Many activities have come out of our great concern for ways to witness for peace and love during this time of belligerence and danger. Several among us have participated in a variety of anti-war activities: letter writing, meetings with legislators, peace vigils, direct action, and tax resistance are among them.

Friends here continue to be involved in several ongoing programs, including: Project Lakota (a project to raise money for building materials for the Lakota people); African-American reparations, Alternatives to Violence, and war-tax resistance. We are represented in the Interfaith Partnership; we have a strong group serving in prison ministry, several Friends are active with AFSC, and we had a strong presence in the St. Louis Gay Pride Festival. Some of our members have been active in programs in Africa.

Earlier this year we struggled with the problem of how to respond to an attender on parole for the sexual abuse of children. There was great division among us; the concern for the safety of our children and the concern to minister to all seemed to be colliding. We suffered conflict, rejection, confusion, anger and grief. Some Friends stopped attending. On the other hand, we continued to strive for understanding, love, and patience. We sought to act in the Light. We persevered and found resolution, and most of us feel that we were strengthened by the experience and brought closer together and better rooted in the Light.

We continue to strive to expand our spiritual lives. Early in October we had our fourth John Calvi workshop, "Good Touch -- Spiritual Disciplines for Restoring Trust and Deep Quiet." We held an evening of exploration of prayer, "Different Ways of Praying and Connecting