Dear Friends,
We hear arguments for and against diversity in the media, and this week alone there have been many opinions and viewpoints on a wide array of topics in the news. KFFC as a church is quite and gloriously diverse, especially in beliefs. We all come from many different backgrounds religiously. Some are Quakers due to their parents being Quakers, and their parents being Quaker and so on, some chasing their roots all the way back to the 1600’s. Some are here because what you believe is between you and God. Period. It’s not what your parents believed or your friends believe, but what do you as an individual make sense of this sometimes-scary thing called Spirit. And in practice, diversity comes out in your ideas about how good your pastors can be at helping each person grow in their own way and according to their own beliefs. I can tell you that it is a challenge, but a lovely gift that grows individually in each person’s life when we get it right or close to. Our differences show up some during evaluation time with some people from heavily evangelical backgrounds having been triggered by the use of scripture or sometimes talking about Jesus, while others for whom scripture is a soothing reassurance of ongoing beliefs and words through the ages, and they can’t get enough about Jesus’ life. There are other differences that come out too. That is true for the length of message, the amount of silence, and the focus of potential children’s programs, and I am sure of other things as you evaluate how your pastors are “doing” with this tight wire. Honestly, while there are a lot of differing opinions there is also this wonderful inclusion of each other as being different and thinking differently from each other. We tend to speak for ourselves in evaluations, which is wonderful. But as Quakers we do not speak over each other. We relish differences. We listen. We do not need to agree. We don’t believe in absolutism except held by God, whether it is unconditional love or the absolute truth. Whatever that is that is absolute is not finite and not completely accessible to any human being. We might argue that religion, even Quakerism, is the attempt to get as close to Truth as possible, knowing it is sacred and personal, but that in perspective can be very healthy and a well of love and healing. We know that we are all amazingly and wonderfully unique, each to be appreciated right where they are. One of our songs that we are singing this Sunday has a verse in it that speaks to this wonderful part of being Quaker: “‘Tis a gift to be knowing, ‘tis a gift to be kind, ‘tis gift to wait to hear another’s mind, that when we speak our feelings we might come out true, It is a gift for me and a gift for you.” Only in our diversity can we get to the Light that is shining there under all of the ground we heap on top.
The question then will come up, why not focus on the values of the SPICES, since we all agree on those? Because sometimes truth is held in a different form than what we are used to and we need to stretch. It helps us to expand our thinking and try to see things from another’s point of view rather than just writing it off as not held by everyone. In our stretching to get to see someone else’s point of view, we find spiritual growth.
Another thing other than the SPICES that we can all agree on is the need for children to be fed. We are going into a bad summer, and it will get worse as agencies begin going through their resources with none set to refill from the Federal Government. As people lose benefits, children take the brunt of the harm – so please help. The following items are desperately needed for the food drive: nut butters, jelly or jam, peanut butter cracker packs, noodle cups and ramen, cereal, instant oatmeal, pop tarts, canned fruit and fruit cups, granola bars, spaghetti and other canned pasta, and canned soups and chilis. Please fill a bag and mark it “Summer Food Drive” and bring it to the church. We will be transporting it to the food bank for distribution. I am here on most days but for sure from 10-2 on Mondays and Fridays (except June 27, I will be at the Yearly Meeting.)
Which is a nice segway into a reminder that the yearly meeting is important. All people carry that of God in them, and we need your input on yearly meeting ideas. Plus, there are some wonderful workshops. To register for participation on zoom: https://forms.gle/smqZcHT4pPYhMH8ZA. The list of workshops is attached.
I hope to see some of you at the corner of South 6th and Washburn sometime today between 4 and 6 as we support our local veterans and let our voices be heard. Bring a sign.
Sincerely,
Leigh
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