September 21, 2014

9:00 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Connie Archbald and Carol Bechtel

10:15 AM An inquiry into Quaker testimonies with Jim Lovestar and Keitha Herron

11:15 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): there is no planned speaker today; Kathy Webster, musician; care of meeting, Joanne Esser

TODAY

Child care today is in the lower level with Susie Kanemitsu.

Parents are asked to fill out First Day School registration forms – available on the elevator table. The school year starts TODAY!

Fall Camp is just around the corner! Please get your registration in – all registrations all are due by October 3rd in order to secure room assignments.

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

The Climate March (Terry, Ranae, Nancy, Pat, Steve and Mary will all be there today!), those involved in the U.N. Climate Summit (Sept 23rd) and us all as we face the challenge of living within our ecological means.

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

Beginning the first day school year, Allen is the lead teacher. Next week, Sept 28th, there is a special bike outing for first day school students! Gather at 11:00.

Lunch Bunch will be this Wed, September 24th, Presbyterian Homes, 10030 Newton Ave So, 11:30. RSVP soon to Louise – at least by noon, Tues, Sept 23rd. 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.

Next Sunday at 10:15 – Welcome Doug and Keitha Herron! The Herrons have transferred their memberships to MFM. So, folks who go to semi-programmed worship, please remember to come at 10:15! And everyone, wear a nametag.

Loaves and Fishes – our next turn is Monday, Sept 29th: Volunteers needed for food prep (2:30-4:30), serving chili and salad (4:45-6:45), and post-meal cleanup (5:30-7:00) as well as donations of nutritious deserts such as fruit, cookies and bars. Information and a sign-up sheet is available on the bulletin table. Holy Rosary Church, 2424 18th Avenue S, Mpls.

The most recent Northern Yearly Meeting (NYM) paper newsletter has arrived and is posted on the long bulletin board. Among the many articles is an excellent one on Testimonies (pg 13), a petition to bring ethics to WI mining efforts (pg 3), and an article on the Friendly FolkDancer’s trip to the Congo (pg 6)! If you would like to receive an electronic NYM newsletter, email h.vernon.leighton(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com

Northern Yearly Meeting (NYM) Interim Session, Fri and Sat, Oct 24-25, will be in St. Paul at Twin Cities Friends Meeting. All Friends are encouraged to attend these sessions! Overnight housing is needed from area Quakers, for those coming from afar. Hear preliminary reports offering a glimpse of what NYM is doing and take advantage of the smaller size which makes it easier to mix and get to know people! Friday evening session will be from 7pm – 9pm; Saturday from 9am – 5pm. TCFM will provide simple lunch Saturday. Friday dinner options: some Friends eat en route, others bring food to share, and others go to a local restaurant.

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

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

Be forewarned: the Twin Cities Marathon will be Sunday, October 5th. Be prepared for road closures around the former Metrodome, downtown Minneapolis and over to the State Capitol. Specific closures can be found at tcmevents.org.

Are you put off by Salvation? Susan and Paul (Twin Cities Friends Meeting) are offering a class called “Quakers and Those Scary Christian Words” for five Thursdays, 7:00 to 9:00 pm, beginning Oct 2. Commitment to all five meetings and preregistration required; limited to 40. Questions and to register: susan.devries(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)mac.com .

Friends for a Non-Violent World is a Quaker-inspired organization that was founded in 1981 and has since been working to affirm the dignity inherent in each human being. FNVW is committed to advancing nonviolence as an ethic for honoring human dignity and a strategy for achieving peace and justice. FNVW offers newsletters with action ideas and excellent source material on a variety of issues and developments concerning peace and justice. Oct 10 is FNVW’s annual autumn Fundraiser/Celebration: engaging speakers, great conversation and wonderful food. Details to be announced.

“Finding Strength and Hope as We Transition to a Just and More Sustainable Future” workshop will be Sat, Nov 1st from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm here at the meetinghouse. We will briefly share what we are already doing and then explore our personal and corporate visions for the future. All are welcome!

The St. Paul office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) has a survey for Friends in the greater metro area to fill out. Fill it out online (http://bit.ly/AFSC_TC2014_survey) by October 22. A paper version of the survey will be available later this fall. FFI: Sharon Goens-Bradley 651-789-3852 or sgoens(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)afsc.org.

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL): The U.S. Shouldn’t Bomb Iraq and Syria. Congress has voted to train and provide military equipment to rebel groups in Syria. While Congress is not likely to decide about authorizing military force in Iraq and Syria until after the election, this vote puts the U.S. on a path to an expanded war in the Middle East. Right now, members of Congress need to hear that there are still alternatives to military action in this crisis. See more at: http://fcnl.org/action/alert/2014/0918 .

Friends Committee on National Legislation’s (FCNL’s) Quaker Public Policy Institute Pro-Diplomacy Lobby Day is happening on November 20-21 in Washington, DC. See ten reasons Kate Gould, FCNL’s head lobbyist on issues in the Middle East, thinks you should go: http://fcnl.org/issues/middle_east/10_reason_to_come_qppi/

OFFICE HOURS

Pat Jones will be out of the office until September 28th.
Carolyn VandenDolder, the Administrative Assistant, will be in the office on Wed. Bulletin deadline, noon WEDNESDAY. Bulletin items can be phoned in to the office, emailed or written and put in the bulletin file of the blue box.