April 24, 2022

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 10:00 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Jane Downes; Zoom host – Bill

10:15 – 11:00 Listening to Singles. A panel of single Friends will talk about their experiences both in and outside of Meeting. Discussion will follow. Facilitated by the Care and Counsel Committee. Zoom host – Bill

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Rick VandenDolder – speaker; care of meeting, Ellen Swanson; Zoom host – Rae Beth

Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon Friday for the link to worship and mid-morning program.

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

People around the world who are suffering from conflict, racism, colonialism, displacement, loss, and the climate crisis, and all those who are aiding victims and the dispossessed.

NEWS FOR MINNEAPOLIS MEETING FRIENDS

Mid-Morning Program next Sunday at 10:15: New Member Welcome! Come welcome and celebrate four (relatively) new members: Linda F, John C, Patrick H, and Mary B. Short program, visiting, and treats outside (weather permitting). Hosted by the Welcoming and Outreach Committee.

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.

It is again time to prepare MFM’s State of the Society Report – an opportunity to take stock of the life of the Meeting in the last year: what we have been called to; where we have been faithful; where we have fallen short? Please share with Mary B, John C, John K, or other member of the Ministry and Counsel Committee, in a sentence or two, your highlight experiences, feelings, or impressions of Meeting life this past year. Where has there been energy? a feeling of being in the right place at the right time? disappointment about something that didn’t happen which felt like it should have? If completed and approved, the report will go to Northern Yearly Meeting’s annual sessions over Memorial Day weekend. A draft will be presented May’s meeting for business.

The documentary The Doctrine of Discovery will be shown on Tues, April 26, at 7PM. The Doctrine of Discovery, issued by Pope Alexander VI in 1493, asserted that Christians had a biblical right to discover and dominate non-Christian lands. The Doctrine of Discovery still informs the interpretation and application of U.S. law today. Come learn about the devastating impact this doctrine has had, and continues to have, on Native people around the world. Discussion to follow. Contact Deborah for the link. Offered by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee. Many monthly and yearly meetings in the U.S. have recorded minutes renouncing the doctrine of discovery and are working toward a more respectful, repaired relationship with Indigenous people. Examples of such minutes in Northern Yearly Meeting can be found here. Information about other faith communities which have repudiated the DoD can be found here.

There will be live music at the meetinghouse during mid-morning program, 10:15-11AM, May 22nd! If you play an instrument, or have a song to share, and would like to present or lead or follow along, contact Tom Wells.

Registration has begun for Northern Yearly Meeting’s Annual Sessions (via Zoom,) at this link NYM meets over Memorial Day weekend (May 27-30). Registration for the IN-PERSON Family Camp at the Lion’s Camp in Rosholt, WI over the same weekend is here. To ensure Family Camp will have enough attendance to happen, REGISTER BY APRIL 26! Minneapolis Meeting has funds to help cover expenses if needed. Contact Linda C for more. Youth and Family Camp Volunteers: Interested adults who do not have young children planning to participate in the youth and family camp are invited to apply to volunteer, preferably by April 26th. Please review the list of volunteer job descriptions and then complete this form. You will notified in early May if your help is needed and you may register then. More on both events is available in the Northern Yearly Meeting E-News.

Need to schedule a Zoom meeting for a committee meeting or Minneapolis Meeting activity? Please send a request, including date, time, and purpose to office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org to have it set up.

Friends who must visit the meetinghouse or who want to meet on the meetinghouse grounds are asked to schedule those visits with the office to help avoid conflicts. Please wear a mask in the common spaces of the building – entryway, hallways, stairs, bathroom, etc. 612-926-6159; office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org .

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIDER WORLD OF FRIENDS

WORKSHOPS, FILMS, RETREATS, PROGRAMS, PRESENTATIONS

Climate Change and Threats to Democracy Forum, TOMORROW, Mon, April 25th, 7PM. This is a critical time for the US and our planet. Can we tackle climate change if we are not a democracy? What can we do? Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer (U of St. Thomas, focused on links between faith and critical political, economic, and social issues) and Sam Grant (Rainbow Research specializing in critical participatory action research on the intersectionality of racial, cultural, economic, gender, environmental and geographic justice) will consider where we are and how we can best move forward. Conversation moderated by Friends for a NonVioloent World’s Leah Robshaw Robinson. Register for the link here.

The 2022 Friends General Conference Gathering, “. . . and follow me” will be July 3-9, online. Registration will open in May. Advanced Programs with a list of workshops will be available soon here. Learn more and register for the Gathering on the FGC website. The Friends General Conference Young Adults and Youth (YAY) event will be in person (held at Radford University in Radford, Virginia). Registration for YAY will also open in May. See https://www.fgcquaker.org/ for more.

Early Bird registration for Friends for a NonViolent World’s People Camp (Aug 7-13) is now open. People Camp is an intergenerational experience of cooperation, exploration and community living. Come rest and refresh your mind, body, and spirit through a variety of workshops, group activities and recreation. More here.

VOLUNTEER

Quaker Voluntary Service has two program Fridays each month. Could you provide a vegan lunch for seven (and one gluten-free option) on May 13th or 27th? Sign up with Miranda, QVS Local Coordinator: miranda(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)quakervoluntaryservice.org . THANK YOU, Friends, for this gesture of care and support.

Members of Congress are in their districts for their spring recess. Friends Committee on National Legislation suggests that Quakers concerned about climate change and income disparities write or call their Senators and Representatives with their concerns. Congress has not given up on these concerns and will try to advance them in a reconciliation process, which requires only 50 Senate votes. Find more and help contact your Congresspeople at: https://fcnl.quorum.us/campaign/37304/?utm_source=fcnlaction

Friends School Plant Sale – There’s still time to sign up to volunteer: FriendsSchoolPlantSale.com/volunteer / (651) 621-8930. The Plant Sale will be held May 6-8 at the State Fair Grandstand. Volunteers shop early! To sign up to feed volunteers: click here. To see the catalogue online, go to FriendsSchoolPlantSale.com.

Friends for a NonViolent World will host a Walkathon fundraiser to support FNVW’s programs teaching alternatives to violence and championing a foundation of nonviolence upon which to build a society that respects the dignity of every human being. Sat, May 21, Lake Nokomis, Mpls, 9:30AM – 12:30PM. More at: Walkathon Sign Up and Pledge Form.

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY

Mosques and Islamic Community Centers throughout the Metro area are inviting their neighbors for a traditional Ramadan Iftar, or fast-breaking meal, April 2 – May 2. More and sign up here.

Mixed Blood Theatre is offering a new play called “imagine a u.s. without racism”. The play was born out of 100 interviews with strangers across the 50 United States starting with the prompt, “Imagine a U.S. without racism. The result is a ground-breaking play that offers concrete actions for individuals to greatly dilute the isms that plague America. More at https://mixedblood.com/imagine-a-u-s-without-racism/

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).