Social Concerns Committee of Agate Passage Meeting (Poulsbo, WA) is considering how it could follow up on the recent community panel and discussion about the detention and treatment of unregistered immigrants.
The Building Planning Committee of Albuquerque Meeting (NM) invited Friends to review the site program of the Meeting: what do Friends need and want from their site now and in the future along with practical ideas for addressing the amount and quality of space needed for those activities.
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.
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!”
Bridge City Friends Meeting (Portland, OR) seasoned 16 revised job descriptions for a month.
Steve Smith of Claremont Meeting (CA) will lead two workshops at Pendle Hill:
February 7-11 – Eastern Light: Buddhist and Quaker Spirituality;
February 12-14 – The Joy of Quaker Communities: Clerking and Working with Spirit.
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".
The Worship and Ministry Committee of Davis Meeting (CA) considered dogs in the Meetinghouse. In discussion Friends noted a difference between service animal and companion animal and also, noted the distinction between dogs in the social room vs. dogs in worship room during a Meeting for Worship. The Meetinghouse Use Committee is discussing this and will take the lead in considering policy.
Due to poor weather Delta Meeting (Stockton, CA) cancelled December’s Livermore Peace Witness for the first time in history.
Fresno Meeting (CA) held a Meeting for Worship in the hospital room of a Friend who was hospitalized. Friends are considering doing it again.
It was suggested that Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) consider changing the time of Meeting for Worship to a later time to encourage younger people to attend. A Friend noted that an FGC workshop on encouraging younger members suggested having Meeting at a time when young people are likely to attend.
Homedale Friends Community Church (ID) organized near downtown Homedale, Idaho in 1939 with the understanding that all denominations could participate. Six groups were initially represented. This tradition continues, with many of the most active members not being official “members.”
Kivalina Friends Church (AK) recently began a series on healing. Friends are learning more about healing in their own lives and ways to help others around them to heal.
Millie Stalker is co-pastor of Kivalina Friends Church (AK). She came from Kotzebue this winter where she served as Assistant Pastor. Millie Hawkins is working with youth in Kivalina.
Quaker Quest Training will be held at the Mountain View Meeting House (Denver, CO)
on Saturday, April 10, 2010.
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.
Noatak Friends Church (AK) welcomes Brent Hostetter as youth minister. A graduate of Bethel College, he worked for two years at Alaska Christian College in Soldotna.
Teens from Northwest Friends Church (Arvada, CO) and First Denver Friends (CO) traveled to Aquascalientes, Mexico last summer to help with Vacation Bible School.
Property Committee of Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) presented its report. It was noted that expenditures from the reserve and maintenance accounts were markedly higher this year than in previous years. The reasons for this primarily stem from the fact that many tasks have been put off from year to year. Property Committee encourages members and attenders to donate extra funds this year to enable them to continue their work.
Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) has a burial ground adjacent to Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena. The common plot where some Friends’ ashes are buried is unmarked. Friends asked if there should be some sort of identification on it as the Common Plot of Orange Grove Friends Meeting? Many Friends seemed to agree that recognition and simplicity are not in conflict and that there may be a way of marking that preserves the natural beauty of the place. Friends seem to agree in principle that they’d like to mark the cemetery and common plot.
March 19 -21 Palo Alto Meeting (CA) has scheduled a middle school retreat which
will be open to neighboring meetings.
The House Committee of Pima Meeting (AZ) has spent its budget for the year. They have hired a handyperson to do repairs in a timely fashion and are trying to fix the meetinghouse before small repairs become large projects. Friends are reminded the Meeting must bear the expense of a new roof, coolers, and a possible water heater.
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.
The Prayer Book Potluck Group of Reno Meeting (NV) is discussing Practical Mystic: Religion, Science, and A. S. Eddington by Mathew Stanley. Practical Mystic uses the figure of Eddington to show how religious and scientific values can interact and overlap without compromising the integrity of either. By examining this intersection between liberal religion and astrophysics, Practical Mystic questions many common assumptions about the relationship between science and spirituality.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) is hosting a Super Game Day Party on Sunday, February 7th in a family friendly environment. The gym will be open, and there will other games available as well. Admission is free; food will be sold during the game.
Teens from Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will participate in a High School Red Eye “Night of Awesomeness” which will last until midnight. Teens are invited to hang out late night and enjoy a concert with twentyfour64, a Wii tournament, and delicious treats!
Sacramento Meeting (CA) will show Brother Outsider on Saturday Jan 23rd. This is the story of Bayard Rustin, Quaker, black and gay rights activist.
Sacramento Meeting (CA) sent a letter to the mosque in West Sacramento, and the two synagogues in the Sacramento area deploring the vandalism they had recently received, offering spiritual support and a donation to each congregation.
Rolene Walker of San Francisco Meeting (CA) has ended her Walk with the Earth with six months in Santiago, Chile where she did five workshops on how to make solar ovens, four on how to do wall gardening, made a zen garden at Conspirando, did Joana Macy’s work with three groups, gave talks to four classes, and 8 other groups.
A gathering at Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) will explore questions related to mid-life. Friends were to consider, “If you see yourself as in mid-life, and if you would like to explore what this means to you and to other Friends – and if you would like to consider ways in which mid-life Friends can seek greater clarity around their concerns and/or support each other, please come to this first exploratory meeting.”
Anthony Manousos of Santa Monica Meeting (CA) traveled among Friends in Australia in December 2009. He attended the Parliament of the World's Religion in Melbourne as a representative of American Friends who have a concern for interfaith peacemaking. Anthony serves on the Christian Interfaith Relations Committee of Friends General Conference. After the gathering, he visited Australian Friends in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, where he attended Yearly Meeting and gave a Report on Interfaith Work at Australia Yearly Meeting.
The church building of Selawik Friends Church (AK) was destroyed by fire in 2007. The new building is nearly complete with the structure enclosed; workers can continue in the sub-zero temperatures. Soon, electrical work, wall panels, and a porch will be completed.
Women of Spring Valley Friends Church (CA) heard about “Ornaments of Grace” at a tea. Ornaments were displayed to illustrate stories of Christmas’ past and family traditions. A big red broken ornament was displayed to remind the women that God can take the most broken person and make them beautiful.
Two Friends from Tacoma Meeting (WA) will have 90-something birthdays in January. Julius Jahn will be 96 years of age; George Kenny will be 91.
The Nominating Committee of Tacoma Meeting (WA) recommends not chosing anyone for the Peace and Social Concerns Committee until the meeting as a whole has had a chance to reflect on and discuss the roles of the committee and the potential relationship between the committee and the meeting as a whole.
Tacoma Meeting (WA) has scheduled a special discussion session for Second Hour around Friends’ sense of commitment to participation in peace and social concerns activities. The questions include: How do Friends see themselves, individually and as a group, with respect to peace and social concerns activism?
Tempe Friends (AZ) held a web site meeting at the meetinghouse. It was noted that the Meeting sign-in sheet data shows that 2/3s of those who come to meeting as new visitors and sign-in found the meeting through the Meeting’s web site.
Tempe Friends (AZ) asked an ad hoc committee to consider whether there are any Friends who might benefit from the Meeting raising the question of their intention for future relationship with, or membership in, Tempe Monthly Meeting.
Wyoming Friends Meeting Gathering will be in Jackson, WY on Jan. 22-24. jeanj@bresnan.net.
Wyoming Friends Meeting (WFM) has made a commitment to offer financial support to its members and attenders as they, consistent with the WFM Mission Statement, seek to “engage with the broader Society of Friends,” and “seek to show greater spiritual hospitality.”
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.
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:
• 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.
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.
On January 29-30, the Friends Center at George Fox Evangelical Seminary will host a one-credit seminar on the use of drama in ministry. Rich Swingle (GFU, '91) will share from his 15 years of experience in 18 nations as a full-time dramatist, highlighting a number of different forms of drama, including sketches, monologues, mime, sociodrama, enacted prayer, and others. After a summary, Rich will focus on sketch development, showing a hands-on approach to writing, casting, directing and acting.
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."
Montana Gathering of Friends (MGOF) will meet Feb. 19-21, 2010 in Great Falls, MT.
Neighbors East and West is planning a trip to Iran April-May 2010. N.E.W, a Citizen-Diplomacy Community Education Organization led by Sam and Ruth Neff, is based in Richmond, IN and Whitefish, MT. http://neighborseastandwest.org/
The North Pacific Yearly Meeting Junior Friends Ski Trip will be the weekend of February 13th.
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.
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. For more information and to register online, see www.pnwquakerwomen.org.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Spring Gathering is scheduled for April 23-25, 2010, at Lazy F Ranch near Ellensburg. The theme for the gathering is “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
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
The Willamette Quarterly Meeting Men’s Retreat will be February 26-28 at Camp Myrtlewood, near Myrtle Point, OR.
Willamette Quarterly Meeting Spring gathering will be April 23-25 at Sky Camp, east of Eugene, OR.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
WESTERN QUAKER NEWSLETTERS
DECEMBER 2009-JANUARY 2010
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
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.
Finance Committee of Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) requests that new activities proposed for the Meeting which require expenditure of money, go first to an appropriate committee (Peace and Social Concerns, Social, etc.) before they are sent to Finance Committee.
Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) is considering making a donation to the City of Portland is lieu of property taxes.
The food ministry at New Life Friends (Vancouver, WA) recently picked up 10,000 pounds of food from the annual Walk and Knock. Last month the volunteers served 2,700 people a meal; they hand out groceries to 250 to 350 families every Friday;. and run a soup kitchen four days a week. New Life Friends cares for “the least of these.”
The Finance Committee of Orange County Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) is looking for ideas from Friends to help raise money for the Meeting’s philanthropic budget. People have suggested holding a rummage sale, a service auction, a bake sale, and a talent show. Friends may have other ideas about how they might raise the funds needed to help make a difference in the lives of others.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) has decided that its newsletter will be posted on its new website. Therefore, they will no longer print full Directory corrections in the newsletter, only the names of those whose information has changed.
March 19 -21 Palo Alto Meeting (CA) has scheduled a middle school retreat which
will be open to neighboring meetings.
A Friend applied for membership at Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA). He noted that he cannot say that he is an absolute pacifist because he does not know what he would do in every possible situation… Another Friend expressed her core tenets: “…to me there is that of God in everyone. Our faith also demands that we love God. So when we love God, we should love our fellows. If we kill, we kill something of God. Therefore, whatever the reason, there can be no justification in taking other life.” Oversight organized a focused and worshipful discussion on the meaning of Peace to Quakers. The two Friends issued a joint statement: “In our different ways, we see and value how each of us seeks and works for Peace. We respect and value each other’s points of view and differing understandings of Quaker values.” The Meeting approved the Friend’s membership.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) is offering Health classes for the new year: Matter of Balance, Healthier Living with Chronic Conditions, Aqua Exercises (warm weather or indoor), and Effective Living with Hearing Impairment. Each class is 6-8 weeks in length.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will sponsor Financial Peace University, a biblically-based video discussion series with Dave Ramsey 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.
Friends at Sacramento Meeting (CA) will participate in a Journal Review as a time to reflect upon the year past and prepare for the new year. Friends who do not journal are welcome to create their own style of review. Friends will gather with their journals from the past year and together, in silence, will re-read their year -- quietly reflecting, present to one’s own "on-going revelation" or movement of the Holy. What difference has this year made? What gifts want to come forward into 2010? .
John Helding from FGC is coming to Sacramento Meeting (CA) to lead a Quaker Quest Training Workshop on Sunday, January 17th. Everyone from the meeting is invited – attendance is required for Core Team, Speakers, and Facilitators. Lunch will be provided.
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) learned that the format adopted by Religious Education is working reasonably well. Older youth are now separated from the young kids and participate in a more age-appropriate program. Finding a space for the older children is still being explored.
San Francisco Meeting (CA) is going through the process of establishing a Food Pantry for homeless people at the Meeting House.
San Jose Meeting (CA) has been notified that it will be receiving a bequest from the estate of Betty Bates, for which the Meeting is grateful. As far as they know, there was no request that the money be spent in any particular way. Members and attenders are asked to take a moment to reflect and to let the Meeting know how they think the money might be spent.
Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) is considering the issue of flowers on the table during worship. If Friends feel that flowers are important they are to team with a member of Ministry and Oversight to provide flowers. This will be like a “flower potluck.”
The Library Committee of Santa Fe Meeting (NM) will sponsor the Meeting's First Quaker Talent Show on Saturday 27th. Friends are asked if they sing, dance, write, play the ukulele, or impersonate Barack Obama?
Santa Fe Friends (NM) agree to incorporate and to adopt the December 20, 2009 draft of
the bylaws with the changes noted during the discussion regarding the purpose of the corporation, membership in the corporation, and the wording of Bylaw 13. The Meeting acknowledges the need to deal with the issues concerning Olive Rush's bequest identified during the discussion.
Santa Monica Meeting (CA) will hold Adult Education Sessions, using the worship sharing format, on “Constructing our Discernment of God Together.” Friends will focus on how Quakers learn together to be open to the Divine. They will explore the face of the Divine in its many different guises.
Amy Watson is the new youth minister at Sherwood Friends Church (OR).
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will hold another brief teacher orientation. This ten-fifteen minute meeting will give potential teachers the basics of how First Day School is run. (Here's the quick summary: curriculum is provided, the Friend team-teaches with another adult, and is encouraged to sign up for two consecutive Sundays so the kids have more consistency.)
The Community and Spiritual Life Committee of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) has been thinking of ways to help the Meeting grow spiritually, and help individuals in their search for a better understanding of themselves, the world and the nature of God.
A. Spiritual Sharing Group: An opportunity to deepen one’s spiritual journey through personal reflection and dialogue with others, with the possible use of Parker Palmer's Circle of Trust model.
B. Spiritual Reading and Discussion Group: Quaker and other religious writings will spark discussion and exploration of spirituality and deepening of spiritual lives, beginning with Patricia Loring's Spiritual Listening.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) will hold a retreat Jan 22-23 at the Tempe Meeting House. The guest speaker, Lucy Duncan of Friends General Conference, will lead on the topic of telling spiritual stories and the technique of deep listening to the stories of others.
Friends at Tempe Meeting (AZ) are organizing a monthly sewing gathering where Friends will bring their own projects or join another’s.
Gathering on Life, the Universe, and Quakers will be held at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) on January 24. Friends are invited to a worshipful sharing of thoughts on scientific understandings of the 14 billion year history of the universe (Deep Time) and the evolutionary development of life (the Tree of Life). How does new knowledge which has been acquired in the last half century about the universe and life affect our view of ourselves as Quakers? Does this knowledge affect our experience of the divine in our lives?
Queries from the Year of Discernment from University Meeting (Seattle, WA):
Is thinking differently about our existing work seen as a means to an end, or as an end in itself? Does Meeting still see the ultimate goal of the process as a shift back to thinking in terms of “doing different work” (and if so, what)?
For ongoing discernment related to our current ministries: What has life? What should we lay down? How are we supporting our individual and corporate ministries?
How does prophetic witness fit with the four essentials we identified in the meeting (worship, community, stewardship, and service)?
What is our understanding of discernment now and how should we continue the work after the Year of Discernment?
In doing outreach, Vancouver Meeting (BC) was reminded behavior in meeting needs to be conducive to encouraging newcomers to return. Quaker Quest Committee and Ministry and Counsel could brainstorm together to implement additional changes to ensure meeting is welcoming and supportive of newcomers. Meeting approves undertaking the Quaker Quest and the committee going forward with the proposal outlined in its report.
Shan Cretin, Pacific Southwest Regional Director of the American Friends Service Committee, will speak Wednesday, January 13, at First Friends Whittier (CA). Shan will present an overview of AFSC’s international and domestic work and program details.
The youth groups of First Friends Whittier (CA) gathered to cook, stir, dip and mold the ingredients necessary to make tootsie rolls, divinity, caramel turtles, fudge, peanut butter balls and cups for the Christmas dinner candy sale. The proceeds, $852, were divided between the Heifer Project International and the Youth Travel Fund.
The Wyoming Friends Meeting gathering is to be held in Jackson January 22-24.
Agate Passage Meeting (Poulsbo, WA) hosted a Breaking Bread and Barriers potluck with the goal of raising awareness in the community about immigration policies pertaining to undocumented workers.
A Friend is donating $2,000 to Bellingham Meeting (WA) for the purpose of enabling Meeting participants to attend the Friends General Conference Annual Gathering of Friends in the future, as she herself had done for the first time earlier this year. She also indicated that she would be very likely to donate additional money for the same purpose in subsequent years. Friends are considering that an ad hoc Committee develop a process by which recipients of grants for this purpose could be recruited, selected, and awarded funds in order to attend the Gathering.
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 Oral History Project of Berkeley Meeting (CA) is looking for a computer-savvy
member or attender to convert its old audio recordings of Oral Histories to CDs, for storing digitally. They have about 21 tapes of elders telling their stories.
Eric Moon and Laura Magnani of Berkeley Meeting (CA) will facilitate an informational session on Quaker decision-making process, what unity is and how the work of committees
helps the Meeting function on Sunday Jan 31.
Ministry and Oversight of Boise Valley Meeting (ID) reviewed the process for becoming a member of Meeting, in response to inquiries. It was noted that a prospective member may request a Clearness Committed to discern one’s readiness for membership without firmly committing oneself to requesting membership.
Camas Friends Church (WA) used the Northwest Yearly Meeting Peace Trunks for the church’s third annual Peace Playhouse for children in the 4th-6th grades. The overall goals were to teach the children peace-making and conflict resolution skills and to send them as peace ambassadors into the community.
Chico Meeting (CA) asks all committee clerks to send electronic versions of their committee reports to the Assistant Clerk who will have electronic copies of the minutes and all attachments available by the day of Business Meeting. The Assistant Clerk is to post a note in the newsletter that the minutes and reports are available upon request by email or postal service.
The Peace, Justice, and the Environment Committee and its Homelessness Subcommittee of Corvallis Meeting (OR) proposes that each member or attender of the Meeting consider hiring, or financing the hiring of, a homeless person for three days a year under the auspices of the Homeless Employment Launching Project (HELP)
At Corvallis Meeting (OR) a person took a copy of the Meeting Directory and has misrepresented himself to several members asking for money. It was suggested that from now on the Directory be handed to people and not left on the public table.
The Discussion Committee of Claremont Meeting (CA) presents Philip Clayton, speaking on Why There is not a Quaker Theology: Exploring Ways that Friends Connect Beliefs and Practices. Philip is a second-generation Quaker and a well-known Christian theologian. How can a person be both? How can Quakers sort out what they do and don’t believe about God and other central religious questions?
Steve Smith of Claremont Meeting (CA) will lead two workshops at Pendle Hill:
February 7-11 – Eastern Light: Buddhist and Quaker Spirituality;
February 12-14 – The Joy of Quaker Communities: Clerking and Working with Spirit.
Davis Meeting (CA) needs a few mugs. Friends are asked to check their cupboards for lonely ones that would enjoy the warmth and conviviality of coffee and tea with me and thee.
Davis Meeting (CA) Friends have been told that if they are planning to serve a treat and a knife will be needed to accomplish this, they should bring one with them. The huge assortment of knives formerly in the Meeting House kitchen have been removed and are being stored off-site until a better storage situation can be arranged. This is for the safety of little children and other visitors.
Davis Meeting (CA) heard a concern from the Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter (IRWS) organization. Can IRWS accommodate pets? So far, none of the participating congregations have agreed to this. In the next month, one or more of the congregations providing shelter may agree to accept dogs, in which case, Davis Meeting (which serves as the intake site each night) would need to allow dogs during the intake process. The committee suggests that guests be allowed to bring their dogs on to the Meetinghouse grounds but not inside the Meetinghouse.
A Community Building Social Hour hosted by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee will gather on Sunday, January 17th at Eugene Meeting (OR) Friends are invited to share a cup of tea or coffee and a discussion of actions on peace and social concerns.
An Ad Hoc Committee has met several times to discern the ways in which the Spirit is leading Eugene Meeting (OR) to contribute to its communities locally, worldwide and in between. The committee’s recommendation is in two parts: I. a policy proposal and II. a proposed guideline for the Committee on Meeting Donations to Others.
Mike Gray, a member of Fort Collins Meeting (CO), has received a leading to conduct a ministry of work camps among the indigenous people including the Oglala people on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and other communities, especially in Mexico, where he has on-going relationships. He has requested Fort Collins Friends Meeting to release him for this ministry. The Meeting believes that Mike Gray has a gift and a calling for leading such work camps, and embraces his ministry under the care of the Meeting. Mike has been in discussion with William Penn House of Washington DC which currently oversees and delivers dozens of work camps annually through Washington Quaker Work Camps.
The Green Plow Ministry Point (Redmond, OR) coffee house is transforming extra space into a meeting room. One exciting possibility is an interactive conversational worship group hosted by several churches.
A group of Honolulu Meeting (HI) Friends met to discuss the issues of attendance
and Friends' participation in First Day School. Like many other Quaker Meetings, the Meeting has an aging membership and few children attending. Friends asked themselves, "Why are we not attracting more new members, and young families?" "What is it about our First Day School program that discourages our existing member families from attending?"
Live Oak Preparative Meeting (Salinas, CA) was recognized as a Monthly Meeting by College Park Quarterly Meeting in October 2009.
Living Waters Ministry (Plummer, ID) recently held a “Spirit Jam” dance and music outreach.
Lower Columbia Worship Group (Seaview, WA) is now meeting every Sunday, at 3 p.m. at the Peninsula Church Center .
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.
Arizona Half-Yearly Meeting will hold its Spring gathering March 27, 2010 at the Phoenix Meeting House.
Friends Center at Azusa Pacific is offering a course on Friends Theology, Worship, and Leadership, taught by Kent Walkemeyer, Friends Center Director. kwalkemeyer@apu.edu
Ben Lomond Quaker Center and Western Friend announce their first collaborative program, Rightly-Ordered Financial Management for Friends' Meetings and Organizations. It will take place at Ben Lomond Quaker Center on March 5-7, 2010.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley with the theme, “Cleaning out our Attics. –to find the stored-away records of the history of our Monthly Meetings and Worship Groups, and bring them into the light of day; --to examine the dusty old beliefs and practices hidden away within us; bring them into the Light, and if they are still useful, keep them, otherwise let them go. Do you have the right tools for the spiritual work you are now doing?”
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.
Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy Steering and Legislative Committee will meet on Saturday, January 9, at the Tacoma Friends Meetinghouse.
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.
For one week in October George Fox University (Newberg, OR) students were encouraged to live lightly as they observed: Skip a Shower Day, Bring Your Own Mug Day, A Day Unplugged, Ride Your Bike or Walk to School Day, and Eat a Vegetarian Meal Day.
Tempe Meeting will host the Intermountain Yearly Meeting (IMYM) Continuing Committee from January 8th to the 10th.
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."
Neighbors East and West is planning a trip to Iran April-May 2010. N.E.W, a Citizen-Diplomacy Community Education Organization led by Sam and Ruth Neff, is based in Richmond, IN and Whitefish, MT. http://neighborseastandwest.org/
The North Pacific Yearly Meeting Youth Committee asks if Meetings, Worship Groups, or individuals would be able to send a one-time donation (or to add a line item in annual budgets) to support the NPYM Youth Opportunity Fund.
Northwest Yearly Meeting has labeled January as "Peace Month," and has prepared and sent to churches materials that can be used for the peace emphasis. Other Friends are welcome to join with in this peace ministry.
Purpose: We recognize that the communities in NWYM represent a variety of beliefs, practices and education levels regarding the Friends peace testimony. We hope Peace Month will provide each congregation space to begin or continue discussions regarding peace and social justice issues in ways that are helpful to them. Our main goal is to create a safe setting where people in your meeting can openly discuss this issue, no matter where their opinions fall along the belief spectrum. Each meeting is encouraged to host one event each week during January related to the peace testimony.
A delegation from Northwest Yearly Meeting has gone to Bolivia Yearly Meeting’s annual business sessions to celebrate their history of working together and to explore the future of their relationship. The delegation includes Hal Thomas (North Valley), Quentin Nordyke (Newberg), Kevin Nordyke, and Dan Cammack (Tigard).
Northwest Yearly Meeting Midyear Boards, the gathering for all board members and representatives, will be January 29-30.
Youth Challenged to Expand their Worldview (YCEW) of Northwest Yearly Meeting will travel to Aquascalientes, Mexico, June 30-July 19. Information - nwfriends.org/youth.
Friends Men’s Retreats of Northwest Yearly Meeting will be held February 19-21 at Quaker Hill and February 26-28 at Twin Rocks. Information: nwfriends.org/friends-men
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. For more information and to register online, see www.pnwquakerwomen.org.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
The Religious Education Committee for Children of Pacific Yearly Meeting will be putting on a workshop day for First Day School teachers, hosted by Palo Alto Meeting.
The Annual Southern California Quarterly Meeting Retreat at Joshua Tree is coming up on Jan 15-18 (Martin Luther King Weekend). Joshua Tree is fun (but occasionally cold) camping in the high desert.
Utah Friends Fellowship Mid Winter Gathering will be in Salt Lake January 16-17. Julia Halaby will present on her work with Compassionate Listening in Palestine.
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
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
The Willamette Quarterly Meeting Men’s Retreat will be February 26-28, at Camp Myrtlewood, near Myrtle Point, OR.
DECEMBER 2009-JANUARY 2010
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
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.
Finance Committee of Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) requests that new activities proposed for the Meeting which require expenditure of money, go first to an appropriate committee (Peace and Social Concerns, Social, etc.) before they are sent to Finance Committee.
Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) is considering making a donation to the City of Portland is lieu of property taxes.
The food ministry at New Life Friends (Vancouver, WA) recently picked up 10,000 pounds of food from the annual Walk and Knock. Last month the volunteers served 2,700 people a meal; they hand out groceries to 250 to 350 families every Friday;. and run a soup kitchen four days a week. New Life Friends cares for “the least of these.”
The Finance Committee of Orange County Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) is looking for ideas from Friends to help raise money for the Meeting’s philanthropic budget. People have suggested holding a rummage sale, a service auction, a bake sale, and a talent show. Friends may have other ideas about how they might raise the funds needed to help make a difference in the lives of others.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) has decided that its newsletter will be posted on its new website. Therefore, they will no longer print full Directory corrections in the newsletter, only the names of those whose information has changed.
March 19 -21 Palo Alto Meeting (CA) has scheduled a middle school retreat which
will be open to neighboring meetings.
A Friend applied for membership at Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA). He noted that he cannot say that he is an absolute pacifist because he does not know what he would do in every possible situation… Another Friend expressed her core tenets: “…to me there is that of God in everyone. Our faith also demands that we love God. So when we love God, we should love our fellows. If we kill, we kill something of God. Therefore, whatever the reason, there can be no justification in taking other life.” Oversight organized a focused and worshipful discussion on the meaning of Peace to Quakers. The two Friends issued a joint statement: “In our different ways, we see and value how each of us seeks and works for Peace. We respect and value each other’s points of view and differing understandings of Quaker values.” The Meeting approved the Friend’s membership.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) is offering Health classes for the new year: Matter of Balance, Healthier Living with Chronic Conditions, Aqua Exercises (warm weather or indoor), and Effective Living with Hearing Impairment. Each class is 6-8 weeks in length.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will sponsor Financial Peace University, a biblically-based video discussion series with Dave Ramsey 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.
Friends at Sacramento Meeting (CA) will participate in a Journal Review as a time to reflect upon the year past and prepare for the new year. Friends who do not journal are welcome to create their own style of review. Friends will gather with their journals from the past year and together, in silence, will re-read their year -- quietly reflecting, present to one’s own "on-going revelation" or movement of the Holy. What difference has this year made? What gifts want to come forward into 2010? .
John Helding from FGC is coming to Sacramento Meeting (CA) to lead a Quaker Quest Training Workshop on Sunday, January 17th. Everyone from the meeting is invited – attendance is required for Core Team, Speakers, and Facilitators. Lunch will be provided.
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) learned that the format adopted by Religious Education is working reasonably well. Older youth are now separated from the young kids and participate in a more age-appropriate program. Finding a space for the older children is still being explored.
San Francisco Meeting (CA) is going through the process of establishing a Food Pantry for homeless people at the Meeting House.
San Jose Meeting (CA) has been notified that it will be receiving a bequest from the estate of Betty Bates, for which the Meeting is grateful. As far as they know, there was no request that the money be spent in any particular way. Members and attenders are asked to take a moment to reflect and to let the Meeting know how they think the money might be spent.
Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) is considering the issue of flowers on the table during worship. If Friends feel that flowers are important they are to team with a member of Ministry and Oversight to provide flowers. This will be like a “flower potluck.”
The Library Committee of Santa Fe Meeting (NM) will sponsor the Meeting's First Quaker Talent Show on Saturday 27th. Friends are asked if they sing, dance, write, play the ukulele, or impersonate Barack Obama?
Santa Fe Friends (NM) agree to incorporate and to adopt the December 20, 2009 draft of
the bylaws with the changes noted during the discussion regarding the purpose of the corporation, membership in the corporation, and the wording of Bylaw 13. The Meeting acknowledges the need to deal with the issues concerning Olive Rush's bequest identified during the discussion.
Santa Monica Meeting (CA) will hold Adult Education Sessions, using the worship sharing format, on “Constructing our Discernment of God Together.” Friends will focus on how Quakers learn together to be open to the Divine. They will explore the face of the Divine in its many different guises.
Amy Watson is the new youth minister at Sherwood Friends Church (OR).
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will hold another brief teacher orientation. This ten-fifteen minute meeting will give potential teachers the basics of how First Day School is run. (Here's the quick summary: curriculum is provided, the Friend team-teaches with another adult, and is encouraged to sign up for two consecutive Sundays so the kids have more consistency.)
The Community and Spiritual Life Committee of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) has been thinking of ways to help the Meeting grow spiritually, and help individuals in their search for a better understanding of themselves, the world and the nature of God.
A. Spiritual Sharing Group: An opportunity to deepen one’s spiritual journey through personal reflection and dialogue with others, with the possible use of Parker Palmer's Circle of Trust model.
B. Spiritual Reading and Discussion Group: Quaker and other religious writings will spark discussion and exploration of spirituality and deepening of spiritual lives, beginning with Patricia Loring's Spiritual Listening.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) will hold a retreat Jan 22-23 at the Tempe Meeting House. The guest speaker, Lucy Duncan of Friends General Conference, will lead on the topic of telling spiritual stories and the technique of deep listening to the stories of others.
Friends at Tempe Meeting (AZ) are organizing a monthly sewing gathering where Friends will bring their own projects or join another’s.
Gathering on Life, the Universe, and Quakers will be held at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) on January 24. Friends are invited to a worshipful sharing of thoughts on scientific understandings of the 14 billion year history of the universe (Deep Time) and the evolutionary development of life (the Tree of Life). How does new knowledge which has been acquired in the last half century about the universe and life affect our view of ourselves as Quakers? Does this knowledge affect our experience of the divine in our lives?
Queries from the Year of Discernment from University Meeting (Seattle, WA):
Is thinking differently about our existing work seen as a means to an end, or as an end in itself? Does Meeting still see the ultimate goal of the process as a shift back to thinking in terms of “doing different work” (and if so, what)?
For ongoing discernment related to our current ministries: What has life? What should we lay down? How are we supporting our individual and corporate ministries?
How does prophetic witness fit with the four essentials we identified in the meeting (worship, community, stewardship, and service)?
What is our understanding of discernment now and how should we continue the work after the Year of Discernment?
In doing outreach, Vancouver Meeting (BC) was reminded behavior in meeting needs to be conducive to encouraging newcomers to return. Quaker Quest Committee and Ministry and Counsel could brainstorm together to implement additional changes to ensure meeting is welcoming and supportive of newcomers. Meeting approves undertaking the Quaker Quest and the committee going forward with the proposal outlined in its report.
Shan Cretin, Pacific Southwest Regional Director of the American Friends Service Committee, will speak Wednesday, January 13, at First Friends Whittier (CA). Shan will present an overview of AFSC’s international and domestic work and program details.
The youth groups of First Friends Whittier (CA) gathered to cook, stir, dip and mold the ingredients necessary to make tootsie rolls, divinity, caramel turtles, fudge, peanut butter balls and cups for the Christmas dinner candy sale. The proceeds, $852, were divided between the Heifer Project International and the Youth Travel Fund.
The Wyoming Friends Meeting gathering is to be held in Jackson January 22-24.
Agate Passage Meeting (Poulsbo, WA) hosted a Breaking Bread and Barriers potluck with the goal of raising awareness in the community about immigration policies pertaining to undocumented workers.
A Friend is donating $2,000 to Bellingham Meeting (WA) for the purpose of enabling Meeting participants to attend the Friends General Conference Annual Gathering of Friends in the future, as she herself had done for the first time earlier this year. She also indicated that she would be very likely to donate additional money for the same purpose in subsequent years. Friends are considering that an ad hoc Committee develop a process by which recipients of grants for this purpose could be recruited, selected, and awarded funds in order to attend the Gathering.
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 Oral History Project of Berkeley Meeting (CA) is looking for a computer-savvy
member or attender to convert its old audio recordings of Oral Histories to CDs, for storing digitally. They have about 21 tapes of elders telling their stories.
Eric Moon and Laura Magnani of Berkeley Meeting (CA) will facilitate an informational session on Quaker decision-making process, what unity is and how the work of committees
helps the Meeting function on Sunday Jan 31.
Ministry and Oversight of Boise Valley Meeting (ID) reviewed the process for becoming a member of Meeting, in response to inquiries. It was noted that a prospective member may request a Clearness Committed to discern one’s readiness for membership without firmly committing oneself to requesting membership.
Camas Friends Church (WA) used the Northwest Yearly Meeting Peace Trunks for the church’s third annual Peace Playhouse for children in the 4th-6th grades. The overall goals were to teach the children peace-making and conflict resolution skills and to send them as peace ambassadors into the community.
Chico Meeting (CA) asks all committee clerks to send electronic versions of their committee reports to the Assistant Clerk who will have electronic copies of the minutes and all attachments available by the day of Business Meeting. The Assistant Clerk is to post a note in the newsletter that the minutes and reports are available upon request by email or postal service.
The Peace, Justice, and the Environment Committee and its Homelessness Subcommittee of Corvallis Meeting (OR) proposes that each member or attender of the Meeting consider hiring, or financing the hiring of, a homeless person for three days a year under the auspices of the Homeless Employment Launching Project (HELP)
At Corvallis Meeting (OR) a person took a copy of the Meeting Directory and has misrepresented himself to several members asking for money. It was suggested that from now on the Directory be handed to people and not left on the public table.
The Discussion Committee of Claremont Meeting (CA) presents Philip Clayton, speaking on Why There is not a Quaker Theology: Exploring Ways that Friends Connect Beliefs and Practices. Philip is a second-generation Quaker and a well-known Christian theologian. How can a person be both? How can Quakers sort out what they do and don’t believe about God and other central religious questions?
Steve Smith of Claremont Meeting (CA) will lead two workshops at Pendle Hill:
February 7-11 – Eastern Light: Buddhist and Quaker Spirituality;
February 12-14 – The Joy of Quaker Communities: Clerking and Working with Spirit.
Davis Meeting (CA) needs a few mugs. Friends are asked to check their cupboards for lonely ones that would enjoy the warmth and conviviality of coffee and tea with me and thee.
Davis Meeting (CA) Friends have been told that if they are planning to serve a treat and a knife will be needed to accomplish this, they should bring one with them. The huge assortment of knives formerly in the Meeting House kitchen have been removed and are being stored off-site until a better storage situation can be arranged. This is for the safety of little children and other visitors.
Davis Meeting (CA) heard a concern from the Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter (IRWS) organization. Can IRWS accommodate pets? So far, none of the participating congregations have agreed to this. In the next month, one or more of the congregations providing shelter may agree to accept dogs, in which case, Davis Meeting (which serves as the intake site each night) would need to allow dogs during the intake process. The committee suggests that guests be allowed to bring their dogs on to the Meetinghouse grounds but not inside the Meetinghouse.
A Community Building Social Hour hosted by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee will gather on Sunday, January 17th at Eugene Meeting (OR) Friends are invited to share a cup of tea or coffee and a discussion of actions on peace and social concerns.
An Ad Hoc Committee has met several times to discern the ways in which the Spirit is leading Eugene Meeting (OR) to contribute to its communities locally, worldwide and in between. The committee’s recommendation is in two parts: I. a policy proposal and II. a proposed guideline for the Committee on Meeting Donations to Others.
Mike Gray, a member of Fort Collins Meeting (CO), has received a leading to conduct a ministry of work camps among the indigenous people including the Oglala people on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and other communities, especially in Mexico, where he has on-going relationships. He has requested Fort Collins Friends Meeting to release him for this ministry. The Meeting believes that Mike Gray has a gift and a calling for leading such work camps, and embraces his ministry under the care of the Meeting. Mike has been in discussion with William Penn House of Washington DC which currently oversees and delivers dozens of work camps annually through Washington Quaker Work Camps.
The Green Plow Ministry Point (Redmond, OR) coffee house is transforming extra space into a meeting room. One exciting possibility is an interactive conversational worship group hosted by several churches.
A group of Honolulu Meeting (HI) Friends met to discuss the issues of attendance
and Friends' participation in First Day School. Like many other Quaker Meetings, the Meeting has an aging membership and few children attending. Friends asked themselves, "Why are we not attracting more new members, and young families?" "What is it about our First Day School program that discourages our existing member families from attending?"
Live Oak Preparative Meeting (Salinas, CA) was recognized as a Monthly Meeting by College Park Quarterly Meeting in October 2009.
Living Waters Ministry (Plummer, ID) recently held a “Spirit Jam” dance and music outreach.
Lower Columbia Worship Group (Seaview, WA) is now meeting every Sunday, at 3 p.m. at the Peninsula Church Center .
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.
Arizona Half-Yearly Meeting will hold its Spring gathering March 27, 2010 at the Phoenix Meeting House.
Friends Center at Azusa Pacific is offering a course on Friends Theology, Worship, and Leadership, taught by Kent Walkemeyer, Friends Center Director. kwalkemeyer@apu.edu
Ben Lomond Quaker Center and Western Friend announce their first collaborative program, Rightly-Ordered Financial Management for Friends' Meetings and Organizations. It will take place at Ben Lomond Quaker Center on March 5-7, 2010.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley with the theme, “Cleaning out our Attics. –to find the stored-away records of the history of our Monthly Meetings and Worship Groups, and bring them into the light of day; --to examine the dusty old beliefs and practices hidden away within us; bring them into the Light, and if they are still useful, keep them, otherwise let them go. Do you have the right tools for the spiritual work you are now doing?”
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.
Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy Steering and Legislative Committee will meet on Saturday, January 9, at the Tacoma Friends Meetinghouse.
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.
For one week in October George Fox University (Newberg, OR) students were encouraged to live lightly as they observed: Skip a Shower Day, Bring Your Own Mug Day, A Day Unplugged, Ride Your Bike or Walk to School Day, and Eat a Vegetarian Meal Day.
Tempe Meeting will host the Intermountain Yearly Meeting (IMYM) Continuing Committee from January 8th to the 10th.
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."
Neighbors East and West is planning a trip to Iran April-May 2010. N.E.W, a Citizen-Diplomacy Community Education Organization led by Sam and Ruth Neff, is based in Richmond, IN and Whitefish, MT. http://neighborseastandwest.org/
The North Pacific Yearly Meeting Youth Committee asks if Meetings, Worship Groups, or individuals would be able to send a one-time donation (or to add a line item in annual budgets) to support the NPYM Youth Opportunity Fund.
Northwest Yearly Meeting has labeled January as "Peace Month," and has prepared and sent to churches materials that can be used for the peace emphasis. Other Friends are welcome to join with in this peace ministry.
Purpose: We recognize that the communities in NWYM represent a variety of beliefs, practices and education levels regarding the Friends peace testimony. We hope Peace Month will provide each congregation space to begin or continue discussions regarding peace and social justice issues in ways that are helpful to them. Our main goal is to create a safe setting where people in your meeting can openly discuss this issue, no matter where their opinions fall along the belief spectrum. Each meeting is encouraged to host one event each week during January related to the peace testimony.
A delegation from Northwest Yearly Meeting has gone to Bolivia Yearly Meeting’s annual business sessions to celebrate their history of working together and to explore the future of their relationship. The delegation includes Hal Thomas (North Valley), Quentin Nordyke (Newberg), Kevin Nordyke, and Dan Cammack (Tigard).
Northwest Yearly Meeting Midyear Boards, the gathering for all board members and representatives, will be January 29-30.
Youth Challenged to Expand their Worldview (YCEW) of Northwest Yearly Meeting will travel to Aquascalientes, Mexico, June 30-July 19. Information - nwfriends.org/youth.
Friends Men’s Retreats of Northwest Yearly Meeting will be held February 19-21 at Quaker Hill and February 26-28 at Twin Rocks. Information: nwfriends.org/friends-men
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. For more information and to register online, see www.pnwquakerwomen.org.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
The Religious Education Committee for Children of Pacific Yearly Meeting will be putting on a workshop day for First Day School teachers, hosted by Palo Alto Meeting.
The Annual Southern California Quarterly Meeting Retreat at Joshua Tree is coming up on Jan 15-18 (Martin Luther King Weekend). Joshua Tree is fun (but occasionally cold) camping in the high desert.
Utah Friends Fellowship Mid Winter Gathering will be in Salt Lake January 16-17. Julia Halaby will present on her work with Compassionate Listening in Palestine.
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
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
The Willamette Quarterly Meeting Men’s Retreat will be February 26-28, at Camp Myrtlewood, near Myrtle Point, OR.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
News from Western Quaker Newsletters
December 2009
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Woodland Friends Church (ID), a congregation of 60 people in a farming community on a beautiful mesa in central Idaho, is looking for a pastor.
December will be the last month for Bill Peterson’s service as Pastor of First Friends, Whittier (CA). A farewell reception will be held on Sunday, December 27.
Friends at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are invited let their contemplative and creative juices flow to make a personal vision collage On Sunday, January 3rd.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) will hold a retreat Jan 22-23 at the Tempe Meeting House. The guest speaker, Lucy Duncan of Friends General Conference, will lead on the topic of telling spiritual stories and the technique of deep listening to the stories of others.
The Care of the Meeting Committee of Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) has concerns about the advices and queries on Personal Relationships. The Committee had concerns about reading the advices on sexual and other abuse during Meeting for Worship, particularly if children are attending. The Committee decided that the advices and queries on Home and Family of the 1985 edition of Faith and Practice were more appropriate for reading with children present. However, some on the Committee felt that the 1985 advices and queries were outdated in some respects. The Meeting asked the Committee to forward its reflections to the Pacific Yearly Meeting Discipline Committee with a cover letter explaining the meeting's particular concern.
Spring Valley Friends Community Church (CA) will hold its Annual Candlelight Service and Musical, “Joy to the Word,” on Wednesday, December 23rd.
A member of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) is working toward a gathering (probably in early 2010) of middle-schoolers from all the local Quaker meetings.
Fellowship Committee of Santa Monica Meeting (CA) has been approached by Friends about the presence of desserts/sweets at Fellowship. The Meeting expressed a desire to limit foods with sugar.
On the First First Day of each month Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) comes together to practice Holy Listening. In the center of the gathering, Friends place a bowl containing slips of paper with various short quotations. Each person takes one at random and reflects on the quotation until moved to speak.
A Friend from Santa Cruz Meeting (CA), noting that many Meetings have Young Friends groups and that Santa Cruz Meeting has an “Older Folks Group,” suggests that the Meeting form a self-identified group called Mid-Life Friends.
San Jose Meeting (CA) is Calling All Carolers to help bring good cheer and a bit of holiday music to others. Friends will meet on December 20 at 5 PM at Brinton House, and go to two or three selected homes to sing carols and share some time with friends. They will then go to Thomas and Emily Leo’s home for refreshments and tales of Christmases past and present.
Ruth Fraser of San Francisco Meeting (CA) hosts a Story Swap the first Sunday evening of each month at the San Francisco Meeting House, featuring different tellers each month. www.storysaac.org
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) Sermon Series includes “Why Christmas:
A Time for Celebration (Jerry Costley); A Time for Salvation (Chris Steiger); A Time for Reconciliation (Jason Morones). The Wednesday Night Small Groups will discuss a three-part DVD lesson series: The Purpose of Christmas.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) welcomes Friends to a Primetime New Year’s Eve Party. At 9-12 p.m. Eastern Time. Thus, Friends are to come at 6:00 p.m. So many people came last year that the entire Plaza level of the Center Building has been reserved to have more elbow room. Friends are to bring a potluck dish and a “White Elephant” gift. They'll have fun games, including an electronic bowling contest (Nintendo Wii on big screens). A devotional and Communion time will complete the evening at 9 p.m.
The Ministry Committee of Reno Meeting (NV) is planning a Quaker 201 series that will likely be held periodically over a three year period and focus on topics like: Theism/non-theism/universalism/Christ-centeredness among Quakers; Leadings; Sense of the meeting; and Eldering.
The 2009 Dessert Auction at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) procured $4500 for summer 2010 camperships.
Christmas is happening at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR)with a Fellowship Meal and Church Decorating, a Sing-Along Messiah, an evening of Music and Holiday Desserts, an Evening with Friends Christmas Party and a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service.
Pima Meeting (Tucson, AZ) has gone through a discernment process regarding the American Friends Service Committee returning to the Meeting House. Seasoning occurred and the Meeting agreed that it is in unity with leasing two rooms to the AFSC.
Pima Meeting (Tucson, AZ) is offering Hospitality to the homeless three times in December-January.
When Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) approves an upgrade project, it will appoint a committee of two or three Friends responsible for soliciting funding for the project. Those who are enthusiastic about the project may wish to serve. The upgrade project will not begin until sufficient pledges have been obtained to fund the project. If sufficient pledges are not obtained, a report will be made to Meeting and the existing pledges will be canceled.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) has set aside December 20 for an evening of singing Christmas songs and tasting Christmas goodies. Friends will gather in the sanctuary for Christmas Evensong, a casual gathering to sing favorite Christmas songs together. Adults and children will lead and also sing prepared songs. Then they will enjoy the annual Taste of Christmas in the social hall. For those who choose, there will be caroling in the neighborhood.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) set up Advent Stations on December 14-17 that were open in the morning and in the evening. The doors were open and the candles were lit for Friends to find space to be with God for the amount of time appropriate for them.
Bradley Angle House is naming their women's shelter, the Bonnie Tinker Shelter, for a deceased member of Multnomah Monthly Meeting (Portland, OR). A virtual ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony was held at the Friends Meeting House and people had the opportunity to share stories of Bonnie, the shelter she founded, and to honor her memory.y–Thursday,
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) has a monthly Amnesty International letter writing group which writes letters to government officials supporting prisoners of conscience in other countries and persons on death row in the United States.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) is in support of continuing the sale of grocery store gift cards to benefit the Colorado office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).
Mountain View Friends Meeting (Denver, CO) is accepting designated contributions to the Paul and Lisa Motz-Storeys’ work in Arusha, Tanzania: the Selian Hospice and the continuing repairs being done at the Selian Lutheran hospital.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) approved a minute of support for Bill and Genie Durlands’ participation in the Freedom March in Gaza.
The Library Committee of Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) has assessed work done to date – categorization and organization. A principle statement has been drafted – “We strive to attain a library which speaks to Quaker faith and practice.” This is an important step forward and a guide for future acquisitions.
Midtown Friends (Sacramento, CA) had its Grand Opening Celebration on October 4th in Fremont Park in Midtown Sacramento, playing drums, creating art, tasting fair-trade coffee and chocolate, followed by their first official public worship service.
Fresno Meeting (CA) supports the Representative Committee handling more of the Yearly Meeting’s business. At present Fresno Friends Meeting is very small and is not able to commit to sending representatives to the Representative Committee.
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
The Adult Religious Education committee of Corvallis Meeting (OR) is tentatively planning a Retreat on “Preparing for Death.” The committee hopes to include such topics as legal documents, medical concerns, advance directives, physician aid-in-dying, and Hospice, etc.
Corvallis Meeting (OR) has learned that it may be eligible for $500 federal stimulus money for Meeting House maintenance. Friends discussed the implications of taking the money, and what the Meeting would do with the money. The issue is seasoning another month.
Joe Franco will come to Claremont Meeting (CA) as a guest speaker in on the Fourth Sunday in February.
Canyon Hills Friends (Yorba Linda, CA) experienced a musical Christmas celebration called, "When Hope Came..."
Bridge City Meeting (Portland, OR) is once again planning a Christmas Eve celebration at the Multnomah Meeting House. There will be a short program and meeting for worship focused on the Christmas Story, followed by a social hour.
Berkeley Friends Church will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
Children from Albuquerque Meeting (NM) took a field trip to Lucky Paws at Coronado Mall to deliver the toys & blankets they had made for animals in City Shelters. The children were given a tour of the facility and had a chance to visit with one of the dogs at the site.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Arizona Half-Yearly Meeting will hold its Spring gathering March 27, 2010 at the Phoenix Meeting House.
Friends Center at Azusa Pacific is offering a course on Friends Theology, Worship, and Leadership, taught by Kent Walkemeyer, Friends Center Director. kwalkemeyer@apu.edu
Ben Lomond Quaker Center and Western Friend announce their first collaborative program, Rightly-Ordered Financial Management for Friends' Meetings and Organizations. It will take place at Ben Lomond Quaker Center on March 5-7, 2010.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Southern California – Representative Session and Equipping Community Dinner, Friday January 29, 2010; Serve Day, Saturday, January 30, 2010.
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
Friends are invited to join an Evangelical Friends Mission Vision Tour led by Chuck Mylander to Nepal, India, and Ireland, March 10-29, 2010. efm@friendsmission.com.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
Neighbors East and West is planning a trip to Iran April-May 2010. N.E.W, a Citizen-Diplomacy Community Education Organization led by Sam and Ruth Neff, is based in Richmond, IN and Whitefish, MT. http://neighborseastandwest.org/
The North Pacific Yearly Meeting Youth Committee asks if Meetings, Worship Groups, or individuals would be able to send a one-time donation (or to add a line item in annual budgets) to support the NPYM Youth Opportunity Fund.
Each year, the churches and meetings of Northwest Yearly Meeting take a Thanksgiving offering to support special projects of local or global outreach. This year, NWYM hoped to raise $9,000 to assist Del and Suzanne Livingston (Olympic View Friends, Tacoma, WA) begin three biosand water filtration micro-businesses in Burundi. They raised much more than that!
Midwinter High School Camp of Northwest Yearly Meeting is a camp for youth and their friends in the middle of winter. It will be held at Quaker Hill (McCall, ID) from December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010. It’s a chance for youth to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, worship, serve others, play games, and have a whole lot of fun. Information: rachelle@nwfriends.org
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Yearly Meeting seeks fulltime Youth Program Coordinator to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our pre-teens through young adults. Coordinator provides program support and coordination of youth activities; assists Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in engaging and educating their young people; develops an infrastructure that brings Friends together as a faith community; and provides a role model experienced in Friends' worship and practices. Frequent travel required. Expenses reimbursed. $18 an hour plus overtime, starting with two-weeks' vacation, holidays, sick leave and benefits. Quaker meeting membership required. By January 12th email letters of interest and résumés to Lanny Jay at landbird@comcast.net.
Utah Friends Fellowship Mid Winter Gathering will be in Salt Lake January 16-17.
Western Young Friends New Year’s Gathering will take place at Cazadero Arts Camp in Northern California, December 28, 2009-January 2, 2010. www.newyearsgathering.org
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
December 2009
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Woodland Friends Church (ID), a congregation of 60 people in a farming community on a beautiful mesa in central Idaho, is looking for a pastor.
December will be the last month for Bill Peterson’s service as Pastor of First Friends, Whittier (CA). A farewell reception will be held on Sunday, December 27.
Friends at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are invited let their contemplative and creative juices flow to make a personal vision collage On Sunday, January 3rd.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) will hold a retreat Jan 22-23 at the Tempe Meeting House. The guest speaker, Lucy Duncan of Friends General Conference, will lead on the topic of telling spiritual stories and the technique of deep listening to the stories of others.
The Care of the Meeting Committee of Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) has concerns about the advices and queries on Personal Relationships. The Committee had concerns about reading the advices on sexual and other abuse during Meeting for Worship, particularly if children are attending. The Committee decided that the advices and queries on Home and Family of the 1985 edition of Faith and Practice were more appropriate for reading with children present. However, some on the Committee felt that the 1985 advices and queries were outdated in some respects. The Meeting asked the Committee to forward its reflections to the Pacific Yearly Meeting Discipline Committee with a cover letter explaining the meeting's particular concern.
Spring Valley Friends Community Church (CA) will hold its Annual Candlelight Service and Musical, “Joy to the Word,” on Wednesday, December 23rd.
A member of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) is working toward a gathering (probably in early 2010) of middle-schoolers from all the local Quaker meetings.
Fellowship Committee of Santa Monica Meeting (CA) has been approached by Friends about the presence of desserts/sweets at Fellowship. The Meeting expressed a desire to limit foods with sugar.
On the First First Day of each month Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) comes together to practice Holy Listening. In the center of the gathering, Friends place a bowl containing slips of paper with various short quotations. Each person takes one at random and reflects on the quotation until moved to speak.
A Friend from Santa Cruz Meeting (CA), noting that many Meetings have Young Friends groups and that Santa Cruz Meeting has an “Older Folks Group,” suggests that the Meeting form a self-identified group called Mid-Life Friends.
San Jose Meeting (CA) is Calling All Carolers to help bring good cheer and a bit of holiday music to others. Friends will meet on December 20 at 5 PM at Brinton House, and go to two or three selected homes to sing carols and share some time with friends. They will then go to Thomas and Emily Leo’s home for refreshments and tales of Christmases past and present.
Ruth Fraser of San Francisco Meeting (CA) hosts a Story Swap the first Sunday evening of each month at the San Francisco Meeting House, featuring different tellers each month. www.storysaac.org
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) Sermon Series includes “Why Christmas:
A Time for Celebration (Jerry Costley); A Time for Salvation (Chris Steiger); A Time for Reconciliation (Jason Morones). The Wednesday Night Small Groups will discuss a three-part DVD lesson series: The Purpose of Christmas.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) welcomes Friends to a Primetime New Year’s Eve Party. At 9-12 p.m. Eastern Time. Thus, Friends are to come at 6:00 p.m. So many people came last year that the entire Plaza level of the Center Building has been reserved to have more elbow room. Friends are to bring a potluck dish and a “White Elephant” gift. They'll have fun games, including an electronic bowling contest (Nintendo Wii on big screens). A devotional and Communion time will complete the evening at 9 p.m.
The Ministry Committee of Reno Meeting (NV) is planning a Quaker 201 series that will likely be held periodically over a three year period and focus on topics like: Theism/non-theism/universalism/Christ-centeredness among Quakers; Leadings; Sense of the meeting; and Eldering.
The 2009 Dessert Auction at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) procured $4500 for summer 2010 camperships.
Christmas is happening at Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR)with a Fellowship Meal and Church Decorating, a Sing-Along Messiah, an evening of Music and Holiday Desserts, an Evening with Friends Christmas Party and a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service.
Pima Meeting (Tucson, AZ) has gone through a discernment process regarding the American Friends Service Committee returning to the Meeting House. Seasoning occurred and the Meeting agreed that it is in unity with leasing two rooms to the AFSC.
Pima Meeting (Tucson, AZ) is offering Hospitality to the homeless three times in December-January.
When Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) approves an upgrade project, it will appoint a committee of two or three Friends responsible for soliciting funding for the project. Those who are enthusiastic about the project may wish to serve. The upgrade project will not begin until sufficient pledges have been obtained to fund the project. If sufficient pledges are not obtained, a report will be made to Meeting and the existing pledges will be canceled.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) has set aside December 20 for an evening of singing Christmas songs and tasting Christmas goodies. Friends will gather in the sanctuary for Christmas Evensong, a casual gathering to sing favorite Christmas songs together. Adults and children will lead and also sing prepared songs. Then they will enjoy the annual Taste of Christmas in the social hall. For those who choose, there will be caroling in the neighborhood.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) set up Advent Stations on December 14-17 that were open in the morning and in the evening. The doors were open and the candles were lit for Friends to find space to be with God for the amount of time appropriate for them.
Bradley Angle House is naming their women's shelter, the Bonnie Tinker Shelter, for a deceased member of Multnomah Monthly Meeting (Portland, OR). A virtual ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony was held at the Friends Meeting House and people had the opportunity to share stories of Bonnie, the shelter she founded, and to honor her memory.y–Thursday,
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) has a monthly Amnesty International letter writing group which writes letters to government officials supporting prisoners of conscience in other countries and persons on death row in the United States.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) is in support of continuing the sale of grocery store gift cards to benefit the Colorado office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).
Mountain View Friends Meeting (Denver, CO) is accepting designated contributions to the Paul and Lisa Motz-Storeys’ work in Arusha, Tanzania: the Selian Hospice and the continuing repairs being done at the Selian Lutheran hospital.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) approved a minute of support for Bill and Genie Durlands’ participation in the Freedom March in Gaza.
The Library Committee of Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) has assessed work done to date – categorization and organization. A principle statement has been drafted – “We strive to attain a library which speaks to Quaker faith and practice.” This is an important step forward and a guide for future acquisitions.
Midtown Friends (Sacramento, CA) had its Grand Opening Celebration on October 4th in Fremont Park in Midtown Sacramento, playing drums, creating art, tasting fair-trade coffee and chocolate, followed by their first official public worship service.
Fresno Meeting (CA) supports the Representative Committee handling more of the Yearly Meeting’s business. At present Fresno Friends Meeting is very small and is not able to commit to sending representatives to the Representative Committee.
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
The Adult Religious Education committee of Corvallis Meeting (OR) is tentatively planning a Retreat on “Preparing for Death.” The committee hopes to include such topics as legal documents, medical concerns, advance directives, physician aid-in-dying, and Hospice, etc.
Corvallis Meeting (OR) has learned that it may be eligible for $500 federal stimulus money for Meeting House maintenance. Friends discussed the implications of taking the money, and what the Meeting would do with the money. The issue is seasoning another month.
Joe Franco will come to Claremont Meeting (CA) as a guest speaker in on the Fourth Sunday in February.
Canyon Hills Friends (Yorba Linda, CA) experienced a musical Christmas celebration called, "When Hope Came..."
Bridge City Meeting (Portland, OR) is once again planning a Christmas Eve celebration at the Multnomah Meeting House. There will be a short program and meeting for worship focused on the Christmas Story, followed by a social hour.
Berkeley Friends Church will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
Children from Albuquerque Meeting (NM) took a field trip to Lucky Paws at Coronado Mall to deliver the toys & blankets they had made for animals in City Shelters. The children were given a tour of the facility and had a chance to visit with one of the dogs at the site.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Arizona Half-Yearly Meeting will hold its Spring gathering March 27, 2010 at the Phoenix Meeting House.
Friends Center at Azusa Pacific is offering a course on Friends Theology, Worship, and Leadership, taught by Kent Walkemeyer, Friends Center Director. kwalkemeyer@apu.edu
Ben Lomond Quaker Center and Western Friend announce their first collaborative program, Rightly-Ordered Financial Management for Friends' Meetings and Organizations. It will take place at Ben Lomond Quaker Center on March 5-7, 2010.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Southern California – Representative Session and Equipping Community Dinner, Friday January 29, 2010; Serve Day, Saturday, January 30, 2010.
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
Friends are invited to join an Evangelical Friends Mission Vision Tour led by Chuck Mylander to Nepal, India, and Ireland, March 10-29, 2010. efm@friendsmission.com.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
Neighbors East and West is planning a trip to Iran April-May 2010. N.E.W, a Citizen-Diplomacy Community Education Organization led by Sam and Ruth Neff, is based in Richmond, IN and Whitefish, MT. http://neighborseastandwest.org/
The North Pacific Yearly Meeting Youth Committee asks if Meetings, Worship Groups, or individuals would be able to send a one-time donation (or to add a line item in annual budgets) to support the NPYM Youth Opportunity Fund.
Each year, the churches and meetings of Northwest Yearly Meeting take a Thanksgiving offering to support special projects of local or global outreach. This year, NWYM hoped to raise $9,000 to assist Del and Suzanne Livingston (Olympic View Friends, Tacoma, WA) begin three biosand water filtration micro-businesses in Burundi. They raised much more than that!
Midwinter High School Camp of Northwest Yearly Meeting is a camp for youth and their friends in the middle of winter. It will be held at Quaker Hill (McCall, ID) from December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010. It’s a chance for youth to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, worship, serve others, play games, and have a whole lot of fun. Information: rachelle@nwfriends.org
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Yearly Meeting seeks fulltime Youth Program Coordinator to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our pre-teens through young adults. Coordinator provides program support and coordination of youth activities; assists Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in engaging and educating their young people; develops an infrastructure that brings Friends together as a faith community; and provides a role model experienced in Friends' worship and practices. Frequent travel required. Expenses reimbursed. $18 an hour plus overtime, starting with two-weeks' vacation, holidays, sick leave and benefits. Quaker meeting membership required. By January 12th email letters of interest and résumés to Lanny Jay at landbird@comcast.net.
Utah Friends Fellowship Mid Winter Gathering will be in Salt Lake January 16-17.
Western Young Friends New Year’s Gathering will take place at Cazadero Arts Camp in Northern California, December 28, 2009-January 2, 2010. www.newyearsgathering.org
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
Monday, December 7, 2009
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Apple Seed Meeting (Sebastopol, CA) held a Threshing Session on its 2010 budget. Friends responded to the query, “What is our corporate witness as Friends?” Friends indicated they can still make a corporate witness in 2010, but they may have to do it more smartly and perhaps with less funding.
Berkeley Friends Church will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
In celebration of Santa Lucia Day and as a celebration of Light, Catya deNeergaard and Ingrid Hogle of Berkeley Meeting (CA) will lead a sunrise walk on December 13th at Cordonices Park.
The City of Berkeley Zoning Adjustment Board put the request from Berkeley Meeting (CA) for a permit regarding the Meeting’s renovation plans on the Consent Calendar and passed it without hearing arguments or engaging in discussion!
Bridge City Meeting (Portland, OR) is once again planning a Christmas Eve celebration at Multnomah Meeting House. There will be a short program and meeting for worship focused on the Christmas Story, followed by a social hour.
Bridge City Friends (Portland, OR) are collecting hats and scarves, socks and gloves for the women who daily deal with cold, rain, and deprivation. The Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter asks, “Could you expand your generosity to include journals and pens, books and Bibles, chocolate and hand sanitizers to be used as Christmas gifts?”
Chico Meeting (CA) takes on the responsibility of providing a meal monthly for homeless guests of the Torres Shelter. Oversight and Fellowship will coordinate this work and Finance Committee will include a line item in the 2010 budget.
Nominating Committee of Chico Meeting (CA) did not get the sense that anyone felt led to serve on Peace and Social Order committee so they will consider a proposal for the means by which to do this work.
Joe Franco will come to Claremont Meeting (CA) as a guest speaker in on the Fourth Sunday in February.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
As part of examining its decision making process, Davis Meeting Friends (CA) are participating in an exercise to help them express a concern and hear someone else's. Friends were to think of an unresolved issue, a concern, or something that feels it is still in process regarding the Friend and his/her participation in meeting. It could be as simple as not enough time to eat before Business Meeting or something systemic and deeply troubling.
Duncan Worship Group (BC) meets at Providence Farm in the “garden house” where on third Sundays the Meeting stages “Soup and Stories” – breakfast potluck and stories from Friends’ history and insights, starting with Betty Polster and then Linda Scheiber.
The Property and Building Committees of Eastside Meeting (Bellevue, WA) will hold an open meeting with Norlin Joyce, the contractor, for a progress report, walk-through of the new spaces, and question-and-answer about the building remodel project.
Eugene Meeting (OR) will hold a discussion about angels in Friends’ lives.
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
At Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) attendees that are not members are also being asked if they wish to consider membership. Ministry and Oversight is considering that a letter would be sent to these attendees to inquire into their possible formal membership in the Meeting. A possible “Seeker’s Meeting” may also take place to allow people to explore Quakerism as a spiritual and life path.
House and Grounds Committee of Honolulu Meeting (HI) notes that instead of urging all “memtenders” to get out for the Meeting’s monthly Work Day, the committee will urge each to come for at least ONE workday each year! With helping hands added to those of regular monthly stalwarts, more could be accomplished, and Friends could enjoy the satisfaction of work and fellowship.
Honolulu Meeting (HI) notes that fewer people are attending Meeting for Worship on Sundays. The Meeting is planning outreach efforts which may stimulate more interest. As a first step, Friends are asked to consider the following questions: 1) How did you first hear about Quaker Meetings? 2) What prompted you to attend your first Quaker Meeting? 3) What is it about Meeting that keeps you coming back?
The Program Committee of Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) urges Friends to come make Christmas crafts. Friends will bring their talents and supplies for a fun intergenerational event on Saturday, December 12th.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) will hold a Service of Consolation, December 6th, 4:00 p.m.
Eric Muhr will begin serving Newberg Friends Church (OR) as fulltime youth pastor on January 1, 2010.
Orange County Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) participates in SOS's Adopt-a-Family for Christmas program. This year, Friends have agreed to adopt one or two families and up to eight children. They will provide two wrapped gifts for each child in the family and the makings of a Christmas feast, plus clothing, if funds allow.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) will schedule a time outside of business meetings to discuss the philosophy of authority.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) notes that its buildings are heavily used. No week end time is available for continuing groups. The committee is suggesting that no Saturday events for outside groups be confirmed as scheduled more than 4 weeks in advance. This would make it difficult for a group to schedule a public one day event. Unity was not found, so the matter was laid over.
Oversight Committee of Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) is unable to shoulder the burdens of hosting Quarterly Meeting when it next comes to Santa Rosa. Several Friends volunteered to serve on an ad hoc committee, and a short note will be put in the newsletter asking for additional help. The ad-hoc committee will determine whether there is enough strength in RFFM to hold the winter Quarter here when it is next scheduled to be in Santa Rosa.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) presented this year's music/drama Christmas presentation, A Christmas Prayer-a story of reconciliation and love, featuring the Sanctuary choir, orchestra, drama cast, and several soloists. A journey of restoring family relationships was woven together with a journey of faith in this moving and meaningful presentation.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will offer Financial Peace University, a biblically-based video discussion series that will help Friends learn how to beat debt, build savings, and give like never before. Imagine what the people of God could do for the Kingdom of God if they lived by God's money principles. Previews in December; the class starts in January.
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) Finance Committee, is changed to Budget and Fundraising Committee. The Committee shall monitor the financial condition of the Meeting -- consulting, assisting and advising the Treasurer in matters pertaining to the Meeting's financial health, and in consultation with the Treasurer, reporting to Business Meeting from time to time at its discretion, but regularly every March and October, on the financial condition, needs, and prospects of the Meeting. When appropriate and approved by Business Meeting, the Committee shall oversee or consult on fund raising activities from within the Meeting and from third party donors.
The Peace and Social Concerns Committee of San Francisco Meeting (CA) will sponsor a program called From Violence to Wholeness, starting in February.
Worship & Ministry of Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) experimented with extended worship on November 29. Friends ended worship when they sensed that it was done, not when the clock said stop.
Santa Fe Friends (NM) had a lengthy discussion of the revision of the draft bylaws as they were posted online. Friends agreed that the issues boiled down to six major areas where the Meeting is called upon to make additional revisions for the purpose of clarity.
A member of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) is working toward a gathering (probably in early 2010) of middle-schoolers from all the local Quaker meetings.
Adult Religious Education (A.R.E.) of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) led a discussion on “The Soul.” What is the soul? What are Quaker views of the soul? What do you experience as the soul? Part of the time will be spent watching a section of a Parker Palmer video on "Circles of Trust" where he discusses the soul and an approach to it.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) held a Called Meeting for Business to consider if the Meeting should move ahead to seek Monthly Meeting Status.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) is finalizing plans for Friendly 8 dinners which will be held on Dec. 18 (Friday) and Dec. 19 (Saturday).
Friends at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are invited let their contemplative and creative juices flow to make a personal vision collage On Sunday, January 3rd.
The fourth Meeting-wide retreat in its Year of Discernment was held at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) on Saturday, October 24. Over 50 people gathered for worship, work on the building, an enormous potluck lunch, thoughtful discussion about the nature and meaning of community, and interest groups on three major UFM issues (building decisions, youth programs, and integration of worship and social action).
Vancouver Island Monthly Meeting of the Canadian Religious Society of Friends fully endorses the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 December 2007
Victoria Meeting (BC) is considering acknowledging Coast Salish Traditional Territory as part of the Meeting House address.
Woodland Friends Church (ID), a congregation of 60 people in a farming community on a beautiful mesa in central Idaho, is looking for a pastor.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Christian Friends Conference will meet next on Dec. 12, 2009 at Berkeley Friends Church.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Southern California – Representative Session and Equipping Community Dinner, Friday January 29, 2010; Serve Day, Saturday, January 30, 2010.
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
Friends are invited to join an Evangelical Friends Mission Vision Tour led by Chuck Mylander to Nepal, India, and Ireland, March 10-29, 2010. efm@friendsmission.com.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
The North Pacific Yearly Meeting Youth Committee asks if Meetings, Worship Groups, or individuals would be able to send a one-time donation (or to add a line item in annual budgets) to support the NPYM Youth Opportunity Fund.
Each year, the churches and meetings of Northwest Yearly Meeting take a Thanksgiving offering to support special projects of local or global outreach. This year, NWYM hoped to raise $9,000 to assist Del and Suzanne Livingston (Olympic View Friends, Tacoma, WA) begin three biosand water filtration micro-businesses in Burundi. They raised much more than that!
Midwinter High School Camp of Northwest Yearly Meeting is a camp for youth and their friends in the middle of winter. It will be held at Quaker Hill (McCall, ID) from December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010. It’s a chance for youth to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, worship, serve others, play games, and have a whole lot of fun. Information: rachelle@nwfriends.org
Angel Diaz, Latino Ministry Coordinator for Northwest Yearly Meeting, reports attendance at the yearly meeting’s Latino Ministry Points: 60 Newberg, 30 Greenleaf, 50 Caldwell, 30 Lynwood, 30 Vancouver First, 40 Reedwood, 25 McMinnville, 20 North Valley Church, 10 Salem, 5 in Clackamas Park -- 300 people together.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Yearly Meeting seeks fulltime Youth Program Coordinator to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our pre-teens through young adults. Coordinator provides program support and coordination of youth activities; assists Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in engaging and educating their young people; develops an infrastructure that brings Friends together as a faith community; and provides a role model experienced in Friends' worship and practices. Frequent travel required. Expenses reimbursed. $18 an hour plus overtime, starting with two-weeks' vacation, holidays, sick leave and benefits. Quaker meeting membership required. By January 12th email letters of interest and résumés to Lanny Jay at landbird@comcast.net.
The Proposal for revitalizing Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Committee and strengthening the voice of Monthly Meeting through their representatives includes the proposal that the Representative Committee (REPCOM) of the yearly meeting assume responsibility for acting on more of the business of the yearly meeting.
Utah Friends Fellowship Mid Winter Gathering will be in Salt Lake January 16-17.
Quaker Book Release Party - December 12 in San Francisco: Friends are invited to come to the Bay Area celebration of Western Friend magazine’s recent publication of Enlivened by the Mystery: Quakers and God, an anthology of work by Friends from Pacific, North Pacific and Intermountain Yearly Meetings and beyond!
Western Young Friends New Year’s Gathering will take place at Cazadero Arts Camp in Northern California, December 28, 2009-January 2, 2010. www.newyearsgathering.org
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
The Fall 2009 Woolman Semester Graduation Celebration will be on Saturday, December 19 at the Woolman Campus at Sierra Friends Center with the theme, “What Makes You Come Alive?”
Apple Seed Meeting (Sebastopol, CA) held a Threshing Session on its 2010 budget. Friends responded to the query, “What is our corporate witness as Friends?” Friends indicated they can still make a corporate witness in 2010, but they may have to do it more smartly and perhaps with less funding.
Berkeley Friends Church will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
In celebration of Santa Lucia Day and as a celebration of Light, Catya deNeergaard and Ingrid Hogle of Berkeley Meeting (CA) will lead a sunrise walk on December 13th at Cordonices Park.
The City of Berkeley Zoning Adjustment Board put the request from Berkeley Meeting (CA) for a permit regarding the Meeting’s renovation plans on the Consent Calendar and passed it without hearing arguments or engaging in discussion!
Bridge City Meeting (Portland, OR) is once again planning a Christmas Eve celebration at Multnomah Meeting House. There will be a short program and meeting for worship focused on the Christmas Story, followed by a social hour.
Bridge City Friends (Portland, OR) are collecting hats and scarves, socks and gloves for the women who daily deal with cold, rain, and deprivation. The Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter asks, “Could you expand your generosity to include journals and pens, books and Bibles, chocolate and hand sanitizers to be used as Christmas gifts?”
Chico Meeting (CA) takes on the responsibility of providing a meal monthly for homeless guests of the Torres Shelter. Oversight and Fellowship will coordinate this work and Finance Committee will include a line item in the 2010 budget.
Nominating Committee of Chico Meeting (CA) did not get the sense that anyone felt led to serve on Peace and Social Order committee so they will consider a proposal for the means by which to do this work.
Joe Franco will come to Claremont Meeting (CA) as a guest speaker in on the Fourth Sunday in February.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
As part of examining its decision making process, Davis Meeting Friends (CA) are participating in an exercise to help them express a concern and hear someone else's. Friends were to think of an unresolved issue, a concern, or something that feels it is still in process regarding the Friend and his/her participation in meeting. It could be as simple as not enough time to eat before Business Meeting or something systemic and deeply troubling.
Duncan Worship Group (BC) meets at Providence Farm in the “garden house” where on third Sundays the Meeting stages “Soup and Stories” – breakfast potluck and stories from Friends’ history and insights, starting with Betty Polster and then Linda Scheiber.
The Property and Building Committees of Eastside Meeting (Bellevue, WA) will hold an open meeting with Norlin Joyce, the contractor, for a progress report, walk-through of the new spaces, and question-and-answer about the building remodel project.
Eugene Meeting (OR) will hold a discussion about angels in Friends’ lives.
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
At Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) attendees that are not members are also being asked if they wish to consider membership. Ministry and Oversight is considering that a letter would be sent to these attendees to inquire into their possible formal membership in the Meeting. A possible “Seeker’s Meeting” may also take place to allow people to explore Quakerism as a spiritual and life path.
House and Grounds Committee of Honolulu Meeting (HI) notes that instead of urging all “memtenders” to get out for the Meeting’s monthly Work Day, the committee will urge each to come for at least ONE workday each year! With helping hands added to those of regular monthly stalwarts, more could be accomplished, and Friends could enjoy the satisfaction of work and fellowship.
Honolulu Meeting (HI) notes that fewer people are attending Meeting for Worship on Sundays. The Meeting is planning outreach efforts which may stimulate more interest. As a first step, Friends are asked to consider the following questions: 1) How did you first hear about Quaker Meetings? 2) What prompted you to attend your first Quaker Meeting? 3) What is it about Meeting that keeps you coming back?
The Program Committee of Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) urges Friends to come make Christmas crafts. Friends will bring their talents and supplies for a fun intergenerational event on Saturday, December 12th.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) will hold a Service of Consolation, December 6th, 4:00 p.m.
Eric Muhr will begin serving Newberg Friends Church (OR) as fulltime youth pastor on January 1, 2010.
Orange County Meeting (Santa Ana, CA) participates in SOS's Adopt-a-Family for Christmas program. This year, Friends have agreed to adopt one or two families and up to eight children. They will provide two wrapped gifts for each child in the family and the makings of a Christmas feast, plus clothing, if funds allow.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) will schedule a time outside of business meetings to discuss the philosophy of authority.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) notes that its buildings are heavily used. No week end time is available for continuing groups. The committee is suggesting that no Saturday events for outside groups be confirmed as scheduled more than 4 weeks in advance. This would make it difficult for a group to schedule a public one day event. Unity was not found, so the matter was laid over.
Oversight Committee of Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) is unable to shoulder the burdens of hosting Quarterly Meeting when it next comes to Santa Rosa. Several Friends volunteered to serve on an ad hoc committee, and a short note will be put in the newsletter asking for additional help. The ad-hoc committee will determine whether there is enough strength in RFFM to hold the winter Quarter here when it is next scheduled to be in Santa Rosa.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) presented this year's music/drama Christmas presentation, A Christmas Prayer-a story of reconciliation and love, featuring the Sanctuary choir, orchestra, drama cast, and several soloists. A journey of restoring family relationships was woven together with a journey of faith in this moving and meaningful presentation.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will offer Financial Peace University, a biblically-based video discussion series that will help Friends learn how to beat debt, build savings, and give like never before. Imagine what the people of God could do for the Kingdom of God if they lived by God's money principles. Previews in December; the class starts in January.
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) Finance Committee, is changed to Budget and Fundraising Committee. The Committee shall monitor the financial condition of the Meeting -- consulting, assisting and advising the Treasurer in matters pertaining to the Meeting's financial health, and in consultation with the Treasurer, reporting to Business Meeting from time to time at its discretion, but regularly every March and October, on the financial condition, needs, and prospects of the Meeting. When appropriate and approved by Business Meeting, the Committee shall oversee or consult on fund raising activities from within the Meeting and from third party donors.
The Peace and Social Concerns Committee of San Francisco Meeting (CA) will sponsor a program called From Violence to Wholeness, starting in February.
Worship & Ministry of Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) experimented with extended worship on November 29. Friends ended worship when they sensed that it was done, not when the clock said stop.
Santa Fe Friends (NM) had a lengthy discussion of the revision of the draft bylaws as they were posted online. Friends agreed that the issues boiled down to six major areas where the Meeting is called upon to make additional revisions for the purpose of clarity.
A member of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) is working toward a gathering (probably in early 2010) of middle-schoolers from all the local Quaker meetings.
Adult Religious Education (A.R.E.) of South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) led a discussion on “The Soul.” What is the soul? What are Quaker views of the soul? What do you experience as the soul? Part of the time will be spent watching a section of a Parker Palmer video on "Circles of Trust" where he discusses the soul and an approach to it.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) held a Called Meeting for Business to consider if the Meeting should move ahead to seek Monthly Meeting Status.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) is finalizing plans for Friendly 8 dinners which will be held on Dec. 18 (Friday) and Dec. 19 (Saturday).
Friends at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are invited let their contemplative and creative juices flow to make a personal vision collage On Sunday, January 3rd.
The fourth Meeting-wide retreat in its Year of Discernment was held at University Meeting (Seattle, WA) on Saturday, October 24. Over 50 people gathered for worship, work on the building, an enormous potluck lunch, thoughtful discussion about the nature and meaning of community, and interest groups on three major UFM issues (building decisions, youth programs, and integration of worship and social action).
Vancouver Island Monthly Meeting of the Canadian Religious Society of Friends fully endorses the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 December 2007
Victoria Meeting (BC) is considering acknowledging Coast Salish Traditional Territory as part of the Meeting House address.
Woodland Friends Church (ID), a congregation of 60 people in a farming community on a beautiful mesa in central Idaho, is looking for a pastor.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Christian Friends Conference will meet next on Dec. 12, 2009 at Berkeley Friends Church.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Southern California – Representative Session and Equipping Community Dinner, Friday January 29, 2010; Serve Day, Saturday, January 30, 2010.
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
Friends are invited to join an Evangelical Friends Mission Vision Tour led by Chuck Mylander to Nepal, India, and Ireland, March 10-29, 2010. efm@friendsmission.com.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
The North Pacific Yearly Meeting Youth Committee asks if Meetings, Worship Groups, or individuals would be able to send a one-time donation (or to add a line item in annual budgets) to support the NPYM Youth Opportunity Fund.
Each year, the churches and meetings of Northwest Yearly Meeting take a Thanksgiving offering to support special projects of local or global outreach. This year, NWYM hoped to raise $9,000 to assist Del and Suzanne Livingston (Olympic View Friends, Tacoma, WA) begin three biosand water filtration micro-businesses in Burundi. They raised much more than that!
Midwinter High School Camp of Northwest Yearly Meeting is a camp for youth and their friends in the middle of winter. It will be held at Quaker Hill (McCall, ID) from December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010. It’s a chance for youth to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, worship, serve others, play games, and have a whole lot of fun. Information: rachelle@nwfriends.org
Angel Diaz, Latino Ministry Coordinator for Northwest Yearly Meeting, reports attendance at the yearly meeting’s Latino Ministry Points: 60 Newberg, 30 Greenleaf, 50 Caldwell, 30 Lynwood, 30 Vancouver First, 40 Reedwood, 25 McMinnville, 20 North Valley Church, 10 Salem, 5 in Clackamas Park -- 300 people together.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Yearly Meeting seeks fulltime Youth Program Coordinator to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our pre-teens through young adults. Coordinator provides program support and coordination of youth activities; assists Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in engaging and educating their young people; develops an infrastructure that brings Friends together as a faith community; and provides a role model experienced in Friends' worship and practices. Frequent travel required. Expenses reimbursed. $18 an hour plus overtime, starting with two-weeks' vacation, holidays, sick leave and benefits. Quaker meeting membership required. By January 12th email letters of interest and résumés to Lanny Jay at landbird@comcast.net.
The Proposal for revitalizing Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Committee and strengthening the voice of Monthly Meeting through their representatives includes the proposal that the Representative Committee (REPCOM) of the yearly meeting assume responsibility for acting on more of the business of the yearly meeting.
Utah Friends Fellowship Mid Winter Gathering will be in Salt Lake January 16-17.
Quaker Book Release Party - December 12 in San Francisco: Friends are invited to come to the Bay Area celebration of Western Friend magazine’s recent publication of Enlivened by the Mystery: Quakers and God, an anthology of work by Friends from Pacific, North Pacific and Intermountain Yearly Meetings and beyond!
Western Young Friends New Year’s Gathering will take place at Cazadero Arts Camp in Northern California, December 28, 2009-January 2, 2010. www.newyearsgathering.org
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
The Fall 2009 Woolman Semester Graduation Celebration will be on Saturday, December 19 at the Woolman Campus at Sierra Friends Center with the theme, “What Makes You Come Alive?”
Thursday, November 19, 2009
News from Western Quaker Newsletters
November 2009
During the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage, a program of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), Quaker youth (16-18) from all over the world form an intentional community and travel together for a month. This journey will happen in the Pacific Northwest next summer. The cost is $1300 and the application deadline is November 30th.
Is there a young person in your church or meeting who should have this life-changing experience? Contact me- nancym@fwccamericas.org, Bill Schoder-Ehri - bschodereheri@gmail.com, or the FWCC website, fwccamericas.org, for more information.
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Meridian Friends Church (ID) will host a Coffee Cup Coaching Seminar. Dr. Tony Wheeler from the Center for Strong Families will teach on how to offer encouragement to struggling families.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO): “The purpose of the School of the Spirit is to provide Friends with a weekend experience designed to broaden our understanding of Quakerism, and enhance the spirituality of our Meeting. It provides an opportunity to bring seasoned Quakers from other parts of the country, thus connecting us to the broader Quaker community. The School of the Spirit Committee attempts to discern the needs of the Meeting as well as its interests when selecting programs.”
The CALM committee (Children and the Life of the Meeting) of Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) incorporated strategies to protect the community from child abuse: “1) teachers are required to attend the Meeting for a year before teaching in our First Day School; thereby giving all of us a chance to get to know them and 2) two adults are to be present with the children during any First Day School classroom activity.”
All are welcome to join Multnomah Meeting’s (Portland, OR) ongoing Energy Circle, continuing the practices introduced by John Calvi, Thursdays at the Meeting House.
Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) now has a Medical Library housed in the basement that contains the following items available for check-out: a wheel chair, a knee brace, a lower arm brace, 2 pair of crutches, a mobile bed pan.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) will hold a Service of Consolation, December 6th, 4:00 p.m.
Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) agreed to schedule a time in a future business meeting to discuss the issues of the needs of persons appearing at Meeting asking for help (food, money, cooking facilities).
The Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) Book Club held an engaging and illuminating discussion of WALDEN, by Henry David Thoreau.
The Phoenix Friends (AZ) Peace and Social Concerns committee invites Tempe Friends (AZ) to join in a potluck on November 22 following meeting for worship. Friends will be sharing food, watching a documentary, and discussing the AFSC recommendation for immigration reform number 1: Create Justice with Humane Economic Policies, from their list of seven recommendations for immigration reform.
On Wednesday evening, November 25th, Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will hold its annual Thanksgiving Eve Service. Many people look forward to this unique service as their favorite church family gathering of the year. There will be times of thanksgiving, praise and worship through music, and shared testimonies. The elements of communion will be made available.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will offer a three-part DVD lessons series, “The Purpose of Christmas,” at Wednesday night small groups. Friends are invited for lively conversation as they get to know new people and prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth.
Seven students in Nairobi, Kenya are currently attending school because they receive tuition and school supplies from Friends in Sacramento. Sacramento Friends Meeting (CA) funds one student, individual Friends support four students, and Sacramento Friends Church (CA) two students.
Sacramento Friends Meeting (CA) has started a fan page on Facebook as part of its Quaker Quest outreach.
Oversight Committee of Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) hosted a get-acquainted hour, centered around the queries: "What drew you to the Quakers?" "What concerns or questions do you have?" It was noted that the session was for anyone interested in attending, no matter how long they’d been part of the Quaker world.
Meeting for Remembering at South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will take place on Saturday November 21, 2009 in the late afternoon at the Senior Center with a potluck to follow.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will hold a special called meeting for business to decide whether to begin the process of becoming a monthly meeting.
During Second Hour at the rise of Meeting for Worship, November 15, a Tacoma Meeting (WA) member shared about the experience of simplicity and Quaker faith and practice. The presentation was in the style of the presentations done as part of Quaker Quest and a continuation of the Meeting’s work toward deciding if it wants to present Quaker Quest for the community.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) asks that the Finance Committee send out another request to Friends to pledge donations for next year, and Friends are asked to return their coupons stating their intended donations for 2010 as soon as possible, and revisit the budget for final approval during Eleventh Month.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) continues to consider the question of hosting homeless people at the Meeting. At business meeting, a heated discussion with some emotional outbursts ensued. Some were hurt by the meeting’s process, others frustrated or disillusioned; some may have left with a sense of relief that genuine concerns previously unspoken had been shared. Friends agreed to hold a threshing session for the entire membership and attenders at the rise of Meeting for Worship the following First Day, preceded by a potluck lunch.
University Meeting (Seattle, WA) is seeking vendors and shoppers for its Crafts Fair. This simple yet fun and well loved annual event will be held Sunday Nov. 29 from 10:30am until 1 pm.
Visalia Meeting (CA) will host Fresno Meeting (CA) the Fifth Sunday in November.
Becky Memmelaar from North Carolina has accepted the call from First Friends, Whittier (CA) to be their pastor. She will assume the ministry on January 1, 2010.
The Friends Choir of First Friends, Whittier (CA) will present The Creation (A Rock Cantata) by David Bobrowitz and Stephen Porter. This piece is a musical expression of the seven days of creation.
Wyoming Friends Meeting will gather in Lander, WY November 20-22nd.
Due to concerns about personal privacy and security Agate Passage Friends (Poulsbo, WA) agree that their minutes will not be posted on the web.
Albuquerque Meeting (NM) has created a new budget category called “Friends in Need” as distinct from “Sufferings” which has traditionally been used for a need resulting from a spiritual leading. The new category is intended for a variety of personal needs as they come up.
Bellingham Meeting (WA) gathers in rented facilities. Their library was removed without warning, packed in boxes and locked away, inaccessible to the Meeting for several weeks. Some of the library has reappeared on an old bookshelf. There are missing books.
Naming Committee of Albuquerque Meeting (NM) asked for clear communication if someone was going to be turned down for a nomination.
Berkeley Friends Church will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
Boise Valley Meeting (ID) is making arrangements with a professional tutor to work with a Friend’s grandchildren to bring them up to grade level in school subjects.
Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) held a Child Dedication time during the three weekend services, November 14th & 15th.
Sergio Cardona, pastor of Canyon Hills Friends Church’s (Yorba Linda, CA) sister-church, Ministerio de Restauración Mahanaim, in Juárez, Mexico, recently spoke in all (3) Weekend Services. This Christmas, Canyon Hills will partner with this sister church to be a part of bringing real change into people's lives. Friends can help be a part of blessing the lives of the less fortunate families in Juárez this Christmas by signing up to sponsor a family.
The Student Ministries and Family Pastor of Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) works with junior and senior high youth. As well as working with the youth, he leads PUM – Parents Unite Meetings to talk about what is going on in the student's ministry and some hot topic issues that are relevant to the parents’ relationships with their students.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) will have a “Hot Chocolate Day” after Meeting on Dec. 13th. Friends are to invite any kids and parents they know that might be interested in Meeting.
Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) has altered Fifth Sundays. Songs will be geared a bit more toward children, with movements. Coloring will be available during the silence – “Color Your Prayer.” Adults are welcome to participate in the coloring!
Living Water Ministries, (Plummer, ID) a ministry point of NWYM, serves the people of the Coeur d’Alene Reservation in Plummer, Idaho. They recently held a “Spirit Jam” dance and music outreach.
Lower Columbia Worship Group (Seaview, WA) has scheduled a called meeting for business to discuss whether or not to join the Community of Welcoming Congregations and how that social justice witness might be carried out in the community.
More than one Meeting:
Several Meetings including Albuquerque Meeting (NM), Berkeley Meeting (CA), Eugene Meeting (OR), Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) San Jose Meeting, University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are inviting Friends to dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Many other churches and meetings will have Thanksgiving events surrounding the holiday.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Alaska Friends Conference will hold Fall Quarterly in Anchorage from November 27 – 29, Thanksgiving weekend.
After the success of this year's Spirit Camp, where teens from Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting gathered with Alaskan teen Friends in Alaska, Ohio Valley wishes to return the invitation. At business meeting during the Fall quarterly gathering of Alaska Friends Conference, Friends will discuss whether to take OVYM up on its generous offer to host Alaska teens in 2010.
Christian Friends Conference will meet next on Dec. 12, 2009 at Berkeley Friends Church.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Southern California – Representative Session and Equipping Community Dinner, Friday January 29, 2010; Serve Day, Saturday, January 30, 2010.
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
Midwinter High School Camp of Northwest Yearly Meeting is a camp for youth and their friends in the middle of winter. It will be held at Quaker Hill (McCall, ID) from December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010. It’s a chance for youth to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, worship, serve others, play games, and have a whole lot of fun. Information: rachelle@nwfriends.org
Angel Diaz, Latino Ministry Coordinator for Northwest Yearly Meeting, reports attendance at the yearly meeting’s Latino Ministry Points: 60 Newberg, 30 Greenleaf, 50 Caldwell, 30 Lynwood, 30 Vancouver First, 40 Reedwood, 25 Mcminnville, 20 North Valley Church, 10 Salem, 5 in Clackamas Park -- 300 people together.
The Immigration Ministry Team Update from Northwest Yearly Meeting includes the following vision: “We envision the ability of our citizen congregations in partnership with our growing number of Latino congregations to be able to provide the necessary and current information and trustworthy counsel about existing immigration laws and processes to pastors, church leaders, and those in the congregations, including their wider social networks, who are affected by US immigration policy.”
Meeting for Business of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting agreed to an increase in the Quarterly Meeting assessment, beginning in 2010. The Meeting also agreed to continue the pay-what-you-can fee policy, including for those who register late. It was understood that the Continuing Committee, at its meeting in January 2010, will decide upon the amount of increase in Quarterly Meeting assessment for 2010, subject to review by Meeting for Business in April 2010.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Yearly Meeting seeks fulltime Youth Program Coordinator to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our pre-teens through young adults. Coordinator provides program support and coordination of youth activities; assists Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in engaging and educating their young people; develops an infrastructure that brings Friends together as a faith community; and provides a role model experienced in Friends' worship and practices. Frequent travel required. Expenses reimbursed. $18 an hour plus overtime, starting with two-weeks' vacation, holidays, sick leave and benefits. Quaker meeting membership required. By January 12th email letters of interest and résumés to Lanny Jay at landbird@comcast.net.
The Proposal for revitalizing Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Committee and strengthening the voice of Monthly Meeting through their representatives includes the proposal that the Representative Committee (REPCOM) of the yearly meeting assume responsibility for acting on more of the business of the yearly meeting.
Western Friend will hold a BOOK PARTY at the Multnomah Meeting House (Portland, OR) on Sunday, November 22, 5-7 p.m. to celebrate the recent publication of Enlivened by the Mystery: Quakers and God.
Western Young Friends New Year’s Gathering will take place at Cazadero Arts Camp in Northern California, December 28, 2009-January 2, 2010. www.newyearsgathering.org
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
FWCC Website
Look at www.fwccamericas.org for information about the Section of the Americas.
November 2009
During the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage, a program of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), Quaker youth (16-18) from all over the world form an intentional community and travel together for a month. This journey will happen in the Pacific Northwest next summer. The cost is $1300 and the application deadline is November 30th.
Is there a young person in your church or meeting who should have this life-changing experience? Contact me- nancym@fwccamericas.org, Bill Schoder-Ehri - bschodereheri@gmail.com, or the FWCC website, fwccamericas.org, for more information.
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Meridian Friends Church (ID) will host a Coffee Cup Coaching Seminar. Dr. Tony Wheeler from the Center for Strong Families will teach on how to offer encouragement to struggling families.
Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO): “The purpose of the School of the Spirit is to provide Friends with a weekend experience designed to broaden our understanding of Quakerism, and enhance the spirituality of our Meeting. It provides an opportunity to bring seasoned Quakers from other parts of the country, thus connecting us to the broader Quaker community. The School of the Spirit Committee attempts to discern the needs of the Meeting as well as its interests when selecting programs.”
The CALM committee (Children and the Life of the Meeting) of Mountain View Meeting (Denver, CO) incorporated strategies to protect the community from child abuse: “1) teachers are required to attend the Meeting for a year before teaching in our First Day School; thereby giving all of us a chance to get to know them and 2) two adults are to be present with the children during any First Day School classroom activity.”
All are welcome to join Multnomah Meeting’s (Portland, OR) ongoing Energy Circle, continuing the practices introduced by John Calvi, Thursdays at the Meeting House.
Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR) now has a Medical Library housed in the basement that contains the following items available for check-out: a wheel chair, a knee brace, a lower arm brace, 2 pair of crutches, a mobile bed pan.
Newberg Friends Church (OR) will hold a Service of Consolation, December 6th, 4:00 p.m.
Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) agreed to schedule a time in a future business meeting to discuss the issues of the needs of persons appearing at Meeting asking for help (food, money, cooking facilities).
The Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) Book Club held an engaging and illuminating discussion of WALDEN, by Henry David Thoreau.
The Phoenix Friends (AZ) Peace and Social Concerns committee invites Tempe Friends (AZ) to join in a potluck on November 22 following meeting for worship. Friends will be sharing food, watching a documentary, and discussing the AFSC recommendation for immigration reform number 1: Create Justice with Humane Economic Policies, from their list of seven recommendations for immigration reform.
On Wednesday evening, November 25th, Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will hold its annual Thanksgiving Eve Service. Many people look forward to this unique service as their favorite church family gathering of the year. There will be times of thanksgiving, praise and worship through music, and shared testimonies. The elements of communion will be made available.
Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) will offer a three-part DVD lessons series, “The Purpose of Christmas,” at Wednesday night small groups. Friends are invited for lively conversation as they get to know new people and prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth.
Seven students in Nairobi, Kenya are currently attending school because they receive tuition and school supplies from Friends in Sacramento. Sacramento Friends Meeting (CA) funds one student, individual Friends support four students, and Sacramento Friends Church (CA) two students.
Sacramento Friends Meeting (CA) has started a fan page on Facebook as part of its Quaker Quest outreach.
Oversight Committee of Santa Cruz Meeting (CA) hosted a get-acquainted hour, centered around the queries: "What drew you to the Quakers?" "What concerns or questions do you have?" It was noted that the session was for anyone interested in attending, no matter how long they’d been part of the Quaker world.
Meeting for Remembering at South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will take place on Saturday November 21, 2009 in the late afternoon at the Senior Center with a potluck to follow.
South Seattle Preparative Meeting (WA) will hold a special called meeting for business to decide whether to begin the process of becoming a monthly meeting.
During Second Hour at the rise of Meeting for Worship, November 15, a Tacoma Meeting (WA) member shared about the experience of simplicity and Quaker faith and practice. The presentation was in the style of the presentations done as part of Quaker Quest and a continuation of the Meeting’s work toward deciding if it wants to present Quaker Quest for the community.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) asks that the Finance Committee send out another request to Friends to pledge donations for next year, and Friends are asked to return their coupons stating their intended donations for 2010 as soon as possible, and revisit the budget for final approval during Eleventh Month.
Tempe Meeting (AZ) continues to consider the question of hosting homeless people at the Meeting. At business meeting, a heated discussion with some emotional outbursts ensued. Some were hurt by the meeting’s process, others frustrated or disillusioned; some may have left with a sense of relief that genuine concerns previously unspoken had been shared. Friends agreed to hold a threshing session for the entire membership and attenders at the rise of Meeting for Worship the following First Day, preceded by a potluck lunch.
University Meeting (Seattle, WA) is seeking vendors and shoppers for its Crafts Fair. This simple yet fun and well loved annual event will be held Sunday Nov. 29 from 10:30am until 1 pm.
Visalia Meeting (CA) will host Fresno Meeting (CA) the Fifth Sunday in November.
Becky Memmelaar from North Carolina has accepted the call from First Friends, Whittier (CA) to be their pastor. She will assume the ministry on January 1, 2010.
The Friends Choir of First Friends, Whittier (CA) will present The Creation (A Rock Cantata) by David Bobrowitz and Stephen Porter. This piece is a musical expression of the seven days of creation.
Wyoming Friends Meeting will gather in Lander, WY November 20-22nd.
Due to concerns about personal privacy and security Agate Passage Friends (Poulsbo, WA) agree that their minutes will not be posted on the web.
Albuquerque Meeting (NM) has created a new budget category called “Friends in Need” as distinct from “Sufferings” which has traditionally been used for a need resulting from a spiritual leading. The new category is intended for a variety of personal needs as they come up.
Bellingham Meeting (WA) gathers in rented facilities. Their library was removed without warning, packed in boxes and locked away, inaccessible to the Meeting for several weeks. Some of the library has reappeared on an old bookshelf. There are missing books.
Naming Committee of Albuquerque Meeting (NM) asked for clear communication if someone was going to be turned down for a nomination.
Berkeley Friends Church will hold its 2010 Quaker Heritage Day on Saturday April 10, 2010. Carol Spencer will speak on Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism.
Boise Valley Meeting (ID) is making arrangements with a professional tutor to work with a Friend’s grandchildren to bring them up to grade level in school subjects.
Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) held a Child Dedication time during the three weekend services, November 14th & 15th.
Sergio Cardona, pastor of Canyon Hills Friends Church’s (Yorba Linda, CA) sister-church, Ministerio de Restauración Mahanaim, in Juárez, Mexico, recently spoke in all (3) Weekend Services. This Christmas, Canyon Hills will partner with this sister church to be a part of bringing real change into people's lives. Friends can help be a part of blessing the lives of the less fortunate families in Juárez this Christmas by signing up to sponsor a family.
The Student Ministries and Family Pastor of Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) works with junior and senior high youth. As well as working with the youth, he leads PUM – Parents Unite Meetings to talk about what is going on in the student's ministry and some hot topic issues that are relevant to the parents’ relationships with their students.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) will have a “Hot Chocolate Day” after Meeting on Dec. 13th. Friends are to invite any kids and parents they know that might be interested in Meeting.
Grass Valley Meeting (Nevada City, CA) has altered Fifth Sundays. Songs will be geared a bit more toward children, with movements. Coloring will be available during the silence – “Color Your Prayer.” Adults are welcome to participate in the coloring!
Living Water Ministries, (Plummer, ID) a ministry point of NWYM, serves the people of the Coeur d’Alene Reservation in Plummer, Idaho. They recently held a “Spirit Jam” dance and music outreach.
Lower Columbia Worship Group (Seaview, WA) has scheduled a called meeting for business to discuss whether or not to join the Community of Welcoming Congregations and how that social justice witness might be carried out in the community.
More than one Meeting:
Several Meetings including Albuquerque Meeting (NM), Berkeley Meeting (CA), Eugene Meeting (OR), Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) San Jose Meeting, University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are inviting Friends to dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Many other churches and meetings will have Thanksgiving events surrounding the holiday.
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Alaska Friends Conference will hold Fall Quarterly in Anchorage from November 27 – 29, Thanksgiving weekend.
After the success of this year's Spirit Camp, where teens from Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting gathered with Alaskan teen Friends in Alaska, Ohio Valley wishes to return the invitation. At business meeting during the Fall quarterly gathering of Alaska Friends Conference, Friends will discuss whether to take OVYM up on its generous offer to host Alaska teens in 2010.
Christian Friends Conference will meet next on Dec. 12, 2009 at Berkeley Friends Church.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest will hold Annual Conference and Serve Day:
• Southern California – Representative Session and Equipping Community Dinner, Friday January 29, 2010; Serve Day, Saturday, January 30, 2010.
• Arizona/Nevada – Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 13, 2010.
• Northern California - Serve Day and Celebration Banquet, Saturday February 20, 2010.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
Midwinter High School Camp of Northwest Yearly Meeting is a camp for youth and their friends in the middle of winter. It will be held at Quaker Hill (McCall, ID) from December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010. It’s a chance for youth to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, worship, serve others, play games, and have a whole lot of fun. Information: rachelle@nwfriends.org
Angel Diaz, Latino Ministry Coordinator for Northwest Yearly Meeting, reports attendance at the yearly meeting’s Latino Ministry Points: 60 Newberg, 30 Greenleaf, 50 Caldwell, 30 Lynwood, 30 Vancouver First, 40 Reedwood, 25 Mcminnville, 20 North Valley Church, 10 Salem, 5 in Clackamas Park -- 300 people together.
The Immigration Ministry Team Update from Northwest Yearly Meeting includes the following vision: “We envision the ability of our citizen congregations in partnership with our growing number of Latino congregations to be able to provide the necessary and current information and trustworthy counsel about existing immigration laws and processes to pastors, church leaders, and those in the congregations, including their wider social networks, who are affected by US immigration policy.”
Meeting for Business of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting agreed to an increase in the Quarterly Meeting assessment, beginning in 2010. The Meeting also agreed to continue the pay-what-you-can fee policy, including for those who register late. It was understood that the Continuing Committee, at its meeting in January 2010, will decide upon the amount of increase in Quarterly Meeting assessment for 2010, subject to review by Meeting for Business in April 2010.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
Pacific Yearly Meeting seeks fulltime Youth Program Coordinator to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our pre-teens through young adults. Coordinator provides program support and coordination of youth activities; assists Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in engaging and educating their young people; develops an infrastructure that brings Friends together as a faith community; and provides a role model experienced in Friends' worship and practices. Frequent travel required. Expenses reimbursed. $18 an hour plus overtime, starting with two-weeks' vacation, holidays, sick leave and benefits. Quaker meeting membership required. By January 12th email letters of interest and résumés to Lanny Jay at landbird@comcast.net.
The Proposal for revitalizing Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Committee and strengthening the voice of Monthly Meeting through their representatives includes the proposal that the Representative Committee (REPCOM) of the yearly meeting assume responsibility for acting on more of the business of the yearly meeting.
Western Friend will hold a BOOK PARTY at the Multnomah Meeting House (Portland, OR) on Sunday, November 22, 5-7 p.m. to celebrate the recent publication of Enlivened by the Mystery: Quakers and God.
Western Young Friends New Year’s Gathering will take place at Cazadero Arts Camp in Northern California, December 28, 2009-January 2, 2010. www.newyearsgathering.org
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
FWCC Website
Look at www.fwccamericas.org for information about the Section of the Americas.
Monday, November 9, 2009
News from Western Quaker Newsletters
October-November 2009
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Wyoming Friends Meeting will gather in Lander, WY November 20-22nd.
Wyoming Friends Meeting has developed a Mission Statement that begins with the following paragraph: “The Wyoming Friends Meeting is unique in its geographic and demographic characteristics. Our meeting is made up of various small Quaker communities that are isolated by vast distances and often severe weather. We recognize that these unique characteristics place special stresses and strains on our worship communities and the meeting as a whole. We accept as our primary mission the creation of an environment within our meeting that energizes and
strengthens the spiritual growth and physical well being of each member/attender. Furthermore, this primary mission will direct the management of the meeting’s human, spiritual, and financial resources.”
Becky Memmelaar from North Carolina has accepted the call from First Friends, Whittier (CA) to be their pastor. She will assume the ministry on January 1, 2010.
The Friends Choir of First Friends, Whittier (CA) will present The Creation (A Rock Cantata) by David Bobrowitz and Stephen Porter. This piece is a musical expression of the seven days of creation.
University Meeting (Seattle, WA) is seeking vendors and shoppers for its Crafts Fair. This simple yet fun and well loved annual event will be held Sunday Nov. 29 from 10:30am until 1 pm.
The Ukiah Friends Worship Group (CA) held a session on “Lest We Forget Iraq.” Friends heard poems and a short film and then discussed what they could do.
Tacoma Meeting (WA) was visited by Vashon Friends. All joined in a potluck meal.
Tacoma Meeting (WA) brainstormed a number of ideas for short, midrange and long-term goals for improving the Meeting House. Subsequently the list was organized into categories. Meeting for Business was to consider prioritization, further seasoning opportunities, immediate action, delegation etc.
Worship & Ministry Committee of Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) developed a brochure on Vocal Ministry Practices; the brochure has now been added to those brochures now available on the Meeting’s Materials Table.
The Sunday School class of Friends Community Church, Spring Valley (CA) has been looking at nursery rhymes like “Jack and Jill, “Humpty Dumpty,” and “Old King Cole.” Each nursery rhyme has a story about a situation in the Bible.
Santa Fe Friends (NM) were invited to join a Threshing-Session type discussion on a Sunday during pot luck to share their opinions about how the Meeting should proceed with distribution of funds toward organizations which do good work in their community.
The Quaker Study Group of San Jose Meeting (CA) meets the first Sunday of the month at 5:30 pm for potluck, with discussion of the month's readings from 6:00 to 7:30. They are now reading Light to Live by Rex Ambler.
San Francisco Meeting (CA) considered the topic of service in a World Café format. For about an hour, Friends considered a series of queries in four rotating groups of 4-6 people each. Queries included: “What is my experience of service? And how have I been served? Have I experienced service as a form of worship? Or worship as a form of service? In what ways have I experienced service as transformational? What issues or activities would I like to get involved in? Or see the Meeting get involved in? What could I personally contribute to such activity?”
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) has revived its newsletter. Also, the Meeting website includes a section for Friends' writings with a introduction explaining that Quakers have no creed and no one person speaks for all of us.
Ministry and Counsel of Salt Lake Meeting (UT) developed plans to facilitate discussions on the Quaker testimonies of Community and Equality in the near future. The session on Community will be November 15, 2009 with the session on Equality, January 17, 2010, to round out the series on Friends' testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, and Equality ('SPICE').
Salem Meeting (OR) hosted an Alternatives to Violence Project Basic Community Workship on November 6-8 at the Salem Meeting House.
A one-day, Sunday afternoon Pastor's Class was offered at Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) on November 8th. This class, a prerequisite for membership, is open to anyone who is interested in knowing what Rose Drive Friends believe and why.
The Prayer Book Potluck Group of Reno Meeting (NV) will meet on Friday December 4th to discuss the book “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace… One School at a Time” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.
Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) is having a clothing, books, CDs, infant supplies, and toy exchange on Saturday, November 14. This is a great opportunity to reuse and recycle and a greater opportunity for fellowship.
Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) is co-sponsoring the visit of Os Guinness, Christian writer, lecturer, and social scientist, to Portland on November 20th. He will speak on “Impossible People –facing up to the challenges of faith in the advanced modern era.”
At Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA), action on a clearness committee report recommending a Friend’s membership was delayed to allow exploration of a member’s concern about faithfulness to the Peace Testimony. The Meeting approved the Friend’s membership, with one Friend standing aside.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) Visiting and Caring Committee, has asked to revert to its original name – the Visiting Committee – because its current charge is very broad .The two members want their committee to have a charge limited enough that it can be faithfully carried out. The Meeting was asked how it wants to assure care for one another, given that the Meeting’s needs for caring exceed the capability of a small committee, and yet these needs may not be well met unless they are accepted by specific people.
Pima Meeting (Tucson, AZ) asks Friends to not be offended if someone prefers to not shake hands or hug. They may have found a different way to show they care.
The Phoenix Friends (AZ) Peace and Social Concerns committee invites Tempe Friends (AZ) to join in a potluck on November 22 following meeting for worship. Friends will be sharing food, watching a documentary, and discussing the AFSC recommendation for immigration reform number 1: Create Justice with Humane Economic Policies, from their list of seven recommendations for immigration reform.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) plans to host a discussion on race based upon President Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech.
Newberg Friends (OR) Church Retreat will be November 13-15 with the theme, “Celebrate God Together.”
Newberg Friends (OR) are being invited to focus on God through prayer. Friends are invited to give “just one week” to pray for one another, to have this be a wide-based opportunity to experience prayer and the value of supporting one another in this way.
Worship and Ministry Committee of Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), hoping to encourage visits to its Worship Groups, has posted information sheets which Friends may sign to indicate their wish to visit Worship Groups and whether they will need transportation or be able to provide it.
Before taking more steps to cut its energy consumption, Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), wants Friends to calculate their usage for the year. They will find sheets labeled “Carbon Footprint Data” will be in the 1-2-3 box outside the meeting room door.
Honolulu Meeting (HI) has decided to revert to the former Meeting parking arrangement of "theater parking" on the lawn, one behind the other in rows pointing mauka, leaving enough clearance along the hedge so that cars can turn along the fence toward the road, then exit into the road nose first.
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
Eugene Meeting (OR) will hold a Creative Quaker Arts and Crafts Sale on Saturday November 14th from 10 to 2 at the Meeting¬house. Once more there will be glorious scarves, raku ceramics, jewelry, art cards, toys, books, beads and bath balms. Bonus this year—live music!
Friends from Eugene Meeting (OR) hold a meeting for worship at the time of the full moon each month. This is a special time for Friends who experience the Sacred through Nature, the Earth, the Divine Feminine, the Gods, etc.
Eastside Meeting (Bellevue, WA) has an offer of a $100,000 loan from a Friend with terms of 4% for 15 year –interest-only for the first several years (during the time the Meeting is paying off the Friends Meetinghouse Fund loan, which is at 7%). It will require a note acknowledging the property as collateral, and therefore constitutes a lien on the property.
Davis Meeting (CA) invited Friends to bring a dish to share and come to a Fall Brunch at the rise of Meeting. This event was to be a time to just socialize with no business, no decisions, just friendly visiting over good food.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
The Peace, Justice and Environment Committee of Corvallis Meeting (OR) recommends that the Support group called Friends and Family of the Homeless, for people who work with the homeless, be allowed to meet at the Meetinghouse, twice a month for a six-month trial period, to have training and to have access to counselors. Confidentiality would be stressed. Concerns were expressed but Meeting united with the idea of the support group. Friends will determine what will be needed.
The Discussion Committee of Claremont Meeting (CA) chose the topic, “Testimonies and Money Matters,” for discussion. Queries to be used included: How has this economic down-turn affected Friends’ actions on Simplicity? How does the integrity testimony shape our response to economic challenges? Which testimonies guide us in making household monetary choices and how?
Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) invited Friends to an informational meeting for anyone interested in finding out more about the Christmas Musical.
The Reach team of Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) heads to Long Beach Friends Church on the 2nd Sunday of every other month to feed homeless and under-resourced people.
Taking its cue from the popularity of the “Reader’s Share” program held last year, Palo Alto Meeting (CA) again asks Friends to bring books, pamphlets, articles or poems that have inspired or informed them and that may speak to others as well. Friends are invited to read aloud a paragraph or poem or just talk about what the reading has meant to them.
The managing editor of PeaceWays, the newsletter of Friends Peace Teams, is Ann Dusseau, Boise Valley Meeting (ID).
On Saturday November 14 Berkeley Meeting (CA) will hold an art and crafts sale to benefit the building fund. There will be an array of paintings (work by Margret Bowman, Biliana Stremska, Mary Lou Goertzen and others), collages (by Elanie Amoruso), tote bags by Birgit Gehr, woven and knitted items, pottery, jewelry, and many other items by various artists and craftspeople.
After 4 years and 3 months, the Bible reading group of Berkeley Meeting (CA) has
completed that endeavor, with a slight detour to read some of the Apocrypha and the Gospel of Thomas!
Berkeley Meeting (CA) is considering the creation of a “genealogical chart” showing who brought members to the Meeting and, if members came on their own, who was their most important initial contact within the Meeting.
Appleseed Meeting (Sebastopol, CA) is exploring the possibility of having a mid-week Meeting for Worship via conference call for distant Friends. What defines membership may be the central question. Friends need more information on the cost and how these technologically assisted Meetings for Worship would work. Ministry and Oversight Committee will investigate further.
Agate Passage Meeting (Poulsbo, WA) has scheduled Sunday morning programs for the year: First Sunday: Poetry; Second Sunday: Quaker Sojourns; and Fourth Sunday: Singing.
More than one Meeting:
Several Meetings including Berkeley Meeting (CA), Eugene Meeting (OR), Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) San Jose Meeting, University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are inviting Friends to dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Many other churches and meetings will have Thanksgiving events surrounding the holiday.
Deaths noted in Newsletters:
Dot Leland, Eugene Meeting
Amy Mazza, Reno Meeting
Roberta Amott, Umpqua Worship Group, Eugene Meeting
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Alaska Friends Conference will hold Fall Quarterly in Anchorage from November 27 – 29, Thanksgiving weekend.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Colorado Regional Meeting was November 6th - 8th at the YMCA of the Rockies Conference Center in Estes Park bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. This year’s theme, “Deepening Our Spiritual Life in Community,” was led by Nancy Bieber, a member of Lancaster (PA) Monthly Meeting and a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat leader.
The Greenleaf Friends Academy Auction was Nov 6-7. The proceeds from the auction go to the general budget The enrollment at GFA is currently down by 50 students for a total enrollment of 175. This is a considerable drop from previous years and leaves the school with a budget shortfall.
Intermountain Yearly Meeting discovered that Ghost Ranch has scheduled the 2010-2012 Annual Gatherings during the first full week of June instead of the traditional second week, which affects meetings where school is still in session. The Executive Committee agreed that the Meeting has no option for 2010, but IMYM should explore other options for the future.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
North Pacific Yearly Meeting Coordinating Committee met for a day-long meeting, November 7th, at Multnomah Meeting House, Portland, OR.
The Northwest Yearly Meeting Youthworkers Training Conference was held November 6-8 at the Hood River Inn, Hood River OR. Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee of Tigard Friends Church will speak to the theme, “Plugged In: Engaging the Media Culture Surrounding Youth.”
Meeting for Business of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting agreed to an increase in the Quarterly Meeting assessment, beginning in 2010. The Meeting also agreed to continue the pay-what-you-can fee policy, including for those who register late. It was understood that the Continuing Committee, at its meeting in January 2010, will decide upon the amount of increase in Quarterly Meeting assessment for 2010, subject to review by Meeting for Business in April 2010.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
The Portland Area Gathering of Northwest Yearly Meeting will be November 13 at Reedwood Friends Church with the theme, “Immigration and Spiritual Discernment.”
Southern California Quarterly Meeting was held November 7-8 at Temescal Canyon. Steve Smith, Claremont Meeting spoke to the theme: "Finding Joy In Committee Work: Knitting The Meeting Together In Community" Time was dedicated to meeting together in groups according to the committee in which Friends are called to serve, or would like to serve, in their Monthly Meetings.
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
***
From Friend to Friend, the Newsletter of
Friends Community Church, Spring Valley (CA):
The Debate
God is sitting in heaven when a scientist prays to Him. “God, we don’t need You anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing – in other words, we can now do what You did in the beginning.” “Oh, is that so? Tell me,” replies God. “Well,” says the scientist. “We can take dirt and form it into the likeness of You and breathe life into it, thus creating man.” “Well, that’s very interesting. Show Me.” So, the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil into the shape of a man. “No, no, no,” interrupts God. “Get your own dirt.”
FWCC Website
Look at www.fwccamericas.org for information about the Section of the Americas.
Nancy McLauchlan
for FWCC
October-November 2009
News of Friends Meetings and Churches
Wyoming Friends Meeting will gather in Lander, WY November 20-22nd.
Wyoming Friends Meeting has developed a Mission Statement that begins with the following paragraph: “The Wyoming Friends Meeting is unique in its geographic and demographic characteristics. Our meeting is made up of various small Quaker communities that are isolated by vast distances and often severe weather. We recognize that these unique characteristics place special stresses and strains on our worship communities and the meeting as a whole. We accept as our primary mission the creation of an environment within our meeting that energizes and
strengthens the spiritual growth and physical well being of each member/attender. Furthermore, this primary mission will direct the management of the meeting’s human, spiritual, and financial resources.”
Becky Memmelaar from North Carolina has accepted the call from First Friends, Whittier (CA) to be their pastor. She will assume the ministry on January 1, 2010.
The Friends Choir of First Friends, Whittier (CA) will present The Creation (A Rock Cantata) by David Bobrowitz and Stephen Porter. This piece is a musical expression of the seven days of creation.
University Meeting (Seattle, WA) is seeking vendors and shoppers for its Crafts Fair. This simple yet fun and well loved annual event will be held Sunday Nov. 29 from 10:30am until 1 pm.
The Ukiah Friends Worship Group (CA) held a session on “Lest We Forget Iraq.” Friends heard poems and a short film and then discussed what they could do.
Tacoma Meeting (WA) was visited by Vashon Friends. All joined in a potluck meal.
Tacoma Meeting (WA) brainstormed a number of ideas for short, midrange and long-term goals for improving the Meeting House. Subsequently the list was organized into categories. Meeting for Business was to consider prioritization, further seasoning opportunities, immediate action, delegation etc.
Worship & Ministry Committee of Strawberry Creek Meeting (Berkeley, CA) developed a brochure on Vocal Ministry Practices; the brochure has now been added to those brochures now available on the Meeting’s Materials Table.
The Sunday School class of Friends Community Church, Spring Valley (CA) has been looking at nursery rhymes like “Jack and Jill, “Humpty Dumpty,” and “Old King Cole.” Each nursery rhyme has a story about a situation in the Bible.
Santa Fe Friends (NM) were invited to join a Threshing-Session type discussion on a Sunday during pot luck to share their opinions about how the Meeting should proceed with distribution of funds toward organizations which do good work in their community.
The Quaker Study Group of San Jose Meeting (CA) meets the first Sunday of the month at 5:30 pm for potluck, with discussion of the month's readings from 6:00 to 7:30. They are now reading Light to Live by Rex Ambler.
San Francisco Meeting (CA) considered the topic of service in a World Café format. For about an hour, Friends considered a series of queries in four rotating groups of 4-6 people each. Queries included: “What is my experience of service? And how have I been served? Have I experienced service as a form of worship? Or worship as a form of service? In what ways have I experienced service as transformational? What issues or activities would I like to get involved in? Or see the Meeting get involved in? What could I personally contribute to such activity?”
Salt Lake Meeting (UT) has revived its newsletter. Also, the Meeting website includes a section for Friends' writings with a introduction explaining that Quakers have no creed and no one person speaks for all of us.
Ministry and Counsel of Salt Lake Meeting (UT) developed plans to facilitate discussions on the Quaker testimonies of Community and Equality in the near future. The session on Community will be November 15, 2009 with the session on Equality, January 17, 2010, to round out the series on Friends' testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, and Equality ('SPICE').
Salem Meeting (OR) hosted an Alternatives to Violence Project Basic Community Workship on November 6-8 at the Salem Meeting House.
A one-day, Sunday afternoon Pastor's Class was offered at Rose Drive Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) on November 8th. This class, a prerequisite for membership, is open to anyone who is interested in knowing what Rose Drive Friends believe and why.
The Prayer Book Potluck Group of Reno Meeting (NV) will meet on Friday December 4th to discuss the book “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace… One School at a Time” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.
Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) is having a clothing, books, CDs, infant supplies, and toy exchange on Saturday, November 14. This is a great opportunity to reuse and recycle and a greater opportunity for fellowship.
Reedwood Friends Church (Portland, OR) is co-sponsoring the visit of Os Guinness, Christian writer, lecturer, and social scientist, to Portland on November 20th. He will speak on “Impossible People –facing up to the challenges of faith in the advanced modern era.”
At Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA), action on a clearness committee report recommending a Friend’s membership was delayed to allow exploration of a member’s concern about faithfulness to the Peace Testimony. The Meeting approved the Friend’s membership, with one Friend standing aside.
Palo Alto Meeting (CA) Visiting and Caring Committee, has asked to revert to its original name – the Visiting Committee – because its current charge is very broad .The two members want their committee to have a charge limited enough that it can be faithfully carried out. The Meeting was asked how it wants to assure care for one another, given that the Meeting’s needs for caring exceed the capability of a small committee, and yet these needs may not be well met unless they are accepted by specific people.
Pima Meeting (Tucson, AZ) asks Friends to not be offended if someone prefers to not shake hands or hug. They may have found a different way to show they care.
The Phoenix Friends (AZ) Peace and Social Concerns committee invites Tempe Friends (AZ) to join in a potluck on November 22 following meeting for worship. Friends will be sharing food, watching a documentary, and discussing the AFSC recommendation for immigration reform number 1: Create Justice with Humane Economic Policies, from their list of seven recommendations for immigration reform.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Orange Grove Meeting (Pasadena, CA) plans to host a discussion on race based upon President Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech.
Newberg Friends (OR) Church Retreat will be November 13-15 with the theme, “Celebrate God Together.”
Newberg Friends (OR) are being invited to focus on God through prayer. Friends are invited to give “just one week” to pray for one another, to have this be a wide-based opportunity to experience prayer and the value of supporting one another in this way.
Worship and Ministry Committee of Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), hoping to encourage visits to its Worship Groups, has posted information sheets which Friends may sign to indicate their wish to visit Worship Groups and whether they will need transportation or be able to provide it.
Before taking more steps to cut its energy consumption, Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), wants Friends to calculate their usage for the year. They will find sheets labeled “Carbon Footprint Data” will be in the 1-2-3 box outside the meeting room door.
Honolulu Meeting (HI) has decided to revert to the former Meeting parking arrangement of "theater parking" on the lawn, one behind the other in rows pointing mauka, leaving enough clearance along the hedge so that cars can turn along the fence toward the road, then exit into the road nose first.
The Florence Worship Group (OR) will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays in Florence; on the 3rd Sunday at the Senior Center in Coos Bay; and the 5th Sunday in Deadwood. For more info, skdwr@oregonfast.net
Eugene Meeting (OR) will hold a Creative Quaker Arts and Crafts Sale on Saturday November 14th from 10 to 2 at the Meeting¬house. Once more there will be glorious scarves, raku ceramics, jewelry, art cards, toys, books, beads and bath balms. Bonus this year—live music!
Friends from Eugene Meeting (OR) hold a meeting for worship at the time of the full moon each month. This is a special time for Friends who experience the Sacred through Nature, the Earth, the Divine Feminine, the Gods, etc.
Eastside Meeting (Bellevue, WA) has an offer of a $100,000 loan from a Friend with terms of 4% for 15 year –interest-only for the first several years (during the time the Meeting is paying off the Friends Meetinghouse Fund loan, which is at 7%). It will require a note acknowledging the property as collateral, and therefore constitutes a lien on the property.
Davis Meeting (CA) invited Friends to bring a dish to share and come to a Fall Brunch at the rise of Meeting. This event was to be a time to just socialize with no business, no decisions, just friendly visiting over good food.
Davis Meeting (CA) invites Friends to put Saturday March 13 in their datebook for the Meeting's all-day Quaker Quest workshop. Steve Chase, a gifted member of the Friends General Conference Quaker Quest Travel Team, will be leading the workshop, which is intended to help Friends develop "inreach and outreach".
The Peace, Justice and Environment Committee of Corvallis Meeting (OR) recommends that the Support group called Friends and Family of the Homeless, for people who work with the homeless, be allowed to meet at the Meetinghouse, twice a month for a six-month trial period, to have training and to have access to counselors. Confidentiality would be stressed. Concerns were expressed but Meeting united with the idea of the support group. Friends will determine what will be needed.
The Discussion Committee of Claremont Meeting (CA) chose the topic, “Testimonies and Money Matters,” for discussion. Queries to be used included: How has this economic down-turn affected Friends’ actions on Simplicity? How does the integrity testimony shape our response to economic challenges? Which testimonies guide us in making household monetary choices and how?
Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) invited Friends to an informational meeting for anyone interested in finding out more about the Christmas Musical.
The Reach team of Canyon Hills Friends Church (Yorba Linda, CA) heads to Long Beach Friends Church on the 2nd Sunday of every other month to feed homeless and under-resourced people.
Taking its cue from the popularity of the “Reader’s Share” program held last year, Palo Alto Meeting (CA) again asks Friends to bring books, pamphlets, articles or poems that have inspired or informed them and that may speak to others as well. Friends are invited to read aloud a paragraph or poem or just talk about what the reading has meant to them.
The managing editor of PeaceWays, the newsletter of Friends Peace Teams, is Ann Dusseau, Boise Valley Meeting (ID).
On Saturday November 14 Berkeley Meeting (CA) will hold an art and crafts sale to benefit the building fund. There will be an array of paintings (work by Margret Bowman, Biliana Stremska, Mary Lou Goertzen and others), collages (by Elanie Amoruso), tote bags by Birgit Gehr, woven and knitted items, pottery, jewelry, and many other items by various artists and craftspeople.
After 4 years and 3 months, the Bible reading group of Berkeley Meeting (CA) has
completed that endeavor, with a slight detour to read some of the Apocrypha and the Gospel of Thomas!
Berkeley Meeting (CA) is considering the creation of a “genealogical chart” showing who brought members to the Meeting and, if members came on their own, who was their most important initial contact within the Meeting.
Appleseed Meeting (Sebastopol, CA) is exploring the possibility of having a mid-week Meeting for Worship via conference call for distant Friends. What defines membership may be the central question. Friends need more information on the cost and how these technologically assisted Meetings for Worship would work. Ministry and Oversight Committee will investigate further.
Agate Passage Meeting (Poulsbo, WA) has scheduled Sunday morning programs for the year: First Sunday: Poetry; Second Sunday: Quaker Sojourns; and Fourth Sunday: Singing.
More than one Meeting:
Several Meetings including Berkeley Meeting (CA), Eugene Meeting (OR), Multnomah Meeting (Portland, OR), Redwood Forest Meeting (Santa Rosa, CA) San Jose Meeting, University Meeting (Seattle, WA) are inviting Friends to dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Many other churches and meetings will have Thanksgiving events surrounding the holiday.
Deaths noted in Newsletters:
Dot Leland, Eugene Meeting
Amy Mazza, Reno Meeting
Roberta Amott, Umpqua Worship Group, Eugene Meeting
Beyond the Monthly Meeting/Churches
Alaska Friends Conference will hold Fall Quarterly in Anchorage from November 27 – 29, Thanksgiving weekend.
College Park Quarterly Meeting’s one-day Winter Quarter will be on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Berkeley.
Colorado Regional Meeting was November 6th - 8th at the YMCA of the Rockies Conference Center in Estes Park bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. This year’s theme, “Deepening Our Spiritual Life in Community,” was led by Nancy Bieber, a member of Lancaster (PA) Monthly Meeting and a psychotherapist, spiritual director and retreat leader.
The Greenleaf Friends Academy Auction was Nov 6-7. The proceeds from the auction go to the general budget The enrollment at GFA is currently down by 50 students for a total enrollment of 175. This is a considerable drop from previous years and leaves the school with a budget shortfall.
Intermountain Yearly Meeting discovered that Ghost Ranch has scheduled the 2010-2012 Annual Gatherings during the first full week of June instead of the traditional second week, which affects meetings where school is still in session. The Executive Committee agreed that the Meeting has no option for 2010, but IMYM should explore other options for the future.
Continuing Committee of Intermountain Yearly Meeting will meet January 8-10, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona, hosted by Tempe Friends.
North Pacific Yearly Meeting Coordinating Committee met for a day-long meeting, November 7th, at Multnomah Meeting House, Portland, OR.
The Northwest Yearly Meeting Youthworkers Training Conference was held November 6-8 at the Hood River Inn, Hood River OR. Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee of Tigard Friends Church will speak to the theme, “Plugged In: Engaging the Media Culture Surrounding Youth.”
Meeting for Business of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting agreed to an increase in the Quarterly Meeting assessment, beginning in 2010. The Meeting also agreed to continue the pay-what-you-can fee policy, including for those who register late. It was understood that the Continuing Committee, at its meeting in January 2010, will decide upon the amount of increase in Quarterly Meeting assessment for 2010, subject to review by Meeting for Business in April 2010.
The Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting Silent Retreat will be January 29-31, 2010 at Camp Huston in Gold Bar, Washington.
The Portland Area Gathering of Northwest Yearly Meeting will be November 13 at Reedwood Friends Church with the theme, “Immigration and Spiritual Discernment.”
Southern California Quarterly Meeting was held November 7-8 at Temescal Canyon. Steve Smith, Claremont Meeting spoke to the theme: "Finding Joy In Committee Work: Knitting The Meeting Together In Community" Time was dedicated to meeting together in groups according to the committee in which Friends are called to serve, or would like to serve, in their Monthly Meetings.
Willamette Quarterly Meeting will gather for its annual business meeting on February 6, 2010 at the Corvallis Meeting House.
***
From Friend to Friend, the Newsletter of
Friends Community Church, Spring Valley (CA):
The Debate
God is sitting in heaven when a scientist prays to Him. “God, we don’t need You anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing – in other words, we can now do what You did in the beginning.” “Oh, is that so? Tell me,” replies God. “Well,” says the scientist. “We can take dirt and form it into the likeness of You and breathe life into it, thus creating man.” “Well, that’s very interesting. Show Me.” So, the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil into the shape of a man. “No, no, no,” interrupts God. “Get your own dirt.”
FWCC Website
Look at www.fwccamericas.org for information about the Section of the Americas.
Nancy McLauchlan
for FWCC
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
