April 3, 2016

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Sandy Olson

10:15 AM Get-to-know-you games! Come to this informal time of light-heartedness!

11:15 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Jane Furnas, speaker; Nancy Lichtenstein, musician; care of meeting, Linda Coffin

Art thou in Darkness? Mind it not, for if thou dost it will fill thee more, but stand still and act not,
and wait in patience till Light rises out of Darkness to lead thee.
– James Nayler, Quaker Faith & Practice, Britain Yearly Meeting

You are welcome to the potluck at the rise of semi-programmed worship today. Like most things here, potlucks are do-it-yourself affairs. Look for ways to help the effort: replenish silverware, plates, and mugs when needed; help clear, wash, and put away tables, put away chairs, help wash, dry, and put away dishes. Many hands make light work for everyone!

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

Friends for a NonViolent World and its starting tomorrow, new Executive Director, Jenn Hamrick. Jenn was hired in 2012 to be the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) Coordinator and has been a regular volunteer since she left that position. Jenn comes with a passion for engaging volunteers and community members to create efficient and effective programming. She is thrilled to be rejoining the FNVW staff team and is excited about the opportunities that lay ahead for FNVW.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

The end of March was the close of the Meeting’s business and fiscal year. Any time is a good time to say thank you to one another for the work and ministry Friends do within and on behalf of the Meeting. For your time and care and the lending of your gifts to committee work, we thank you.
Next Sunday, April 10th, there will be a meeting of all committee clerks at the rise of semi-programmed worship. If a clerk cannot attend, please arrange for a substitute. Bring your own bag lunch.

Thank you for your contributions of money to support the work and life of the Meeting. Other types of giving too, often done in unacknowledged ways, make the Meeting what it is, and we are grateful for those many, often unseen acts.

Next Sunday, April 10th at 9:45: worship with attention to business. Come and let us labor together in shaping the life of the Meeting. Friends are encouraged to come to worship at 9:00 in preparation for turning our minds to business at 9:45.

Sunday, April 17th at 10:15: Peace and Social Concerns Committee will be leading a discussion about current racial justice issues and finding our place in the struggle.

The George and Elizabeth Watson reading group will meet Tuesday, April 12, at 7:00, and will read (together) an article about Thomas Merton. We will also be talking more about a new book choice. All are welcome.

Care for Creation Tip: Do not add cereal-box bags (#2 plastic film) to your recycling bin. They can jam and damage recycling machinery. CLEAN #2 plastic bags and other plastic film can be dropped off for recycling at retail locations, (like Cub.)

A memorial service for climate losses will be on Sunday, April 24th at 1:15, to grieve, hope, celebrate and be present.

There will be a Northern Yearly Meeting Middle School Retreat April 15-17 at the Twin Cities Friends Meeting: nymyouth.org

Northern Yearly Meeting 2016: Spiritual Deepening – Bringing the Full Depth, Joy and Fire of Quaker Faith into Our Lives is over Memorial Day weekend. Find schedule and registration information on the elevator table.

Friends General Conference 2016 Gathering advance programs have arrived. Early registration, online or via phone, is now open! Anyone who registers by April 10 has an equal opportunity to get the workshop and housing of their choice. View the information online by googling: 2016 FGC gathering advance program. Find paper copies on the elevator table. The FGC Gathering is from July 3-9 at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Elizabeth is the new editor of the Northern Yearly Meeting Newsletter. The deadline for submission to the next newsletter is April 10. Send updates from your Meeting or worship group, pictures from Quaker events, poetry, articles about your faith-journey, new insights or happenings in Quakerism, Quaker jokes.

Embracing Our Young Women, an organization started by Nettie and others to support young women living on the North Side, is seeking used, functional sewing machine donations. Contact Nettie for more.

Aimee (of Twin Cities Meeting) recently traveled to Peru for the Friends World Committee for Consultation Plenary. The conference gathered 320 Friends from 37 countries, 77 Yearly Meetings, 8 independent Monthly Meetings, and 2 worship groups. Aimee will talk about her experience of the conference and Peru on Fri, April 8th at TCFM (1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul). Potluck at 6:15pm, program at 7pm. All welcome!

Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) Mid-Year Meeting, Understanding Islam, Overcoming Fear, will be April 9 and 10 in Iowa. A schedule and registration information is posed. Jim, Clifford, Steve and Mary usually attend.

The School of the Spirit offers Inner Journey, Outer Journey, a contemplative retreat in the manner of Friends next spring, April 21-24 at the DeKoven Center in Racine, WI. Brochures available on the long table. Or see schoolofthespirit.org

The Nightingales Spring gathering will be at Beaver Creek Reserve, (aka Eau Claire County Youth Camp,) Fall Creek, WI, April 22-24. More is posted. RSVP to Janet.

Healing Minnesota Stories (HMS) Sacred Sites Tour Sat, April 30th, 11 – 3. Visit sacred sites in the vicinity of B’dote, the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. Tours offer an opportunity to learn, from Native story-telling perspectives, parts of Minnesota history too-often ignored. Register at: spinterfaith.org/healing-minnesota-stories/educational-events.html Six people from Minneapolis Friends have registered. Questions: Nettie.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

The annual White Privilege Conference will be in Philadelphia, April 14‑17. Friends General Conference provides a significant discount to Quakers who register through FGC, fgcquaker.org/wpc . Register soon! whiteprivilegeconference.org

Fundraiser for Syrian Refugees TODAY at 3 pm. Silent auction, coffee and treats, speakers: Keith Ellison and Dr. Aref Al-Kali of the Syrian American Medical Society. Macalester Plymouth United Church, 1658 Lincoln Ave, St. Paul.

Global Peacebuilding and Youth: Considering Pathways for Global Citizens in the 21st Century; 2:00 -3:30 April 7 at Mpls Community and Technical College Library, L3000. David J. Smith explores the role that peacebuilding can play in shaping a civically engaged society and presents approaches that can be used with students to become participatory global citizens.

Recovering from Religion: Toxic Theology, PTSD and the Road to Healing, Apr 6-9, Loft Literary Ctr, Mpls. Religion plays a major role in the lives of millions – sometimes positive but sometimes not. Theological systems that foster trauma or abuse are too common. Explore the negative impacts and the ways in which we can heal: micahprays.org/events/conferences.htm

“A Relationship Transformed: Jewish Gratitude for Catholic Initiative: Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate” Sun, April 17th, 4:00 – 5:30, here at the meetinghouse with Yiscah Brachah of the Jewish Community Resource Center. In 1965 the Second Vatican Council passed Nostra Aetate [In Our Times], a Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions. This signaled a significant change in attitude toward non-Christian religions, with a special focus on Jews. The document, which could have been relegated to a shelf, was brought to life with subsequent initiatives.

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.