Outreach
Quakers have a long history of activism, guided by our testimonies: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, and Equality. Here you can find ways Multnomah Friends lives our faith in the wider world.
Events
Friday-Sunday, May 15-17, Camp Lutherwood, Cheshire OR
Our theme this year is “Lead With Love: Create possibilities, Discern leadings of the Spirit; Act with the power of love.” What might happen if we put LOVE in the center of our lives: love of family, love of friends and community, love of nature, love of God, love of life? What could be possible? We will interweave these ideas into an engaging program that encourages us to think, feel, interact with others and listen to the leadings within us. We hope you will set aside time from your busy lives to join us in this beautiful forest retreat. Families are welcome, children and youth will have fun activities too! Camping in tents and RVs is available, as well as housing in cabins. Online registration closes Wednesday April 29. Go to www.willamette.npym.org. The Registrar is Laura Arcidiacono (971) 275-6019; larcidiacono2000@yahoo.com. For questions not related to registration, please contact Helen Park, Coordinator: (541) 225-8689; helenlpark@gmail.com.
Our theme this year is “Lead With Love: Create possibilities, Discern leadings of the Spirit; Act with the power of love.” What might happen if we put LOVE in the center of our lives: love of family, love of friends and community, love of nature, love of God, love of life? What could be possible? We will interweave these ideas into an engaging program that encourages us to think, feel, interact with others and listen to the leadings within us. We hope you will set aside time from your busy lives to join us in this beautiful forest retreat. Families are welcome, children and youth will have fun activities too! Camping in tents and RVs is available, as well as housing in cabins. Online registration closes Wednesday April 29. Go to www.willamette.npym.org. The Registrar is Laura Arcidiacono (971) 275-6019; larcidiacono2000@yahoo.com. For questions not related to registration, please contact Helen Park, Coordinator: (541) 225-8689; helenlpark@gmail.com.
April 19, 20, and 21 time options
Topic: “Which Quaker practices have shaped your life most deeply?” See online registration for time options. Purpose: Friends General Conference is exploring an opportunity that could help more people experience the depth of the Quaker tradition. We intend to pursue a grant from the Lilly Endowment through its Exploring Christian Practices Initiative. We want to hear from all who care about the future of Quaker spiritual practices. Together, we will consider questions such as: Which Quaker practices have shaped our lives most deeply? Which practices feel most important to share with people who are seeking spiritual community today? How might we share them faithfully? To learn more and to register visit: https://www.fgcquaker.org/2026/04/07/friends-general-conference-launches-listening-sessions/ An invitation from the ARE Committee.
Topic: “Which Quaker practices have shaped your life most deeply?” See online registration for time options. Purpose: Friends General Conference is exploring an opportunity that could help more people experience the depth of the Quaker tradition. We intend to pursue a grant from the Lilly Endowment through its Exploring Christian Practices Initiative. We want to hear from all who care about the future of Quaker spiritual practices. Together, we will consider questions such as: Which Quaker practices have shaped our lives most deeply? Which practices feel most important to share with people who are seeking spiritual community today? How might we share them faithfully? To learn more and to register visit: https://www.fgcquaker.org/2026/04/07/friends-general-conference-launches-listening-sessions/ An invitation from the ARE Committee.
Wednesday, April 22, noon-1:30pm, WSU Vancouver
“War, Ecocide, and Feeding Creative Resistance through Art,” a hybrid Earth Day screening and panel discussion on Zoom, and at WSU Vancouver from noon to 1:30 p.m.in the Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110. Panelists include Desiree Hellegers, an MMM attender and former clerk of Peace and Social Concerns; Derya Ruggles, WSU Vancouver alum; co-director of the web series “How I Learned to Breathe Through the Apocalypse,” former soap star on Days of Our Lives, and commissioner for the City of Vancouver Transportation and Mobility Commission; Melissa Salazar, community media cohort facilitator for Open Signal Community Media Center, videographer; associate director of the web series “How I Learned to Breathe through the Apocalypse,” and Dan Shea, Vietnam veteran, President of Veterans for Peace, Chapter 172 and member of the national board of Veterans for Peace; agent orange survivor, and international organizer for justice for Agent Orange survivors. The live event will be taped for air on KBOO Radio, KXRW and Open Signal Cable Television.
“War, Ecocide, and Feeding Creative Resistance through Art,” a hybrid Earth Day screening and panel discussion on Zoom, and at WSU Vancouver from noon to 1:30 p.m.in the Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110. Panelists include Desiree Hellegers, an MMM attender and former clerk of Peace and Social Concerns; Derya Ruggles, WSU Vancouver alum; co-director of the web series “How I Learned to Breathe Through the Apocalypse,” former soap star on Days of Our Lives, and commissioner for the City of Vancouver Transportation and Mobility Commission; Melissa Salazar, community media cohort facilitator for Open Signal Community Media Center, videographer; associate director of the web series “How I Learned to Breathe through the Apocalypse,” and Dan Shea, Vietnam veteran, President of Veterans for Peace, Chapter 172 and member of the national board of Veterans for Peace; agent orange survivor, and international organizer for justice for Agent Orange survivors. The live event will be taped for air on KBOO Radio, KXRW and Open Signal Cable Television.
Date: april 12, 2026, 4:30 pm
Weekly on Mondays, 10:30am, ICE Detention Center
The Quaker ICE vigil, with participation of Multnomah and Bridge City Friends, continues to evolve. We meet at the 4310 S. Macadam office, Mondays at 10:30, with signs and lately also with flowers. We encourage Friends to help our effort continue. We meet for coffee afterwards, to consider further possible responses to this issue. Joe Snyder is the email group leader. Mornings to date during our vigils have been calm at the site.
The Quaker ICE vigil, with participation of Multnomah and Bridge City Friends, continues to evolve. We meet at the 4310 S. Macadam office, Mondays at 10:30, with signs and lately also with flowers. We encourage Friends to help our effort continue. We meet for coffee afterwards, to consider further possible responses to this issue. Joe Snyder is the email group leader. Mornings to date during our vigils have been calm at the site.
Tuesdays in April, 7:00-10:00pm
MMM Member Karin Edwards is offering a class series that is deeply relevant to spiritual growth. Embodied Evolution: A playful yet grounded approach to personal growth. How do you track your inner world, as you relate to the outer world? Attune to all the layers of your being: physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual. Experience a deep sense of community and belonging, and leave with skills and inspiration to bring in your life. Tuesdays 7-8 pm until the end of April. No pre-reg required. Classes are just $10 each. Location: The Den, 116 SE Yamhill. Questions? Learn more at www.portlandrolfer.com.
MMM Member Karin Edwards is offering a class series that is deeply relevant to spiritual growth. Embodied Evolution: A playful yet grounded approach to personal growth. How do you track your inner world, as you relate to the outer world? Attune to all the layers of your being: physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual. Experience a deep sense of community and belonging, and leave with skills and inspiration to bring in your life. Tuesdays 7-8 pm until the end of April. No pre-reg required. Classes are just $10 each. Location: The Den, 116 SE Yamhill. Questions? Learn more at www.portlandrolfer.com.
CLARA. stands for Calm, Listen, Affirm, Respond and Add. It is a guide many Friends use to create respectful dialogue about difficult issues. It sounds simple, but using it takes practice. We’ve held four small sessions at MFM practicing open, good-faith conversations on topics like houselessness, immigration, and trans experiences. These have deepened understanding and connection among participants. We’re now gathering interest for the next round—once we hear from those interested, we’ll coordinate a new meeting time. To join, please contact Cait Rich cait.richgarg@gmail.com.
News
The August 9 Hiroshima/Nagasaki memorial was very moving this year. If you missed it in person, you can still watch it on YouTube. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/DQmhCW4dJ-g. Our Meeting is a co-sponsor of this event each year. If you would like to help with planning next year's event, please contact Mary Priem or Michael Kinney.
We invite you to contribute to help us purchase a new motorcycle for the community health coordinator in Limón. Cooper is an essential assistant here in need of transportation. Please don’t buy us a car; it can’t get where he and the nurses need to go. He needs a motorcycle. Total cost: $6,400. Raised so far: $2,300. When $5,000 has been committed, a final donor will send the last $1,500 needed. Thanks in advance! You can make secure tax-deductible donations online via First United Methodist Church in Hermiston, OR: bit.ly/3sb5fUd
Or make out a check to “FUMC,” write “Amigas” in the memo line, and mail to
FUMC
191 E Gladys Ave Hermiston, OR 97838
Thank you, Amigas del Senor
Kenyan peace activist and social change agent Getry Agizah will make two presentations in June at the Multnomah Friends Meetinghouse, 4312 SE Stark in Portland.
On Sunday, June 11 at Noon “Overcoming Election Polarization: Lessons from Kenya”
On Friday, June 16 at 7 PM “Healing and Rebuilding our Communities: A Kenyan Perspective”
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