April 7, 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 Earthcare Witness and the practices of Transition to Sustainable Ways of Life, facilitated by Ranae Hanson (MFM) and Regula Russelle (Prospect Hill Meeting). Learn more about the identity and work of the national organization, Quaker Earthcare Witness, and engage with practical steps of living into sustainability.

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Victoria Van Slyke, speaker; Jacque Wiersma, musician; care of meeting, Judith James

April 1st marked the start of the service year. Any time is a good time to say thank you to one another for the seen and unseen work and ministry Friends do within and on behalf of the Meeting. For your time and care and the lending of your gifts to committee work, thank you. While many in Meeting have continued or renewed their commitment to the work of the Meeting, special gratitude to the presiding clerk, John; the assistant clerk, Bill; and the clerk of Ministry and Counsel Committee, Sandy, upon whose leadership the Meeting has leaned. Thank you, Friends.

You are invited to the all-Meeting potluck at the rise of second worship TODAY. An added opportunity, Tim Wallis and Vicki Elson will be available for discussion about their involvement with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, (which received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize,) and converting nuclear war preparations into a national plan to address climate change. Those interested should gather in the large classroom. To regulars, please help with this do-it-ourselves affair by refreshing water, clearing tables, washing, drying and putting away dishes, tables and chairs. Thanks, Friends!

The Mid-Morning Program Committee will meet today at 12:30 in the conference room.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Next Sunday at 9:45: monthly meeting for business. Tending to business is an important part of meeting life. Come be a part!

Also next Sunday – celebrate Barbara’s 99th birthday by greeting Barbara and staying for some punch and cookies at the rise of second worship! Barbara’s actual birthday is this Friday, April 12.

Local Friends will welcome 35 Quaker Earthcare Witness Steering Committee members into their homes this week for the semi-annual QEW meeting. THIS Friday and Saturday, local Friends are hosting potlucks (at 5:30) and plenaries (following): Fri night at Twin Cities Meeting, Friends School of MN will present Protecting Pollinators; Sat night at Minneapolis Meeting, a Transition Town panel: Ruah Swennerfelt, Michael Russelle, Regula Russelle, Leslie McKenzie, and Ralph Jacobson will speak about local, grassroot initiatives in transitioning to sustainable living. Please come to meet, feed, and learn with these visiting Friends! More at QEW.

Save the Dates for these Upcoming Meeting Happenings:
Parent, teacher, first day school students, interested others brainstorming and planning session April 28th 12:15 PM
Loaves and Fishes at Holy Rosary Church April 22nd 2-6:30 PM (note corrected date)
Worship sharing / listening / check-in on how Meeting life and business is going, May 4th 1-3 PM.
Last day of first day school celebration with class presentations, May 19th 12:15 PM.
Fall Together, Sat, Oct 26th

How is our leadership transition within the Meeting going for you? This will be one of the issues explored at a listening session, sponsored by Ministry and Counsel Committee, on May 4th, 1-3 pm. Your attendance is needed.

Read Primitive Quakerism Revived by Paul Buckley at the Watson reading group Tues, April 16th at 7 PM in the conference room. No need to read ahead – we’ll read together! One-timers and regulars – everyone is welcome!

Jim warmly invites Friends to a worship followed by a simple meal on Fri, April 19, Good Friday. Worship will start at 6 PM and will include a reading from Matthew 26 (the passion and death of Jesus) and two hymns.

Loaves and Fishes: Monday April 22nd (please note the corrected date) is the next opportunity for MFM to help prepare and serve dinner to the people of the Phillips neighborhood at Holy Rosary Church, 2424 18th Av. S, Mpls. Please help if you have a few hours, 2 – 7pm that day. Volunteers shifts: chopping veggies or prepping dessert fruit 2-4:30pm; serving food 4:45-6:30pm; clean up 5:30-7pm. Fresh fruit donations for dessert are needed, too. Sign-up sheet on the bulletin table.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Northern Yearly Meeting’s annual session, “Spirit-Led Communication” will be at Wisconsin Lions Camp near Rosholt, WI Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-27. Programming for infants and up with opportunities for worship, discussion, education and play. Register by May 1: northernyearlymeeting.org. Make time to attend this vital part of area Quaker life! Workshop proposals (prepared presentation and discussion) sought; deadline, April 20th. Email proposals to the office (office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org) to be forwarded to the workshop coordinator. Two El Salvadoran Friends School heads and one teacher will be coming. Translators needed. If you speak Spanish and would be willing to act as host or be a translator during programming, contact the office and your name will be forwarded.

The 2019 Friends General Conference Gathering is able to offer deep discounts this year like: 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 IA, June 30 – July 6! Financial help might be available to MFMers who wish to attend the clerking workshop. Find workshops at here; registration information is here. A few paper program and registration materials are on the elevator table. Early Registration, which helps ensure your first choice of workshop, closes April 14.

The Quaker Parenting Initiative: Support for the spiritual journey of child-rearing. Explore how a uniquely Quaker approach to childrearing can help Friends frame parenting as part of their Quaker spiritual journey. Harriet Heath from Schoodish Meeting, (NEYM) facilitator. Tues, April 9th, noon; register here; Thurs, the 11th, 7 PM; register here.

Spring Nightengles Gathering will be April 26-28 in Ham Lake. For more info: Joelyn, 952-926-8554.

Looking ahead – Friends Music Camp’s 2, 3, and 4-week sessions for ages 10-18 will be offered starting July 7th at Earlham College in Richmond, IN. For more, see friendsmusiccamp.org.

COMMUNITY EVENT

The Mack Lecture Series at the Walker will host Claudia Rankine’s Notes on The White Card, April 10, 7 pm. Rankine will read and reflect on her new play, The White Card covering topics of race, selfhood, and contemporary American life. Unpack the insidious ways racism manifests itself in everyday situations, and ask how society can progress if whiteness stays invisible.

OFFICE HOURS
Carolyn VandenDolder, the interim Meeting coordinator, will be in the office Wed, 10:30-4, and Thur, 10:30-3. Phone messages checked daily. Bulletin deadline, noon Thur. Bulletin items can be phoned in (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. Meeting business-related questions should be directed to the office phone and email.