Camas Friends Church

Hello Church Family,

I hope you’re having a good afternoon.

This Sunday we are looking at what is sometimes known as the "testimony of integrity" among Friends. It seems to me integrity is one of the more challenging convictions from our faith tradition, especially in today’s "celebrity culture." What does it mean for us as Friends to live truthfully? To live honestly? And to pursue wholeness? How have we understood integrity in our own lives? These are some of the questions I’m wrestling with this week.

The scripture I’ve chosen for us to reflect on comes from the letter of James:

“You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:18–27 NRSV)

Queries:

• What jumps out at you about this passage?
• What do you make of this imagery around the mirror and being doers of the word?
• How do we as a community of Friends realize this notion of living truthfully and with integrity?

Blessings,
Wess

Hello Again!

I can’t believe it’s already at the end of Wednesday! I want to let you know about some things coming up and then let you know what we’re doing for Sunday.

Upcoming Soup and Bread Events:

Tonight Soup and Bread kicks (6-8) off again with our Martin Luther King “teach in” on his work with the Poor People’s Campaign. We have a special guest visiting us to lead the teach in and we’re even going to do some singing! We’ve been hard at work trying to let everyone know about this and are looking forward to a really fun evening. If you’ve never come before, tonight is your night. If you’re an ol’ Soup and Bread groupie like myself, tonight is also your night. So you can’t go wrong!

Next Wednesday for Soup and Bread we’re going to Occupy Peace Month! I’ve invited a panel of Quakers and a local Occupy Vancouver organizer to come and talk to us about what Occupy is, why they got involved, some of their experiences, and what does it have to do with the Quaker testimony of peace (if anything?!).

Preparation for Sunday

In keeping both with the focus of the Quaker testimonies (We’ve covered community and peace so far) and with the fact that this Monday we celebrated the life of the only American who is honored with his very own national holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I’m planning a special time of reflection and learning with Martin Luther King as our special guest!

The passage of our focus is from the Gospel of Mark and is the text King discusses in his sermon titled “Drum Major Instinct:”

“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:35–40, 43–44 NRSV)

Quote:

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.’… I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.” I Have A Dream, 1963

Queries for silent reflection:

• In what ways are we intentionally welcoming those into our community who may be different from “us”?
• How are we called to stand up against inequities in our society and world?
• How is Christ prompting me to accept my status as “equal to others,” and to shower others with God’s equalizing, abundant love?
• Who is it hardest for me to treat with equal respect and love? (myself? a particular other? a certain group?)

I look forward to our time together,

Wess

Check out Brad’s Guide to Camas, a top ten list of things to do and places to go. If you are new to the area, are thinking about moving to Camas, or live in a neighboring town like Vancouver or Battleground, this should be a helpful guide to restaurants, parks, schools, recreation, entertainment, and family activities. You can click on the link or go to the Resources tab and click Moving to Camas.

Good Afternoon Everyone,

What a glorious, if not also a bit chilly, and sunny day we’re having here in the Northwest! I hope that your week is going well and that those of you who have been sick are on the mend. I’m fighting a cough at the moment myself but the sunlight sure is helping.

A couple things you might like to know about:

• Next Monday there is a Candlelight Vigil to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. at Esther Short park starting at 5:30pm and ending with a viewing of a documentary at the Kiggins Theater. If that sounds like something you’re interested in, you can find more information on facebook by following this link.
• Next Wednesday evening we are kicking off our Soup and Bread small groups for 2012 with a special event on Martin Luther King’s "Poor People’s Campaign" this event is open to the public and we’re expecting at least some outside visitors. It should be a good time. If you’d like to help prepare a pot of soup, bring bread or other food items, or help with childcare please let me know, we’re going to need a few extra hands for this wednesday.

For Sunday, we continue our Peace month on Quaker testimonies by looking at the testimony of peace.

From Epistle of James’:

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.” (James 3:13–18 NRSV)

Queries:

• What are ways that you have worked to sow peace in the year? Or how have you been a recipient of someone else sowing peace?
• How are we engaged in peace work now, as individuals or as a church?
• Are we doing a good job to support those in our community directly involved in vocations of peace-building? If so, how can we improve? If not, how can we begin?

See you Sunday!

Blessings,

Wess