Circles of Play and Possibility

The Living Light
“...and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:14
Volume 54, Number 9
First Friends Church of Whittier
Ninth Month, 2015
Circles of Play and Possibility
There is no use saying anything about the local Meeting
as a vital cell unless the youth are to be in it and are to
feel their share of responsibility for its life and its
development.—Rufus Jones
Fun, Games...and a Luau
Something’s afoot in paradise.
In exotic Hawaii, resort guests are celebrating at a
scrumptious, oceanfront luau. All week they've explored
the amazing island while attending relationship building
workshops. But the evening unravels when secret
identities, shocking lies, and regretful pasts lead to
kidnapping, threats and thievery.
We can feel you tingling with suspense right now.
Get set for The Hawaiian Heist, a night of mystery
dinner theatre presented by Junior High Fellowship and
Young Friends Fellowship. Here’s the plan: at 5:30 p.m.
on Saturday night, October 3, meet in Fellowship Hall and
board your cruise ship for Kona amid the music of
The long summer days have been packed full of
fellowship, learning and optimism for our youth. The
circles of activities have frequently intersected, with some
of the kids taking part in multiple events.
Peace Camp was a whirl of wonder, play and
empowerment in the last week of July. Then it was off to
the redwoods for a retreat and service project at Ben
Lomond Quaker Center. Complete reports on Peace Camp
and the retreat can be found on pages 4 and 10,
respectively.
Rehearsals for this year’s mystery dinner theatre
began even before the retreat (see this page for details),
and members, attenders and families of our meeting will
soon roll up their sleeves and pants cuffs for Coastal
Cleanup Day. See page 9 for information on the where
and when.
We also hope you will enjoy a special photo collage
of scenes from Peace Camp and the retreat. It’s right in
the center of this issue.
Continued on page 10
Ready to Ring—members and friends of the Friends Handbell Choir give the bells a polish as we prepare to return to
our regular schedule on Sunday, September 13. See page 9
to find out about our meeting’s plans for fall.
2
Friendly Fare by Lea Wright
Dear Friends, Back-to-school already, seriously, already?
Friends Visit: The Don & Shirley Votaw family r eunion
was held the week of July 20. There were 28 of the 29
members present including eleven great grandchildren
ranging in age from 2 months to 15 years. There was fun
for all including swimming, trips to the beach and Knott’s
Berry Farm, and a great picnic. “Oh yes, lots of good
food!” (Columnist’s note: good food is always welcome).
Ami Troedsson felt blessed when her daughter
Christina visited from Missouri for 15 days. Friends Susie
Cush, Peggy Anderson and Gerry Wolfe all r ecently
mentioned how much they enjoy reading The Living
Light. It’s great that we offer this wonderful way to stay in
touch.
Friends About Town: Prayers for healing for Marielle
Askew, our Whittier Fr iends School teacher who was
in a motorcycle accident. Russ Litchfield and his fr iend
Jesus Navarro have been wor king on a model r ailr oad
module and recently worked on painting the backdrop.
Lots more to do but it's beginning to shape up. Stop by the
Music Room and have a look. Dan and Milton Wright
took two of their old Chevrolets to the 15th Annual
Uptown Whittier Car Show on August 15: Milt's 1931
Special Sedan and Dan’s 1919 "Four-Ninety" Delivery. It
was a fun day for Whittier with 325 cars on display. The
show was open to all makes and models. The "FourNinety" came home with honors for best antique. Mary
Raymond has a r egular poetr y column in the
Morningside Monitor, the monthly newsletter for the
community where she now lives. In addition, she often
interviews and writes articles about new residents to
introduce them to their Morningside neighbors. Barbara
Sprague, Sylvia Graber-Pastrone, Candice Ryder, and
Deanna Woirhaye visited the Huntington Libr ar y in
San Marino to celebrate Deanna's birthday. The day's
highlights included lunch at the tea room, live music in
the Chinese Garden, and the exhibition of American art.
They also learned about the fascinating process of the
restoration of the 100-year
-old concrete trees that
form the entrance to the
Japanese garden.
Friends Travel: Sisters
JoNita Beede and Lyn
Gruber tr aveled all the
way to Boston for the
James Taylor and Bonnie
Raitt concert at Fenway
Park. Here they are in
front of the Old State
House. Lyn says, “It was a
once
in
a
lifetime
experience.”
ABCDE Woirhaye (Anathea, Brendon, Cedric, Deanna,
& Elyse) found themselves visiting the Ancient
Bristlecone Pine Forest, Convict Lake, Lake Tahoe, Bodie
Ghost Town, Mono Lake and the independent sovereign
nation of Molossia, all before spending a glorious week
with Gwen & Mahlon Woirhaye in Ashland, OR
absorbing the Shakespeare Festival. Many performances
were taken in including Much A do A bout Nothing, Antony
and Cleopatra, and even a new musical entitled Head Over
Heels featuring music from The Go-Go's. That trip was all
accomplished in a week to accommodate Anathea's
attendance in summer Shakespeare camp at A Noise Within
Theater in Pasadena and Cedric's summer geometry course
at Don Bosco Tech while Elyse attended adventure camp
that included archery and horseback riding. They were very
busy having fun to say the least. Marina Harris has been
working and singing in China and Germany. Sounds and
looks like a glamorous life, but her mom Iris Harris says,
“It's frightfully expensive and competitive. Good thing she
loves to sing.” George Bouchard spent his 60th birthday in
San Francisco from August 14 to 18, celebrating with his
family, Carrin, Matthew, and Stacy & Adam Day doing
crazy and activities included the Japanese Tea Garden and
Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park, the Museum of
Science and a Segway tour. Mary Boltz & Randy Smith
took a drive in the country during their travels out of
Bellingham WA. Here they are with The Living Light
continuing
our
tradition:
“The
Living
Light
Travels.” (Remember, your submissions are welcome and
needed).
Friends Remember: Dick Wood, whose son Mike (of
Texas) is married to Bill & Marygene Wright’s daughter
Betsy, died of lymphoma in Indianapolis on August 1.
Dick was on the administrative staff of Whittier College
from 1980-1985, he was a tenor in the First Friends choir.
From 1985-1996, Dick was president of Earlham College
and from 1996-2001, he was Dean of the Yale Divinity
School. He and his wife Judy were always welcome visitors
at First Friends when visiting in Whittier.
Friends Sharing News: Help to keep Friendly Fare going.
Email me a quick note and tell me your news. Send to Lea
at lealouw@gmail.com, or deliver to me at Meeting for
3
This Month in Meeting for Worship
September6 MeetingforWorshipat10a.m.
inFellowshipHall
LolettaBarrettand“TheCalifornia7”
willbringthemessage
ComeIntoTheCircle
Proverbs22:1-2,6-10,16-19and
James2:8,14-17
September13 MeetingforWorshipat11a.m.
inthemeetinghouse
LolettaBarrettwillbringthemessage
LoudandProud
Psalm19,Mark8:27-38
September20 LolettaBarrettwillbringthemessage
ANewCreationStory
Genesis1:1-2:4
September27 LolettaBarrettwillbringthemessage
HiddenStories
ThestoryofEsther,summarized
Wind,
Whispers,
Whimsy and
a BIG ROAR
Director of Music Ministries
Russ Litchfield will perform in
concert on Friday evening,
September 4 at 7:30 pm.
The program will include
pieces by Bach, Vaughan
Williams, Franck, Zimmer,
Corea, Litchfield and Alain. It
will also include some hymn settings about the call of
Jesus and the world premiere of Sonatina, a piece
dedicated to Russ by Whittier College organist Neil Stipp.
After “the big roar,” there will be a brief prayer
service based on the traditional Service of Compline, a
gentle end to the evening. A free-will offering will be
taken.
Breaking News!
The facilitator for the 2016 Quaker Forum is Diane Randall, executive secr etar y of Fr iends Committee on National Legislation. The program will center on peace.
Quaker Forum is scheduled for Saturday, February 27,
2015.
Loletta’s Lines
There is nothing like
beginnings.
Fresh,
new
adventures and opportunities
for growing, learning and
working.
September
is
traditionally the beginning of
the school year and a time
for the Meeting to begin
activities
that
were
suspended for the summer. In my childhood church, we
called the first Sunday of the church year “Rally Day”
because everyone rallied around again. Meeting for
Worship returns to the regular schedule, of gatherings of
Sunday school classes, choirs, committees, concerts, and
fellowship begin and...it’s exciting!
Yet there are challenges as well. Summer and all the
vacation activities and picnics are over—very sad. We can
be so busy—very stressful. It can be tempting to just leap
in and try to get control of things in our lives, work,
school and meeting. We can organize, schedule, budget,
plan, and commit to being efficient in getting “things”
done. But as E. Stanley Jones writes, “The fussy activity
of modern life is not life…it is starved nerves crying out
for vitamins of real life.”
Lest we lose track of what our purpose is, let us
instead take a deep breath. Let us listen to the signs,
sounds, smells and sights of the changing of seasons. Let
us savor the end of one, and the beginning of another. Let
us examine what is important in all our activities and stay
centered in what is True. Jones admonishes us to
surrender in prayer, but suggests an “alert passivity…that
awakens us to an amazing activity.” Like “the musician
[who] listens in the silence to Music, surrenders to it, and
then pours it forth with complete abandon.”
God is here. All around. Within. In the persons with
us. In every moment, let us endeavor to let go the pressure
of efficient doing, and focus on effective being; discerning
for ourselves, our families, our meeting, and world how
our thoughts, prayers and activities are building, and how
we are living in and being, the Beloved Community of
God here and now.
4
Campers Learn to Hear
Listening carefully is one of life’s most important
skills. “Hearing Each Other” was the theme of this
summer’s Peace Camp and twenty-three young campers
spent a week finding greater appreciation of personal
communication, of music, of our technical culture, and of
the natural world.
The six-hour-a-day day camp during the last week of
July was designed by Justine Whitehead in collaboration
with the Christian Education and Outreach Committees.
By all accounts—most importantly from the kids
themselves— it was one of the most successful Peace
Camps ever.
Weeklong craft projects got started on the very first
day. Some of these included decorating personal tote
bags, donated by the L.A. County Fair, and preparing a
gift for a “secret buddy” to be presented on the last day of
camp. A “Web of Remembrance” game in which kids got
wound up in a matrix of colored yarn, was great fun. A
lying-down listening exercise in Central Park was
designed to help concentrate on and interpret familiar
sounds that usually go unnoticed. Marilyn Fant led a
listening activity in which campers deliberately practiced
bad listening habits, generating hilariously garbled
accounts of a story read to them.
Tuesday’s activities featured an excursion to the
nearby Harris Organ Company, to see the factory where
the mighty First Friends pipe organ was assembled. Organ
-maker David Harris showed campers the way the pipes
work and the contribution of the keyboard, stops and
electronic controls. On returning to the church, Russ
Litchfield made this experience even more memorable by
playing a Bach fugue.
A highlight of the week’s activities was a day-long
excursion on Wednesday to the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
in Orange County. Naturalists led Peace Campers on a
trail hike through the canyon to look for and, especially,
to listen for, sounds of wildlife.
Darrell Warren demonstrated his ham radio on
Thursday, with which he is able to communicate with
fellow radio-operators all over the world. Tammy Van
Dorn, a sign language teacher, taught the campers the
rudiments of American Sign Language. Campers had fun
“listening” to each other visually. Tammy’s mom Mindy
helped the children make sign language necklaces and
personalized pillow covers.
On the final day of camp, Dr. Mary Ann Gilbert from
the Whittier Hearing Center described how the human ear
works and told of the latest developments in hearing aids.
Campers learned to pantomime emotionally-charged
words such as “love”, “anger” and “anxiety.” Finally,
campers welcomed their parents for the traditional ice
cream social and a sing-together led by Russ and Marilyn.
Secret buddies were revealed and gifts bestowed.
Justine and her colleagues Carrin Bouchard, Marilyn,
Russ, Darrell and Loletta Barrett, were aided by
counselors Hunter Collins, Kat Ryder, Bella Sturr ,
Anathea Woirhaye in putting together another memorable
summer Peace Camp.
—Bob Newton
News from
Whittier Friends School
We have many exciting events planned for
September. Whittier Friends School Sunday is September
20, when our students will present part of Meeting for
Worship at First Friends. We also have two fundraisers
planned for September. From September 10-24, we will
be learning about alternative health options with
DoTERRA essential oils, with proceeds from any sales
going to our school. Then on September 30th we will
begin our annual nut and candy sale, one of our biggest
fundraisers of the year.
In July, while children filed in for the first day of
Peace Camp, adult helpers were scooping, shoveling and
raking out a huge delivery of Fibar wood chips for the
playground. Helpers included Lynda Ladwig, school
committee clerk (and former school parent) Marie
Kaneko, school committee member and WFS graduate
Philip Wright, financial manager (and former school
parent) Lea Wright, former school parent Dan Wright,
current school parents Candice Ryder, Deanna Woirhaye
and Steven Caringella, teacher Marielle Askew, and
teachers and current school parents Alicia Atkinson and
Cassie Caringella.
But that hasn't been the only improvement our school
has had this summer! As the summer wore on, the back
storage room was cleared out (with many items going to
the school yard sale), many wonderful school supplies
were donated by friends of our school, and plans have
been made for a new rug and furniture for our primary
classroom. And though our enrollment for the fall is not
set at press time, it is already higher overall than last year
at this time! We are pleased with the continued growth of
our enrollment and eager for the new school year!
—Cassie Caringella
5
September 2015
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
7:00a Spiritual
Growth Group
9:15a Trustees
8:00p M & C
2
7:00p Quaker
Men’s Evening
Group
3
7:00p Choir
Rehearsal
4
5
6
7
8
7:00a Spiritual
Growth Group
7:00p Bell Choir
Rehearsal
9
6:00p All
Friends
Fellowship
Night with “The
California 7”
10
7:00p Choir
Rehearsal
11
6:30p Friday
Family Movie
Night
Big Hero Six
12
13
Friendly Fare
Deadline
12:15p Monthly
Meeting
14
10:00a
Quiltmakers
1:30p Writing
Class
15
Deadline for the
October issue of
The Living
Light
7:00a Spiritual
Growth Group
7:00p Bell Choir
Rehearsal
16
7:00p Quaker
Men’s Evening
Group
Editors
Compose
The Living
Light
17
7:00p Choir
Rehearsal
18
19
9:00a All
Meeting—
Coastal Cleanup
Day
(Meet at the
church at 8 a.m.)
21
20
12:15p Christian 1:30p Writing
Class
Ed Committee
23
22
7:00a Spiritual
Living Light
Growth Group
Folding
7:00p Bell Choir 7:00p Quaker
Men’s Evening
Rehearsal
Group
24
7:00p Choir
Rehearsal
25
26
28
27
12:15p Outreach 10:00a
Committee
Quiltmakers
1:30p Writing
Class
29
7:00a Spiritual
Growth gGoup
7:00p Bell Choir
Rehearsal
30
7:00p Quaker
Men’s Evening
Group
Schedule for Sundays starting
September 13
Unprogrammed Worship—9:30a
First Day Classes—9:45 a
Meeting for Worship—11:00a
Zachary Adam
Lavelle Basham
Mary Boltz
Joanne Camp
Landon Caringella
Anne Eggleton
Martha Fopiano
Lyn Gruber
Randy Hays
Sharon Huffaker
Bonnie
Lowenstam-Grace
Preston Mitchell
Susanne Mitchell
Esther Nelson
Alpha Overin
Lea Thirkettle
Ella Tiffany
Julie Urner
Mindy Van Dorn
Christopher Votaw
Gwen Woirhaye
Mahlon Woirhaye
David Wright
If we've missed your
birthday, we apologize
(and happy birthday)!
We're working hard to
keep our birthday
calendar up-to-date so
please let us know if
we're forgetting
anyone.
Thank you!
6
Hearing Each Other
Peace Camp 2015
7
Youth Retreat
Ben Lomond
Quaker Center
8
Quakers in Unity
News from Friends
Around the World
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
(FCLCA). Quaker voices of conscience have br ought
over 3000 emails and letters to legislators so far this year.
Advocate efforts continue for bills that restore opportunity for prisoners housed in security housing units to complete education, substance abuse, life skills and alternatives to violence programs; that repeal of the Maximum
Family Grant rule, which denies benefits to children born
into families receiving state aid; that create an amnesty
program for paying traffic fines and allowing people to
retain their driver's license while they are making payments, and that provide safe drinking water to schools.
FCLCA continues to oppose a bill which links drivers
licenses to selective service registration, and citizens
have sent thousands of messages in support of bills to
increase transparency in officer-involved shootings; to
expand Medi-Cal to undocumented children, and to establish parole programs for elderly prisoners.
www.fclca.org.
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
thanks Friends for their calls, emails and letters to the
editor in support of the Iran deal. Congressional offices
are still hearing overwhelmingly from critics of the
agreement. Meeting directly with your members of Congress is the most effective way to persuade them to support the deal. www.fcnl.org.
Friends United Meeting (FUM) asks that we continue
to hold John Muhanji, director of Africa ministries, and
his wife Rose Afanda in the Light as they and their
neighbor recover from a devastating fire on their farms.
Rose is also undergoing chemo treatments.
www.fum.org.
Please continue to hold Northwest Yearly Meeting and
North Carolina Yearly Meeting in the Light as they
struggle with their unity issues.
At Monthly Meeting in
August, there was discussion
of the budget and what
Quaker and non-Quaker
organizations and charities
we can affect in a significant
way. The Board of Trustees
accepted a gift of light fixtures and fans for Sharpless
Lounge from the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which
uses that facility. Our church has completed replacing
screw type light bulbs with LEDs at no cost to the meeting
as part of a power conservation program. Two brass
plaques in Founders Court have disappeared, and they will
be replaced with ones made of ceramic or stone.
The next Monthly Meeting will be September 13, the
same Sunday that we return to our regular Meeting for
Worship schedule in the meeting house. Suitably, lunch
will be a farewell to summer with fried chicken, macaroni
salad, carrot raisin salad, three bean salad, fresh fruit and
pineapple upside down cake for dessert.
On Our Calendar...
FridayFamilyMovieNight
Friday,October2
TheNightmareBeforeChristmas
MysteryDinnerTheatre
“TheHawaiianHeist”
Saturday
October3
WorldQuakerDay
Sunday,October4
MonthlyMeeting
StewardshipMonthbegins
Sunday
October11
All-FriendsFellowshipNight
DisneyNight
Wednesday
October14
OutreachSunday
Sunday,October18
NewCenturySingersconcert
Sunday,October18
MonthlyMission
Monday,October19
WhittierFriendsSchool
ChiliCook-Off
Saturday
October24
PumpkinCarving
Friday,October30
AllFriendsFellowshipNight
November11
YouthScavengerHuntforthe
InterfaithFoodCenter
November15
PeaceCafe
Saturday,November21
InterfaithThanksgivingService
Sunday,November22
FamilyChristmasDinner
Sunday,December13
The Whittier Area Interfaith Council will present a ninetyminute program on protecting children and preventing traf- MusicSunday
ficking at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22 in the Chase TheMondayBeforeChristmas
Room at St. Matthias Episcopal Church. Bob Smith from
F.A.C.E.S.S. (Freeing American Children from Exploita- QuakerForum
tion and Sexual Slavery) will speak.
Sunday,December20
Monday,December21
Saturday,February27
9
Need a Pick-Me-Up?
So Does Our Coast
It’s the largest volunteer day on the planet.
Our meeting will be pitching in on Coastal Cleanup
Day, sponsored by Heal the Bay, on Saturday, September
19.
Volunteers have been chosen for various beach
locations in southern California. Our destination is
Belmont Pier on Ocean Blvd. at the end of Termino Ave.
in Long Beach.
The cleanup starts at 9 a.m. and will wrap up at noon.
Parking is free.
There will be a caravan carpool leaving the church
parking lot at 8 a.m. for those who do not wish to drive or
are more comfortable traveling in numbers.
Heal the Bay, an environmental nonprofit
organization, was founded in 1985 for the purpose of
making southern California's coastal waters and
watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy
and clean.
The event sign-up sheet and waivers are in Founders
Court every Sunday through September 13 and in the
office on weekdays (except Monday). All volunteers must
submit a waiver and although they will be available at the
event, filling them out ahead of time is a time-saver.
Bring gloves and a bucket or container. Heal the Bay
will also have supplies at the beach but the less disposable
stuff, the better. Common sense items include shoes (no
bare feet allowed), a water bottle and sun screen.
Join us on Wednesday night,
September 9 for a program by
the members of our meeting
family who attended the Friends
United Meeting Stoking the
Fire workshop.
Known at the event as “The California Seven,” they
will share their inspiring experience and we look forward
to hearing from them.
Potluck dinner begins at 6 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
with the program to follow at 7 p.m. Sign up in Founders
Court to bring a main dish, salad or dessert. Drinks and
bread will be provided. Please bring $1 per person with
food or $3 per person if you do not bring food but will be
joining us for dinner. There is no charge for children
under 13 who come with their parents.
A F
F
N
On behalf of all participating churches, the Serve
Weekend leadership team will be present to accept the
City of Whittier’s appreciation at the City Council meeting on September 22. Thank you all again for your work
and involvement in Serve Weekend and your continued
unity in reaching Whittier with the Love of Christ.
Next year’s Serve Weekend is April 23-24, 2016.
A big thank you to our friends at Whittier Toyota for
providing us with three vans to transport us to the retreat
at Ben Lomond Quaker Center in northern California
In appreciation for their kindness, the crew at Whittier
Toyota enjoyed handmade salt water taffy from the Santa
Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
F
F
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
M
N
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
Hello Fall
Our fall schedule begins Sunday, September 13. Unprogrammed Meeting is held at 9:30 a.m. in the chapel.
Sunday School for all ages is also at 9:30 a.m. Prekindergarten through first grade class is in the children’s
library, and second grade through high school classes
meet in the Christian Education Building.
Adult class meets in Sharpless Lounge. The subject of
study this fall is 40-Day Journey with Parker J. Palmer.
Meeting for Worship begins at 11:00 a.m. in the meeting house. During Meeting for Worship, the nursery will
be available for babies and children up to 7 years old.
Children's Church will be held in the chapel following the
Children's Message. Children will return to the meeting
house during the final hymn.
We encourage older children to stay in Meeting for
Worship for the message and open worship.
6:30 P.M. in FELLOWSHIP HALL
Free admission and popcorn
Open to the community
Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult
Dona ons of canned goods for
the Interfaith Food Center are appreciated
10
Service in the Redwoods
The Young Friends Fellowship group hit the road in
July for a trip to the redwood forests of northern California. Their retreat at Ben Lomond Quaker Center offered a
chance to work on a project or two as well as have fun and
fellowship.
The group, made up of Amara Overmyer, Ethan
Purkiss, Ashley Ryder, Kat Ryder, Bella Sturr, James
Tucker, Wes Van Dorn, Lara Wemmerus and Anathea
Woirhaye, was accompanied by Loletta Barrett, Cassie
Caringella, Lynda Ladwig, Russ Litchfield, Jasmine Sturr,
Mel Sturr and Lea Wright along with Landon and Avalon
Caringella.
Oddly enough, destruction was the first item on the
agenda, but in a good way. The Center’s playground was
a sad sight and our gang made quick work of removing
rotted wood retaining walls, tearing apart decrepit benches, raking leaves and pulling weeds.
Their reward for their work was a trip to the Santa
Cruz Beach Boardwalk, one of the last and most historic
of the classic seaside amusement parks in the United
States. Russ got his fortune told at the arcade and many
tempted their own fates with the G-forces of Firefall and
splashing through Logger’s Revenge. Lynda brought a
cooler full of burritos to cut down on the amusement park
food budget but that didn’t stop the kids from hitting the
Tater Twists and funnel cake in a big way.
Time in the sunshine on a beautiful day followed at
the Homeless Garden, which provides job training, transitional employment and support services to people who are
homeless, all on a 3-acre organic farm. The group harvested flowers and prepared them for drying so they could be
sold later. They enjoyed lunch with those working the garden and brought a fruit salad to share. The rest of the meal
was cooked from ingredients grown on the farm. After all
that healthy goodness, donuts and ice cream awaited on
the road back.
The group also took part in discussion groups, lessons
and games. Cassie led a discussion centered around what
the Bible says about gossip and the use of our words, what
happens when we gossip and the impact of social media.
Lynda used scripture to talk about patience and they gathered to explore the process of discernment with Jasmine.
After hearing Jasmine share her experiences, the group
broke off into groups to discern a situation or problem that
someone in the group had. The topics were brought together with a discussion of how our words and patience
play together in the discernment process.
But there was free time too, to explore the center, the
labyrinth and meditation cottage, and to hike to the waterfall.
It was a nearly perfect and nearly exhausting week of
service, togetherness, silly games and thought-stimulating
conversation.
—Elisabeth Elliot
One of the many serene paths at Ben Lomond
Hawaiian Heist continued from page 1
ukuleles and the fragrance of hibiscus and appetizers. A
banquet of savory tropical delicacies awaits you next as
the luau gets under way. And that’s when things start to
go a little awry…
The cast, under the direction of YFF alumnus and
Friends Choir member Jon-Paul Cook, includes Niall
Moreno, Amara Overmyer, Ethan Purkiss, Ashley Ryder,
Katerina Ryder, Bella Sturr, Wes Van Dorn, Lara
Wemmerus, Anathea Woirhaye, Cedric Woihaye and
Elyse Woirhaye.
“The kids have been excited about the show from the
very beginning,” said Jon-Paul during a break at a recent
rehearsal. “I think their enthusiasm for theatre is as great
as mine, and I really love theatre. And the food is going to
be great, so bring your appetite and as well as your
inquisitive eyes.”
Tickets go on sale September 6, the last Sunday of our
summer schedule in Fellowship Hall. Adults are $12,
children under 10 are $6 and children under 4 are free.
Hawaiian and resort wear is encouraged! Come for
the food, stay for the mayhem. Will you be the one to
discover the villain and bring resolution? Or will
catastrophe and chaos rule the night?
—Elisabeth Elliot
11
Retreat Voices
This year’s trip to Quaker Center was nothing short of amazing. It was the perfect blend of fun, service
and worship! My favorite part was helping out at the Homeless Garden because I was able to work alongside
real people and was able to hear their stories and we shared lunch with fresh harvested ingredients which could
not have been more phenomenal.--Wes Van Dorn
The Quaker Center is an enjoyable place. I found that being there presents me with this calm feeling that I only get
when I'm around animals. Seeing everyone that I know together made the experience all the better.--Kat Ryder
One of my favorite parts of the trip was when we demolished the barrier around an old playground so that a new
one could be built. Not only did it give me a sense of fulfillment, but it was extremely fun!!! We were given
gloves and tools and some of us used power tools, and others, like me, used mallets, hammers, and pick axes.
The number one rule was to watch your back and BE CAREFUL. We were in good hands. So I just slammed
away at the old rotting wood until it came crashing down. All that hard, hands-on work really made you feel like
you were helping to make something. But again, it was just so much fun and I'm very grateful that I was able to
experience it all.--Amara Overmyer
I had fun at Santa Cruz. I liked going outside and exploring the Quaker Center. My favorite part was going to the
boardwalk. This was my first time on this trip and I had a good time.--Ashley Ryder
I had a great time at the Quaker Center and we did some good work. We also had lots of time to meditate and
enjoy the nature. It was a great experience and I am looking forward to the next trip.--Ethan Purkiss
When I was at Quaker Center I got to experience many new things and have a lot of fun with my fellow Friends. During the trip, I was the unlucky one and had a terrible case of laryngitis, which ended up being a
sinus infection. While we were at Quaker Center, my sickness got really bad to a point where my dad had to take
me down to Urgent Care. They gave me some medicine so I was able to feel better and continue the trip. Even with
my sinus infection I still had a ton of fun and still felt very blessed to be able to have gone to Quaker Center.--Bella
Sturr
On the trip, we went to volunteer at the Homeless Garden. It was really interesting---they were gathering flowers to dry and sell later on that year. We worked there for hours, either cutting the flowers or binding them so
that they could be hung up and dried. That day for lunch, we had vegan food that was prepared by some of the
homeless that had come to volunteer that day, and it was some of the best food I had ever had. It was wonderful working there all day, and I felt really good being able to help in all the ways I could.--Anathea Woirhaye
I liked Casa De Luz (a glass-walled gathering space) because it was relaxing. I liked the homeless garden because I like helping people and the food was really good. This was really worth it because I was able to help
those who needed it and learn different ways to recycle. They used glass doors to make windows! The labyrinth
let us be in nature and find our inner peace. Also, I had fun.--Lara Wemmerus
I liked how my own kids were able to get to know the big kids. There was lots of bonding between ages, which
was cool. I also liked how my kids were able to do service projects. They didn't know exactly who they were
helping but they understood that they were being helpful.--Cassie Caringella
The time spent at Quaker Center was renewing and fulfilling. The youth in our meeting are amazing and are capable of some really great things. I put on a workshop on discernment and was really impressed by the level of maturity they demonstrated in that. We all worked hard on service projects, opened our minds to new ideas
in discussions, and had some fun on this amazing retreat.--Jasmine Sturr
I liked the forest because it was pretty cool in there and I liked playing with Lara and the others.--Landon Caringella
12
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The Living Light
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Volume 54 Number 9
Issue Date: September 1, 2015
The Living Light is published monthly by First
Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia Street, Whittier,
California, 90601-4303. Periodical postage paid at
Whittier, California.
Bob Newton .................................... Editor
Elisabeth Elliot................ Associate Editor
Sabron Newton ......................Copy Editor
Loletta Barrett ................................. Pastor
Lynda Ladwig ................. Associate Pastor
.......... & Christian Education Coordinator
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.......... Dir of Music Ministries & Organist
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Lorenzo Mora ........................... Custodian
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FAX 562-698-1127
www.firstfriendswhittier.org
Whittier Friends School Staff
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562-945-1654
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