Community
Multnomah Friends is a very active Meeting, with events throughout the week and many ways to get involved. Below are some current events and news about the life of the Meeting. We also publish a weekly bulletin highlighting upcoming programs and announcements, and a monthly newsletter with articles of interest to our community. Sign up with your email address below.
Within our community, we are guided by our testimonies, especially Simplicity, Integrity, and Equality with the goal of being a welcoming space for everyone seeking a spiritual home with us.
Events
Monday, February 24th, 2025, 7:00-8:00pm, Zoom only
Pull up a meditation cushion and let’s sit together in Buddhist meditation as Friends! This online space will be held at 7pm on the last Monday of each month this winter. The hour will begin with a brief discussion followed by a meditation period. This is a great way to experience more peace and grounding in daily life. All are welcome! Reach out with questions.
Pull up a meditation cushion and let’s sit together in Buddhist meditation as Friends! This online space will be held at 7pm on the last Monday of each month this winter. The hour will begin with a brief discussion followed by a meditation period. This is a great way to experience more peace and grounding in daily life. All are welcome! Reach out with questions.
Sunday, February 23, 2025, Noon, Meeting Room, Blended
Join Peace & Justice Committee on the fourth Sunday of the month for our monthly meeting. Please email any agenda requests to peace-justice.clerk@multnomahfriends.org. If you need childcare to attend, you will be reimbursed for the expense.
Join Peace & Justice Committee on the fourth Sunday of the month for our monthly meeting. Please email any agenda requests to peace-justice.clerk@multnomahfriends.org. If you need childcare to attend, you will be reimbursed for the expense.
Saturday, February 22, Blended
The current political crisis weighs on our hearts, as innocent groups are marginalized and treated as political pawns. Friends, how does spirit call us to respond? Join us for a threshing session to begin developing a way forward for the Multnomah Monthly Meeting community. We will gather on Saturday. February 22, 2025, from 10 am until noon or later, in the Meeting Room. Blended option available, contact clerk@multnomahfriends.org for the link. A threshing session is held to discuss different perspectives about a controversial issue, without the expectation of reaching a decision. If you need child care, you may hire a child care provider, and request reimbursement from the Meeting. Sponsored by the clerking circle; for more information contact clerk@multnomahfriends.org.
The current political crisis weighs on our hearts, as innocent groups are marginalized and treated as political pawns. Friends, how does spirit call us to respond? Join us for a threshing session to begin developing a way forward for the Multnomah Monthly Meeting community. We will gather on Saturday. February 22, 2025, from 10 am until noon or later, in the Meeting Room. Blended option available, contact clerk@multnomahfriends.org for the link. A threshing session is held to discuss different perspectives about a controversial issue, without the expectation of reaching a decision. If you need child care, you may hire a child care provider, and request reimbursement from the Meeting. Sponsored by the clerking circle; for more information contact clerk@multnomahfriends.org.
Saturday, February 15, 4:30pm, Zoom
Friends! The Oregon for Human Rights coalition that our Meeting has joined is having a Zoom info session. This is a great way for Friends to learn about the coalition’s work to demand human rights screenings of Oregon’s investments. RSVP + Zoom link here: https://tinyurl.com/o4hrinfo. The coalition also has a website that just went live! https://tinyurl.com/o4hr-home. And an Instagram! @oregonforhumanrights. Forward / pass along to others who may be interested!
March 20-23, 2025
Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) Section of the Americas (SOA) Annual Meeting is occurring March 20-23rd, 2025. There will be a Pre-Gathering for Young Adult Friends (YAFs) ages 18-35 from 3/17-3/20. Both events will align with the Section Meeting's theme of 'Building the Future as Way Opens' and intends to facilitate connections between friends across North and Latin America.
All Quakers in the Americas are invited to attend, and you are humbly asked to share this information with your respective communities.
Click HERE for the registration form for BOTH events (both are using the same registration form). If folks will be coordinating financial support for this event, then they may select the cash/check payment option. Please fill out the form as soon as possible so logistics can be arranged for the event. Contact hearthkeeper@multnomahfriends.org with questions.
Tuesday February 4, 9am-3pm (lunch included)
Oregon State Capitol, Salem
Oregon State Capitol, Salem
You can sign up here: https://www.divestoregon.org/The-Pause-Act–2025 – to lobby for Oregon Senate Bill 681, which will allow the Oregon State Treasury to “press pause” on private fossil-fuel funds. This legislation is supported by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO), to which our Meeting belongs, and Oregon for Human Rights (O4HR). In addition to supporting this important bill, you will gain valuable experience for how to lobby at the Oregon legislature.
News
The lawsuit filed in a federal district court in Maryland states that: “The very threat of that [immigration] enforcement deters congregants from attending services, especially members of immigrant communities.” According to the plaintiffs, attending service is a crucial aspect of the constitutional guarantee to “religious liberty.” Two articles here: https://bit.ly/40AhZ4l.
Multnomah Friends Meeting (MFM) came to unity to be an official sponsor of the Oregon for Human Rights (O4HR) coalition which seeks to have Oregon divest funds from entities that support war, genocide, or ecologic destruction. We have a subcommittee under the Peace & Justice Committee. Please let us know if you would like to join this work. We are especially interested in reaching out to other Faith Communities and would love contacts and ideas. For more info: Peace & Social Concerns Clerk – peace-socialconcerns.clerk@multnomahfriends.org.
The Peace & Justice Committee of the Meeting has found unity on its support for a bill to be introduced in the 2025 Oregon legislative session 1) directing the state Treasurer to report on the environment, social, and governance impact of investments made by the state and 2) prohibiting the Oregon Investment Council from investing in any entity found to have violated international law. A copy of the bill is linked here.
The Committee will be recommending at the January Meeting for Business that the Meeting as a whole support the bill. If you have any questions about the bill, please contact the clerks of the Peace & Justice Committee at peace-justice.clerk@multnomahfriends.org.
The Lunch Program welcomes volunteers 12:30-2:30pm Tuesdays-Saturdays: servers, dishwashers, setup, cleanup, hosts, and someone to be present in the smoking area to keep eyes on the situation. For information about volunteering, contact hearthkeeper@multnomahfriends.org. Feel free to stop by for a “look-see” during lunch hours.
Volunteer committee members are needed to serve on the following Multnomah Friends Meeting committees as soon as possible: Peace & Justice, Care & Counsel, Nominating, Nursery, and Children’s Program. If you’re interested or know someone who might be, please contact the Nominating Committee: nominating@multnomahfriends.org.
Now that winter is here, there is an even greater need for warm clothes (especially pants size 30-32), belts, bedding, unlocked used phones, and USB chargers and cords. Larger donations may be left in the basement or given to anyone involved with the lunch program.