For Palm Sunday we had an experiential, intergenerational worship time complete with children's story and palm branches. Listen to the podcasthere!

The last couple weeks on the North Valley Friends podcast, we wrapped up Peace Month and then we began a new series, talking about the prophetic voice in Jeremiah.

We had our annual All Church Retreat this last weekend, and for the last few years we've been enjoying just spending the weekend at the meetinghouse (though we sleep at home in our own beds...) rather than going away for the weekend. This way, lots of people can participate for the time they have available, and it's way cheaper so everyone can come. We have a lot of fun together Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday morning, playing lots of for-fun games and get-to-know-you games, eating…

Last week we heard from one of our members, Scot Headley, continuing our Peace Month conversation, about being "Pulled in Both Directions," and this week the George Fox University Players visited and presented "Enough Already!"

January is Peace Month in Northwest Yearly Meeting, and at North Valleywe kicked off the month with a discussion led by Lynn Holt on "Unity through Tension."

Can't seem to get this little guy – I think he once told me Antonio was his name – out of my head. He's an elementary-aged student, probably seven or eight, in a school for autism-spectrum kids that occupies a part of the building where my art studio is located. As I come and…

We looked back and looked ahead this week in worship with a message and activities led by Sarah Klatt Dickerson called "Turning the Page."

This week included our normal morning worship as well as a candlelight service on Christmas Eve. Check out Sunday's service, "Finding God in the Unexpected," and the Christmas Eve service, including videos of our cute kids telling different parts of the Christmas story.

Christmas has arrived early. Unannounced, in smallish ways and yet, it's really here in my heart forever.…

This week we heard from Lynn Holt on a "Labor of Love," focused on Luke 2:1-7.…

I was wired in Meeting for Worship Sunday from the wonderfully wild drumming of the day before with my Artsy Fartsy kids. I tried to settle in, but it just wasn't happening. I was fully attentive to the minister's message on giving. She and I had had a conversation a few days…

The second Thursday, late afternoon, of every month is reserved. Without question. Not even marked on my calendar. That's when I dutifully pull out my log of Artsy Fartsy kids' names and phone numbers and begin the round of reminder calls.…

Last week, I wrote about serendipitously meeting Rebecca at Whole Foods. Today, I believe that wave of Spirit put me in the path of Amanda and Scott, again, two strangers I encountered while having tea. …

She's still out there, somewhere, on her own, tending to her mother's death, trying to find like-minded community for the few weeks she's visiting. She's still tugging at my heart though.…

The Advent season begins! Perhaps it's un-Quakerly to "celebrate" Advent, but it is helpful in the busy holiday season to focus on anticipation and waiting, expectancy, in our worship times together. This week, Andy Henry shared on the topic "Becoming God-bearers," using Luke 1:26-38 as his text.

After experiencing the intensity of a gathering of caricature artists secondhand during my husband's recent convention, I returned home a little deflated. Jealous even. Missing something. Not feeling connected. To the point of posting so on Facebook.…

It was a smaller affair, which may have sharpened the lens of perspective. So often, we tumbled out of the house, food in hand, kids in tow and arrived a few minutes late for Thanksgiving at my parents'. This year, we were ahead of schedule with the exception of my husband…