December 6, 2015

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

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

10:15 AM Early Quakers and Christmas

11:15 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Susan Hoch, speaker; Kate Coon, Nancy Lichtenstein and Dave Bostrom, musicians; care of meeting, Joanne Esser

THANK YOU to all who helped with this year’s Friends for a NonViolent World Holiday Fair! The set-up people, the clean-up people, the café people, the crafters and bakers and cookers and greeters, musicians, donators and coordinators, thank you.

Don’t yet have a photo on the bulletin board? Didn’t get your photo taken at the Holiday Fair? Sue, gifted photographer, will have her camera at the meetinghouse today after the rise of semi-programmed worship. Friends are invited to meet her in the south hallway and get a photo taken!

Everyone is welcome at the potluck today following semi-programmed worship. Please stay, even if you didn’t bring a dish to share. To regulars, look for ways to help the effort: help clear, wash, dry and put away dishes, take down tables and chairs . . .

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Monthly meeting for business is next Sunday at 9:45. Friends are encouraged to participate in the discernment on meeting-community decisions including approving recipients for this year’s White Envelope Gift.

Friendly Meals are again being organized for February, March and April, 2016! Friendly meals are one-time mixers. Sign up for all three months / meals or sign up as an on-call participant. Hosts will email the group assigned to them to set a date, provide an entree and coordinate what others are bringing. Other participants bring salad, drinks, appetizer or dessert. Keitha of Welcoming and Outreach Committee will mix and match those who sign up so it is a new group every meal. Flyers with more details as well as the sign up sheet are on the elevator table. Sign-up deadline is January 27.

The George and Elizabeth Watson Discussion Group will meet Wed, Dec 16th, at 7:00. We are reading Karen Armstrong’s book on compassion together. No prep needed. Everyone is welcome!

Young adult Quakers (age 18-40) from the Twin Cities are planning a camping trip Jan 22-24 at Camp Lakamaga in Marine on St Croix. Modern cabin, cooking our own food, enjoying each other’s company. Cost for both nights, including food, is $45, but all are welcome regardless of ability to pay. Ask Elizabeth if you would like more information or want to attend. RSVP by Jan 4th.

Statements of 2015 financial contributions to the Meeting were sent out a couple of weeks ago to people who have given money so far this year. This information is meant to help people as they consider end-of-year giving. If you did not receive a letter, the Meeting does not yet have a record of contribution for 2015.

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.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Steve and Mary will offer lectio divina (divine reading) this Wed, Dec 9th at noon, Kenwood Isles, (1425 W 28th St). Light lunch will follow.

Twin Cities Meeting (1725 Grand in St. Paul) is hosting a racial justice reading group, on Tues, Dec 8th, 7:00, in the north conference room. Discuss articles about others’ personal experiences of racism to more deeply understand how racism works both internally and systematically. For Dec 8th, “Why I Stopped Dating White Men” by Anthony Williams (http://tinyurl.com/qxz5qdh). In our relationships across lines of privilege, we need to acknowledge ways the personal becomes political. On January 5th, “Slow Poison” by Ezekiel Kweku.. There will be some reading time at the beginning of each discussion night.

Friends Committee on National Legislation on Syrian refugees: Recently the House voted overwhelmingly to pause the Syrian refugee resettlement program. Congress is poised to turn away people fleeing violence in search of shelter. Over the past four and a half years of civil war, an average of 146 Syrians have been killed each day, according to conservative estimates. Syria has faced the equivalent of the recent Paris attack every single day for years. Refugees are fellow humans, whose lives matter. Our recognition of their humanity must trump our fear of the violence they, themselves, are running from. Respond to your representative’s vote, and urge him or her to consider how we can break out of this cycle of fear and violence. Read more at: fcnl.org/blog/2c/Thanksgiving_Syrians_Refugees_Faith_Action; fcnl.org/action/alert/2015/1117; fcnl.org/blog/2c/we_must_not_act_in_fear

The fundraiser for Syrians and Syrian refugees, recently held at Minneapolis Meeting, raised over $11,000 (at last count.) These funds will keep a Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) Field Hospital in Syria open and treating patients for almost a month and will enable 26 Syrian refugee children to attend Watan’s Rehanli School in Turkey for a year.

American Friends Service Committee’s statement following the recent ISIS attacks can be found at: afsc.org/story/responding-isis-attacks-afsc-calls-no-more-victims

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Iraqi Voices will premiere three short films written and directed by Twin Cities-based Iraqi refugees, with discussion with the filmmakers following on Dec 7th, 7:30, Macalester College, Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center. Free; donations welcome. Dessert and Iraqi tea reception to follow. Iraqi Voices is an ongoing collaborative video initiative that helps Iraqis in Minnesota transform their stories into short documentaries. To learn more: http://reconciliationproject.org/.

The Anti-War Committee will be holding a rally, march, and poetry slam to mark International Human Rights Day, Thurs, Dec 10th, demanding: an end to US aid to Israel; ending our wars in Iraq and Syria; and spending money for the benefit of people – not for wars. Start at Amy Klobuchar’s office (1200 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis) at 4:30 PM and march to Mayday Books (301 Cedar Avenue, Minneapolis).

Middle East Peace Now offers Her Story with Nour Nabris, a native of Jerusalem, currently doing a Master’s degree at the U of MN. Nour will offer her understanding of origin of the conflict in Palestine/Israel. She will speak of her experiences of the situation today in key Palestinian areas: Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Her focus will be on current challenges including house demolitions, the wall, settlements, and discrimination. Finally, Nour will share her personal experience as a Palestinian living in Jerusalem. Dec. 12th, 9:30 at the Southdale Library, 7001 York Ave S, Mpls.

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. 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.