Dear Friends,

Father’s Day brings up a lot of conflicting feelings for me.  I personally will be glad when we get past the four-member-family model and just nurture and protect our kids, and support one another, regardless of our gender and regardless of theirs, when we can be parents instead of divided roles based on gender. But part of that is a realization that I have aged to the point when those in parental roles in my life have mostly all passed on. A bit of sour grapes, maybe. Honestly, I still find myself learning from a few who are still older than I am, and I guess they hold that very special place for me.

Yesterday we had a sendoff for a friend who is downsizing and moving closer to family in Portland.  He is part of a group of mostly progressive pastors that I have bible study with every week.  We met at his house with two purposes, bible study and picking up books he couldn’t take with him.  Boxes and boxes of books went out to cars, but it looked about the same in his library with so many more books to choose from. You see, my friend is worse than I am about books.  When it comes to me and the simplicity testimony, books are my downfall.  And going into my friend’s house, I could see I wasn’t the only one.  I do love his participation in the bible study because I always learn something from him.  I’m going to miss that. He loved to lead the bible study even though we weren’t supposed to have a particular leader. I’m going to miss that, too. He brought the Greek and Hebrew translations of the Bible with him each week, quick to point out meanings for words and phrases that have gotten lost in translation through the years. I am definitely going to miss that. He seems to be an encyclopedia of thoughts, readings, knowledge about mystics of many different religions, and when I got to his house, I understood why.  He had invested years and years in developing a library worth coveting by someone like me with similar interests.  But what I will miss most is his presence.  He showed up on hot weeks and snowbound weeks, when he had had a health crisis and when he was well, always smiling, always open to new ideas and ways of seeing things and never groaning when I insisted that we use the word “God” instead of “He” in reference to God.  His name is Rich.

And there you go, another father-like-figure in my life leaving but leaving an impression.  Father’s Day  is a day for looking back for many of us, remembering, or for getting ready for the days when maybe there isn’t a father around any longer, or getting ready for a time when our fathers or father-figures downsize and pass along their knowledge to us as the  “next” generation. Until you are like me and in the generation that is seeking reinforcement as we now or will soon prepare to go into retirement or downsize our lives.

Now it is no picnic to have a role of support and oversight in today’s world, of showing up. How do you calm the fears of those afraid of a war? Regardless, yesterday Israel bombed Iran. I read a letter from someone at the Friends School in Ramallah, Palestine this morning, and they are preparing in case of an attack. They may be being realistic when they are intimidated. We may be, too. Yesterday a politician was wrestled to the ground and cuffed for asking a question in the wrong way at the wrong time at a news conference.   Many fathers, mothers, brothers, uncles, cousins and grandfathers are being taken to detention centers while children weep, or are swept up too, some left completely alone.  As we prepare to be a part of a national protest tomorrow, we do so knowing that there have been threats made on a national level to those planning on protesting on Saturday.  (If you live in Klamath Falls and want to come to the local protest, it is at the corner of South 6^th and Washburn from 12-2.  The one for people bringing children will be at Sugarman’s Corner, same time. The weather should be perfect here.  Bring a sign.)  How do you “father” or “parent” through something like these times?  How do you provide security and protection in what feels like very insecure and unsafe times? 

A letter from the Klamath Interfaith Food Pantry will follow this little blustering letter, but in a nutshell, if we don’t feed the children this year for the summer, they may not get fed.  And it is only going to get worse as federal aid has been cut in so many different ways, making mass food scarcity a looming problem for the near future.  So how do you provide leadership and stability during these times?  Will you?  Our world needs it.  We could all do with more prayers, but we also need to put our feet into action and show up for other people at a time when showing up is not necessarily in style.  But that makes it even more important for us to do.  

Just some thoughts as we prepare for Father’s Day,

Leigh

Announcements

·       June 15 – 9:00 – Peace and Social Concerns

·       June 15 – 11:00 — Final Book Club Meeting

·       June 16 – 9:00 – Church Clean Up

·       June 22 – Art and Spirituality with Sue

·       June 27-29 – Annual Meeting at Reedwood Friends in

Portland – All are encouraged to attend – Joe will be

being recorded as a minister as well. Register to attend through zoom:  https://forms.gle/smqZcHT4pPYhMH8ZA

From Interfaith Food Pantry

Klamath Interfaith Food Pantry

Summer Food Drive 2025

Fill a Bag, Feed a Child

As the end of the school year approaches, students in Klamath County are anxiously anticipating the start of their summer vacation. However, not everyone can afford to be excitedabout the end of the school year. Hunger doesn’t take a vacation. In fact, the need is greatestduring the summer months. Students are no longer receiving free breakfast and lunch at school, and families need to look elsewhere to replace those meals. Food banks, meanwhile, typically see a drop in donations this time of year.

Now is the time to take action and fight hunger in our community by participating in the Klamath Interfaith Food Pantry’s First Annual Summer Food Drive. We’re calling it “Fill a Bag, Feed a Child.” We’re asking you to donate child-friendly food items that are easy to open and prepare and that are shelf-stable and microwavable. Many of our pantry children are at home alone all day while parents are working and don’t have the skill to cook for themselves. So we’re asking for food that children of all ages enjoy: peanut butter and jelly, Cup ‘o’ Noodles or Ramen Noodle, cereal or instant oatmeal, Pop Tarts, granola bars, all kinds of canned fruit, applesauce, pudding in serving sized cups, canned entrees like stew, chili, or soup. You get the idea—foods that appeal to kids and that are easy to prepare.

We’re conducting this food drive starting now until the end of August because children need  food all summer long! Please use these paper grocery bags labeled “Summer Food Drive” and also the name of your church. Each church has a point person who will organize the donations and take them to the food pantry. (Leigh and Margo at Friends, Lee at UU, Kerry at Hope and Mary at KLC.)

You can also donate cash or check, and if you like, specify that you want your donation for this summer food drive (Klamath Interfaith Food Pantry).

And remember hunger doesn’t take a vacation, so you’ll be hearing from us again. Thank you for helping us feed our children.