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

It feels like all of our communities are asking the question, "Why are things so frustrating right now?" Why aren't we bouncing back from the pandemic? For this message, Mark explores the idea of liminality, of the space between one thing comign to an end, and a new thing emerging. Are we, as the human collective, in a liminal place? If so, how might this help us make sense of why everything seems so frustrating right now?

Liminality: The Space In-Between

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

Gil George reflects on the concept of ubuntu, a term originating in Southern Africa that refers to the recognition that 'I am because we are'.

Weaving a Web of Light by Gil George on World Quaker Day

A light-hearted story about Jesus’s call to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25: 35-40)

Written and narrated by KD Burnett
Introduction and queries by Stephen Deatherage

"The Moon Man "by KD Burnett (Wink 3)

For the message, Mike read Matthew 25:19-28. It would be a mistake to think that this parable is about the accumulation of wealth.  Jesus isn’t really talking about money.  He’s talking about work.  The servants who do the work are rewarded with more work.  Mike drew a parallel to the work we do to become aware of privilege and asked, "What is your work to do?"

"What about Your Work?" by Mike Huber

this is the second installment of my mix series Deep>sleep

i tried to keep the tracks super deep and relaxing for this one which is more of what i tend to listen to on a daily basis. 

i do not own any rights to these tracks

Deep > Sleep II

What at first feels like freedom, on closer inspection
is nothing more than the waveform of the roliing...

Wilbo's Third Song to Nobody in Particular

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. 

"What about Your Work?" by Mike Huber

West Hills Friends

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