July 21, 2019

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

10:00 – 11:00 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Carol Bechtel and Gib Pellet

Following the closing handshake, we will take time for introductions, there will be a few moments to share joys and concerns, followed by pre-arranged announcements. Preferred practice is to put announcements in the bulletin. After-worship announcements, when needed, should be brief so Friends can be released.

Take advantage of the lazy, hazy days of summer and linger for a cup of coffee, a nibble, and brief visit today after worship. Hosts today are Sue, Ariane, and Bill.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Caring for each other: How do we best communicate that we need care? How do we know what care we each want to offer? Would a Ministry and Care Committee be the best way to facilitate caring for each other? Please come to a meeting on Wed, July 31, at 7 PM at the meetinghouse, sponsored by the Ministry and Counsel Committee, to consider these issues.

Loaves and Fishes- Monday July 29. Join others from the Metro-area Friends Meetings along with the folks from the Ismaili Community and Mayim Rabim Synagogue at Holy Rosary Church, 2424 18th Ave, S, Mpls. Volunteers are needed for 2 PM preparation of chili, vegetables, fruit, salad, and rolls; 4:45 PM serving food and beverages; and 5:30 PM cleaning in the kitchen and dining area. Donations of fresh or dried fruit also needed. Signup for a shift on the sheet on the bulletin table.

A new writing group is starting: 7 PM THIS Tues, July 23rd at the home of Jane – a relaxed but structured group with a focus on developing a spiritual practice through writing. Each month we’ll write and have the chance to share with each other. Everyone welcome. Contact Jane with questions or interest.

The great hosta give-away! Hostas in the triangle area (near the steps to the picnic table) are available to anyone who wants to dig up and take them. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE HOSTAS BY THE FENCE. The hostas remaining in the triangle will be removed on July 23rd.

SAVE THE DATE: Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) Open House on Sun, Aug 25th, 2 – 5PM; 3241 Park Ave S, Mpls. QVS Mpls/St. Paul is beginning its second year with six new fellows placed in local nonprofit organization working for peace justice and living in a cooperative household. For those interested in helping set up the house in August and welcoming the Fellows once they arrive, sign up at forms.gle/u648iTCMS8WbM83h9 to help, including: cleaning Aug 23rd and 24th, transportation for the Fellows from the airport on Aug 30th, or providing meals for their first week (Aug 31st to Sept 8th). For more about pantry items donations, please contact Local Support Committee member, Marybeth.

Quaker Voluntary Service request: Kirsten, the Fellow who will be working at Bridging in Roseville next year, is still trying to arrange transportation to and from work – south Minneapolis to Roseville and back, August – July? Even carpooling one or two days a week would be incredibly helpful: MWF–either 7:30-4 or 8-4:30; T/Th any 8.5 hour span starting at 7 to 9 AM. Contact Dan, Prospect Hill Meeting member of the Local Support Committee with offers or leads.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Food, Farewell, Friends, and Fun: Please come to the Friends for a NonViolent World (FNVW) fundraiser and celebration of Taylor, FNVW’s Quaker Voluntary Service fellow this year! Spaghetti and salad will be served, (gluten free, dairy free, and vegan options will be available); Tom Wells will emcee! NEXT SUNDAY, July 28th, 1-3 PM.
Come
~ Hear about Taylor’s time at FNVW both in her words and from FNVW Executive Director, Jenn Hamrick
~ Engage in a discussion about gender pronouns, and hear why the use of gender pronouns is important to Taylor
~ Learn about what is next for FNVW / QVS partnerships and how you can support them
~ Enjoy games, conversations, and community building (optional)!
$25 suggested donation more if you can, less if you can’t. RSVPs greatly appreciated: Leah(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)fnvw.org.

Friends School of Minnesota is seeking a new Office Manager. This is a .75 position; application deadline Aug 2. See the job description for details and application instructions: FSMN.org

Register now for Friends for a NonViolent World’s People Camp Aug 11-17! Founded by Quakers and welcoming to all, People Camp is an experience of cooperation, community living, and exploration of ideas and issues. All campers help to make camp a safe and supportive place for everyone —adults, teens, and children families and individuals. More at fnvw.org.

Northern Yearly Meeting wants a logo! Logo ideas that will readily identify Northern Yearly Meeting on written and visual materials are being sought! NYM now has many publications and no logo to tie them all together, including the NYM Journal, e-news, brochure, website, minute books, and letterhead for the Epistle and other official communications. Send logo proposals or questions to northernyearlymeeting(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com in electronic format by August 1.

Nightingales’ summer gathering will be held near Stoughton, WI, Aug 2-4. Nightingales are mostly Quakers, mostly from WI and MN, who gather to sing over a weekend three times a year. For more, contact the office: office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org.

From Friends Committee on National Legislation: the House of Representatives-backed provisions blocking creation and deployment of dangerous new nuclear weapons in the Defense Authorization Bill (NDAA). Now the Senate decides to whether to adopt these provisions. Please write to your members of Congress about the House-passed provision, blocking creation and deployment of these dangerous new nuclear weapons. Find an example letter at fcnl.org

COMMUNITY EVENTS

The American media narrative of Iraq and the Middle East is one of violence, extremism, and relentless tragedy. These flattened stories cement dangerous stereotypes and feelings of fear or pity. “Birds Sing Differently Here” is based on the true stories of thirteen Iraqi-Minnesotan refugees and immigrants who share their stories of fear, grief, and danger, but also of love, family, change, and joy. Come experience these stories that are honest, layered, multi-generational, and multi-ethnic Thurs, July 25th and Fri, July 26th at The Southern Theater, 1420 S. Washington Ave. Mpls. Ticket and other information here.

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

BULLETIN ATTACHMENT – From the Religious Education (for youth) Committee:

The Religious Education Committee has heard concerns, at the listening session and over time, about the current Sunday morning schedule. Issues with the current schedule include:

~ Youth get very little sense of worship, giving the impression that worship is not for them;
~ There is a divide between children and youth programming and the life of the meeting for adults;
~ We are not offering the opportunity for the Meeting’s youth to be widely known, failing to provide them with sense of belonging to the entire Meeting community;
~ Adults miss the richness of intergenerational participation in much of Meeting life
~ Families who prefer unprogrammed worship face a choice between their preferred worship and first day school;
~ Youth who are involved in sports may find participation in first day school easier if it is earlier in the morning, teams now starting practice or having games early Sunday afternoon

In response, RE offers three scenarios for monthly meeting to consider:
1. Offer programming during unprogrammed worship, mid-morning program, and semi-programmed worship.
o 9:00 – 9:30: kids attend unprogrammed worship
o 9:30 – 10:00: kids downstairs (supervised activities)
o 10:00: snack
o 10:15 – 11:00: first day school, with older kids sometimes attending mid-morning program
o 11:15 – 11:45: kids in semi-programmed worship
o 11:45 – 12:15: kids downstairs (supervised activities)

2. Offer first day school from 10:15-11:00, during mid-morning program with supervised activities during the second half of only one of the meetings for worship

3. Keep the schedule as is and make more of an effort to get kids integrated into the life of the Meeting.

Come to monthly meeting with ideas and comments or contact RE clerk, Julia.