9:00 AM unprogrammed meeting for worship: care of meeting, Gayle McJunkin

10:15 AM Joseph Flores will speak in the meetingroom about himself and his reflections on race; Lisa First will offer yoga in the conference room to prepare for worship; The Friendly Philosophers will gather downstairs for the first time to discuss integrity: how do we define it, how do we express it?

11:15 AM semi-programmed meeting for worship: Mike Finley, speaker; Nancy Lichtenstein, musician; care of meeting, Cliffor Goltz

TODAY

You are welcome to the potluck lunch today at the rise of semi-programmed worship. Please come, even if you didn’t bring anything!

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

Kenyan elections coming up on March 4th. Kenya will hold a presidential election on March 4 with a possible run- off in April. Kenyan Friends have been working on violence prevention and creating integrity around the election. The last election (2008) was followed by immense violence, property destruction and people forced from their homes. Quakers were active in peacemaking and relief work. There is a Quaker-sponsored web site set up to give reports on election projects and what’s going on: kenyanelections2013.org.

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

Ministry and Counsel proposes we experiment and have only one worship time on summer Sundays – a whole-Meeting worship at 10AM. This would give us a good chance to get to know MFM members and attenders that we might not ordinarily meet, promoting community and unity in the Meeting as we head into Quaker Quest in October. PLEASE READ the proposal on the bright pink sheet. This will be brought to monthly meeting next Sunday for a decision.

A New World Rising Up – Minneapolis Friends working on climate stability will meet for dinner to continue processing and organizing our climate stability efforts at the meeting before the next talk. If you are interested, please come Tues, 6 PM, March 5th, to Gandhi Mahal, at 3009 27th Ave. So. in Mpls. For those wanting to be connected via email around this issue, Google Google Groups and request to be part of the Minneapolis-Friends-for-Climate-Stability group

Come experience your truth as revealed in ancient texts. Lexio Divina (divine reading) continues at Kenwood Isles, Wed, March 6th, 11:30-noon. Light lunch to follow.

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 George and Elizabeth Watson Memorial Discussion Group will be Wed, March 13th, 7 PM. There is no need to prepare. We will read to one another from “Letters to a Fellow Seeker: A Short Introduction To The Quaker Way” by Steve Chase. Save the date for this personal, engaging introduction to Friends.

Every Church a Peace Church’s next potluck gathering is Mon, March 11th, 6:30 p.m. at: St. Luke Presbyterian Church, 3121 Groveland School Rd, Minnetonka. Our own Tom White will speak on “The Economics of Militarism: Financial and Spiritual Bankruptcy.” Tom will explore how our spirituality must be a key component of our vigorous opposition to the obscene disparity between military spending and all other domestic and humanitarian needs.

Missing: the utilities file from the outer office. If you are in possession, please leave a message – 612-926-6159.

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. At the third quarter’s end, Friends had contributed $79,106.21 toward our budgeted annual expenditures of $114,625. Our weekly contribution average in Jan and Feb was $1,365. To meet our budget, we need to contribute $23,000 by March 31 – about $4,602 per week. 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

Northern Yearly Meeting’s Executive Committee has changed its name to “Fall and Spring Interim Sessions”. The interim sessions, like the annual session in Rosholt, welcome anyone who attends. Representatives and those who have taken leadership roles in NYM are charged with conducting business – making decisions and seasoning issues prior to annual session. But all are welcome to gather in Divine-led worship and discernment.

Northern Yearly Meeting’s Spring Interim Session will be Fri, March 22- Sat, March 23 at Madison Meeting (1704 Robert Ct, Madison WI). Generally there is a gathering from 7-9 on Fri evening and from 9-5 on Sat. If you would like to stay with local Friends Friday night (and Saturday if you wish to stay and worship with Madison Friends on Sunday), please send your requests to Doug by Sat March 16 (to make the hosting easier, rsvp now, if you can). After March 16, no promises of a bed other than a floor in the meetinghouse. Let Doug know what days you need housing, and if you have any special needs or preferences related to pets, allergies, accessibility, bed size, etc. If you plan to come and eat lunch but do not need a bed, let Doug know that so he can get a lunch count.

Growing Closer to the Divine: Alone and Together, a retreat sponsored by the Northern Yearly Meeting Spiritual Nurture Committee will be offered April 26-28 at the Christine Center, (40 miles north of Black River Falls.) This is a stand-alone retreat – no groups will be formed to meet after the retreat ends. A contemplative weekend retreat grounded in silence and deep listening to the Divine and to one another, this is an opportunity to set aside daily routine and to retreat for personal reflection and spiritual nurturing. Fri night (7:00) through Sunday brunch. Vegetarian meals. Registration and $100 deposit due March 15th. Reg. and more: northernyearlymeeting.org/article /2013-spiritual-nurture-retreat

Northern Yearly Meeting’s El Salvador Committee announces two opportunities for El Salvador travel in 2013: An intergenerational trip for Friends ages 15 and older with an equal emphasis on teens and adults. Scholarship assistance available, need dependent; AND a month-long Intercambio to San Ignacio and Soyopango Friends Schools adult Friends, 18 and older. Friends would assist with instruction in conversational English. Application deadline for both is mid-March

Northern Yearly Meeting is searching for someone with a leading to provide guidance and help with programs, activities and coordination for Quaker High School Friends in the upper Mid-West, including: leading retreats; helping youth to find/participate in new experiences related to spiritual development, service, and leadership; being sensitive and intentional in recognizing the need for some issues to be referred to pastoral or professional care. This is a paid position. A detailed job description is posted. Work would begin during the summer of 2013.

Public Forum on Climate Change, Thurs, March 14th, 5:30 – 9 p.m. Mayflower Church, 106 East Diamond Lake Road. Many devastating events have occurred in the recent past, including hurricanes with major flooding, droughts affecting food production, oppressive heat and wildfires, threats to oceans and marine life, sea level rise affecting low lying land masses, and more. The Mpls League of Women Voters will present a free forum on climate change and its world-wide impact. Explore reasons for climate change and measures to consider in dealing with it. Presenters include U of MN climatologist Mark Seeley, Science Policy Director at Fresh Energy, J. Drake Hamilton, Mpls City Councilperson Elizabeth Glidden, City of Mpls Sustainability Coordinator Gayle Prest, and Rev Gretchen Deeg of Mayflower Church.

Mayim Rabim is hosting Trusting the Heart of the World: A Soulful Evening of Sacred Stories and Music from Around the World with storytellers Carla Vogel and Barry Nienstadt and musicians Judith Eisner and Doug Cole on Sat, March 16th, here at the meetinghouse. 6:30 – global desserts and socializing; 7:30 – stories and music, Havdalah service, silent auction; $18 suggested donation.

A Taste of People Camp is being offered March 23rd, 5:00 – 8:30 PM at Twin Cities Friends Meeting (1725 Grand Ave. St. Paul.) People Camp is an experience in community living sponsored by Friends for a Non-Violent World. Potluck, fun stories, games etc. All former campers and you are invited!

An unprogrammed worship in NE Minneapolis is being held on the fifth Fri evenings – the next one March 29th at 6:45 followed by a community meal at 7:30; Grace Center for Community Life, 1500 – 6th Str NE.

Healing Justice conversation with American Friends Service Committee: Tues, April 23rd, refreshments at 5:30 pm and group conversation from 6 – 8:30 pm at the Minneapolis Urban League (2100 Plymouth Ave. N). Open forum, review of last year’s ideas and recommendations, an update on the work of the AFSC, and strategizing how to work in partnership and prioritize next steps. Healing justice encompasses both healing from harm and the transformation from harm to wholeness. Its focus is on achieving fundamental balance and fairness for all communities. The principles of healing justice are responsibility, mutuality and love. Healing justice calls us to reject violence, domination and exploitation. In preparation for the April meeting, please consider these questions: How can we build on what’s already happening in MN? What updates would you like to share with the group? How can we support each other? How can we work together to achieve a shared vision? The event is free but pre-registration is required: sgoens(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)afsc.org .

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 Mon, 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.