September 22, 2019

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 10:00 meeting for worship (unprogrammed)

10:15 – 11:00 The Challenges of Simplicity. Keitha Herron will share her personal struggles with the Quaker testimony of simplicity, followed by discussion. Friends will then be invited to start simplifying their lives through an exercise.

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Mike Meland, speaker; Jacque Wiersma, musician; care of meeting, Gib Pellet

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Mid-Morning Program next Sunday at 10:15: Exploring Spirituality Through Music: It’s Not As Simple As It Seems. Music has the unusual power to access and get to the heart of things quickly, even the most divisive topics that are hard to engage in through words. From immigration to abortion, homophobia to systemic racism, songs can go places words cannot and can create a possibility for civil conversation that gets to the heart of people’s individual and collective experiences. It creates the potential for substantive change. It unites rather than divides. Offered by Neal Hagberg.

Please review the Child Welfare Committee’s revised child protection policy. It has been sent out via Google Group (Aug 20) and is posted on the website (minneapolisfriends.org/category/business-minutes/). A few paper copies are by the elevator.

The current Ministry and Counsel Committee and the two Care of Worship sub-committees may be replaced by two new committees: a Worship and Ministry Committee and a Care and Counsel Committee. Everything you want to know about the possible restructuring, but may be afraid to ask, will be considered on Sat, Sept 28, 2 – 3:30 pm at the meetinghouse.

There will be a family discussion during the potluck on Sun, Oct 6 to consider a change in the Sunday morning schedule. Childcare provided so parents can participate. This is the second opportunity for parents to talk together about how the Sun morning schedule can best support a thriving first day school program and an intergenerational Meeting. Please plan to come! See discussion info on the elevator table.

Loaves and Fishes: Monday Sept 30th 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 work with area Friends, folks from the Ismaili Community and Mayim Rabim if you have a few hours between 2 and 7pm that day. Volunteers sign up for shifts: chopping veggies or prepping dessert fruit 2:00 4:30pm; serving food 4:45 6:30pm; clean up 5:30 7pm. Fresh fruit donations for dessert are needed, too. Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin table.

Minneapolis Monthly Meeting agreed to host Northern Yearly Meeting’s Fall Interim Session here at the meetinghouse on Nov 1st and 2nd. Friends who can provide accommodation for out of town guests on Friday (and possibly Saturday) night and breakfast the following morning(s) are needed!. Some guests may also need transportation help to the meetinghouse. This is a great opportunity to make connections with friends in our Yearly Meeting. Email hospitality(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)northernyearlymeeting.org with offers. Include information about the type of accommodation, number of beds and transportation you can offer. Please contact him as soon as convenient and by Sept 30th. And plan to attend!

Plan to come to Fall Together, Sat, Oct 26th at Fish Lake Regional Park in Plymouth! An easy breezy gathering of fun, potluck food, conversation, and song. We have The Pavilion 9am to 9pm – arrive and leave when you need. We’ll have the whole building including a fireplace and kitchen and will be near the lake, bike trails, and walking trails. Come add to the fun!

The newish writing group will meet 7 PM THIS Tues, Sept 24th at the home of Jane and David in Hopkins. A relaxed but structured group, we have a writing exercise or two with the chance to share with each other. Everyone welcome. Contact Jane with questions or interest.

Read the Quaker classic, Testament of Devotion, with the reading group THIS Tues, Sept 24th, at 7pm in the conference room. No need to read ahead – we’ll read together! Everyone welcome!

Every-other Friday, Quaker Voluntary Service Fellows will have a development day for programming about Quakerism (clerking business meetings, clearness/discernment processes, Friends testimonies and community life) and other topics. Friends are invited to prepare and drop off lunch at the QVS house or one of the local meeting houses on those Fridays so the Fellows can make the most of their program time. Are you willing to drop off lunch for eight THIS FRI, Sept 27th (to the meetinghouse), or Oct 11th? Let Eli know: eli(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)quakervoluntaryservice.org.

The MFM Peace and Social Concerns committee is working with John Stuart to start a program to teach knitting and crocheting skills to women inmates at the Shakopee State prison. Local Friends with knitting and/or crocheting skills with interested in providing this training are sought. Sessions will likely be on Tues, Wed, or Thurs evenings; frequency tbd. We hope the training will be continuous, working with the women as they acquire more advanced skills. Volunteers will need to provide a copy of a driver’s license (could be an email) for a security check before entry to the facility. There will likely be some organized transportation (carpooling). Contact Roland with interest or for more information.

SAVE THE DATE: NYM High School Fall Retreat will be October 11-13 at Twin Cities Meeting in St. Paul.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) Community Workshop – October 25-26. Interested in learning new skills and attitudes to address, prevent, and transform violence? Consider this two-day workshop offering a holistic, experiential, safe, and lively approach to learning the tools to discover your own power to transform conflict and frustration in your life. Fri, the 25th, 12-9PM and Sat, the 26th, 9AM-9PM at the Friends for a NonViolent World office, 393 N Dunlap St, St Paul. Attendance both days is expected. To register (required), contact Miranda at 651-917-0383 or Miranda(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)fnvw.org or visit bit.ly/avpoctober. Cost: $150; no one turned away for lack of funds. Questions? Contact Miranda.

Are you strongly led to offer ministry in healing, challenging, and nurturing the diverse Society of Friends? Are you willing to be of service to Meetings and Churches or regional gatherings of Friends throughout the Americas? The Traveling Ministry Corps can offer you the opportunity! The Traveling Ministry Corps of Friends World Committee for Consultation is welcoming applications for a 2020 cohort of traveling ministers. FWCC supports the training and travel associated with this ministry. Apply and learn more at fwccamericas.org/visitation/traveling-ministry.shtml. Application deadline is Sept 30.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Twin Cities NonViolent – ten days of special events, Sept 20-29, to foster peace including:
– Fellowship of Reconciliation’s Truth and Reparation Campaign launch, Hamilne U’s Anderson Center Sun, Sept 22, 2 PM
– Preserving Human Rights for Immigrants and Asylum Seekers panel with representatives from Nonviolent Peaceforce and other organizations, Mon, Sept 23, 5 PM, Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave, Mpls
See more posted on the long bulletin board or go to twincitiesnonviolent.org

Gichi-gami Gathering to Stop Line 3 next Sat, Sept 28th – support resistance to tar sands and support a vision for a just and sustainable world. Noon: arrival and check-in begins at Gichi-Ode’ Akiing Park, N Second Ave E and E Michigan Str, Duluth; 1:30: rally and march; 3:30: Gichi-gami Gathering also at the park. More and register at gichi-gami-gathering.com. Reserve a space on an arranged bus at: gichi-gami-gathering.com/transportation .

Dakota Sacred Site Tour, Sept 29th and Oct 10th, 1-5PM; meet at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, St. Paul. Visit sites in the Twin Cities sacred to the Dakota people and experientially learn about the history of our land in a way that facilitates healing. To register, contact Jim Bear Jacobs, at jimbear.jacobs(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)mnchurches.org . More at: mnchurches.org/justice/HealingMinnesotaStories.html

OFFICE HOURS – Wed – Fri, 10:30-4. Phone messages checked daily. Bulletin deadline, noon Thur.