Clear Creek Interest Groups

Clear Creek Friends periodically start up Interest Groups. These are usually small and last for a few months, although some have lasted for years. (See some photos at the bottom.) Please e-mail the group leader to join or ask questions. At the moment, there are eight currently active:

Title: Crafts
Brief Description: A gathering of crafters to share their passions and lives. Any portable craft is welcome, including needlework, knitting, drawing, etc. 
Group leader: Elizabeth Terney
Frequency: Every other week for six months
Meeting Place: Participants' homes (with Elizabeth hosting as many as necessary)
Meeting Time: Mondays or Saturdays for 90 minutes or up to 2 hours.
 
Title: Meeting Visitation
Brief Description: We will visit four meetings in Miami Quarter, attending worship and fellowship.  Visits may offer spiritual nurture for ourselves and others, and certainly increase the connections between Friends in our yearly meeting. We will leave from Friends Fellowship Community (FFC). Peggy Spohr will drive and can transport 4 other people. Others may drive, too.  You do not have to sign up for all four.
Group leader: Peggy Spohr
Schedule:

  • Miami Friends Meeting - Sunday September 7  Leave FFC at 8:00 a.m. They are having a homecoming with fellowship at 9:30, worship at 10:45.  We will not be able to stay for the potluck following, so bring something to eat in the car on the way home.
  • Yellow Spring Friends Meeting - Sunday November 2  Leave FFC at 9:30 a.m. They have worship at 11:00, then business meeting after a potluck lunch.  We will stay for lunch, so bring a simple carry-in to share.  We will not stay for business.
  • Oxford Friends Meeting - Sunday January 4  Leave FFC at 9:00 a.m.  They have worship at 10:00, followed by business meeting.  We will not stay for business.
  • Community Friends Meeting - Sunday March 1  Leave FFC at 8:00 a.m.  They have worship at 10:00 and a potluck follows which we will stay for, leave by 1:00.

Title: Games!
Brief Description: Share fellowship while playing table-top games.
Group leader: Margaret Lechner
Frequency: Monthly
Meeting Place: rotates among the homes of participants.
Meeting Time: Weeknights at 7 pm
 
Title: Reading and Reflection
Brief Description: We will be reading The Way of Silence: Engaging the Sacred in Daily Life by Brother David Steindl-Rast. From the book: "You will discover how to listen deeply with a trusting heart and joyously discover a new interior freedom." During discussions, we will share our reflections from the reading and address any questions or concerns that arise. 
Group leader: Buck Bunner
Frequency: Monthly for 8 months (September- April) at most (could be shortened if we wish to.)
Meeting Place: We could begin at Stout Meetinghouse, then move to Buck's home (which is currently in the middle of a few renovations), or a participant might host.
Meeting Time: Second Tuesday of the month, either from 6:30-8:00 pm or 7:00-8:30 pm.
 
Title: Book Discussion
Brief Description: The group discusses novels, poems, and occasional non-fiction works that bring up questions regarding spirituality (very broadly construed). Members of the group recommend books and then offer leadership in beginning the conversation about the books they have. Lively discussion ensues! All are welcome.
Group leader: Gwen Halsted (but rotating leadership of discussions)
Frequency: Monthly, generally on the last Sunday evening of each month. It is possible to participate irregularly or selectively.
Meeting Place: Friends Fellowship Solarium
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 pm
 
Title: Green Team
Brief Description: The Green Team is open to anyone with interest in the connections between nature and spirit and how that leads us to live responsibly and sustainably on the earth. We organize nature walks, meteor watches, and other outdoor activities and discussions on environmental issues. We also put our concerns into action with service to local environmental organizations and legislative advocacy on local, state, and national levels.
Group leader: Gwen Halsted
Frequency: Monthly, with activities as we are led
Meeting Place: In homes
Meeting Time: Monday at 2pm (usually the 2nd or 3rd Monday of the month)

Title: Music Sharing for Hearts and Minds
Brief Description: This group is a space where folks can bring songs or musical pieces from a wide range of styles and genres that inspire them or speak to them in some way and that others may enjoy discovering too. Typically, one person chooses a few songs to share and discuss (sometimes around a theme); we take turns choosing those for each meeting.
Group Co-leaders: Leslie Liszak and Jan Sims
Frequency: Monthly (though we sometimes miss due to busy times around holidays or summer breaks).
Meeting Place: Online meeting (We use the meeting Zoom link and send a reminder via an email to those who want to participate.)
Meeting Time: Typically a weeknight evening, such as first Wednesdays -- open to what works for those who sign up.

Title: Richmond FCNL Advocacy Team
Brief Description: The local FCNL advocacy team includes participants from Clear Creek, West Richmond, and First Friends Meetings who strive to develop long-term respectful relationships with our Members of Congress and their staff members to advocate for peace, justice, and environmental sustainability. Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) offers extensive support for our lobbying, and doing this as a local and national grassroots group empowers us to continue this important work in difficult times.
Group leader: Gwen Halsted
Frequency: Monthly online FCNL calls; monthly local meetings (in person or Zoom); lobbying visits as arranged
Meeting Place: Zoom or in person in wheelchair-accessible locations
Meeting Time: Mondays at 4pm (1st or 2nd Mondays, but flexible), as needed