from Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front -Wendell Berry

Transcription

1 Redwood Forest Friends Meeting Newsletter MAY 2017 Address: P. O. Box 1831, Santa Rosa, CA (707) Resident Friend: Eric Moon, Clerk Asst. Treasurer Newsletter Editor Susan Swanstrom Sharon Beckman Barbara Moulton 1964 Evelyn Dr 3188 Old Ranch Dr 1354 Yulupa Ave Apt H Santa Rosa, CA Santa Rosa, CA Santa Rosa, CA REDWOOD FOREST FRIENDS MEETING FOR WORSHIP Sunday 10:00 AM at Quaker Meetinghouse, 1647 Guerneville Rd. Santa Rosa, CA Healing circle and snacks follow worship. Potluck on third Sunday each month. All are welcome! First Day School, childcare provided for infants and children, Reminder: Please do not wear scented products as some of us are chemically sensitive. See page 3 for Meetings Under Our Care and Other Meetings in the Area....So, friends, every day do something that won't compute. Love the Lord. Love the world. Work for nothing. Take all that you have and be poor. Love someone who does not deserve it... Ask the questions that have no answers. Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias. Say that your main crop is the forest that you did not plant, that you will not live to harvest. Say that the leaves are harvested when they have rotted into the mold. Call that profit. Prophesy such returns. Put your faith in the two inches of humus that will build under the trees every thousand years. Listen to carrion -- put your ear close, and hear the faint chattering of the songs that are to come. Expect the end of the world. Laugh. Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful though you have considered all the facts. from Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front -Wendell Berry

2 MAY CALENDAR 2 APR 30 2nd Hour: Let your spirit speak we re listening Your Input on SUN Religious Education Committee Meetings both before Meeting and following snacks, 07 SUN or as otherwise arranged by committee. NBOP Joint Task Forces (Education Justice; Tenant Protections; Transit Riders United) - First Congregational United Church of Christ, 08 MON 2000 Humboldt Street - Santa Rosa. 6:00-7:30 pm. Contact David Hoffman for details (707) dhoffman@sonic.net Women s Group 5:30 8:00 PM, starting with potluck, Residence. All 10 WED women welcome. Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business after snacks 14 SUN Taxes for Peace of Sonoma County 4:30 pm at Friends House Commons B 19 FRI Friendly Friday 6 PM Potluck & program (possibly a movie) Potluck after worship. All welcome. 21 SUN Working Group on Racism 12:00-1:30 24 WED Women s Group 5:30 8:00 PM, starting with potluck, Residence. All women welcome. 2nd Hour Barbara Babin on Friends and Native Americans 28 SUN Working Group on Racism at Friends House Library 12:30-4:00 [see box below] EVERY SUNDAY: First Day School 10:00-10:45 am. Volunteering twice a year in 1st Day School is a responsibility of all active adults. Sign up sheet is in the Residence. EVERY TUESDAY Yoga Class 4:00 5:15 PM. Slow in pace and designed for beginning adults. All welcome. Call Susan Gore ( ) to confirm and tell you re coming. DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAYS Silent Meditation Group 7:00 7:30 AM, Friends House Library. DAILY: Online morning worship from 7:30-8 AM. Log onto the Quaker Center web site and under the News from Quaker Center click on the link that says on-line meeting for worship LOOKING AHEAD: 2nd Hour June 25: Eric Moon on Bearing Witness to our Sacred Stories Exploring Racism through the Film "Cracking the Codes" -- Sunday, May 28 The Quaker Working Group on Racism of Redwood Forest Meeting and the Peace & Justice Committee of Friends House are sponsoring a workshop on racism at Friends House Library from 12:30 to 4:00 on Sunday May 28. We'll explore our racism as it shows up interpersonally and in society through bias, privilege, and our social institutions. Activities will include film clips and small group sharing in response to focused questions. We welcome all, wherever you are on your journey of awareness and action with American racism.

3 3 ADVICES AND QUERIES From PYM Faith and Practice MEETING FOR WORSHIP FOR BUSINESS Come to Meeting with hearts and minds prepared to be open and faithful to the leadings of the Spirit. Then the conduct of business will lead to truth, unity, and love. When a matter is before the Meeting for Business, each person present contributes to the corporate search for a decision that accords with the will of God. Inaction is a form of action. Silent worship in the Meeting for Business contributes to the process of achieving unity. Listen attentively to others' words and use the silence between messages to reflect carefully on what you might contribute. When you are clear, speak simply what is in your heart, without repeating what has already been offered. While making your insights clear, lay aside personal opinions and attend to what God requires. Do I attend Meeting for Business regularly? Do I speak in Meeting for Business only when I am led to speak? Is the Meeting for Business held as a Meeting for Worship in which we seek divine guidance for our actions? Are we tender and considerate of different views, coming to a decision only when we have found unity? Meetings Under Our Care Friends House Worship Group Sunday 10 AM, Friends House Library, 684 Benicia Dr, Santa Rosa. Lake County Worship Group Sunday 11:30 AM at a member's home. Call Barbara and Edwin Christwitz, (707) Ukiah Worship Group Sunday 10:30 AM, Plowshares Peace & Justice Center, 1346 S. State St, Ukiah. Call for information and directions. Other Meetings In the Area Apple Seed Friends Meeting Sunday 10:00 AM, Many Rivers Book and Tea, 130 S. Main St. Sebastopol. Call for information. Mendocino Friends Meeting Sunday 10 am, Jewish Community Shul, Caspar Rd, Caspar. Napa-Sonoma Friends Meeting Sunday 10 am, Aldea Inc, 1801 Oak St (corner of Oak and Jefferson), Napa. Do we give prayerful support for our clerks that they may be sensitive to the movement of the Spirit among us?

4 RFFM MINUTES OF MEETING FOR BUSINESS 4/9/17 4 The meeting opened at noon with Worship, Susan Swanstrom, Clerk, presiding. Advices and Queries on Spiritual Life: In pairs, we considered: Do we share our spiritual lives with others in the Meeting, seeking to know one another in that which is eternal? MINUTE : Minutes of the March Meeting were approved. Finance Committee: Jim Pilliod reminded us of our discussion of the budget at our March meeting, and presented it without change. MINUTE : The Budget was approved. State of the Meeting Report: Susan Swanstrom read a draft report on the state of the meeting that elaborated on several themes: 2017 finds us in sorrow at the state of the world. We know our efforts alone are not enough, and we join with others to welcome the stranger, to value the homeless, to mend relations between law enforcement and immigrants, to help refugees, to reduce Islamophobia, to maintain ministries in Guatemala and Bolivia. Some of us have been moved to tears by the depth and beauty of the silence found in worship and the spoken messages. Our Care Committee lovingly reaches out to those who need help with daily needs. Spiritual deepening groups offer places to share our vulnerabilities. We rejoice in the maturation of our courtyard, in our growing, joyous children, and in our new committee on Religious Education. We awaken to the need for love to lead us away from a culture of separation and individualism. We do our best to support our three worship groups and their attenders. Also included were short statements from two of the Worship Groups under our care. Discussion and suggestions followed, and the meeting approved the attached report which will be sent to the oversight committee of the College Park Quarterly Meeting. MINUTE : The State of the Meeting Report (attached) was approved as amended. Nominating Committee: Ken DellaPenta distributed the attached slate of officers and committees for the year commencing May 1 st based on the seasoning that has occurred since the March Meeting for Business. The terms of the Religious Education committee have been staggered, and Michelle Murrain s name has been added to the Finance Committee. Her nomination will be seasoned until the May Business Meeting. MINUTE : The attached slate of officers and committees was approved, with the exception of newly nominated Finance Committee nominee Michelle Murrain, who will be considered at the May Meeting for Business. Religious Education Committee: Eric Moon reported that the Committee is off to an energetic start, reviewing the policies to prevent abuse, and clarifying that Oversight Committee is to respond in the event of an incident. The Committee has consulted with the Worship and Ministry Committee regarding questions of overlapping areas of responsibility. The Religious Education Committee will be responsible for scheduling future 2 nd Hour programs; Susan Swanstrom, the clerk of Religious Education will be the person to contact about additions or changes to the schedule. Upcoming offerings were announced as follows:

5 5 o April 23: River King on the Tiny House Village Project o April 30: Let your spirit speak we re listening. Your Input on Religious Education. o May 19: The first in a series of Friendly Fridays starting at 6 pm with potluck and program (possible a movie) o May 28: Barbara Babin on Friends and Native Americans o June 25: Eric Moon on Bearing Witness to our Sacred Stories The Committee is working with the Oversight and Care Committee regarding Newcomer orientation, and will work with Amy Yamauchi, paid staff and children s caregiver, on First Day School plans. Comments, questions, and concerns are welcome and April 30 will provide an opportunity to share ideas. Peace and Social Witness Committee: Ann Boone delivered the attached report on Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) workshops, and on people in our meeting who facilitate them in Santa Rosa, in Susanville, and elsewhere. Dinah Bachrach described the racism workshop to be arranged by the Subcommittee on Child Refugees held between 12:30 and 4 pm. at Friends House on Sunday, May 28. The Subcommittee on Refugee Children has sent a letter concerning the purpose to separate mothers and children during the asylum process. We were requested to hold in the light the mother and daughter facing an upcoming hearing in SF. Oversight Committee: Ruth Witchey reported that Gary Fryer has communicated his wish to be removed from our membership roster and discontinue any relationship with the Meeting. The Committee recommends that he be released from membership, and the Meeting expressed its care for the individuals affected. MINUTE : At his request, and with the best wishes of this meeting, Gary Fryer is released from membership in the Society of Friends. The Clerk shall advise him of this action, and send a Letter of Release in accordance with PYM s Faith & Practice. The Committee notes that smaller tables in the Social Room allow for more friendly conversation. To help create more space, the Property Committee has been asked to consider replacing the heavy wooden chairs with folding ones. In addition, to reduce crowding on nonpotluck Sundays, there may be fewer tables. Comments are always welcome. The attached report of the clearness committee (for membership of Dinah Bachrach) was read. The recommendation for membership will be seasoned until the May meeting. Worship and Ministry: The Clerk, on behalf of Paul Harris and Worship and Ministry, described the proposed purchase, cost and amenities of the sound system being demonstrated today. A lengthy consideration of this matter ensued. The need for an additional hands-free microphone, desirability of a portable system, the features and vulnerabilities of the system being demonstrated, and its suitability for those who are hearing impaired were aspects of this discussion. MINUTE : RFFM approved purchase of this sound system with multiple microphones and a smaller tripod at a cost not to exceed $1,000. The meeting will make reasonable efforts to meet the needs of people with additional hearing needs not adequately met by this system. One member stood aside.

6 Correspondence/Announcements: The schedule for the Clerk s Café can be adjusted to meet individual needs and desires; contact the Clerk with your suggestions. 6 Joys/Concerns: We may need a microphone runner; and we appreciate that the Clerk s Café is available. News from Ben Lomond Quaker Center Still Point and Moving Edge is a five-day gathering from June 2nd - 9th where we will embrace and explore the tensions of our Quaker faith. We will ask: is our faith determined by where we ground ourselves or by where that grounding leads us? Is it particular specific beliefs or openness to varying faiths? Quakers new and seasoned, involved and estranged, are welcome to join and seek how our lives fit into the Religious Society of Friends and how the Society fits into our lives. Join Dan Rosenson, Diego Navarro, Erin Eichenberger Newman, Jim Anderson and Kathy Runyan to investigate our practices, values, experience, heritage, and future. Young Friends (under age 35) can register at no charge. Please register early at Register your kids for summer camp! We welcome all campers to join us from June 25th July 1st; Quaker Camp serves rising 4th - 6th graders, and Service Camp serves 7th - 9th graders. Campers explore community, peace, equality, integrity, simplicity, and stewardship through service, creative projects and other activities in the Santa Cruz mountains and at the beach in Santa Cruz. Find out more and register online at or call Kathy Runyan at Discover the best family vacation around. Family Work Camp from August 1 6, is only $50/personfor the full week. All ages are welcome! We ll work on improvements to Quaker Center facilities while building community among us. Work crews gather in the morning after breakfast and work until lunch. After lunch we offer opportunities to play, hike, swim, and cook together, or for time alone to enjoy the redwoods. Some work campers choose to keep working. Learn more about this wonderful intergenerational camp and register online at Join Vanessa Julye from September 1-3, 2017 to explore Colonialism, Racism and White Supremacy. Have you ever wondered what white supremacy and colonization are? Have you wondered how they affect our lives both individually and institutionally? Over the weekend we will spend time examining colonization, racism and white supremacy and how it impacts the Religious Society of Friends. Learn more and register at

7 7 El Salvador Service Learning Trips Filling up Fast! My name is Nate Makepeace Miche Secrest. Many of you might know me as the Children's Program Director for PYM or as a long time staff member at the Quaker Center Camps in Ben Lomond. Others might know me as simply a passionate Young Adult Friend who cares deeply about equity in our world. Anyway, whether or not our paths have crossed, I hope you will consider attending this years El Salvador Service Learning trip from July 23rd August 2nd. I'm writing to: A) Spread the word about these trips and B) encourage quick action from those interested because we already have 10 participants and will only be taking 16 this year. We do hope to have another trip next year. So if people are interested please have them contact me at this (secrestnm@guilford.edu) or they can call me after Friday (when I get my new phone) at Thanks, Nate ***** It's not about holding the hands or head at the right reverential angle or bending the knees just so. It's about opening the heart and taking the risk of allowing God's love to touch us and heal us and change us each day of our lives--- that is the sacred mystery of prayer. from A Small Steadying Sail of Love, by Nancy Richard

8 DEADLINE FOR JUNE NEWSLETTER IS MAY 18th Send submissions to 8