NOVEMBER 30
Rachel MacNair led a worship sharing on spiritual aspects of gratitude: Among the quo­tations, she used was this PendIehill grace, "Let us give thanks for unknown blessings already on the way."

NOVEMBER 23
Kevin hosted a conversation about simplicity from a Quaker perspective, particu­larly asking 'what is it about simplicity that led Quakers to own it as a testimony?' Quakers have long held that simplicity creates a space that allows the spirit to be heard and as such should be fostered. We agreed that we all know little about simplicity and that it is a very difficult discipline to practice. We considered the relationship between simplicity and complication. We do not want to deny the com­plexity of or lives and of the challenges we face, but we do want to reduce the clutter and the complica­tions that distract us from leadings. We agreed that this is a topic that we should revisit in an effort to understand it and the spiritual growth that it can foster.

NOVEMBER 9
Friends used the time to remem­ber our dear friend Reva Griffith. Excerpts from this sharing can be found on here.

MAY 25
Nancy Moon and Terry Matz discussed a workshop on clerking which Nancy had attended at Pendle Hill Midwest in Evanston, IL. Called "Quaker Decision Making and Clerking," it was led by Arthur Larrabee, who has conducted the work shop a number of times at Pendle Hill. 18 Penn Valley Friends attended the discussion which concerned the roles of the clerk and of others present at a meet ing, the process, work of committees, and option: of the clerk. Of the 100 pages of workshop material Nancy and Terry had handouts for those present or some of the material. Leftover handouts will be avail able to non-attenders for the asking. A copy of the total workshop material will be available in the library. Comment on the workshop: attenders seemed "to be engaged" in the discussion. Another Quaker Education success.

MAY 11
Rachel MacNair led a discussion on a post war policy statement on Iraq proposed by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee. Recommendation from the group were incorporated into the work of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee for the final proposed minute.

APRIL 27
Tape of a speech by Sister Helen Prejean. Pat Miller played a video of a speech given by Helen Prejean, well-known author of Dead Man Walking, a story of her involvement in death penalty work. Her speech was a conversational story of her experi­ences. A Louisiana native, she presents her story with wit, statistics, a human twist, and honesty, a compassion for both victims and their families. She has been a spiritual advisor for two men who were eventually executed. According to her story, she sort of fell into writing to these men and became their mentor and friend as they approached execution. She found the experience so life-changing that she wrote a book about it which was later the basis for an award-winning movie by the same name. Sub­sequently, she has been a much sought after speaker on issues connected with the death penalty. Her story is compelling.

MARCH 30
John Swomley, long time activist pacifist, spoke of the history of North Korea and his evolving interest in that country. One was impressed with the knowledge and thoroughness of study that John presents. Along the way, those present learned much about the lives John and Marj have led as they have pursued a path of promoting peace for many years.

MARCH 23
Quaker Education Committee asked Joel Hembree to lead a meeting discussion on the Peace Testimony. We began by each person having the opportunity to tell where she or he began to incorporate a peace testimony into their lives. It was interesting that most of those present did not begin as Quakers but seemed to respond to something within their lives which brought out an affinity for peace so that it was not usually a concept they found unusual for them. Joel, having grown up in a the Dunkard (Brethren) culture, spoke about the other so- called peace churches and the origins of their peace beliefs. It was an edifying discussion.

MARCH 9
Quaker Education Committee gathered together the clerks and / or convenors of the standing committees of the meeting to have them enlighten the community as to the duties of the committees. Believe it or not, it takes the following committees and the clerk, assistant clerk, recording clerk, treasurer, and assistant treasurer to keep the meeting up and running: Ministry and Oversight; Peace and Social Concerns; Finance; Audit; Library; House Upkeep; Membership/ Archives; Program; Publications; Quaker Education; Nominating Committee. We were reminded of the importance of the committees since the meeting does not have hired help to sustain its organization. All of us learned something from the information given by the various committees.

February 23
Marc Robinson, Penn Valley Meeting representative on the Discipline Revision Committee of Iowa Yearly Meeting, presented the committee draft on Sexuality for discussion by the group. A lengthy discussion involving inputs from those present took place. It was agreed that Marc would summarize and write a statement on the comments on the draft from Penn Valley Meeting. He would then forward his summary to the group for suggestions before presenting it to the Discipline Revision Committee.

February 9
The Peace and Social Concerns Committee presented a minute of concern for Iraq for discussion by the assembled group. After a serious discussion, the decision was made for the minute to be rewritten using suggestions of the group and to be presented at the next meeting for business for discussion and approval.

January 26
Quakers and the Miilitary, a Quaker Educa­tion program, featured discussion of the draft. Brenda Graham, a member of the AFSC Youth and the Military Committee and a former teacher at Raytown South, was resource person. She told of and demon­strated the plan the Y&M Committee is putting to­gether to present to small groups of young men and women concerning the draft and how to be ready for C.O. registration should it come if this is the wish of the individual young person. A good discussion to!­lowed. Friends were grateful for the expertise of Brenda on this timely subject.

January 12
Karin and Echo showed a video, "Ze­nith," they had purchased and enjoyed. It was the story of a community in the Flint Hills of Kansas, beset by a long drought. A new minister at a local church who had yearned to produce an outdoor passion play stepped into the gap in the struggling community and with the help of one of the local women put together a production. They urged community mem­bers to undertake roles. The result was a growth of community spirit and a renewal of the shattered faith produced by the drought. Produced by non-profes­sionals, the video tells this engrossing story.