West Hills Friends

Keri Kimberly shares stories about her family and childhood, illustrating the impact community has on all of us. Every person, from the youngest to the oldest, has something to teach us, and we form an interconnected web. We never cease to need a community to offer us friendship, to serve as examples, and to offer us guidance from a unique perspective.

Bethany Lee shares that the word radical originated from the idea of a root. Radical is not always like the extremes of a pendulum or spectrum, but extreme, like, the tips of the roots at the very edges of the nervous system taking in what is needed. Bethany wondered, “where might I need to be that kind of radical now?”

Nathan Meckley shares a message about the woods he grew up around and how we come to love nature through paying attention and personal connection, and how this invites us to reflect on our relationship with creation and how we should live.

Mica Coffin shared a message about what tools or doorways have not been helpful or not helpful for her spiritual growth.

Nathan Meckley shares that “Mark doesn’t give us a classic happy ending, all tied up in a nice Easter bow.” The resurrection story continues to challenge everything we consider an ending. Is there anywhere in the world, is there anywhere in your life, that God’s redeeming work of love still needs to touch?

Nathan Meckley shares that when we follow the story of Jesus, we take hold of a different hope, a different revolution that doesn't arrive through power and might, but through the paradox of strength through weakness, through vulnerability, hardship, pain, loss, and yes, the surprise of resurrection — the love which cannot die.

Nathan Meckley shared a message about hunger and the MLK Jr quote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere.” Right now, in the U.S., there is more than enough food to feed everyone. People go hungry not because of scarcity, but because human practices and policies designed and implemented by human beings go unchallenged and unchanged.

Nathan Meckley shares a message about comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. While offering comfort is usually welcomed, afflicting the comfortable can be dangerous and costly as seen in the example of Jesus. Yet we are still invited to embrace this calling fully. Image: Dooley (right) and Hennessy, by E. W. Kemble (1900), created by Finley Peter Dunne

Nathan Meckley shared a message he title: “Nathan's Random Thoughts on Showing Up in Spiritual Practice; Hope in Spiritual Practice, Revisited.” Because at this time in the world, and in many of our lives, don't we just need to always revisit what can possibly give us hope?

Nathan Meckley shares the story of Esther, Malachi and Haman concluding with the message that we may not choose the time in which we live, but we do discern how we live and who we will be.

David reads from Ezekiel and reflected on prophesy, “Son of Man,” and the early Quakers prophesying in a time of oppression. In silence, we listen for the divine impulse not knowing who will speak, only that the message matters more than the person.

Leslea Logan shared how hearing Sweet Honey in the Rock sing “Made for the time I’m in” opened a spiritual shift that became a God-sent message to her heart and spirit to share with others, that it is no accident that we are here at this time to face this crisis as God's hands and feet.

Susanna Ballard shared a message about grief and resilience and having the courage, humility, and faith to do that one thing, whatever it is, our "next right thing."

Nathan Meckley read the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) and spoke about how, according to one scholar, the Aramaic translation of “Blessed” could have meant “ripe.” Instead of bestowing from on high, Jesus is calling it as it is and telling his poor and oppressed listeners, “You are the ones who are most ready for what God is doing.”

Nathan Meckley read from John 15:12-14 and gave a message about how the reenactment of the ancient story is happening right now. This is showing us Emmanuel, God, with us, here and now. The Passion is playing out in real time. Photo by Nathan Maduta on Unsplash

Nathan Meckley gives a message on fear as a real part of being human in this increasingly terrifying world. He read from 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear,” and spoke about how courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of fear. He also read from the introduction of the book: How Not to Be Afraid by Gareth Higgins. Queries: How has fear impacted your faith or spirituality? How has your faith shaped your experience of fear? Are you being called to something that makes you afraid, and when you hold that fear in the Light, what is revealed or transformed?

Nathan Meckley reflects on Epiphany as the manifestation of light that both illuminates God’s presence and exposes the deep shadows of power, fear, and violence in the world. Nathan read the story of the Magi and we spent some time reflecting on the line “they left for their own country by another way.” Queries: How do you address the reality of shadow in the presence of light, both spiritually and practically? What can influence you to “go another way,” to choose a different path? Would you do so even when the outcome is uncertain?

K. D. Novak Burnett shares “The Magnificat,” a short-story style reflection drawing from one of her childhood memories.

Nathan Meckley reads the first several verses of John known as the prologue, where rather than talking about a birth and childhood, the author casts the coming of Jesus into the world in cosmic and eternal proportion. We reflected on the passage using the practice of lectio divina.

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

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.”

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

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.

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?

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?”

In his message, Nathan Meckley reflects on the feeling of overwhelm after moving to Los Angeles for grad school. About what in the world or in your life are you experiencing anxiety, fear, or sadness? Are you aware of a spiritual practice or resource that could be helpful? When you have been overwhelmed or in distress, have you ever experienced a "strengthening hand"? Was it offered? Did you reach for it? What was it like? What could you do holding someone's hand that you might not do by yourself? What if that someone is God?

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.

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.”

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

Johan Maurer, our guest from Sierra-Cascades YM of Friends, speaks about early Quakers Katharine Evans and Sarah Cheevers. Have you heard or felt a leading to represent Quaker testimonies in a place of bondage? What does “bondage” mean to you today, in spiritual, social, political, or economic terms, and what is God’s word in response?

Mica Coffin uses the image of the cross to contrast the turmoil of ego and fear (the horizontal bar) with the grounding presence of God (the vertical pole), calling for a stillness that reconnects them to divine peace.

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.

Johan Maurer, our guest from Camas Friends and Sierra-Cascades YM of Friends, spoke about why we call ourselves Friends and Quakers.

Faith Marsalli shared a message about how God has been with West Hills Friends from the beginning and is already doing something new. She encouraged us to be open to change, to let go of old ways that no longer work, and to trust that we already have what we need to move forward as a healing and welcoming community. Queries were: What new thing has God already begun at WHF that you need to see and name? What are some ways of “doing church” that need to be laid down so something new can rise? What makes change difficult for you whether in your personal life or as you discern the next steps for WHF?

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.

Mica Coffin shares a message about seeing a little girl reach out to a houseless man on the boardwalk after Mica offered a prayer to him. “Doesn't seeing the God in each other make us angels to one another.”

Stephen Deatherage shares a message on how, in the midst of life’s hardships and uncertainties, we can choose to find sweetness, meaning, and resilience. He used the symbols of apples to speak about how we turn our experiences into nourishment for ourselves and others.

Kay Ellison shares a message about how small acts of love toward her mother, her neighbor, and strangers brought unexpected joy and connection, showing that loving others also nurtures ourselves.