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?”