9:00 AM unprogrammed meeting for worship: Phil Simard care of meeting

10:15 AM Committees: Death and Memorial in middler classroom; Adult Program in children’s library classroom; Peace and Social Concerns in the conference room – everyone welcome;
Discussion of the Northern Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice draft chapter on Community in the meetingroom. (Paper copies available on the table by the elevator; on the website, northernyearlymeeting.org/tag/faith-practice-draft-chapters/)

11:15 AM semi-programmed meeting for worship: Mary Sarto via Connie Jacobs, speaker; Nancy Lichtenstein, musician; Jim Lovestar care of meeting

TODAY

First day school news: In our growing first day school, work has begun on giant, prophet puppets. As we glue features onto well-worked brown paper bags, we will talk about how the prophet Isaiah was called and purified. We will wonder about whether people are still called today and, perhaps, think of other purification practices.

Information on both the marriage amendment and the voter ID amendment are on the counter near the upstairs sink. Help yourself to the materials and make sure you understand what is at stake this election day.

One Voice Mixed Chorus will perform at Plymouth Congregational Church’s final Healing MN service TODAY at 5:00, Nicollet and Franklin Aves. FREE. Music by James Taylor, Holly Near, and Libby Larsen as well as South African music and audience sing-alongs to lift spirits! Guest speaker Marilyn Carlson Nelson is on the Forbes list “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” and is author of How We Lead Matters: Reflections on a Life of Leadership.

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

and congratulations to Mary Jean Port who received an Elizabeth Ann Bogert Memorial Fund for the Study and Practice of Christian Mysticism grant, administered by Friends World Committee for Consultation. She will be offering a writing workshop, Writing from the Silence, Nov 2-4. Flyers are by the bulletins. New grant applications are being sought, deadline March 1,2013. See posted flyer for more.

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

Next week, you are welcome to the monthly Sunday potluck lunch. If you are able, bring plenty of food so there will be ample to accommodate visitors and those at the end of the line. Also, please label your pot-luck item/s.

Adult program next Sunday, November 4th, at 10:15: John Stuart will speak about his work and racial justice.

Volunteers needed for Loaves and Fishes: our next commitment is tomorrow, Mon, Oct. 29th. Served at Holy Rosary Church, 2424 – 18th Ave So, shifts are: cooking, 2:30-4:30; serving, 4:45-6:45; clean-up, 5:30-7:00. Also needed, 20 batches of cookies (4 dozen to a batch), delivered to the meetinghouse today or tomorrow by 5 to Holy Rosary. (Fruit / cookies or bars on the healthier side encouraged!) We need help in all areas! Sign up sheet on the bulletin table.

THANK YOU to the Fall Camp Committee and everyone involved for a TREMENDOUS Fall Camp! From Lynn’s mystery play to the musical delights of Bjorn’s baritone and Tom’s original bird poop melody; from gorgeous lakeside walks to stimulating dialogue in workshops; from light banter to fireside singing -it was indeed a weekend of fun, fellowship and community. Thank you!!

The White Envelope Gift is an annual winter offering, contributions often being placed in white envelopes and put in the branches of the meetinghouse Christmas tree. Nominations are being sought for this year’s recipients. Place the name and address of the organization along with a brief description in the White Envelope file of the blue box by Sun, Nov. 4th.

Have something you want to share with others in meeting? A discussion you’re interested in facilitating? A new project you are involved in that you think meeting folks would like to know about? Read a great article about spiritual practice and want to talk it over with others? Have a body meditation to share? We encourage variety at adult program time on first Sundays. It’s time to talk about that idea you’ve had and haven’t put out there yet! Contact Sandy or Mary Jean.

MFM has agreed to host NYM Executive Committee’s autumn meeting, Nov 16-17. If you can host overnight or bring bread, fruit, cheese, lunch meats, soup and/or desserts to the meetinghouse, please contact the office, 612-926-6159 or office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org. Local Friends are invited and encouraged to attend, especially lunch on Sat. Come and see if you would like to be the MFM representative!

The elections are everywhere now but when they are done – no matter who is in office – there will be plenty to do to help move our country toward a peaceful future. DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE to put together your contributions to the Friends for a Non-Violent World Holiday Fair! Donated crafts and canned goods = 100% profit for FNVW!

Ministry and Counsel is organizing new Circle Eight groups for fall and winter – eight people, often a mix of couples and singles, who meet in each other’s homes every four weeks or so. Children can be welcome, too. Often there is a potluck and a time for fellowship and/or a program. Interested? Let Pat Jones or a Ministry and Counsel member know soon.

Winona Preparative Friends Meeting invites MFMers to their Thanksgiving gathering on Sun, Nov. 18th. Worship at 10 a.m, Thanksgiving potluck to follow, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, corner of Lafayette and Broadway in Winona. On-street parking and a lot behind the church. Worship upstairs; meal prep and eating in kitchen and hall. First day school and childcare available. Questions, contact Lauren and Vernon.

The George and Elizabeth Reading and Discussion Group will next meet on Tues, Nov 13th at 7 at the meetinghouse. Topic of discussion: The Little Blue Book by George Lakoff and Elisibeth Wehling. All are welcome.

A meetinghouse custodian is being sought to share the job with Susie. Estimated two hours per week; flexible schedule. Interested? Contact Sue.

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. Average contributions of $9,725 per month are needed to meet our budget. First and second quarter contributions total 30% of our approved budget. Thank you, Friends, for your generous support in all manner of ways. A list of short-term volunteer opportunities is by the offering boxes.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

Hear Brian Young, pastor at Berkeley (CA) Friends Church, as he urges us to consider what practices or actions can help the Living Water of spiritual vitality flow more freely in us, in our communities and in the wider world – Nov 10 and 11, Madison Friends Meeting 1704 Roberts Court, Madison. (Flyers on bulletin table.) Brian grew up in the unprogrammed tradition and has spent his adult life among pastoral Friends. He is a 2008 graduate of the Earlham School of Religion and is entering his fifth year of service as pastor at Berkeley Friends Church, part of Western Association of Friends. His article, “Finding the Words” appeared Quaker Life (fum.org/finding-the-words-september-october-2012/).

All Saints Day: A Day for ALL Families: United we proclaim God through the ages, we sing out a faith for today, we envision a future where God’s love is known for all. Gather with people of faith from across MN and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus for an All Saints worship, 7 PM, Thurs, Nov 1 at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, Mpls.

Northside Achievement Zone Ball is the Best Party at the Depot! Sat, Nov 10th, 7 p.m. to midnight. Come to the ninth annual NAZ Ball at the Depot in Downtown Minneapolis. This gorgeous and historic space is our largest venue yet. We’ll dance through the night on an incredibly spacious dance floor, with the city skyline as our backdrop. Get tickets online: the-naz.org . The NAZ Promise Neighborhood is a collaboration of over 50 organizations and schools who work with children and families in a geographic area, or “Zone,” of North Minneapolis to build a culture of achievement so that all youth graduate college-ready. NAZ is designed to replicate the success of the Harlem Children’s Zone. It is both an organization and a collaborative effort that brings together neighbors, (including parents and youth), schools, service-providers and government.

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) invite us to the first FCNL Quaker Public Policy Institute, Nov. 15-16. In the post-election lame duck session lies a unique window to lobby Congress for a more moral federal budget. Your voice can have maximum impact as two critical deadlines approach: making cuts to Pentagon spending mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts for wealthy Americans. More at fcnl.org/QPPI

OFFICE HOURS

Pat Jones will be in the office Wednesday from 2:00-5:00 and other times Wed, Thurs, Fri. and Sat.

Carolyn 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.