September 18, 2016

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Linda Hart

10:15 AM Joy! Share one-on-one (speed dating style!) the joys in our lives. Special seating for better audibility.

11:15 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Pat Jones, reader; Friendly Voices choir, musicians; care of meeting, Joanne Esser

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

First day school teachers and Meeting children as they commence a year of sharing and learning together.

Parents of first day school children are asked to go downstairs at 11:15 – at the close of semi-programmed worship and before introductions and announcements – for an informational parents’ meeting.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Read Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh with the Watson reading group Thurs, Sept 22, at 7:00. ALL are welcome, and, there is NO HOMEWORK. We read aloud and talk about our own experience, as we go along.

Peace and Social Concerns Committee will meet this Wed, Sept 21st, at 7:00, here. All interested are enthusiastically welcome!

Adult Program at 10:15 on Sept 25th “Experiment with Light: What did early Friends DO in the silence?” Hear a brief explanation of the Light Meditation based upon the practice of early Friends and adapted for contemporary Friends by Rex Ambler, one of the plenary speakers at Friends General Conference 2016 Gathering. MFM Friends who participated in Rex’s workshop there will offer some of their experiences/reflections of the process with time for questions and discussion about the formation of a Light Group here — for on-going group spiritual practice based in the Quaker tradition. Questions? Contact Diane.

Celebrate 60 Years of Minneapolis Meeting Friendly Fall Camp, now only 2 weeks away! You should have received your registration form in the mail. If you missed the deadline, registrations are being accepted TODAY. Some extra registration forms are available on the elevator table. Fill one out and leave it in the box OR email what meals you want to eat at camp and if you’re staying overnight to the office (office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org.) Don’t let the missed deadline keep you from coming! Camp Courage is happy be flexible. Barbara plans to come on Sunday for the Fall Camp Memories sharing time. Won’t you come and create some new memories of your own? We are going to have a lovely time.

Help your Friends Camp Courage strongly advises we have someone to supervise swim time at the pool for two hours on Sat afternoon (and possibly evening). It is just safer to have someone out of the pool watching everyone. You do not need to be a certified lifeguard. One certified person (CPR/AED and First Aid) IS needed to be our “go to person” if medical help is needed at Camp. Please contact Wina if you can help fill either of these needs. Linda will be helping Allen and Nettie lead dancing on Sat night! Come to camp for as long as you can – a morning, an afternoon, a day, a meal, for the Sat night variety show, Sun memory sharing, the weekend, or any combination in-between! You’ll be glad you did! A rideshare sign-up is posted for part-time attenders.

The first evening discussion about testimonies will be at the meetinghouse, Fri, Sept 30th, 7 – 8:30, discussing the peace testimony. Sign up if you would like to attend, (at the elevator table.) In Oct, Bill will host a discussion of integrity.

Peace and Social Concerns Committee’s focus this year is on supporting the various leadings and social concerns of Meeting members. As part of this support, the committee will show films, chosen by members, which reflect their concerns. The first film, The Doctrine of Discovery, will be shown Wed, Oct 12th, at 7:00 p.m. This documentary tells the story of how little-known Vatican documents of the 15th century resulted in a tragic global momentum of domination and dehumanization, leading to law systems in the U.S. and Canada that are being used against Original Nations and Peoples to this day. Discussion will follow. To see a trailer of the film, go to youtube.com/watch?v=G1VrzoaLahs

SAVE THE DATE: Lunch Bunch is meeting on Thurs, Oct 20th. More details to come!

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Friends School of Minnesota is seeking a Communications Director, (.5 position,) to develop and implement internal and external communications and marketing activities to meet strategic and institutional goals/needs of the school. Applications due by Sept 28. For more, see fsmn.org/employment/communications-director-5-fte

Ben Pink Dandelion is offering a free online, three-week course on the beginnings of Quakerism, starting Oct 3rd (enroll any time.) Register with Futurelearn (an easy process) which manages the course operation: futurelearn.com/courses/quakers/1 Pat, Carolyn, Steve and Mary, Tom, Barbara, and Roland have registered – the course promises to be first-rate as well as free. Please tell Pat if you sign up.

Diane Randall, executive secretary of Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), will be at the MN History Center, (345 W Kellogg Blvd) Sun, Oct 16. Open to the public, area Quakers are invited and encouraged to come to the reception there 1 – 3 pm. FCNL brings a patient, persistent, and non-partisan Quaker witness to DC, lobbying for legislation consistent with the values of peace, justice, and a sustainable planet. Diane will speak about FCNL’s vision and enthusiasm for the future, informed by the new capital campaign, The World We Seek: Now is the Time.

From Friends Committee on National Legislation: President Obama invoked the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force to launch airstrikes in Libya. This law has allowed two presidents to take military action around the world. In Jan 2017, it could continue and give our next president the power, alone, to wage war. The president, acting alone, has yielded: special ops in 150 countries; drone strikes with countless civilian deaths; warrantless surveillance of Americans; indefinite detention in Guantanamo Bay. For more, google “FCNL Questions for Candidates: Endless War”.

Friends Committee on National Legislation Annual Meeting and Lobby Day: Join FCNL in Washington, DC Nov 10-13 for the Annual Meeting and Lobby Day. Come participate in this Spirit-led work of setting our legislative priorities for the next Congress, fellowship, and worship. Registration is now open at fcnl.org/annualmeeting.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Interested in getting to know Mayim Rabim? Come to their open house, TODAY, Sept 18, 3:30 – 5:30 PM, here at the meetinghouse. Discussion and Q&A about the fundamentals of Reconstructionist Judaism and the values and practices that make Mayim Rabim a unique, welcoming place.

Every Church A Peace Church potluck TOMORROW, Mon, Sept 19th, 6:30 at St. Joan of Arc, 4537 – 3rd Ave So, Mpls. The program: Human Rights Issues on the US/Mexican Border with Kathleen Ganley who has taught courses on Latino immigration at the U of MN and is very involved with the MN Immigrants Rights Action Committee (MIRAC).

OFFICE HOURS

Pat Jones’ work week is Wed-Sun. She will be in the office at various times Wed, Thurs, Fri. and Sat.
Carolyn VandenDolder, the Administrative Assistant, will be in Wed, Thurs 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.