October 20, 2013

9:00 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, John Stuart
10:15 AM no adult program is planned for today
11:15 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed today): care of meeting, Sandy Olson

TODAY
There is no nursery care today because the Meeting’s program focus is at Friends Fall Camp. (Consider attending next year!!)

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

Connie Archbald who begins serving on the Friends General Conference Development Committee starting October 25th.

Minneapolis Friends Meeting and Quaker Quest: that we are faithful witnesses to God’s grace, love and presence; that we are discovered by those whose relationship with the Divine might be encouraged and nurtured by being part of this community; that we be authentic.

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

If you are new to the Meeting and Quakerism, we hope you will be able to attend Quaker Quest sessions, continuing Tues nights Oct 22nd and 29th and Sun afternoons, beginning Nov 3. Bring any friends who are interested in “sampling” Quakerism! Take a flyer with the whole schedule for yourself and maybe one to give a friend.
All Friends are welcome at the Quaker Quest sessions but you should not feel obligated to come. The primary goal of Quaker Quest is to introduce MFM and Quakerism to new people.

The second Quaker Quest session is Quakers, Equality and Justice, this Tues, Oct. 22nd, 7-9:00. The presenters are Zach White, Lolly Lijewski and Annette Smith. The first session went well with 51 attending, 26 of whom were new. People seemed engaged and eager to visit following the program. Thank you to everyone who brought the vision to fruition!

Friends are invited to the wedding of Bill Hendricks and Michael Reid on Sat, Oct. 26th at 3:00, to celebrate their marriage under the care of the Meeting. The response date for the reception has passed.

Lunch Bunch will meet this Wed, Oct. 23rd, 11:45 at Presbyterian Homes, 10030 Newton Ave So. RSVP to Louise by Tues, Oct 22nd. If you are available in the middle of the day, consider coming! It’s a great opportunity to deepen relationships with and bring news to those not able to come to worship every Sunday.

Adult Program next Sun, Oct. 27th, at 10:15: Mary Jean Port will talk briefly about Minneapolis Friends for Climate Stability, John Stuart will talk about the George and Elizabeth Watson Memorial Discussion Group, and Gib Pellet will talk about the Friendly Philosophers Group. There will be time for questions and discussion. All three groups welcome new people.

A group is forming to attend to the care of unprogrammed worship. Interested in working with this group? Contact Connie.

Save the Date: Friends for a NonViolent World (FNVW) Holiday Fair, Fri, Dec 6, 1:00 -9:00 and Sat, Dec 7, 10:00 – 4:00. You are invited and please, invite family, friends, and neighbors to this annual festive event! Great vendors, scrumptious meals, and wonderful live music! FNVW receives 100% profit on all books, crafts, donated baked goods and Value Board items!
CRAFTS: Food items tend to sell well, but sew, knit, or paint to your hearts content! No plants please.
BOOKS: The Book Loft is a huge success each year and needs used books in good shape. Call FNVW offices, 651-917-0383, for drop off times and places.
VALUES BOARD: Donate or solicit gift certificates from stores, restaurants, or theaters you patron. One quick trip and FNVW gets 100% of the selling price!

Judith is doing a memorial altered book for Nancy, a form of mixed media artwork that changes a book in appearance and/or meaning. (Sample on the library table.) Pages need to be 8″ X 5″. Working deadline is sometime in Feb so everyone who wants to, will have time to complete a page. Contact Judith for more.

Fred Harding will participate in a panel discussion on Frac Sand mining in Minnesota at 7 pm Tues, Oct 29 at White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, 328 Maple Str, Mahtomedi (near east shore of White Bear Lake). Refreshments at 6:30 pm. See mahtomedigreen.org/frac-sand-mining-could-it-happen-here/.

David Zarembka will speak on “Peacemaking after Deadly Conflict: Healing and Reconciliation in Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Congo, and Kenya” 7:00 pm, Wed, Oct. 30th, here at the meetinghouse. Hear about positive outcomes of the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) in East Africa. David will also speak at the Interim Sessions in Eau Claire (416 Niagara St., Eau Claire) Friday night. More about David at: www.davidzarembka.com/bio.htm .

Northern Yearly Meeting Fall Interim Session – Nov 1-2 in Eau Claire. Mark has hospitality details and schedule information. David Zarembka will be speaking on Fri night! Carolyn is going, if you are interested in carpooling. All are welcome!

Are you interested in connecting with other Quakers in the US about the role that Quakers can and should play in the world of business? Would you like to be able talk to Friends who have a Friendly business point of view? Would you like to encourage young Friends to go into business? Convey your interest by completing a short survey (surveymonkey.com/s/PKDYJGD) so a group can begin to be organized.

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. Average contributions of $9,725 per month ($2,431 per week) are needed to meet our budget. In September, $4,893.44 was contributed to the general budget; an average of $1,223.36 per week. Thank you, Friends, for your generous support of the Meeting in all manner of ways.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

Exploring what worked about the Quaker involvement for marriage equality, and how we might build on that experience, refocus, and apply it to other justice and social change work, gather for a Pivot presentation. November 11, 2013 • 6:30-8:30 pm, St. Paul Area Council of Churches, 1671 Summit Ave., St. Paul. Held at the site of the new AFSC office! Liz Oppenheimer, facilitator.

A Quaker Youth Pilgrimage to Bolivia and Peru is planned for July – August, 2014! A group of 16-18 year-olds will travel, worship and work together, experiencing the diversity of Friends’ traditions and strengthening their relationship with God as they explore the regions and meet the Quakers of South America. Pilgrims and adult leaders sought! Leaders, apply by Nov 15 (preference for bilingual English / Spanish skills); pilgrims, apply by Dec 1 (Spanish skills helpful but not a prerequisite.) More at fwccamericas.org/QYP-Andes.shtml

A series of “Be the Spark” workshops, sponsored by MN Interfaith Power and Light, will start TODAY, Oct. 20th, 4-7 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 1895 Laurel Ave. Modeled on the “Vote No” campaign, this first workshop will develop tools for effectively engaging family members, friends and strangers in climate change conversations. There is a charge. See flyers, the MIPL web site, or email Terry for more.

The St. Paul Interfaith Network is offering two more dialogues on Honoring Our Children: Equity and Excellence in Education: Mon, Oct 21, “Culturally-Valued Academic Engagement, 6:30-9:00pm, American Indian Magnet School, 1075 Third St E, St. Paul; Mon., Oct 28, “Early Childhood Literacy vs. Prison Seats,” 6:30-9:00 pm, New Main’s Great Hall, Metro State University, 700 E 7th St, St. Paul. FFI: www.spinterfaith.org . American Friends Service Committee’s Healing Justice director, Sharon Goens-Bradley, has helped plan the series and expects to be at the Oct 28 event.

Shaping a sustainable energy system in MN, sponsored by the MN Department of Commerce, Tues, Oct 22, 8:30 – 2:30 at the Science Museum of MN Auditorium in St. Paul. A 2013 state law passed requires the development of a strategy to transition MN to a renewable energy economy – one that ends MN’s contribution to climate change from burning fossil fuels. Participation is free. The workshop will inform future energy strategy. Your very presence will have an impact, demonstrating interest from sustainable energy advocates. Technical expertise is not needed but your creativity and strategic thinking are! Register now – deadline, Mon, Oct 21st.

Middle East Peace Now presents Pamela Olson who lived in Ramallah, Palestine, for two years before moving to Washington, D.C. She will share how she got involved in Palestine, what the US role is and why she decided to write her first book, Fast Times in Palestine, a clear and compelling account of the situation in Palestine. Copies of her book will be available. More info at http://www.pamolson.org/reviews.htm – Sat, Oct 26, 9:30 to Noon Program and Discussion Southdale Library, 7001 York Ave S, Edina.

Climate Change: Where Faith Leads Us, Sat, Nov 2, 8:30—4:00. The environment, science and the role of faith during times of drastic change. Sponsored by Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), IA Yearly Meeting (Conservative) and Scattergood Friends School. Held at Scattergood, near West Branch, IA. For more: 1-319-643-7600 or development(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)scattergood.org .

Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, will present “Dead Man Walking – the Journey Continues” on Fri, Nov 8 at 7:00, Church of the Annunciation, 509 W 54th Str. in Mpls. Sr. Helen Prejean will speak on her ministry to abolish the death penalty in the US. Refreshments and book signing follow the talk. A poster is on the long bulletin board.

Overcoming Racism Conference, Nov 15-16, at Metropolitan State in St. Paul. Register at: overcomingracism.org/2013/registration.html

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.