Bulletin: February 4, 2018
February 4, 2018
MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM
TODAY
9:00 – 10:00 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Carol Bechtel
10:15 – 11:00 Hallowing One’s Diminishments. Come explore how diminishments of all kinds can be made holy – can be hallowed. Based on a Pendle Hill pamphlet of the same name; brought forward by the Ministry and Counsel Committee
11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Andy Berman, speaker; Tom Wells, musician; care of meeting, Judith James
You are welcome at the potluck TODAY at the rise of semi-programmed worship! To regulars – look for ways to help this do-it-yourself effort: replenish silverware, plates, or water pitchers when needed; help clear, wash and dry dishes; help put away chairs and wash and put away tables. And don’t forget to label contributed dishes with a list of ingredients!
Directory updates, cumulative since the 2015 photo directory, are available today on the bulletin table.
UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS
Worship with attention to business is next Sunday from 9:45-11:15. On the agenda: a preliminary budget from Stewardship and Finance Committee; a preliminary Nominating Committee report; the Friends for a NonViolent World Holiday Fair report; and another opportunity to share experiences with the ad hoc Transition Committee.
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL MEETING ATTENDERS AND MEMBERS TO INFORM THE MEETING’S FUTURE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE, Sat, Feb 24th, from 9:30 – noon at the meetinghouse. Please participate to inform the meeting’s next steps around its leadership structure. AGENDA: The ad hoc Transition Committee will summarize the community’s experience since Oct 1, 2017. The Friends gathered will further reflect on the experience and discuss possible next steps. The ad hoc committee will bring forward options to the March monthly meeting for business. Questions? Reflections on your experience in the Meeting since October? Ideas for the Feb 24th agenda? Please contact someone from the ad hoc Transition Committee directly or leave a message on the Meeting office phone and someone will get back to you. Committee members are Tom, Roland, Maddie, Renae, Jeannette and Evelyn.
Want to learn more about Quakerism and being a Quaker? Ministry and Counsel and Welcoming and Outreach Committees are offering a four-session series in March on Sunday afternoons and repeated on Tuesday evenings. Sunday sessions will be at 1 pm on March 4, 11, 18 and 25. Tuesday sessions will be at 7 pm on March 6, 13, 20 and 27. All the sessions will be at the meetinghouse. Childcare provided. Details and more are in flyers on the table by the elevator Sign-up there too!
As we live into our interim organization, it is sometimes unclear where to take questions and issues. Committee clerks and the monthly meeting clerks, Linda (assistant clerk) and John (clerk of Ministry and Counsel Committee,) are good starting points. A list of committee clerks with their contact information is posted on the long bulletin board. Carolyn VandenDolder, the Interim Coordinator, can help direct you as well. Confused about what the Interim Meeting Coordinator job includes? The job description is posted too.
SAVE THE DATE: OCTOBER 6 and plan to spend the day with Friends at French Regional Park for Fall Together!
Read Out of the Silence: Quaker Perspectives on Pastoral Care and Counseling at the Watson reading group Tues, Feb 13th at 7 PM in the conference room. No need to read ahead – we’ll read together! One-timers and regulars – everyone is welcome!
Mary and Stephen invite Friends to their home at Kenwood Isles every Wed until Feb 28th, from 12-1 pm for lectio divina. Thirty minutes with passage; a light lunch following. RSVP to Mary or the meeting office.
Quaker Voluntary Service is entering the next phase! Minneapolis Meeting is nominating members to serve with other area Friends on the Local Support Committee, working with and supporting the QVS Mpls/St. Paul Quaker House and Fellows. Area Friends will also be matched to each Fellow as nurturers. If you are interested in either serving on the Local Support Committee or being a spiritual nurturer for a Fellow, or if you want to explore what other support you could offer QVS, make time to visit with Mike Huber, national QVS Program Director, NEXT WEEKEND:
~ Sat, Feb 10, at 1:00, Mike will meet at Twin Cities Meeting (TCFM) with those interested in spiritual nurture of Fellows
~ Sat, Feb 10, at 2:00, Mike will meet at TCFM with those interested in coordinating spiritual nurture for QVS Fellows
~ Sun, Feb 11, at about 12:15, Mike will talk with Friends about all QVS supporting roles at a simple potluck following semi-programmed worship here at Minneapolis Meeting. All interested area Friends are welcome.
~ Sun, Feb 11, join Mike and Prospect Hill Meeting at the TCFM for worship (4:00), forum (5:00), and a potluck.
Feel free to ask questions of or consider together how you can support QVS by speaking with members of the working group – Tom, Carolyn, Judith, Lin, or Ed.
Donate furniture for Quaker Voluntary Service house! QVS has signed a lease to rent a house in Powderhorn Park for the QVS Fellows arriving in Sept. The house needs to be furnished! Donations made now will help ensure a welcoming space for the Fellows and will also create a furnished apartment which can be rented until the autumn, helping reduce the QVS cost of holding the space. See quakervoluntaryservice.org/minneapolis for items needed. Contact the meeting office with offers. Please send photos if possible.
The Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (the largest public interfaith interest group in MN) is having its Day on the Hill on Tuesday March 13. This is a chance to go to the State Capital and speak to your Congressional Representatives as a member of a faith community. MFM members and attenders have been participating in this event for many years. It is a half day agenda with a cost of $45. More information can be found at jrlc.org.
OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS
Friends for a NonViolent World is offering a series, Bridging the Divides: Policing that Works for Everyone. The next session, “Policing and Mental Health,” will be offered this Thurs, Feb 8, 6:30-8 at Twin Cities Meeting, 1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul. More at FNVW.org.
Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL): Learn how to positively influence national and state legislators at a workshop, 1-4 p.m. next Sun, Feb 11th, led by a lobbying expert from FCNL. Open to interested Mpls and Twin Cities Meeting Friends and held at Twin Cities Meeting, the goal is to identify and equip a cadre of Friends to regularly visit senators and representatives around issues of interest to Quakers. Discover the most effective techniques and best use of your limited time. Tell Doug of your interest.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Love to sing? Sign up to join the new Southwest Lakes Community Choir – a fun, non-auditioned, mixed choir that will sing a variety of styles and genres. Rehearsals held at MFM 7-8:30 on Thursdays, Feb 22 – May 17. There is a participation fee. Register online here.
OFFICE HOURS: Carolyn VandenDolder, the interim Meeting Coordinator, will be in the office Wed – Fri, 10:30-3:00. Phone messages checked daily. Bulletin deadline, noon Thur.