9:00 AM unprogrammed meeting for worship: Erik Radio on the facing bench
10:15 AM Prayer in the Quaker Tradition with Marion VanDellan
11:15 AM semi-programmed meeting for worship: Dick Magraw, speaker; Nancy Lichtenstein, musician; Chester McCoy on the facing bench

“We do utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under an pretense whatsoever. And this is our testimony to the whole world . . . ” – Declaration to Charles II, 1661

“. . . We now stand ten years past the midpoint of a century that has witnessed four major wars among great nations . . . Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry . . . In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence . . . by the military-industrial complex . . . ” – President Eisenhower’s Farewell Address to the Nation, January, 1961

“We have become a military government.” – Tom White, 2011

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

Next week, all are welcome to the monthly Sunday potluck lunch. Please bring plenty of food so there will be ample to accommodate those at the end of the line. Also, please label your pot-luck item/s with ingredients or your name so those with allergies, vegetarians, etc can participate.

The memorial service for George Watson will be Saturday, March 10, 2 PM here at MFM.

This year Northern Yearly Meeting is asking for our State of Society report by March 15th. Someone from MFM needs to draft this report for consideration at the March 11th business meeting. Monthly Meeting had a framing discussion in Jan. Those minutes and supporting materials are available. Sandy Olson has agreed to edit, but we need someone to do the initial draft in order to meet NYM’s deadline. Contact Jeannette Raymond, clerk.

“Sounding the Divine” workshop April 28th, at Twin Cities Friends Meeting (1725 Grand Ave. St. Paul, MN). Vonn New, a released friend of New York Yearly Meeting, will present a day-long workshop to explore non-verbal forms of creative expression and sensory experiences which can be doorways to deeper union with the Spirit and may be the most effective way to defy violence and build peace. This workshop will be limited to 40 participants, so pre-registration is required. Register at 715-220-3212. Sponsored by Metro Friends CC and NYM’s A and O.

Needed: people to help prepare the pergola (trellis) for painting. Scraping, sanding, painting. Great volunteer job for those wanting only a short-term commitment. April or early May. RSVP to Pat Jones or office, 612-926-6159.

“Quakers for Marriage Equality” t-shirts are now available, $12. Call John Stuart to order.

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. Please give as you are able. Thank you, Friends, for your participation in and support of the Meeting in so many ways.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

The American Friends Service Committee has developed a new booklet on Quaker Testimonies that outlines Friends testimonies with quotes and queries for each. Designed for AFSC staff, volunteers, partners and committee members who may not be familiar with Friends testimonies and practices, this booklet distills the Quaker testimonies that underlie both AFSC’s actions and process. There will be a couple of print copies added to the library but Friends can also see this on line: afsc.org/sites/afsc.civicactions.net/files/documents/AFSC_Testimonies_Booklet.pdf

Quaker Action and Work Groups on defeating proposed anti-LGBT amendment on marriage. Sats March 3rd, 9:30am- 2:30pm at the Minnesotans United for All Families’ office, 1821 University Ave W (at Fairview Ave) in St. Paul
Enter on Fairview Ave at the “Take Action” awning and March 17th, 9:15am-2:30pm, place tba . Come to one or both sessions. See flyer for details; get a friend or group together and call Liz Oppenheimer.

The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize Forum at Augsburg College – an annual event that inspires students and other citizens to become active participants in peacemaking efforts around the world. Four unique tracks over a three-day period, March 1- 3, each requiring a separate ticket. Hear speakers such as: F.W. de Klerk, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Aung San Suu Kyi,1991 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize; Noami Tutu, international human rights advocate and daughter of Desmond Tutu; Jonathan Mann, anchor and correspondent for CNN International; Dr. Alf Bjorseth, a major player in the field of renewable energy innovation; Judge LaJune Lange, an internationally recognized expert in human rights and international development. More at: nobelpeaceprizeforum.org . You must be registered to attend. Don’t procrastinate. This will sell out!

Have you ever thought about traveling to Central America? Are you interested in learning about other forms of Quakerism? The El Salvador Committee of Northern Yearly Meeting is sponsoring a trip to visit El Salvador Yearly Meeting in August, 2012. This trip is open to Friends ages 15 and up. Teens, adult young Friends, adults and physically fit elders welcome. Interested or more info: Ruby Steigerwald at 612-721-7040 by 01-31-2012.

The next Joint Religious Legislative Coalition Day on the Hill, “And What Does God Require?,” is March 20, 8:30-3:30.
Registration required. Gather in the morning at RiverCentre for issue briefings. Keynote by the pastor of Kwaanza Church. Buses will take you to the Capitol for meetings with legislators in the afternoon. Early-bird pricing ($30/$15 student and low-income) available until March 2: jrlc.org/register-for-day-on-the-hill.

Not About Bombs – an exhibit of contemporary works by eminent female Iraqi artists runs through March 3rd at Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave S in Mpls. Meet three Iraqi women artists, Sundus Abdul Hadi, Tamara Abdul Hadi, and Dena Al-Adeeb, at a talk and reception, 7:00pm, March 2nd .

Dr. Terry Nichols and Dr. Ozdemir, co-directors of the Muslim-Christian Dialogue Center at the University of St. Thomas, will lead a discussion at Church of the Annunciation (509 – 54th Str) Sun, March 4th after the 10:30am Mass.