May 2, 2020

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM: TODAY

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

10:15 – 11:00 The recently formed Care and Counsel committee will present what they’ve been up to – especially in relation to Covid-19 pandemic.’ Participants will be asked to share feedback including what gifts they might want to share with others in the meeting and requests they may have for pastoral and community care. Annette Smith – Facilitator presenter.

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed)

UPCOMING MEETING EVENTS

Monthly Meeting for Business: Next Sunday from 9:45 to 11:15, monthly meeting for business will be held via Zoom. Please use the same Sunday morning link listed below to attend.

Opportunities to gather with MFM Friends:
• Mid-week worship Weds, 7-8PM with joys and concerns following from 8-9PM: email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon Wednesday for the link.
• Friday drop-ins every Friday, 1-3PM: email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon Friday for the link.
• Sunday 9AM and 11:15AM worship and mid-morning program: email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon Friday for the link.

A Minneapolis Meeting Zoom account has been set up. If your committee or meeting-related group wishes to make use of it, please contact office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org, W-F.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Mid-Morning Program Committee is starting to make plans for next year and wants to hear your opinions on how to best fulfill your expectations, needs, interests, and wishes. Please take a moment to offer your thoughts in the following survey. Responses will be confidential unless you indicate that we may quote you: Mid Morning Program Survey

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Care and Counsel Committee’s Resources for Friends

~ People to Talk With: with so many of us staying at home, it’s good to have people to talk with about how you’re doing or what you might need:
Connie, Roland, Scott, Jim L, Barbara M, and Stephen are all available to speak with friends. Sue is available via email.

~ COVID 19 Emergency Fund: application can be found attached to each weekly bulletin. This emergency fund was approved by monthly meeting to help provide temporary relief to Friends experiencing financial emergency connected to the virus and resulting quarantines. Members and attenders can apply for emergency funds of up to $1500. Further information can be found on the application. To request a form you may email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org

~ Teleministry It has become apparent to many that this pandemic has caused an increase in fear, anxiety, depression and concern about dying. All these feelings and thoughts are quite normal in this state of unpredictability and instability. The Care and Counsel Committee knows that connecting is key to remaining hopeful and centered. In addition to having someone to listen to them, people may need a guide, a mentor, a spiritual coach, an opportunity for confession and a trusting safe encounter to process feelings of spiritual anguish, fear, and anxiety.
To care for individuals in the community who have a need to seek more proactive counsel, we have arranged a team of teleministers from the meeting, trained in pastoral care. If you have a wish to speak with one of these folks please email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org / phone 612-926-6159 to be put in touch.

~ Clearness Committee: small, confidential groups to help you if you need to make major life decisions. To HAVE a clearness committee or volunteer to be ON one, contact John S. (For clearness committees for membership or marriage under the care of the meeting, contact clerk of Ministry and Counsel Committee, Bill.)

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Save the date! Thursday, May 14, 7-8:30PM for a Quakerly Virtual Spring Fundraiser Gathering to celebrate the QVS Fellows. Tune in via Zoom (available from office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minnepaolisfriends.org) to:
• Connect: Meet the current Fellows, members of the Local Support Committee, and national QVS staff members.
• Celebrate: QVS Fellow will share reflections about working and living in the program.
• Support: Send financial support to the QVS program as you are able. (If contributing, please note that your donation is in support of the Minneapolis/St. Paul QVS community and is associated with this May 14 event.)
Quaker Voluntary Service is a year-long service experience for six Fellows, who come to the Twin Cities to live in community, explore Quaker spirit-led process, and work at local non-profit organizations.

The Northern Yearly Meeting middle school group is meeting online every-other Thurs (next, May 7) at 4PM. Want more information? Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org to be put in touch with the coordinator, Seres.

Terry Hokenson hosted a radio broadcast on the Indigenous Perspective on Regenerative Agriculture. You can catch the recorded show later at the KFAI Radio web site at kfai.org. Varied voices and approaches made this a compelling conversation.

OTHER HAPPENINGS AMONG QUAKERS

Northern Yearly Meeting Annual Session will not be held in person, May 22-25. An online gathering for that weekend is being planned. See northernyearlymeeting.org for updates.

The Friends General Conference Gathering in Virginia, scheduled for July, will not be held in person. More at fgcquaker.org/connect/gathering/coronavirus-and-2020-gathering

Woodbrooke Study Centre in England is offering a free, online course, Radical Spirituality: the early history of Quakers, April 27 – May 15. Learn about the beginnings of Quakerism as it emerged in 17th century England through films, discussions, and quizzes. Follow the course at your own pace, in your own time. More at Radical Spirituality.

Pendle Hill Study and Retreat Center has daily worship, M-F, 7:30-8:10AM (CST): https://pendlehill.zoom.us/j/432071090?pwd=aU5OOWk4ZGJkcWNUbzI5TXdjdVpSdz09

Quaker Voluntary Service has daily meeting for worship M–F, 10:30 – 11AM (CST): https://zoom.us/j/5702463400.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

ISAIAH, an interfaith coalition that MFM is considering joining, is a multi-racial, state-wide, nonpartisan coalition of faith communities fighting for racial and economic justice in Minnesota. ISAIAH is offering and participating in many online events, an extension of their usual live actions. The current topline on their website line is: Demanding Democracy and a Caring Economy through COVID-19. Find out more at https://isaiahmn.org

OFFICE HOURS (phone and email only) W-F afternoons.