Dear Friends,

Do we have the “C” in our SPICES? Today we are being tested personally and in society.  What do we believe about mercy and compassion? Do we have the bravery to speak truth to power? 

This week an Episcopal bishop addressed the president of the United States about having mercy on those who are frightened, particularly children, due to the changes in policies that have gone into effect and those on the near horizon.  Regardless of your political persuasion, her actions challenge us all.  Do we, when feeling led, have the courage to use our voices for the rights and for the good of others?  Do we believe that to hurt one is to hurt all? 

That is part of the “C” in our Quaker SPICES – Community.  It is easy to be in community with our neighbors, family and friends when there are no conflicts, differences, or other baggage to handle.  But Community is for every occasion and for and with everyone.  Do we stand in solidarity with the oppressed as were instructed both in the old and the new testaments in the Bible to do.  Do we provide a sense of community to those who may feel without someone to stand with them in this life to face its many trials.  Our “C” in community challenges us to step up and be present, use our voices, use our energy, use our resources to include everyone in our community of Love even if we don’t know them.

I had the most incredible witness to this use of community at a local homeless shelter where the staff exuded love and compassion to someone who needed her gentleness.  But don’t we all need loving gentleness?  Her kindness will stay with me as an example of handling a complicated situation with the simplicity of grace and remaining cool and collected as a result.  Mary Hession reminds us that “True spirituality is not religion but a state of being.”  May we be truly spiritual and invested in creating community wherever we go.

We have opportunities to engage in acts of community and inclusiveness daily. While being with those we agree with seems to be what we think of when we say “community”, we are challenged right now to build community with those who don’t feel like we do about things. But that is when Community is needed most so that we don’t break apart from one another, but stay in community together, even in our differences.  It’s simple even in the choice to forgive others and free ourselves of any baggage that relationship may have brought to our lives.  We can choose to stay within community together with our friends even when relationships may be strained.  We choose community when we find the bravery to go somewhere we will run into a person after something has been said or heard.  We set to the side judgement and include ourselves with others even when it might not be comfortable. Or we can stand alongside someone we know does not like us, and we choose to be kind and encouraging.  Lately, just a small difference seems to be made into a large one or an emotional one.  But this is our biggest challenge to create and keep community, and be examples of community building.

We can create community in our church and in our groups in which we belong.  We can even create community in our families. Right now community is being threatened by the negativity of the world.  It is important for us to rise above this and create community and give inclusion in as many ways as possible, to stand with and for others, and to show integrity in our own spirits by being dependable and solidly reliable no matter what.

One little thing we can do is to help those who may be fearing deportation.  There are cards that you can print out and carry that help someone know how to interact with ICE or other law enforcement officers in the United States if they are in fear of deportation. These are available to be made in several different languages: Red cards program from Immigrant Legal Resource Center .  But keep your eyes open for other people and ways to remain in community with others, even when it is hard, and especially when it is hard to offer inclusion.

This week is our meeting for business.  Our clerk for the meeting is Bernie, and we have many things to go over and discern, so please come on Sunday and stay for meeting for business.  Also come to Klamath Lutheran Church on Wednesday at 3:00 for a presentation on the OSHU Street Nursing Program. Here are some other upcoming events:

• 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
• February 9 – 9:00 AM – Bible Study
• February 9 – 11:15 – Pot Luck? – to be decided at business meeting
• 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

Blessings to you all!  Thanks for being in my community,

Leigh