August 11, 2013

10:00 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Rick VandenDolder, reader; Dave Bostrom, musician; Joanne Esser and Dan Jensen, care of meeting

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

*The Alternatives to Violence Project workshop at Moose Lake Prison this weekend.

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

Save the date – Sunday, September 8, for a preliminary Quaker Quest session from 9:00 am to 3:15 pm! Worship is incorporated in the day’s plan. The session is for the whole Meeting and promises to be fun and enriching, and to strengthen our community and prepare us for the public sessions we will offer in the fall. Child care and lunch provided. Not sure what Quaker Quest is all about? See minneapolisfriends.org/qq.

Worship in Bloomington is this Tues, 7:00 at the home of Louise. All are welcome!

The Quaker women’s group will meet Wed, Aug 21 12:30 PM at Twin Cities Friends Meeting. Pat McGuire will lead the discussion on writing about family relationships and related topics. Bring cookies or fruit to share and a mug for coffee or tea (provided.) Feel free to bring a bag lunch, if you wish.

The Quaker memorial service for Rosalie Wahl will be 2:00, Sat, Aug 24, at the Weyerhauser Chapel at Macalester, followed by refreshments at Twin Cities Friends Meeting. A public memorial will be 10 AM, Sat, Sept 21 at Central Lutheran Church. A couple of Rosalie’s poems and two speeches can be found: bit.ly/RosalieWahl-FJ

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. Average contributions of $9,725 per month ($2431 per week) are needed to meet our budget. In July, $5,544.09 was contributed to the general budget; an average of $1386 per week.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

Song Circle will meet at the home of Lynn and Gerry on Aug 17th, 7 P.M. Bring your voice and instrument (optional) and sing folk songs, oldies, gospel, rounds, sea shanties, in an informal setting. Bring a snack to share (optional).

Pendle Hill has part-time positions available: Arts and Spirituality Teacher, Marketing Manager, and Hospitality Intern. Also potentially a part time position for a Campaign Materials and Grant Writing Consultant. pendlehill.org/employment

Pendle Hill courses at a 10% discount! (Register by Aug 31): Journey Toward Wholeness: A Courage & Renewal® Retreat Series , late Oct/early Nov; Open Heart, Peaceful Mind: A Retreat for Rest and Reflection, Dec 28-Jan 1; Musical Masterworks of Allure and Transformation, Dec 28-Jan 1. Full list and descriptions at pendlehill.org/workshops/fall .

Mark you calendars for a fund-raising concert featuring Annie and Peter Blood-Patterson, musicians and song-writers, and creators of the widely-known compilation songbook, “Rise up Singing.” At Twin Cities Friends Meeting (1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul) September 7 at 7 PM. First half hour, songs for children. $20 donation, (suggested) Proceeds cover Annie and Peter’s expenses, the balance going to Friends for a NonViolent World (FNVW). Great music and fellowship! Volunteers needed! Offer to Paul Landskroner (paulmb(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)state.net).

Alternatives to Violence Project has created a new Outreach Committee which needs your help to identify and get contact info for organizations and places to share the AVP program or offer a speaker or a specialized mini-session with the hope of providing on-going community workshops. Could you help AVP’s networking efforts? Are you, or someone you know, connected with an organization that routinely utilizes outside speakers, or do you know of a group or a nonprofit that seems like a natural fit for AVP and could benefit from a short focus session on communication skills? If so, please contact Jon Vang (avp.jvang(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com) or Joann Perry (joann(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)black-hole.com) or call (651) 644-5851 with your name and the contact info you have. AVP is a program of Friends for a NonViolent World (FNVW).

Harvest of Empire, the untold story of Latinos in America is showing at Macalester-Plymouth United Church (1658 Lincoln Ave, St. Paul) this Tues, Aug 13, 7 PM with a panel discussion following. Synopsis posted.

Mark the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington with a March to Close the Gaps – in education, employment, housing, healthcare, voting rights, and MORE! This is an opportunity for our community to proclaim that ANY gap for another is our gap together. August 24th at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park:
10:30 – Bring your signs and gather at Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th Street, for rally and speeches; 11:45 – March to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park 4055 Nicollet Ave. South; 12:30 – Libation Ceremony; 12:40 Reflections from Mahmoud El-Kati – author, lecturer, activist – on the impact of the 1963 March on Washington and Dr. King’s dream at 50; 1:15-7:00 – The 12th Freedom Jazz Festival. Bring a blanket and enjoy music, food and activities.

The U.S. State Department has released its draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on the Keystone XL Pipeline, part of TransCanada’s application for a permit to build and operate the pipeline across the border into the U.S. Though the initial comment period has passed, Friends Committee on National Legislation reminds Friends that there will be an additional opportunity for the public to comment on this project. Watch for it in the next few weeks, sending written comments to the State Department’s Keystone XL comment page (keystonecomments(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)state.gov). Dates for submitting comments will be posted on the State Dept’s Keystone website (keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov). Back-ground on the proposed pipeline can be found: fcnl.org/issues/energy/keystone_dismaying_notfinal_setback . Other talking points from Quaker Earthcare Witness are on the table near the elevator.

Office Hours
Pat Jones will be in the office 2-5 on Wednesday and at other times Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sunday.
Carolyn VandenDolder, the Admin Assistant, will be in Wed afternoon and Friday. Bulletin deadline, noon Thurs. Bulletin items can be phoned in to the office, emailed or written and placed in the bulletin file of the blue box.