will be November 13-15 with the theme, “Celebrate God Together.”
Newberg Friends (OR) are being invited to focus on God through prayer. Friends are invited to give “just one week” to pray for one another, to have this be a wide-based opportunity to experience prayer and the value of supporting one another in this way.
Worship and Ministry Committee of Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), hoping to encourage visits to its Worship Groups, has posted information sheets which Friends may sign to indicate their wish to visit Worship Groups and whether they will need transportation or be able to provide it.
Before taking more steps to cut its energy consumption, Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), wants Friends to calculate their usage for the year. They will find sheets labeled “Carbon Footprint Data” will be in the 1-2-3 box outside the meeting room door.
Honolulu Meeting (HI) has decided to revert to the former Meeting parking arrangement of "theater parking" on the lawn, one behind the other in rows pointing mauka, leaving enough clearance along the hedge so that cars can turn along the fence toward the road, then exit into the road nose first.
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
Eugene Meeting (OR) will hold a Creative Quaker Arts and Crafts Sale on Saturday November 14th from 10 to 2 at the Meeting¬house. Once more there will be glorious scarves, raku ceramics, jewelry, art cards, toys, books, beads and bath balms. Bonus this year—live music!
Friends from Eugene Meeting (OR) hold a meeting for worship at the time of the full moon each month. This is a special time for Friends who experience the Sacred through Nature, the Earth, the Divine Feminine, the Gods, etc.
Eastside Meeting (Bellevue, WA) has an offer of a $100,000 loan from a Friend with terms of 4% for 15 year –interest-only for the first several years (during the time the Meeting is paying off the Friends Meetinghouse Fund loan, which is at 7%). It will require a note acknowledging the property as collateral, and therefore constitutes a lien on the property.
Davis Meeting (CA) invited Friends to bring a dish to share and come to a Fall Brunch at the rise of Meeting. This event was to be a time to just socialize with no business, no decisions, just friendly visiting over good food.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
The Peace, Justice and Environment Committee of Corvallis Meeting (OR) recommends that the Support group called Friends and Family of the Homeless, for people who work with the homeless, be allowed to meet at the Meetinghouse, twice a month for a six-month trial period, to have training and to have access to counselors. Confidentiality would be stressed. Concerns were expressed but Meeting united with the idea of the support group. Friends will determine what will be needed.
The Discussion Committee of Claremont Meeting (CA) chose the topic, “Testimonies and Money Matters,” for discussion. Queries to be used included: How has this economic down-turn affected Friends’ actions on Simplicity? How does the integrity testimony shape our response to economic challenges? Which testimonies guide us in making household monetary choices and how?
Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) invited Friends to an informational meeting for anyone interested in finding out more about the Christmas Musical.
The Reach team of Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) heads to Long Beach Friends Church on the 2nd Sunday of every other month to feed homeless and under-resourced people.
Taking its cue from the popularity of the “Reader’s Share” program held last year, Palo Alto Meeting (CA) again asks Friends to bring books, pamphlets, articles or poems that have inspired or informed them and that may speak to others as well. Friends are invited to read aloud a paragraph or poem or just talk about what the reading has meant to them.
The managing editor of PeaceWays, the newsletter of Friends Peace Teams, is Ann Dusseau, Boise Valley Meeting (ID).
On Saturday November 14 Berkeley Meeting (CA) will hold an art and crafts sale to benefit the building fund. There will be an array of paintings (work by Margret Bowman, Biliana Stremska, Mary Lou Goertzen and others), collages (by Elanie Amoruso), tote bags by Birgit Gehr, woven and knitted items, pottery, jewelry, and many other items by various artists and craftspeople.
After 4 years and 3 months, the Bible reading group of Berkeley Meeting (CA) has
completed that endeavor, with a slight detour to read some of the Apocrypha and the Gospel of Thomas!
Berkeley Meeting (CA) is considering the creation of a “genealogical chart” showing who brought members to the Meeting and, if members came on their own, who was their most important initial contact within the Meeting.
Appleseed Meeting (Sebastopol, CA) is exploring the possibility of having a mid-week Meeting for Worship via conference call for distant Friends. What defines membership may be the central question. Friends need more information on the cost and how these technologically assisted Meetings for Worship would work. Ministry and Oversight Committee will investigate further.
Agate Passage Meeting (Poulsbo, WA) has scheduled Sunday morning programs for the year: First Sunday: Poetry; Second Sunday: Quaker Sojourns; and Fourth Sunday: Singing.
More than one Meeting:
Several Meetings including Berkeley Meeting (CA), Eugene Meeting (OR), Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) San Jose Meeting, University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are inviting Friends to dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Many other churches and meetings will have Thanksgiving events surrounding the holiday.
Deaths noted in Newsletters:
Dot Leland, Eugene Meeting
Amy Mazza, Reno Meeting
Roberta Amott, Umpqua Worship Group, Eugene Meeting
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Alaska Friends Conference will hold Fall Quarterly in Anchorage from November 27 – 29, Thanksgiving weekend.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Colorado Regional Meeting was November 6th - 8th at the YMCA of the Rockies Conference Center in Estes Park bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. This year’s theme, “Deepening Our Spiritual Life in Community,” was led by Nancy Bieber, a member of Lancaster (PA) Monthly Meeting and a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat leader.
The Greenleaf Friends Academy Auction was Nov 6-7. The proceeds from the auction go to the general budget The enrollment at GFA is currently down by 50 students for a total enrollment of 175. This is a considerable drop from previous years and leaves the school with a budget shortfall.
Intermountain Yearly Meeting discovered that Ghost Ranch has scheduled the 2010-2012 Annual Gatherings during the first full week of June instead of the traditional second week, which affects meetings where school is still in session. The Executive Committee agreed that the Meeting has no option for 2010, but IMYM should explore other options for the future.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
North Pacific Yearly Meeting Coordinating Committee met for a day-long meeting, November 7th, at Multnomah Meeting House, Portland, OR.
The Northwest Yearly Meeting Youthworkers Training Conference was held November 6-8 at the Hood River Inn, Hood River OR. Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee of Tigard Friends Church will speak to the theme, “Plugged In: Engaging the Media Culture Surrounding Youth.”
Meeting for Business of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting agreed to an increase in the Quarterly Meeting assessment, beginning in 2010. The Meeting also agreed to continue the pay-what-you-can fee policy, including for those who register late. It was understood that the Continuing Committee, at its meeting in January 2010, will decide upon the amount of increase in Quarterly Meeting assessment for 2010, subject to review by Meeting for Business in April 2010.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
The Portland Area Gathering of Northwest Yearly Meeting will be November 13 at Reedwood Friends Church with the theme, “Immigration and Spiritual Discernment.”
Southern California Quarterly Meeting was held November 7-8 at Temescal Canyon. Steve Smith, Claremont Meeting spoke to the theme: "Finding Joy In Committee Work: Knitting The Meeting Together In Community" Time was dedicated to meeting together in groups according to the committee in which Friends are called to serve, or would like to serve, in their Monthly Meetings.
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
***
From Friend to Friend, the Newsletter of
Friends Community Church, Spring Valley (CA):
The Debate
God is sitting in heaven when a scientist prays to Him. “God, we don’t need You anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing – in other words, we can now do what You did in the beginning.” “Oh, is that so? Tell me,” replies God. “Well,” says the scientist. “We can take dirt and form it into the likeness of You and breathe life into it, thus creating man.” “Well, that’s very interesting. Show Me.” So, the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil into the shape of a man. “No, no, no,” interrupts God. “Get your own dirt.”
FWCC Website
Look at www.fwccamericas.org for information about the Section of the Americas.
Nancy McLauchlan
for FWCC
October-November 2009
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Wyoming Friends Meeting will gather in Lander, WY November 20-22nd.
Wyoming Friends Meeting has developed a Mission Statement that begins with the following paragraph: “The Wyoming Friends Meeting is unique in its geographic and demographic characteristics. Our meeting is made up of various small Quaker communities that are isolated by vast distances and often severe weather. We recognize that these unique characteristics place special stresses and strains on our worship communities and the meeting as a whole. We accept as our primary mission the creation of an environment within our meeting that energizes and
strengthens the spiritual growth and physical well being of each member/attender. Furthermore, this primary mission will direct the management of the meeting’s human, spiritual, and financial resources.”
Becky Memmelaar from North Carolina has accepted the call from First Friends, Whittier (CA) to be their pastor. She will assume the ministry on January 1, 2010.
The Friends Choir of First Friends, Whittier (CA) will present The Creation (A Rock Cantata) by David Bobrowitz and Stephen Porter. This piece is a musical expression of the seven days of creation.
University Meeting (Seattle, WA) is seeking vendors and shoppers for its Crafts Fair. This simple yet fun and well loved annual event will be held Sunday Nov. 29 from 10:30am until 1 pm.
The Ukiah Friends Worship Group (CA) held a session on “Lest We Forget Iraq.” Friends heard poems and a short film and then discussed what they could do.
Tacoma Meeting (WA) was visited by Vashon Friends. All joined in a potluck meal.
Tacoma Meeting (WA) brainstormed a number of ideas for short, midrange and long-term goals for improving the Meeting House. Subsequently the list was organized into categories. Meeting for Business was to consider prioritization, further seasoning opportunities, immediate action, delegation etc.
Worship & Ministry Committee of Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) developed a brochure on Vocal Ministry Practices; the brochure has now been added to those brochures now available on the Meeting’s Materials Table.
The Sunday School class of Friends Community Church, Spring Valley (CA) has been looking at nursery rhymes like “Jack and Jill, “Humpty Dumpty,” and “Old King Cole.” Each nursery rhyme has a story about a situation in the Bible.
Santa Fe Friends (NM) were invited to join a Threshing-Session type discussion on a Sunday during pot luck to share their opinions about how the Meeting should proceed with distribution of funds toward organizations which do good work in their community.
The Quaker Study Group of San Jose Meeting (CA) meets the first Sunday of the month at 5:30 pm for potluck, with discussion of the month's readings from 6:00 to 7:30. They are now reading Light to Live by Rex Ambler.
San Francisco Meeting (CA) considered the topic of service in a World Café format. For about an hour, Friends considered a series of queries in four rotating groups of 4-6 people each. Queries included: “What is my experience of service? And how have I been served? Have I experienced service as a form of worship? Or worship as a form of service? In what ways have I experienced service as transformational? What issues or activities would I like to get involved in? Or see the Meeting get involved in? What could I personally contribute to such activity?”
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) has revived its newsletter. Also, the Meeting website includes a section for Friends' writings with a introduction explaining that Quakers have no creed and no one person speaks for all of us.
Ministry and Counsel of Salt Lake Meeting (UT) developed plans to facilitate discussions on the Quaker testimonies of Community and Equality in the near future. The session on Community will be November 15, 2009 with the session on Equality, January 17, 2010, to round out the series on Friends' testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, and Equality ('SPICE').
Salem Meeting (OR) hosted an Alternatives to Violence Project Basic Community Workship on November 6-8 at the Salem Meeting House.
A one-day, Sunday afternoon Pastor's Class was offered at Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) on November 8th. This class, a prerequisite for membership, is open to anyone who is interested in knowing what Rose Drive Friends believe and why.
The Prayer Book Potluck Group of Reno Meeting (NV) will meet on Friday December 4th to discuss the book “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace… One School at a Time” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.
Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) is having a clothing, books, CDs, infant supplies, and toy exchange on Saturday, November 14. This is a great opportunity to reuse and recycle and a greater opportunity for fellowship.
Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) is co-sponsoring the visit of Os Guinness, Christian writer, lecturer, and social scientist, to Portland on November 20th. He will speak on “Impossible People –facing up to the challenges of faith in the advanced modern era.”
At Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA), action on a clearness committee report recommending a Friend’s membership was delayed to allow exploration of a member’s concern about faithfulness to the Peace Testimony. The Meeting approved the Friend’s membership, with one Friend standing aside.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) Visiting and Caring Committee, has asked to revert to its original name – the Visiting Committee – because its current charge is very broad .The two members want their committee to have a charge limited enough that it can be faithfully carried out. The Meeting was asked how it wants to assure care for one another, given that the Meeting’s needs for caring exceed the capability of a small committee, and yet these needs may not be well met unless they are accepted by specific people.
Pima Meeting (Tucson, AZ) asks Friends to not be offended if someone prefers to not shake hands or hug. They may have found a different way to show they care.
The Phoenix Friends (AZ) Peace and Social Concerns committee invites Tempe Friends (AZ) to join in a potluck on November 22 following meeting for worship. Friends will be sharing food, watching a documentary, and discussing the AFSC recommendation for immigration reform number 1: Create Justice with Humane Economic Policies, from their list of seven recommendations for immigration reform.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) plans to host a discussion on race based upon President Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech.
Newberg Friends (OR) Church Retreat will be November 13-15 with the theme, “Celebrate God Together.”
Newberg Friends (OR) are being invited to focus on God through prayer. Friends are invited to give “just one week” to pray for one another, to have this be a wide-based opportunity to experience prayer and the value of supporting one another in this way.
Worship and Ministry Committee of Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), hoping to encourage visits to its Worship Groups, has posted information sheets which Friends may sign to indicate their wish to visit Worship Groups and whether they will need transportation or be able to provide it.
Before taking more steps to cut its energy consumption, Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), wants Friends to calculate their usage for the year. They will find sheets labeled “Carbon Footprint Data” will be in the 1-2-3 box outside the meeting room door.
Honolulu Meeting (HI) has decided to revert to the former Meeting parking arrangement of "theater parking" on the lawn, one behind the other in rows pointing mauka, leaving enough clearance along the hedge so that cars can turn along the fence toward the road, then exit into the road nose first.
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
Eugene Meeting (OR) will hold a Creative Quaker Arts and Crafts Sale on Saturday November 14th from 10 to 2 at the Meeting¬house. Once more there will be glorious scarves, raku ceramics, jewelry, art cards, toys, books, beads and bath balms. Bonus this year—live music!
Friends from Eugene Meeting (OR) hold a meeting for worship at the time of the full moon each month. This is a special time for Friends who experience the Sacred through Nature, the Earth, the Divine Feminine, the Gods, etc.
Eastside Meeting (Bellevue, WA) has an offer of a $100,000 loan from a Friend with terms of 4% for 15 year –interest-only for the first several years (during the time the Meeting is paying off the Friends Meetinghouse Fund loan, which is at 7%). It will require a note acknowledging the property as collateral, and therefore constitutes a lien on the property.
Davis Meeting (CA) invited Friends to bring a dish to share and come to a Fall Brunch at the rise of Meeting. This event was to be a time to just socialize with no business, no decisions, just friendly visiting over good food.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
The Peace, Justice and Environment Committee of Corvallis Meeting (OR) recommends that the Support group called Friends and Family of the Homeless, for people who work with the homeless, be allowed to meet at the Meetinghouse, twice a month for a six-month trial period, to have training and to have access to counselors. Confidentiality would be stressed. Concerns were expressed but Meeting united with the idea of the support group. Friends will determine what will be needed.
The Discussion Committee of Claremont Meeting (CA) chose the topic, “Testimonies and Money Matters,” for discussion. Queries to be used included: How has this economic down-turn affected Friends’ actions on Simplicity? How does the integrity testimony shape our response to economic challenges? Which testimonies guide us in making household monetary choices and how?
Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) invited Friends to an informational meeting for anyone interested in finding out more about the Christmas Musical.
The Reach team of Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) heads to Long Beach Friends Church on the 2nd Sunday of every other month to feed homeless and under-resourced people.
Taking its cue from the popularity of the “Reader’s Share” program held last year, Palo Alto Meeting (CA) again asks Friends to bring books, pamphlets, articles or poems that have inspired or informed them and that may speak to others as well. Friends are invited to read aloud a paragraph or poem or just talk about what the reading has meant to them.
The managing editor of PeaceWays, the newsletter of Friends Peace Teams, is Ann Dusseau, Boise Valley Meeting (ID).
On Saturday November 14 Berkeley Meeting (CA) will hold an art and crafts sale to benefit the building fund. There will be an array of paintings (work by Margret Bowman, Biliana Stremska, Mary Lou Goertzen and others), collages (by Elanie Amoruso), tote bags by Birgit Gehr, woven and knitted items, pottery, jewelry, and many other items by various artists and craftspeople.
After 4 years and 3 months, the Bible reading group of Berkeley Meeting (CA) has
completed that endeavor, with a slight detour to read some of the Apocrypha and the Gospel of Thomas!
Berkeley Meeting (CA) is considering the creation of a “genealogical chart” showing who brought members to the Meeting and, if members came on their own, who was their most important initial contact within the Meeting.
Appleseed Meeting (Sebastopol, CA) is exploring the possibility of having a mid-week Meeting for Worship via conference call for distant Friends. What defines membership may be the central question. Friends need more information on the cost and how these technologically assisted Meetings for Worship would work. Ministry and Oversight Committee will investigate further.
Agate Passage Meeting (Poulsbo, WA) has scheduled Sunday morning programs for the year: First Sunday: Poetry; Second Sunday: Quaker Sojourns; and Fourth Sunday: Singing.
More than one Meeting:
Several Meetings including Berkeley Meeting (CA), Eugene Meeting (OR), Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) San Jose Meeting, University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are inviting Friends to dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Many other churches and meetings will have Thanksgiving events surrounding the holiday.
Deaths noted in Newsletters:
Dot Leland, Eugene Meeting
Amy Mazza, Reno Meeting
Roberta Amott, Umpqua Worship Group, Eugene Meeting
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Alaska Friends Conference will hold Fall Quarterly in Anchorage from November 27 – 29, Thanksgiving weekend.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Colorado Regional Meeting was November 6th - 8th at the YMCA of the Rockies Conference Center in Estes Park bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. This year’s theme, “Deepening Our Spiritual Life in Community,” was led by Nancy Bieber, a member of Lancaster (PA) Monthly Meeting and a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat leader.
The Greenleaf Friends Academy Auction was Nov 6-7. The proceeds from the auction go to the general budget The enrollment at GFA is currently down by 50 students for a total enrollment of 175. This is a considerable drop from previous years and leaves the school with a budget shortfall.
Intermountain Yearly Meeting discovered that Ghost Ranch has scheduled the 2010-2012 Annual Gatherings during the first full week of June instead of the traditional second week, which affects meetings where school is still in session. The Executive Committee agreed that the Meeting has no option for 2010, but IMYM should explore other options for the future.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
North Pacific Yearly Meeting Coordinating Committee met for a day-long meeting, November 7th, at Multnomah Meeting House, Portland, OR.
The Northwest Yearly Meeting Youthworkers Training Conference was held November 6-8 at the Hood River Inn, Hood River OR. Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee of Tigard Friends Church will speak to the theme, “Plugged In: Engaging the Media Culture Surrounding Youth.”
Meeting for Business of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting agreed to an increase in the Quarterly Meeting assessment, beginning in 2010. The Meeting also agreed to continue the pay-what-you-can fee policy, including for those who register late. It was understood that the Continuing Committee, at its meeting in January 2010, will decide upon the amount of increase in Quarterly Meeting assessment for 2010, subject to review by Meeting for Business in April 2010.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
The Portland Area Gathering of Northwest Yearly Meeting will be November 13 at Reedwood Friends Church with the theme, “Immigration and Spiritual Discernment.”
Southern California Quarterly Meeting was held November 7-8 at Temescal Canyon. Steve Smith, Claremont Meeting spoke to the theme: "Finding Joy In Committee Work: Knitting The Meeting Together In Community" Time was dedicated to meeting together in groups according to the committee in which Friends are called to serve, or would like to serve, in their Monthly Meetings.
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
***
From Friend to Friend, the Newsletter of
Friends Community Church, Spring Valley (CA):
The Debate
God is sitting in heaven when a scientist prays to Him. “God, we don’t need You anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing – in other words, we can now do what You did in the beginning.” “Oh, is that so? Tell me,” replies God. “Well,” says the scientist. “We can take dirt and form it into the likeness of You and breathe life into it, thus creating man.” “Well, that’s very interesting. Show Me.” So, the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil into the shape of a man. “No, no, no,” interrupts God. “Get your own dirt.”
FWCC Website
Look at www.fwccamericas.org for information about the Section of the Americas.
Nancy McLauchlan
for FWCC
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
News from Western Quaker Newsletters
October 2009
Did you know that the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage, a program of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) will be in the Pacific Northwest next summer? Young friends, ages 16-18, will arrive in Seattle on July 16 and travel together for a month. Who in your church or meeting would be right for this life-changing experience? Contact me- nancym@fwccamericas.org, Bill Schoder-Ehri - bschodereheri@gmail.com, or the FWCC website, fwccamericas.org, for more information.
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Apple Seed Meeting (Sebastopol, CA) is concerned about its relationship with its landlord and problems encountered using the building. The Meeting may need to reinvestigate a larger meeting space in the near future. It was suggested that a committee gather to review the situation.
Berkeley Meeting (CA) is proposing a new committee, Outreach and Nurture. The committee will be responsible for: nametags, attention to newcomers and those returning after an absence, Introduction of Quakerism for Newcomers, newcomer breakfasts or lunches, Meeting retreat, friendly dinners, worship-sharing series, final affairs workshop, etc. The committee would communicate with Ministry & Oversight regarding individual needs as they arrive.
Berkeley Meeting (CA) approved two Friends, and others who may volunteer, to provide pre-registration services for Pacific Yearly meeting’s 2010 and 2011 summer gatherings, with the understanding that net proceeds would go to support the Berkeley Meeting building renovation and no funds would benefit individuals.
Claremont Meeting (CA) Friends are asked to bring fall foliage to meeting each Sunday in order to create an ongoing fall mantel decoration.
Corvallis Meeting (OR) has scheduled a panel discussion on preparing for death. What can Friends do to be ready to die? How can the meeting help? Panelists will have legal expertise, medical knowledge and experience in hospice work along with some practical knowledge about low-cost funerals and good planning practices.
Honolulu Meeting (HI) notes that the issue of whether the Meeting should join an existing quarterly meeting, probably in California, has been discussed before. There is not enough interest and not enough business in common with the two Pacific Yearly Meeting quarterlies to justify it.
Tom Rawson is coming to Eugene Meeting (OR)! The Meeting’s favorite Quaker folksinger and humorist is coming to Eugene to give a benefit con¬cert for the SOA Watch at the Meetinghouse on October 17th at 7 pm.
Humboldt Meeting (Arcata, CA) discussed the need for pamphlets to be available on Sundays. Pendle Hill online and the FGC bookstore will be checked for possibilities.
This summer Klamath Falls Friends (OR) partnered with the OSU Extension Agency to sponsor a Garden Camp. Friends own a lot next to the church where they have grown vegetables for the last few years, which they shared with the neighborhood and donated to the food bank and the mission. This was the first year for the garden camp, and it was a great success. The number varied but there was a core of seven or eight boys and girls who came every week, only two of whom were from the meeting, so this was a wonderful outreach project.
Lower Columbia Worship Group (Seaview, WA) held their first-ever potluck.
Marloma Long Beach Meeting (CA) approved a Minute of concern regarding the execution of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) scheduled two all clerks meetings to keep communications flowing among committees, provide an opportunity to consider issues that cross committees, and support community building among the Meeting leadership.
Multnomah Meeting Friends (Portland, OR) have the opportunity to learn how to help those in their Meeting who are struggling in times of economic need and stress on Saturday, October 24th. The morning session will address the issues of housing and mental health. The afternoon session will explore referrals to agencies and dealing with secondary stress. The program will conclude with a presentation/discussion about the roles Meeting committees play in addressing needs of those in the Quaker community.
The Pastor of Children & Family Ministries of Newberg Friends Church (OR) is dreaming of a “sponsorship program” for each of the rooms that have toys. She’d love to see a
family, couple, or individual pledge to clean the toys and wipe down surfaces at least once per month in each of these classrooms.
David Niyonzima from Burundi will be at North Seattle Friends Church (WA) on Saturday morning, October 24. Both David and Patty Federighi will share about their work in Burundi and in Congo. The meeting with David and Patty will be followed by a carry-in community meal and Friends are invited to bring food to share. The Meeting for Business for the Area Gathering will take place during the afternoon.
Orange County Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) is considering having a fund-raising event to raise enough money for the Meeting to make its intended charitable contributions for the year.
An attender at Orange County Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) posted a query on the Meeting’s listserv, noting that what he saw on the listserv (and probably heard in announcements) had to do with business, but he wondered whether Friends ever talk about spiritual issues and what they believe. The question itself drew wonderful answers from others in the meeting. Friends asked if perhaps this year they can find more explicit ways to talk about their spiritual core, and to let others know what goes on in the silence.
Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) agreed to host the Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Committee meeting in March 2010.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) will hold its Annual Retreat on the theme: "Beyond Words: Plain and Joyful Expressions of the Spirit." Friends will explore non-verbal means of expression in ways that are usually associated with the arts and the senses.
The Oversight Committee of Reno Meeting (NV) called all of the members and attenders of the meeting to see how they are doing. Additionally, a letter explaining the financial state of our meeting was also sent to each member of the meeting.
Early this year, at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) when conversations were centered around the economy and what could be done to help struggling families both in the community and beyond, the idea of a community garden took root. This was one idea that quickly bore fruit (puns intended!). The church has another property that includes a large courtyard area. One goal—other than growing vegetables—was to build bridges with others living in the immediate community who did not yet have a connection with Reedwood.
The Center for Christian Studies at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) is focusing on The Ancient Future Church: Perspectives from Contemporary Historians. Classes meet Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.
How can we “be like Jesus”? What would it look like to demonstrate God’s love and truth (as in John 4) in southwest Portland? These were the questions that RiversWay Community, a ministry point of NWYM, was discerning in spring 2008. At the same time they were developing relationships with a group of people without homes in Tigard. They offered shower and laundry services once a month, at first we renting hotel rooms and shuttling a few at a time for showers. They bought sandwiches and ate with those who waited at the laundromat while their clothes were drying. New relationships deepened as Friends listened to stories, shared a meal, and helped with showers and laundry.
The Newcomers’ BBQ at Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will be held Sunday, October 18 The BBQ gives newcomers a chance to meet some of the church leadership and others who have recently started coming to the church.
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) accepted Ministry and Counsel’s recommendation that the Meeting not use name tags. Friends are encouraged to be friendly and welcoming to all.
The book group at San Francisco Meeting (CA) is reading the book, Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship, by Vanessa Julye and Donna McDaniel.
San Jose Meeting (CA) will hold its annual retreat, sponsored by Ministry and Worship and Caring Committees, on October 24th, on the Meeting property.
The theme for Santa Cruz Meeting’s (CA) Autumn Meeting Retreat is Experimenting with Worship. Friends will spend the morning trying out different ways of preparing for worship. Some examples of the activities planned are reading poetry, singing and bible study. After lunch Friends will sit down for extended worship (silent meeting until it is discerned that the worship is truly finished). Extended worship tends to yield both deep silence and well seasoned ministry.
Santa Fe Meeting (CA) agreed to hold over a discussion of the purposes of a Ministry &
Oversight Committee until next month.
Santa Monica Meeting (CA) holds a Meeting for Healing every first and third Wednesday at the Meeting House with prayers for healing, worship, and gratitude.
Friends Community Church Spring Valley (CA) will hold its annual Rummage Sale on November 7th.
On September 15th Tempe Meeting (AZ) held the long awaited “dorm event” at ASU but Friends were very disappointed as only one student participated. It was felt that CORA (The Council of Religious Advisors) had given us a hard to find, out of the way location. The committee would like to do this again with more than one student!
University Meeting (Seattle, WA) will hold a retreat at the Meeting House on October 24th, Friends will share in small groups what community means to each of them and what they want in a community. Friends will be invited to talk about passions, leadings and gifts and what they might have to do with community. Friends will share a potluck lunch, work together in intergenerational work parties, and then reconvene in small groups to focus on how best to use the gifts and resources the Meeting has at this time.
The next Peace Café at First Friends, Whittier (CA) will be November 21st. Friends are invited to an evening full of music, poems, art and fellowship.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
The Fall gathering of College Park Quarterly Meeting will be October 16-18 at Sierra Friends Center, Nevada City, CA with the theme "Recognizing and deepening our Quaker Faith."
Colorado Regional Meeting will be held November 6th - 8th at the YMCA of the Rockies Conference Center in Estes Park bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. This year’s theme is “Deepening Our Spiritual Life in Community” and will be led by Nancy Bieber, a member of Lancaster (PA) Monthly Meeting and a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat leader.
to be a time for sharing, games, considering ideas, and food (pizza and ice cream).
George Fox University and Northwest Yearly Meeting are jointly sponsoring a day-long conference to work toward abolishing sex trafficking and forced prostitution in Portland. "The New Abolitionists" conference will occur October 24, 9 a.m to 4 p.m. at George Fox University. http://www.georgefox.edu/newabolitionists/index.html
Intermountain Yearly Meeting discovered that Ghost Ranch has scheduled the 2010-2012 Annual Gatherings during the first full week of June instead of the traditional second week, which affects meetings where school is still in session. The Executive Committee agreed that the Meeting has no option for 2010, but IMYM should explore other options for the future.
Intermountain Yearly Meeting asks that Meetings consider the following queries :
I. Does your Monthly Meeting support a renewed service program at the Yearly Meeting level?
II. Would your Meeting support an increase in IMYM assessments to support Yearly Meeting’s operations.? If you are unable to support an increase, where would you choose to cut the budget? What disposition should be made of the current budget line item of $24, 000 previously entered for the Joint Service Project?
III. Would your meeting support a change in the date of the Annual Gathering from the first or second week in June, to the first partial week in August?
The Northwest Yearly Meeting Youthworkers Training Conference will be November 6-8 at the Hood River Inn, Hood River OR. Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee of Tigard Friends Church will speak to the theme, “Plugged In: Engaging the Media Culture Surrounding Youth.”
Retha McCutchen of Northwest Yearly Meeting will lead a trip to Israel/Palestine in January 2010. Along with visits to historical sites, the group will also connect with ministries related to NWYM--including the work the Neiferts are doing in Haifa. Retha's email: retha@marafiki.us
"In keeping with our Testimonies on Equality and Community, those of us gathered at Pacific Yearly Meeting in 2009 believe that access to health care must be universal and affordable for every individual in this land. There is support among Friends for a single-payer health insurance plan, and we support the right of states to adopt the single-payer option. We encourage further study and action by monthly meetings”
Southern California Quarterly Meeting will be November 7-8 at Temescal Canyon. Steve Smith, Claremont Meeting will speak to the theme: "Finding Joy In Committee Work: Knitting The Meeting Together In Community" Time has been dedicated to meeting together in groups according to the committee in which Friends are called to serve, or would like to serve, in their Monthly Meetings.
FWCC Website
Look at www.fwccamericas.org for information about the Section of the Americas.
October 2009
Did you know that the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage, a program of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) will be in the Pacific Northwest next summer? Young friends, ages 16-18, will arrive in Seattle on July 16 and travel together for a month. Who in your church or meeting would be right for this life-changing experience? Contact me- nancym@fwccamericas.org, Bill Schoder-Ehri - bschodereheri@gmail.com, or the FWCC website, fwccamericas.org, for more information.
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Apple Seed Meeting (Sebastopol, CA) is concerned about its relationship with its landlord and problems encountered using the building. The Meeting may need to reinvestigate a larger meeting space in the near future. It was suggested that a committee gather to review the situation.
Berkeley Meeting (CA) is proposing a new committee, Outreach and Nurture. The committee will be responsible for: nametags, attention to newcomers and those returning after an absence, Introduction of Quakerism for Newcomers, newcomer breakfasts or lunches, Meeting retreat, friendly dinners, worship-sharing series, final affairs workshop, etc. The committee would communicate with Ministry & Oversight regarding individual needs as they arrive.
Berkeley Meeting (CA) approved two Friends, and others who may volunteer, to provide pre-registration services for Pacific Yearly meeting’s 2010 and 2011 summer gatherings, with the understanding that net proceeds would go to support the Berkeley Meeting building renovation and no funds would benefit individuals.
Claremont Meeting (CA) Friends are asked to bring fall foliage to meeting each Sunday in order to create an ongoing fall mantel decoration.
Corvallis Meeting (OR) has scheduled a panel discussion on preparing for death. What can Friends do to be ready to die? How can the meeting help? Panelists will have legal expertise, medical knowledge and experience in hospice work along with some practical knowledge about low-cost funerals and good planning practices.
Honolulu Meeting (HI) notes that the issue of whether the Meeting should join an existing quarterly meeting, probably in California, has been discussed before. There is not enough interest and not enough business in common with the two Pacific Yearly Meeting quarterlies to justify it.
Tom Rawson is coming to Eugene Meeting (OR)! The Meeting’s favorite Quaker folksinger and humorist is coming to Eugene to give a benefit con¬cert for the SOA Watch at the Meetinghouse on October 17th at 7 pm.
Humboldt Meeting (Arcata, CA) discussed the need for pamphlets to be available on Sundays. Pendle Hill online and the FGC bookstore will be checked for possibilities.
This summer Klamath Falls Friends (OR) partnered with the OSU Extension Agency to sponsor a Garden Camp. Friends own a lot next to the church where they have grown vegetables for the last few years, which they shared with the neighborhood and donated to the food bank and the mission. This was the first year for the garden camp, and it was a great success. The number varied but there was a core of seven or eight boys and girls who came every week, only two of whom were from the meeting, so this was a wonderful outreach project.
Lower Columbia Worship Group (Seaview, WA) held their first-ever potluck.
Marloma Long Beach Meeting (CA) approved a Minute of concern regarding the execution of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) scheduled two all clerks meetings to keep communications flowing among committees, provide an opportunity to consider issues that cross committees, and support community building among the Meeting leadership.
Multnomah Meeting Friends (Portland, OR) have the opportunity to learn how to help those in their Meeting who are struggling in times of economic need and stress on Saturday, October 24th. The morning session will address the issues of housing and mental health. The afternoon session will explore referrals to agencies and dealing with secondary stress. The program will conclude with a presentation/discussion about the roles Meeting committees play in addressing needs of those in the Quaker community.
The Pastor of Children & Family Ministries of Newberg Friends Church (OR) is dreaming of a “sponsorship program” for each of the rooms that have toys. She’d love to see a
family, couple, or individual pledge to clean the toys and wipe down surfaces at least once per month in each of these classrooms.
David Niyonzima from Burundi will be at North Seattle Friends Church (WA) on Saturday morning, October 24. Both David and Patty Federighi will share about their work in Burundi and in Congo. The meeting with David and Patty will be followed by a carry-in community meal and Friends are invited to bring food to share. The Meeting for Business for the Area Gathering will take place during the afternoon.
Orange County Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) is considering having a fund-raising event to raise enough money for the Meeting to make its intended charitable contributions for the year.
An attender at Orange County Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) posted a query on the Meeting’s listserv, noting that what he saw on the listserv (and probably heard in announcements) had to do with business, but he wondered whether Friends ever talk about spiritual issues and what they believe. The question itself drew wonderful answers from others in the meeting. Friends asked if perhaps this year they can find more explicit ways to talk about their spiritual core, and to let others know what goes on in the silence.
Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) agreed to host the Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Committee meeting in March 2010.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) will hold its Annual Retreat on the theme: "Beyond Words: Plain and Joyful Expressions of the Spirit." Friends will explore non-verbal means of expression in ways that are usually associated with the arts and the senses.
The Oversight Committee of Reno Meeting (NV) called all of the members and attenders of the meeting to see how they are doing. Additionally, a letter explaining the financial state of our meeting was also sent to each member of the meeting.
Early this year, at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) when conversations were centered around the economy and what could be done to help struggling families both in the community and beyond, the idea of a community garden took root. This was one idea that quickly bore fruit (puns intended!). The church has another property that includes a large courtyard area. One goal—other than growing vegetables—was to build bridges with others living in the immediate community who did not yet have a connection with Reedwood.
The Center for Christian Studies at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) is focusing on The Ancient Future Church: Perspectives from Contemporary Historians. Classes meet Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.
How can we “be like Jesus”? What would it look like to demonstrate God’s love and truth (as in John 4) in southwest Portland? These were the questions that RiversWay Community, a ministry point of NWYM, was discerning in spring 2008. At the same time they were developing relationships with a group of people without homes in Tigard. They offered shower and laundry services once a month, at first we renting hotel rooms and shuttling a few at a time for showers. They bought sandwiches and ate with those who waited at the laundromat while their clothes were drying. New relationships deepened as Friends listened to stories, shared a meal, and helped with showers and laundry.
The Newcomers’ BBQ at Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will be held Sunday, October 18 The BBQ gives newcomers a chance to meet some of the church leadership and others who have recently started coming to the church.
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) accepted Ministry and Counsel’s recommendation that the Meeting not use name tags. Friends are encouraged to be friendly and welcoming to all.
The book group at San Francisco Meeting (CA) is reading the book, Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship, by Vanessa Julye and Donna McDaniel.
San Jose Meeting (CA) will hold its annual retreat, sponsored by Ministry and Worship and Caring Committees, on October 24th, on the Meeting property.
The theme for Santa Cruz Meeting’s (CA) Autumn Meeting Retreat is Experimenting with Worship. Friends will spend the morning trying out different ways of preparing for worship. Some examples of the activities planned are reading poetry, singing and bible study. After lunch Friends will sit down for extended worship (silent meeting until it is discerned that the worship is truly finished). Extended worship tends to yield both deep silence and well seasoned ministry.
Santa Fe Meeting (CA) agreed to hold over a discussion of the purposes of a Ministry &
Oversight Committee until next month.
Santa Monica Meeting (CA) holds a Meeting for Healing every first and third Wednesday at the Meeting House with prayers for healing, worship, and gratitude.
Friends Community Church Spring Valley (CA) will hold its annual Rummage Sale on November 7th.
On September 15th Tempe Meeting (AZ) held the long awaited “dorm event” at ASU but Friends were very disappointed as only one student participated. It was felt that CORA (The Council of Religious Advisors) had given us a hard to find, out of the way location. The committee would like to do this again with more than one student!
University Meeting (Seattle, WA) will hold a retreat at the Meeting House on October 24th, Friends will share in small groups what community means to each of them and what they want in a community. Friends will be invited to talk about passions, leadings and gifts and what they might have to do with community. Friends will share a potluck lunch, work together in intergenerational work parties, and then reconvene in small groups to focus on how best to use the gifts and resources the Meeting has at this time.
The next Peace Café at First Friends, Whittier (CA) will be November 21st. Friends are invited to an evening full of music, poems, art and fellowship.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
The Fall gathering of College Park Quarterly Meeting will be October 16-18 at Sierra Friends Center, Nevada City, CA with the theme "Recognizing and deepening our Quaker Faith."
Colorado Regional Meeting will be held November 6th - 8th at the YMCA of the Rockies Conference Center in Estes Park bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. This year’s theme is “Deepening Our Spiritual Life in Community” and will be led by Nancy Bieber, a member of Lancaster (PA) Monthly Meeting and a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat leader.
to be a time for sharing, games, considering ideas, and food (pizza and ice cream).
George Fox University and Northwest Yearly Meeting are jointly sponsoring a day-long conference to work toward abolishing sex trafficking and forced prostitution in Portland. "The New Abolitionists" conference will occur October 24, 9 a.m to 4 p.m. at George Fox University. http://www.georgefox.edu/newabolitionists/index.html
Intermountain Yearly Meeting discovered that Ghost Ranch has scheduled the 2010-2012 Annual Gatherings during the first full week of June instead of the traditional second week, which affects meetings where school is still in session. The Executive Committee agreed that the Meeting has no option for 2010, but IMYM should explore other options for the future.
Intermountain Yearly Meeting asks that Meetings consider the following queries :
I. Does your Monthly Meeting support a renewed service program at the Yearly Meeting level?
II. Would your Meeting support an increase in IMYM assessments to support Yearly Meeting’s operations.? If you are unable to support an increase, where would you choose to cut the budget? What disposition should be made of the current budget line item of $24, 000 previously entered for the Joint Service Project?
III. Would your meeting support a change in the date of the Annual Gathering from the first or second week in June, to the first partial week in August?
The Northwest Yearly Meeting Youthworkers Training Conference will be November 6-8 at the Hood River Inn, Hood River OR. Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee of Tigard Friends Church will speak to the theme, “Plugged In: Engaging the Media Culture Surrounding Youth.”
Retha McCutchen of Northwest Yearly Meeting will lead a trip to Israel/Palestine in January 2010. Along with visits to historical sites, the group will also connect with ministries related to NWYM--including the work the Neiferts are doing in Haifa. Retha's email: retha@marafiki.us
"In keeping with our Testimonies on Equality and Community, those of us gathered at Pacific Yearly Meeting in 2009 believe that access to health care must be universal and affordable for every individual in this land. There is support among Friends for a single-payer health insurance plan, and we support the right of states to adopt the single-payer option. We encourage further study and action by monthly meetings”
Southern California Quarterly Meeting will be November 7-8 at Temescal Canyon. Steve Smith, Claremont Meeting will speak to the theme: "Finding Joy In Committee Work: Knitting The Meeting Together In Community" Time has been dedicated to meeting together in groups according to the committee in which Friends are called to serve, or would like to serve, in their Monthly Meetings.
FWCC Website
Look at www.fwccamericas.org for information about the Section of the Americas.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
News from Western Quaker Newsletters
September-October 2009
Dear Friends,
I have three items I’d like to bring to your attention today.
I do realize that John Calvi has been traveling among Friends in California and I did not highlight those events. However, in the realm of “better late than never,” here’s what I know of his time in Oregon:
1. (From the Multnomah Meeting Bulletin, September 27)
John Calvi, released Friend from Putney VT. with a ministry in trauma healing, was our Friend in Residence at NPYM this year and will be Multnomah's and Bridge City’s Friend in Residence.
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7:00-9:00 pm at Multnomah Meeting John will be speaking about choosing our work, caring for ourselves, and each other.
Thursday, Oct. 1, 10am - 2pm John will return to Multnomah Meeting and we'll practice gentle hands on techniques and energy work; bring brown bag lunch.
Thursday evening at West Hills Friends Church, 7pm – 9pm, John will speak on the Quaker Initiative to End Torture, and being a Welcoming Congregation.
WILLAMETTE QUARTERLY MEETING: OCTOBER 2-4
At Multnomah Meeting & Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp
WQM will begin at the Multnomah Meetinghouse on Friday evening, October 2, then continues at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp on Saturday & Sunday. John Calvi will be with us on Friday evening, and he will be featured in the program on Saturday.
2. Did you know that the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage, a program of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) will be in the Pacific Northwest next summer? Young friends, ages 16-18, will arrive in Seattle on July 16 and travel together for a month. Who in your church or meeting would be right for this life-changing experience? Contact me-nancym@fwccamericas.org, Bill Schoder-Ehri bschodereheri@gmail.com,
or the FWCC website, fwccamericas.org, for more information.
3. John Irving Ocol, a member of the Philippines Friends Church, has alerted us to the scale of the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana. At the height of the flash floods, he wrote: "All Friends Churches in Pasig and nearby town are under flood. All members of the Friends church are affected. We are in great need. We need food, medicine, water, blanket, etc. We do not have any resources to buy all the things we need. All our properties and appliances are totally destroyed by the water. On behalf of my yearly meeting, I am asking a help from your good heart. Members of the church are praying for the help especially to us living in Pasig because we are the most affected."
The FWCC Asia West Pacific Section is accepting donations to relieve immediate need. Those wishing to contribute can do so via the Section of the Americas. Please reference "Philippines."
(This is from the FWCC, Section of the Americas, eNewsletter. If you’d like to receive it, write to Americas@fwccamericas.org.)
Friends may also donate through Evangelical Friends Mission: EFM, PO Box 525, Arvada CO, 80001. Note your contribution to "Emergency Fund."
In Friendship,
Nancy
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
John Calvi will speak at West Hills Friends Church (Portland, OR) on the Quaker Initiative To End Torture on Thursday, October 1st. He will also discuss issues related to being a Welcoming Congregation.
Visalia Meeting (CA) is affiliating with Friends General Conference. Davis and Sacramento Meetings are also affiliated with FGC. (Pacific Yearly Meeting)
Ukiah Worship Group (CA) will host a public meeting featuring Ukiah poet and peace activist David Smith-Ferri the first week of November.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) Adult Religious Education Committee is sponsoring a five-session course, “Quakerism: The Stable Core: The Light Within.” Friends will meet on Sunday afternoons from October to April.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will hold a “called meeting” for thoughtful consideration of monthly meeting status. A part of that meeting will be worship sharing on what it means to Friends individually to move forward to monthly meeting;
Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) held a threshing session. Friends began with the following queries: (1) In our work together as a Meeting, are we holding true to our testimonies of Simplicity & Integrity? (2) Do we, as a Meeting, keep our collective life uncluttered with things and activities, avoiding commitments beyond our collective light and strength? (3) Is the life of our Meeting so ordered that it helps us work from our spiritual center, within our light and strength?
On Sunday, September 27, Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) unveiled this year's Christmas musical. Friends interested in singing in the choir, playing in the orchestra, auditioning for a drama role, participating in the liturgical dance, helping with sound or lights, or constructing sets were to attend an organizing meeting.
Members and attenders of Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) are invited to an evening of Worship Sharing regarding the Peace Testimony of Friends, on September 29, at the Meetinghouse. Queries, drawn from Living in Virtue by Steve Smith, will be offered. A simple soup supper will be available preceding the gathering.
The Future of Meeting Committee of Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) will hold up a mirror to the meeting so Friends can have a shared and detailed understanding of who they are and what their values are, and to help Meeting discern its future. The process is expected to take approximately 18 months, after which the committee will be laid down.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) is planning monthly Adoptive Families Gathering. Friends will have a potluck with families and, following dinner, children will be excused to play, with supervised care, while parents talk together about their ideas for how best they might provide adoption support and discussion, and about how they might celebrate their children, and their children’s cultures together.
John Calvi, released Friend from Putney VT with a ministry in trauma healing, will be Friend in Residence for Multnomah and Bridge City Meetings (Portland, OR) on Wednesday, Sept. 30th. On Thursday, Oct. 1, John will return to Multnomah Meeting and Friends will practice gentle hands-on techniques and “energy work.”
Lopez Island Worship Group (WA) has asked to become a preparative meeting under the care of Bellingham Meeting. The request has been approved.
At Eastside Meeting (Bellevue, WA) concern has been raised that committees try to meet on first Sundays, but many individuals have multiple committee assignments. The clerk suggested that a person on multiple committees should contact the committee clerks and ask them to contact each other and try to find ways around the impasse of simultaneous meetings.
The Reading Group of Delta Meeting (Stockton, CA) is reading Rufus Jones’ The Luminous Trail.
Davis Meeting (CA) held a special Threshing Session about the process and plans for replacing the doors to the meeting house.
Friends at Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) learned they can be a part of helping people in need right in their own community. Box of Love (Canning Hunger) is a great way to share God’s love by feeding those in need physically and spiritually.
Ministry and Oversight Committee of Boise Valley Meeting (ID) discussed ways of engaging young people in the life of the Meeting and also discussed the difficulties for parents attending Meeting when we have no ongoing First Day program
Bridge City Meeting (Portland, OR) will continue with intergenerational worship one Sunday per month on an every other month basis beginning in October. Children’s Program Committee will plan the theme for these Meetings for Worship with accompanying crafts or activities, and a representative from Ministry and Oversight will assist with promoting and shepherding the events.
Bellingham Meeting (WA) has approved giving financial support for a Palestinian refugee family who will be arriving in Vancouver, BC. This family of three, with a child in great need of healthcare, is solely dependent upon the private sponsorship of the Unitarians and Quakers of Vancouver for an entire year.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
The Fall gathering of College Park Quarterly Meeting will be October 16-18 at Sierra Friends Center, Nevada City, CA with the theme "Recognizing and deepening our Quaker Faith."
Colorado Regional Meeting will be held November 6th - 8th at the YMCA of the Rockies Conference Center in Estes Park bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. This year’s theme is “Deepening Our Spiritual Life in Community” and will be led by Nancy Bieber, a member of Lancaster (PA) Monthly Meeting and a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat leader.
to be a time for sharing, games, considering ideas, and food (pizza and ice cream).
George Fox University and Northwest Yearly Meeting are jointly sponsoring a day-long conference to work toward abolishing sex trafficking and forced prostitution in Portland. "The New Abolitionists" conference will occur October 24, 9 a.m to 4 p.m. at George Fox University. http://www.georgefox.edu/newabolitionists/index.html
Several short-term missionaries are going to Rwanda as Rwanda has decreed that all school teachers be able to teach in English. EFM has begun to address the situation in Friends Schools. The five teachers who are going to Rwanda are from Northwest Yearly Meeting.
The Northwest Yearly Meeting Youthworkers Training Conference will be November 6-8 at the Hood River Inn, Hood River OR. Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee of Tigard Friends Church will speak to the theme, “Plugged In: Engaging the Media Culture Surrounding Youth.”
Retha McCutcheon of Northwest Yearly Meeting will lead a trip to Israel/Palestine in January 2010. Along with visits to historical sites, the group will also connect with ministries related to NWYM--including the work the Neiferts are doing in Haifa. Retha's email: retha@marafiki.us
Pacific Yearly Meeting united in moving forward with hiring a Youth Program Coordinator. As part of this significant development, PYM Nominating Committee is in the process of identifying individuals to serve on a Supervisory Committee, which would implement and oversee the hiring and supervision of this employee.
Quaker Earthcare Witness will hold its Annual Meeting and Gathering in Bellingham, WA, October 8-12 with the theme, “Wisdom Stories for a Resilient Future: Bible Stories, Native Stories, Quaker Stories.” Kathy Hyzy of Multnomah Meeting and editor of Western Friend will present the keynote address. www.quakerearthcare.org
Southern California Quarterly Meeting will be November 7-8 at Temescal Canyon. Steve Smith, Claremont Meeting will speak to the theme: "Finding Joy In Committee Work: Knitting The Meeting Together In Community" Time has been dedicated to meeting together in groups according to the committee in which Friends are called to serve, or would like to serve, in their Monthly Meetings.
Western Friend celebrated the publication of the book, Enlivened by the Spirit, at University Meeting in Seattle. The book is a compilation of nearly fifty Friends’ responses to the query, “How have you experienced God or the Divine?” with art, song, poetry, fiction, and essays.
September-October 2009
Dear Friends,
I have three items I’d like to bring to your attention today.
I do realize that John Calvi has been traveling among Friends in California and I did not highlight those events. However, in the realm of “better late than never,” here’s what I know of his time in Oregon:
1. (From the Multnomah Meeting Bulletin, September 27)
John Calvi, released Friend from Putney VT. with a ministry in trauma healing, was our Friend in Residence at NPYM this year and will be Multnomah's and Bridge City’s Friend in Residence.
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7:00-9:00 pm at Multnomah Meeting John will be speaking about choosing our work, caring for ourselves, and each other.
Thursday, Oct. 1, 10am - 2pm John will return to Multnomah Meeting and we'll practice gentle hands on techniques and energy work; bring brown bag lunch.
Thursday evening at West Hills Friends Church, 7pm – 9pm, John will speak on the Quaker Initiative to End Torture, and being a Welcoming Congregation.
WILLAMETTE QUARTERLY MEETING: OCTOBER 2-4
At Multnomah Meeting & Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp
WQM will begin at the Multnomah Meetinghouse on Friday evening, October 2, then continues at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp on Saturday & Sunday. John Calvi will be with us on Friday evening, and he will be featured in the program on Saturday.
2. Did you know that the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage, a program of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) will be in the Pacific Northwest next summer? Young friends, ages 16-18, will arrive in Seattle on July 16 and travel together for a month. Who in your church or meeting would be right for this life-changing experience? Contact me-nancym@fwccamericas.org, Bill Schoder-Ehri bschodereheri@gmail.com,
or the FWCC website, fwccamericas.org, for more information.
3. John Irving Ocol, a member of the Philippines Friends Church, has alerted us to the scale of the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana. At the height of the flash floods, he wrote: "All Friends Churches in Pasig and nearby town are under flood. All members of the Friends church are affected. We are in great need. We need food, medicine, water, blanket, etc. We do not have any resources to buy all the things we need. All our properties and appliances are totally destroyed by the water. On behalf of my yearly meeting, I am asking a help from your good heart. Members of the church are praying for the help especially to us living in Pasig because we are the most affected."
The FWCC Asia West Pacific Section is accepting donations to relieve immediate need. Those wishing to contribute can do so via the Section of the Americas. Please reference "Philippines."
(This is from the FWCC, Section of the Americas, eNewsletter. If you’d like to receive it, write to Americas@fwccamericas.org.)
Friends may also donate through Evangelical Friends Mission: EFM, PO Box 525, Arvada CO, 80001. Note your contribution to "Emergency Fund."
In Friendship,
Nancy
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
John Calvi will speak at West Hills Friends Church (Portland, OR) on the Quaker Initiative To End Torture on Thursday, October 1st. He will also discuss issues related to being a Welcoming Congregation.
Visalia Meeting (CA) is affiliating with Friends General Conference. Davis and Sacramento Meetings are also affiliated with FGC. (Pacific Yearly Meeting)
Ukiah Worship Group (CA) will host a public meeting featuring Ukiah poet and peace activist David Smith-Ferri the first week of November.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) Adult Religious Education Committee is sponsoring a five-session course, “Quakerism: The Stable Core: The Light Within.” Friends will meet on Sunday afternoons from October to April.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will hold a “called meeting” for thoughtful consideration of monthly meeting status. A part of that meeting will be worship sharing on what it means to Friends individually to move forward to monthly meeting;
Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) held a threshing session. Friends began with the following queries: (1) In our work together as a Meeting, are we holding true to our testimonies of Simplicity & Integrity? (2) Do we, as a Meeting, keep our collective life uncluttered with things and activities, avoiding commitments beyond our collective light and strength? (3) Is the life of our Meeting so ordered that it helps us work from our spiritual center, within our light and strength?
On Sunday, September 27, Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) unveiled this year's Christmas musical. Friends interested in singing in the choir, playing in the orchestra, auditioning for a drama role, participating in the liturgical dance, helping with sound or lights, or constructing sets were to attend an organizing meeting.
Members and attenders of Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) are invited to an evening of Worship Sharing regarding the Peace Testimony of Friends, on September 29, at the Meetinghouse. Queries, drawn from Living in Virtue by Steve Smith, will be offered. A simple soup supper will be available preceding the gathering.
The Future of Meeting Committee of Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) will hold up a mirror to the meeting so Friends can have a shared and detailed understanding of who they are and what their values are, and to help Meeting discern its future. The process is expected to take approximately 18 months, after which the committee will be laid down.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) is planning monthly Adoptive Families Gathering. Friends will have a potluck with families and, following dinner, children will be excused to play, with supervised care, while parents talk together about their ideas for how best they might provide adoption support and discussion, and about how they might celebrate their children, and their children’s cultures together.
John Calvi, released Friend from Putney VT with a ministry in trauma healing, will be Friend in Residence for Multnomah and Bridge City Meetings (Portland, OR) on Wednesday, Sept. 30th. On Thursday, Oct. 1, John will return to Multnomah Meeting and Friends will practice gentle hands-on techniques and “energy work.”
Lopez Island Worship Group (WA) has asked to become a preparative meeting under the care of Bellingham Meeting. The request has been approved.
At Eastside Meeting (Bellevue, WA) concern has been raised that committees try to meet on first Sundays, but many individuals have multiple committee assignments. The clerk suggested that a person on multiple committees should contact the committee clerks and ask them to contact each other and try to find ways around the impasse of simultaneous meetings.
The Reading Group of Delta Meeting (Stockton, CA) is reading Rufus Jones’ The Luminous Trail.
Davis Meeting (CA) held a special Threshing Session about the process and plans for replacing the doors to the meeting house.
Friends at Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) learned they can be a part of helping people in need right in their own community. Box of Love (Canning Hunger) is a great way to share God’s love by feeding those in need physically and spiritually.
Ministry and Oversight Committee of Boise Valley Meeting (ID) discussed ways of engaging young people in the life of the Meeting and also discussed the difficulties for parents attending Meeting when we have no ongoing First Day program
Bridge City Meeting (Portland, OR) will continue with intergenerational worship one Sunday per month on an every other month basis beginning in October. Children’s Program Committee will plan the theme for these Meetings for Worship with accompanying crafts or activities, and a representative from Ministry and Oversight will assist with promoting and shepherding the events.
Bellingham Meeting (WA) has approved giving financial support for a Palestinian refugee family who will be arriving in Vancouver, BC. This family of three, with a child in great need of healthcare, is solely dependent upon the private sponsorship of the Unitarians and Quakers of Vancouver for an entire year.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
The Fall gathering of College Park Quarterly Meeting will be October 16-18 at Sierra Friends Center, Nevada City, CA with the theme "Recognizing and deepening our Quaker Faith."
Colorado Regional Meeting will be held November 6th - 8th at the YMCA of the Rockies Conference Center in Estes Park bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. This year’s theme is “Deepening Our Spiritual Life in Community” and will be led by Nancy Bieber, a member of Lancaster (PA) Monthly Meeting and a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat leader.
to be a time for sharing, games, considering ideas, and food (pizza and ice cream).
George Fox University and Northwest Yearly Meeting are jointly sponsoring a day-long conference to work toward abolishing sex trafficking and forced prostitution in Portland. "The New Abolitionists" conference will occur October 24, 9 a.m to 4 p.m. at George Fox University. http://www.georgefox.edu/newabolitionists/index.html
Several short-term missionaries are going to Rwanda as Rwanda has decreed that all school teachers be able to teach in English. EFM has begun to address the situation in Friends Schools. The five teachers who are going to Rwanda are from Northwest Yearly Meeting.
The Northwest Yearly Meeting Youthworkers Training Conference will be November 6-8 at the Hood River Inn, Hood River OR. Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee of Tigard Friends Church will speak to the theme, “Plugged In: Engaging the Media Culture Surrounding Youth.”
Retha McCutcheon of Northwest Yearly Meeting will lead a trip to Israel/Palestine in January 2010. Along with visits to historical sites, the group will also connect with ministries related to NWYM--including the work the Neiferts are doing in Haifa. Retha's email: retha@marafiki.us
Pacific Yearly Meeting united in moving forward with hiring a Youth Program Coordinator. As part of this significant development, PYM Nominating Committee is in the process of identifying individuals to serve on a Supervisory Committee, which would implement and oversee the hiring and supervision of this employee.
Quaker Earthcare Witness will hold its Annual Meeting and Gathering in Bellingham, WA, October 8-12 with the theme, “Wisdom Stories for a Resilient Future: Bible Stories, Native Stories, Quaker Stories.” Kathy Hyzy of Multnomah Meeting and editor of Western Friend will present the keynote address. www.quakerearthcare.org
Southern California Quarterly Meeting will be November 7-8 at Temescal Canyon. Steve Smith, Claremont Meeting will speak to the theme: "Finding Joy In Committee Work: Knitting The Meeting Together In Community" Time has been dedicated to meeting together in groups according to the committee in which Friends are called to serve, or would like to serve, in their Monthly Meetings.
Western Friend celebrated the publication of the book, Enlivened by the Spirit, at University Meeting in Seattle. The book is a compilation of nearly fifty Friends’ responses to the query, “How have you experienced God or the Divine?” with art, song, poetry, fiction, and essays.
Friday, September 18, 2009
News from Western Quaker Newsletters
September 2009
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Agate Passage Meeting (Poulsbo, WA) is planning a new first hour program: “Quaker Sojourns”, an opportunity to learn more about one another and to encourage conversation about how travel can nourish values and beliefs. Each second Sunday Friends will hear a different travel story and discuss the ideas that spin off from it.
Albuquerque Meeting (NM) will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Saturday, October 17 with an afternoon of worship-sharing, reminiscences, creativity, a photo display, stories, fun and music, followed by a light supper and evening of Friendship.
The Community Group Hosts of Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) think it so important that Friends join a community group this fall that they decided to call everyone in the church and give them a personal invitation to be part of a group. The entire church through the weekend messages and the Community Groups will be studying an exciting new series called "One Month to Live", Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life.
The theme for the Women’s Conference, October 9-10 at Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will be "Who's that Woman in the Mirror? - Finding a Healthy Self-Image." Women are told: “What you think about yourself makes a difference in how you live your life. Learn the way to experience all God intended you to be and to accept and love the truth that's there when you look in the mirror. Explore your self-image and enjoy a fun and life-changing time.”
Chico Meeting (CA) will hold an open house on October 4th. CFM is celebrating the second year in their meetinghouse, now one hundred years old!
The Quaker Studies session for Lower Columbia Worship Group (Seaview, WA) will focus on Sandra Cronk’s description of spiritual nurture in the Society of Friends.
Adult Religious Education Committee of Corvallis Meeting (OR) has considered the possibility of a meeting-wide retreat and decided that there is not enough clarity on a need for it or what it should focus on, so will not undertake to plan one for this fall.
Fresno Meeting (CA) supports the concept of universal healthcare for all to end the disgrace of having almost 50 million uninsured in this country.
The Library Committee of Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) has a plan to inventory what materials are in the GVFM Library and to organize materials in a manner of both Mr. Dewey’s decimal classifications and Friends.
Midtown Friends (Sacramento, CA) held a peace fair at a midtown park in July. Their hope was to raise awareness and have good conversations about peace – not necessarily national peace but on the deeper nature of peace.
The Community and Fellowship Committee of Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) was newly established this year to help the meeting become a more welcoming and inclusive meeting and to provide opportunities for people to get together, forming community. The Committee is making plans for greeters and hopes no one again goes away without making contact with at least one person in the meeting;
Friends at Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) are making plans to train interested Friends in methods of Helping Others in Times of Economic Stress. Topics to be covered include housing, mental health, referrals to agencies, and helping the helpers.
The mission trip to Mexico of Netarts Friends Church (OR) is an intergenerational highlight every year. It started as a trip primarily for the youth of the church, but over the years it has become a “come one, come all” event. In 2009 a record number of 29 people went on the trip, and many had only attended NFC a few times before going. Now most are regular attenders!
Unprogrammed worship is starting at Newberg Friends Church (OR). Friends are excited that God is birthing something new in their midst. Each Sunday morning a group will meet for a time of waiting and listening to Christ together as a chance to see what God has in store as they worship with silence and no program or plan. Friends will simply start with a scripture and then wait expectantly for the Spirit to move among them.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) is having a Josh Reid Appreciation Gathering to celebrate Josh Reid’s seven years of service as youth pastor.
North Seattle Friends Church (WA) went kayaking. Those interested met at a rowing club for a guided tour around Lake Union. Experience was not required.
Patty Federighi, North Seattle Friends Church (WA) went to Burundi and the Congo to work with Trauma Healing and Reconciliation Services of Burundi (www.THARS.org) on a project that teaches quilt making as a tool of trauma healing.
Delonna Halliday, Olympic View Friends Church (Tacoma, WA) is a Love and Logic Facilitator who facilitates parenting training at Friends Churches. Love and Logic provides simple and practical techniques to help teachers and parent experience less stress and more fun while raising responsible children.
Orange County Friends Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) has decided to give up its conventional phone line, which is expensive and used very little, and replace it with a Skype phone account. This number can be reached from any phone; Friends do not need to use Skype or a computer.
Rose Drive Friends (Yorba Linda, CA) scheduled a baptism class in the Fireside Room. The class is a prerequisite to water baptism at the church.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) noted that with a church its size it is important to be intentional about getting to know people and Small Groups are the main way they connect people. These groups are normally 8-14 people who meet once a week for about 90 minutes. At a Small Group Friends can meet new people in a relaxed atmosphere, ask questions about the Bible, and share concerns they would like people to pray about.
Worship and Ministry (W&M) Committee of Sacramento Meeting (CA) wants Friends to know W&M is constantly trying to improve the quality of worship and ministry. When issues or concerns arise, W&M tries to resolve them as quickly as possible. W&M reminds Friends that if they have any concerns or possible ways to make the quality of worship and ministry better to please let someone on the committee know.
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) is hosting “Faith and the Land: a Call for Wilderness Stewardship,” on Sunday, September 27th.
San Jose Meeting (CA) considered whether Friends would ask the city for a refund for Open Preserve taxes paid. The Meeting is in unity to not ask for a refund from the Santa Clara County Open Preserve as the Meeting supports the preservation of open spaces.
Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) endorsed a traveling minute for Friend Diego Navarro who has a deeply-held concern for young adults in poverty, a concern that led him to create the Digital Bridge Academy.
Santa Cruz Meeting (CA), noting that the Quaker decision-making process has sometimes stopped the Meeting from taking a formal part in certain community activities, asks how to allow for Meeting approval in less than the usual time frame? Friends will hold a Threshing Session.
Santa Fe Friends (NM) have formed a local group called Friends in the Arts which meets monthly and is affiliated with the Fellowship of Quakers in the Arts, an international group.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) held an orientation for potential First Day School teachers noting that “Everyone is encouraged to teach, even if you are only available twice in the next few months. The job's a breeze: curriculum is provided, and teachers always work in pairs. The job's rewarding: the kids are a lot of fun, they're thrilled to see new faces, and conversations during class are always interesting and often charming.”
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) is co-sponsoring a Peace Walk on September 20th. "Peace in the Neighborhood, Peace in the World." to celebrate the U.N. International Day of Peace, to join in community with other neighborhood groups to make a statement for peace, and to help their fellow Seattle residents by bringing food for the St. Mary's food bank.
Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) is experiencing a baby boom; four babies are/were due in a two-month period.
Stephen Matchett will visit Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) to speak on "Going to the Well". He will share some of his favorite passages from William Penn's Primitive Christianity Revived. The thrust of the message will be personal and experiential, not scholarly, and he will offer his own life story as a way of communicating why these writings are meaningful to him.
Tacoma Meeting (WA) is hosting a Quaker Quest workshop on Saturday, September 19th.
Outreach Committee of Tempe Meeting (AZ) suggests that its official purpose would be:
“It is the purpose of the Outreach Committee to make the larger community aware of the existence of our Quaker Meeting and for our Meeting community to know of our activities.”
Tempe Meeting (AZ) is considering the possibility of hosting a homeless program in the Meeting House twice a month. Tempe Meeting has been reluctant to house homeless guests because of disapproval by neighbors in 2005 and because of earlier assurances of limitations of use of the Meeting House at the time it was built.
Vancouver Monthly Meeting (BC) is looking forward to Fun’ Raising. The Fun nights: Games Night, Movie Night, and Quaker Sing A Long – Hootenany will be brought to Friends by the Ad Hoc Refugee Committee who will ask Friends for donations to contribute to the sponsorship of a young refugee family, now caught in the no-man’s land between Iraq and Syria.
The Pastoral Search Committee of First Friends, Whittier (CA) has announced that a pastoral candidate will visit the church in September.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Arizona Half-Yearly Meeting will take place from Friday, September 25, to Sunday, September 27 at Emmanuel Pines Christian Camp and Retreat Center in Prescott, AZ with the theme, Strengthening Our Ties in Nature. Suggested readings include Earthcare for Friends by Louis Cox and Be Ye Perfect: The Quaker Call to Wholeness by Lisa Lofland-Gould.
Ben Lomond Quaker Center in California is considering offering a program for smaller meetings and worship groups in Pacific Yearly Meeting. Smaller meetings and worship groups are being asked whether Ben Lomond should offer the program and how it might be planned to meet their needs.
The quarterly meeting of the Christian Friends Conference will take place on Saturday, September 19th at Berkeley with brown bag lunch and beverages and bagels provided in the morning.
The Fall gathering of College Park Quarterly Meeting will be October 16-18 at Sierra Friends Center, Nevada City, CA.
Colorado Regional Meeting will be held November 6th - 8th at the YMCA of the Rockies Conference Center in Estes Park bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. This year’s theme is “Deepening Our Spiritual Life in Community” and will be led by Nancy Bieber, a member of Lancaster (PA) Monthly Meeting and a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat leader.
The Steering Committee of the Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy (FCWPP) will meet during Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting in the Dining Hall at Lazy F Camp & Retreat Center near Ellensburg at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25th.
Northern California Teens (8th-12th grades) in and near the Silicon Valley were invite to gather at the Palo Alto Meetinghouse for an exploratory meeting to consider who the group is and what it might do in the coming year. There was to be a time for sharing, games, considering ideas, and food (pizza and ice cream).
Several short-term missionaries are going to Rwanda as Rwanda has decreed that all school teachers be able to teach in English. EFM has begun to address the situation in Friends Schools. The five teachers who are going to Rwanda are from Northwest Yearly Meeting.
The Peace Education Sub-committee (a sub-committee of the NWYM Christian Education and Discipleship Committee of Northwest Yearly Meeting is focusing on two items for the immediate future - needs assessment and a NWYM Peace Month. This year the Peace Month will be January with the theme "What is Peace?" The sub-committee hopes to facilitate a discussion in the local meetings and provide teaching tools on Quaker history and why Friends have a peace testimony.
Northwest Yearly Meeting has ministry openings among its churches. Sherwood Friends is looking for a half-time youth pastor; Newberg Friends is looking for a full-time youth pastor; 2nd Street Community Church, a ministry of Friends in Newberg, is looking for a Middle School Intern and Director of Equipping and Serving; Olympic View Friends are looking for a pastor; Twin Rocks Friends Camp needs an Assistant Food Director; and Barclay Press has a 30-hour office position.
The Friends Women Retreat, a combined retreat of Friends both east and west of the Cascades, of Northwest Yearly Meeting, will be held at Twin Rocks Friends Camp, October 1-4.
Retha McCutcheon of Northwest Yearly Meeting will lead a trip to Israel/Palestine in January 2010. Along with visits to historical sites, the group will also connect with ministries related to NWYM--including the work the Neiferts are doing in Haifa. Retha's email: retha@marafiki.us
Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting will meet September 25-27, 2009, at Lazy F Ranch near Ellensburg. Port Townsend Monthly Meeting will lead the program with the theme, “Wild Earth, Wild Mind, Wild Heart.” Friends are invited to “Engage their minds and creativity; express their grief over our planet in peril; find hope for our future as an interdependent earth community; and gain courage to live out the Quaker testimony of care for the natural world.
The Continuing Committee of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting has begun a discussion of financial options that may be needed in order for PNQM to continue its current policy of "pay what you can" for those who attend QM sessions. There was a very substantial deficit from our Spring 2009 in spite of a large attendance. Even with financial reserves, such deficits are not sustainable and must be prevented or greatly reduced beginning not later than spring 2010.
The Religious Education Committee of Pacific Yearly Meeting circulates an e-Newsletter. The latest issue focuses on outreach to families with the concern that most smaller meetings feel a need for more families and children.
Pacific Yearly Meeting united in moving forward with hiring a Youth Program Coordinator. As part of this significant development, PYM Nominating Committee is in the process of identifying individuals to serve on a Supervisory Committee, which would implement and oversee the hiring and supervision of this employee.
Quaker Earthcare Witness will hold its Annual Meeting and Gathering in Bellingham, WA, October 8-12 with the theme, “Wisdom Stories for a Resilient Future: Bible Stories, Native Stories, Quaker Stories.” Kathy Hyzy of Multnomah Meeting and editor of Western Friend will present the keynote address. www.quakerearthcare.org
Southern California Quarterly Meeting will be November 7-8 at Temescal Canyon.
Western Friend celebrated the publication of the book, Enlivened by the Spirit, at University Meeting in Seattle. The book is a compilation of nearly fifty Friends’ responses to the query, “How have you experienced God or the Divine?” with art, song, poetry, fiction, and essays.
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather October 3-4, 2009 at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp near Rhododendron, OR.
September 2009
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Agate Passage Meeting (Poulsbo, WA) is planning a new first hour program: “Quaker Sojourns”, an opportunity to learn more about one another and to encourage conversation about how travel can nourish values and beliefs. Each second Sunday Friends will hear a different travel story and discuss the ideas that spin off from it.
Albuquerque Meeting (NM) will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Saturday, October 17 with an afternoon of worship-sharing, reminiscences, creativity, a photo display, stories, fun and music, followed by a light supper and evening of Friendship.
The Community Group Hosts of Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) think it so important that Friends join a community group this fall that they decided to call everyone in the church and give them a personal invitation to be part of a group. The entire church through the weekend messages and the Community Groups will be studying an exciting new series called "One Month to Live", Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life.
The theme for the Women’s Conference, October 9-10 at Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will be "Who's that Woman in the Mirror? - Finding a Healthy Self-Image." Women are told: “What you think about yourself makes a difference in how you live your life. Learn the way to experience all God intended you to be and to accept and love the truth that's there when you look in the mirror. Explore your self-image and enjoy a fun and life-changing time.”
Chico Meeting (CA) will hold an open house on October 4th. CFM is celebrating the second year in their meetinghouse, now one hundred years old!
The Quaker Studies session for Lower Columbia Worship Group (Seaview, WA) will focus on Sandra Cronk’s description of spiritual nurture in the Society of Friends.
Adult Religious Education Committee of Corvallis Meeting (OR) has considered the possibility of a meeting-wide retreat and decided that there is not enough clarity on a need for it or what it should focus on, so will not undertake to plan one for this fall.
Fresno Meeting (CA) supports the concept of universal healthcare for all to end the disgrace of having almost 50 million uninsured in this country.
The Library Committee of Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) has a plan to inventory what materials are in the GVFM Library and to organize materials in a manner of both Mr. Dewey’s decimal classifications and Friends.
Midtown Friends (Sacramento, CA) held a peace fair at a midtown park in July. Their hope was to raise awareness and have good conversations about peace – not necessarily national peace but on the deeper nature of peace.
The Community and Fellowship Committee of Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) was newly established this year to help the meeting become a more welcoming and inclusive meeting and to provide opportunities for people to get together, forming community. The Committee is making plans for greeters and hopes no one again goes away without making contact with at least one person in the meeting;
Friends at Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) are making plans to train interested Friends in methods of Helping Others in Times of Economic Stress. Topics to be covered include housing, mental health, referrals to agencies, and helping the helpers.
The mission trip to Mexico of Netarts Friends Church (OR) is an intergenerational highlight every year. It started as a trip primarily for the youth of the church, but over the years it has become a “come one, come all” event. In 2009 a record number of 29 people went on the trip, and many had only attended NFC a few times before going. Now most are regular attenders!
Unprogrammed worship is starting at Newberg Friends Church (OR). Friends are excited that God is birthing something new in their midst. Each Sunday morning a group will meet for a time of waiting and listening to Christ together as a chance to see what God has in store as they worship with silence and no program or plan. Friends will simply start with a scripture and then wait expectantly for the Spirit to move among them.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) is having a Josh Reid Appreciation Gathering to celebrate Josh Reid’s seven years of service as youth pastor.
North Seattle Friends Church (WA) went kayaking. Those interested met at a rowing club for a guided tour around Lake Union. Experience was not required.
Patty Federighi, North Seattle Friends Church (WA) went to Burundi and the Congo to work with Trauma Healing and Reconciliation Services of Burundi (www.THARS.org) on a project that teaches quilt making as a tool of trauma healing.
Delonna Halliday, Olympic View Friends Church (Tacoma, WA) is a Love and Logic Facilitator who facilitates parenting training at Friends Churches. Love and Logic provides simple and practical techniques to help teachers and parent experience less stress and more fun while raising responsible children.
Orange County Friends Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) has decided to give up its conventional phone line, which is expensive and used very little, and replace it with a Skype phone account. This number can be reached from any phone; Friends do not need to use Skype or a computer.
Rose Drive Friends (Yorba Linda, CA) scheduled a baptism class in the Fireside Room. The class is a prerequisite to water baptism at the church.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) noted that with a church its size it is important to be intentional about getting to know people and Small Groups are the main way they connect people. These groups are normally 8-14 people who meet once a week for about 90 minutes. At a Small Group Friends can meet new people in a relaxed atmosphere, ask questions about the Bible, and share concerns they would like people to pray about.
Worship and Ministry (W&M) Committee of Sacramento Meeting (CA) wants Friends to know W&M is constantly trying to improve the quality of worship and ministry. When issues or concerns arise, W&M tries to resolve them as quickly as possible. W&M reminds Friends that if they have any concerns or possible ways to make the quality of worship and ministry better to please let someone on the committee know.
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) is hosting “Faith and the Land: a Call for Wilderness Stewardship,” on Sunday, September 27th.
San Jose Meeting (CA) considered whether Friends would ask the city for a refund for Open Preserve taxes paid. The Meeting is in unity to not ask for a refund from the Santa Clara County Open Preserve as the Meeting supports the preservation of open spaces.
Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) endorsed a traveling minute for Friend Diego Navarro who has a deeply-held concern for young adults in poverty, a concern that led him to create the Digital Bridge Academy.
Santa Cruz Meeting (CA), noting that the Quaker decision-making process has sometimes stopped the Meeting from taking a formal part in certain community activities, asks how to allow for Meeting approval in less than the usual time frame? Friends will hold a Threshing Session.
Santa Fe Friends (NM) have formed a local group called Friends in the Arts which meets monthly and is affiliated with the Fellowship of Quakers in the Arts, an international group.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) held an orientation for potential First Day School teachers noting that “Everyone is encouraged to teach, even if you are only available twice in the next few months. The job's a breeze: curriculum is provided, and teachers always work in pairs. The job's rewarding: the kids are a lot of fun, they're thrilled to see new faces, and conversations during class are always interesting and often charming.”
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) is co-sponsoring a Peace Walk on September 20th. "Peace in the Neighborhood, Peace in the World." to celebrate the U.N. International Day of Peace, to join in community with other neighborhood groups to make a statement for peace, and to help their fellow Seattle residents by bringing food for the St. Mary's food bank.
Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) is experiencing a baby boom; four babies are/were due in a two-month period.
Stephen Matchett will visit Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) to speak on "Going to the Well". He will share some of his favorite passages from William Penn's Primitive Christianity Revived. The thrust of the message will be personal and experiential, not scholarly, and he will offer his own life story as a way of communicating why these writings are meaningful to him.
Tacoma Meeting (WA) is hosting a Quaker Quest workshop on Saturday, September 19th.
Outreach Committee of Tempe Meeting (AZ) suggests that its official purpose would be:
“It is the purpose of the Outreach Committee to make the larger community aware of the existence of our Quaker Meeting and for our Meeting community to know of our activities.”
Tempe Meeting (AZ) is considering the possibility of hosting a homeless program in the Meeting House twice a month. Tempe Meeting has been reluctant to house homeless guests because of disapproval by neighbors in 2005 and because of earlier assurances of limitations of use of the Meeting House at the time it was built.
Vancouver Monthly Meeting (BC) is looking forward to Fun’ Raising. The Fun nights: Games Night, Movie Night, and Quaker Sing A Long – Hootenany will be brought to Friends by the Ad Hoc Refugee Committee who will ask Friends for donations to contribute to the sponsorship of a young refugee family, now caught in the no-man’s land between Iraq and Syria.
The Pastoral Search Committee of First Friends, Whittier (CA) has announced that a pastoral candidate will visit the church in September.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Arizona Half-Yearly Meeting will take place from Friday, September 25, to Sunday, September 27 at Emmanuel Pines Christian Camp and Retreat Center in Prescott, AZ with the theme, Strengthening Our Ties in Nature. Suggested readings include Earthcare for Friends by Louis Cox and Be Ye Perfect: The Quaker Call to Wholeness by Lisa Lofland-Gould.
Ben Lomond Quaker Center in California is considering offering a program for smaller meetings and worship groups in Pacific Yearly Meeting. Smaller meetings and worship groups are being asked whether Ben Lomond should offer the program and how it might be planned to meet their needs.
The quarterly meeting of the Christian Friends Conference will take place on Saturday, September 19th at Berkeley with brown bag lunch and beverages and bagels provided in the morning.
The Fall gathering of College Park Quarterly Meeting will be October 16-18 at Sierra Friends Center, Nevada City, CA.
Colorado Regional Meeting will be held November 6th - 8th at the YMCA of the Rockies Conference Center in Estes Park bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. This year’s theme is “Deepening Our Spiritual Life in Community” and will be led by Nancy Bieber, a member of Lancaster (PA) Monthly Meeting and a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat leader.
The Steering Committee of the Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy (FCWPP) will meet during Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting in the Dining Hall at Lazy F Camp & Retreat Center near Ellensburg at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25th.
Northern California Teens (8th-12th grades) in and near the Silicon Valley were invite to gather at the Palo Alto Meetinghouse for an exploratory meeting to consider who the group is and what it might do in the coming year. There was to be a time for sharing, games, considering ideas, and food (pizza and ice cream).
Several short-term missionaries are going to Rwanda as Rwanda has decreed that all school teachers be able to teach in English. EFM has begun to address the situation in Friends Schools. The five teachers who are going to Rwanda are from Northwest Yearly Meeting.
The Peace Education Sub-committee (a sub-committee of the NWYM Christian Education and Discipleship Committee of Northwest Yearly Meeting is focusing on two items for the immediate future - needs assessment and a NWYM Peace Month. This year the Peace Month will be January with the theme "What is Peace?" The sub-committee hopes to facilitate a discussion in the local meetings and provide teaching tools on Quaker history and why Friends have a peace testimony.
Northwest Yearly Meeting has ministry openings among its churches. Sherwood Friends is looking for a half-time youth pastor; Newberg Friends is looking for a full-time youth pastor; 2nd Street Community Church, a ministry of Friends in Newberg, is looking for a Middle School Intern and Director of Equipping and Serving; Olympic View Friends are looking for a pastor; Twin Rocks Friends Camp needs an Assistant Food Director; and Barclay Press has a 30-hour office position.
The Friends Women Retreat, a combined retreat of Friends both east and west of the Cascades, of Northwest Yearly Meeting, will be held at Twin Rocks Friends Camp, October 1-4.
Retha McCutcheon of Northwest Yearly Meeting will lead a trip to Israel/Palestine in January 2010. Along with visits to historical sites, the group will also connect with ministries related to NWYM--including the work the Neiferts are doing in Haifa. Retha's email: retha@marafiki.us
Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting will meet September 25-27, 2009, at Lazy F Ranch near Ellensburg. Port Townsend Monthly Meeting will lead the program with the theme, “Wild Earth, Wild Mind, Wild Heart.” Friends are invited to “Engage their minds and creativity; express their grief over our planet in peril; find hope for our future as an interdependent earth community; and gain courage to live out the Quaker testimony of care for the natural world.
The Continuing Committee of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting has begun a discussion of financial options that may be needed in order for PNQM to continue its current policy of "pay what you can" for those who attend QM sessions. There was a very substantial deficit from our Spring 2009 in spite of a large attendance. Even with financial reserves, such deficits are not sustainable and must be prevented or greatly reduced beginning not later than spring 2010.
The Religious Education Committee of Pacific Yearly Meeting circulates an e-Newsletter. The latest issue focuses on outreach to families with the concern that most smaller meetings feel a need for more families and children.
Pacific Yearly Meeting united in moving forward with hiring a Youth Program Coordinator. As part of this significant development, PYM Nominating Committee is in the process of identifying individuals to serve on a Supervisory Committee, which would implement and oversee the hiring and supervision of this employee.
Quaker Earthcare Witness will hold its Annual Meeting and Gathering in Bellingham, WA, October 8-12 with the theme, “Wisdom Stories for a Resilient Future: Bible Stories, Native Stories, Quaker Stories.” Kathy Hyzy of Multnomah Meeting and editor of Western Friend will present the keynote address. www.quakerearthcare.org
Southern California Quarterly Meeting will be November 7-8 at Temescal Canyon.
Western Friend celebrated the publication of the book, Enlivened by the Spirit, at University Meeting in Seattle. The book is a compilation of nearly fifty Friends’ responses to the query, “How have you experienced God or the Divine?” with art, song, poetry, fiction, and essays.
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather October 3-4, 2009 at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp near Rhododendron, OR.
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