9:30 AM unprogrammed meeting for worship: care of the Meeting, Roland and Jackie Barrett
11:00 AM semi-programmed meeting for worship: Phena Shimaka, speaker; Nancy Lichtenstein, musician; care of the Meeting, Allen Gibas

TODAY

Journaling will meet today at 9:30 in the conference room. All are welcome.

Today’s potluck is a do-it-ourselves, simple affair; there will be no one in the kitchen to heat dishes or do any last-minute preparations. (Actually, even when someone from Social Committee is here, that is not their role!) Plan to help with clean-up – dishes, wiping and storing tables and chairs, vacuuming. Thank thee kindly!

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

MFM needs a representative to NorthernYearly Meeting! This is a chance to make connections with other Friends and talk about important things – spiritual and other yearly meeting concerns. Meet once in the spring and once in the autumn. If you have questions about the role, Nancy Peterson is willing to answer questions.

Worship in Bloomington is Tuesday, August 14th, at the home of Louise White at 7:00. Everyone is welcome to come.

The Quaker women’s group (Crones) will meet at the Curran’s home near Northfield on Wed, August 15th. Potluck at noon, Joanne Esser is the guest for the program. Contact Pat with interest in car-pooling.

Diane Randall, Executive Director of Friends Committee on National Legislation, will visit MFM on Sunday, August 26th. She will attend both meetings for worship and be the planned speaker at semi-programmed worship. There will be opportunities to meet with her for coffee or breakfast beforehand, 8:30 at Turtle Bread and/or afterward for a planned lunch at 12:15. Please RSVP to Pat with interest in coming and/or helping with the lunch.

MFM is looking for a part-time, part-time custodian (about 2 hours / week); someone to assist Nancy Helfrich in keeping the meetinghouse sparkling, starting in September. Contact Sue Kearns with interest or leads: 612-724-2214.

Congratulations to Nettie Smith who recently had an article, related to her Kenya trip, published online at the Spokesman Recorder. See it at: spokesman-recorder.com/?p=15275

George Watson loved to read and discuss social issues with Friends. If you would you be interested (this fall) in a “George Watson Memorial Friends’ Reading and Discussion Group”, please call John Stuart at (612) 920-1735 or e-mail john.stuart(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)mnpd.us If a few names come in, John will organize an organizational meeting.

Sarah McClellan (MFM) is Director at the Villa Maria Retreat and Conference Center in Frontenac, MN (15 miles south of Red Wing). MFM Friends are welcome to overnight accommodations at the Villa in exchange for gardening and painting help in July and August; one overnight for four hours of labor. Call Sarah, 651 345 4582, for more.

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. To meet our budget obligations, we need to average $2,204.00 in donations per week. In the month of July, we received $7,384.00; an average of $1,476.80 per week.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

Friends for a Non-Violent World’s People Camp: Sun, Aug 12 – Sat, Aug 18 at Northern Pines, near Park Rapids, MN. Founded by Quakers and welcoming everyone, People Camp is an experience of cooperation, community living, and exploration for people of all ages. This year: raising awareness and skills regarding local food self- sufficiency. We will prepare our own meals and plan our own menus (as always) – and we will look ahead to a time when it may be necessary for us to produce the food we eat! Workshops on production, harvesting, and preserving food in our own yards and communities and preparing, menu- planning, and cooking with local, seasonal produce. Tai Chi, music, singing, board games, nature, campfires, folk, contra, and swing dancing, tie-dye, swimming, and talent show. Register at: fnvw.org !

The American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker peace and justice organization, is seeking a qualified person to be the Healing Justice Program Director in the Twin Cities. Using convening skills, support collaboration among restorative justice workers and volunteers to rebuild the movement for healing justice and advocate for systems and communities that respond to harm primarily with healing practices, not punitive ones. Facilitate training and shared learning about healing justice. Submit resumes along with cover letter by midnight, CDT, August 13 to jobs-afsc.icims.com/jobs/1249/job.

Pendle Hill Touching the Earth, Giving a Gift (August 12-16); Free Flow, Creativity as a Spiritual Practice (August 17-19); What’s Your Story? Uncover Hidden Stories from Your Life Experiences (August 31-Sept 2). Faithful Listening, Faithful Living (September 16-20); Inquirers’ Weekend (Sept 21-23); Deep Transition – Catalyzing the Emergence of Community Resilience and Self-Reliance (October 11-14). See posted flyers for more and descriptions.

Join the Minnesota Council of Church’s Taking Heart program – open houses at local Mosques and Islamic Centers during Ramadan. Mosques around the Twin Cities invite you to share in the Iftar dinner. Register online to let them know you’re joining the conversation and Iftar dinner. For more and to find a date and location near you, visit mnchurches.org .

Movie Night at First Unitarian Society, 900 Mt. Curve Ave will feature “Dakota 38″ – Fri, August 10, 6:45. Four riders travel 330 miles across SD to arrive in Mankato on December 26th, the anniversary of the largest mass execution in the US. The film tells of the blizzards endured, help received and the dark history they are coming to terms with. Free.

The Peace Games, Sunday, August 12th, Washburn Fair Oaks Park, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m, are held every August across the street from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Participants learn about Minneapolis’ diverse cultures through dance, art, music, sports and snacks. This program is a partnership with Mpls Park and Rec Board’s Youthline program, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and many neighborhood organizations.

OFFICE HOURS

Pat Jones will be in the office 1-5 Wednesday and other times on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sunday.
Carolyn Sherer VandenDolder, the Admin Assistant, will be in Wed. and Fri. afternoons. Bulletin deadline, noon Thurs. Bulletin items can be phoned in to the office, emailed or written and placed in the bulletin file in the blue box.