March 1, 2015

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed)

10:15 AM John Cutler will talk about theater and acting as it relates to his faith. John grew up as a Quaker in Wichita, KS, and is a professional actor.

11:15 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): speaker, Jared Nichols; Dave Bostrom, musician; care of meeting, Marilyn Johnson

Everyone is welcome to the potluck following the rise of semi-programmed worship today! Please consider staying, even if you didn’t bring anything to add to the “pot”. To regulars – look for ways to help the effort: refresh supplies of sliverware / napkins / plates when needed; clear away empty servers; help gather, wash, dry and put away dishes; help put away chairs; help wash and put away tables . . . Every little bit helps!

REMINDER: Next Sunday, March 8 is the spring-ahead date! Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour next week!

Photos and listings in the new directory: We’re closing in on the end – don’t miss the chance to make sure your contact information is correct! A draft directory of names and contact information is on the bulletin table.
•Please check your listing, write corrections, and put a check by your name if the info is correct / complete.
•If you’ve made changes / additions in earlier drafts, please check your listing again to make sure we have it right!
•If you are not listed and would like to be, please fill in a contact information sheet.
•If you are listed and do not wish to be, or wish to have some of your info withheld, please so mark your listing.
If you are attending worship regularly – say ten times a year or more – we hope to include you and your contact information. Let us know if you have a photo you would like to submit: office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org; 612-926-6159.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Next Sunday at 9:45 – 11:15: monthly meeting for business. Nominating Committee will present it’s nominations for committee work in the coming fiscal year, (April 1 – March 31); Stewardship and Finance Committee will present the proposed budget for our new fiscal year; if time, Peace and Social Concerns Committee will recommend that MFM add its name to the Quaker EarthCare Witness Quaker Statement on Climate Change (quakerearthcare.org/article/jan-2015-facing-challenge-climate-change-shared-statement-quaker-groups) and record P&SC’s proposed statement regarding the voluntary carbon tax and the goals of peace, racial justice, and economic justice, (available on the elevator table.)

The George and Elizabeth Watson Memorial Discussion Group will meet Wed, March 18th, 7 pm. We will read aloud and discuss two articles on Simplicity from the December Friends Journal. Everyone is welcome!

The Meeting needs a custodian to clean the meetinghouse, a paid position, approximately 4 hours of work per week. Interested? Contact Joseph or Ed.

There will be an organizational meeting for clerks of committees on Sunday, March 22 at 12:30. Clerks, please plan to attend!

The draft of a proposed planning process to care for the future of the Meeting is available on the website: minneapolisfriends.org/2015/01/11/care-of-the-future/ Friends are encouraged to take a look and hold the Meeting’s planning process and its future in prayer and reflection. Opportunities for participation along the way are outlined in the draft. Comments and questions for now can be directed to Jeannette, Gayle, Pat or Ranae.

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. If you would like to automate your financial contributions, please talk to Roland, clerk of Stewardship and Finance Committee.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Lectio Divina, or Quaker worship sharing, on a text from Scripture or Quaker Faith and Practice, noon, Thursday, March 5th. Come be part of an informal group, meeting at the Snyder’s (at Kenwood Isles) for this, then a simple lunch following.

The Northern Yearly Meeting spring interim session will be March 27th and 28th in Stevens Point, WI – a first! Come for worship, business, reflection and fellowship. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet with Friends from meetings throughout the NYM region. Learn about and participate in the business of the Yearly Meeting, and hear and discuss the work of local and regional committees. Starts Fri night at 7:00 and winds up Sat late afternoon with the option to stay overnight and worship with Steven’s Point Friends Sunday morning. Hospitality is offered. Carolyn is planning to go and would love company! Call her if interested in going together.

Opportunity to discuss Doug Gwyn’s, A Sustainable Life, Thurs, March 5th, 7PM, at Twin Cities Friends Mtg, 1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul. More at FourRiversFriends.org/events-activities-announcements.

Camp Woodbrooke, a summer camp under Quaker leadership, offers an opportunity for young Friends to have a summer camp experience with Quaker values as a fundamental part of the program. With a 3 to 1 camper to counselor ratio, simple, rustic cabins and solar-heated water for showers, building community is not just a concept! Swimming, hiking, campfires, archery, organic gardening, tending chickens and goats, crafts, including woodworking and pottery, singing, sharing and worship. Check out Camp Woodbrooke for your young camper or for your high school or college student who wants to earn a little money this summer. Some financial aid is available through Northern Yearly Meeting. See posted flyer for more!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Dignity in Democracy is the theme of this year’s Joint Religious Legislative Coalition Day on the Hill, Tues, March 10! Policies that ensure a strong social safety net, that address economic justice, and that are based on caring “for the least of these” are policies that affirm the dignity and value of all our community members. The work of citizen lobbying is work that affirms dignity by ensuring all people have a voice at the table when legislative decisions are made. Come on March 10th and join the interfaith community to ensure that dignity is central to our democracy! Details posted.

Registration for the upcoming White Privilege Conference has begun. This year, WPC will be held in Louisville, KY in March. Friends from the Northern Yearly Meeting region have always made up the largest contingent of any yearly meeting. To learn how to be part of a sizable Quaker contingent, and receive a large discount, see: tinyurl.com/mrxcw72

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.