January 5, 2013

9:00 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Roger Tyldesley

10:15 AM Mary Logue will show, in the meetingroom, how she has explored her own spirituality through her writings, even in her mysteries. She will read from her work and talk about how letting go of the expected has helped her find wonderful surprises. She will also talk about how sitting in meeting has affected her work.
Friendly Philosophers will meet in the conference room. Friendly Philosophers, an open group, meets every first Sunday morning (here) and every Thurs evening, 7:00, at Gib Pellet’s Bush Terrace Condos

11:15 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Connie Jacobs, speaker; care of meeting, Dave Bostrom; no planned musician today

TODAY

You are invited to the all-Meeting potluck at the rise of semi-programmed worship today. Like most Meeting events, potlucks are do-it-yourself affairs. Look for ways to help: get more plates, glasses or silverware when needed, help clear, wash and dry dishes, wash and help put away tables and chairs . . . Tasks done in fellowship are done more joyfully!! Take time to see the beautiful Japanese New Year’s Day decorations, photographs and other mementos from Susie!

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

Adult Program Jan. 18th at 10:15: Jeanne Stuart, “Growing Into My Values” Since migrating across the river four years ago to attend Macalester, I’ve had ample opportunities to question, articulate and live out the values taught to me by my community, including the Meeting. In this talk, I’ll focus on a few of the recent big adventures of my life, including studying abroad in La Paz, Bolivia, working for the Betsy Hodges mayoral campaign, as well as how I anticipate taking those experiences forward in the coming years.

The George and Elizabeth Watson Memorial Discussion Group will next meet Wed, Jan 8th at the meetinghouse. There is no homework. We are reading aloud Letters to a Young Seeker by Steve Chase. It is a great introduction to Quakerism and people new to Meeting are most welcome to come!

Looking ahead: Come to storytelling Thurs evening, Feb 20th here at the meetinghouse. This informal, engaging evening – for newcomers and old-timers alike – is a delightful way to know and be known by each other. Watch for more details.

Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) is a method of reading and listening deeply, inviting insights on how a text may speak to us today. Join a lectio of a Quaker or biblical text at noon, Wed, Jan 8, Kenwood Isles. Light lunch to follow.

Jim, Kyle and Heather are exploring the possibility of doing a Bible study of the Book of Acts. If interested, you are invited to come to a planning session February 2nd at 10:15. Questions, call Jim or Heather or Kyle.

Nancy Lichtenstein and the Ariel Trio will perform the Dvorak Dumke Trio and Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano on Friday, Jan 17 at 7:00 PM, at the home of Frank and AnnLiv. Bring finger food or a beverage to share. Friends and friends of Friends are welcome!

Congratulations to John Stuart!, chosen as a Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year. He will be honored at a banquet on Feb 24th for “a career’s worth of dedication to the Minnesota legal community.” Rosalie Wahl will be similarly honored. If you want to attend the banquet ($90 per person), contact Mary Jean.

Volunteers are being sought to wash and iron tablecloths used at the Holiday Fair. Contact Lisa for more.

Warm clothes for St. Stephen’s: this street outreach could use warm winter clothing – boots, hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, coats, etc. There is a box for clean, gently used donations in the entryway.

The Northern Yearly Meeting Newsletter deadline is January 10. Thinking of a workshop you’d like to offer at the annual session? Want to do a preliminary article? Email Richard at richard.osbo.fuller(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com

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 November, $8,164.30 was contributed to the general budget; an average of $2,041.08 per week. There has been a serious shortfall mid-way through this fiscal year. Thank you, Friends, for your generous support of the Meeting in all manner of ways.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

Stop Starvation in Syria – End the Blockades (from Friends for a NonViolent World): Syrians are slowly dying of mal-nutrition, but not for lack of food. A military blockade surrounds dozens of Syrian towns. This starvation siege prevents 1.5 million people from receiving food or medicine. Join a “rolling” solidarity hunger strike – someone will fast each day – to call attention to this humanitarian crisis. A list of supporters and participants is being put together in advance of the Jan 22nd Geneva Conference to encourage a binding UN resolution to address the situation. Commit to one day of symbolic hunger strike and give FNVW permission to add your name to materials to publicize the hunger strikes more widely. See www.facebook.com/qusaihungerstrike, http://stopthesiege.wordpress.com, or email stopthesiege(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com

From Friends for a NonViolent World: Contact Senator Klobuchar And Senator Franken to Oppose Increased Sanctions against Iran. Speak up about the proposed Senate bill calling for increased sanctions against Iran. Despite 60% of Americans supporting negotiations, there are other forces seeking to eliminate the possibility. Petition Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken at: petitions.moveon.org/sign/support-diplomacy-with-4.fb55?source=s.icn.fb&r_by=383071

Every Church a Peace Church will host its monthly potluck at 6:30 on Mon. Jan 13th at Spirit of St. Stephen’s Catholic Community, 2201 First Ave So, Mpls. Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer will speak on “Maintaining Hope in Hard Times.”

Save the Date: The next White Privilege Conference is in Madison, WI from March 26-29, 2014. Friends General Conference expects to offer a sizable discount for Friends’ participation. For updates: fgcquaker.org/WPC15-Interest .

Nonviolent Resistance to a Violent Occupation: Two Northfield, MN residents, Soraya Dangor, a graduate student, and Graison Chapman, a freelance reporter, traveled to Beit Sahour, next to Bethlehem, for 40 days last summer to learn about the lives of Palestinians and the impact of Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank. While traveling, Dangor and Chapman lived with a Palestinian Christian family, volunteered with local children and seniors, and visited with Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists. “What we saw when we were there is so different from what is presented . . .” Dangor said. “The situation is really about a powerful army controlling the lives of people who are kept from getting work, from getting medical care, even from visiting their family.” They will be speaking about their experience and perspective on Sat, Jan 18, 9:30 A.M. at the Southdale Library, 7001 York Ave So, Edina. Sponsored by Middle East Peace Now, http://www.mepn.org

Concerned about climate change? You are invited to attend the Citizens Climate Lobby Regional Conference “Local Impacts, National Action”, Jan 24 – 26 at Macalester College. Pre-conference free public event at Macalester’s Weyerhaeuser Chapel Friday evening the 24th, will include keynote speaker Paul Douglas speaking on local impacts of climate change, and Mark Reynolds, Exec. Director of Citizens Climate Lobby, speaking on “Building the Political Will to Preserve a Safe Climate.” On Saturday the 25th, from 9 – 6 and Sunday the 26th from 9 to noon, there will be additional sessions on local impacts of climate change, plus workshops on the “fee and dividend” proposal, and on building effective relationships for action. See more info or register at citizensclimatelobby-mn.org or call 952-920-1547. Friday evening session is free; suggested donation for the Saturday/Sunday conference is $25 adult, $10 student (no one turned away for lack of funds); register at https://coolplanetmn2.wufoo.com/forms/citizens-climate-lobby-regional-conference/

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.