April 28, 2019

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 10:00 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Jane Downes; David Downes (mic)

10:15 – 11:00 Watch the QuakerSpeak episode, “What Do Quakers Believe?” followed by discussion. QuakerSpeak videos are widely used among Friends for outreach, with intergenerational and family groups, high school and young adult groups as well as with adults.

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Joseph Flores, reader; Dave Bostrom, musician; care of meeting, Gib Pellet

Copies of the recently approved committee list are on the elevator table. Please pick one up for reference. If the work of a committee interests you, don’t wait to be asked to serve on it! Contact the committee clerk to visit a committee meeting or to share your curiosity. Many committees would welcome the interest! Ministry and Counsel Committee and Trustees have closed meetings due to confidentiality issues – but Friends are still invited to speak to those clerks to find out more!

The Religious Education Committee is hosting a listening session TODAY, from 12:30-1:30 to get your input on questions like:
• What do we want to offer to children in the meeting?
• What is most important for children in first day school to learn about?
• What support do you need in order to feel confident taking on the role of teacher?
• Are there ways that you’d like to see the children involved in the life of the meeting, different from the way they are now? How would you like to interact with children?
• Parents – what do you want your children to get out of the religious education program here?
You are encouraged to attend. Pizza and childcare provided.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Mid-Morning Program next Sunday at 10:15: What is Unarmed Civilian Protection (like NonViolent Peaceforce) and why is it important? Ken Solberg will share stories he heard from peaceworkers at a best practices conference on unarmed civilian protection held in Nairobi, Kenya, including the emerging consensus about the centrality of providing unarmed civilian protection in peacekeeping work.

How are things going for the meeting? What do you appreciate? What do you think needs to change? Your feedback is needed THIS Saturday, May 4, 1 – 3 PM during a listening session facilitated by Ministry and Counsel Committee. We will use worship sharing and respond to queries. Childcare will be provided.

Calendar Reminder: The last day of the school year schedule is May 19th. Starting May 26th, there will be one 10 AM worship each Sunday morning.

Ministry and Counsel Committee, Sandy, clerk, meets this Thursday, May 2, 6:30 PM.

Welcome and Outreach Committee is looking for greeters to welcome folks at the two entrances each Sunday, requiring little more than a smile and a handshake in greeting and directing newcomers to the guestbook and meetingroom. If you could be an occasional greeter, please contact Sue.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Friends School of MN’s Plant Sale is coming! Shopping at the Friends School Plant Sale, in the Minnesota State Fair grandstand, is the great get-together for gardeners! Catalogues are out for you to peruse. See friendsschoolplantsale.com/ for more about this event May 10-12.

Northern Yearly Meeting’s annual session, “Speaking with a Holy Voice–Using Human Words to Communicate Divine Truth” at Lions Camp near Rosholt, WI Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-27. Programming for infants and up with many opportunities for worship, discussion, education and play. Registration at northernyearlymeeting.org. 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 office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org

Hosts and transportation needed for El Salvador visitors: As part of Northern Yearly Meeting’s exchange with El Salvador Yearly Meeting, three guests from El Salvador will attend Yearly Meeting and spend May 19th – May 24th in the Twin Cities. The guests include the directors of two Friends Schools and an English teacher serving as a translator, all here to experience both education in the U.S. and our Quaker community. Individuals are needed to help welcome them. Spanish is not necessary. Some suggestions:
• Take them out to a meal or bring them on an interesting (short) tourist type event around the Twin Cities or provide some rides. In particular we are looking for a ride for three to Northern Yearly Meeting.
• Do something with them and provide lunch on Tuesday morning, May 21st.
• Provide rides to and from Friends School on Wednesday, May 22nd.
• Invite them to dinner and an activity Wednesday night.
• Attend a potluck in their honor on Thursday night.
• Gather some Minnesota souvenirs (T-shirts, etc) to give as gifts on our behalf.
• Be on call if needs for additional meals or rides are needed.
El Salvador Yearly Meeting has provided generous hospitality to members of Northern Yearly Meeting for many years. Thanks for any ways in which you can be part of a community reciprocating. Please contact office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org if you would like to extend any kind of hospitality to these visiting Friends.

Friends Committee on National Legislation – Quaker Change-Maker featuring Meg and Arthur Meyer Boyd, members of Stony Run Meeting in Baltimore. They will share their experiences volunteering at the Ramallah Friends School in Palestine: How are Quaker values providing hope for a peaceful and just future in Palestine? How does the Israel-Palestine conflict affect daily life in the region? What does the future hold? For more and to get the link to livestream this event, click here .

The 2019 Friends General Conference Gathering is in (relatively) nearby Grinnell Iowa, June 30 – July 6! Read about registration and offered workshops here . A few paper program and registration materials are on the elevator table.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Ramadan this year is May 5 – June 4. Fasting during Ramadan is performed to learn compassion, self-restraint, and generosity. Taking Heart Open Houses, coordinated by the MN Council of Churches and the Muslim American Society of MN are again being offered. MN mosques and Islamic community centers welcome their non-Muslim neighbors for a traditional Iftar for a time of encounter and learning. Register for one or more events at: TakingHeartRegister.

OFFICE HOURS Carolyn VandenDolder will be in the office Tues, Wed and Fri afternoons. 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).