Western Quaker Newsletters

Friends Churches and Meetings
At its January business meeting, University Meeting (Seattle, WA) appointed three new temporary committees to follow up on several of the Year of Discernment recommendations. The three groups are the Ad Hoc Retreat Committee, the Communications Task Force, and the Remodel Task Force.
The Friends in the Arts of Southside Quaker Meeting (Santa Fe, NM) will host Ira Progoff's Intensive Journal Program of Self Development with Paul Ilecki, EdD. This three part series “helps one to gain a foundation & perspective to realize the continuity and director of life, helps participants to build a solid basis for future decisions and offers a method to connect more deeply with personal relationships, career interests and one’s self.”
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) agreed to consider the question of becoming a monthly meeting as an agenda item in February.
The Faith in Action committee of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will help facilitate a worship sharing, discussion and discernment about our Quaker national lobby's legislative focus. Friends hope to end with up to five issues that South Seattle Friends Meeting can recommend to FCNL for their work with Congress in 2011-2012.
Vandals broke into South Salem Friends Church (OR), turned on all the lights, disconnected all audio-visual equipment, and put it outside.
Santa Monica Meeting (CA) will focus upon how Quakers learn together to be open to the Divine with sessions on “Constructing Our Discernment of God Together.” Friends will explore the face of the Divine in its many different guises and pray that each one can make his/her own doorways into that sacred space.
Santa Fe Friends (NM) are invited to join a discussion group on the article by Heidi Hart entitled “Quakerism and the Passionate Life” (FJ 09/2008). Copies are available next to the birdhouse in the library.
Finance and Good Works Committees of Santa Fe Meeting (NM) learned about a reduction
in the IMYM assessment for 2010 which would result in a projected budget surplus. The Good Works committee recommended that part of that money be sent immediately to AFSC earmarked for disaster relief in Haiti. Meeting approved a donation of $250 to AFSC for disaster relief in Haiti.
“Mid-Life Friends” of Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) are sponsoring a community-building potluck on February 6 to which all are invited (including children).
Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) is again experimenting with extended worship which will begin at 10:30 and continue as led. The sense of Worship and Ministry is that worship might continue up to or beyond two hours. Those who need to leave after an hour will exit with the children.
As part of the clerk’s report at San Francisco Meeting (CA), the clerk asks a minister among them to speak of his/her work.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee of San Francisco Meeting (CA) is sponsoring a program, beginning Sunday February 7, called ENGAGE – From Violence to Wholeness. This twelve-part program on the spirituality and practice of non-violence will be led by David Hartsough.
The Kitchen Remodel Subcommittee of San Francisco Meeting (CA) is, as its first step, asking Friends, “What is your understanding how the kitchen works?”
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) will hold its Annual Quaker Fundraising Extravaganza on Saturday, March 13 at the Meetinghouse. The evening will start with a social then proceed to the Community Showcase which features musicians and poets from within the Quaker community. The Red Rock Hot Club, a quartet of musicians which performs gypsy jazz, will be back by popular demand. There will also be a silent auction and Friends are asked to contribute.
On a recent Sunday after Meeting for Worship and time for Hospitality, Ministry and Counsel of Salt Lake Meeting (UT) convened an open discussion on the Quaker Testimony of Equality.
Friends from Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) took home baby bottles during Sanctity of Life weekend. They will fill the bottles with spare change and return them to the church.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) is planning Mexicali, 2010. During this annual Spring Break mission trip to Mexico, Friends will partner with the churches of the Mexicali Valley through Vacation Bible School, playing with kids, service projects, and other projects.
At the next meeting of the Prayer Book Potluck Group of Reno Meeting (NV), Friends will discuss “Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan” by Greg Mortenson.
The Center for Christian Education at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) is offering The Parables of Jesus: Stories that await your conclusion, half-hour videos by guest teacher Dr. Kenneth Bailey. Moderators of the class are John Wilkin and Kara Newell.
Worship and Ministry Committee of Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) presented an updated version of the Meeting’s Newcomer’s pamphlet. Friends appreciated the work, but did not have unity on approving the proposed text.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) Worship and Ministry Committee asked about including the queries in Meeting for Worship. A variety of responses and ideas arose from the ensuing worship. Friends generally like the queries and returned the matter to the committee for discernment and implementation
Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) has developed a document called Advices and Queries on the Right Sharing of Resources: “. . . (W)we seek to fulfill the vision developed by the Meeting from our Quaker testimonies and principles. Our vision has interconnected components that reflect how the Meeting is to nurture, support, utilize and grow the Meeting itself, make use of our various resources and engage with our surrounding community. All of these components are cultivated in our worship and radiate throughout the Meeting’s vision.”
Newberg Friends Church (OR) is offering a four-week group that will deal with grief and grieving. During those weeks, discussion will focus around the topics of: What does grief look like? What helps? The big questions that grief brings into our lives? Hope, where does it come from?
Newberg Friends Church (OR) has begun an alternative worship service at 5 pm, which will meet every other week before eventually becoming a weekly community. Recognizing that the gap between those who go to church and those who don’t gets wider and wider all the time, this service is one way Newberg Friends hope to worship and serve as a community, intentionally striving to be open to those who are not a part of a church currently.
Youth of Newberg Friends Church (OR) have invited Friends to an afternoon of festivities as the seniors (65 and older) and youth (middle and high school students) of its community compete against each other in “The Price is Right” to see which generation knows the most about the other. There is a twist, though, because not only will questions be asked about prices, but about occurrences, memories, sayings, technology, and objects from each side’s time period.
Marge Abbot will lead a series on Quaker history and practice at Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) on three Sundays in February. Topics include: Quakers Over Time; Listening For The Still, Small Voice –in Meeting For Worship & In The Conduct Of Business; and Engaging With The World –Friends’ Witness –Equality, Peace, Truth, Simplicity, & Care for The Earth.
Young Adult Friends of Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) gather on second Sundays each month at 6:00 pm for discussion, potluck, song & silence; and on fourth Sundays for lunch about 12:30; locations vary. mmm-yf@yahoogroups.com
Quaker Quest Training will be held at the Mountain View Meeting House (Denver, CO)
on Saturday, April 10, 2010.
Missoula Friends (MT) got together for a Friday games and pizza night. Pizza was provided and Friends brought games.
Ministry and Oversight of Missoula Meeting (MT) collected, filled, and delivered holiday gift baskets and bulbs to various Friends.
Ministry and Worship of Honolulu Meeting (HI) will sponsor a workshop on Quaker process. Stratton Jaquette, who grew up in Honolulu Friends Meeting and has served as Clerk of various committees and Meetings, including Clerk of Pacific Yearly Meeting, will present a workshop on good Quaker process after Meeting on Sunday, February 7. Among other topics, he will address the question of an understanding of Quaker unity and Quaker etiquette.
Eugene Meeting (OR) approved the recommendation to establish a standing committee for the purpose of making recom¬mended donations to the meeting.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to save the date, Saturday March 13, for the Meeting's Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, from the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will lead the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
Davis Meeting (CA) is holding three Wednesday evening gatherings of Quaker dialogue on the subject of Engaging Quaker Practice—Friendly Spirituality: Personal Queries, Corporate Exploration, Opportunity to Reflect. Topics are: (1) Queries on how we apply our time & talent; (2) Queries on sharing our treasure & tenderness; and (3) What lies behind the choices we make?
Claremont Meeting (CA) is involved in an on-going discussion of the conduct of marriage by the Meeting relating to the current inequalities in the availability of civil marriage for all people. A threshing session will be scheduled by Ministry and Counsel for consideration of this concern.
Chico Meeting (CA) holds monthly gatherings at a Friends’ home which offer a time to explore less-familiar songs in Friends Hymnal as well as more time to enjoy favorites, accompanied by piano and flute.
The Meetinghouse of Chico Meeting (CA) has Open Hours every Wednesday, 4-6 pm. Friends are welcome to use the library, work in the office, do cleaning or other tasks, or have quiet time in the Meetinghouse during these hours each week.
Bridge City Meeting (Portland, OR) will participate in FCNL’s “Policy Priorities Process.” Friends will meet at the Stark Street Meeting House for potluck dinner and worship sharing. Younger Friends are especially invited to join in this process. In preparation for this meeting, Friends are asked to consider their Quaker values and their personal beliefs about where our nation needs to focus its attention and resources.
Ministry and Oversight Committee of Boise Valley Meeting (ID) will be working on nominations to fill Meeting positions for the next year. Friends are encouraged to “let us know where your great talent will meet our great need!”
Berkeley Friends Meeting (CA) will sponsor a Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday, February 13 at a nearby Later Day Saints Church. As this will be an interfaith event, other local churches will be asked to participate.
Berkeley Friends Church (CA) will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
The ad hoc library committee of Bellingham Meeting (WA) met and discussed criteria for the Meeting’s library and proposed guidelines for what acquisitions to keep or discard:
a. Keep books about Quakers, fiction or non-fiction, including hymnals.
b. Keep Bible and Bible study books.
c. Books on theology, Christianity and other religions can be endless and can be found elsewhere, so the committee proposes to limit them.
Bellingham Meeting (WA) will sponsor one member or attender each year to go to the Gathering of Friends sponsored by Friends General Conference. The Nominating Committee shall give some preference to Friends who have never attended the Gathering, or who have not done so for a long time. The selected Friend may be either an adult or a high-school-age Friend. The Committee's nominee shall be presented to the Meeting for Business in March.
Christa Brelsford, daughter of Taylor and Terry Brelsford of Anchorage Meeting (AK), was injured in the earthquake in Haiti. She continues to heal and will soon return to Arizona where she is a college student.

Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches

The Alaska Friends Conference Ministry and Nurture Committee has been tending a leading to offer a Spiritually Nurturing Retreat, Spring 2010, a weekend residential retreat. The current theme is “Tending the Spiritual Taproot of our Yearly Meeting individually and collectively.” Possible venues are in the Talkeetna area or the Wasilla or Chugiak area.
Lowell Sage is the new Superintendent of Alaska Yearly Meeting. Lowell and his wife Mary live in Kivalina, AK where he co-pastors Kivalina Friends Church.
Alaska Yearly Meeting churches recognize the importance of ministering to youth in order to give them firm grounding in the faith and alternatives to drinking and suicide which are prevalent among native youth.
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
Barclay Press will celebrate 50 years of publishing ministry among Evangelical Friends in May.
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 will gather May 15-16 at Ben Lomond Quaker Center.
College Park Quarterly Meeting Youth, 5th – 9th grades, are invited to a weekend retreat, March 19-21, in Palo Alto, CA.
The Colorado Regional Meeting will be Sunday, April 18 at Fort Collins Meeting, CO with the theme, “How Quakers Have Fun.”
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
The second annual Quaker Lobby Day of Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy, which will focus on criminal justice issues, will be held in Olympia on Monday, February 15. Help express Quaker voices in Olympia.
George Fox University (Newberg, OR) will hold its Woolman Peacemaking Forum, February 10-11, with the theme, “Are We Achieving Racial Justice and Reconciliation?” John M. Perkins, founder of the John M Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation and Development and one of the leading evangelical voices to come out of the American Civil Rights movement will be the featured speaker.
Intermountain Yearly Meeting (IMYM) will be held June 9-13, 2010, at Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM, with early program days on June 6-9 The theme will be "Quaker Service in the 21st Century."
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting decided to remove the $24,000 budget item for the Joint Service Project and reduce the assessment to $35 per member. Continuing Committee could not come to unity on whether to include any support for service in the 2010 or 2011 budgets. It decided to propose that the Annual Gathering in June form a committee to investigate future Yearly Meeting service possibilities.
Montana Gathering of Friends (MGOF) will meet Feb. 19-21, 2010 in Great Falls, MT with the theme “Integrity.” At Business Meeting Friends will discuss “The Future of MGOF,” – considering the health of the meetings and the relationship with North Pacific Yearly Meeting. Information: jk8345@hotmail.com
The New Mexico Quaker Women’s Spring Retreat will be held April 3 to 5th at the
Norbertine Retreat Center in southwest Albuquerque. The theme will be “What do we bring to our communities and what do we get? How do we create and maintain this community?”
The North Pacific Yearly Meeting Junior Friends Ski Trip will be the weekend of February 13th.
Northwest Yearly Meeting Friends Men’s Retreat will be February 26-28 at Twin Rocks Friends Camp with the theme, Living Purely in a Sex-Driven World. Speakers include Gar Mickelson, Marshall Snider, Dr. Terry Riske, and Jason Minnix.
Northwest Yearly Meeting and George Fox University sponsored A New Abolitionists Conference (October 2009) to promote awareness and stimulate action to abolish sex trafficking and forced prostitution in the Portland area.
The 8th Pacific Northwest Quaker Women’s Theology Conference will take place June 16-20, 2010, at Seabeck Conference Center in Seabeck, Washington. The theme is Walk With Me: Mentors, Elders, and Friends. www.pnwquakerwomen.org.

Pacific NW Quarterly Meeting Spring Gathering is scheduled for April 23-25, 2010, at Lazy F Ranch near Ellensburg with the theme “Compassionate Listening: Finding God in the Midst of Fear.” For more information, see http://www.pnqm.org.
The Religious Education Committee for Children of Pacific Yearly Meeting will schedule a workshop day for First Day School teachers, hosted by Palo Alto Meeting.
Southern California Quarterly Meeting will gather at Orange Grove Meeting in Pasadena, CA on Saturday, April 24th.
WESTERN FRIEND MAGAZINE Subscribe today to receive 8 issues jam-packed with articles, art, photos and stories by and about Friends you know. editor@westernfriend.org
The Willamette Quarterly Meeting Men’s Retreat will be February 26-28 at Camp Myrtlewood near Myrtle Point, Oregon.
Willamette Quarterly Meeting Spring Gathering will be April 23-25 at Sky Camp, east of Eugene, Oregon.