Cannon Valley Friends Meeting decided to mark the one year anniversary of our first Meeting for Worship in the new Meeting House by inviting everyone to an Open House.  The celebration, which was held from 1:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday, September 20, 2015, was planned to conincide with the United Nations International Day of Peace.  The gathering included live music, along with speakers, refreshments, tours, and  fellowship, all surrounded by an atmosphere of joy and gratitude.  At last count, the event was attended by hundreds of neighbors, F/friends and families, members of the community, donors, students, and others.

In addition to those who donated money for the new building, we invited staff at local businesses and agencies that worked with us, those who helped build the building, members of local faith communities, peace and social justice organizations, Friends from other Quaker Meetings, our neighbors on Washington Street and beyond, students at Carleton and St. Olaf, and anyone else who saw one of our flyers posted around Northfield.  All were welcome!

The success of the Open House was due to the hard work of many hands.  An Ad Hoc Open House Committee provided leadership in the planning of the event, and other committees, from Meeting House and Grounds to Education and Communication to Ministry and Counsel to Peace and Wider Interaction to Finance, plus many individual members and attenders (and their families.  Everyone pitched in to put the finishing touches on the Meetinghouse in time for the celebration.