Newsletter of Bellingham Friends Meeting – November 2011
Advices and Queries
[Note: Personal addresses, phone numbers, and emails obfuscated pending explicit permission of owner]
We are called to live in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars. Do you faithfully maintain our testimony that war and the preparation for war are inconsistent with the spirit of Christ? Search out whatever in your own way of life may contain the seeds of war. Stand firm in our testimony, even when other commit or prepare to commit acts of violence, yet always remember that they too are children of God.
# 31 in Advices & queries, The Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in Britain.
Be patterns, be examples, in all countries. places, island, nations, wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them: then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one. –George Fox, 1656
Earthcare Query
Eco-Suggestion: That “new smell” in clothing often indicates the presence of toxins such as chemicals that make fabrics flame-, stain-, dirt- or wrinkle-resistant. Soak overnight in water with a small boxful of baking soda, and then launder. If the smell lingers, so do the chemicals. Buying second hand is one way to avoid this.
Speak Truth to Power
Ask Rep Larsen to co-sign the letter from Rep Slaughter asking for action on Clarence Thomas’ failure to disclose his wife’s lobbying income from an organization with a financial interest in a case under his jurisdiction.
Date/time Activity and Description Contact
November 20 What do Quakers Believe? Discussion led by Howard Harris; Come before Meeting for Worship for Hymn Singing
Nov 20 Multi-faith alternative holiday fair at Assumption Church 1-4 information table Don Goldstein
671-1395
November 27
Give-away: Bring what you can no longer use and take home what you like. Remainders will be given to Goodwill Jessica Bee
393 4249
Wed Nov 30 Earthcare Committee Meeting – all are welcome to come or give input Doris Ferm’s home 756-xxxx
Thurs Dec 1 Spirit Group – last half of Thomas Kelly’s Testament of Devotion Doris Ferm’s home 756-xxxx
December 4 Potluck (and collection of food for the Food Bank)
Mon Dec 5 Finance Committee – all are welcome to come or give input Joanne Cowan’s
Home 656-5015
Mon Dec 5 Book Group – Abraham Verghese’s Cutting for Stone Susan and Alan Richardson’s home
733-xxxx
Wed Dec 7 Peace and Social Concerns Committee – all are welcome to come or give input Doris Ferm’s house 756-xxxx
December 11 Meeting for Worship for the Conduct of Business Alice Robb
312 xxxx
December 18 Christmas Program (details to come) Jessica Bee
393 xxxx
December 25 There will be Meeting for Worship, but no second hour
SUBSCRIBE TO THE WESTERN FRIEND MAGAZINE TODAY
You get eight issues a year, jam-packed with articles, art, photos and stories by and about Friends you know. $25.00 to subscribe through WesternFriend.org, or participate in a group subscription through the Meeting. If we can get 16 or more subscribers signed up, it’s just 22.00 per person! ($25.00 each for groups 5-15). The actual cost of producing one annual subscription is $50. Western Friend subscriptions are now also available as an emailed PDF. Free sample copies are available at the meeting, or email editor@westernfriend.org. Call or email lorinahall@comcast.net to sign up today. The subscription drive ends Sunday, January 8th.
Make your check out to Bellingham Friends Meeting with a notation on the bottom left hand corner indicating “Western Friend”. Give check to Don Goldstein or Lorina Hall. Don will send one check for all the subscriptions from BFM.
Volunteers needed to staff Interfaith Coalition’s severe weather shelters
In anticipation of the colder days and nights ahead , Interfaith Coalition of Whatcom County is gearing up to open its two severe weather shelters. Training for new volunteers will be offered on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 7 – 8:30 PM.
The shelters, staffed by volunteers from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., open when weather conditions may be life threatening to some homeless individuals. Interested individuals and couples may volunteer for one of three shifts, including an overnight shift, during which volunteers take turn sleeping. Only female volunteers staff the women’s shelter, but women may join male volunteers at the men’s shelter during the evening and morning shifts.
A training for new volunteers will be offered on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 7 – 8:30 PM. The trainings will be offered at the two shelter sites. Please go to the site where you are interested in volunteering. The men’s shelter is a Faith Lutheran Church, 2750 McLeod Road, and the women’s and children’s shelter is at Garden St. United Methodist Church, 1326 N. Garden St. in Bellingham.
Please call Interfaith Coalition of Whatcom County at 734-3983 for more information.
Christmas Requests
Peace and Social Concerns: Our concern of the month will be a special Christmas collection for Heifer International . Our goal is to collect at least $120 for purchase of a gift – possibly a goat, maybe a knitting basket if we collect more money. Collection will be taken on December 18th, though contributions may be made after that date.
Interfaith Coalition: Our meeting agreed to collect money for the purchase of a gift certificate for a family too new to Interfaith to be sponsored by a congregation. Sharon Trent will collect money and purchase a gift certificate appropriate to the family, with preference given to local businesses.
Meeting for Worship Sundays at 10 AM at Explorations Academy, 1701 Ellis Street, Bellingham
Phone 360-734-0244 Mailing Address P.O. Box 30144 Bellingham, 98228-2144 Website BellinghamFriends.org
Co-Clerks: Alice Turtle Robb, (312-xxxx) and Judy Hopkinson (713-816-xxxx), Ministry and Counsel Members: Alice Turtle Robb (312-xxxx) Lorina Hall (734-xxxx) , Mimi Freshley (933-xxxx), Janine Hart-Horner (676-xxxx). Childrens Program Clerk, Jessica Bee (393-xxxx)
Simplicity Peace Integrity Community Sustainability Equality