At Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business on July 11th, 2021, the Meeting decided to continue to experiment with blended worship.

As recommended by  the ad hoc committee on memorial grants, CVFM is making $2000 grants to two local organizations working to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Elizabeth Anne Dahlsten Larson (1937-2020)
Cannon Valley Friends Meeting, Northfield, MN.

Elizabeth Anne Dahlsten Larson was a beloved wife, mother, community member, and someone who delighted those who met her.

Last fall, Northern Yearly Meeting created a working group to address systemic racism within the yearly meeting and facilitate anti-racist efforts in the wider community. You can find a link to this working group below; their resources focus on promoting anti-racist education and action.

The NYM working group also provided resources to support the Minneapolis protests and wider movement for racial justice, linked below (these resources are community-based and not affiliated with NYM or FGC). 

Rainfall in Northfield has set records this year, which brings to mind our RAIN GARDEN… an inviting surprise tucked behind the Meetinghouse at 512 Washington.

Participants were introduced to five young inventors on the second day of Peace Camp. Many of these ideas were inspired as ways to help other children facing special challenges (image 1). 

Louis Braille was just a boy when an eye injury made it difficult to continue reading.  Ricky shared the story of how he developed the system of raised dots that is still used by blind people. He was only 12 when he started to develop his system. She also had some familiar children's books with braille. Then each camper made a braille name tag for themselves (image 2).

After Meeting for Worship on July 28th, Charley & Chris Skinner, former members of Cannon Valley Friends Meeting, presented an update on their work at the University For Peace https://www.upeace.org in Costa Rica. They invite people to learn more about the school and support its efforts to work for peace throughout the world.

Alden T. "Mac" McCutchan

April 10, 1921 - December 23, 2018

[Please Note: The following obituary is from the Northfield News, Dec. 27, 2018.]

Alden T. “Mac” McCutchan, 97, passed away peacefully December 23, 2018 at his Sogn Valley farm home with family by his side. He was born on April 10, 1921 to Blaine Ross and Josephine Layman McCutchan.

[Please Note: This article/poem originally appeared in the January issue of Friends Journal. Reprinted/republished with permission. You can read the original article at https://www.friendsjournal.org/fgc-racism-task-force/ and subscribe to Friends Journal at www.friendsjournal.org/subscribe/.]

CVFM held another successful session of Peace Camp in August. This year Peace Camp included 12 6-8 year olds. They were energetic, curious, kind, and conscientious. The focus for the week was Building Peace by Caring for the Earth.  Each day had a different theme and focus, including water, soil, wind, plants, and energy. Most days included a field trip to nearby sites, ending with the planting of a tree and Central Park on Friday.

Photos and text courtesy of Corinne Smith