December 3, 2017

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 10:00 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Tom Ward and John Dunham (mic)

10:15 – 11:00 from Friends General Conference Spiritual Deepening Program: To Swim in the Life. Consider, through quotations and stories, what it means to live in the power and life of God. Then explore the ways that the abundance of the Spirit is being expressed through your life.

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Tom Wells, speaker and musician; care of meeting, Clifford Goltz; Sue Kearns (mic)

THANK YOU to all who helped with this year’s Friends for a NonViolent World Holiday Fair! The callers, the planners, the coordinators, the decorators and display organizers, the cooks, the crafters and the pricers, the people who did set-up and the people who did clean-up, the café people, the crafters and bakers and cookers and greeters, the musicians, donators, shoppers and coordinators, thank you!

You are 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…

ALSO TODAY: Frank is turning 80! There will be an open house TODAY from 1 – 4 pm at his home in Edina. No presents please, just your presence. Spouses welcome!

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Next Sunday at 9:45: worship with attention to business. Among other business, the Peace and Social Concerns Committee will make Envelope Gift recipient recommendations and we will hear an update about the Minneapolis Meeting History project. “The care with which we conduct our decision-making is often critical to the enduring harmony of the entire Meeting. At its best, the result reflects the transforming power of the love of God, an exhilarating and joyful experience.” ~Northern Yearly Meeting, 1999.

Sunday, Dec 17th at 10:15: Students from Minneapolis Community and Technical College will talk about their experience of being an immigrant in MN.

Sunday, Dec 24th at 10:15: Carol Sing! Come sing carol favorites and share potluck treats of the season (fingerfood only please, to help keep it simple.) Join the accompanying pick-up orchestra / band and bring an instrument of your choice!

The Nominating Committee will soon begin work for the upcoming year. Please help forward the work of the committee by responding to phone calls and emails inviting you to be part of the Meeting’s work and life. If you would like to become more involved in Minneapolis Meeting, participating in a committee is an excellent way to meet people and learn more about how the Meeting works. If you would like to know more about committees or the work they do, questions or interests may be directed to Doug, Annamary, Gayle, or Ed. Thank you for your commitment to MFM.

Northern Yearly Meeting is having a middle school retreat, Be(com)ing Ourselves, Be(com)ing Friends and Finding our Way in a Religiously Diverse World, NEXT WEEKEND at Madison Meeting in Wisconsin. For questions or more information, contact Marie, NYM Middle School Coordinator (Need Marie’s contact info? Email the office: office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org.) Register at nymyouth.org .

Interested in trying an Experiment with Light meditation with a small MFM group? All three established Light groups will be meeting this week and are inviting those interested to come. Please notify the contact person if you will be attending:
Wed, Dec. 6th, 7pm, meetinghouse conference room; contact – Joanne
Sat, Dec. 9th, 1:30 pm, meetinghouse conference room; contact – John
Sat, Dec. 9th, 1:45 pm, Becketwood Cooperative, 4300 West River Pkwy, #402, Mpls; contact – Carol
If you can’t make it to a group this month, you are still welcome to start in Jan. when new groups will be configured.

You are invited to join Mary and Stephen in their home at Kenwood Isles this Wednesday, December 6 from 12:00-1:00. We will spend a half-hour of worship sharing on a biblical passage. Meditation will be followed by a light lunch. RSVP to Mary.

The Watson reading group will gather in the Meeting conference room at 7 pm Tues, Dec. 12th, to read Out of the Silence: Quaker Perspectives on Pastoral Care and Counseling. No need to read ahead or to own the book; read aloud and discuss. One-timers and regulars welcome!

Sara Hoppe and Alison Morse will be reading their own poetry relating to their Jewish experience, accompanied by original music by Judith Eisner at Boneshaker Books, 2002 23rd AV S, Mpls. on Sat. Dec 9th, 7:00-9:00.

Celebrate the New Year in a meaningful way with a potluck after semi-programmed worship (around 1) on Sun, Dec 31st at Susie’s home. Susie lived in Japan for many years and wishes to share some of the special ways the New Year is celebrated there, including beautiful decorations, noodle soup (believed to give you a long life!), a fun poetry game, music, and lovely wooden plaques where wishes for the New Year are written. Enjoy food, Japanese culture, and each other and share your wishes for the New Year. RSVP by next Sun, Dec 31st. Adults only, please.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

The memorial service for Jack Phillips, longtime and beloved member of Twin Cities Friends Meeting, will be held at 2 pm Sat, Dec 16 at TCFM, 1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul.

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) action alerts offer timely information to take action on topics ranging from the Las Vegas shooting to climate change; the federal budget to North Korea; Yemen to DACA. See action alerts .
TODAY: FCNL urges us to contact Congress about the tax bill. Congress is working to pass a tax bill by the December holidays. There could be a bill on President Trump’s desk by the middle of December. Make sure your Congresspeople hear from you about this important legislation. For more information, see: fcnl.org/updates/urgent-action . A sample letter is at: fcnl.org .

OFFICE HOURS:
Carolyn VandenDolder, the interim Meeting Coordinator, will be in the office Wednesday through Friday, 10:30-4:00. Phone messages will be checked daily. 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.