March 23, 2014

9:00 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Don Homolka

10:15 AM Bruce (Harv) and Julie Busta will talk about two aspects of their stay in England last year: Woodbrooke Quaker Center in Birmingham where they lived and worked as staff; and Harv’s sabbatical project learning about sustainable accounting – figuring environmental costs into the practice of accounting.

11:15 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Paul Erickson, speaker; Nancy Lichtenstein, musician; care of meeting, David Woolley

“Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” – Mother Teresa

“Forgiveness is the final form of love.” – Reinhold Niebuhr

“Practice having a grateful attitude and you will be happy.” – Epictetus

TODAY

While parking restrictions are in effect, please park further from the meetinghouse if you are able, leaving spots close to the building for those with mobility challenges.

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

The White Privilege Conference in Madison, WI March 26th -29th. Five members of our meeting and over 80 Quakers from around the country will be attending the conference.

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

The end of March is the close of the Meeting’s business and fiscal year. Any time is a good time to say thank you to one another for the work and ministry Friends do within and on behalf of the Meeting. Many Friends are finishing terms of service now, or are continuing with terms of service. For your time and care and the lending of your gifts, we thank you. Thank you also for your contributions of money to support the work of the Meeting. Other types of giving too, often done in unrecognized ways, make the Meeting what it is, and we acknowledge those many, often unseen acts.

Please submit requests for reimbursement for this fiscal year by next Sun, March 30th. Reimbursement forms and instruction for submission are in the top of the blue box in the long hall.

Lunch Bunch will meet Wed, March 26th, 11:45 at Presbyterian Homes, 10030 Newton Ave So, 11:30. RSVP to Louise by Tues, March 25th. If you are available in the middle of the day, please come! It is a great opportunity to deepen relationships with and bring news to those not able to come to worship every Sunday.

Next Sun, March 30th, adult program at 10:15: If you are a newcomer at Mpls Friends Meeting, what puzzles or concerns you about being here? If you are not new, how did you find your way when you were new to a meeting or to Quakerism? Your candor is needed and appreciated in small group discussions facilitated by Sandy Olson and Nettie Smith.

YOU ARE AWESOME! The first day school youth would like to extend a BIG thank you! Your generosity made last week’s bake sale for Feed My Starving Children a resounding success, yielding $300.33!!! That will provide 2,401 meals for hungry children in the world. Your actions clearly demonstrate that the Quaker testimonies the meeting’s children are learning about downstairs through Quaker history are alive and flourishing today!

It is our turn to help prepare and serve a meal with other metro area Friends through the Twin Cities Loaves and Fishes, on the fifth Mon, March 31st, at Holy Rosary Church 2424 – 18th Ave So. Shifts: 2:30-4:30, cooking; 4:45-6:45, serving; 5:30-7:00, clean-up. Also needed, 20 batches of cookies (4 dozen to a batch). Fruit / cookies or bars on the healthier side encouraged! Help is needed in all areas! Additional volunteers are needed to tend the new salad bar. Sign up on the sheet by the bulletins.

You are welcome at the white privilege self-study group that meets monthly at Twin Cities Friends Meeting, usually on fourth Mons, 7-9 pm. The next meeting is tomorrow, March 24th.

Members of MFM are invited to join Mayim Rabim Congregation for a class on “Preservation of Photographs”, next Sun, March 30th, 2-4 PM, here. MR’s David Kopperl, will share examples of degraded photos, explain what caused the dam-age, and how to restore them. Bring damaged family photos for advice on how to preserve or restore them. Tell Pat if going.

While national attention is focused on the Keystone XL pipeline, the oil industry is quietly sending more and more tar sands oil across northern MN by pipe, through our forests and under our lakes and streams. Enbridge, the Canadian com-pany that owns the MN pipelines, has applied to dramatically increase the flow of oil through their newest line, the Alberta Clipper. A hearing on this increase will be Thurs, April 3, 3 p.m. in front of the MN Public Utilities Commission. Quakers, let’s turn out! Background sheets on the elevator table.

American Friends Service Committee’s Healing Justice film series brings L/light to systems that perpetuate racism and to our role in changing them. Plan to attend 6:30-9 on April 10, May 8 and Jun 5 at Faith Mennonite Church! Details posted.

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. Please give as you are able.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

The School of the Spirit, a Quaker ministry of prayer and learning, is holding a contemplative retreat in the manner of Friends at the DeKoven Center in Racine, WI April 4-7; led by Roger Hansen (Milwaukee Meeting) and Catherine Cox (Goose Creek (VA) Meeting). For more and to register: schoolofthespirit.org/retreats/. Rates start at $350; significant scholarship assistance available. Questions, call Michael Green, (919) 929-2339 or email info(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)schoolofthespirit.org.

Iowa Yearly Meeting’s mid-year meeting will be April 12-13 at Bear Creek Meetinghouse near Earlham, IA. The topic: Our Faith, Our Practice. Program and registration information posted.

House of Hope Presbyterian Church and Mt. Zion Temple – lecture series on Jesus, Judaism, Christianity and the relation-ship between them this Fri-Sun: hohchurch.org/calvin-w-didier-annual-seminar-religion-and-contemporary-thought .

OFFICE HOURS
Pat Jones will at the White Privilege Conference through Sat. or Sun.
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.