For the next few months, we are going to be diving into the depths of our Quaker tradition. Quakerism is still alive, and we are intrigued by the ways in which it continues to inform the way we live our lives. For our first part, we invited our Friends Pat & Carol to share about simplicity.

Quaker Depths: What Does it Mean to Practice Living into Quaker Simplicity? by Pat & Carol

Lloyd Lee Wilson, visiting from Friendship Friends Meeting of North Carolina Yearly Meeting, offered a message on Waiting Worship. Waiting Worship appears outwardly as silence, but inwardly is waiting upon God for immediate inspiration.

"Waiting Worship" by Lloyd Lee Wilson

Mark Pratt-Russum shares about downed river logs, our belonging to the earth and the earth belonging to us.  Our reverence of the divine exists in the fibers of a downed tree being worn away by the river.  "Wild places are at the heart of the sacred moments that resist the passage of time."

"Wild Places are at the Heart of our Sacred Moments" by Mark Pratt-Russum

Klarissa Oh has been serving as one of our released ministers for the last two years. She announced that she will be returning to OAASIS, and will be stepping down from her role in our community this July. This is Klarissa's final message to our community. She shares what she has learned, both encouraging and challenging us. In particular, Klarissa challenged us to see the ways in which white supremacy culture may be impacting our community.

Reflections on Released Ministry at West Hills Friends by Klarissa Oh

Perhaps one of the greatest lessons we learn in practicing how to get along with other people is when we say something with the best of intentions, but quickly see that what just came out of our mouth hit a persons ears and made them feel completely unseen. There are lots of shortcut things we say to people, thinking it is a trusted consultation in a time of suffering, but up there with the worst of them is, “You should feel grateful that…” 

For this message, Mark draws out the difference between feeling gratitude and practicing gratitude.

What if you don't Feel Grateful? by Mark Pratt-Russum

Mark Pratt-Russum asks how can spiritual communities like ours be offering the world the gift of listening to and responding from a new and yet ancient intelligence?

Intelligence, Imagination and Spiritual Listening by Mark Pratt-Russum

Gíl George shares a message about how when we start looking at the world through the lens of self-importance rather than through the lens of self-compassion we lose the script like so many before us.

"Losing the script," by Gíl George

Johan Maurer reflects on George Fox’s bold claim that “Christ has come to teach his people himself,” urging us not to box Fox in as just “our fascinating and eccentric founder,” but to ask what his message still calls us to today.

"What Are We to Do With George Fox?" by Johan Maurer

Johan Maurer explores the “salt and light” of Quaker identity and shares stories from Quaker relief work in Russia.

Photo: AFSC

"On Staying Salty," by Johan Maurer

In his message, Johan Maurer, member of Moscow Meeting in Russia, describes church as “people, gathered around the living God, learning what it means to live with God at the center, and helping each other learn.”

"What Is a Church?" by Johan Maurer

In his message, Johan Maurer reflects on Quaker silence as a space of great freedom and great trust, and as shared Douglas Steer’s image of silence as a portico into God’s presence. Johan describes silence as “spiritual oxygen,” sharing  his own experience in a meetinghouse 51 years ago.

"Silence: Space of Great Freedom" by Johan Maurer

Nathan Meckley reflects on how different things are suitable for different seasons. Our clinging to the forms of the past or anticipating the future can cause suffering, preventing us from being fully present to the season in which we are right now. Quoting Simone Weil: “Absolute, undivided attention is prayer.”
He closes with queries:
“How has the Spirit been a guide through different and changing seasons?”
“Is there a change of season underway?”
“What does the light reveal? Does the light reveal any shift needed to become fully present?”

“Being Fully Present to the Season We Are In” by Nathan Meckley

Nathan Meckley reflects on John Donne’s reminder that “no one is an island,” connecting it to the Quaker belief that there is that of God in everyone. In light of recent violence and division, he shares the struggle of living out compassion even toward those who cause harm, and reminded us that our deepest values may still call us to it.

He closes with queries:
How does the witness of Jesus Christ guide us in this moment?
How is the Quaker testimony of peace practiced now?
What will your/our witness be?

“That of God in Everyone” by Nathan Meckley

Laurie Schaad shares a First Word about a tense encounter during the early days of the Iraq War, where she responded to hostility by affirming she was “on the side of humankind and life.” Later she experienced a spiritual sign through her car key that confirmed this as the “key'“ guiding truth she lives by.

"That is the key," by Laurie Schaad

Rosalie Movius shared a First Word about the lessons she’s learned over 40 years of quilting. 

"Lessons from Quilting," by Rosalie Movius

Nathan Meckley reflects on the Jewish High Holy Days as a time of repentance, renewal, and starting over, with ourselves, others, and God. He reminds us that true atonement means repairing the breaches in our relationships and world, living out justice as “what love looks like in public.”

"Repairers of the Breach" by Nathan Meckley

For the message, Zac White of Multnomah Monthly Meeting drew from scripture, Rumi, and Mary Oliver. Zac invited us to approach prayer as a quiet attunement to the Spirit already present within and around us.

"God wants to hear from you," by Zac White

Nathan Meckley shares that the story of the ancient Jews, and the core founding story of the biblical narrative is not the oppression, but their deliverance. Because they could tell their story in all of its fullness, then they were able to make their offering with gratitude. Is there a story of “your people” that gives you hope & strength? For which you’re grateful? As you hold your own story in the Light, where and how do you experience the presence of God’s spirit?

"The story of 'your people'" by Nathan Meckley

Nathan Meckley reflects on wearing a cross made from spent shell casings to the rally, and explores the cross’s history as both a symbol of suffering and transformation. True faith involves embracing the cross's rough edges and living into the daily, uncomfortable work of spiritual transformation.

"Some crosses may have rough edges," by Nathan Meckley

Nathan reflects on autumn as a season that calls us to spiritual attention and reminds us of the wisdom in nature. Just as a tree’s hidden colors appear when chlorophyll rests, the beauty and truth within us can emerge when we pause and rest.

"The Colors That Were Always There" by Nathan Meckley

Doreen Crail offers a First Word about how she’s been learning to turn down the noise, limit her doom-scrolling, and focus her thoughts and prayers on what is true, lovely, and joyful. She’s learning to listen and rest in God’s presence, hearing the quiet reminder, “Relax, I’ve got you.”

"Relax, I’ve Got You" a First Word by Doreen Crail

Nathan shared a message and reminded us that this season, from Halloween through All Saints and All Souls Day and Día de los Muertos, invites us to pause and honor that “the visible here and now is just a fragment of a much larger spiritual reality.” He drew on the image of “a great cloud of witnesses,” and invited us to remember those who came before and listen for those who will come after, running our race “for the sake of the joy that lays ahead.”

"For the Sake of the Joy," by Nathan Meckley

Nathan Meckley reflects on how the word Friend carries both depth and aspiration for Quakers. Nathan asks us to consider what it means spiritually and relationally when we call someone friend or Friend. What does it mean to you when you call someone, lowercase, friend? When you call someone, capital F, Friend—what does it mean to you? Is your relationship with Truth, with Christ, with God, friendly? How could it become more so?

"Friends of God, Friends of Christ, Friends of Truth," by Nathan Meckley

Gil George shared that integrity, for her, means knowing herself and her values, and living in a way where her identity, actions, and intentions remain aligned with those values even though it is always a work in progress.

"Living Into Integrity" by Gillian George

Nathan Meckley invited us into Advent by reminding us that hope is not a feeling but a choice; a tenacious, even wild “bird in the soul” that we practice by living as people who choose hope.

"A Wild Goose Kind of Hope" by Nathan Meckley

Stephen Deatherage offered the message on Sunday Nov 23, 2025. Stephen reflected on Moses and the Midianites, on current political figures, and on an imagined afterlife where we meet those we wronged and finally understand that love was the point all along.

"Love Was the Point All Along" by Stephen Deatherage

In her message, Kay Ellison asked the question how did Jesus handle living under a regime? And can I learn something from what Jesus did? 

"The best way we can love God," by Kay Ellison

In his message, Nathan Meckley spoke about how rather than joy being manufactured, it visits us. We receive it as a gift.
Have your experiences of pleasure, of happiness, and of joy been similar emotionally or spiritually or how have they been different?
From where does the gift of joy come to you, especially during difficult times?
And, to borrow from C.S. Lewis, have you ever been surprised by joy?

"Joy Visits, " by Nathan Meckley

Laura Simmons talks about confronting the temptation to write off those who write us off. 

"Confronting our own worst impulses," by Laura Simmons

Mark Pratt-Russum read from John 3 and gave a message about paying attention in a different way.  Love, compassion and grace are greater than the voice inside us that we aren't good enough, or that we should be afraid.  When we pay attention differently, West Hills can be a waypoint and a resting place, but also a generative place.  How have you noticed the competition for the attention in your life?  When you discover that you are paying attention differently, what does it look and feel like to you?  What does paying attention differently look like for us in the Pacific Northwest?  

Photo by adrian on Unsplash

"The Attention Economy and Rebirth" by Mark Pratt-Russum

West Hills Friends is a Quaker meeting in Portland, Oregon. You can find more about us at www.westhillsfriends.org. Included on this page are words of people in our community, and visitors. 

West Hills Friends

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