9:00 AM unprogrammed meeting for worship
9:45 AM worship with attention to business: Ranae Hanson, clerk; Terry Hokenson, recording clerk
11:15 AM semi-programmed meeting for worship: Mary Leikvold on the facing bench

TODAY
There is a meeting for all MFM committee clerks (or committee representative), the new clerk of meeting, Ranae Hanson and the Director of Ministry downstairs TODAY at the rise of second worship.

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

Friends World Committee for Consultation World Gathering in Kenya, those preparing for it, and all those traveling to attend including MFMers, Connie Archbald, Mary and Steve Snyder and Annette Smith.
Friends may follow the Friends World Committee for Consultation’s Sixth World Conference in Kenya by going to saltandlight2012.org . Click on the “follow the conference” tab for texts of speeches, videos, photos and blogs.

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

Friends are encouraged to shake hands with those immediately around you to signify the close of worship. Standing and extending wider greeting is invited after introductions and announcements.

All are welcome for storytelling at MFM, 7:00, this Wed, April 18th!. A special invitation to visitors and new attenders – come listen or share or both. This is a sterling opportunity for us to get to know each other better.

The Quaker Women’s Group will be meeting at MFM this Wed, April 18th – potluck at noon. The program at 1:00 will be an extension of a meditation Frank Wood offered at semi-programmed worship, “What name is on your white stone?” There will be a discussion of the text, “To everyone who conquers … I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a name that no one knows except the one who receives it.” (Revelations 2:17) The discussion will begin with reading George Macdonald’s writings on what it means to be one who conquers. Everyone (women and men!) welcome!

There will be a memorial service for Don Johnson here at MFM next Saturday, April 21st, at 2:00.

Adult Program next Sunday, April 22nd, at 10:15: Al Wolfram will present Moses: The Real Facts.

MFM will host special meetings for worship for healing around the marriage amendment on the fourth Thurs of each month between now and Nov 2012 when the amendment comes to the ballot. Unprogrammed worship at 7:00 p.m. followed by worship-sharing. Discussion and social time with refreshments begins at 8:45. The next worship will be Thurs, April 26th. All are welcome.
“Sounding the Divine” workshop April 28th, at Twin Cities Friends Meeting (1725 Grand Ave. St. Paul) – 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. Pre-registration is required: 715-220-3212 or sharonwoods(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)dishup.us . Sponsored by Metro Friends and NYM’s A and O. There will be a potluck supper at 5:30 and family folkdance at 6:30. Come for the whole day or come for the evening! See flyers for more.

Our next Loaves and Fishes Dinner is Mon, April 30th. Help is needed for food prep, serving and cleanup. Sign-up for service and/or donations of fruit, bars or healthy cookies with an emphasis of Spring! Contact Ann Luce for more.

The next NYM Middle School retreat is next weekend, April 20-22 at TCFM in St. Paul. The schedule, sign-up sheet, what-to-bring list, and directions can be found: nymyouth.org/middle/index.html, but can also be found by going to the NYM website, selecting “Links”, “Northern Yearly Meeting Youth”, and then “Middle School”. It’ll be a weekend full of fun, food and F/friends. We will do a service project at a local animal shelter. Questions, contact Thomas Greenler.

The next NYM High School retreat will be at Duluth Superior Friends meetinghouse April 27-29th. The retreat will focus on exploring spirituality through self-expression. For more, email a request for details: nymhighschool(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com
Friendly adult presences are being sought as well!

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. Our new fiscal year begins today. Our approved budget for the year is $114,624.00. To meet our budget obligations, we need to average $2,204.00 in donations per week. Thank you to Friends who generously support the Meeting in all manner of ways.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends mid-year meeting, “Who We Are Today and Where Are We Called?” will be at Bear Creek meetinghouse near Earlham, IA, April 21-22nd. See posted schedule and registration forms for more.

Nightingales Spring Gathering at Beaver Creek Reserve, Fall Creek, WI, Fri, April 27th – Sun, April 29th. Nightingales are mostly Quakers from WI and MN who gather to sing over a weekend three times a year – sharing circle, hiking, work shifts, visiting, eating, and singing all included. Anyone who likes to sing is welcome. Come for all or part of the weekend. Contact Janet for more: 651-642-1371; janetanderson99(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com

Friends School of Minnesota’s plant sale will be at the MN State Fair Grandstand Fri-Sun, May 11-13. The catalog is available online: FriendsSchoolPlantSale.com . Hard copies can be found around the meetinghouse.
Parker Palmer will speak on “Healing the Heart of Democracy” at Westminster Town Hall Forum this Thurs, April 19th. Music at 11:30, forum 12:00, reception and discussion at 1:00. Westminster is at Nicollet Mall and 12th Str. Mpls. Free.

The Islamic Media Center is offering an eye-opening speech by Odeh Muhawesh about Islamic shariah law along with a question and answer time and a free lunch (from Holy Land deli) April 21, 12:00-3:15, Ridgedale Regional Center, Robert Rohlf Room, 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka. RSVP by April 19th: 612-216-2478.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is offering The Four Gospels and the Early Church Bible study at 6:30 on Weds, April 25th, May 2nd, and 9th as part of their series Ancient Texts for New Times. A panel of four Luther Seminary Professors who will lead a lively exploration of the impact and importance of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John on the growing church in the First and Second Century. Judith James highly recommends the series. There is a dinner served from 5:15 – 6:15 for $7.00. For more, go to ewestminster.org/adult_education (page 8 of the Education for Faith and Life catalogue.)

OFFICE HOURS
Pat Jones will be in the office Wednesday from 2:00-5:00 and other times Wed, Thurs, Fri. and Sat.
Carolyn Sherer VandenDolder, the Administrative Assistant, will be in Wed. afternoon and Fri. 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.