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Meeting Tasks for this Sunday:
Care of Meeting: Mary Ann P.
Key - Margaret H.
Setup help - Lorina H.
Greeter - Karen S.
Snack - Jessica and Julian B.
Kitchen - Mark H.
Kitchen help - vacant
Children's Teacher - vacant
Vacant positions this week, gentle reader.
Please fill in if you can.
Please contact Carole Teshima at knitpearl68@gmail.com to volunteer on a semi- regular basis.
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Vocal Ministry from March 15 Meeting for Worship:
"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I would still be in prison."
- Nelson Mandela
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QEI - Suggested Readings
for Session 5 (March 22)
Discerning God's Will: The Testimonies
- How were/are the Testimonies formulated? What are the Quaker Testimonies? Which are unique to the Society of Friends? Do you believe that Quaker religious beliefs and social concerns can be separated? Do all Friends have to obey the Testimonies?
Session 5 - Study readings:
- Journal of George Fox 9 (John L. Nickalls, ed.) pp. 196-200, 352-354, 356-3589, 397-404
- Hermann, Eva, In Prison-Yet Free, CP pp. 85-90*
- Punshon, John, Encounter with Silence, pp.36-49.
- Thomas, Nancy, "Hard Hats in a Friends Church" CP pp. 63-64 *
- Sheeran, Michael J., Beyond Majority Rule. pp. 50-61.
(Short of time? Read Fox, pp. 397-404, Thomas, Sheeran, pp. 53-61. )
* available on-line: click here and go to "Xtra Reading Pamphlets, Articles, Charts, Papers; then go to "Reading Materials Compilations.pdf" and scroll down a long way until you see them.
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Announcements from Friends
From Sharon Trent:
our Interfaith Coalition Representative:
Interfaith Coalition auction - Sat, Mar 28th
(See Community announcements below)
******
Housing Request
for April 10 - 11
Joan Rawls-Davis will be coming to Bellingham for Don and Wendy's wedding, and she will need a place to stay.
Please Contact Mary Ann Percy (earthling27@gmail.com) if you can help
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Query of the Month
"Live adventurously. When choices arise, do you take the way that offers the fullest opportunity for the use of your gifts in the service of God and the community? Let your life speak. When decisions have to be made, are you ready to join with others in seeking clearness, asking for God’s guidance and offering counsel to one another?
Advices and Queries. - #27 in the Little Red Book
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Wedding Invitation
Wendy Beach
and
Don Goldstein
are pleased to invite you to share
the celebration of their marriage on
Saturday, April 11, 2015 beginning at 1:00 pm at
the First Congregational Church of Bellingham,
2401 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA.
We are planning a Quaker wedding under the care of
Bellingham Friends Meeting, followed by a reception including
circle dancing, contra dancing, and a potluck buffet, for which we invite you to
bring food to share if convenient. Cake and drinks will be provided.
No gifts, please.
The festivities will last until about 4:30 pm.
Please R.S.V.P. to let us know how many will be in your party
by phoning us at 360-671-1395, or emailing Don at dnx6309@gmail.com.
We look forward to the pleasure of your company on this happy day.
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William Penn Quaker Workcamps
Summer 2015
There may be snow on the ground, but Spring is on our minds and in the air. As you turn your own thoughts to warmer days, consider joining William Penn Quaker Workcamps for one of our exciting, fulfilling and meaningful programs in either Washington, DC or Pine Ridge, SD. Both of these share the spirit of building bridges while deepening our own faith and practice in peace and justice work. Some of the people you will meet are also in our "40 Days with Peacemakers" series.
From June 28 to July 5,
"Community Gardens/Community Health"
will be taking place in DC. This Workcamp will be an exploration of the community around the Capitol at the peak of July 4 celebrations. Connecting myth with reality, we will be engaging in a range of activities that expose participants to the vibrant yet underserved and often-invisible parts of DC, while also partaking in celebrations and festivities. Many of the projects will have a focus on community gardens and clean watersheds.
From July 15 to July 29,
Pine Ridge
We will be returning to Pine Ridge, SD to continue our partnership, friendship and service in this beautiful but challenged region. As in past years, we will spend time building for a sustainable future while honoring sacred traditions. Along the way, we learn more about the history - much of what is untold or rewritten - as well as the day-to-day experiences of people on "the Rez." This is our effort to carry on William Penn's commitment to create the Peaceable Kingdom. What better place to start than where many of the struggles for rights and honoring of treaties continue to play out.
These are both great opportunities for fellowship, for learning and to further our own practicing of what we preach. They are inter-generational programs. All are welcome. See here for more information about the details.
The William Penn House
515 E. Capitol St. SE
Washington, District of Columbia 20003
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From Ministry and Counsel:
Friends are asked to hold Jenny Davidow in the Light following the death of her cousin recently.
Maya Hatten-Beck has a very low-grade fever and hasn't been 100 percent the past few days, so the docs have decreed she has to stay at least until Friday when some new labs will be done. Needless to say, everyone is disappointed, because until yesterday they thought she'd be allowed to come home early (Thursday). But we are hoping this is just a tiny blip before she's home for good! Please hold all the Hatten-Becks in the Light.
Friends are asked to hold Kristen McLewin in the Light as she recovers at home after breaking four vertebrae (fortunately none affecting her spinal cord!) falling from her horse. Friends who can help by bringing meals, running errands or with other needs, please email Virginia at virginiafherrick@gmail.com and she will let you know when opportunities to help arise.
***
*Ministry and Counsel asks the Meeting to hold Don Goldstein and Wendy Beach in the Light as they embark on their honeymoon and plan their April 11 wedding.
*******
To honor and nurture our precious silent worship together, please plan to arrive before 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Please enter the hallway outside the worship room quietly, as voices carry. Please silence cellphones and arrange belongings before entering, and keep comings and goings during worship to a minimum.
Thank you.
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William Penn House Under Fire
A Message from
Byron Sandford
Executive Director
William Penn House
202 543-5560
Dear Friends,
The Office of Tax and Revenue of Washington, DC has decided that hospitality is not an expression of faith and that our tax exempt status be changed to where 80% of our property value is taxable. The House is assessed at $1,456,430. That is an annual tax of just under $20,000.
We are challenging this and met yesterday with an attorney whose practice is taxes. She has agreed to represent us pro-bono. She would like letters regarding the value to you and/or your meeting as to the importance of William Penn House and its programs. If you can do this send it to me and I will send it to the attorney. Here is information on the issue.
Link to an article in the March issue of the Hill Rag on the tax exemption challenge between William Penn House and the DC Tax office: click here
Click here for an NBC news segment on William Penn House.
The response from Friends nationwide has been wonderful. Thank you!
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If you would like to organize a Quaker carpool to an outdoor event, (Meeting for Worship with Attention to Nature) just send a message to the editor !
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Upcoming Second Hours
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March 29: Eden Libby and James Leder - Update on the Unistoten Clan's camp and their effort to block oil pipeline construction through their un-ceded ancestral land in BC.
April 5 - Potluck- Easter
April 12 - MfWfB
April 19 – QEI – Friends History (Allen Stockbridge)
April 26 – Quarterly Meeting
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QEI - Reflections
for Session 5 (March 22)
Readings for Reflection:
Gospel of John: Chapters 12, 13 and 14.
Short of time? read Chapters 12 and 14).
Reflection Questions:
1. What does simplicity mean to you? How does your lifestyle reflect your ideal in this area?
2. Are you aware of prejudice in yourself, your family, your Meeting and your workplace? Have you tried to heal intolerance in yourself and others? If so, how?
3. How have you been affected by sexism? Whatopenings have you had toward healing the wounds of sexism?
4. Given that racism is evil, what are appropriate responses to that evil? In what ways does this issue affect you?
5. Do you consider yourself a pacifist? If so, why? If not, why not? Have you ever had these beliefs tested?
6. For which Quaker beliefs and practices would you be willing to e jailed?
7. What issues do you think should rightly take the time and energy of your Monthly Meeting? Are these different from the issues that currently use your Meeting's resources?
8. Howard Brinton writes, "There must be fruits of the Spirit..." (Friends for 300 Years, p. 64) Do you think so? If so, what do you believe they are?
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Bellingham Friends Calendar of Events
Wed., Mar 18, 7-9 PM
Midweek Worship
at
Mary Ann Percy's home
(1 hr worship + worship sharing and/or check-ins).
Friends gather for midweek worship on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays each month.
Future dates will be on April 1, 15, etc.
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The Retreat Planning group needs your help to select the best date for our retreat by filling out this doodle.
(In case you missed MfWfB - The venue had to be moved from Quaker Cove to Camp Lutherwood because of difficulty with accommodations, and the date needs to be reset.)
If you have not completed a "doodle" before,
FEAR NOT!
Just follow the steps below, and may the Force be with you.
First: Have your calendar handy.
Second: Click the link above or cut and past this address in your browser: http://doodle.com/e6gxkesthty2mygt
Third: Enter your name in a box to the left .
Forth: Put a check mark in the box under each date you think you would be available. (This is NOT a commitment - it is just a poll)
(If you could not possibly come on any of the dates listed, click they box that says "no options work for me".)
Fifth: click "save"
Congratulations! You are now
Doodle proficient!
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A Message from Kate Gould, Legislative Associate, FCNL (Via Mary Ann Percy)
letter from 47 senators to Iran wasn't just bad politics -- it was a dangerous attempt to undermine negotiations with Iran. The leader of the letter, Sen. Tom Cotton (AR), has explicitly stated that the goal of congressional action is to make talks with Iran fail.
This posturing could have real consequences, and it further underscores the risk of a mandated "up or down" vote on a deal. Urge your senators to let diplomacy work.
Click here for FCNL action page on this issue
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Spring Quarterly Meeting
April 24 - 26
Registration for the Spring 2015 session of Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting (PNQM) is now open.
The location is Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center near Ellensburg.
The theme is:
“Lift every voice: Music and spirituality”.
To register online, go to pnqm.org and click on the “Register now” link near the top of the page. You can download the registration information packet in PDF format, and also a separate document containing the registration forms, in either Word or PDF format, in case you choose to mail in (postally or electronically) your completed registration form.
PNQM has a “pay what you can” policy. The information packet includes a page listing suggested fees (the average amounts the Quarterly Meeting needs to receive in order to cover expenses). You can also receive a further discount by registering early, by March 25. The final registration deadline is April 12, after which there is a late registration fee and neither accommodations on site (other than camping space) nor availability of the children’s program for your children can be guaranteed.
If for some reason you need a printed registration packet, there will be a few available at Meeting beginning March 15th.
--Don Goldstein, BFM’s liaison with PNQM
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Looking ahead to wider Quaker gatherings:
PNQM Spring Quarterly Meeting – April 24-26, Ellensburg, WA: Theme: Lift Every Voice – Music & Spirituality
Friends General Conference (FGC) Gathering of Friends – July 5-11, Western Carolina Univ., NC
North Pacific Yearly Meeting (NPYM) Annual Session - July 15-19, Whitworth Univ., Spokane
Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) Fall Steering Committee Meeting:October 22 - 25 at Ben Lomond Quaker Center near Santa Cruz, CA
Bellingham Friends are reminded to contact Ministry and Counsel for assistance reaching clearness about attending, and/or availability of financial assistance for attending any Quaker event.
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Metamorphosis
(Each month’s Metamorphosis is available on our website (www.bellinghamfriends.org ) the Wednesday following Meeting for Business. A few of the many offerings in the current issue are:
March - in your mail box now!
- Interfaith Hope Auction and a leading of Sharon Trent
- AFSC article : Nine Ways to Connect our Meeting to the Work of American Friends Service Committee: Some GREAT suggestions here - in case you are pondering YOUR next leading. .....(Personal note: Your E-News editor is especially intrigued by the Art exhibit "39 Questions for White People")
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Announcements from the Wider Community
Interfaith Coalition Annual Hope Auction
Saturday, March 28, 2015 ~ 5:30 p.m.
Best Western Lakeway Inn & Conference Center
Bellingham, WA
Tickets are $45 a person for a delightful evening and an excellent meal.
Call 734-3983 to order tickets.
"Party with a Purpose"
See Announcement above from Sharon Trent for ways Friends can participate.
World Issues Forum
Coordinator: Shirley Osterhaus
April 8
“The Politics of Immigration in the Age of Mass Incarceration”
Silky Shah, Co-Director of
Detention Watch Network
April 8, noon-1:20 Haggard Hall 253
In recent years immigrants have become the fastest growing population behind bars. Since the 1990s immigration policy has become increasingly linked to the growth of mass incarceration, private prisons, and police and border militarization. ... The presentation will give an overview of the immigration detention system, current policies and practices put forth by the administration and Congress, and the movement to resist the mass incarceration and deportation of immigrants.
For more information click here
April 18
Friday Peace Vigil
When
Every Fri, 3:45pm – 4:45pm
Where
104 W Magnolia St, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA ()
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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Celebrate Nature!
Guided Field Trip Opportunities!
March 28, Saturday,
900 AM to 3:00 PM
Garry Oaks of Samish Island
To reserve a spot contact Jim Duemmel, by phone at 733-3448 or by email at JimDuemmel@q.com. We will meet at the Fairhaven west side Park & Ride (at end of 32nd St.) at 9:00 AM.
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