9:00 AM open worship

9:45 AM worship with attention to business: Ranae Hanson, clerk; Terry Hokenson, recording clerk

11:15 AM open worship: Carolyn VandenDolder, care of meeting

TODAY

Friends for a Non-Violent World’s annual meeting is here TODAY, 1-3. Come hear about programs that so many MFM Friends are involved in! Meet new staff, hear financial status, approve new board members, great conversation and more!

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

It is the season of snow and ice. Friends are reminded to park at a distance if you can to allow closer parking for those who need it.

Liaison and Review is preparing for the annual review of our Director of Ministry, Patricia Jones. Any and all comments, suggestions or observations about Pat’s ministry may be shared with the members of the Liaison and Review Committee Speak to: Gayle, Tom, Ranae or Barbara. Please make your comments by Feb 27. Thank you!

Adult Program next Sun at 10:15: Quaker Testimonies: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Service. This is the usual list given when someone asks, “What are the testimonies?” But what are testimonies? How did these five become enshrined? Are they required beliefs? Are we expected to live them? Intro by Pat Jones then small group discussion.
Feb 24th at 10:15: an all-Meeting Peace and Social Concerns session on Friends Committee for National Legislation (FCNL) priorities.

You are welcome to an informal, 45-minute worship in Bloomington at the home of Louise, Tues, Feb 12th, 7:00.

The Mind of Christ: Bill Taber on Meeting for Business, a Pendle Hill pamphlet, will be discussed at the next George and Elizabeth Watson Memorial Discussion Group Tues, Feb 12th, 7:00 at MFM. Copies available from Snyders ($6.00).

Come to storytelling! 7:00 PM on Wed, February 20th here at the meetinghouse. Come to just listen or to tell. Just come build community, know, and be known.

Climate Change presentation, idea-exchanging and support opportunities are beginning, fourth Sundays at the rise of semi-programmed worship. The first one: Sun, Feb 24th, Terry will talk about the issues around fossil fuel use and traveling to D.C. to protest the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Terry, MFM member, is going to the rally in DC on President’s Day to petition the government to address climate change and phase out fossil fuels – specifically to turn away from the Keystone XL pipeline. Are others planning to go? He will take the Earth Train and stay at the Wm Penn House in DC. He’d love to connect with Friends along the way and at the rally. More about the rally at: 350.org/en/node/28935

Congratulations to Nancy Peterson and Judith James who will celebrate the release of their new book, White Women Getting Real About Race, at a book launch at Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave S, Mpls Thurs, March 7th, 6:30 PM. Readings by authors and refreshments. Please come!

The picture board above the ramp to the conference room has been graced with Sue’s photos of Meeting events. If you take pictures at a MFM event, they could be posted too! Let the office know and we’ll make space. Share your eye!

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

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

Friends Committee on National Legislation is now accepting applications for intern slots in its Washington, D.C. office. Applicants must be college graduates or have equivalent work or life experience. The internships last from the beginning of Sept to the end of the July. Subsistence salary, health care, a public transportation subsidy, and paid vacation. Interns work with senior staff on issue priorities and the vital activities of FCNL. For more, go to fcnl.org where the intern application form can be downloaded. Apps accepted until March 15.

Northern Yearly Meeting’s El Salvador Committee announces two opportunities for El Salvador travel in 2013: An inter-generational 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.

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 . Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, Islamic Society of North America, the keynote speaker, will speak at 9:00. Going? Want to carpool? Call Phil. Volunteers Urgently Needed: Assemble packets on Friday, Feb. 15 at noon at the JRLC office. Also needed, volunteers to staff Day on the Hill responsibilities on Feb 21st starting at 7:45am. Volunteers can receive free registration to Day on the Hill! Email alison(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)jrlc.org if you can help with either project!

Is the chocolate we eat produced with the use of child labor and trafficked children? It may be a hard truth to swallow but it is a reality that can no longer be ignored. Award-winning Danish journalist Miki Mistrati investigate the rumor in his compelling documentary, “The Dark Side of Chocolate,” Tues, Feb 12th, 7- 9 pm, Eastside Coop, 2551 Central Ave NE.

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.

Rally against gun violence at the State Capitol Rotunda on Presidents’ Day, Mon, Feb 18th, at 3:00 p.m. An opportunity to stand up against the epidemic of gun violence in our country. For more information, contact John Kohring, johnkohring(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com, 612) 377-8303 or visit Protect MN: www.protectmn.org.

Join the Interfaith Youth Day of Service! a youth gathering – organized for youth (7th grade and up) by youth – with the purpose of bringing young people together across religious and other differences and heading out into the community to perform fun, and much-needed service projects. Come as a group or on your own. Mon, Feb 18th, 9-4 at Macalester. For more and to register: spacc.org (Click on programs (on the left) then Interfaith Youth Coalition then Service Day.)

Friends Committee on National Legislation update on anti-military spending initiatives: What you do before the end of Feb could shape which policy initiatives gain momentum in the next four years. Your prayers, protests and engagement with Congress and the administration will change policy. While Congress made a last minute deal on taxes to avert the fiscal cliff, they postponed decisions on spending until March. Members of Congress will have to make significant cuts, and where they fall is up to you. To join the week of action, sign up for email alerts and request a meeting with your members of Congress. More information: fcnl.org/events/week_of_action

MN Peace Team Introductory Training, “Nobody Hurt, Everybody Heard” will be offered here at MFM on Sat, Feb 23rd, 9 – 5:00; $20-$50 (above $20 is tax deductible); lunch included. Pre-registration required – limited to 30. Contact Barbara Gerten: gerte001(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)tc.umn.edu or 651-470-7781. Peace Teams offer a non-partisan presence in potentially volatile situations; to keep people from hurting one another and to protect the civil rights of everyone involved. The training is an introduction for people interested in serving as a Peace Team member, but all attending will gain skills applicable to many life situations. The workshop is highly experiential with exercises and role-playing. Open to adults and to teens 16 (with parental permission) or older. Non-Violent Intervention as a Powerful Tool; Managing Conflict; Working in an Affinity Team and more!

Friends for a Non-Violent World will host an event with award winning journalist Reese Erlich, “The Arab Spring in Syria, Egypt and Gaza,” Feb 25, 6:30 PM at Twin Cities Friends meetinghouse.

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. Bulletin deadline, noon WED. Bulletin items can be phoned in to the office, emailed or written and put in the bulletin file of the blue box.