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Section of the Americas
February 4, 2015
In This Issue

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First, I would like to thank you for reading this newsletter. I would also like to thank all of you who made donations, told a Friend about the Friends World Committee, served on a Section committee, attended one of our events, or prayed for the work of the Section in the last year.  

THANK YOU!

 

Next, I want to say "Get ready." Are you already preparing for the Section Meeting in March? For the new work of the Section of the Americas following that? For the deeper faithfulness that will be required to respond to God's calling in the new year?

 

I strongly encourage you to read the new "Advices, Queries and Prayers for Spiritual Preparation" document that is available here or on our website. Some Friends are finding it useful to read in a small group. Or you can consider the queries wherever you are, whatever the challenges are that you are facing.

 

Finally, keep reading this newsletter. Find out how you can be a better bridge among Friends, right where you are. Tell Friends about our upcoming traveling ministry program. Make a donation to support this work throughout the Section.

 

Friends, join me in being the Friends World Committee, together.

 Robin Mohr in El Salvador

 

In friendship, 

Robin Mohr 

Robin Mohr

Executive Secretary  

Spiritual & practical preparation before the 2015 Section Meeting
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This is our biggest event for the year! We will worship together in Mexico, explore the new program directions, and be inspired by Benigno Sanchez-Eppler to be woven together in love. Registration is open now: it's not too late, but the fees will go up after February 13, 2015. If you have any questions about registration or transportation or conference logistics, please contact Dave and Kathy of The Conference Managers.

The Strategic Plan, the draft program descriptions and the Spiritual Preparation worship/study guide are available now on our website. Other advance documents, including the budget, the nominations, and committee reports will be posted in mid-February.

Voices of Friends logo
New pamphlet online at VoicesofFriends.org   

 

"The Transforming Power of Holy Obedience," a talk given by Simon C. Lamb,  is now available at www.voicesoffriends.org. This pamphlet is being translated into Spanish so that it can be shared with Spanish speakers throughout the Americas. All WQF pamphlets since 2005 can be found there, in our searchable online library. Please share the link with others!

 

Simon grew up in the evangelical unprogrammed tradition in Ireland and has been deeply involved with Friends internationally. He gave a version of this message as a keynote address at the 2014 Section of the Americas consultation in La Paz, Bolivia, and we offer this published edition in the hope it will touch the hearts and lives of people of faith across our varying traditions.  

 

Today, as in the past, God continues to transform those who are open to the power of that transformative presence. We invite you to share this pamphlet with others and to use the queries at the end of the pamphlet for individual or group reflection. May we all, individually and together, contemplate how our life embodies our faith.  

New online donations page   

 

We've switched payment processors, and we're proud to unveil our new online donations page! Visit http://weblink.donorperfect.com/fwccsoa, and you can make a donation with your MasterCard, Visa, or Discover card, or directly from your bank account. Our new page is a little cleaner and brighter, and it's all in English--our new Spanish-language page will be available shortly. Our new processor allows us to create and update multiple donation pages easily, and it should streamline several administrative tasks. Try it out for yourself!

News from El Salvador  WQD logo  

 

The Evangelical Friends Church of Soyapango, the headquarters of El Salvador Yearly Meeting, joined the global celebration of World Quaker Day.

 

For us, Sunday, October 5 was a holiday: we started with our Agape Breakfast (an activity where each family brought a delicious dish). Likewise, we sold t-shirts related to the Day as a fundraiser to benefit FWCC.World Quaker Day women in El Salvador

 

In the devotional time, a brief history of the Friends movement in the world was shared, as well as the mission of FWCC and other international Quaker organizations. We heard testimonials from members who have participated in events organized by FWCC, such as Leslie Víchez who attended the World Gathering of Young Friends in England in 2005, and Brother Milton García who participated in the World Conference of Friends in Kenya, Africa in 2012.children in El Salvador

 

The children presented a song, "We are the children" (Matthew 19:14)

 

The theme of our biblical reflection was "There is one who can speak to thy condition," based on the words of the Quaker movement's founder, George Fox; and using as Biblical reference, Hebrews 4:14-16.

 

During the Sunday School, there was a lesson about simplicity and depth of life, and a time of reading aloud the testimony of Elizabeth Fry. The young people shared their thoughts and ideas on how these testimonies have impacted the lives of generations and the challenge we have in the 21st century to live as true children of God and to return to our Quaker roots in the context of our lives.

 

To watch the video from WQD in El Salvador (and see lots of other photos from around the Americas) visit worldquakerday.org/2014/americas    

 

God bless all the Friends around the world,

FWCC Representatives of El Salvador Yearly Meeting

 

 

How is FWCC making an impact in your yearly meeting?

Email your story to newsletter@fwccamericas.org!