June 12, 2016

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

10:00 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Julia Reimer, speaker; Dave Bostrom, musician; care of meeting, Barbara Mohr and Carol Bechtel

11:00 AM worship with attention to business: David Woolley, clerk; Tom Ward, recording clerk

I / Have / Learned / So much from God / That I can no longer / Call / Myself
A Christian, a Hindu, a Muslim, / a Buddhist, a Jew.
The Truth has shared so much of Itself / With me
That I can no longer call myself / A man, a woman, an angel, / Or even a pure / Soul.
Love has / Befriended Hafiz so completely / It has turned to ash / And freed / Me
Of every concept and image / my mind has ever known.

~ from: ‘The Gift’ by Hafiz of Shiraz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky

Today’s picnic table conversation at 9:00: Difference between Quaker worship and other Christian services.

Children will remain in worship for about 15 minutes and may, at the announced time, go to the park (or downstairs in case of rain) with two adults who have gone through a clearness process for working with children. Or they may choose to stay in worship. Younger children may choose to go to the nursery at that time, if they do not want to go outside with others. If you would like to work with Meeting children but have not had a clearness process to do so, please contact Scott Chapman, Robert Raymond or Pat Jones.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Children and youth are always welcome in meeting for worship. 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.

The Watson Reading Group will meet here, Tues, June 21st, 7:00, to start reading Thich Naht Hanh’s Living Buddha, Living Christ. All are welcome—first-timers and regulars. There is NO PREP needed, we read out loud and talk as we go along.

Care for Creation Tip: Put your laptop to sleep. Allow your computer and other devices to sleep when you’re not using them. It is an energy saver – good for their battery life and better for the earth. If time permits, shut down! A sleeping machine still consumes power. Even power adapters plugged into outlets – even if they unconnected to a devise – continue to draw power.

Every Sunday in the summer, there will be 9 AM picnic table discussion (inside if raining,) dealing with topics in contemporary Quakerism or Quakers in history. A list of topics is by the bulletins – next week’s topic: Un-doing the Damage of Violence.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Young Adult Quakers (roughly 18-40) will be gathering for a potluck at 6 pm on Tues, June 14th at the meetinghouse. Bring a dish to share and any games you would like to play. RSVP to Elizabeth is appreciated but not required.

The Quaker women’s group will meet on Wed, June15, at 12:30 PM in the basement of Becketwood’s chapel. Tour the gardens and free-flow discussion. Bring a snack to share and a mug for coffee or tea. You may bring a bag lunch, if you wish.

Eleanor Zelliot, a founding member of Cannon Valley meeting, died on June 5th. Cannon Valley Meeting will hold a memorial on Sat, June 18th, at 2:00: 512 Washington St., Northfield, MN. Eleanor was 89.

Friends for a Non-Violent World board members, staff, volunteers, enthusiasts, and those curious about the organization (surely you fit in one of these categories!) please come to the June 23rd Picnic for the FNVW Community! Como Park Picnic Shelter; mingle 4-5pm; activities and food 5-9pm. Free brats, burgers, vegan burgers, and cookies; potluck items: salads, side dishes and desserts appreciated but not required. RSVPs appreciated for planning: 651-917-0383, or fnvwjenn(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com

Friends General Conference 2016 Gathering registration – online or via phone, 215-561-1700. A $60 late registration fee will now be charged. Workshops and aid are first come first served, so the sooner you register the better your chances of getting what you want / need. Once registered, consider volunteering! There are jobs immediately before, during, and after the Gathering. Email FGC2016(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com for a list of opportunities. Take advantage of the Gathering coming to our neighborhood! July 3-9 at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN.

Local Quakers can attend the following Friends General Conference evening plenary session without registering for the Gathering, as room permits. All evening speaker events begin at 7:00 pm: Mon, Rex Ambler; Thur, Nakima Ley-Pounds; Fri, Peggy Senger Morrison. fgcquaker.org/connect/gathering/programs-and-events/evening-programs

There are four pre-Gathering events available to Friends, even if you are not planning to attend the entire Friends General Conference Gathering: Adult Young Friends Retreat; Is Your Meeting Online?; Quakers and Business Conference; and Retreat for People of Color and Their Families. More at fgcquaker.org/connect/gathering/programs-and-events/pre-gathering

Annie Patterson and Peter Blood will host a release concert for the new Rise Again songbook at Twin Cities Friends Meeting on July 9th, 6:30. Suggested donation, $20, proceeds benefit Pete and Toshi Seegers’ Carry It On Fund https://carryiton.org

Alice and Richard, both of Twin Cities Meeting, are interested in exploring Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re In Without Going Crazy, by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone with area Friends on Thurs. evenings, July 21 – August 25. Please let them or the MFM office know if you are interested!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Join local members of the Iraqi community and learn what Ramadan means to them in their new Minnesota home at a Ramadan Iftar meal at sunset on June 25th. Discussion follows at 8:30. Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide, is a month of prayer, fasting, and charity-giving to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. Fasting is performed to learn compassion, self-restraint, and generosity. Iftar is the evening meal, breaking a Ramadan fast. The Green Valley Buffet, 6540 University Ave. NE, Fridley, MN 55432. Tickets $20, Please RSVP to jessy(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)reconciliationproject.org

MN Council of Churches and the Muslim American Society of MN will offer Taking Heart Ramadan Iftar. Non-Muslims are invited into mosques to observe prayer and share a meal now through the first week of July. Taking Heart was started in 2005 to bring Christians and Muslims together to get to know each other over a meal and conversation. Sign up and more: mnchurches.org/respectfulcommunities/interfaithprogramming/takingheart/registration.html

OFFICE HOURS: Pat Jones will return to the office on June 18th. Carolyn is out of the office until July 12th.