August 28, 2022

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

10:00 – 11:00 AM meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Allen Gibas, speaker; care of meeting, Barbara Ziegenhagen; Zoom host – Rae Beth

Don’t have the link for Sunday worship? Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon Friday.

Following the closing handshake, we will take time for introductions, and there will be a few moments to share joys and concerns, followed by pre-arranged announcements. Preferred practice is to put announcements in the bulletin. After-worship announcements, when needed, should be brief so Friends can be released.

Come savor the last days of summer and enjoy the sweet company of Friends and neighbors at an ice cream (or reasonable fac simile) social on the front lawn after the rise of worship TODAY! Hosted by the Welcoming and Outreach Committee.

NEWS FOR MINNEAPOLIS MEETING FRIENDS

Happy birthday Judith J. (September 6th,) Renae B. (Sept 24th,) Barbara M. (Sept 25th,) Cynthia G. (Sept 26th,) Gale D. (Sept 27th,) and Jim L. (Sept 27th)! If you would like to have your birthday acknowledged by meeting Friends, please send the month and date of your birth, (no year necessary,) to Judith J.

Loaves and Fishes August 29th: Join other metro-area Friends, the Ismaili Community and the Mayim Rabim congregation to provide a nutritious meal at Holy Rosary Church in S Mpls, 2424 – 18th Ave S. There are three shifts to cover the tasks of the meal: meal prep (2-3:30PM); burrito assembly and handing out the meals (4:15-5:30PM,) and clean up (5:15-6:30PM.) Fruit donations, dropped off at Holy Rosary after 2:00, are needed as well. Email Sue K. to sign up for a shift to make sure there is sufficient space or to arrange to drop off fruit. Masks, hair covering as well as closed-toe shoes required. This remains a COVID risk. Sign up to come if you can!

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

HEADS UP! The school year schedule will begin on September 18th: 9AM, worship (unprogrammed); 10:15AM, mid-morning program; 11:15AM, worship (semi-programmed).

Ministry and Counsel Committee (M&C) asks individuals who feel led to share a prepared message or a reading during semi-programmed worship, to contact John C. or other members of M&C. M&C is also looking for closers for both worships. Serving as a closer is a ministry of service to the meeting.

The Quaker Voluntary Service house needs attention before the new Fellows arrive! Are you available to help clean, organize and make the house welcoming over the next week? Call or email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org to be put in touch with Mary Ellen, Local Support Committee clerk, for work crew options. ALSO NEEDED, dinners for the two new Fellows, Robie and Elsa, (vegetarian or pescatarian,) delivered to the house (3241 Park Ave S) on Sept 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th. Sign up with Mary Ellen.

The Golden Rule Peace Boat, which we learned about at a mid-morning program last September, will be launched nearby this coming autumn! The historic Golden Rule sailboat will set sail to raise awareness about the growing danger of nuclear war and actions we can take to prevent it, beginning its epic 11,000 mile Great Loop Voyage in Stillwater, MN before heading downstream to New Orleans and beyond. Meet the crew, and enjoy music, food and presentations about the project on Sun, Sept 18th, 2-4PM at Lowell Park South, Sam Bloomer Street, Stillwater. Other opportunities are also being developed, including: Wed Sept 21st, 7-9PM, Unity Church – Unitarian, 732 Holly Ave, St Paul; Fri, Sept 23rd, 6-8PM, Veterans For Peace/Women Against Military Madness office, 4200 Cedar, Minneapolis. The public is invited to tour the historic boat, docked at the Watergate Marina, to hear about nuclear issues today, and to learn how we can stop the possibility of nuclear war! The Golden Rule Peace Boat is a national project of Veterans For Peace. Interested in helping coordinate an event for the crew, Minneapolis Meeting members and attenders, and local community members at Linden Hills Park – let Jim L. know.

Please remember to schedule committee meetings, events, and visits to the meetinghouse with the office to help avoid conflicts: 612-926-6159; office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org .

OPPORTUNITIES AMONG FRIENDS

WORKSHOPS, FILMS, RETREATS, PROGRAMS, PRESENTATIONS

Northern Yearly Meeting plans retreat for First Day School providers: Realizing that many First Day School programs in the Northern Yearly Meeting region have waned or become dormant during the pandemic, the NYM Children & Youth Committee is considering a one day in-person regional FDS retreat for teachers and program coordinators. Tentative timeline is a late Sept / early Oct Sat, 10AM – 4PM. During our time together we’ll take stock, share challenges, ideas and resources; and network with each other as we seek to rebuild our Meeting/Worship group’s programs for children, youth and families. Barbara D and Bonnie B have kindly offered to host the gathering at the meetinghouse in Stevens Point. We’re going to keep arrangements simple with a potluck and/or bring your own lunch. Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org with interest and to be put in touch with coordinators.

Friends for a NonViolent World offers an online Alternatives to Violence Project workshop, Fri, Sept 23 – Sun, Sept 25th. You’ll discover your power to build safer communities and transform conflict and frustration in your life – all in the context of a supportive community. For more about AVP and to register, click here.

Follow-up to the Quaker Call to Action: Toxic polarization in the U.S. may mean the coming election cycle will more volatile. Join with other Quakers for “CONNECT TO ACTION” Zoom sessions with trusted partners who will offer you immediate opportunities for concrete action on a local or regional basis. The first session is on Election Protection with Steve Wanczyk of Protect Our Election, (https://www.protectourelection.com/) and Sonja Murray of Voter Protection Pros, (https://www.vopropros.com/) on Tues, Sept 6, 6-7:30PM (CT). The call will provide specific opportunities to take action in states like PA, MI, NC, GA, AZ, and NV – as well as other specific ways to contribute your time and energy to the effort regardless of location. Register here; a Zoom link will be sent the day before the session. To better ensure receipt, put Sam Caldwell’s email, samueldcaldwelliv(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com, in your contacts.

Friends World Committee for Consultation Midwest Regional Gathering: Come spend an afternoon with Friends from Illinois, Indiana, New Association of Friends, Ohio Valley, Western and Central Yearly Meetings. Hear from Shawn McConaughey, new Superintendent of Western YM, and from former Friends United Meeting staff in East Africa. Sat, Sept 24, 11AM – 3:30PM (CT). Register and more here.

VOLUNTEER

The snow might not yet be in the air, but planning has already begun for the 2022 Friends for a NonViolent World Holiday Fair Fundraiser and Social Event! FNVW would love your assistance in gathering the following items to sell at the fair this winter: handmade crafts, donated services, used books, Quaker treasures, desserts, donated items from local businesses. Sign up here to help: FNVW Holiday Fair Donations Form Interested in being on the Holiday Fair Planning Committee? Contact leah(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)fnvw.org.

Friends General Conference seeks widespread input around revisioning the annual Gathering, in existence in varying forms for 120 years. Learn more about this process on the FGC web site at this link; see focus group options and register at this link.

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL): Right now, every member of congress is back in their home state for the August Congressional recess. This time, through Sept 5th, offers an excellent opportunity to drop by or schedule a meeting with congressional offices in Minnesota. This is one of the most potent forms of advocacy. Even a five-minute stop can make an impact! Start here for help in planning your visit.

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY

MN Council of Churches Refugee Services seeks donations for newly arrived Ukrainians, Afghans, and others from around the world. Most needed items include: trash bags, laundry detergent, kitchen/bathroom cleaners, shower curtain and rings, toilet brushes, brooms & dustpan or mops, bed sheets twin & queen, blankets twin & queen, pots & pans, kitchen knives, and kitchen utensils. Do you have items you would like to donate? Please email Rsvolunteers(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)mnchurches.org or call (612) 230-3219.

OFFICE HOURS

Carolyn VandenDolder, Meeting Coordinator, will be in the office Wed, Thurs and Fri, afternoons. Phone messages checked daily. Bulletin deadline, noon Thur. Phone items in to the office (612-926-6159), email (office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org), or write and put in the bulletin file of the blue box.