This Sunday we SPRING AHEAD and lose that hour we gained in the autumn. Remember to set your clock ahead one hour on Saturday night.

March 11, 2018

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 9:40 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Renae Bonde

9:45 – 11:15 Linda Coffin, acting presiding clerk; Tom Ward, recording clerk

11:15 – 12:00 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Jim Lovestar, speaker; care of meeting, Judith James; microphone carrier, Ellen Swanson

“In coming to a decision, Quakers use an inclusive, thoughtful, often slow group process that encourages people to keep their minds open, to turn to the Inner Light for guidance, to listen to one another, and to search their hearts. We expect to hear from the inner Teacher and from one another…” ~ from Quaker Process for Friends on the Benches

An Introduction to Friends session will be offered today at 1 in the conference room and again Tues at 7. For newcomers and old-timers, the simply curious and the seasoned Friend, come discover, come lend your insights, and come to know one another. Topic today /Tues: Testimonies. Enjoy your bag lunch downstairs before moving to the conference room!

Housekeeping: It’s the season of grit, sand, salt and snow. Please clean your boots/shoes well upon entering the building. Boot trays are available on the entry landings. Also, please lift items moved in the meetingroom to help spare the floor.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Quaker Etiquette reminder: Spoken messages during worship are delivered by individuals but are understood to be coming through them from God. Speaking in worship can feel vulnerable. Please refrain from entering or leaving the meetingroom while someone is offering vocal ministry.

Mid-Morning Program next Sunday at 10:15: Coffee and conversation. Miss the inter-meeting for worship mingling that is so available in the summer? Early worship folks, stay late; later worship folks, come early. Let’s get together over a cuppa!

Zephyra and Roland Shepherd created the Shepherd Scholarship for the post-secondary education of members or member’s children in 1977. Applications and eligibility criteria are available on the long table in the east hall. Applications should be mailed to the meetinghouse or put in the Shepherd Scholarship file in the blue box. Application deadline is April 15.

SAVE THE DATE: OCTOBER 6 and plan to spend the day with Friends at French Regional Park for Fall Together!

The Peace and Social Concerns Committee and Doug and Keitha are offering a $200 travel grant to any Meeting student wishing to go to the March for Our Lives in D.C. To date, there is no organized group traveling from Minnesota though there might be Amtrak travel available at cost for the event: rallybus.net/march-for-our-lives/from/minneapolis-mn . See Roland or Debbie to apply.

A Northern Yearly Meeting middle school retreat will be March 30 – April 1 here at the meetinghouse. Registration will be available soon. For more, contact coordinator, Marie.

Read Out of the Silence: Quaker Perspectives on Pastoral Care and Counseling at the Watson reading group Tues, March 20th at 7 PM downstairs. No need to read ahead – we’ll read together! One-timers and regulars – everyone is welcome!

Ride Request from Seward Neighborhood: If you are willing to provide a ride to either unprogrammed or semi-programmed worship for someone in the Seward neighborhood, please contact Scott. Interested in being a ride-share resource for future ride-sharing? Let Scott know.

NAYE STRUNES (NEW STRINGS) will offer a contemplative concert, “The Garden of the Righteous” at 2:00 on April 15th, here at the meetinghouse. More than 21,000 non-Jews risked their lives during the Holocaust to save innocent people whom they didn’t know. Designated as Righteous Among the Nations, trees were planted in their honor in the Garden of the Righteous at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Weaving together stories of six fearless individuals with original Yiddish music, the concert will give attenders an opportunity to reflect on the stunning example of courage and compassion in dark times. Free-will donations to support Doctors Without Borders medical teams who help people regardless of politics, religion, or race. Musicians: Judith Eisner, Gretta Hunstiger (violin), Beth Albertson (cello), and Stu Janis (tsimbl). Sponsored by Mayim Rabim and Minneapolis Meeting, members from both are invited to a 1:00 potluck preceding the concert. Please label your “pot” ingredients so people can enjoy the meal with confidence!

A few advance programs for this summer’s Friends General Conference Gathering, “The Power of Truth,” have arrived and are on the table in the long hallway. Held in Toledo, OH (comparatively near!) July 1-7, some of the workshops offer opportunities we have expressed yearning for: Clerking with Joy and Confidence (Arthur Larrabee); Building a Culture of Multiage Inclusion (Emily Provance); and for Friends who want to embrace their imperfections (diminishments included?), Make Big Shadows I Can Move In (LVM Shelton). More at fgcquaker.org/connect/gathering .

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Friends for a NonViolent World Annual Meeting and Open House TODAY. See the new space (393 Dunlap St, Suite 307, St. Paul), hear about the great work done in 2017, and learn what’s in store in 2018! 1-2 pm open house; 2-4 Annual Meeting.

Northern Yearly Meeting will hold its Spring Interim Session at Milwaukee Meeting, 3224 N Gordon Place, Milwaukee next weekend, March 16 – 17. All are welcome.

Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) will have its mid-year gathering at Bear Creek Meeting near Earlham Iowa April 7-8. Clifford, Jim, and Mary, and Stephen often attend.

Looking ahead: Friends School of MN plant sale is May 11-13th at the State Fair Grandstand! Volunteer sign-up has started: 651-621-8930; FriendsSchoolPlantSale.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

The Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (the largest public interfaith interest group in MN) is hosting Day on the Hill THIS Tue, March 13th at Central Presbyterian Church, 500 Cedar St and the State Capitol. This annual lobby day brings clergy and lay people from across the state together to show interfaith commitment to social justice and to participate in the lawmaking process. Half-day agenda with prayer, issue briefings, legislative district meetings, and action; cost of $45. More at jrlc.org.

Minneapolis March for Our Lives, Sat, March 24th, 10 – noon at the State Capitol.

OFFICE HOURS: Carolyn VandenDolder, the interim Meeting Coordinator, will be in the office Wed – Fri, 10:30-4:00. Phone messages 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.