9:30 AM unprogrammed meeting for worship: care of meeting: Roland and Jackie Barrett
11:00 AM semi-programmed meeting for worship: David Woolley, speaker; Kathy Webster, musician; care of meeting, Joanne Esser

“We are here as witnesses to the miraculous.” – Ray Bradbury

TODAY

The Homegrown Experience, offered for the third year by Minneapolis Park and Rec, focuses on sustainability, connecting people to the land and providing healthy and enjoyable experiences. The event will feature chef demonstrations, local restaurants, farmers, CSAs, co-ops, food producers, local vintners and brewers (this is a 21 and over event). Also, an outdoor Farmers Market will be featured. Participants will be able to sip, sample, purchase and, most importantly, learn about local, sustainable and organic foods. TODAY, Nicollet Island Pavilion 11 – 4. $25.

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

Those who work with people in difficult, tragic, sometimes horrifying circumstances- those who do what they can but see how limited their efforts and how formidable the challenges. And those who suffer first-hand terrible hardships or miseries- addiction, hopelessness, violence, poverty, injury, illness; physical, mental, spiritual, social, economic pain.

People in our Meeting who are suffering.

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

Diane Randall, Exec. Dir. of Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), will visit MFM next Sunday, August 26th. She will be at both meetings for worship and speak at semi-programmed worship. You are invited to meet with her for coffee or breakfast beforehand, 8:30 at Turtle Bread (buy your own) and/or afterward for a planned lunch at 12:15. Please sign up or RSVP to Pat with interest in coming to either and/or helping with the lunch.

MAKE SURE YOUR FALL CALENDER HAS ROOM FOR FALL CAMP: October 20-21!

First day school will begin on Sunday, September 16, at 11:15. All children 3 – 18 are welcomed. We are very excited about the format this year with all students initially meeting in one large group. In addition to the stellar curriculum of the Old Testament, Quaker History and Testimonies, there will be music, games, service projects and sleep overs. Registration forms are on the elevator table. Please fill out one form per child. If you are interested in helping in this program, even for one or two Sundays, please call Rae Cornelius, 651-224-8380, or email, rae.cornelius(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com. We are seeking to develop a sense of community, among the children, with upstairs adults of Minneapolis Friends, and with the plants. animals, and people of the world. Please consider sharing your talents and expertise with us.

Lunch Bunch will meet this Wednesday, August 22nd, at The Commons, 10030 Newton Avenue South, 11:30. Call Louise White, 952-948-2672, by Tuesday to make a reservation. To regulars, Louise will not phone you this time!

MFM needs a representative to Northern Yearly Meeting Executive Committee! A chance to make connections with other Friends and talk about important spiritual things and yearly meeting concerns. Meets once in spring, once in autumn.

MFM is offering special meetings for worship for healing around the marriage amendment the fourth Thurs of each month until Nov 2012 when the amendment comes to the ballot. Worship at 7 p.m. followed by worship -sharing, discussion and social time with refreshments. Come this Thurs, August 23. Barbara Mohr and Connie Jacobs will host. All are welcome.

Noah Baker-Merrill, released Friend traveling in the ministry, will be in town Monday, September 10th. Noah was at the recent World Gathering in Kenya. His vocal ministry there and witness in other areas is inspiring. Details to follow.

The George Watson Memorial Study Group will meet to organize itself, Sun., Oct. 7, at 10:15, downstairs. Thanks to all who expressed interest. Everyone is still welcome – Read and discuss writings about non-violent social change.

Learn how have meaningful, effective conversations with people about the Marriage Amendment by attending a Friends for a Non-Violent World Marriage Amendment training on Weds., Sept.12, 7:00 – 9:00, here at MFM. When presented on the ballot, ALL proposed laws defining Marriage as only between a man and a woman have passed! Research shows that the single most important way to combat this is to have conversations with people in a non threatening manner about gays and marriage. Come participate in this presentation by Liz Oppenheimer assisted by members of MFM.

Chuck Adelsman would be delighted to see f(F)riends at the Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen’s Association annual show; Sept 7-9 in Dalton, MN. Flyers about the show are on the long table in the hall.

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 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

Gabriel Ehri, Executive Director of Friends Publishing Corp (Friends Journal publisher) will speak at TCFM’s Sept. 16 (note correction) Adult Ed program (9:45-10:45) on the evolution of the media landscape and the place of the Quaker message in it. All are welcome, 1725 Grand Avenue in St. Paul.

Quaker in Pastoral Care and Counseling Conference will be Sept 13-16 at Quaker Hill Conference Center in Richmond, IN. The conference, “Circles of Trust,” will focus on reconnecting with inner wisdom; rejoining soul and role, a concept developed by Parker Palmer. More at qpcc.us

Quaker Earthcare Witness, bringing earthcare concerns to the attention of the Quaker community, is having its annual gathering (which is also its 25th anniversary,) in Chicago, October 4 – 7. The theme this year is Food and Biodiversity. Registration deadline is September 7, quakerearthcare.org . All are welcome!

OFFICE HOURS

Pat Jones will be in the office 3-5 on Wednesday and at other times on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sunday.
Carolyn Sherer VandenDolder, the Admin Assistant, will be in Wed. morning and Fri. 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.