News from Friends World Committee for Consultation

The World Conference of Friends will happen April 17-25, 2010 at Kabarak University near Nakuru, Kenya with the theme Being salt and Light: Friends living the Kingdom of God in a broken world.

It has come to my attention that there is some confusion as to who goes to this conference. I found the following on the FWCC World website. http://www.fwccworld.org/

There are two ways you can apply to attend the World Conference:

1. As a delegate selected by your yearly meeting. A mailing has gone out to each yearly meeting (whether or not affiliated with FWCC) advising them of the number of delegates they are entitled to send. They have been asked to let the World Office know if they will use all these delegate spaces by the end of September 2010 and to provide the names of the delegates by December 2010. The World Office will send those delegates registration forms. Each yearly meeting determines how it will name its delegates.
2. Via an Open Place. There will be 300 spaces reserved for Open Place applicants plus any spaces not used by yearly meetings. Applications are available from the World Office or you may fill in the online form.

News of Friends Meetings and Churches

Wyoming Friends Meeting gathered in Sheridan, Wyoming, Nov. 5-7.

First Friends, Whittier (CA) will host the Whittier Community Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 21. Friends will participate as hosts during this traditional event.

Rehearsals start soon at West Hills Friends Church (Portland, OR) for the church’s informal "Christmas Choir." The group will help lead music throughout December, with some simple but beautiful choral arrangements of seasonal carols -- some familiar, some unusual.

For the message one Sunday at West Hills Friends Church (Portland, OR) Mike Huber read Matthew 5:14-16, carved a pumpkin, and told a story about inward Light. The Light inside a jack-o-lantern can only keep burning if it has a way to “come out.”

The Victoria Society of Friends Meeting House on Fern Street, where not only does the Victoria Friends Meeting (BC) regularly meet for worship, business, and celebration, but where many Friends have been and will be married, supported, enlightened, celebrated, and mourned, will be one hundred years old in May, 2013.

Vancouver Meeting (BC) has had an on-going series of discussions in its Newsletter, Between Friends, about Christianity and Universalism.

Every few years University Friends (Seattle, WA) have gathered for a workshop on concerns about Death & Dying. Friends gathered this November, to worship and share as well as to look at topics that arise when a family member or loved one ages or has a life-threatening disease.

University Friends (Seattle, WA) Crafts Fair will be November 28^th. This simple yet fun and well loved annual event is a service to the Meeting and fee free for vendors.

Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) will hold an After Thanksgiving Potluck on Sunday, November 28^th. Friends are invited to bring their Thanksgiving leftovers, or anything else they wish to share.

Friends at Spring Valley Friends Community Church (CA) are urged to bring family and friends to church and a Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Dinner. Friends are reminded that the holidays are a time when non-church-goers are more likely to attend church.

South Seattle Friends (WA) plan to hold a celebration to thank University Friends Meeting for its support of South Seattle becoming a monthly meeting.

Good Works of Santa Fe Meeting (NM) constitutes the monetary support (separate from individual and Meeting person power support) of organizations that provide services that are aligned with Quaker concerns. These organizations are local as well as regional, national and international. They are Quaker and non-Quaker.

Because October 31^st was a fifth Sunday, there was sacred dancing before meeting for worship at Santa Cruz Meeting (CA). As it was The Day of the Dead in many cultures, the dances honored ancestors and others who no longer walk this earth whom Friends wanted to remember.

Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) held a “Peace & Social Order” Exploratory Gathering A Friend shared, telling the group about some of the history of Peace and Social Order (P&SO) Committee work within the Santa Cruz Meeting, over a period of many years. The Peace and Social Order Liaison position was formed in January, 2007 and later shared by two Co-Liaisons. This is the Meeting’s present structure for P&SO work. Friends reflected their experiences, thoughts, and expectations in a deep, spirit-led way.

Santa Cruz Friends (CA) noted the need to be sure of the date, time, and purpose of

announcements after Meeting. It can be confusing to newcomers if those giving announcements are confused.

Sandpoint Meeting (ID) is considering becoming a Committee of the Whole which would take the place of Education Committee, Buildings & Grounds and Ministry. The Committee would consider emerging, half-formed ideas and would be open to everyone to discuss topics, visions and different ways of solving problems. Committee of the Whole would make decisions and take Minutes on those decisions.

San Jose Friends (CA) are invited to enjoy an afternoon of worship-sharing and Quaker-style discussion on November 21st. The theme will be 125 Years And Beyond – What is your vision for San Jose Friends Meeting? This year the Meeting House is 125 years old. How has San Jose Friends Meeting been led by Spirit and where is it going? A vegetarian lunch will be provided immediately following Meeting for Worship.

San Francisco Meeting (CA) approves sponsoring a cluster meeting of Friends in the Bay

Area, to be hosted by Peace and Social Concerns, to address environmental queries from Friends World Committee for Consultation.

Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will have a Thanksgiving Eve Service on Wednesday, November 24, at 7:00 p.m. This is a unique service that many people look forward to as their favorite church family gathering of the year. There will be times of thanksgiving, praise and worship through music, and shared testimonies. This year, Rose Drive will also be joined by our two daughter churches: Puente de Gracia (Spanish speaking) and Jesus' Friends Community Church (Korean speaking). The elements of communion will be made available for all to partake.

Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) is offering a seven-week series on Sunday mornings called Christian Caring as a Way of Life. This class will help Friends if they have ever wanted to be used by God to touch others' lives, but didn't know what to do or say.

At Friend Weekend at Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) Friends will experience great music and a message called "Real Friends." In addition to regular refreshments, the church will offer free soft serve ice cream after each service! Friends are invited to take the step to pray and invite someone who doesn't know Christ yet or who doesn't have a home church, as it can have a huge impact.

Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) held a Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 13^th.

Musical opportunities at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) include:

· The 8th annual sing along of Handel’s “Messiah” at 6:30 pm on December 5th. The Sing Along is open to anyone who would like to sing or just listen. The singing will be followed with fellowship and refreshments.

· On December 12, beginning at 6:30pm, Friends are invited to attend a Christmas play and concert presented by Reedwood children and adults including brass, bells, cello and choirs. Afterward all will move to the Friendship Center for holiday desserts. Bring neighbors, family, friends and a favorite dessert to share!

Redwood Forest Friends (Santa Rosa, CA) discuss the needs of all whose diminished hearing impedes full participation in worship.

Friends at Redwood Forest Friends (Santa Rosa, CA) have the opportunity for solo vocal roles in a Sing-Along Messiah event. The Sing-Along will occur on Sunday, December 5^th.

Pima Friends (Tucson, AZ) are being asked to season the meeting’s budget. That is, they are asked to hold the budget in the Light, to pray for guidance and to listen to how Friends are being led by the Spirit. This decision is not just about each line item or a surplus or deficit; it is about what God is calling the Meeting to do. Friends are not voting with their checkbooks, they are asked to come to unity on how they are led as a meeting, as a community.

Ministry and Oversight of Orange County Meeting (Irvine, CA) is hosting informal 'Teas” on the first Wednesday of the month. The purpose is entirely social, and hopefully will provide members and attenders in the area an opportunity for conversation, fellowship and relaxation on a regular basis.

Roughly once a month, about a dozen young people from Newberg Friends Church (OR) drive in to downtown Portland. They crowd into a church and join nearly 200 others in singing simple choruses before heading to a spot under a nearby bridge, where they serve food, wash feet, hand out sleeping bags and clean socks, and listen to people’s stories.

On Sunday, November 14, Friends from Newberg Friends Church (OR) held one combined service for worship at Bauman Auditorium on the George Fox campus. They do this each year to have the whole church together and enjoy each other!

On Sunday, November 7^th, Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) honored its Covenant of Caring with the Amigas del Señor Monastery for Women in Honduras and held them in the Light. Amigas del Señor Monastery for Women is a monastery practicing in the forms of Methodists and Quakers, located in the foothills near the Caribbean Sea in Limón, Colón, Honduras. Sister Alegría, formerly known as Beth Blodgett, is a pediatrician who founded the monastery in 2006. She has been connected with Multnomah Monthly Meeting for twelve years. Their letters home can be read online at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amigasdelsenor/.

A midweek meeting for worship at Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) is expected to start in November, to be held the first three Wednesdays of each month from 7PM to 8PM.

Friends in Unity with Nature of Missoula Meeting (MT) talked about how to combine inner and outer worlds when they talk about unity with nature. How does a person stay peaceful within--or less despairing-- no matter what is happening around that person?

Missoula Friends (MT) approved supporting the Franklin School Fund this year and encouraged the school’s principal to bring special requests to the Meeting at any time of the year if specific students have particular, urgent needs.

The “library geeks” of La Jolla Meeting (CA) spent one afternoon cleaning and sorting in the Meeting’s library. Friends are asked to admire their handiwork and check out a book.

Humboldt Meeting (Arcata, CA) discussed the proposed Naval testing of weapons off the west coast and their concerns. A Friend wrote a first draft of a minute to present to Meeting for Business.

Martha Dugan of Guatemala Monthly Meeting spoke at Friends House in Santa Rosa, CA. She gave an update of the program including the new community service and ESL projects as well as an overview of economic/political times in Guatemala.

Eugene Meeting (OR) held its 10^th Annual Quaker Holiday Gift Sale on Saturday Nov 13^th. Friends had the opportunity to enjoy, be amazed and purchase the wonderful arts and crafts of their own Quaker Creatives. They found ceramics, woodwork, needlework, paintings, jewelry, toys, clothes and much more, reasonably priced and served with smiles and hugs!

Davis Meeting (CA) will hold an Anti-Semitism Program on Sunday, November 21^st. The announcement said “Since most Quakers are relatively free of anti-Semitic feelings, we may be especially well suited to engage in productive conversations with Jews and Zionists, even about the hard issues in Israel-Palestine. But we need to be aware of any guilts and fears we still carry.”

A successful fall cleanup of the grounds at Corvallis Meeting (OR) has resulted in a spacious and well organized shed, new mulch on all the beds and 3 new blueberry plants.

On December 5 at Corvallis Meeting (OR) Esther Schiedel will lead a discussion during the A.R.E. (Adult Religious Education) program exploring Quaker testimonies and practices and how these relate to—and may help guide—Friends as parents or as adults interacting with children. The discussion will be based on the book Paths to Quaker Parenting.

Friends at Agate Passage Meeting (Poulsbo, WA) were given queries to think about before the Meeting’s threshing session: “(1) What do I like and dislike about Meeting and in what ways would I like to see Meeting grow and change? Why do I feel this way? (2) How can we organize ourselves more simply?”

December 4^th Albuquerque Meeting (NM) will hold a meeting, dedicated to right sharing of meeting funds. Friends are welcome to attend to make decisions about giving out funds for this year. If new organizations are being suggested, Friends are to bring background information, name and address of contact people.

2nd Street Community Church (Newberg, OR) is searching for a new, ¾ time Worship Arts Director, with a beginning date of January 1, 2011. 2nd Street Community Church is a casual church with a serious Mission … Becoming More Like Jesus Christ By Loving God, Loving People, And Serving Our World. 2^nd Street’s worship style is a mixture of contemporary and classic, mixing ancient and modern songs and styles.

Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches

The American Friends Service Committee, Los Angeles, invited local Friends for a Friends Peace Dialogue on urban gardens and the opening of AFSC’s "Cultivating Spirited Lands" Art Exhibit.

The next meeting of the Christian Friends Conference will be December 11, 2010 at Palo Alto Friends Meeting.

College Park Quarterly Meeting will gather January 15, 2011 at San Francisco Meeting.

Friends joined the Religious Studies Department at George Fox University for Quaker Focus Week, November 8-10. Speakers included Howard Macy and Jamie Johnson; several students shared about their recent trip to Haverford College; and Colin Saxton spoke about diversity within the Quaker movement.

Montana Gathering of Friends is in the process of transitioning from solely a Quarterly Meeting to serve as both the Quarterly Meeting for all Montana Friends and the Monthly Meeting for all the Worship Groups formerly under the care of the Heartland Monthly Meeting. This transition is intended to simplify procedures and conserve the energies of Montana’s dispersed Worship Groups, particularly since MGOF has served as the central organizing forum for the Heartland Worship Groups for many years. Once the transition is complete there will be three Monthly Meetings in Montana: Missoula, Billings, and MGOF.

The Portland Area Gathering of Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church was Saturday, November 13^th. Friends worshipped with music; Nate Macy spoke on “Group Spiritual Discernment; there was a Discernment Exercise; and a Business Meeting.

Each year, the people of Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church partner together in ministry through the generous support of the Thanksgiving Offering. This year, the Thanksgiving Offering is staying close to home as Friends assist in the training and support of pastors serving local congregations. Training for future and current pastors will be enhanced as half of this year’s offering will go toward completing a Friends Center scholarship for graduate students at George Fox Evangelical Seminary. The other half of the Thanksgiving Offering will be dedicated to the Pastoral Assistance Fund under the care of the NWYM Board of Elders.

The next Pacific Northwest Quaker Women’s Theology Conference plans to meet in June 2012. The location is yet to be determined. For information and/or to be involved in planning contact Becky Ankeny rjt.ankeny@gmail.com and Nancy McLauchlan nancymaemc@gmail.com.

There is a proposal to change the name of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting to Cascade Regional Meeting.

Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Committee will meet at the San Francisco Meeting on the weekend of March 4-6, 2011.

Twin Rocks Friends Conference Center has responded to coastal tsunami concerns by detailing camp tsunami emergency procedures and shoring up supplies.

Berkeley Friends Church will host the annual meeting of the Western Association of the Religious Society of Friends (WARSF) on February 11-12, 2011. The Board of Oversight will meet on Friday evening, and then the general meeting of members the following afternoon.

Willamette Quarterly Meeting will meet for its annual business meeting on Saturday, February 5^th at Corvallis Friends Meeting.