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
Thursday, April 16, 11:00-1:00pm, In person only, Room 12
Topic: “The Spirit of the Pizza” a light-hearted discussion of food as part of our spiritual lives. Presenter: Liz Jenkins; Facilitators: Isabella Fischer and Betsey Kenworthy. Light refreshments available and feel free to bring a taste of your favorite food. Gather and center around friendship and answering life’s questions together. We meet on the third Thursday of each month. Sponsored by the Adult Religious Education Committee.
2nd Tuesday (April 14), 7-8:30pm (Zoom)
3rd Tuesday (April 21), 12-2pm at the Meetinghouse
Friendly Readers is an open, drop-in book group.
Everyone is invited. You do not have to commit to regular attendance to come. We enjoy discussing books from a Quaker perspective and getting to know each other more deeply. You don’t even have to have read the book––please join us if the topic interests you. We discuss one book each month over two meetings which focus on different issues, so come to either or both.
Our April book is Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People, by Tracy Kidder.
Contact Kepper Petzing (they) at friendlyreaders@multnomahfriends.org
Friendly Readers is an open, drop-in book group.
Everyone is invited. You do not have to commit to regular attendance to come. We enjoy discussing books from a Quaker perspective and getting to know each other more deeply. You don’t even have to have read the book––please join us if the topic interests you. We discuss one book each month over two meetings which focus on different issues, so come to either or both.
Our April book is Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People, by Tracy Kidder.
Contact Kepper Petzing (they) at friendlyreaders@multnomahfriends.org
Friday Evenings on Zoom 6-7:30pm (5:30 schmoozing)
Each week members of the Multnomah Meeting Film Discussion Group select a film available online for free and gather Tuesday evening on Zoom to talk about it. Similarly, the members of the Short Story Discussion Group choose a short story available online and discuss. it Friday evening on Zoom. Both groups are small, with usually around half a dozen participants. We’d love to have you join us.For info and the Zoom link (the same for both groups)
contact Judith Applegate or Susan Jones
Each week members of the Multnomah Meeting Film Discussion Group select a film available online for free and gather Tuesday evening on Zoom to talk about it. Similarly, the members of the Short Story Discussion Group choose a short story available online and discuss. it Friday evening on Zoom. Both groups are small, with usually around half a dozen participants. We’d love to have you join us.For info and the Zoom link (the same for both groups)
contact Judith Applegate or Susan Jones
2nd & 4th Thursdays, 6:30-8pm
The Multnomah Meeting Women’s Circle of Friends discussion group builds meaningful relationships by sharing our life lessons, discoveries, and joys to support each other through challenges and transitions. We invite you to join us on Thursdays April 9 and 16 on Zoom. For more info and the link to our next meeting, contact Pegg Min.
Monday, April 13, 4pm
The Friends for Racial Justice committee meets on April 13 and on the 2nd Monday of every month at 4pm on Zoom. All are welcome to attend. Questions? Contact Maye Thompson.
The Friends for Racial Justice committee meets on April 13 and on the 2nd Monday of every month at 4pm on Zoom. All are welcome to attend. Questions? Contact Maye Thompson.
News
Due to anticipated low attendance (and to give our teachers a break, too!), there will be no First Day School on Sunday, 12/29. Also, as previously announced, there will be no Parents Night Out event in December. We'll resume Parents Night Out activities in late January. Questions? Please contact childrensprogram@multnomahfriends.org.
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: clerk@multnomahfriends.org.
Sunday, December 22, Noon, Meeting Room and Zoom
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.
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 – finance@multnomahfriends.org.
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 friendslunch@multnomahfriends.org.
Winter Solstice Celebration Team. For more information, email friendslunch@multnomahfriends.org.
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.