Friendly Notes. Queries Reaching Out. Inside this issue: Queries

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1 Friendly Notes Santa Moni ca Mont hly Meeting of the Religious Soci ety of Friends Inside this issue: Queries: Reaching Out Workshop: Reading the Bible with Friends 1 1 Minutes 6/12/ LOVE: A Poem 4 Excerpts: George Fox s Journal Friends Silent Retreat 5 Upcoming Events: July 17, 2016, 8:30 am: Adult Education Reading Group July 29, 2016, 7:00: Potluck supper with Stephen Matchett at the Searls July 30, 2016; 9:00-4:00: Workshop: Reading the Bible with Friends 5 September 2-4, 2016: Friends Silent Retreat at Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside Queries Reaching Out Queries Share your Quaker faith. Take time to learn about other people s experiences of the Light and, as you learn, give freely from what you have gained. Respect the experiences and opinions of others, but do not be afraid to say what you value. Welcome the diversity of culture, language, and expressions of faith in your Monthly Meeting, the Yearly Meeting, and the world community of Friends. Encourage discourse with Friends of pastoral and programmed traditions, and with members of other faiths. How does my life reflect Friends beliefs and thus encourage others to be interested in the Religious Society of Friends? What does our Meeting do to make others aware of Friends principles and practices? How do we encourage newcomers to return and participate in activities of the Meeting? Come As You Are: Reading The Bible With Friends Workshop with Stephen Matchett Saturday, July 30; 9:00 4:00 Are you ready to take another look at the Bible? This workshop is called Come As You Are because truly everyone is welcome those curious about Quaker views of the Bible, those who struggle with their relationship to Scripture, and those who know and love the Bible. That is, anyone who is willing to try an open encounter with Scripture in a setting that encourages listening for what the Spirit has to say to us today. Expect the unexpected. Stephen's visit is made possible thanks to the Adult Education Committee, with the support of the Alice Herman Committee. Potluck supper at the Searls Friday evening, July 29.

2 Page 2 Contributions to Friendly Notes Friendly Notes welcomes submissions by Friends. A quotation, poem or short essay that speaks to you in your spiritual journey, or something that you have written yourself, can enrich others seeking the Light. Please give a copy to the Editor, Friendly Notes, by (rebeccatillberg@ya hoo.com) or in written form at Meeting. Minutes - June 12, 2016 Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business Attending: Rachel Fretz, Cathleen Loeser, Tim Vreeland, Judith Searle, Elizabeth Ralston, Jan Bartholomew, Shayne Lightner, Sarah Rose House-Lightner, Curtis Raynor, Heather Aymie, Kim O'Brien, Shelley Blank, Karsten van Sander, Henry Yang, Cynthia Cuza, Richard Chamberlain, Wendy Christensen, Donna Cooper, Cindy Waite, Brian Johnston, Elizabeth Cocca, Grant Ramey, Kate Watkins-Shaw, Ann Fuller Meeting began in worship on queries on Integrity (see attached). A Friend said that many if not most of us are born into a world in contradiction to our authentic self; realizing it and acting on it can take a lifetime. A Friend saw the room full of people on their spiritual journeys; although this Friend chooses to worship with others who believe as she does, she is still a Quaker, living by Quaker testimonies. A Friend said that Quakers have been known traditionally for their honesty, If we don't mean it, we don't say it. A Friend said that the testimonies are not absolute rules; kindness is important, especially in delivering unwelcome news. Friends can help each other discern how to handle this. A Friend noted the importance of this worship sharing on queries, which gives a foundation to our discerning of the Spirit together. The clerk said that the queries were chosen in part to guide our decision about whether we can truthfully commit to serving as Arrangements coordinators for SCQM. Do we have the responsibility to restore integrity when we have failed to follow through on a commitment? What broke down in our hosting of Rep Comm? How can it be different? A Friend noted that being able to say No, I can't do it, is also acting with integrity. Pastoral Care Cathleen Loeser presented Howard Brinton's Friends for 350 Years to new members Jan Bartholomew, Kim O'Brien, Judith Searle, and, in absentia, Cristine Reynaert and Gretchen Woelfle. Arrangements Committee The clerk asked meeting to discern whether Nominating Committee should appoint an Arrangements Committee for Southern California Quarterly Meeting in Temescal Canyon, and distributed a report on the activities required. Sarah Rose House-Lightner reported on her experience providing the food for fall fellowship last year. Issues of providing food, co-ordinating clerks of participating monthly meetings and registrar's duties were described. In response to a Friend's question, the clerk said that she had been informally approached by the previous clerk of SCQM about whether the arrangement committee task was something SMFM would be willing to take on. Nominating committee for SCQM has not been functioning well and several important positions are unfilled. SCQM Nominating Committee realized that it needed help, in that important clerking positions were not filled at the time of Spring Gathering. Having a monthly meeting fill in with Arrangements for the Fall gathering may give Quarterly time to address this, rather than have the Clerks Committee handle it. A Friend asked whether it was time to lay down Quarterly. After worship, the Clerk reminded Friends that we are asking whether we are led to take on the Arrangements Committee tasks. Is there a part we can help with? Where is the Spirit leading us? The Clerk stated her sense of the meeting

3 Page 3 Friendly Notes that not many Friends present are led to step up; information can be put out on the list serve for Friends to contact Quarterly Nominating Committee to help. Silent worship. Nominating Committee Judith Searle distributed and read the list of proposed committee members. All have been contacted and agreed to serve. Approval is held over until the next meeting for business. Concerns can be taken to Donna Cooper or Judith. Friends said that House Committee and Alice Herman need more members and noticed that several committees did not have conveners noted; conveners are responsible for calling the first meeting of a committee, during which a clerk will be chosen. The clerk reported that Ministry and Worship is preparing guidelines for committees. The Ad Hoc Lease Committee will continue as long as needed and does not need to be brought to meeting for business, however in recognition of the service of these Friends, a Friend listed them: Carol Tantau, Clerk, Tim Vreeland, Grant Ramey, Henry Yang, Richard Chamberlain, Rick Shaw, Cristine Reynaert, Rebecca Searl and Heather Aymie. A Friend suggested making the list of committee members more available. Thanks were expressed for the work of Nominating and to the 52 Friends who have come forward to serve the Meeting community. Worship and Ministry Cynthia Cuza reported on the painful awareness of our lack of archiving, and asked business meeting to appoint a three person Ad Hoc Records Planning Committee to discern our objectives and how we can carry them out. Ann Fuller is willing to serve. Silent worship Peace and Social Action Curtis Raynor reported on the invitation from P&SA and M&W to eight Pakistani women from the Critical Thinking Forum at the International Islamic University in Islamabad to give a panel presentation on Pakistani Women and Peace, on July 17, open to the public. Fellowship will provide snacks before the noon meeting, and there will be a potluck following, at Meeting approves sponsoring the panel discussion on Pakistani Women, Religion and Peace. After further discernment by clerks of the committee and the meeting, as directed by business meeting, the Minute on Wealth Inequality is being brought back to the full committee for further discernment. Friends with concerns are asked to bring them to the committee. A Friend noted that Adult Education is screening Reich's film, Inequality for All on July 3, at 11:30. Children's Education Heather Aymie reported that although the program is working well, is spirit led, and is providing care and education in Quaker values, the committee has not been functioning as a committee for months. A recent meeting was held by telephone, resulting in a shift of approach, bringing together the regular attenders, who range in age from 2 to 18; older children coming to help in the younger classrooms, joint expeditions to the park on 5th Sundays. Joanna Clinton and Beth Anderson are the younger children's teachers, Heather Aymie and Michael Loeser are upstairs. Concerns with funding needs will be brought to Finance Committee. Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative Shayne Lightner noted that major discernment this year will focus on budget deficit. PYM Ministry and Oversight will recommend smaller numbers of representatives to organizations. Information can be found on the PYM website; concerns can be brought to Shayne before the gathering on June 17. Minutes from the May 8 meeting for business were read and approved. Meeting closed in silent worship. Respectfully submitted, Kate Watkins-Shaw, Clerk, Ann Fuller, Recording Clerk

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5 Page 5 Adult Education Reading Group: George Fox s Journal July 17, 2016; 8:30 a.m. All of the quotations are from the Journal of George Fox, edited by John L. Nickalls (Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, 1985). Here are the passages that we will consider: Now after I had received that opening from the Lord that to be bred at Oxford or Cambridge was not sufficient to fit a man to be a minister of Christ, I regarded the priests less, and looked more after the dissenting people. And among them I saw there was some tenderness, and many of them came afterwards to be convinced, for they had some openings. But as I had forsaken all the priests, so I left the separate preachers also, and those called the most experienced people; for I saw there was none among them all that could speak to my condition. And when all my hopes in them and in all men were gone, so that I had nothing outwardly to help me, nor could tell what to do, then, Oh then, I heard a voice which said, `There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition, and when I heard it my heart did leap for joy. Then the Lord did let me see why there was none upon the earth that could speak to my condition, namely, that I might give him all the glory; for all are concluded under sin, and shut up in unbelief as I had been, that Jesus Christ might have the pre-eminence, who enlightens, and gives grace, and faith, and power. Thus when God doth work who shall let it? And this I knew experimentally (Fox, p. 11). And one day when I had been walking solitarily abroad and was come home, I was taken up in the love of God, so that I could not but admire the greatness of his love. And while I was in that condition it was opened unto me by the eternal Light and power, and I therein saw clearly that all was done and to be done in and by Christ, and how he conquers and destroys this tempter, the Devil and all his works, and is atop of him, and that all these troubles were good for me, and temptations for the trial of my faith which Christ had given me. And the Lord opened me that I saw through all these troubles and temptations. My living faith was raised, that I saw all was done by Christ, the life, and my belief was in him. And when at any time my condition was veiled, my secret belief was stayed firm, and hope underneath held me, as an anchor in the bottom of the sea, and anchored my immortal soul to its Bishop, causing it to swim above the sea, the world where all the raging waves, foul weather, tempests, and temptations are. But oh, then did I see my troubles, trials, and temptations more than ever I had done! As the Light appeared, all appeared that is out of the Light, darkness, death, temptations, the unrighteous, the ungodly; all was manifest and seen in the Light (Fox, p. 14). NINETEENTH ANNUAL FRIENDS SILENT RETREAT Labor Day Weekend, Friday September 2-Sunday September 4, 2016 Prince of Peace Abbey, Oceanside, CA FINDING KINDNESS IN STILLNESS: Restoring Tenderness for Self & Others Talk with Monica Faulkner if you'd like to know more about this wonderful weekend of respite and renewal.

6 Santa Moni ca Mont hly Meeting 1440 Harvard Street Santa Monica, CA Phone: (310) «Unique Identifier» «AddressBlock» WALK CHEERFULLY OVER THE EARTH ANSWERING THAT OF GOD IN EVERYONE. -George Fox