January 9, 2022

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 9:40 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Carol Bechtel; Zoom host, Bill

9:45 – 11:15 monthly meeting for business: John Kraft, clerk; Stephen Snyder, recording clerk; Zoom host, Sandy

11:15 – 12:00 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Gayle Dreon – speaker; care of meeting, Linda Hart; Zoom host, Sandy

Worship and mid-morning program January – email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org for the link.

By gentle powers lovingly surrounded,
with patience we’ll endure, let come what may.
God is with us at night and in the morning
And certainly on every future day
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

NEWS FOR MINNEAPOLIS MEETING FRIENDS

Mid-Morning Program next Sunday at 10:15: Let’s play! Alternatives to Violence facilitators will lead us in some fun games and exercises as we explore ways to bring lightness to ourselves and our meeting. Late breaking news – Jan 30th mid-morning program, Friends Committee on National Legislation’s report on what’s really happening in Yemen.

There is mid-week worship every Wed night, 7PM. Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon Wed for the link.

One of the joys and responsibilities of being part of the Minneapolis Meeting community is to help accomplish the work and ministry of the meeting, as we are able. Nominating Committee is working on the slate of committees and other service nominations. Please consider the different ways you could be a part. From being a Zoom host to serving as clerk of the meeting, we grow together as we work together, grounded in the spirit: minneapolisfriends.org/committees/ Contact a Nominating Committee member with questions or interest: Doug H, Jim L, Connie A, Bill H, Annamary H, or Carolyn V.

Experiment with Light: Daniel and Jeanne-Marie Mudd enjoyed the time spent with Friends at mid-morning program last Sun and welcome further questions, comments, and feedback: lightsways(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com Also, Experiment with Light Groups at MFM are now open to new members. Contact Diane with questions.

Northern Yearly Meeting will offer an all-NYM first day school opportunity for young Friends, ages 6 – 11, next Sun, Jan. 16, 10–11AM. The theme – Quilting Together: Stories of Black Americans. Registration required – click here. (NOTE THE NEW, FUNCTIONAL LINK!)

SMALL GROUPS OPPORTUNITIES AT MINNEAPOLIS MEETING

The Right Relationship with Indigenous People group will meet tomorrow night, Monday, Jan 10th, at 7PM. Open to all interested, this group meets every second Monday night. Email office@minneapolisfriends by noon the preceding Friday or contact Carolyn for the link.

The Deep Inner Work of Creating Racial Justice Group will meet this Tues, Jan 11, 7-9PM. This group meets on the second Tuesday of the month and is open to all members and attenders, whether you have come before or not. Contact Nettie or Jim L for more.

Tune in for Lectio Divina at 11:25AM on Wednesdays. Hold a short reading from the Bible, Quaker, or other spiritual text to see if and how it might speak to us today. Followed by a time of worship sharing. Email Stephen for the link.

Police Reform Group will meet on Tue night, Jan 18th. Email John to get the link.

The Peace and Social Concerns Committee’s MOVIE NIGHT presents The Biggest Little Farm, Jan 20th, 7PM, a hopeful, inspirational story of John and Molly who quit city life to move to a barren farm of 200 acres. Their dream to live in harmony with nature leads them to uncover secrets of biodiversity that transcend their wildest imagination! Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org for the link.

IN THE WORLD OF FRIENDS

The winter edition of the Northern Yearly Meeting newsletter can be found here.

Friends for a NonViolent World and the Northern Yearly Meeting Anti-Racism Working Group will host Gerri Williams, Quaker and author of “Beyond the Books: A Way Forward for White Allies in Democracy,” Thurs, Jan 13th, 7 – 8:30PM. Shift the focus beyond self-examination and feelings about anti-racism to generating strategies and actions, exploring successful examples of anti-racism outreach, and identifying resources and communities of support. More and link here.

Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) will host a three-part discussion on the book, The Depths of Our Belonging: Mysticism, Physics and Healing by Mary Conrow Coelho, (Jan 11 and 25 plus Feb. 8,) with the author and facilitated by Shelley Tanenbaum. Each session will start at 7PM (CT) via Zoom. No cost; advance registration required. Read the book beforehand. Author, Mary Conrow Coelho, a Friend from Cambridge, MA, has a background in science and theology.

Friends for a NonViolent World is offering an Alternative to Violence Project Basic, Advanced, and T4F Combo workshop online over two weekends – Jan 14/15 and Jan 21/22. This four day workshop offers a holistic, experiential, safe, and lively approach to learning the tools to discover your own power to build safer communities and transform conflict and frustration in your life. For more and to register, click here.

The Pendle Hill reading group – Read and discuss Bill Taber’s Four Doors to Meeting for Worship, Jan 12. More here.

The Quaker Parenting Initiative will host a series of discussions focusing on each of six testimonies as guides to parenting and family living starting on Jan 18. For more, check out the QPI website or email: harriet.e.heath(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com. Also available through QPI – Tea and Chat with Quaker parents, every Thursday evening at 7PM (CT). Email Harriet for more.

IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY

Middle East Peace Now, Sat. Jan 15th – Daoud Nassar, founder of Tent of Nations. The Nassar family farm, in the family since 1916, is now a center for peace-building and teaching non-violent resistance to Israeli rule, giving hope to thousands around the world. Hear about the critical juncture they face with COVID and the process of re-registering their land. Register here.

The MN Council of Churches adopted an initiative in 2020 to move member congregations forward in the area of racial justice – a program including truth-telling and reparations for the African American and Native American communities in MN. Come hear more, Jan 18, 2:30PM: TRUE Tuesdays: Healing Minnesota Stories .

OFFICE HOURS

Carolyn VandenDolder, the Meeting Coordinator, will be in the office Wed – Fri afternoons. Phone messages checked daily; email checked W-F. Bulletin deadline, noon Thur. Bulletin items can be phoned in to the office (612-926-6159) or emailed (office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org).