March 8, 2015

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed)

9:45 AM monthly meeting for business: David Woolley, clerk; Tom Ward, recording clerk

11:15 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): no planned speaker; care of meeting, Marilyn Johnson

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

The many in the meeting who are working at rehabilitation and healing following a health episode and those helping care for them; and those who are feeling the burden of grief and loss.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

SIMPLICITY is an historic Friends’ testimony and seems like an apt connection to make with recent discussions of climate change. Come read aloud and discuss two Friends Journal articles – “Choice Poverty” and “Sustainable Simplification: Shuns, ‘Shoulds’ and Sacrifice”. There is no expectation that people read ahead, Wed, March 18th, 7 pm, George and Elizabeth Watson Memorial Discussion Group. Host John Stuart. Drop-ins and one-timers, regulars and curious, everyone is welcome!

Hear about joys! Meeting and creating relationships with Quakers and Meetings in the upper midwest – Friends will share their experiences with Northern Yearly Meeting, our larger-area Quaker association. Next Sunday, Adult Program at 10:15.

BAKE SALE next Sunday, March 15! First Day School students are baking up a storm to raise money for Feed My Starving Children, the organization that they packed meals for in November. Goodies will be sold after both the 9:00 and 11:15 worships. Come ready to enjoy our delicious items for instant gratification and maybe purchase some to take home for later!

There will be an organizational meeting for clerks of committees on Sunday, March 22 at 12:30. Clerks, please plan to attend and meet the new Presiding Clerk of Meeting!

Game Night! There will be a family-friendly game night Sat, April 25th, 7-9:30. Put the date on your calendar and start considering which board game you’d like to bring!

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. Plan to attend the April 19th and May 17th adult programs that are the next step in the process.

Fall Camp, a weekend retreat for Minneapolis Friends Meeting members and attenders, will be October 10 and 11 at Villa Maria, scheduled to avoid conflicting with MEA. Put the date on your calendar and plan to come!!

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

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Fellowship and worship at the home of Louise, Tue, March 10th, 7:00 – Sometimes a thought-provoking recorded program, sometimes visiting, often a period of worship. All welcome at this informal time of sharing at Gideon Pond.

Loaves and Fishes, March 30th, 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, especially as many regulars are out of town. Look for sign up sheet by bulletins.

John Stuart’s letter to the editor, chosen as the Star Tribune letter of the day, and a commentary by John Dunham, both from this past week’s paper, are posted on the long bulletin board.

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 – a wonderful opportunity to meet with Friends from meetings throughout our region. Learn about and participate in the business of the Yearly Meeting. 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 can offer a ride! Call her for more or with interest.

Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends (Conservative) will have its mid-year meeting April 18 and 19 at Bear Creek meetinghouse near Earlham IA. Topic, “Quaker’s Ink: From Broadsides to Blogs – 350 Years of Friendly Wordiness” with Eric Moon. More information is posted on the long bulletin board. Stephen and Mary, Jim and Clifford often attend.

The Northern Yearly Meeting Annual Session will be over Memorial Day weekend, May 22-25 at the Lions Camp near Rosholt, WI. The theme this year is “Earth in the Age of Climate Change.” Registration materials will be sent out soon and will be available for download on the NYM website. Anyone interested in leading a workshop should contact Lauren. Save the date, and come and join us for a great weekend!

Friends General Conference Gathering is coming to Minnesota in 2016! A Gathering Committee is being formed to help plan and coordinate the week-long, spiritually-grounded, lovingly inclusive, joyous, challenging, nurturing event. If you are interested in helping, fill out the Expression of Interest Form online at FGCquaker.or/gathering-committee. More information is posted on the long bulletin board. The first meeting is in St. Paul on May 1 and 2.

Phil Lord, the American Friends Service Committee new Clerk of the Board, has an article entitled “A Powerful Hope” in the new issue of Friends Journal. Read it at: friendsjournal.org/powerful-hope/

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Dignity in Democracy is the theme of this year’s Joint Religious Legislative Coalition Day on the Hill, THIS 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.

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.