March 29, 2020

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 10:00 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Bill Hendricks

10:15 – 11:00 Our personal experience of community in light of the corona pandemic. Sign in and be a part of this important exploration of our well-being, personally and in community.

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Roger Miller – speaker; no planned music; care of meeting – John Kraft

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

Those who have been infected with Covid 19, their families, and their health care providers.
Those who continue in jobs interacting with the public.
Those who are suffering from loss of income as a result of physical distancing precautions.

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Opportunities to gather with MFM Friends:
Friday drop-ins every Friday, 1-3PM through May.
Mid-week worship this Wed, 7-8PM with joys and concerns following from 8-9PM.
Sunday 9AM and 11:15AM worship and mid-morning program through May.
Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org for the links. Email answered W-F afternoons.

March 31 is the end of the Meeting’s fiscal year. If you have reimbursement requests to make from this current fiscal year, please submit a request for reimbursement to your committee clerk. (reimbursement form attached.)

Every year, Minneapolis Meeting sends a State of Society report to Northern Yearly Meeting. The report offers a glimpse into the life of the Meeting over the past year, its joys and struggles, and serves as a witness to God working through and among us. Imagine a worship where those gathered is Northern Yearly Meeting and each meeting presenting a State of Society report is a worshiping person. What are the yearnings of the Meeting over the year? the aspirations? If your meeting was a person being moved to speak, what would your meeting say? Your meeting’s message can be a ministry to others. No judgements; contributors remain anonymous. Please compose one to four lines and send them to Judith ASAP.

While so many of us are home looking out our windows, the Care and Counsel Committee has identified a group of six people who would be glad to talk on the phone with you, PLUS, there’s one an e-mailer: Connie, Roland, Scott, Jim, Barbara, Stephen, or e-mail Sue.
Physical distancing does not mean we need to be disconnected. Please talk, share, grieve, build community together.

Friends Committee on National Legislation asks for the discernment of monthly meetings and worship groups each year to help set its legislative priorities for the coming year. FCNL relies on the worship and input of Friends across the country to ground its lobbying. How is the Spirit leading us to influence our government today? Please fill out a survey (attached) and email to Doug ASAP.
FCNL has eliminated the registration fee to their now-virtual Spring Lobby Weekend (March 29-31) but registration is still required: https://www.fcnl.org/updates/spring-lobby-weekend-goes-virtual-739

The Writing Group is encouraging connection though writing and sharing via group emails. No writing talent needed — just a desire to connect with others in the meeting. Conversation starters/writing prompts will be sent out weekly. Anyone can respond by writing and sharing with the group. Open to all — adults, children and teens. If you’re interested, write to Jane to be added to the email list. Maintain community, form new connections, and have some fun!

Loaves and Fishes: Monday, March 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 dinner for families and individuals at Holy Rosary Church, 2424 18th Av. S, Mpls. Dinners will be to-go. Cooking starts at 2:00. Contributions of fresh fruit also needed. Those over the age of 60, those with diabetes, cancer, heart disease or a history of lung issues should not volunteer. Any volunteer should know there is a health risk in participating. If you feel at all unwell (headache, congestion, GI upset,) be aware that you may be a carrier of the virus. If you plan to attend, please email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org so coordinators know where there are gaps in support.

The Northern Yearly Meeting high school retreat in Madison April 17-19 has been cancelled.
Northern Yearly Meeting in Rosholt WI this coming May has been cancelled.
Friends General Conference gathering in Virginia this summer has been cancelled. More at fgcquaker.org/connect/gathering/coronavirus-and-2020-gathering

Monthly Meeting agreed to participate in the NorthPoint food and fund drive in the month of March. This year and especially at this time, there is a great need. Please consider a food or money donation. Ten dollars allows the purchase of enough food for 25 meals! Food collection barrel at the meetinghouse (call to arrange a drop-off); donate by mail: NorthPoint Food Shelf, 1256 Penn Ave. N. – Suite 5300, Minneapolis, MN. 55411; or online at: www.northpointhealth.org/donate.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Friends for a NonViolent World
~ Friends for a NonViolent World is seeking an Executive Director. Apply by April 8; more at fnvw.org
~ Join an FNVW virtual coffee break, M-F, 10-10:30 AM at https://meet.google.com/jis-ahrn-rfp (or call in: ‪319-382-9611‬; PIN: ‪357 227 890#‬)
~People Camp, 2020, will (hopefully) be August 9-15. Registration is open: fnvw.org
~Friends for a NonViolent World has an Everyday Nonviolence podcast (podbean.com/media/share/pb-7ejhs-cca758).

The 2020 Friends School of MN plant sale has been cancelled. This signifies an estimated loss of $450,000 in funding.
Friends School of MN has a number of job openings. Find out more at https://fsmn.org/about/employment/

Pendle Hill has daily worship, 7:30-8:10 AM (CT): https://pendlehill.zoom.us/j/432071090?pwd=aU5OOWk4ZGJkcWNUbzI5TXdjdVpSdz09

COMMUNITY EVENTS

The Joint Religious Legislative Coalition is hosting a Day on the Screen this Wed, April 1st, 7-8:30 PM. Join to hear about the JRLC’s faith traditions, learn about the reality of homelessness in Minnesota, receive a legislative update, and organize future advocacy efforts: https://zoom.us/j/458833767 ; If you prefer to listen by phone, register through this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZC1VaGaISj2bmafX_oMtrw

OFFICE HOURS W-F afternoons. Phone calls and email only: office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org / 612-926-6159.