Friends began to use queries to ascertain the state of Society only a few years after its founding in England. The first set of such questions to be asked of monthly meetings read as follows:
Which Friends in service to the Society, in their respective regions, departed this life since the last Yearly Meeting?
Which Friends, imprisoned on account of their testimony, died in prison since the last Yearly Meeting?
How among Friends did Truth advance since last Yearly Meeting and how do they fare in relation to peace and unity?
During the calendar year 2005, Port Townsend Friends Meeting pondered many such queries. While we can report that no one from our meeting has been imprisoned on account of their testimony during the year, we are concerned about others whose testimony has resulted in imprisonment.
Friends in Port Townsend were busy in many spirit-led activities as we discerned the way forward. Each week on First Day Friends gather at the Port Townsend Community Center for silent worship. Singing precedes worship every week. Our meeting now lists 23 members, but is joined by many regular attenders and guests to bring our weekly attendance to about thirty. In light of our continued growth, we have moved to the larger room at the community center. This room not only allows for more chairs, but is more open and pleasant. A new wooden cabinet on wheels was constructed by three of our meeting's carpenters to house our library, and allow for its display each week. What a convenience just to roll our portable library/office out each First Day morning and to open its shelves and "desk top" for use by our members and attenders! Our new phone number provides information on worship times.
Mary Welch, a founding member of the meeting, departed this life on February 18, 2006. She was a teacher and proponent of peace who inspired many. A memorial was held to celebrate her life on February 24, 2006, in Sequim, Washington.
Two new members joined the meeting: Phoebe Huffman by convincement in March 2005, and Katy Festinger by transfer from Mendocino Monthly Meeting (California) in June 2005.
Following a meeting retreat held in mid-January 2005, a meetinghouse committee was established to further our interest in finding a permanent meeting place. By the end of 2005, a fund had been started to receive donations and pledges. As we considered a potential move into a physical space of our own, we continued to hold in the light the beloved community we have come to be for one another.
In October, a mid-week meeting for worship began, and is well attended.
Throughout the year we have learned from each other and grown as a meeting community. At our monthly potlucks we have heard the spiritual journeys of several Friends. In addition, we have discussed many other topics of spirituality and peace at potlucks and at monthly education presentations, including “Experimenting with the Light” and Yearly Meeting structure. We have crafted poems together, and celebrated in many ways. Book groups have met to discuss Quaker related books. Other informal gatherings have brought Friends together to share food and conversation. Care committees have met with Friends to help them through difficult times. We have grown as a meeting, not only in numbers, but in our depth and understanding of Quaker values.
Olympic Conscientious Objectors Group became its own organization through the efforts of many who attend meeting. They have established a presence in the local high schools, and are a point of contact for young people who are seeking an alternative to military enlistment.
Gathering together on Easter Sunday 2005, Friends from Port Townsend Friends Meeting decorated tiles that would be glazed with the word 'peace' in dozens of languages and put on a ceramic dove. Thus, Freda, the “Peace Dove” was born. Freda, who was crafted by Friend Phoebe Huffman, made her debut at the Quaker booth at the local Earth Day festival in April. Since then she has been to many venues inspiring peace and hope. More words of peace--like 'justice, ' human rights,' , 'diplomacy,' 'honesty,' 'respect,' and 'earthcare'--also found their way onto tile-covered "peace balls.” These peace balls, inspired by Friend Bob Schultz, have made their way to Yearly Meeting Annual Session, and to FCNL and the William Penn House in Washington, D.C. Following a leading of Friend Mary Welch, shortly before her death, a "peace ball" from the Meeting is soon to be sent to Kosovo, in cooperation with young Kosovars Leart Zherka and Jetmir Bakija, whom Mary had befriended and richly supported.
Meeting raised money, including a garage sale, to support Friend Beth Cahape in attending Pendle Hill. She has been sojourning at Pendle Hill for the year starting in September.
In addition to being active in the local meeting, Friends have participated in activities at Yearly Meeting, Quarterly Meeting, clerking workshops, FGC, FCNL and Pendle Hill. Many have been active in planning the Spring 2006 Quarterly Meeting (along with Friends from Whidbey Island Worship Group). Others have been involved in planning for the upcoming Friends General Conference Gathering to be held in Tacoma next summer.
In summary, the past year has been a time of growth, both in numbers participating in the life of our meeting community and in the depth and variety of our discernments about our corporate life. Our meeting fares well in these times of war and conflicts, and we pray for peace.