Copy
December 23 th, 2015 Bellingham Quaker E-News
View this email in your browser
December 27, 2015 
10 am:  Meeting for Worship

Location: Explorations Academy 1701 Ellis St Click here for a  Map


- Rumi                      
  Happy New Year, Friends...
Second Hour:
Extended Social Hour

Friendly Tasks for Meeting for Worship 

December 27th 2015
 
Care of MeetingMary Ann P
Key: Wendy G
Setup helper: Don G
Greeter: Don H???(could not read name)
Snack: Judy H
Kitchen: Carole T
Kitchen helper: Karen S
Children's teacher: Sharon T

Please contact Carole T to volunteer for vacant tasks - or just pitch in when you arrive.

______________________________________________________________

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.
 
____________________________________________________

Calendar for Bellingham Friends

Midweek Worship  
Wed., Jan 13th , 7– 9pm 
Mary Ann P.'s home
Silent worship and worship sharing - 2nd and 4th Wednesday's of the month
 
Silence and Singing
Thurs., Jan 21st, 6:30 pm  
(Worship starts at 7:00, singing at 7:45)
Sharon T and Don R's home
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.   
Contact Sharon or Don for more information

__________________________________________________________________

Upcoming Second Hours:

Jan. 3    – Potluck
Jan. 10 – MfWfB
Jan. 17 – Second Hour on Quaker Worship: A How-to-Do-It-Yourself  Discussion, including distractions, focusing, and communal worship.
Jan. 24 – Pre-February Potluck
Jan. 31 – Meeting for sharing about (a-lot-more-than) a Meetinghouse, with Iris Graville and someone else (TBA) facilitating.
Feb. 7  -- State of Society brainstorming
Feb. 14 – MfWfB
Feb. 21 -
Feb. 28 -
Mar. 6   – Celebration of Mary Ann's membership

_______________________________________________________________


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 our inability to find unity before the end of our contingency contract for the purchase of Bell Tower Studios building.

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, to allow each of us to express what is on our hearts, with the hope of moving forward as a community.  Iris Graville has accepted our request to be one of these, and to find another Friend to work with her. They will be here Jan. 31, for an extended "second hour" session. 

Please save the date! 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.

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 will be Wednesday 12/30 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.

Announcements 

____________________________________________

On-line Silent Worship with Ben Lomond Quaker Center

 
________________________________________________________________

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)

 

We seek…

... a world free of war and the threat of war.
... a society with equity and justice for all.
... a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled.
... an earth restored.

FCNL Invites Friends to a reception with Diane Randall, Executive Secretary 

Seattle Organizing Committee
Steven Aldrich, Jonathan Brown, Tom Ewell, Dorsey Green,
Lorina Hall, Sally Hufbauer


When
Saturday, January 30, 2016
6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where
A Contemporary Theatre,   700 Union Street
Buster's Space,   Seattle, WA 98101

 

Please RSVP by January 15, 2016 at
fcnl.org/nowisthetime/rsvp

Questions: Contact Andrew Silva
Andrew@fcnl.org or 202-903-2526

The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) carries out a witness, bringing our shared values for peace, justice, and a sustainable planet to our nation's leaders and our government.

Our patient, persistent, and non-partisan lobbying, and the vital work we do to support the next generation of advocates, are building participation in the civil dialogue essential to mend our world.

FCNL's capital campaign, The World We Seek: Now is the Time, is transforming our work, and we'd like to share with you our vision and enthusiasm for the future.


Carpooling is encouraged!

____________________________________________

Silence and Singing (See Bellingham Friends Calendar) will have it's first gathering on Thursday, January 21st at the home of Don Reinke and Sharon Trent.  At 6:30 we'll gather for greeting, meet for worship at 7:00, and start singing at 7:45.  We'll have hymnals, but welcome any music you'd like to sing.  Feel free to come for one half or the other.  We'll see how this night and schedule work.  Mid-week worship at Maryann Percy's is on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, so we're envisioning the 1st and/or 3rd Thursdays, but we'll see how it goes.


 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).

****
 
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 .
 
_________________________________________________________________________________

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
____________________________________________________________________________

 

_______________________________________________________________
 
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.

_______________________________________________________________
 
 
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!

_____________________________________________________


 
“Do you know what you are?
You are a manuscript oƒ a divine letter.
You are a mirror reflecting a noble face. 
This universe is not outside of you. 
Look inside yourself;
everything that you want, 
you are already that.” 
_______________________________________________
 
Announcements from the
Wider Community
 


Tenmile Creek Clean Water Project monthly meeting

Wednesday, January 13th,
6:30pm – 8:00 pm
BelleWood Acres Community Room
6140 Guide Meridian, Lynden (map)
 
Join residents of the Tenmile watershed and others as they work to lower fecal coliform levels in their watershed.  This group meets on the second Wednesday of each month, and meetings are open to the public.  Check out one of these meetings to engage with local citizens and learn about water quality.
 
For more information, contact Lee First, Leef@re-sources.org.

_______________________________________________
 

18th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Conference 2016
The Whatcom Human Rights Task Force and the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center invite the community to join us for the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights conference
Saturday, January 16, 2016  
9:30 am to 3:30pm 
Syre Center at Whatcom Community College.
 
Clock hours will be available for Bellingham and Ferndale School District educators.

Theme: "Listening as a Radical Act: Honoring All Voices".  
Keynote speaker:  W.Tali Hairston, director of John M. Perkins Center for Reconciliation, Leadership Training, and Community Development. at Seattle Pacific University.
Title of Keynote presentation:  "Just Listening: Hearing the Voices of the Marginalized".

Following the keynote speaker there will be a Youth Summit for students grades 8-12, facilitated by the New Wilderness Project. Also other skill building workshops will be provided and led by community educators and activists. A complete list of workshops will be available sometime in December on our websites at www.whrtf.org and www.whatcompjc.org
 
Light refreshments available throughout the morning.
Food vendors will be on site with lunch options for sale.


________________________________________________


Day of Service - Cleanup at Squalicum Beach Park

 
 
Monday, January 18th
10:00 am - noon
Squalicum Beach Park
Northeast of 2929 Roeder Ave (map)
Free refreshments; Open to all
 

Join Sustainable Schools and North Sound Baykeeper at Squalicum Beach Park for a beach cleanup in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. We will begin our cleanup at the park at 10:00am, and will continue along the shore until noon. Light refreshments and tools will be provided. Please dress accordingly for the weather. All ages welcome

_______________________________________________________


Heirloom Seed Swap in Bellingham!

Sunday, January 31 , 2016.
Location- The Majestic - 1027 N. Forest St.
Doors Open 3:00 - 4:30 pm.

8th Annual Community Seed Exchange!
"Honoring Biodiversity of Seeds for Food & Medicine"

Amatuar & Professional Seed-Savers Welcomed.
Seed-Potatoes & Permaculturely Edible Tubers.
Your Donations of Seeds & Cash/Check Supports this Event.
Facebook Event

SPONSORS: 
Center for Local Self-Reliance    .
Sustainable Bellingham  .
Salish Seed Guild  
Transition Whatcom 
Majestic Hall 
 
****
Copyright © 2015 Bellingham Friends Meeting, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp