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Friendly Tasks for December 6th.
Care of Meeting: Dorrie J
Key: Don G
Setup helper: Wendy G
Greeter: Karen S
Snack: Stephanie M
Kitchen: Mark H
Kitchen helper: Don L
Children's teacher: Sharon T
Please contact Carole T to volunteer for vacant tasks - or just pitch in when you arrive.
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MfWfB
Did you know?
We have a special mailing list for Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business. Friends on that list receive reports and other items circulated for review a few days prior to the meeting as well as the draft minutes from the previous MfWfB. If you are not now on this list and you want to be added, just click here to request that you be added to the list.
Some of the items Pending for Dec 13 MfWfB:
- Approval of 2016 budget
- Retreat Planning Committee Report
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Calendar for Bellingham Friends
Midweek Worship
Wed, Dec 16, 7– 9pm
Mary Ann P.'s home
SPECIAL 12/16 only! Mid week worship in song with potluck desserts and holiday beverages!
Come join us round the piano at 7pm for carol singing in lieu of worship sharing. Stay for worship time if you'd like. Or we may decide to do all our worship in song that evening!
Potluck festive treats welcome!
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Upcoming Second Hours:
Dec. 20 – Holiday Community Sharing?
Dec. 27 – *sprinkling happiness?* (Aurora)
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Last Call for Ben Lomond Quaker Conference Queries
Our Meeting/community will most benefit from Susan's and Mary Ann's presence at BLQC if they are able to carry the most accurate info from BFM Friends
- Why are you drawn to your meeting or to Friends' faith and practices?
- What activities in your meeting have nourished and deepened your experience of Quakerism?
- How might you feel more engaged with deepening your Quaker experience?
Please send your responses to these querries directly to
Mary Ann P and/or Susan R
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A Message from Ministry and Counsel
Since our November MFWFB, Ministry & Counsel has been meeting, reflecting, praying, and discerning about best ways to help our Meeting community move forward, in light of both our months-long process and its outcome regarding the purchase/use of Bell Tower Studios as a home for our spiritual community.
At this time, we're planning a community-wide opportunity, to be facilitated by two weighty (trusted, wise) Friends from another Meeting in our Quarter (whose names will be shared once we know who has accepted our invitation, and their available date/s), to allow each of us to express what is on our hearts, with the hope of moving forward as a community.
We understand there is a large range of thoughts and feelings held by Friends, and we wish to create a safe space to honor and hear them and each other. We do hope as many as possible will attend this session; to that end, we will announce the date as soon as we know it.
Ministry and Counsel is available for you individually as needed. We encourage you to let us know you'd like to attend one of our meetings (the next one coming up on Monday 12/7 at 7 pm) so that we may corporately hear your concern. (We prefer that Friends avoid just speaking one-to-one with any one member of M&C as there may be misunderstandings in that M&C Friend later describing your concern to the whole committee.) AT the same time, we encourage all a Friends to share what is on their hearts in our community-wide event.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we proceed in our efforts to mind the Light.
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Silence and Singing
From Sharon T and Don R
Many Friends love to sing hymns. Many Friends love meeting for worship, but are unable to attend regularly on Sundays or feel a need for more. SO, Sharon and Don are proposing to host a mid-week session every other week that does both, starting in the new year. We envision a format that would start with 15 minutes of gathering and greeting, followed by 45 minutes of silent worship, a 15-minute wet-your-whistle break, ending with hymn singing for an hour or so. Friends could choose to come to either or both.
Please let Sharon or Don know whether you would be interested and which of the following times are best for you… and which are impossible.
Wednesday* 6:30 7:00 or 7:30
Thursday 6:30 7:00 or 7:30
* Wednesdays would alternate with our current midweek worship
Please send/give/mail/e-mail your responses to Don at donaldreinke@hotmail.com or Sharon at sharon_trent@comcast.net or call at 714-6141, 202-6593, or 303-4381
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Opportunity to Support 800 families at Lummi
From Beth Brownfeld, via Judy H, Wendy C, Mary Ann P, and other Friends.
This year [Lummi Food Services] budgets have been cut and then cut again, including the Food Bank. The Holiday Baskets are made up for 800 families each Christmas. They will be able to offer a turkey and a few of the other things that go in each basket, but will not be able to include other parts of the meal. Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship is collecting donations to complete the baskets and has asked for help from other Faith Communities.
Judy H will be the contact person for Quaker donations.
Cash is preferred (checks may be made out to Lummi Food Bank), but you may also donate jello and canned fruit. Bring donations to meeting this Sunday, or drop them by Judy's house before noon Tuesday, Dec 15. Alternatively, you my email Judy by clicking here and let her know how much you would like to give.
Lummi Nation is committing thousands upon thousands of dollars to protect all of us, and our children's children from the proposed coal terminal. These costs take away resources they have to support their own programs and members. Support Lummi who is supporting us by this small gesture.
Watch this video to get an idea of the work of Lummi Community Service (food bank, commodities, and supportive programs and services).
George Guerrero who runs the Lummi Food program is the recipient of the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center's 2015 Peace Builder's Award
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A Faith-based Response to Climate Change
From Mary Ann P
As the world’s largest economy and the number two carbon emitter (and largest historical emitter), the United States has an obligation to help vulnerable, poor, and low-emitting nations cope with climate impacts and build renewable energy infrastructure.
In fact the U.S. has pledged $3 billion to do just that – through the Green Climate Fund – but our first installment of $500 million this year is being held up by Congress.
As an American, you have extraordinary power over what happens in Paris.
Please take two minutes right now to send a letter.
As people of faith, our responsibility is clear: We must lift up the moral case for climate action and remind our political leaders of our obligation as a world leader to protect the most vulnerable from catastrophic climate change, such as rising seas, extreme weather, and deadly heat waves. Our country must rise to the challenge – not only by limiting our own emissions, but also by assisting other countries like Tuvalu, the Maldives, and Bangladesh – who will be hit the hardest by climate impacts.
Please support a positive outcome in Paris by urging your senator to support the Green Climate Fund today.
In Paris, all eyes are on Washington. Please take action today.
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FOLLOW INDIGENOUS PRESENCE IN PARIS CLIMATE CHANGE EVENTS:
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Whidbey Island Friends Meeting Fundraiser
From Don G
GOT SOAP?
Friends from Whidbey Island Friends Meeting are asking for your help to support Way of the Spirit, a retreat and study program from the wisdom of the Quaker tradition. Started four years ago by Christine Hall, a member of that Meeting, Way of the Spirit is a 2-year program (6 retreats and supportive online community) that offers a life-changing experience for men and women from meetings and churches throughout the Northwest.
To help keep costs low for participants, offset expenses and support Christine’s fulltime work with a small monthly stipend, Way of the Spirit depends on donations. For the first time, the Support Committee is also raising money by selling soap made by Quaker soapmakers on Whidbey Island! They are keeping the suggested donation price on the low side: $5/bar with no sales tax. Every penny from the sale of the soap goes to support Way of the Spirit. Checks should be made payable to Good News Associates.
Inner Light soap is handmade using organic oils, natural essential oils and organic, raw honey. It comes in 3 “flavors”: Clove Honey, Tangerine Honey, and Peppermint Honey. Made simply and carefully, the soap lathers beautifully, smells great, and is good for your skin. These bars of soap make ideal gifts and stocking stuffers, and will be available (along with information about the Way of the Spirit program) at Explorations Academy before and after Meeting for Worship through the end of December. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Don Goldstein (671-1395, dnx6309@gmail.com).
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Are You Living A Life of Prayer?
Help support others' lives of prayer. What Canst Thou Say (WCTS) is gathering stories from prayer lives for a book called "Immersed in Prayer." We hope to enrich the lives of others who are reaching to God through prayer. Queries and author guidelines can be found on the WCTS website. Click here to go directly to the guidelines page . Submissions will be accepted through March of 2016 .
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Western Friend
Renewal time for 2016 is upon us. This is a bi monthly official publication of Pacific, North Pacific and Intermountain Yearly Meetings of the Religious Society of Friends. It is available in print and/or PDF. Cost for print is 32.00/ PDF 27.00 and both 45.00. This is a group rate which is less than an individual subscription. If you are not familiar with this publication, we will make back and current issues available. Let Lorina Hall know as she is collecting information and funds.
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Building Allyship Skills for White People
Wednesday, December 9th 6 to 8pm TONIGHT
From Nan Macy
Intended audience: white people. We welcome the attendance and participation of People of Color, if they should choose to simply observe, participate and share some of their experiences, or provide feedback at the end of the session; we know that it is not People of Color's responsibility to educate white folks about racism. This gathering will be facilitated by Matteo Tamburini of the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center.
Where: The Whatcom Peace and Justice Center,
1220 Bay Street, Bellingham
Cost: Donation based
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Looking Ahead to Wider Quaker Gatherings:
PNQM Silent Retreat Jan 22 - 25, 2016
(may be extended to 1/26)
Camp Huston, Gold Bar, Washington. For more information and registration forms click here
Way of the Spirit: Study-Retreat Program from the Quaker Tradition
February 12-15, 2016
Mt. Angel, OR.
Deepen faithfulness and explore your leadings in life-changing community. Convergent, Quaker grounding. Apply by December 12th to avoid late fees. Click Here for more info / registration and additional retreat dates. [link to be posted to our website soon]
Spring 2016 session- Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting
Theme: Deepening our Relationship with All Creation
Dates: April 22-24, 2016
Where: Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center near Ellensburg WA
Hosted by: Olympia Friends Meeting and Agate Passage Friends Meeting
To download a copy of the flyer for this session, click here: [link to be posted on our website soon]
Pacific Northwest Quaker Women's Theology Conference
July 15-19, 2016
Canby Grove Christian Center
Canby Grove, Oregon
Theme: Naming the Gifts of the Living Presence
For more information, click here
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Friday Peace Vigil
When: Every Fri, 3:45pm – 4:45pm
Where: 104 W Magnolia St, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA (map)
Description: The Nation's oldest weekly Peace Vigil. Paricipants gather weekly at 4:00 pm with signs in front of the Federal Building on the Corner of Magnolia and Cornwall Streets.
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Syrian Refugee Crisis Response
This is the world’s worst refugee crisis since World War II. Syrian refugees are vulnerable, at danger of poor health and sickness that can spread quickly.
Medical Teams International
is organizing delivery of survival kits for Refugees in Greece
Their goal is to gather 10,000 kits to serve 30,000 refugees by December 31, 2015. Family kits cost ~$30, and infant kits cost ~ $20.
Donations made by December 31st will be matched by an anonymous donor
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Whatcom Peace and Justice Center
is organizing a
Bellingham/Whatcom Refugee Network
Click Here to register and to indicate what you would be able to provide
for refugees who are resettled in our area.
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On Our Website:
Click to visit website
Metamorphosis
(our monthly newsletter - with feature articles and poetry and much more!)
Back issues of the E-News
(soon to include this one!)
And much more!
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Announcements from the
Wider Community
Bellingham Community Chorus,
two performances in December:
- Sunday, Dec. 20th, 3:00 pm at St. James Presbyterian Church, 910 14th St., Fairhaven. More music, no gingerbread. Free with donations gratefully accepted.
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Holiday Book Festival
Thursday, December 10th, 12 noon - 8 pm
Cruise Terminal
Meet 26 Pacific Northwest authors and illustrators. You will find all genres, from kids’ books to cookbooks, memoir to mysteries. Signed books are a wonderful holiday gift.
This is a first annual event! There will be music, munchies, and plenty of books for the readers in your lives.
For those of you who have thought about writing a book but didn’t know how to start, this is an excellent opportunity to talk with people who have felt the same way, and successfully navigated the process.
The event is FREE to the public. Parking is FREE. Refreshments provided.
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Saturday, December 12
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