August 17, 2014

10:00 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Linda Harding, speaker; Kathy Webster, musician; care of meeting, Dave Bostrom and Connie Archbald

MEETING MATTERS/CALENDAR

One more person is needed to host/bring snacks for coffee and conversation on August 31st. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin table.

The Peace and Social Concerns Committee encourages Friends to read Befriending Creation, (hanging in the long hall and online at: quakerearthcare.org/publications); especially the article akerearthcare.org/article/fcnl-moral-call-conscience-climate

Plan now to come—Four Rivers Friends (aka Metro Friends) PICNIC at the Minnehaha Falls Wabun B picnic area (4655 46th Ave), Weds., Aug. 27 at 5 p.m. Join Friends from around the metro area for fun, food, and to learn about Four Rivers Friends (and why the name was changed!) and to hear from the founder of a new Quaker church in the north metro area, started a few years ago. Wonderful area for children, playground, wading pool; a waterfall, volleyball set-up, disc golf.

Offering: “Do you participate regularly in meetings for business, discharging faithfully your committee responsibilities and assume your share of financial support of the Meeting?” (Baltimore Yearly Meeting Advices and Queries) “. . . all are called to minister in some capacity. It is the responsibility of each member to contribute to the life of the Meeting and to the Society of Friends as the Spirit leads . . . includ[ing] providing financial support . . .” (Northern Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice.) As part of MFM, your financial support is essential to the continuing health and viability of this Friends faith community. Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. Please give as you are able.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

Come hear what is happening on the ground in Gaza and Syria this coming Saturday, August 23, 10 – noon, Twin Cities Friends Meeting, 1725 Grand Ave., Saint Paul. The civilian populations of Gaza and Syria are under bombardment with massive airpower. Both populations have been besieged, denied food and medicine. Gaza and Syria are the two most desperate humanitarian crises facing the world today. Speakers: Jehad Adwan, a Palestinian-American born and raised in Gaza, now a nurse in MN, has recently visited Gaza and Mutasem Alsyoufi, a Syrian who has worked for the last three years with the Local Coordination Committees, the grassroots civil opposition in Syria. Co-sponsored by FNVW.
American Friends Service Committee’s Executive Director, Shan Cretin has short clip on You Tube to help put the violence in Gaza into perspective. Google “You tube Understanding the scale of violence in Gaza”. She also has an article available online about Gaza at afsc.org/RightToExist .

The Movement Center for Deep Democracy is hosting conversations on how and why to address climate disruption with a climate justice framework at Gandhi Mahal restaurant (3009 – 27th Ave. S) every third Wed of 2014., 7 – 8:30PM in a designated space within the restaurant. Come join the discussion, any third Weds.. Evenings will include music, art, celebration of work being done by some of our local organizations AND 10% of dinner proceeds that night will be contributed to MN Interfaith Power and Light, 350.org and Movement Center for Deep Democracy.
More information about MN Interfaith Power & Light-related events at mnipl.org/calendar.html.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park Legacy Council present the fourth annual celebration to honor Dr. King At the Park this Sat, Aug 23rd from 11 – 4 pm, 4055 Nicollet Ave. Rally and march for Beloved CommUNITY, (Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St.) at 11:00. Events in the park start at 1:00 with the unveiling and dedication of the Beloved Community Project Freedom Form II sculpture, granite benches with quotes from Dr. King cut into metal wraps. There will be musical entertainment, food vendors and free children’s activities.

Twin Cities Friends Meeting is putting together “Sharing the Light Within: A Quaker Arts & Crafts Fair” at the meetinghouse in St. Paul, Sat, Sept 13th. If you are interested in participating, email Brianna or Richard at fair(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)tcfm.org; Registration form and more at: quakercofe.ning.com/events-activities.

MN Interfaith Power and Light comedy show 7 pm, Sat, Sept. 13th, at Linden Hills United Church of Christ, to raise funds to help people buy bus tickets for the People’s Climate March in New York City on Sept. 21, which is slated to be the largest climate change rally and march EVER! It will feature real standup comics. Tickets $5.

Join the People’s Climate March in New York City on Sept 21st! Buses are being organized by MN Interfaith Power and Light and MN350. Information and tickets at mnipl.org/people-s-climate-march.html. Or people can navigate to that page by going to MNIPL.org. Terry Hokenson has already purchased a ticket on bus #2 – the MNIPL-sponsored interfaith bus!

SAVE THE DATE: The next Racial Justice Gathering by American Friend’s Service Conmmittee’s St. Paul Healing Justice program will be Wed, Oct 22, 5:30-8:30 pm, at the AFSC office, 1671 Summit Avenue, St. Paul. The meeting in April brought together 17 people from four Quaker communities along with other community members. The top three areas of interest at that meeting were: convening again for support, insight and coordination; more education about the ways in which systemic / institutional white privilege operates; and development of some action steps. More details coming in the early fall. For more, contact Sharon Goens-Bradley sgoens(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)afsc.org; 651-789-3852.

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