West Hills Friends

Holly reflects on a few lines from a carol often sung at Christmastime. Life is leaning towards us and in our favor at all times. This song reminds us to rejoice, keep the wide perspective and live from the end.

Martha Wood shares an original short story about a baby born with symbols and words written all over her body in glowing light. There was a message for everyone in every language on her, like "I promise," and "I am here," and "I am yours forever." The Word had become flesh and moved into the neighborhood.

For his message, Mark encouraged our meeting to consider the theme of movement present in the Christmas story. He used the March on Washington as an example of what is possible when people feel inspired by a movement. Has the Church been fooled into thinking its primary function is to spectate? Mark urged our meeting to consider what our next steps as a community are. What movements are we being c...

Holly Dhynes offers a reflection on the parable of the wheat and the weeds. After looking closer at the original Greek words used to tell the story, new meaning about the fruit of our thoughts and actions, and the purpose of our soul's journey of growth through contrast and acceptance came to light. Photo by Vincent Botta on Unsplash

Martha Wood reads from Matthew 24 about keeping watch and Jesus coming in like a thief in the night. Her queries were: For what are you waiting? Longing? What needs to be heard in your heart? Photo by Katie Moum on Unsplash

Mark delivered a message about the unjust judge of the parable from Luke 18:1-8. What if the unjust judges in our life were our own inner critics? If we sat down with the inner judgements and sought to discover the true motivations for them, what might open up for us? Can we be like the persistent widow, and confront the voices within us that stop us from imagining our desires fulfilled? How might...

Doreen offered a First Word reflection about how "advent" was in the word "adventure." Advent means preparation and anticipation, and taking the first steps toward adventure. Photo by Linus Sandvide on Unsplash

Caryl M. delivered a First Word about the new meaning Day of the Dead has for her now after experiencing it in Oaxaca, Mexico. Death goes from dark and morbid to party time. This view of death is summed up in the signs around Oaxaca, "La Muerte se Vive!" or "Death is lived!"

Mark Pratt-Russum spoke about two stories from the past week of instances of unanticipated vulnerability. How have you responded to moments of vulnerability? How have you been perceived? How are you creating space for others? Photo by Simon Matzinger on Unsplash

Martha reflects on how timely it is to give thanks at the end of the church year. Love can only be done when we are together. Her queries for open worship were about the table: who's at your table, who are you holding a seat for, and who are you kicking under it? Photo by Christiann Koepke on Unsplash

For First Word on November 24, Greg M. read from Romans 1:11-12 and reflected about how his ministry as a chaplain is at first glance him sharing a spiritual gift to strengthen others, but even deeper it is mutually encouragement by each other's faith.

Kayleen Deatherage, in a message titled "Don't Block Your Blessing," described the two truths she sees at the core of existence. 1) That we are all connected, and 2) That it is Love that connects us. Everything in our life either amplifies or blocks Love. She outlined 7 habits blocking us from love. They are: "The world sucks." - Or, believing it's useless to try. Letting negative self talk consum...

Martha shares a message about the Inner Light and Zacchaeus in the tree. Light is within us, around us, seeking us and found in one another. Photo by Dave Sebele on Unsplash

Martha Wood delivered a message about finding rest and a place of deep peace as we head into our new Fall activities. She read from lectionary passages, Jeremiah 2:13 and Psalm 81:10, as well a beautiful paraphrase of Psalm 112 written by Nan C. Merrill, in Psalms for Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness Photo by Max Delsid on Unsplash

Holly Dhynes brought a message about an awakening to Divine Love that she had about a year ago. The phrase "All is well" washed over her after she laid down the question, "Why?" and was compelled to ask for the Source of all healing. Over the past year, she has learned much about being in alignment with God's love. Firstly, a little goes a long way. Being present and directing herself inward durin...

For this first word Gil reflects on distraction, and the unique role it has played in his experience of Quaker worship. Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Martha Wood gave a message about how she might not get to know the plan, but Spirit has her at every step. She shared about how her very well-planned trip to Spain to start the Camino de Santiago was scrapped after she missed the first connecting flight. Despite not knowing how she was going to get there in time, she managed to make it to her paid-for hotel room five minutes before the doors close...

Martha Wood gave a message about Martha and Mary of Bethany (already a clear correlation to our present context.) She read the passage from Luke 10, and reflected on her instinct to defend the good name of Martha. But as she softened to the moment, she heard a nudge to check the words again. "Distract", "help" and "what is better" all have alternate meanings in Greek that give us some clues as to...

Kateri Boucher, from Geez Magazine in Detroit, Michigan. Kateri, 2017-18 QVS Boston Fellow, is now Associate Editor at Geez Magazine (https://geezmagazine.org/). Kateri referenced the story of the Widow's Offering from Mark 12, and its juxtaposition with the warnings for the Destruction of the Temple in Mark 13. Her queries were: what stories do you situate yourselves in? Whose stories are they? W...

Laura S. read from Psalm 139:13-16 and spoke about how God is knitter, weaver and maker of raw materials. Laura also reflected about the laminated layers of our identity. Croissants are made of laminated dough, which is butter folded and folded into dough making thin layers for a delicate and flaky pastry. The butter can not be removed, but is integrated into the croissant and an essential part of...

Mark Pratt-Russum gave a message about Pentecost and read from Genesis 11 and Acts 2. Genesis described the scattering and confusion of language after the Tower of Babel was built, and Acts was about Pentecost, the experience of a powerful wind and tongues of fire descending on the disciples. They began to speak in languages they didn't previously know. Mark read this passage from The Message, by...

westhillsfriends.org

westhillsfriends.org

West Hills Friends is a Quaker meeting in Portland Oregon. We hope you enjoy listening to the prepared messages and first words from our meetings for worship! You can find out more about us at westhillsfriends.org

As we prepare to launch our new podcast series featuring the youth of our Quaker meeting, we wanted to put out a little teaser of so you can hear how things are coming together! In this clip, we hear what books our teens are reading, and why maybe the title of our podcast will be, "High Quality Gore"