Welcome
Welcome to Multnomah Friends, a spiritual home for Quakers in Portland.
As members of the Religious Society of Friends, we gather in silent waiting. In the stillness, we listen for that “still small voice” that reveals the wisdom within each of us. This individual quest is nurtured in our collective worship, where we aim to create a safe space for all Friends to freely commune with the Divine.
Multnomah Friends has an active youth program from newborn through high school supporting our children’s self-discovery with stories, songs, crafts, discussions, and companionship.
Learn More:
Our Meeting
Last spring, Jon Watts from Thee Quaker Project spent a weekend with us interviewing and filming for a video introduction to Multnomah Meeting. All that footage is now seven-minute video featuring some familiar faces. He hopes to make other videos for other Meetings, but we and Downingtown Meeting in Pennsylvania are the pilot projects. We will be the first to go live on their YouTube channel on Friday, October 25
Events
Please plan to come and add your presence to this peace event which our meeting co-sponsors with Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Veterans for Peace, and the Japanese-American Museum of Oregon. This year’s event is being dedicated to Carol Reilly Urner, beloved member of Multnomah Friends Meeting, long-time Quaker, and internationally-known peace activist, who passed away at the age of 93. Carol was instrumental in organizing the early Hiroshima – Nagasaki memorials in the 60’s and through the 2010’s. It will be Tuesday, August 6th from 6-7:30 pm at the Japanese American Historical Plaza at the Portland waterfront near NW Couch Street.
Friday, July 12, 12:30-2pm
Meeting Room
Recent reports from the International Panel on Climate Change say that we have less than three decades to drastically reign in greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time we also have to adapt to climate changes that we are already seeing. This means recreating our communities to make them climate resilient and environmentally sustainable. Accomplishing this is an all hands, minds, and hearts on deck effort that begins with envisioning what we need and want our communities to look like by mid-century. This session looks at creating models to make our visions tangible. It also looks at organizing community events to communicate our visions to local, national, and international agencies.
This session will be originating from the meeting house here in Portland for the in-person component of the event. While attending virtually is definitely an option, in-person attendance is encouraged for those of us living in the Portland area. The in-person attendance will include a closer look at a traveling exhibit (model of a climate resilient community) meant to be a catalyst for our exploration.
Over recent years, Alaska and Sierra Cascades Friends have worked to recognize the harm Quakers have done historically to Alaska indigenous people. This panel will speak from that work, including truth tribunals, resurrecting a historical book, facing family histories, and contributing to a cultural center in an indigenous community. Following the panel, small breakout groups will provide an opportunity for Friends to share their own concerns and actions to address harm with care, and the group will gather for closing observations.
Blended: Multnomah Friends Worship Room and Zoom
Come explore Friends’ unique approaches to decision making that are rooted in our faith. Jana and Warren Ostrom from University Meeting in Seattle will share their wisdom and experiences. Sponsored by the Adult Religious Education (ARE) Committee.
Zoom Meeting ID: 893 0632 6850 Passcode: 601509
Speakers: Dan Shea – Veterans for Peace- Portland local chapter 72 and Tom Hastings – Peace Voice/Portland Peace Team
Speakers (see full bio in the April monthly newsletter) will share stories from their decades of peace work and update on current struggles….discussion to follow, many questions encouraged….Free anti-war books and literature will be available as supplies last.
“It can be overwhelming to witness/experience/take in
All the injustices of the moment; the good news is that: they are all connected. So if your little corner of work involves pulling at one of the threads,
you're helping to unravel the whole damn cloth.” Ursula Wolfe-Rocca Submitted by Peace and Social Concerns Committee
Join via Zoom
Meeting ID 824 2753 5854 Passcode 943223
Saturday, December 23, 2023 from 1:00-3:00 pm
Social Hall, Multnomah Friends Meeting
All are invited to join our lunch guests for a festive holiday meal on Saturday, December 23rd.
If you would like to help, please see the spreadsheet, to sign up for food donations and/or a volunteer time slot.
Please contact Kepper Petzing (they) or Ann Dudley for more information.
News
Multnomah Friends Meeting Library is once again lending books and some pamphlets, using COVID-safe procedures. Read more
Dear Friends:
Multnomah Monthly Meeting reminds Friends of our Minute on Racial Justice. In this time of universal mourning for the lives of black citizens who have been killed by and in the criminal “justice” system, we ask that friends take action to live our Minute. In addition to any specific action you are taking in response to the latest police killings of unarmed Black people, we especially encourage our white friends to please review this excellent article entitled “75 Things White People Can Do For Racial Justice.” The Meeting’s Friends for Racial Justice Planning Committee asks each of us to commit to doing one or two things from the list by a certain date.
Please share the things you commit to doing (and updates on your progress) either on the Meeting’s Racial Justice Facebook page or by emailing the information to Lori Patterson (mamaknitty@gmail.com), who will post it on the Facebook page. These are concrete things we can do to work against racism in our own community and beyond. You can access the page by joining Facebook and searching for Multnomah Quaker Meeting Racial Justice Study and Action Group. You will see a link that says “Join Group.”
Here are additional resources that you can access to find ways to support people of color and anti-racist work: Friends Committee on National Legislation; Black Lives Matter; Don’t Shoot Portland; Campaign Zero; and My Brother’s Keeper.
Justice & Peace,
Friends for Racial Justice of Multnomah Monthly Meeting