January 13, 2019

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 9:40 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Lin Butler

9:45 – 11:15 monthly meeting for business: John Kraft, clerk; Stephen Snyder, recording clerk

11:15 – 12:00 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Rick VandenDolder, speaker; care of meeting, Gib Pellet

“In our meetings [for business] we welcome many truths, by whomever expressed, and don’t worry, at first, about how they all fit together. There is a role for paradox on the journey.” Arthur Larrabee, Quaker Decision-Making and Clerking

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

All those who carry worries, burdens, and sorrows, known and unknown by others.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Mid-Morning Program next Sun at 10:15: Explore, listen, and share our individual responses, based on personal experience, to the query, “Is God, the Holy, Love, the center of our lives?” Facilitated by Nettie Smith and Carolyn VandenDolder.

The Nominating Committee has begun work for the upcoming year. If you would like to know more about becoming involved in Minneapolis Meeting, participating on a committee is an excellent way to get to know people and learn more about how the meeting works. Your questions or interest may be directed to Doug, Annamary, Debbie, and Jim. Thank you for your commitment to MFM.

Barbara Z. is coordinating a time of worship with Barbara Coffin at 1:30 PM next Sun, Jan 20th. Space limited; please let Barbara Z know if you wish to attend.

Paul Buckley, Quaker scholar and author, will visit MFM the weekend of Feb 1-3 to offer presentations and lead discussions on his two recent books, Primitive Christianity Revived (a modern translation of Wm Penn’s classic) and Primitive Quakerism Revived, and on contemporary Quakerism. He will also speak at mid-morning program on Sun, Feb 3. The schedule for his visit is attached to the bulletin. Please participate as much as you are able – full participation is desired but not required! Friday night might be of particular interest to newer Friends. Childcare will be available but please let us know if you need it so we can be adequately staffed, (email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org.) This is a unique opportunity for Quaker education and development. A few copies of Primitive Quakerism Revived are available for purchase ($15 ea – ask Carolyn); two copies are in the MFM library.

Read Primitive Quakerism Revived by Paul Buckley at the Watson reading group Tues, Jan 15th at 7 PM in the conference room. No need to read ahead – we’ll read together! One-timers and regulars – everyone is welcome! Paul will be visiting and speaking about this book and more at Minneapolis Meeting in February.

A quick survey from Camp Committee was sent, via email, from the MFM office last week. The committee would like input from as many people as possible – even (especially?) those who didn’t attend last fall! At the end of the survey, it asks if someone else would like to take it, too. Invite everyone else in the family to fill it out before closing it – kids included! Please complete the survey promptly to help the committee plan next year’s gathering. And thanks to those of you who have already!

Are you willing to meet with newcomers (or others) to discuss and share questions about Minneapolis Meeting and Quakerism in general? Sign up to be on call for Coffee (but it doesn’t have to be coffee) with a Quaker! Volunteers agree to meet, one-on-one, with those wanting to explore Quakerism, sharing from their experience and understanding of the Meeting and Quakerism and guided by listening to the newcomer’s needs. The Welcoming and Outreach Committee will match new-ish Friends with less-new Friends. Sign up on the sheet on the elevator table or contact Ed .

There will be a Northern Yearly Meeting high school retreat in Duluth on Jan 18-20; theme: School Dress Codes and Body Image. Contact Cynthia (adult coordinator) for more. RSVP by Wed, Jan 16th. If you need help with finding ride let us know ASAP. Cost: $30/person, checks payable to NYM. Financial support is available.
** KAPs (kindly adult presences) are still needed for Sat. If you know an MFM high schooler going to Duluth for the retreat, consider going along to help out! If interested, please contact Cynthia, (info available from the office – office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org)

There will be a Northern Yearly Meeting middle school retreat over President’s weekend, Feb 15-17 at Grace Lutheran Church, 202 W Grand Ave, (downtown,) Eau Claire, WI. Topic: bridge-building. Mark your calendars now! Contact the office (office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org) to be put in touch with the retreat organizer.

The local Quaker Voluntary Service program is seeking site organization for next year! From the web site: “QVS partners with agencies and organizations that offer direct support to marginalized individuals and communities, and that strive to transform unjust structures.” If you have connections with a local non-profit organization that represents these values and might be interested in a creating a Fellow position for 2019-2020, please contact Sonja Sponheim, Local Coordinator (sonja(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)quakervoluntaryservice.org). Deadline for organization applications is Feb 1.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Friends School of MN will offer its Martin Luther King Jr. Reception and Celebration at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium, St. Catherine University, this Friday, Jan. 18, 6:30-9 PM. This is a K-8 student-developed, student-performed celebration. This year’s theme is Peace.

Friends for a NonViolent World seeks new board members. Board member responsibilities include: strategic planning for the future of FNVW; providing the link between FNVW and its members and stakeholders; reviewing and writing governing policies; guiding and monitoring the organization’s work; hiring, monitoring and evaluating the executive director. Experience and skills in one or more of the following would be helpful: event planning, facilities, finance, fundraising, communications, volunteer management, personnel/human resources, research, and training. For more or to express interest, email: board(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)fnvw.org .

Woolman Hill Retreat Center: Nurturing Faithfulness, August 2019-May 2020. On Tues, Jan. 22nd, there will be a webinar for those considering participation in Nurturing Faithfulness, a nine-month program in spiritual deepening in community, sponsored by Woolman Hill (Deerfield MA) and New England Yearly Meeting with teachers Marcelle Martin and Hilary Burgin. The program includes three residencies at Woolman Hill Retreat Center and monthly online webinars/ telephone conferences between August 2019 and May 2020. The first residency is Aug 30 – Sept 3, 2019 (Labor Day Weekend). Watch an introduction here. Click here for more and how to access the Jan 22 webinar.

White Privilege Conference March 20-23, 2019 in Cedar Rapids, IA, (whiteprivilegeconference.com/ Registration for the conference is now open. Before you register, sign up to get information from Friends General Conference about how to receive a significant discount.
Click here to read about FGC’s past involvement in WPC.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

The Joint Religious Legislative Coalition’s (JRLC’s) Day on the Hill (Feb 7) is an annual policy briefing and lobby day to show our interfaith commitment to social justice and to participate in the lawmaking process. The event includes prayer, issue briefings, time to meet with your district, and opportunities to take action. Registration is required.

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.