9:00 AM unprogrammed meeting for worship: Doug Herron, care of meeting

10:15 AM Time for any committee to meet. In the meetingroom – Peace and Social Concerns open meeting: Let Your Voice Be Heard at the MN Legislature. Phil Simard and others will talk about the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition’s (JRLC’s) Day on the Hill. L&R will be in the conf rm.

11:15 AM semi-programmed meeting for worship: Terry Hokenson, speaker; Nancy Lichtenstein, musician; Mary Leikvold, care of meeting

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

WARNING: The City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival is next Sunday, Feb. 3rd. The following streets will be closed Sunday morning: Lake of the Isles Parkway between Dean Parkway and Calhoun Parkway; Glenwood Avenue across from Wirth Beach; Theodore Wirth Parkway near the Quaking Bog; Holmes, Humboldt, Irving, James and Knox between Lake and 31st, (no travel across Lake Street); Hennepin Ave. between Lake St. and 31st.

Next week, you are welcome to the monthly Sunday potluck lunch. All who can, please 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 with ingredients or your name so those with allergies, vegetarians, etc can participate.

Nominating Committee is meeting often, working on the composition of committees for the new MFM year beginning April 1. Please contact any member of the committee to convey your interest in Meeting work, to ask questions, or to suggest others you consider well-suited for positions. Brief committee descriptions are on the MFM website under “committees.” A copy of the committee list is also posted on the MFM bulletin board.

Next Sunday, Feb 3rd, at 10:15: Jeannette Raymond will speak in the meetingroom about her experience working in the area of racial and social justice. Lisa First will offer yoga to prepare for worship in the conference room.

Members and attenders are encouraged to note the location of hand-held fire extinguishers in the meetinghouse:
*Upstairs – South end – on ramp wall below coat hooks near lift
*Upstairs – North end of meeting room in alcove below balcony (by front double doors)
*Kitchen – inside the door opposite the counter – two units
*Downstairs – South end – by lift at foot of stairs
*Downstairs – North end of common room near exit

The next George and Elizabeth Watson Memorial Discussion Group will meet Tues, Feb 12th, 7:00 at the meetinghouse, discussing The Mind of Christ: Bill Taber on Meeting for Business, a Pendle Hill pamphlet. The Snyders will have copies for purchase Feb 3rd ($6.00).

SAVE THE DATE: for storytelling! 7:00 PM on Wed, February 20th here at the meetinghouse.

Global Unwarming Tip of the Week: Citizens’ Climate Lobby will hear from Dr. Martin Tresguerres on the impact of ocean acidification on Sat., Feb. 2, from 11:45-2 p.m. at Linden Hills Park, 43rd and Xerxes. All welcome.

MFM’s Barbara Mohr will sing with the Twin Cities Women’s Choir’s “Criss-Cross: Perspectives on Community” with singer-songwriter Ann Reed on Sat, Feb 2nd, 4:00 at Central Presbyterian Church, 500 Cedar Ave, St Paul. Order tickets online twincitieswomenschoir.org or purchase at the door. (They’re cheaper if you get them in advance.)

Northern Yearly Meeting’s El Salvador Committee announces two opportunities for El Salvador travel in 2013: An intergenerational trip for a group of three high school-age friends (15-18) and three adult Friends, ten days in early August; cost: $800-1,000. Scholarship assistance available, need dependent; application deadline, March 15th; AND a month-long Intercambio to San Ignacio and Soyopango Friends Schools for two adult young Friends or other interested adult Friends to spend two weeks at each of the schools, assisting with instruction in conversational English. More information is posted.

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. Average contributions of $9,725 per month are needed to meet our budget. Thank you, Friends, for your generous support of the Meeting in all manner of ways.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

Friends for a Non-Violent World annual meeting will be here Sun, Feb.10th, 1-3. Introduction of new staff; report of 2012 program activity; financial status summary; nomination of new board members; stimulating conversation and more!

Mayim Rabim is offering free study sessions on Reconstructionist Judaism led by Rabbi Sharon Stiefel. Topics include: What is Reconstructionism? What does it mean to approach Judaism through a Reconstructionist lens? What makes Mayim Rabim a Reconstructionist congregation? Explore the core thoughts and practices of this fourth and newest major Jewish movement in North America. No prior knowledge necessary. Remaining sessions: Thurs, Feb 7th, 7:00-8:30; Sat, March 2, 5:00-6:30. Check the Mayim Rabim website (mayimrabim.org/) for additional info and updates.

Help Launch the State of MN “Move to Amend” Resolution with Sen. John Marty TODAY, Jan 27th, 7- 8:30 pm, Mississippi Market; 1500 West 7th Str, St Paul. Marty is sponsoring a resolution calling on Congress to reject the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United and to support an amendment to firmly establish that regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech and that human beings, not legally-constructed entities such as unions, for-profit and nonprofit corporations, are entitled to constitutional rights. Appetizers served. Bring a friend! Show that Minnesotans are concerned that “corporate personhood” has given power to for-profit and nonprofit corporations, unions and other associations that was previously reserved for individual citizens. Work to reverse the ruling that allows corporations to give uncontrolled, massive campaign contributions as protected free speech.

Minnesotans United encourages you to attend the Freedom to Marry Day Rally, Feb. 14th, a key first step in working with state legislators to ensure that in 2013, MN state law is changed to reflect the belief that loving and committed same-sex couples should have the freedom to marry. Join with hundreds of others in showing legislators that a broad and diverse coalition of Minnesotans support marriage for same-sex couples: MN State Capitol Rotunda, 3 – 4:30pm

Joint Religious and Legislative Coalition 2013 Day on the Hill, Thurs, Feb 21; 8:30 am – 3:30 pm. State Capitol. Annual policy briefing and lobby day for clergy and lay people from across the state to speak for social justice and to participate in the lawmaking process. Register: jrlc.org/register-for-day-on-the-hill . Early bird rate through Feb 1.

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.