The Living Light “...and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:14

Volume 50, Number 6 First Friends Church of Whittier Sixth Month, 2011

Rejoice, Give Thanks And Sing!

A Banquet of Love at The

First Friends Women’s Retreat

I would like to express my deepest thanks to all the women who organized the second annual First Friends Women’s Retreat, especially Jamie Benjamin, who had persuaded me to attend by describing some of the wonderful moments she experienced during the previous year. To those of you who were unable to participate, this year’s retreat was held at the Dana Point Marina Inn with thirty women from First Friends Church attending, giving newcomers such as myself the opportunity to get to know more people from the church through the sharing of food, stories and song. The theme for this year, “Feasting on God’s Grace,” used imagery from the dinner table to encourage reflection upon what God’s grace meant to us as well as illustrate the qualities that we need to “feast” upon it. For example, “stocking the pantry” with spiritual “food” such as self-control, preparedness, mercy, fortitude, and discernment allows us to follow God’s leadings more effectively as well as nourish our relationships with others. The cookbook we received at the end of the retreat, for instance, represented a

Rejoice, ye pure in heart!

Rejoice, give thanks and sing. (from The Worshipping Church, hymn # 34)

First Friends welcomes the balmy month of June with gladness. This is a season of realization, commencements, and transitions. June fills us with remembrance, expectation, and gratitude for accomplishment. Whittier Friends School commencement will take place on Monday, June 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the church, followed by refreshments in Fellowship Hall. Four of the Meeting’s youngsters will advance after a wonderful year of learning adventures. All Friends are invited to attend. Promotions and graduations in First Friends Youth Sunday Schools will be celebrated during Meeting for Worship on June 19. Our young people will be recognized for their loyal participation in a year of spiritual growth in the Quaker tradition. under the leadership of Christian Education. Movie Night at First Friends on June 3 at 6:30 p.m. will feature “Aliens in the Attic.” The movie and refreshments are free to children of all ages! The last All Friends Fellowship event of the season will take place in Fellowship Hall the evening of June 8 (see announcement on page 8). Friends have enjoyed many outstanding AFFN programs over the past year, and we look forward to their resumption come September. Senior Sneaks have visited many sites of historical, cultural and civic interest during 2010-2011. The next outing will occur on Thursday, June 23 (see the announcement on page 8). The Worship Choir will recess for the summer after Sunday, June 26. Under the direction of Russ Litchfield, it has brought riches to our worship during the past season. We will welcome them back after Labor Day. Rejoice, Friends! Continued on Page 3

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Friendly Fare by Lea Wright New Friends: Jay & Jean Sponsor happily announced the birth of their great-granddaughter, Mika Snow

Uyesugi born May 7 to Brian & Maria Uyesugi. The proud grandparents are Dennis & Jeanne (Sponsler)

Uyesugi. John McClean is a new grandfather to Gavin

Penn Karkenny, born on April 3 to Ryan & Lauren (McClean) Karkenny. Friends Visit: Lynda & Mike Ladwig had a wonderful visit from their Granddaughter, Krystal. She flew in from Pennsylvania on April 29th to surprise her Dad, Richard, for his 45th Birthday. The family all managed to keep it a surprise for the 3 months leading up to her visit. Pat Garland’s son James visited church for Mothers Day. Bob Newton’s twin brother Mark and his wife, Sandy, from Washington State, near Portland visited and spent several days with Bob & Sabron during the second week of May. Friends About Town: Judith Austin was spotted in a Whittier Daily News photo with members of the East Whittier YMCA’s senior water exercise class. All were wearing Easter hats in the pool. Many of the hats were decorated with plastic eggs, bunnies and flowers. Many Friends got up early to hear Becky Memmelaar deliver the message at the Easter Sunrise service at Rose Hills. On hand were Hubert Perry, Alli McClean, Ken & Joanne Camp, Elizabeth Camp, Elisabeth Elliot, Ron

Memmelaar, Dan & Lea Wright, Milton Wright, Elinore Petoletti, Deanna Woirhaye, Alpha Overin, Cassie and Landon Caringella. Jean Sponslor and Marsha Allen attended the annual California Women’s Chorus convention in Glendale with the New Century Singers of Whittier. On Founders Day Carina Sass helped with the Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association (WHNA) booth while Jim Sass was over at the First Friends booth until he had to go to the YMCA for the Whittier Area Literacy Council’s Annual Student Recognition Awards luncheon. At the luncheon he received a Tutor of the Year award. Jim’s been a tutor to an adult student there for several years. He’s not only been working with the student, but he’s also been helping the Literacy Council with developing grant proposals. Gerald Haynes fell and slightly fractured a rib a couple weeks ago. This has changed his life style; going out of the building requires a wheel chair. Friends at Claremont Meeting have given him much support. School and Work News: Two upcoming freshmen have already made a place for themselves at their future high schools. Wes Van Dorn tried out for the Patriot High School Drumline. He was chosen to play the Tenors (the four-drum set that he played this year). They haven’t chosen a freshman to be in the tenors line in five years. He will play Tenors for marching band and Winter Drumline, and return to baritone saxophone for Concert Band when marching season is over. Samantha Cramer

tried out and made the freshman cheerleading squad at Cal Hi. Friends Travel: Marygene & Bill Wright traveled east to attend the graduation exercises for granddaughter Ellen

Wright from the U n i v e r s i t y o f Massachusetts a t A m h e r s t . E l l e n graduated cum laude and was the first student to complete t h e m a j o r i n Scandinavian Studies. She begins a new job in June. Pictured with their Living

Light are Norman (father), Isaac (brother), Ellen, and Bill & Marygene. JoNita Beede, Lyn & Frank Gruber and their daughter Karen traveled to Chapel Hill, NC to attend Jeffrey Gruber’s (Frank and Lyn’s youngest son) graduation from the University of North Carolina. Jeff double majored in Economics and Philosophy. They

enjoyed meeting Jeff’s friends and eating lots of good food on their trip. In the picture from left to right; Nick Altemose, Karen Gruber, JoNita B e e d e , L y n

(Beede) Gruber, Jeff Gruber, Frank Gruber. Becky

Memmelaar traveled to Minneapolis to attend a Homiletics Festival (preaching conference) in May. Carol

Urner left in May to spend the summer months in Portland at her son’s home. She also has meetings to attend in June in and around Philadelphia. Bob & Sabron Newton drove to San Diego in late April to attend a memorial service for Sabron’s cousin, Jerry Reed, a Southern Californian with degrees from UC Davis and Fuller Seminary who recently retired from teaching missions in the Evangelical Covenant seminary in Chicago. He had been a missionary in Ecuador, Mexico, and Spain. On May 1, Jack Phinney drove to Yosemite with a friend after Meeting for Worship. He stayed there 4 days, visiting many of his colleagues on the Yosemite Park staff. Jack has been a volunteer there for the last 30 years, spending nearly half of every year in the park. Friends Remember: Kylleen Love and Virginia

Moorehead both passed away April 25. Allison Coop’s grandmother Daye Coop passed away in May. Daye was Lind Coop’s mother. Friends Sharing News: Help to keep the Friendly Fare going. Email me a quick note and tell me your news. Send to Lea at lealouw@gmail.com, or deliver to me at church on Sunday. See you next month!

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Women’s Retreat continued

way that food can be used to strengthen relationships because it contained all the recipes we wanted to share with each other. Another table image we discussed was the place setting and how it represented the diverse ways in which we can help others. The knife, fork, and spoon may have different purposes, yet one is not better than the others because all have uses that are not immediately apparent. A knife, for example, can kill a person but also heal when used in a surgeon’s hands. Likewise, we can use our diverse abilities and experiences in many different ways to help others, sharing a testimony of God’s grace in our lives. Although the discussions enabled me to learn a great deal about the women at my table, the sharing most poignant to me happened during the first night when each of us brought something of ourselves to discuss with the group. Some women brought pictures of their families (or actual family members such as baby Landon), while others brought books, dolls, plastic dogs, and other objects to represent significant moments in their lives. A few even brought their favorite songs and performed them for us. I brought, for example, an old copy of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” that I used to read when I lived with my grandparents. My parents had separated at the time, and I remember feeling a great deal of sadness and pain over my situation. The story, though very disturbing and un-Disney like, showed me how things could turn out for the better even when the situation looked hopeless. From this period of sharing, I received a glimpse into the lives of many women I only knew as faces I could see from the choir. The stories and the prayers of these women, both tragic and joyful, not only strengthened the connection I have with First Friends, but also showed how the love of God can unite people from many different paths.

— Brandi Tolleson

Friends United Meeting

Executive Brings Worship

Message To FFC

Sylvia Graves, the retiring General Secretary of Friends United Meeting, came out from Richmond IN to personally thank Whittier Friends for their support. She delivered the worship message on Sunday, May l. With her came her husband, Dale Graves, currently Presiding Clerk of Western Yearly Meeting. Sylvia is a recorded minister in that Yearly Meeting. In her message, Sylvia gave a brief history of Friends United Meeting, which was chartered under the name of Five Years Meeting in 1902 and immediately sent the first missionaries abroad to Kenya and Cuba, where they founded enduring and, in the case of Kenya, very extensive Friends communities. Sylvia listed the overseas projects still administered by FUM. Friends Theological College in Kaimosi, now a major educational institution, trains pastors for the approximately 2000 Quaker churches throughout the country. There are currently 90 pastoral students. The major fund-raising project this summer will be “Kids for Kids” which seeks to develop a goat’s milk industry on campus at FTC. The College has a large acreage and can conceivably become self-sufficient through agricultural produce. Also supported by FUM is the Kaimosi Hospital. This medical facility serves very poor people in the Kenya Highlands and has seen some hard times in the last few decades. It is being upgraded now. The Ramallah Friends Schools in the Palestinian West Bank receive considerable support from FUM. Started as a school for girls in 1869 by Quakers from New England, the Ramallah schools are now highly accredited coeducational primary and secondary schools with 1,200 students. The Belize Boys School gives students who failed the high school entrance exam in that country, often because of economic disadvantage, a second chance at secondary school education. The school has 25 students, and is being asked by

the Belize government to offer this education to 500. Sylvia illustrated the spirit of Christian love by telling of her granddaughter’s reaction to the question of what to do with the Easter dress Sylvia had just made for her when she outgrew it. “Will you donate it for a little girl in Kenya who doesn’t have many clothes?” The reply was “Grandmother, I have lots of dresses I would like to give that girl!” Friends United Meeting provides us with a channel for expressing our concern and love for people in less-fortunate parts of the world. Sylvia commended Whittier Friends for our generous response to the FUM development projects.

— Bob Newton

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Founders Day Is

A Great Success

The 117th reenactment on May 14 of Whittier’s most traditional event, the Founders Day fair in Central Park, was a grassroots happening. For the first time in many years, the event was organized and carried out without the sponsorship of the City of Whittier. A local planning committee was at work for several weeks prior to the event. First Friends Church was one of the official sponsors. The success of their efforts was manifest in the large and exuberant throng of fair-goers, equaling most previous Founders Day crowds. The oldest and most loyal of Whittier institutions had booths—the Whittier Public Library, the Conservancy, the Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association, and, of course, First Friends Church, the founding church of Whittier. Whittier Friends School’s awning adjoined that of FFC. Sergei Agalzoff, Debi Nelson, Dan Wright, and Bob Newton helped to set up the booths. There was continuous music from the gazebo at Bailey St. and Washington Ave. The Whittier High School Marching Band played the national anthem and then several festive pieces. They were followed by the East Whittier Middle School Jazz Band, the Whittier Choralaires, and many other fine local groups. Darrell Warren handed out bottled water to FFC booth visitors. Crayon sets and coloring sheets were available for children. Jamie Benjamin, Russ Litchfield, Ted Marshburn, Debbie Nelson and Jim Sass explained Quakerism to enquirers as they looked at Darrell’s poster of “Famous Quakers.” At the WFC booth, Alicia Atkinson and Cassie Caringella supplied material to make colorful pasta jewelry. For the children there was maypole dancing, a simulated fishing pond for small toys, and a musical cake walk. Elizabeth Harmer and Anathea Woirhaye both won large bakery cakes when they arrived at the lucky square as the music stopped. Elizabeth’s father, Brad, supplied the music with his hand organ. Milton and Dan Wright’s several vintage cars were there with two dozen others in the antique auto side-show. It is fair to say that Friends made an important contribution to Founders Day, in keeping with our role as the original Founders of Whittier.

Birds Parade At WFS

Spring Fundraiser

Finches, thrashers, and bluebirds represented States of the Union at the Whittier Friends School Spring Event held in Fellowship Hall the evening of May 14. One by one they introduced themselves with whimsical comments about their home states. “United Tweets of America” was an amusing narration with many of the official U.S. state birds in costume. The superb feathered masks worn by the student actors were the creation of Marie Kaneko. Teacher Alicia Atkinson in a bald eagle mask directed and narrated the program. Lines from “The United Tweets of America” by Hudson Talbot were adapted by WFS students themselves with input from State Facts Cards by TREND. Katerina and Ashley Ryder in bright red cardinal masks explained why so many states (7!) chose them as the official bird. Anathea Woirhaye and Isaiah Vasquez demonstrated the versatile accents of the mockingbird. James Tucker, as the western meadowlark, took pride in the adoption of his species by six states. Ruffed grouse John Karr turned around in front of the microphone to reveal his splendiferous tail feathers. Alicia coached the younger and shyer fowl (the preschoolers) to explain their species. Preschool teacher Sarah Cooper (wood thrush) marshaled the flight of the younger birds to and from the microphone. Teacher Cindy Edmunds directed the group in singing “Turkey in the Straw.” The program ended with a rousing audience sing-along of “This Land Is My Land.” Following the performance there was the traditional silent auction. The attendees had opportunity before and after the show to write in bids for the auction items. Many of these were four or five books bound together, mostly of contemporary fiction. There were three packages of anti-virus software contributed by a WFS parent who works for the manufacturer. Marie Kaneko contributed two exquisite youth quilts to the auction. Carino’s Italian Restaurant donated the makings of a fine spaghetti-and-meatballs supper. Jon Donaire Pastry contributed scrumptious cheesecake dessert. WFS parents put it all together to feed nearly 100 people, an unexpectedly large turnout. Attendees got a great night of theatre and dining for their $10 donation. Whittier Friends School realized more than $1,200 from the fundraiser. — Bob Newton

SundaySundaySundaySunday MondayMondayMondayMonday TuesdayTuesdayTuesdayTuesday WednesdayWednesdayWednesdayWednesday ThursdayThursdayThursdayThursday Fr idayFr idayFr idayFr iday SaturdaySaturdaySaturdaySaturday

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2 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

3 6:30 p.m. Movie Night

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5 9:30 a.m. First Day School

11:00 a.m. Meeting for

Worship

12:15 p.m. Christian Ed

6 1:30 p.m. Writing Your

Memoirs

6:00 p.m. WFS Graduation

7 6:30 a.m. Quaker Men

6:30 a.m. Spiritual Growth

Group

8

9 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

10

11

12 9:30 a.m. First Day School

11:00 a.m. Meeting for

Worship

12:15 p.m. Monthly Meeting

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Friendly Fare Deadline 10:00 a.m. Quiltmakers

1:30 p.m. Writing Your

Memoirs

14 6:30 a.m. Quaker Men

6:30 a.m. Spiritual Growth

Group

9:15 a.m. Trustees

7:00 p.m. M&C

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The Living Light Deadline

16 7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

17

18

19 Father’s Day 9:30 a.m. First Day School

11:00 a.m. Meeting for

Worship

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21 Summer Begins 6:30 a.m. Quaker Men

6:30 a.m. Spiritual Growth

Group

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23 9:00 a.m. Senior Sneaks

7:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

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25

26 11:00 a.m. Meeting for

Worship

12:15 p.m. Outreach Board

27 10:00 a.m. Quiltmakers

28 6:30 a.m. Quaker Men

6:30 a.m. Spiritual Growth

Group

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First Friends in Act ion

June 2011

During the meeting, Carol was introduced as the Whittier Chapter’s incoming Vice President for U.N. Treaties concerns. Isaac Chu was introduced as an ex-officio member of the U.N. Association by virtue of his activities with Transitions Whittier, a local chapter of an international movement seeking conversion of the world’s industrial-military complexes into a self-sustaining and non-exploitative world economy. — Bob Newton

U.N. Association Meeting

Held At First Friends

The Convention on Rights of the Child is one of six treaties drafted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. All member nations have ratified Rights of the Child except two: Somalia and the United States. This disturbing statistic was related by John Taussig, one of the speakers at the meeting of the Whittier Chapter of the United Nations Association in Fellowship Hall April 30. John is Los Angeles Chapter President of Youth for Human Rights, an international advocacy group founded in South Africa. The reasons that the U.S. Congress has declined to ratify all but two of the six Human Rights Conventions are obscured in the nuances of U.S. policy and politics, John stated, with also a considerable amount of indifference in our own affluent society to the human rights abuses existing in many other countries. The principal goal of Youth for Human Rights and of the U.N. Association is to turn around this neglect by persistent work for greater public awareness. Bill Miller spoke on the progress, or lack of it, towards ratifying the Convention on Women’s Rights. The United States is one of only six nations which have not ratified this treaty, which seeks to guarantee equal legal, health-care, and voting rights for women, and rights in other areas where women are still discriminated against. Bill suggested that some Americans see this treaty as a would-be vehicle for radical feminist activists, and others feel that it will be viewed by people in Asia and Africa as an attempt to impose Western values on them (though most of these countries have already ratified the treaty). Andrea Bellamy spoke on the U.N. Covenant on Economic Rights. This treaty has been signed by the U.S. but not yet ratified by Congress. It seeks to guarantee freedom from servitude, poverty, exploitation, and other economic injustices faced by many of the world’s people. Andrea is President of the Pio Pico Progressive Democratic Club, a local policy action group. Some conservative Americans view this treaty as promoting socialism in our country, Andrea stated. Carol Urner addressed the gathering of about 30 on the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. She reiterated forcefully her views as recorded in her article “Living the Legacy: Reflection on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” published in the Western Friend of April/May 2010. She suggested several ways in which the Whittier U.N. Association could promote the Human Rights Declaration, including starting up a Whittier human rights council, issuing “shadow reports” on human rights concerns in our area, and inviting local politicians to our neighborhood churches, including First Friends, to discuss the U.N. Human Rights Declaration.

Youth Prepare for Triennial

At this writing five of our high school youth are preparing to attend the Friends United Meeting Triennial that will be held in Wilmington, Ohio this July. During their stay they will visit the National Underground Railroad Freedom Museum and a Cincinnati Reds game. Morning speakers and worship sharing will begin their days. The youth will be staying at Quaker Knoll Campgrounds. The cost of the program ($150) covers all room, board, and local transportation during their stay. But, we need your help with the cost of airfare to ensure that all five get the opportunity to participate in this experience. If you can help in any way, small or large, please speak with Lynda Ladwig. When making a donation mark “Youth Triennial” in the memo portion of your check.

Kitchen Helpers & Cooks Needed

The Kitchen Committee seeks additional helping hands to work during Monthly Meeting. We need people willing to plan & cook a meal, help the cooks, set up the dining area, clean up afterwards and learn how to work the dishwasher. Our goal is to schedule no more than 1 or 2 Monthly Meetings during the year for each willing worker. Please contact the office ASAP or drop off your name, number or email address in the Fellowship mail box located in the office work room. Thank you. — George & Carrin Bouchard

Attention Graduates! Our July issue will feature an article on all recent graduates — elementary, middle school, high school, college. If you have not already sent information about your graduation, we want the name of the school from which you are graduating and the name of the school you plan to attend. College grads, please send information on your degree and major and any job opportunities you have obtained. Pictures are welcome. Mail or e-mail all information to the church office. — Editor

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Senior Sneaks

Attend Pageant Of

Our Lord

On a cold but beautiful morning on April 9, twenty-six Senior Sneaks experienced the 26th presentation of Pageant of our Lord at the Rolling Hills Covenant Church. I say experienced because that was it! We used all five of our senses and then some. Nearly 250,000 people have been delighted with this unique and magnificent presentation of the life of Christ since the Pageant’s humble beginning in 1986. Pageant of Our Lord is produced by more than 400 volunteers who work tirelessly to produce an unforgettable experience. They portray fifteen original Christian art pieces on stage, accompanied by the Rolling Hills Covenant Church Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra, as well as narration. The volunteers go into the costume and make-up rooms several hours before each performance to prepare. In every “living” presentation there is at least one person. During the performance a large, complete orchestra played and 115 choir members sang everything from Handel’s “Messiah” to the “Manger Song” with the music especially arranged for each piece of living artwork. I was amazed by the tableau of “Archangel Michael Casting Satan into Hell.” The archangel hovered in the air over the contorted body of Satan. It was astonishing how complicated the setting was and how the two men were able to maintain their positions. “The Last Supper” was an interesting presentation as the curtain opened on an empty table. Then the appropriately dressed people came in, one or two at a time, and remained motionless for the scene. Thank you to the Votaws and Marshburns for this wonderful day bringing us a renewed appreciation of God’s plan for our lives just before Easter.

— Gloria Rice

Friends Enjoy Blessed Easter

Easter Sunday, April 23, was a day of blessings at First Friends. The Junior High and High School Youth Fellowship groups got it started by serving up a magnificent Easter breakfast in Fellowship Hall. Seventy Friends enjoyed egg-ham-cheese casserole, hash brown potatoes, mixed fruits and frosted cinnamon buns from 9:30 to l0:30 a.m. Some diners were quite hungry after returning from Becky Memmelaar’s sunrise sermon at Rose Hills. Young Friends Austin Allen, Olivia Allen, Raquel Allen, Emma McIntosh, Rennie McIntosh, and Jasmine Sturr served breakfast and waited tables under the supervision of Lynda Ladwig, Anne McIntosh, and Mel Sturr. Youth Fellowship activities will benefit from the substantial proceeds. The choir called Friends to Easter Sunday worship in the lily-decorated Meeting Room. Choir members formed two lines in the aisles, chanting and ringing chimes as they sang Grundahl’s “Medieval Easter Chant,” accompanied by saxophone virtuoso Benn Clatworthy under the direction of Russ Litchfield. Bill Wright read the story in John 20 of Jesus’ friends finding the empty tomb. He continued at intervals reading this Scripture as narration while the choir sang “Woman, Why Weepest Thou?” by Heinrich Schutz. Steven Bingman, Allison Coop, Kelsey Phillips, and Josh Wood sang solo parts. Jamie Benjamin gave an unusual introduction to her offertory prayer by leading the congregation in the well-known children’s song, “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider.” She explained that the words conveyed to her a resurrection message. Pastor Becky then gave her second Easter sermon of the day, this time titled “Jesus Unwrapped.” Saxophonist Clatworthy and organist Litchfield combined in a triumphal rendition of “Thine is the Glory.” Friends felt the pervasive spirit of Easter as they recessed to a joyous gathering over refreshments in Founders Court.

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Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona, which rise 1,000 feet above the base, then on to the Grand Canyon. The slides showed the walls of the canyon, etched by the Colorado River, to be composed of many layers of rocks. The rocks at the bottom are two billion years old. Rocks containing no fossils are believed to have been formed before life on earth existed. Mark also showed views of the Green River, the major tributary of the Colorado River. Mark stated that although they have flown over wide expanses of arid land miles from civilization where a plane in trouble could never be found, he is not afraid to fly with Chuck. He said that although the ride is sometimes quite exciting, especially when Chuck flies very low, he knows that Chuck is an excellent pilot and keeps his plane in tip-top shape. Thank you, Mark, for sharing your breathtaking slides which gave us such astonishing views of the American Southwest.

— Mary Raymond

AFFN Flies Low

Approximately 30 Friends and guests enjoyed a potluck dinner at the All Friends Fellowship Night meeting on May 11. The speaker, Mark Newton (on the

right), is the twin brother of Bob Newton, the editor of The Living Light. Mark presented a program of slides taken from the air over California, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. M a r k w a s i nf lu en c ed b y brother Bob to become a geologist.

At present there are four geologists in the family: Bob, Mark, their nephew Hugh, and Mark’s daughter Susie. As a regional geologist and former teacher at LA City College, Mark has always had an interest in taking pictures of landforms from the air. He has a friend, Chuck Armstrong, owner of a nursery business, who pilots a small airplane. Mark has guided him all over the west as he flew his plane, sometimes quite low, so that Mark could take pictures. The travelogue began at LAX as the plane took off circling the Palos Verde Peninsula and Point Fermin where Mark and Bob grew up. Mark then traced the San Andreas Fault showing massive developments along the fault line including a “repair station” on the L.A. Aqueduct in case it sustains damage from an earthquake. Cities built right on the fault line include Desert Hot Springs, Wrightwood, Palmdale, Gorman, and Daly City, sitting ducks for a major earthquake. Mark also showed beautiful slides of the San Francisco Bay Area from the airport to the Golden Gate Bridge. Enough geothermal energy is harnessed from the Geysers area of northern California to power the Bart transportation system in the San Francisco Bay area and then some. Mark and Chuck flew over several national parks to photograph the spectacular geology. These parks included Sequoia, Death Valley, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, and Capitol Reef, and also Monument Valley, which is a Navaho Tribal Park. A famous landform there, known as Cathedral Rock, is sacred to the Indians. Unfortunately, Lake Powell was formed by submerging the beautiful Glen Canyon when Glen Canyon Dam was built. Although the lake provides a nice place for recreational activities, the hydro-electric power produced by the dam has not proven to be worth the ecological disruption. The Armstrong plane flew over the spectacular

“Pinch” Is Now A Tradition

The success of the second “Friendly Pinch” on May Day Sunday in Founders’ Court launched the event as a Spring Happening that many at First Friends hope will become an a n n u a l t r a d i t i o n . The first occurrence of this green plant swap meet, a year ago, was the idea of D i a n e Wemmerus, with the collusion of Becky Memmelaar and Mary Marshburn. Mary was the spark plug this year. She brought large pots of geraniums, succulent plants and a few potted tree seedlings. She described one of these as the “grandchild” of the tabbebuia tree on the curb space opposite Founders’ Court, whose spectacular yellow flowers add to our spring enjoyment. The succulent table featured a large assortment of Southern California’s signature flora contributed by Diane Wemmerus and others. These drought-hardy and easy-to-care-for plants come in myriad varieties, and will grow into handsome garden items from a small cutting (a “pinch”). Becky brought a large number of seed packets of colorful garden flowers. The plant show coincided with the after-worship fellowship hour. Several passers-by were attracted to the exhibit, and joined in the refreshments and pinching. All items displayed were free for the taking.

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Remembering Jim Bruff

James Irving Bruff was born in Korea because his father, William C Bruff, had undertaken a medical mission there. But when his mother, Miriam Kelsey Bruff, became ill, they had to ship for home with baby Jim in a basket and his two-year old brother, Bill. Anna, Lorena, and

Miriam were born after the Bruff family settled in Whittier. Jim attended Westtown, a Quaker boarding school in PA, and started college at Swarthmore, but graduated in 1948 from Whittier College. In 1944, Jim married Ruth Walker, whom he met at Whittier College. She died in 1948 of cancer, discovered during a pregnancy, and both she and the baby were lost. Jim and his brother Bill were conscientious objectors during WWII. One of Jim’s alternative service jobs, for which he received $2.50 a month for personal spending, was to re-survey the CA/NV state line, which was off by 10 miles in some spots. In a later assignment, he fought wildfires in Montana as a Smoke Jumper. Once when he jumped down on a fire, his parachute caught in the top of a tree. He had many miles to walk back after the fire was controlled, but he turned the experience into a funny story. Jim and his father were in practice in Whittier for decades and both were involved in the development of Presbyterian Hospital. Jim, who interned at L.A. County Hospital, became a caring family physician, attending births and also performing surgery. Jim wrote stories from his medical reminiscences, some of them shared when the writing class presented programs at the church. While working for his MD from the UC San Francisco Medical School, Jim met and married Joyce Abbott, his second wife, who was a bacteriologist. After he joined his father’s medical practice in Whittier, she managed their office. Jim and Joyce adopted Tom and Nancy to complete their family. Tom, the family’s third generation physician, with a practice in San Diego, is the father of Jim’s two grandchildren, Christopher and Cameron. Joyce died in 2006. Jim died on March 4, 2011, at age 89. Becky Memmelaar presided over a memorial service at First Friends Church on April 30.

When the planes began to fall from the sky on September 11, 2001, time stood still. My husband (a captain at Midway Airlines) and I (an international flight attendant) were enjoying our second cup of coffee. We were getting ready to go buy cupcakes to take to school for our son’s birthday when the first plane hit the World Trade Center.

We knew instantly that our lives would never be the same again. My husband’s company folded the next day on September 12, and the company that I worked for ended up filing for bankruptcy, cutting my pay and benefits. More important than money to us (and make no mistake, with 4 children, 2 in college and 2 still at home, money was important), was the radical change to our life style. Prior to 9/11, walking into an airport, and onto an airplane had been no more nerve-wracking than walking into an office; I loved flying, loved traveling. Yet the day I returned to work, the day international travel resumed, my workplace was fraught with fear. Armed soldiers patrolled the airport with machine guns. It was months before I left home without fearing that I would never return. Please understand I had no respect, no admiration for Osama bin Laden. His plans to attack the US directly and negatively impacted my life. It cost my family our livelihood, and cost me my sense of security. It temporarily caused me to live a life based on fear. My faith in God kept me going; it kept all of us going. Sunday night, when the announcement was made that Osama bin Laden had been killed, it dredged up all of these feelings, all of these memories. Yet when I saw dancing in the streets of Washington, I also remembered dancing in the streets of other countries when our Twin Towers fell, and I was sickened. I realized that both were equally wrong. As a follower of Christ, I cannot celebrate retributive justice because it is an “eye for an eye, and Jesus called us to be more than that, to do more than that. As a former flight attendant, and wife of a pilot, I understand that life is not always black and white. I understand that feelings of distrust and hurt run very deep. I understand that sometimes we want justice where none abounds. As a life long Quaker, and now as the pastor of Whittier First Friends Church, I believe that justice does not come from the end of a gun barrel. I believe justice meted out this way perpetuates more violence. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote: “The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it… Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Dr. King lived and died believing these words. His life of non-violence dramatically changed our world. My prayer for our country, our leaders, and our world is that we can find a way to end the darkness of violence, war, and retribution, and live into the very hard work of light and love.

Becky’s Byline

8

The Living Light USPS 316-320

Issue Date: June 1, 2011

The Living Light is published by First Friends Church, 13205 Philadelphia Street, Whittier, Califor-nia, 90601-4303. Periodical postage paid at Whittier, California. Send address changes to First Friends Church at above address.

Becky Memmelaar .........................Pastor Bob Newton...................................Editor Mary Raymond ...............Advising Editor Lynda Ladwig......................................... ..............Christian Education Coordinator Russell Litchfield .................................... ......... Dir of Music Ministries & Organist Mary Boltz.............. Office Administrator Lorenzo Mora ..........................Custodian

Telephone 562-698-9805 FAX 562-698-1127

www.firstfriendswhittier.org

Whittier Friends School Staff Millie Vasquez..........Administrative Asst

562-945-1654

The Living LightThe Living LightThe Living LightThe Living Light First Friends Church 13205 Philadelphia St Whittier, CA 90601–4303

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Senior Sneaks

The Senior Sneaks are going to learn a lot of history about the Centinela Valley by going to the Centinela Adobe which was built in 1834. We will journey there Thursday June 23. The property is located in Inglewood in a residential area; there have been many changes to this area through the years. We would like to collect a donation of $3.00 per person to give to the Historical Society of Centinela Valley. We will gather in the parking lot at 9:00 a.m. for our transportation to the Adobe and have lunch after our docent led tour. We will try to be back at the church by 2:30 or 3:00 p.m. Please contact Shirley Votaw to make your reservation.

Please

remember in

prayer

those Friends

unable to

worship with

us regularly.

Peggy Anderson Audine Coffin Monica Dean

Ruth Esther Durham Trudy Kurth Esther Morris

Alice Rosenberger Ami Troedsson Mary Wanner

“Disneyland - Behind the Scenes”

On Wednesday, June 8 at All Friends Fellowship Night, Michael and Elisabeth Elliot will be talking about their experiences working for Disneyland Entertainment: two insiders looking at the “Happiest Place on Earth.” We will meet in Fellowship Hall for dinner at 6:00 p.m. with the program to follow from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. This month will be a complete Pot Luck dinner. Sign up in the church patio to bring a main dish, salad, or dessert. Drinks and bread will be provided. Please bring $1 per person and food to share or $3 per person if you don’t bring food. All are invited and welcomed. This will be our

last program before the summer break. — Ted Marshburn