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
February 14, 2025, 4pm – Monday February 17, 2025, 2pm
Ben Lomond Quaker Center, California
Ben Lomond Quaker Center, California
Are you a young adult Quaker, new attender, or Quaker-curious person? Are you interested in creating community, connecting with nature, and enjoying fellowship and fun with others? Spend a holiday weekend at Quaker Center doing all that and more. Rain or shine. The Worship and Ministry Committee has a pass to provide registration for 2 people to attend upcoming programs at Ben Lomond. We would love to help you share this experience. Contact , if you are interested in the pass.
Friday, January 24th, 2025, 5:30-8:30pm, Meetinghouse Social Hall
Our first Parents Night Out for 2025 will take place on Friday, January 24th, from 5:30-8:30pm in the Meetinghouse Social Hall. Parents and caregivers are welcome to drop off your pre-k through grade school aged children for a light dinner, fun activities, crafts, storytelling, and — by popular demand — a family-friendly movie. Please RSVP to .
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. Questions: https://fwccamericas.regfox.com/fwcc-americas-section-meeting; email: .
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. Questions: https://fwccamericas.regfox.com/fwcc-americas-section-meeting; email: .
Tuesday, January 14th, 12 noon in-person only at Meetinghouse, Room 12
Tuesday, January 21st at 7pm on Zoom only
Tuesday, January 21st at 7pm on Zoom only
Friendly Readers is an open, drop-in book group, discussing books from a Quaker perspective and getting to know each other more deeply. Everyone is invited. You do not have to commit to regular attendance, or to have read the book. Our discussions are about the topics raised. We discuss one book each month over two meetings, which focus on different issues, so come to either or both. Every second Tuesday (January 14th) we meet at 12:00 noon-2:00pm at the Meetinghouse in room 12. Every third Tuesday (January 21st) we meet from 7:00-8:30pm on Zoom only.
For January we are discussing the book, North Woods by Daniel Mason. “Escape from the news and begin the New Year with a fun novel filled with humor in this time-spanning, genre-blurring work of storytelling.” More information about our group, this book, and upcoming books is on pages 5 and 7 of the January MFM newsletter.
Our February book, Solito by Javier Zamora is a Multnomah County Everybody Reads selection with the Multnomah County Library sponsoring many free immigration related events in January and February.
Our April book, The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson is the Beaverton Library’s One Book, One Beaverton selection, and they have many free Native American and seed keeping related events also in January and February.
Sunday, January 12, 12:30pm, Room 23 and Zoom
The MFM Quaker Palestine Israel Network (QPIN) will meet in Room 23 at 12:30 pm this Sunday. Everyone is welcome to attend even if you don't agree with our support of Palestinian rights or if you are simply curious about learning more. Let's talk. Stay for the potluck and then come upstairs.
Sunday, January 26, Noon, Meeting Room & Zoom
News
Masking in the Meetinghouse and during Meeting for Worship is now optional rather than required—this was decided in business meeting this month. The following message is included in this decision’s minute: “Multnomah Friends, after patient and persistent compliance with our masking requirement during worship, are lovingly released from it. We remain tenderly sensitive to those in our community with compromised immunity related to endemic illness. This will be communicated in our publications for a sufficient amount of time.” Masks will continue to be available in the Meetinghouse this season, and our air filtration system will be used consistently during meeting times. Questions: .
Sunday, December 22, Noon, Meeting Room and Zoom
As you seek discernment about your end-of-year giving, please consider our meeting's Immigrant Support Fund. It provides much-needed help with court filing fees, legal fees, and (when there's enough in the fund) material support for immigrants who are clients of any immigration attorney in our meeting. The need is liable to be even greater during the incoming administration. You can make a donation by giving to the meeting and designating that it is for the Immigrant Support Fund. If you have questions or would like to learn more, please contact any member of the Finance Committee – .
Saturday, December 21st, from 1 to 3pm, we will be hosting a Winter Solstice sit down dinner for our lunch guests complete with a cellist followed by caroling afterwards. We need your help to even come close to the magnificent Thanksgiving celebration led by Cynthia Gilliam. Please take a look here and note that there are two sections, the first being food offerings, followed by time on the floor serving, greeting, cleaning etc. In determining your food choices, it may help to know that Pat will be serving ham and scalloped potatoes. Thank you for your generous time and efforts, and the pleasure of being able to work and serve together on behalf of our beloved lunch guests. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact any one of us below. Thanks so very much.
Winter Solstice Celebration Team. For more information, email .
Winter Solstice Celebration Team. For more information, email .
In the midst of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s recent address asking for more US support for the devastating war in Gaza, there was a flood of actions calling for an immediate ceasefire and release of the hostages:
• As a member of Churches for Middle East Peace, FCNL hosted a vigil before the address to call for and pray for peace and a ceasefire
• Hostage families demonstrated, testified before Congress and met with individual lawmakers calling for an immediate cease fire and release of the hostages;
• Jewish Voices for Peace led a demonstration in the capital with over 400 participants engaged in non-violent resistance and getting arrested;
• At a press briefing, Hassan El-Tayyab, joined Common Defense and Breaking the Silence uplifting a petition signed by more than 5000 Israel and American veterans and military family members calling for a permanent cease fires in Gaza
• Hassan also shared powerful messages form Palestinian children at the Ramallah Friends School in the West Bank.
• At another briefing co-hosted by FCNL for Congressional staff, two former US officials who resigned over the administrations Gaza policy, shared how profoundly destructive the war is and much it is damaging US credibility and security.
• FCNL has facilitated over 680,000 letters to Congress calling for a cease fire and more than 90 members of Congress have to date signed on in support of a permanent cease fire.
• In Oregon delegation, Senator Merkley has a been a key leader in working for a ceasefire, release of the hostages and full funding for organizations aiding Gaza since the very beginning of the war. Recently, it is reported, that Senator Wyden has shifted his position to supporting a cease fire and restored funding to UNRWA, the United Nations Palestinian relief organization that provides critical aide for Gaza.
• As a member of Churches for Middle East Peace, FCNL hosted a vigil before the address to call for and pray for peace and a ceasefire
• Hostage families demonstrated, testified before Congress and met with individual lawmakers calling for an immediate cease fire and release of the hostages;
• Jewish Voices for Peace led a demonstration in the capital with over 400 participants engaged in non-violent resistance and getting arrested;
• At a press briefing, Hassan El-Tayyab, joined Common Defense and Breaking the Silence uplifting a petition signed by more than 5000 Israel and American veterans and military family members calling for a permanent cease fires in Gaza
• Hassan also shared powerful messages form Palestinian children at the Ramallah Friends School in the West Bank.
• At another briefing co-hosted by FCNL for Congressional staff, two former US officials who resigned over the administrations Gaza policy, shared how profoundly destructive the war is and much it is damaging US credibility and security.
• FCNL has facilitated over 680,000 letters to Congress calling for a cease fire and more than 90 members of Congress have to date signed on in support of a permanent cease fire.
• In Oregon delegation, Senator Merkley has a been a key leader in working for a ceasefire, release of the hostages and full funding for organizations aiding Gaza since the very beginning of the war. Recently, it is reported, that Senator Wyden has shifted his position to supporting a cease fire and restored funding to UNRWA, the United Nations Palestinian relief organization that provides critical aide for Gaza.
Action: Contact Senator Wyden and thank him for supporting a ceasefire and restoration of funding to UNRWA. Encourage him to publicize his position.