February 17, 2019

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 10:00 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, John Dunham; Carol Bechtel (mic)

10:15 – 11:00 Quaker Voluntary Service Fellows and the Local Coordinator will share about their placements and their experience in the QVS program: Angelica Brown (Green Central Elementary), K.T. Glusac (Our Savior’s Housing), Eli Phillips (Bridging), Dillon Sebastian (Heart of the Beast), Taylor Wicklund (Friends for a NonViolent World), Alina Yaman (MN Interfaith Power and Light), and Sonja Sponheim coordinator.

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Andrea McPhaul, speaker; Stephen Snyder, musician; care of meeting, Gib Pellet

It’s cold and flu season. Please be thoughtful of others and remember that viruses are contagious as long as symptoms persist. Some Friends attending worship may be immunocompromised or susceptible to infection. Please take precautions to prevent the spread of winter maladies: consider staying home; wash hands frequently; cough / sneeze into your sleeve; clean and disinfect surfaces touched by many.

It’s snow and grit season too. Please help care for the meetinghouse by cleaning or removing boots / shoes which retain snow and grit in order to spare the carpet and wood floors.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Mid-Morning Program next Sunday at 10:15: Food Justice – What am I to do? And, who am I to do it with? Sponsored by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee; presented by Jim Lovestar.

The Nominating Committee is hard at work! Please help forward the work of the committee by responding to phone calls and emails from committee members. If you would like to become more involved in Minneapolis Meeting, participating in a committee is an excellent way to get to know people and learn more about how the Meeting works. If you would like to know more about committees or the work it does, questions or interests may be directed to Doug, Annamary, Debbie, Jim, and Rick. Thank you for your commitment to MFM.

Read Primitive Quakerism Revived by Paul Buckley at the Watson reading group this Tues, Feb 19th at 7 PM in the conference room. No need to read ahead – we’ll read together! One-timers and regulars – everyone is welcome!

Mary and Stephen invite Friends to their home at Kenwood Isles, this Wed, Feb 20th, from 12-1 pm for lectio divina. Thirty minutes with a passage; a light lunch (provided) following. RSVP to Mary.

Added incentive to think about attending the Friends General Conference Gathering, 2019! FGC Gathering 2019 has received a generous donation to enable deep discounts for family and youth attendance this year including: children and teen program fees waived; 50% children and teen meals covered; more scholarships available to families and teens. This is the year to bring your family to the Gathering in (relatively) nearby Grinnell Iowa. Check out the speakers here; and the workshops here. Early Registration – the best time to apply for financial aid – is open April 1-14, 2019.

Five members of MFM are working with the Twin Cities Advocacy Team of Friends Committee on National Legislation. They are visiting offices of congressional representatives and U.S. senators to lay groundwork to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force, passed after 9/11/2001 which has served as an open-ended authority for the President to engage in war. Jim and Doug would like to hear from Friends who are in the districts of Angie Craig and Dean Phillips and who are willing to visit them.

Frank and AnnLiv will open their home for a concert on Fri, Feb 22nd at 7 PM. Pianist, John Jensen, and cellist, Jim Lach, will play Rachmaninoff’s Sonata for Cello and Piano. John will also play some jazz. If you can attend, please bring finger food and/or a beverage to share.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Friends for a Non-Violent World will offer the opportunity to watch a few short videos on solitary confinement, starting a discussion on what we can do to reduce and eliminate this practice: Wed, Feb 27th, 6:30-8 PM, 393 N Dunlap St, St. Paul – 4th floor conference room. Quakers originated solitary confinement to induce criminals to change from within, offering them a Bible and keeping them isolated from one another and from the corruptions of the outside world. For more: Libby(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)fnvw.org

Friends for a NonViolent World’s annual meeting is NEXT Sunday Feb 24th, 1-4 PM. The first hour offers a meet and great with new staff, Leah Robshaw Robinson; annual meeting 2-4 PM, will include: updates of 2018 accomplishments; summary of goals and plans for 2019; a discussion of the areas where extra help is needed; and approval of new board members. Please come and engage in the work of this Quaker-inspired organization. 393 N Dunlap St Paul, 4th fl. conf. rm.

Friends Committee on National Legislation is hosting a discussion on Wed, Feb 27th at 6:30 PM (EST) with three Young Adult Friends who are making “good trouble”. RSVP here to receive a Zoom link to join the event.

Northern Yearly Meeting’s (NYM) Spring Interim Session will be March 22-23 at Madison Monthly Meeting on Friday night, March 22, 7-9 PM, and Saturday, March 23, 9 AM-5 PM. Madison Monthly Meeting will provide overnight hospitality to those who request it. Come spend time among Friends, hear about NYM committee work, and enjoy the life and business of Northern Yearly Meeting. Send housing requests as well as special dietary or rooming needs to Marilee at hospitality(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)northernyearlymeeting.org.

The Quaker Parenting Initiative is offering an online opportunity to explore a seasoned set of queries with other Friends who are parents. A seasoned Friend will facilitate. This five-week series will run April 2nd – April 30th; sessions running from 7:30-9PM (CST). During the first sessions the queries and how to use them will be presented. The topics and discussions of subsequent sessions build on what was covered earlier. Attending each session, though not required, best supports both the group sharing and the individual’s understanding. The cost is $50 per family. See posted flyer for more. To register, contact coordinator, Harriet Heath: harriet.e.heath(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

“Transforming Racism from the Inside Out” will be offered by author, teacher, coach, and consultant, Ruth King, on Fri, March 1st, at the Anderson Center at Hamline University: the talk is 7-9PM; social time from 6:30-7; a reception from 9-9:45. Racism is fed through lack of awareness, the misuse of power, and by how we respond to it. This talk explores our racial programming, its impact, and our potential. Free and open to the public, RSVP required. Click here to register.

OFFICE HOURS Carolyn VandenDolder, the interim Meeting Coordinator, will be in the office Wed afternoon and Thurs and Fri, 10:30-4. Phone messages checked daily. Bulletin deadline, noon Thur. Bulletin items can be phoned in to the office (612-926-6159), emailed (office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org), or written and put in the bulletin file of the blue box.