December 15, 2019

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 10:00 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Sandy Olson; Tom Hoey (mic)

10:15 – 11:00 Immigration Law Practice in the U.S. with attorney Phil Fishman. Learn about current aspects of immigration law including an analysis of representing those seeking protection from persecution as well as those seeking to lawfully remain in the US, re-unite with family, or seek employment here.

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

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Change of first day school schedule: Starting January 5, 2020, first day school will be at the same time as mid-morning program, 10:15 – 11:00. Families are encouraged to arrive before 10:15 so the meeting’s youth can enjoy programming and each other for the full time. Adults are needed to be with youth who leave the second worship after the speaker. If you are interested and have not been cleared to work with the Meeting’s youth, please contact Child Welfare Committee clerk, Rae Beth.

Mid-Morning Program next Sunday at 10:15: Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long and Social Hour. Bring cookies, fruit or other finger-foods to share if you wish. Bring instruments and join in the festivities.

Winter Envelope Gift: Every winter, Minneapolis Meeting designates organization(s) to receive a one-time gift, outside the Meeting’s usual budget. This year’s recipients are in keeping with the Meeting’s peace and social concerns focus on gender justice and well-being:
OutFront Minnesota – working to create a state where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are free to be who they are, love who they love, and live without fear of violence, harassment or discrimination; a state where LGBTQ individuals have equal opportunities, protection and rights. outfront.org
Mending the Sacred Hoop – a Native-operated non-profit that addresses violence against Native women and works to end it, organizing on issues surrounding violence against American Native women in Duluth and throughout MN: mshoop.org
To contribute to the Winter Envelope Gift, make checks payable to Minneapolis Meeting with “WEG” in the memo line and place in an offering box.

Loaves and Fishes: Monday Dec 30th is the next opportunity for MFM, along with other area Friends, the Ismaili Community, (from Edina,) and members from Mayim Rabim, to help prepare and serve dinner to the families and individuals at Holy Rosary Church, 2424 18th Av. S, Mpls. Please help if you have a few hours between 2:00pm and 7pm that day. Volunteers sign up for shifts: meal prep, 2:00 4:30pm; serving food 4:45 6:30pm; clean up 5:30 7pm. Fresh or dried fruit donations for dessert are needed, too.

The Nursery Committee, on behalf of the Meeting, seeks the right person to work with the little ones in the nursery. The work hours are Sundays during the school year, 8:45-12:30; and 9:45-11:15 during the summer months. The pay is $15 an hour. For more, contact office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org, Betsy, Emily, or Sara.

Experiment with Light groups: Since 2016 a number of Meeting Friends have been participating in Experiment with Light groups using a meditation process developed by Rex Ambler and based on his study of early Friends. During the next month new participants are invited to learn more about the EwL process with the opportunity to join a group for the coming year. There will be an EwL mid-morning program on Dec. 29th. Contact office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org or Diane for more.

Read the Quaker classic, Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly at the Watson reading group this Tues, Dec 17th at 7 PM in the conference room. No need to read ahead – we’ll read together! One-timers and regulars – everyone is welcome!

Every-other Friday, Quaker Voluntary Service Fellows have a development day for programming about Quakerism and other topics. Are you willing to prepare and drop off (vegetarian) lunch for eight on Dec 20th? Contact Eli with interest and coordination: eli(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)quakervoluntaryservice.org.

The Writing Group will meet this Tues, Dec 17th at 7PM. Starting in Jan, we’ll return to our every-fourth-Tuesday schedule (Jan 27). A fun and informal evening, with no preparation necessary. At each meeting, we write from prompts and share our writing. Discussion and general merriment continues over tea and homemade cookies. Everyone welcome, no commitment — drop in once or come when you can. If you’ve been thinking about trying it, now would be a great time. We’d love to have you! For questions or directions, contact office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org.

A group of MFM men have been meeting together for twenty-five years, supporting each other in living out Quaker values through a range of life events. The group has a potluck dinner—and sharing of what’s going on with each of us—every month, and an annual three-day retreat. For the rest of 2019, the group is opening for men who want to join. We are open to all with the understanding that the group is built on commitment to long-term relationships and regular attendance. In Jan, the group will re-configure, depending on how many men want to join. E-mail office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org if you are interested, or talk with members Jeff, Dave, Jim, Ralph, Jeff, Ed, John, or Rick.

Save the date for the Northern Yearly Meeting high school winter retreat, Jan 24-26th, at the Cannon Valley Meeting in Northfield. Theme: Mental Health. More details coming. Kindly Adult Presences eagerly sought. Inquire or RSVP anytime to office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org to be put in touch with Cynthia, the HS coordinator.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

There will be a Christmas Eve worship at Twin Cities Meeting, 1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul, at 7PM, followed by carol singing and a dessert potluck as well as a New Year’s Eve celebration: 5:30 worship; 6:15 potluck dinner; 7:30 – 10:30 games, singing, conversation, fun. Bring your favorite snacks, games, musical instruments or songbooks.

Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) Basic Community Workshop – Jan 17-18. 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 17th, 12-9PM and Sat, the 18th, 9AM-9PM at 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/avpjanuary. Cost: $150; no one turned away for lack of funds. Questions? Contact Miranda.

From Friends Committee on National Legislation: Action Needed. The final 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) fails to reassert congressional war authority and end endless wars. It fails to address three FCNL priorities concerning Iran, Iraq and Yemen. Friends are urged to learn more and contact your representatives before the NDAA comes to the floor next week. More at: act.fcnl.org/call/tell-congress-vote-no-ndaa-does-not-end-endless-war

OFFICE HOURS: Carolyn VandenDolder will be in the office Wed – Fri afternoons. 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.