Dear Friends,

Today I will be giving you six different ways to interact with the problems of our nation. 

1)      The first, of course, is prayer.  Quaker prayer is called “holding in the light” which is a simple process of imagining the person, place, thing or situation in your mind and envisioning it filled with light, held up and away from you as you meditate on this person, place, thing or situation.  We have a lot to hold in the light in our country and world right now.  Every day something else happens that was unthinkable the day before as we walk out of line with love into the world of chaos and greed.  Personally we can choose love to help us continue to walk in line with love and to empower you when it can feel overwhelming to even think about these things.

Sunday’s message is on thoughtfulness and its ways of being good for your heart and mind.  Meeting for worship is at 10 and the bulletin is attached. We also have our business meeting on Sunday at 11.  We will be discussing the church’s budget for 2026 and talking about a listening circle to help us to hear from one another the aspirations and inspirations for our church in 2026.  It will be available through zoom and the link is on the bulletin.

2)      The second thing you can do is to help the people of Minnesota.  Here is the information with things that can be done from here to help specifically in the Twin City area.  These suggestions came from Minneapolis Friends Church in Minneapolis.

“Some suggestions that I have heard from Friends about how people can
support from afar include donating to mutual aid funds
(https://linktr.ee/Mplsicewatch) and emergency rent funds (to help
vulnerable people who are at risk of eviction because they can’t safely
work, https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-powderhorn-families-in-crisis).
Here is a google doc with more causes to donate to
(https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fdwaG8r41k_1x3XOEVjNwyzfc2jWLIoOC2r5XsBBjE4/edit?tab=t.0).”

3)      The third thing to do is to participate in a  national Quaker meeting for worship this Sunday via zoom.  It is a silent worship experience where people speak out of the silence.  This is a national meeting started by Philip Gulley. The meeting is called National Zoom Call: From Exhaustion to Enthusiasm, Joyful Resistance in a Time of Tyranny. This will be held on January 25 from 7:00-8:30.  To sign up please go to https://quakercall.net/join-the-conversation  Once you have signed up go to https://qcall.2quakers.net/meeting the night of the meeting in order to get the zoom link. It is important to gather with other Quakers as we respond with love and tenacity to the events happening in our nation.

4)      The fourth thing is to be involved with a boycott to speak out about the removal of DEI programs from commercial organizations. Griffin Toffler has given us information about a day to boycott businesses.  Here is her information:

February 28th
24 hour Economic Blackout begins!

This action, sponsored by The People’s Union, will send a powerful message in response to the rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which Amazon, Target, Google, and other major companies are already taking steps to dissolve these programs. Peoples Union is “a movement of people, unionizing to take back control of our economy, government and future of our country.”

WHEN:
Thursday February 27th from Midnight to Friday The 28th Midnight
(A full 24 hours of the 28th)

WHAT NOT TO DO:
Do not make any purchases
Do not shop online, or in-store
No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy, Nowhere!
Do not spend money on:
Fast Food
Gas
Major Retailers
Do not use Credit or Debit Cards for non essential spending.
If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses.

For more information, go to https://jointhepeoplesunion.com

5)      The fifth thing to do is be prepared to be involved if ICE comes to our area.  As a mother of an immigrant child, this is a scary time. But we are not powerless.  If you see ICE activity, call 1-888-622-1510 and report it.  If you want to interact with ICE, you will need training.  The next training for Klamath Immigration Response Training (KIRT) is set for THIS SATURDAY at 1:30-3:30 at the Universal Unitarian Fellowship on 1201 Division Street here in Klamath Falls.

6)      The sixth thing is to come to a Love Rally to be held at the corner of Washburn and South Sixth Street on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14)  from noon to two o’clock.  Please bring a protest sign, but make it about love in what it says.

This may feel overwhelming, but it can be empowering if you just take the time to be involved in something.  You are needed and you do matter in what you do and say right now/

Blessings,

Leigh