Dear Friends,   This week we have three things offered at the Klamath Falls Friends Church.  At 9:00 AM we will meet in the church office to discuss Peace and Social Concerns.  There are many events and interests in the group, and it is a good way to get involved in the community and enhance Klamath Falls.  At 10:00 we will have worship that is focused on relieving oppression in this world as a way to not only honor Martin Luther King Jr, but also the words of Jesus.  We will sing inspirational songs and also songs of deep faith that one day we can help to create a more just world.  At 11:00 we will be zooming with the author of the book Quaker Ecology, Cherice Bock.  This Sunday the book group is a four week long discussion, once a month, and 45 minutes with the goal of better understanding the environment and how to look at the delimnas and responsibilities associated with environmental protection and care through Quaker eyes.  It is a small book and easy to understand.  Come and enjoy the discussion even if you have not picked up your book yet.  We would love to see you this Sunday for one or all of these fellowship activities.This Sunday we will be focused on the kinds of oppression Martin Luther King Jr and many others fought against.  When we sing “We Shall Overcome,” we would like you in our we. When we talk about the power of the collective, we want you involved. I’ve heard it a lot that you can stay home and worship.

  In a way that is true.  There are spiritual practices that  can be done alone, and as Quakers we believe God is everywhere.  So it isn’t that you can’t “do spiritual practices” at home.  You should at least try some spiritual practices at home on a regular basis. But what about church?  The words I hear the most about church is about the “fellowship.” Fellowship among individuals can be a cornerstone for spiritual growth, providing an environment where shared beliefs and values flourish. When people come together in fellowship, they create a supportive network that encourages personal and collective development.  When we are going through a tough time in life, it is important to have someone, or many someones, who “got you” as you struggle in this life.   Church should and can only function when we offer non judgemental support of each other.  This fosters a sense of community.  This  in turn fosters a deeper understanding of spiritual teachings.  What we have learned in discernment with many can often times turn into wisdom.  Spiritual growth also enhances the quality of fellowship. As you deepen your spiritual understandings, you contribute more profoundly to the sense of community, bringing insights and wisdom that enrich collective experiences. This mutual reinforcement creates a dynamic where fellowship and spiritual growth continuously  each enhance other. 

Church also offers a place for you to express your faith, seek guidance, and find encouragement. Choosing to be involved in fellowship helps to solidify your commitment to spiritual practices in general.  You may come to worship to participate in the collective silence, but your soul will also let you appreciate that same kind of silence elsewhere in your life, each helping the other. Doing things together with others like worship, study groups, and service projects, we share spiritual joy and inspire one another to go back into the world with more life, renewed vigor. It is in this reciprocal relationship, both fellowship and spiritual growth are linked, each thriving on the strength of the other.  So please come and worship or go somewhere and worship.  We need each other on a soul level.  This world needs you and your talents.

Below is a list of other ways to plug into the network of Friendly Faith.

Peace,

Leigh

Announcements

·       January 19 – First Book Group of Quaker Ecology (will meet after worship on the third Sunday of each month until April and end with an Earth Day celebration) Books are on the entryway table.  Cherice Bock will be the guest speaker – she is the author

·       January 20 – 5:30 Administrative Meeting

·       January 26 – Monthly Meeting for Business

·       January 29, 3:00 PM The OSHU Street Nursing Program explained in length at Klamath Lutheran Church at 1175 Crescent Ave, Klamath Falls, OR 97601 — Please come; it is a good ministry and teaches nursing from a completely different point of view that will help us  in our daily lives.

·       February 9 – 9:00 AM – Bible Study — Philippians

·       February 11 – 5:30 Ministry and Care

·       February 16 – 9:00 Peace and Social Concerns

·       February 16 – 11:00 Book Study on Chapter 2 Quaker Ecology