Dear Friends,
This has been both a relaxing and exciting week for me as I spent the first half of it in a retreat for ministers of Sierra-Cascades Yearly Meeting. We were in Troutdale at McMenamins Edgefield, near Portland. It was good to be both with Faith Marsali who serves on their Nurture of Ministry Committee and also with other ministers and pastors that do different but similar work. We spent time just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company, and we spent time in small groups discussing particular topics such as forgiveness and reconciliation. The conversations were both fun and deep, and we laughed quite a lot together. The drive to and back home was gorgeous with a clear sky going home.
I enjoy learning in groups. It’s great to get diverse perspectives from pastors from Idaho to Eugene, and those just starting out to those who are close to retirement, as well as other embraced differences. Because I attended last year and have met with several of the pastors multiple times, it was easy to fall back into the shared established unity of the group. Establishing that sense of community was in the forefront of everyone’s mind, and when that happens, we tend to show up as our best selves and interact in the most authentic ways.
You are invited into this kind of unity and community on May 5 at Klamath Lutheran Church on Crescent Ave. The Interfaith Food Pantry is having a painting party from 9 in the morning until the job is completed. If you work during the day and want to be included, blue-taping begins at six in the morning. That takes real commitment. But if you have ever volunteered at the food pantry, you know why the pantry volunteers are “in this together.” They work in unity and help each other out in the most friendly ways possible. They have a wonderful director in Linda Warner as well who is a great example of teamwork and dedication. If you would like to volunteer at the Food Pantry, it is the last two Tuesdays every month. Please call Linda at 541-281-5535.
Someone else who is a positive role model is Emily Provance. She definitely walks her talk. Some of you were in her trainings on nonviolence before the last election. She recently joined a group of Friends to Palestine and is offering to give a report in person through zoom on Tuesday May 13 at 2 PM. You can register using the link below. She joined a small group from Friends United Meeting and Friends World Committee on Consultation Europe and Middle East Section for a pastoral care trip visiting Friends and others in the West Bank, including but not limited to Ramallah Friends School. If you’d be interested in hearing a report and stories from the experience, register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/0vBEWB_cQVq3XkZDyn7g6w. If you would like to see the Sierra Cascade Yearly Meeting’s Minute on Palestine, please go to https://www.scymfriends.org/minutes-of-concern/minute-on-ongoing-devastation-in-palestine
One of the last things I want to cover is the directory for our church. We are compiling a new directory at the moment. This will be an easier way to get in touch with you and your Friends, but many of you may or may not want to be included in this directory. To opt in, please just reply to this email, and I will make sure your information is retained.
Finally, it is evaluation time again for your pastors. The evaluations are in the entryway of the Meeting House and can be picked up any Sunday morning or Monday or Friday between 10-2. It is important to have feedback so that we know what is working and not working for you and your spiritual journey. May 11th is the last day for submissions. All submissions are confidential, and the only ones who will see them are Bernie Kero and Wendy Williams. But they will write a report for the business meeting and present it to the church during the May business meeting.
We will, as a unified group, walk the Klamath NAMI Walk, May 17, at 10 AM. If you want to walk with us to raise money and awareness for this wonderful organization (National Alliance for Mental Illness) who support family and friends of people with a mental illness, meet us at the corner of Main Street and the courthouse in Klamath Falls. The actual walk begins at 11 and ends at The Commons on Main and 11th St. There is a signup sheet on the entry table at the Meeting House, but you can show up without signing up as well.
I hope every one of you can enjoy this beautiful weekend. We hope to see you on Sunday. Joe will be giving the message and facilitating the morning worship which will end early because it is a day for a business meeting. Our goal is to have you out of the meeting house by noon on Sunday.
Sincerely,
Leigh
Announcements
· April 27 – 11:00 – Meeting for Business
· May 4 – 11:00 – Circle of Friends – How Do We Grow
Our [sense of community in our] Meeting?
· May 11 – 9:00 – Bible Study
· May 11 — Pastors’ Evaluations must be in the Green Box
· May 17 – NAMI Walk
· May 18 – 9:00 – P&SC
· May 18 – 11:00 – Book Group on Quaker Ecology –
Chapter 4
· May 25 – 11:00 – Meeting for Business
· June 8 – 9:00 – Bible Study
· June 15 – P&SC
· June 15 – Final Book Club Meeting
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