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Friendly Tasks for Nov 22nd.
Care of Meeting: Sharon T.
Key: Don G.
Setup helper: Wendy G.
Greeter: Karen S.
Snack: vacant
Kitchen: Mark H.
Kitchen helper: vacant
Children's teacher: Carole T.
Please contact Carole T to volunteer for vacant tasks - or just pitch in when you arrive.
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Calendar for Bellingham Friends
Quakers join March for Climate Justice
Nov. 29 - 10 am
Meet at Marine Heritage Park at 9:55 am
march to the Salish Sea Sanctuary at 1308 Cornwall Ave to watch the Lummi Nation video to be shown at Paris Climate Summit . (more details to the right)
Midweek Worship
Wed, Dec 2, 7– 9pm
Mary Ann P.'s home
One hour worship + one hour worship sharing/ check-in.
Book Group
Tue. Dec 8, 7-8:30 pm
At the Richardson's
Book for the month: More library copies of the book Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood are available - contact Susan R to borrow one.
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Opportunity for Children's Activity:
Christmas cards for children and others in detention
From La Jolla Friends via Mary Ann P
Last year, many Quaker Meetings and other individuals and groups sent Christmas cards to children held in immigration detention camps. It looks like the Christmas card campaign is happening again this year, and they are concentrating on getting cards by children and youth to send to immigrant and refugee children being detained over the holidays. Looks like they'll also send letters to elected representatives.
More information about how to do the letters and where to send them can be found here:
Note that letters need to be sent before Dec 10th
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Upcoming Second Hours:
Dec. 6 – Newcomer activity, Potluck, and report from Nan on FGC Gathering
Dec. 13 – MfWfB
Dec. 20 – Holiday Community Sharing?
Dec. 27 – *sprinkling happiness?* (Aurora)
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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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Announcements
Links from last Sunday's Second Hour
Advance care planning
(Mary Ann P)
(Note from your editor: Friends, this was a very enlightening and entertaining presentation - even for those of us who already had Advance Directives. Mary Ann has kindly provided us with links to the websites discussed.)
NHDD (National Healthcare Decisions Day) video-- Click Here
Honoring Choices Pacific Northwest: Click Here
(their excellent video is on this site)
To access their email your family/friend service Click Here
(I encourage people to include the NHDD video link in this email; I find it quite compelling)
Advanced Care Planning lets our loved ones know how to care for us and us for them when we cannot speak for ourselves. Making your health care choices known in advance is a gift to those you love. This program will include both a presentation/information session and an opportunity to start or complete your Advance Directive.
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Int’l Day of Solidarity with the Palestinians
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, 1 pm
Tamam’s Restaurant, 2616 E. Hastings, Vancouver
From Rob Dillard
Join the Canadian Palestinian Association at a reception to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and honour Robert Lovelace, indigenous activist, lecturer and twice a Freedom Flotilla to Gaza sailor. Hosted by BDS Vancouver-Coast Salish, Canada Palestine Association-Vancouver and Seriously Free Speech Committee.
Admission: $10 – $15 sliding scale (all proceeds will go to Tamam Defense Fund). Reception includes a light lunch.
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Quakers to join Global Climate March
November 29, Sunday, 10:00am
Bellingham (Maritime Heritage Park, 500 W. Holly)
A Quaker contingent will be joining the march. We will meet at 10 am by the Fountain at Marine Heritage Park. Friends may contact Wendy C or Judy H for more information or just meet us there shortly before 10 am.
Join in solidarity with cities around world marching for climate justice! On Nov. 29th the world will take to the streets to support 100% clean energy. Support climate action from global leaders gathering in Paris for the COP 21 climate summit. We will march from Maritime Heritage Park to the Salish Sea Sanctuary at 1308 Cornwall Ave to watch the Lummi Nation video that will be shown at the Climate Summit in Paris. For those interested, we will carpool to Vancouver to join their 1pm solidarity march! Sponsored by
350 Bellingham facebook event
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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 10,000 is to gather kits to serve 30,000 refugees by December 31, 2015. Family kits cost ~$30, and infant kits cost ~ $20. MTI has requested help from Faith-based organizations
This is our December Concern of the Month.
We are collecting donations beginning early so that we can mail funds by December 21. Click here for more information (Note that Medical Teams International has received a four star rating (the highest possible) from Charity Navigator
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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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An opportunity to thank Rick Larsen:
Thursday, November 19, the House of Representatives voted 289-137 for a bill that would effectively halt the acceptance of Syrian and Iraqi refugees coming to the U.S. Forty-seven Democrats joined Republicans in this vote. But our member of Congress, Rick Larsen, rejected the politics of fear and stood with the refugees. This is a great opportunity to make a phone call and thank him for standing with refugees.
Rep. Rick Larsen
(202) 225-2605
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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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Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) Basic Workshop
December 4-6, 2015
(Bellingham Friends Meeting is a co-sponsor of this event with WPJ)
Facilitators: Rick & Jan Krouskop & Guest
Cost: is $40-100 and includes three meals and snacks. (A contribution of more than $40 will provide a scholarship for someone)
Location: Explorations Academy - 1701 Ellis St #215, Bellingham, WA 98225
For more information and to register, click here
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Something New for Potluck Sundays - beginning December 6th
Getting acquainted with our new attenders and each other OWG has requested that our first-Sunday Second Hours in December and April include a get-acquainted ice-breaker activity between rise of Meeting for Worship and our monthly potluck. Our recent new attenders will be especially and individually invited so that we can all get to know a little about them and more about each other at the same time. If you have an activity to suggest, one that can include up to 35 people and be completed in a half-hour at most, please contact OWG Clerk Don Goldstein (360-671-1395 or dnx6309@gmail.com). And please plan to participate in the first such event on December 6th!
Building Allyship Skills for White People
Wednesday, December 9th 6 to 8pm
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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December Concern of the Month:
Medical Teams International - Syrian Refugee Relief effort
(see details above)
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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
Friday, Nov 27, 7:00 pm
Native American Heritage Day Concert
Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship (1207 Ellsworth, Bellingham
Music, Stories, and Fun for the Whole Family
(freewill offering will be made to support the musicians and performers)
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Tuesday, December 1
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Saturday, December 12
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