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.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
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
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