North Pacific Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

3311 NW PoIk Avenue

Corvallis, OR 97330

Jane Snyder. Presiding Clerk

July, 2002

To Friends Everywhere:

Friends of North Pacific Yearly Meeting gathered July 25-28, 2002 on the campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis, in the Willamette River Valley. We centered our deliberations on the text "... Be prepared always, to give a reason for the hope that is in you…" - 1st Peter 3:15

We met hungering for hope in the face of the violence of the War on Terrorism. Epistles from near and far encouraged us. We felt held, loved and guided by examples of Friends in every part of the world who teach understanding and peace.

Our Friend In Residence, Peggy Senger Parsons of Northwest Yearly Meeting, made herself generously available to Central Friends, Junior Friends; and adult Friends, speaking with great personal candor in small groups and at meals, In plenary session she spoke to us of the Apostle Peter as a human, fallible man who profoundly loved Jesus. That love produced the hope and faith which gave him the ability to do whatever Jesus asked of him - even to walk on water.

We still need all the strength which comes from relying on the Spirit. We learned that in recent months various of our members have visited Palestine, Colombia, and Mexico with peacemaking teams of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Friends Peace Teams, and Witness for Peace, respectively. We felt especially moved by Friend robin Marsh's account of the exploratory group, of which he was a part, sent to Colombia by Friends Peace Teams. Despite shocking levels of violence which continue to increase, he found hope: hope from bridge-building between Catholics and Evangelicals, hope from tremendously inspiring religious leadership, hope from displays of courage and faithfulness. He also found a need for Friends" to enter the story of peacemaking" there, emphasizing that we must work with prayer and discernment at every step of the way, trusting that God is with us.

Representatives of Friends Committee on National Legislation reviewed their efforts, so vital in these times, and the current drive to raise funds for renovation of their historic building on Capitol Hill. Individual Friends voiced excitement about supporting this.

On being told of our government's plan to invade Iraq, we approved the following minute: "The North Pacific Yearly Meeting of the Religious society of Friends (Quakers), opposes the current bombing and planned invasion of Iraq by the United States of America. We urge our government to work with the international community to seek diplomatic solutions to conflicts with Iraq."

Different ages of Friends grew closer together as adults and youth shared worship groups and volunteer work in the local community .Our generations grieved together for adult friends who had died and for a

young friend who died by suicide. We also celebrated together at Family Night with songs, skits and jokes Family night closed with a rousing dance played on the harmonica as Friends wound around the auditorium.

This annual session saw us strengthening our ties with other communities of Friends. While we are an independent yearly meeting, we drew on Northwest Yearly Meeting of Evangelical Friends International for our Friend In Residence. We also heard about a Gathering of Friends General Conference which is being considered for this region four years from now, which some of our members are helping plan.

We love to come together: to worship, to work, to talk, to sing, to play. These days together remind us that even in perilous times, we are given joy.

Yours in Peace,

Jane Snyder, Presiding Clerk