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Section of the Americas
August 11, 2016
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This has been an exciting few months for me as Executive Secretary. In June, I celebrated five years in this job. At the end of July, I enjoyed visiting with both Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) and Iowa Yearly Meeting (FUM). And in August, I am blushing to see the new FWCC-QuakerSpeak interview with me entitled, "Listening in Tongues: Becoming Bilingual as a Quaker Value."

My hope is that everyone reading this newsletter today will find a way to celebrate World Quaker Day on October 2, 2016. To make that easy for you, we have been working on a "Seeing the Tapestry" project to help you to serve as a bridge between our various traditions and cultural experiences. The new FWCC-QuakerSpeak videos are part of that. The easy-to-use lesson plans and encouraging advice in our Seeing the Tapestry Community of Practice Resource Guide are part of it. Read more about it all below.

Please share the video, the lesson plans, and your enthusiasm for the work of the Friends World Committee with everyone you know!


In the Light,

Robin Mohr signature

Robin Mohr
Executive Secretary

  
cmca logo Introducing the 2017 Section Meeting Speakers Part Two: Kirenia Criado  

We are thrilled to announce the three Friends who will bring the message to morning plenary worship at the 2017 Section Meeting! Kirenia Criado (Cuba Yearly Meeting), Carl Magruder (Pacific Yearly Meeting), and Jonathan Vogel-Borne (New England Yearly Meeting) will be joining us at the next gathering of the Section of the Americas. Read more about Kirenia below.


Kirenia Criado
Cuba Yearly Meeting

Kirenia Criado Pérez is a life-long Quaker. She was raised in Puerto Padre, Cuba. As a child, Kirenia's family hosted Ramón Gonzalez-Longoria, who was the young pastor of the Puerto Padre Friends Church. Kirenia received her engineering degree in chemistry from Holguin University, then when on to study theology at Matanzas Seminary. She is the minister of La Habana Friends Church and also is the theology director at the Centro Memorial Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  for their program of Reflection & Ministry of Socio-theological Development. Kirenia is a certified trainer in the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP).
 

More information will follow in our next e-newsletter about Carl Magruder, and read about Jonathan Vogel-Borne in our previous issue.
FWCC Book selected for United Society of Friends Women International Reading List
Friends' Peace Witness in a Time of Crisis has been placed on the 2016-7 Reading List of the United Society of Friends Women International (USFWI)!

This book collects testimonies given at the 2003 Conference at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina titled, "Friends Peace Witness in a Time of Crisis: A Conference on Our Responses to the Growing Danger of Global War and Terrorism." These panel discussions at Guilford provided a sense of hope in a time of despair for Friends gathered that day. 

"The Friends included in this book represent all the major traditions of Quakerism in Canada and the USA today. Their essays examine the past, present, and future of Quaker peace work in the wider world. We hope they will inspire, challenge, and motivate peacemakers of all ages and faiths." 

You can order a copy of this profound collection directly from FWCC on our Publications page. It is also available through Barclay Press

"Listening in Tongues" - New FWCC-QuakerSpeak Video

We are thrilled to announce that the first installment of the FWCC - QuakerSpeak videos is now available! 


Listening in Tongues - Being Bilingual as a Quaker Value 

"Not everyone in Quaker Meeting speaks the same theological language, but Friends have a way to listen for the Spirit behind the words." Robin Mohr, Executive Secretary of FWCC Section of the Americas, shares her thoughts on the importance of interpretation and discernment, especially when worshiping with Friends with different practices. She brings a story of the happiness that comes from deeper, more meaningful communication.

In addition, Robin has been working with the Quaker Religious Education Collaborative to produce materials that go hand in hand with the new series of FWCC-QuakerSpeak videos. Many thanks to Beth Collea and Melinda Wenner Bradley for their work on these!
Community Practice Resource Guide for using FWCC-QuakerSpeak videos
Lesson Plan for using Listening in Tongues

We are so thankful to QuakerSpeak, QREC, and the Shoemaker Fund for their help and support in the production of these videos and documents. 
World Quaker Day is October 2nd!

Yes, the August heat is still upon us, but believe it or not October is right around the corner. We have a little over seven weeks to plan the ways we will celebrate Quakerism around the world. What will you do at your meeting?

The theme for WQD 2016 is, "Inspired by Faith - Witnessing Together in the World". For ideas on how to bring this message to your meeting on Sunday, October 2, or to see how others have celebrated in past years, go to our WQD page or  worldquakerday.org


Support FWCC as You Shop

 
Now you can select the Friends World Committee to receive proceeds from Amazon Smile! Click this link or the image above and help us reach our fundraising goals. Amazon Smile will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to FWCC - it's an easy way to give to your favorite Friends.