August 23, 2015

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

10:00 am  meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Roland Barrett, speaker; Nancy Lichtenstein, musician; care of meeting, Linda Coffin and John Stuart

Children and youth are always welcome in meeting for worship. Child care will be made available today in the lower level if there is a need.

Friends should be mindful of the presence of young people who might be in worship in the summer months. Pray for vocal ministry that might be meaningful to them, and be sensitive to the inappropriate nature of some subjects.

Please park at a distance if walking is easy for you and leave spaces close to the mtghouse for those with mobility challenges.

An informal group meets at the picnic table, 9 AM for Quaker discussion, (Turtle Bread if raining). Today, quakerspeak.com/ how-modern-quakers-challenge-traditional-gender-roles; quakerspeak.com/quakers-women-ministry.

The Ministry and Counsel Committee, in acknowledgment of the importance of discernment around vocal ministry, is offering some written pieces on that process. Newcomers and seasoned Friends alike are encouraged to read and consider these offerings.

NOTE OF CORRECTION: the new directory has an incorrect phone number for the meeting office. Directories waiting to be picked up have been corrected. If you already have your directory, change the number on the first page to 612-926-6159.

ONLINE MEETING DIRECTORY is active. Emails with your household’s password should have arrived/will arrive soon. A link to the online directory is available at two places on the Meeting website, under Contact and Directions on the main menu and in the News and Business sidebar. You can also Login at www.connections.lifetouch.com/?orgLogin=21901

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Fall Camp will be here soon! Do you know which Friend is most likely to do stand up comedy? Do you know who likes to sit by the fire? Do you know who is most likely to don a tin foil hat? Which Friends get lost on trails? Queries answered at Fall Camp! Camp offers such a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other better. Plan to attend Friends Fall Camp,  Oct. 10th – 11th, for all or part of the weekend., at Villa Maria in beautiful Frontenac, MN.  Brochures and registration forms will be available beginning August 30th.  Anyone with dietary restrictions should turn in their registration by September 20th.  All other registrations are due by September 27th.

NOTE time change :  SYMPHONY OF THE SOIL, a full-length documentary, will be shown this Sat, Aug 29th, 12 noon at Southdale Library. Sponsored and recommended by MFM’s Peace and Social Concerns Comm. because of the important role of soil as we work to keep the Earth habitable. Trailer at: youtube.com/watch?v=K5QYZ-LRXW4 . Come and invite friends and family to join as we learn together. No charge.

Caring for Creation tip: Livestock accounts for 18% of carbon emissions. The biggest contributor is beef. Producing half a pound of hamburger for a patty of meat the size of two decks of cards releases as much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere as driving a 3,000-pound car nearly 10 miles. A vegan diet produces one ton less carbon annually than an average diet. Consider trying out meatless Mondays or eating vegan for one meal a day.

There will be no Lunch Bunch in August. The group is planning to meet quarterly now except for winter. Sue will be calling participants to see whether Weds or Thurs work better. Oct, Apr, and July are likely months.

Loaves and Fishes: On fifth Mondays, MFM helps serve a Loaves and Fishes dinner at Holy Rosary Church in Minneapolis. Plan to work along side area Friends to prepare, serve and clean up such a meal on Mon, Aug 31st. Prep for the meal (chopping veggies, splitting and buttering bread, washing and packaging fruit) begins at 2. Prep for the serving line begins around 4; serving starts at 5:15; clean-up around 6 p.m., usually finishing by 7 p.m. Many hands are needed during each of these times. Children may help, but are not allowed in the kitchen. As always, if you are unable to help on site, you are invited to provide fruit for dessert. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin table.

Planning process for Care of the Meeting”s Future: Dates for next planned future steps- Sept 13th at monthly meeting, (business meeting runs 11:00-12:30 or so) and Sat afternoon, Oct. 10, at Fall Camp at Villa Maria. A report from the Aug. 1 Visioning Session and draft vision statements are posted on the Meeting website. There is a website link to a survey where you can respond to those draft vision statements: surveymonkey.com/r/zlkbxtv . Paper copies are also available at the meetinghouse.

Help garden every 1st and 3rd Tues, 6 pm. Be together and tend the meetinghouse grounds! Questions, call Clifford.

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Nettie (of MFM) is helping start a new project: “Embracing Our Young Women,” (EOYW) a safe space for north side girls 12-18 to be welcomed, hang-out and be listened to, get help with homework, and learn skills offered by community members. Come to Celebrating Sisters and Queens!, an exciting EOYW fundraiser, this coming Fri, Aug 28th, 6-8:30 PM, at Plymouth Christian Youth Center, 2210 Oliver Ave. No. Spoken word, poetry, music by young, north side artists. Fresh, vibrant and innovative. Suggested donation is $5-$10.

For a limited time, videos from the recent Friends General Conference Gathering are available on the website: fgcquaker.org/ resources/recordings-2015-gathering. Parker Palmer’s comments are recommended by MFM’s Ministry and Counsel Comm.

Northern Yearly Meeting’s High School Clerk’s planning retreat is Fri, Sept 4th – Sun, Sept 6th at Twin Cities Meeting. Could you help out as a Kindly Adult Presence?

Mayim Rabim invites Minneapolis Friends to hear mystical interpretations of Yiddish music played on stringed instruments. Introspective music will invite us to quiet our minds in stillness, contemplation, and devotion. Violinist Judith Eisner and her ensemble will play here at the meetinghouse on Sept 20th at 2:00. Structured as meditation rather than a concert, there will be no commentary or applause. Free and open to the public. A light lunch after worship available to Friends wishing to stay.

Friends Committee on National Legislation: Support Historic Iran Deal. A lot of money is being spent to influence this upcoming vote. What representatives hear from constituents right now will influence their position going forward. Both MN Senators are now in favor of the Iran Deal. Friends may wish to express appreciation. And contact your House Reps as well. More: see yellow flyers available at the mtghse or fcnl.org/issues/iran/. Read an open letter in support: apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/world/read-an-open-letter-from-retired-generals-and-admirals-on-the-iran-nuclear-deal/1689/

The American Friends Service Committee is co-hosting a local We Are All Criminals presentation and reflection on October 8. Please save the date for this valuable presentation! Registration will be available soon. More at WeAreAllCriminals.org.

Prayer and Connection: a Retreat for Quakers in Pastoral Care and Counseling, Thurs, Sept 17th – Sun, Sept 20th at Quaker Hill, Richmond, IN. Led by Jennie Isbell, Quaker spiritual director, workshop facilitator, and author: Finding God in the Verbs: Crafting a Fresh Language of Prayer and Leading Quakers: Disciple Leadership, A Friends’ Model. Jennie has served Quaker organiza-tions in a variety of roles and earned an M.Div. from Earlham School of Religion. For details and registration: qpcc.us.

Join Quaker EarthCare Witness and an interfaith coalition in Washington, DC, Sept 21-25, for the Moral March for Climate Action – coinciding with Pope Francis’ address to Congress. moralactiononclimate.org

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Mayim Rabim is hosting a gathering for people interested in learning more about their congregation this Sat, Aug 30th, 1:30-3:30. The fundamentals of Reconstructionist Judaism, and MR values and practices. Refreshments provided.

Mayim Rabim is hiring an opening/closing helper one Fri evening and one Sat morning per month plus occasional special events on a different day. Some details are posted. Contact office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)mayimrabim.org for more or with interest.

Buddhist Eco-Sattva Training, a ten-part online course. Info at: oneearthsangha.org/programs/ecosattva-training; local contact: ksvien(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)iphouse.com .

Donations Needed: This Sept, Refugee Services expects at least 60 new refugees to MN. Pots, pans, and deodorant needed as well as twin bedding and toothpaste. Please donate these urgently needed items – Minnesota Church Center (122 W Franklin Ave, Mpls). Questions to rsvolunteers(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)mnchurches.org or (612) 230-3219

OFFICE HOURS
Pat Jones’ work week is Wed-Sun. She will be in the office Wed. from 2:00-5:00 and other times Wed, Thurs, Fri. and Sat.
Carolyn VandenDolder, the Administrative Assistant, will be in Wed. and Fri. afternoons.   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.