Nathan Meckley reflects on Epiphany as the manifestation of light that both illuminates God’s presence and exposes the deep shadows of power, fear, and violence in the world. Nathan read the story of the Magi and we spent some time reflecting on the line “they left for their own country by another way.” Queries: How do you address the reality of shadow in the presence of light, both spiritually and practically? What can influence you to “go another way,” to choose a different path? Would you do so even when the outcome is uncertain?

K. D. Novak Burnett shares “The Magnificat,” a short-story style reflection drawing from one of her childhood memories.

Nathan Meckley reads the first several verses of John known as the prologue, where rather than talking about a birth and childhood, the author casts the coming of Jesus into the world in cosmic and eternal proportion. We reflected on the passage using the practice of lectio divina.

Laura Simmons talks about confronting the temptation to write off those who write us off.

In his message, Nathan Meckley spoke about how rather than joy being manufactured, it visits us. We receive it as a gift. Have your experiences of pleasure, of happiness, and of joy been similar emotionally or spiritually or how have they been different? From where does the gift of joy come to you, especially during difficult times? And, to borrow from C.S. Lewis, have you ever been surprised by joy?

In her message, Kay Ellison asked the question how did Jesus handle living under a regime? And can I learn something from what Jesus did?

Stephen Deatherage offered the message on Sunday Nov 23, 2025. Stephen reflected on Moses and the Midianites, on current political figures, and on an imagined afterlife where we meet those we wronged and finally understand that love was the point all along.

Nathan Meckley invited us into Advent by reminding us that hope is not a feeling but a choice; a tenacious, even wild “bird in the soul” that we practice by living as people who choose hope.

Gil George shared that integrity, for her, means knowing herself and her values, and living in a way where her identity, actions, and intentions remain aligned with those values even though it is always a work in progress.

Nathan Meckley reflects on how the word Friend carries both depth and aspiration for Quakers. Nathan asks us to consider what it means spiritually and relationally when we call someone friend or Friend. What does it mean to you when you call someone, lowercase, friend? When you call someone, capital F, Friend—what does it mean to you? Is your relationship with Truth, with Christ, with God, friendly? How could it become more so?

Nathan shared a message and reminded us that this season, from Halloween through All Saints and All Souls Day and Día de los Muertos, invites us to pause and honor that “the visible here and now is just a fragment of a much larger spiritual reality.” He drew on the image of “a great cloud of witnesses,” and invited us to remember those who came before and listen for those who will come after, running our race “for the sake of the joy that lays ahead.”