9:00 AM unprogrammed meeting for worship: on the facing bench
10:15 AM Christmas cheer with music, cookies and hot beverages. Friends are invited to bring their favorite holiday treat and/or music to share.
11:15 AM semi-programmed meeting for worship: John Kraft, speaker; Joanne Esser on the facing bench

TODAY

Nursery care is downstairs with Susie Kanimitsu during unprogrammed worship only today.

There is no first day school for children today.

White Envelope Gift is a special Christmas-time offering. These funds are collected then given, as a one-time gift, to chosen organization(s). The two organizations chosen as recipients this year are:

Bright Waters Montessori, brightwatermontessori.org . By virtue of its location, Bright Waters, a local 501(C)(3) organization in North Minneapolis, is positioned to serve a diverse population. Together with the Bright Water Elementary charter school, it hopes to lead North Minneapolis students in closing the achievement gap. Children range in age from 16 months to 6 years old in the Montessori school. The elementary school grades are K through 2, with plans to expand to grade 6. The Montessori school, together with its elementary school partner, enhances the welfare of children and furthers racial justice. Minneapolis Meeting attender, Ann Luce, is the principal of this school.

The Organizing Apprenticeship Project, oaproject.org . The Organizing Apprenticeship Project (OAP) advances racial, cultural, social and economic equity in MN by:
· Providing community organizing and racial justice leadership training for individuals and organizations.
· Creating research and policy tools that help community leaders and organizing groups address issues of equity. Each year OPA releases a Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity highlighting how the MN Legislature voted on bills that either promote or undermine efforts for racial equity.
· Convening multiracial strategy groups that collaborate to develop thoughtful approaches for achieving equity. The Education Equity Organizing Collaborative (EEOC) is a group of multi-racial, multi-cultural organizing partners working together to further education equity in the state of MN. This year OAP released its second Racial Equity Policy Brief on Education Equity and presented it to Commissioner Cassellius with the MN Department of Education.

You may give anytime between now and mid-January. Please make out checks to Minneapolis Friends Meeting with “white envelope gift” noted on the memo line.

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

The family and friends of George Watson. George died Wednesday morning at his home. His children had all been in town to see him. Carol was with him.

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

Next week, all are welcome to the monthly Sunday potluck lunch. To regulars, please bring plenty of food so there will be ample to accommodate guests and those at the end of the line.
The core group that was formed after the Winds of Change events will be meeting during the potluck Jan 1. You are invited to join the discussion and share what you think about the events we have had after: foreclosure prevention, Kenyan programmed worship, Quaker Quest. What else you would like to see?

Next Sun at 10:15: Celebrate epiphany! Come talk about your version of the visit of the Magi; share your truths.

Lunch Bunch will meet this Wednesday, Dec 28th, at The Commons, 10030 Newton Avenue South, 11:30. Call Louise White, 952-948-2672, by Tuesday to make a reservation.

David Woolley and Terry Kayser recorded an interviewed of George Watson last June. The 45-minute interview has been edited down to about 13 minutes in which George talks about how he and Elizabeth discovered Quakerism in Chicago in 1938 and includes some of his thoughts about Quakerism. You may see it at: minneapolisfriends.org/video .

The next Northern Yearly Meeting high school retreat will be NEXT WEEKEND, Dec. 30-Jan 1 in Milwaukee. For more, contact Jean Leighton on FB or email at nymhighschool(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com. ALSO, The Quake That Rocked the Midwest for senior high schoolers will be in Chicago over the MLK weekend – a service project, a workshop by Vanessa Juyle of FGC and some great out-trips. Quake That Rocked the Midwest Registration: surveymonkey.com/s/GRTSSVT

Quaker Books from Friends General Conference are for sale on the library table. Please follow instructions for purchase.

CONGRATULATIONS to new grandparents, Rose and Adolph Burckhardt! Azalee Rose was born to Brian and Shawna October 13th.

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. These are difficult financial times. Please give as you are able.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

The American Friends Service Committee (afsc.org), a national Quaker organization, is exploring starting a new program in MN focused on healing justice. They would like to get input from Friends in every meeting in MN. Please complete an online survey to give your input: bit.ly/healingjustice. Once there, find: AFSC’s approach to healing justice; examples of healing justice programs around the country; an invitation to a community meeting to envision furthering healing justice in MN. Other questions / comments, contact Michael Bischoff, michael(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)clarityfacilitation.com or 612-234-1122.

Friends for a Non-Violent World’s Syria Solidarity Network continues to monitor the nonviolent people’s movement in Syria, and to update our SSN web pages with recent information and links. Please use it to stay abreast of this crucial, largely nonviolent struggle, and please forward the link to concerned friends and colleagues. Next meeting of Syria Solidarity Network: Monday, January 9, 2012, 7:00-9:00pm at the FNVW office, 1050 Selby Ave, St. Paul.

Out of Darkness Into the Light, a candlelight service for the children of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and other child victims of war will be held Wed, December 28th, 6:30 at St. Joan or Arch Church, 4537 Third Ave So in Minneapolis. Organized by the Twin Cities Peace Campaign.

OFFICE HOURS
Pat Jones will be in the office Thursday from 10:00-1:00 and other times Thurs, Fri. and Sun.
Carolyn Sherer VandenDolder, the Administrative Assistant, will be in Wed. and Fri mornings. Bulletin deadline, noon Thur. Bulletin items can be phoned in to the office, emailed or written and put in the bulletin file of the blue box.