Jan 11th Newsletter
Cybil Schroder
THIS SUNDAY, Jan 11th
Dear Friends,
Our Meeting for Worship is from
10:00 - 11:00, at 15 Second Ave in San Mateo
or join us online at this link
San Mateo Worship Group Events
Sunday, January 18: In December, we had a worship-sharing session about the peace testimony. On the 18th, after meeting, we will examine the testimony on integrity. Integrity and truthfulness have come under attack in recent years. The testimony on integrity goes back to the earliest days of Quakers. Please join this session to consider how integrity figures in our lives, society, and community.
Palo Alto Events
If you would like to deepen your worship experience throughout the week, we encourage people to join one of Palo Alto meeting’s or Ben Lomond Quaker Center’s midweek activities.
Wednesday, 8am Online: Mindfulness Meditation (Zoom)
Wednesday, 4:30pm Palo Alto In-person Midweek Worship (not meeting 12/24/25)
Wednesday, 6pm Online Mid-week Worship (Zoom) Palo Alto Friends
Ben Lomond Quaker Center
Daily online meeting for worship from 7:30 until 8:00 a.m.
Wednesday mornings, 10 a.m. online worship sharing.
January 23-25, Clerking Today, in-person,with Barbara Babin. learn the basics of the beautiful Quaker practice of Clerking: the workshop will be targeted towards clerking committees, clerking the Meeting, clerking oneself as a participant in a Meeting for Business or a committee meeting, and the good order of Friends. Anyone who clerks/convenes or even thinks about taking on those responsibilities is encouraged to go to this workshop using scholarship funds.
February (Feb 2, 9, 16 & 23) 6:30 – 8 p.m. Quaker Prayer an online program with Mary Miche. This online workshop will use short videos and guided, worshipful discussion to explore the rich varieties and common threads within the practice and experience of prayer among Friends.
March 14, 9-12 online (free) at Quaker Center: Disaster Preparedness for Friends Meetings, with Rick Narad (online). Some insurance companies have requested that religious groups, including Quakers, develop safety and emergency plans to maintain coverage. Join us for an online workshop with Rick, an emergency management specialist, where we'll review the basics of disaster preparedness and emergency planning, and learn how Quaker Meetings can develop their own plans.
Ben Lomond Quaker center calendar for 2026 here and also on our bulletin board.
The Larger Quaker Community
How to Have a Clearness Committee. QuakerSpeak video. This video explains clearness committees from the perspective of the person who requests a clearness committee and also the people on the committee. Our Worship and Ministry Committee organizes clearness committees and often invites other members of the meeting to serve. If you're interested, please watch this video, and check out this webpage with links to more written descriptions and video.
Pendle Hill
January 13, 4:00 - 5:30 pm, Online. Pendle Hill January Reading Group Worship sharing on Carol Conti-Entin’s "Improvisation and Spiritual Disciplines: Continuing the Divine-Human Duet" (PHP #288)
January 21, 4:30- 5:30 pm, online. Quaker Leadership Center Info Session: A webinar introducing the resources of the Quaker Leadership Center, a ministry of Earlham School of Religion.
January 27, 10 -11am. An online Generative Leadership Forum Info Session, a deep dive into the inner work of leadership, grounded in Generative Leadership competencies and Quaker practices.
February 2, 4:30-6 pm. A Black History First Monday Lecture with Dr. Rodney Glasgow on Racing the Spirit: A Journey at the Intersection of Self and Spirituality
Saturday, January 17, 9:30 am. College Park Quarterly Friends, especially representatives from Monthly Meetings, are invited to our Winter Quarterly business session. Register to receive the zoom link here. Contact Deborah, our CPQM rep with any questions.
Sunday, Jan 25, 1 pm, San Jose Friends present afternoon entertainment on the fourth Sundays of January, February, and March A diverse and dynamic slate of performers will share their talents with the public as part of a yearlong celebration of the 140th anniversary of the oldest Quaker meeting house west of Iowa. This is part of an ongoing fundraiser to make their meetinghouse ADA accessible.
Saturday, February 7, 11 am. Among Western Friends - What are Meetings doing for attenders who want to be involved? You have found a Quaker meeting and love coming on Sundays. Have you been invited to learn more? Has the meeting provided resources? How do others understand Expectant Worship?
Saturday, April 4, there will be a regional gathering of Friends from San Mateo to San Luis Obispo at Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills. The planning committee meets next week to start developing a theme and a schedule.
July 7-12, Friends General Conference's annual gathering will be held in Burlington, Vermont, with the theme, “A Window and a Door: A Prayer,” which invites us to open ourselves to new perspectives and step into a deeper connection with the Spirit. For more information and to sign up for news updates, click here.
July 17 to 22. Pacific Yearly Meeting plans to have its Annual Session at Cal State Monterey Bay from this year. That means that hundreds of Friends from throughout California, Nevada, Hawaii, and Mexico City will descend on us. Mark your calendar, reserve that time, and participate.
Pacific Yearly Meeting online meetings for worship: Saturdays 10-11:30 a.m.; Tuesdays 7:30-9 p.m.; and Wednesdays 7-7:30 p.m. Join from the PacYM calendar.
Faith and Play Stories for Children’s Religious Education. Bayard Rustin Speaks Truth to Power, Four Doors to Meeting for Worship, and Sarah Mapps Douglass and the Truth of the Back Bench.
Advocacy: AFSC, FCNL, FCLCA, QEW, RSWR, Community Groups
Resource Center for Nonviolence Newsletter- full of information about what they are doing locally, regionally and nationally.
Saturday, January 10, 12:30-2 pm. Friends Peace Teams. A Return to the Earth: Module 1: Cultural Perspectives Presented by Nia To Go There (Cree). The first module of a 4-part series Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples will host a series of four webinars to guide Friends through different cultural perspectives.
Friday, Jan 16 - Sun, Jan 18, online: Non violent Communication Annual Conference. The gathering brings together people from across the globe who care about compassion, understanding, and living with more intention. Together we'll share practices, learn new skills, and support one another in bringing NVC more fully into our daily lives.
Thursday, January 22, 4:30 pm. Thursdays for 4 sessions ending Feb. 12. Right Sharing Of World Resources virtual workshop "Money, Self, and Community".
Saturday, January 24, 1 p.m. online Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet. Drawing on Thích Nhất Hạnh’s teachings and years of facilitation, explore how mindfulness, community, and joy help us face the climate crisis without burning out – and how simple practices like deep listening, compassionate dialogue, and mindful rest can strengthen our Earthcare witness.
Sunday, January 25, 4-5:30 pm. Quaker Call to Action: From Exhaustion to Enthusiasm, Joyful Resistance in a Time of Tyranny. A spiritually grounded space for Friends to listen, share, and discern your call to witness for Truth. The National Zoom Call will feature Phil Gulley, noted Quaker pastor. Click here to register.