Dear Friends,

              The town hall about the unsheltered in our town was held last night in the Union Hall on the Oregon Institute of Technology’s campus.  It was good to hear from people who have programs to serve the unhoused in town, but it was very good to also hear directly from the people actually experiencing homelessness, what they think will be helpful in the long run, and basically why some of our programs don’t reach everyone who is unhoused in this town. City Council members were in the house, hopefully listening.  Everything from weather conditions that can make it harder to survive on the streets to needs for in an encampment to the need for affordable housing in town was discussed.  Valeree Lane and Brion Pinkerton held this event, sponsored by the Faith-based Council of which we are a part, and the VA.  I gave the invocation. It was a minor role to take.  There were many activists from town caring for tables of information in the lobby.

              It has been a good thing and sometimes amazing to me the amount of activity that is joyfully taken on in this town when it comes to helping others.  They don’t just give of their time and money in a cheerful and community-building way. It is always a joyful time at this church when we are doing something to be of help to others, whether it is feeding the residents at the transitional housing to protesting together at a rally.  Together we are all about the smiles and shear delight in each other’s company as we do what we say needs to get done.  This is a very active church and active community, offering many volunteer programs to become a part of.  They always need more volunteers. And a bonus is that the volunteers quickly form a community with one another and friendships are born.

              One place that always appreciates new volunteers is the Klamath Interfaith Food Pantry that offers food to people on the last two Tuesdays of the month, from about 5-8 PM depending on the number of people being served. The volunteers mostly come from four churches: Hope Lutheran, Unitarian Fellowship, Klamath Lutheran Church and our church, the Friends Church. Linda Warner is the director and does a super job of not just getting things accomplished efficiently but keeping morale high for not just the volunteers, but for the participants in the pantry who are there for food assistance.  There are smiles on the faces of just about everyone, and the energy is very good.  You can reach Linda at  541-281-5535   if you are interested in becoming a volunteer.

              The Food Pantry is and will be quite necessary for a greater population, especially when their SNAP gets cut off and other food programs are cut from the nation’s budget in the coming weeks and months.  We fed sixty-one families on this past Tuesday, and we expect to serve more families this coming week. Food is also needed. So are toiletries, baby diapers and laundry detergent.  We need things you would generally use while making Thanksgiving meals.  Instead of packing boxes, we are asking you to bring what you would have given to the church for the boxes and put it on the white table in the entry room of the church.  (Part of the government cancelling many programs, means that it will impact the Food Bank where we get most of our food for the Food Pantry.  Your participation is vital.)

              We are so very blessed to have this town and to have each other. We have begun a new way of ending our services which is working out quite nicely.  We all join hands to form a circle and a blessing is given before people go home.  It ends the programmed service, but the fellowship tends to go on about thirty minutes, and everyone is included, new visitors or people who have come back after a sabbatical.  The feeling of community is replenishing before people go back into the world.  Come and experience it for yourself.  We also encourage people to come at 9:45 instead of 10 AM on Sundays to give everyone a chance to say hello and settle in before programmed worship begins.

              I hope you are planning to participate in the workshop this Saturday from 2-4.  It will be held upstairs at the Friends Church because it is fully accessible for all participants. We are looking forward to hearing from and working with Laura Simmons as she leads us to a new place in our lives and helps us hone new skills in the areas of forgiveness and reconciliation.

              Don’t forget the workshop tomorrow from 2-4, and we are having Laura Simmons as our guest speaker on Sunday morning for worship before open worship time. Following the meeting there will be a meeting for business. Come to all.  Greet others cheerfully.

              May you be blessed and find a way to be a blessing to others as we all need each other for morale and energy.  Pray for one another.  Hold them in the Light. Pray for positive attitudes and support of one another during these trying and desperate times.

Blessings,

Leigh