January 3, 2021

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 10:00 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, John Kraft

10:15 – 11:00 Turning toward Hope and Joy. “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) We will reflect about, and draw a picture of, where we are on the journey from grief to a sense of hope and joy. Small groups if time; facilitated by Care and Counsel Committee

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Jeannette Raymond – speaker; care of meeting, Judith James

Worship and mid-morning program in January: email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon Thurs for the link.

First day school for youth at 10:15: In order to better match first day school with student and family energy and zoom tolerance, we will have first day school / programming for youth on the first and third Sundays of the month. Today, elementary and middler youth will hear the last part of the Christmas story, the wise men. Stories are told in the Montessorri style — we tell the story first, then become a part of the story through play, art, and/or drama. The older youth will break out for discussion. The link for January: email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon Thurs for the link.

THINGS TO KNOW

Worship is at the heart of our practice as Friends. And we mostly leave each other to find our own way in this crucial part of our lives. This need not be the case. While Spirit-filled worship is something we can’t make happen, there are practical skills we can learn which will enhance our ability to enter into deep, transformative worship. Christopher Sammond will be offering Minneapolis Meeting Friends a workshop focused on practices which can make us more ready to receive that blessed gift of powerful worship, which can nurture, heal, and transform us and our lives; AND draw us closer together as a community. The workshop will be offered twice: Feb 12, 13 and 21 and Feb 19, 20 and 21. Space limited to 25 per workshop. Reserve your spot by emailing office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org. Plan to attend one of these enriching, community-building opportunities!

Connie has a new address available from the office. Her cell number and email remain the same.

Quakers and Mental Health is a new resource by Friends General Conference. The COVID-19 pandemic has created new stressors, exacerbated ongoing mental health struggles, and exposed the systemic obstacles that prevent many from accessing affordable, high-quality care when they are in distress. This resource is a starting point to help those who are looking for ways to reduce stress and practice self-care: https://www.fgcquaker.org/resources/quakers-and-mental-health

OPPORTUNITIES AND NEWS FOR MINNEAPOLIS MEETING FRIENDS

Monthly meeting for business is next Sunday, 9:45-11:15.

Experience thirty minutes of worship sharing on a Quaker reading at 11:25AM each Wed. Email Stephen for the link or contact the office by the preceding Friday.

There is mid-week worship every Wed night, 7PM. There will be a brief reading at the beginning of worship on the first and third Weds. Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon Wed. for the link.

The new Women’s Healing Circle will meet Sun, Jan 10th, 7-8:30PM. Contact Mary to express interest or with any questions; to receive the link, contact Deborah or email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon the preceding Friday.

Monthly Meeting approved a food drive to benefit NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center’s food shelf. Bring your donations to the meetinghouse front door (York Ave) on Thurs, Jan. 14th 9AM – 3PM. You will not need to come inside. All nonperishable food, toiletries, and household cleaning supplies welcome; items most needed: oatmeal, grits, peanut butter, canned meats, razors and shaving cream. Coordinated by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee.

OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH OTHER FRIENDS

Quaker Voluntary Service Fellows have a program day twice a month where they learn about different aspects of Quakerism and living in community. Area Friends willing to bring vegetarian lunch for the six Fellows are encouraged to sign up with Eli: eli(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)quakervoluntaryservice.org. Upcoming lunches needed on January 8th, January 22nd, and February 5th.

Pendle Hill offers Re-creating Hope, a First Monday Lecture with Francisco Burgos, (current Pendle Hill Director,) on Jan 4th, 6:30 – 8PM (CT). Free to the public; registration required. For more and to register: pendlehill.org/events/re-creating-hope/

The Northern Yearly Meeting Anti-Racism discussion group meets once a month. Sessions have focused on the podcast, “Seeing White”, (http://www.sceneonradio.org/tag/season-2/.) The next meeting is this Thurs, 7PM, to discuss episodes 12 and 13 (45 min each): http://www.sceneonradio.org/episode-42-my-white-friends-seeing-white-part-12/ ; http://www.sceneonradio.org/episode-44-white-affirmative-action-seeing-white-part-13/ . Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon Thurs for the discussion link.

Quaker Voluntary Service is accepting applications for next year’s Fellows (app deadline, March 15)! Share this news with your networks – Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, email, phone! More about QVS at https://quakervoluntaryservice.org/about-us/
~ Know an organization which might like to apply to have a Quaker Voluntary Service Fellow for the 2021-22 service year? Applications are being taken until Feb 1st. Contact Eli to learn more: eli(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)quakervoluntaryservice.org

The Pendle Hill Reading Group will meet Wed, Jan 13th, 5:30–7PM (CT) via Zoom. This newly-formed reading group focuses on a mix of Pendle Hill pamphlets and other Quaker materials, gathering monthly to consider queries about the reading in a spirit of worship sharing. Come discuss the pamphlet, On Vocal Ministry: Nurturing the Community through Listening and Faithfulness (PHP #460) by Barry Crossno and J. Brent Bill. Free and open to the public; register in advance to receive the
link: https://pendlehill.org/events/pendle-hills-reading-group-january/

OFFICE HOURS Wed – Fri afternoons. Phone messages checked daily; email checked W-F. Bulletin deadline, noon Thurs. If you need to enter the meetinghouse, please schedule your visit with the office before you come.