Author Archives: bpemery

Equality, Equity, Fairness and Freedom by Leann Williams

Posted on June 15, 2021 by bpemery

This has been quite a year for Friends in Common, not to mention the entire planet. During the fall election season, we became acutely aware of the political diversity within our group. With the pandemic it became increasingly clear that … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Equality, Equity, Fairness and Freedom by Leann Williams

How Will We Treat Each Other Now? by Jon Maroni

Posted on November 15, 2020 by bpemery

Good morning friends, I am excited to be back in the meetinghouse for the first time in many months for me. Hello and greetings to everyone who is in person here today, and thank you for what you all do … Continue reading →

Posted in Messages | Comments Off on How Will We Treat Each Other Now? by Jon Maroni

Nuturing Hope by Leann Williams

Posted on November 4, 2020 by bpemery

There have been a few times in my life within the last two decades that I have pursued a study on the topic of hope. The first study came out of a time of conflict. I was deeply troubled and … Continue reading →

Posted in Messages | Comments Off on Nuturing Hope by Leann Williams

Taking Quakerism Public

Posted on October 23, 2020 by bpemery

During the 2019-2020 year, Interim Pastor Paul Blankenship encouraged the Meeting to consider ways to let the public, both Spokane and beyond, know more about Quakerism in general and this Meeting in particular. Early projects included having street meetings in … Continue reading →

Posted in Local Ministries | Comments Off on Taking Quakerism Public

Blessings? by Linda Pierce

Posted on September 28, 2020 by bpemery

In the last few months I have developed a complicated relationship with the word blessed.  This bracelet that I often wear has the words, thankful, grateful and blessed.  I have no problem with thankful and grateful, and the bracelet encourages … Continue reading →

Posted in Messages | Comments Off on Blessings? by Linda Pierce

Life in a Procrustean Bed by Walter Simon

Posted on September 13, 2020 by bpemery

One of the great joys of my life was hearing Gilbert and Sullivan performed by the Doily Cart ensemble from London; and as prologue offer the lines from Iolanthe’s Nightmare song:  When you’re lying awake with a dismal headache, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Messages, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Life in a Procrustean Bed by Walter Simon

LaVerne’s Songline by LaVerne Biel

Posted on August 30, 2020 by bpemery

This is about my personal journey and hopefully is a chance for people to get to know me better.  I struggled with facts and timelines and quickly realized that those really didn’t define who I was or explain my worldview.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Messages | Comments Off on LaVerne’s Songline by LaVerne Biel

Kindness . . . the sharing of light and love by Walter Simon

Posted on August 9, 2020 by bpemery

In this summer of violence we experience as Americans a divided nation, social edges frayed by hostility and confused by self-serving, awkward, and politically skewed interests. In faith and understanding what I offer today is to express our obligation to … Continue reading →

Posted in Messages | Comments Off on Kindness . . . the sharing of light and love by Walter Simon

Finding the Lost Coin by Oscar Mmbali

Posted on August 2, 2020 by bpemery

…. ‘Celebrate with me because I’ve found my lost coin’ (Luke 15: 9) Our ministry in Belize, looks like the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15: 8-9). It is like a house with many things in it, and it … Continue reading →

Posted in Messages | Comments Off on Finding the Lost Coin by Oscar Mmbali

Soaked in the Peace of Christ by Paul Blankenship

Posted on July 5, 2020 by bpemery

Christ the little girl Christ is a little girl locked in a basement cellar. Starving, she hasn’t eaten in weeks. Abandoned, she doesn’t know where her parents are. Someone—somehow, for some reason—is pumping a poisonous gas into her basement from … Continue reading →

Posted in Messages | Comments Off on Soaked in the Peace of Christ by Paul Blankenship