GAME NIGHT, Sat, Jan 27th, 6:30PM Enjoy food and fun with local Quaker Voluntary Service Alumni, the Local Support Committee members, and local Friends here at the meetinghouse! Play interactive games, including some from the Alternatives to Violence collection, and have cocoa and popcorn to round out the evening. All are welcome!

There will be a memorial service for Frank Wood on Sat, Jan 27th, 10AM at the Friends School of MN,1365 Englewood Ave, St Paul. Light refreshments will follow. Frank’s obituary and the link to his memorial can be found here.

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January 28, 2024

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 10:00 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Mike Finley; Zoom host – Bill H.

10:15 – 11:00 Lakota Healing Circles: Francis and Barbara Bettelyoun will describe the Buffalo Star People campaign and how it addresses, through healing circles, building, and transformational education and training, the dire conditions in which the Lakota people exist today. Zoom host – Kate W-J.

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): no planned speaker; Lavender Jeffries – musician; care of meeting, Andy Showalter; Zoom host – Kate W-J.

Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org for the link to worship on Sunday.

TODAY: Friends are encouraged to bring a sandwich or bag lunch to enjoy together after the rise of semi-programmed worship and before the program at 1:30. Soup, bread, and cheese will be provided. At 1:30PM – Hear more from Francis and Barbara Bettelyoun about the Buffalo Star People campaign. Barbara and Francis, a Lakota couple, will talk about their campaign plan to heal trauma and recover key elements of indigenous culture among the people of the Seven Council Fires. Named Buffalo Star People, the campaign, fashioned by Francis and Barbara, will provide strategic, transformational education and other initiatives to promote healing and cultural life-ways of the Oceti Ŝakowiŋ that are physically, spiritually, emotionally and ecologically healthy. Their plan has been nearly two decades in the making. They are reaching out to settler descendants of good will with this opportunity to support reparative efforts that will benefit, not only the Seven Council Fires people (Lakota-Dakota-Nakota) of Turtle Island, but also the descendants of the European settlers. Terry Hokenson, a Minneapolis Meeting member, was recently recorded as a Traveling Minister to this project. Available via Zoom, too. Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneaqpolisfriends.org for the link.

NEWS FOR MINNEAPOLIS MEETING FRIENDS

Mid-Morning Program next Sunday at 10:15: MFM Hybrid: Your Part! There’s a lot to talk about! How you can use Zoom. How you can use technology in the meetinghouse. Etiquette for Zoom and in the meetinghouse. What’s the difference between the A/V Tech and a Zoom Host? What happens when a request is made of the Technology Committee? Your frustrations about Zoom (technical only). Let’s get a common understanding! Hosted by the Technology 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.

STARTING IN FEBRUARY – our closing worship practice will not include asking for additional announcements. Please send announcement information to office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org by noon Thurs. so it can be included in the bulletin.

The Winter Gift is a special winter collection sent to recipients approved by monthly meeting. The East Philips Neighborhood Institute and Jonathan House were approved as the Winter Gift recipients for this year. Make a contribution to the Winter Gift by writing checks to Minneapolis Meeting with “Winter Gift” in the memo line BY JAN 31.

Loaves and Fishes, Jan 29th: Join other metro-area Friends, the Ismaili Community and the Mayim Rabim congregation to provide a meal at Holy Rosary Church in S Mpls, 2424 – 18th Ave S. Prepare dinner (2-4:30); package and hand out the meals and clean-up (5:15-6:30.) Fruit donations needed. Volunteers wear hair covering/hats, closed toe shoes and work in small groups. Email Sue K. to sign up for a shift to make sure there is sufficient coverage or to arrange to drop off fruit. Enough food for 400 meals has been ordered! Sign up to help if you can.

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 Lolly L. or other members of M&C. M&C is also looking for closers for both worships. Acting as a closer is a ministry of service to the meeting.

Being a Zoom Host or a substitute A/V Tech is a great way to support the Meeting’s worship. Interested in being trained for either of these positions, or just finding out more? Contact Marilyn J.

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.

Northern Yearly Meeting (NYM): NYM’s January E-News is here. The Winter, 2024 Northern Yearly Meeting Journal: Friends EnLightening Friends (reflections, art, and poetry,) can be found here.
Save the Date for the Spring NYM Interim Session: Sat, Feb. 24th, 8:30AM – 4:30PM via Zoom. Also pencil in Sunday afternoon from 1-4 – if we have more items than we think we can comfortably accommodate on Saturday.

Quaker Voluntary Service, a program supported by Minneapolis and Twin Cities Meetings, has spent the past year evaluating the program and the cultural context in which it exists. Read about findings and changes here.
~ The local QVS Program will restart August, 2024 and your ideas for possible new sites where the QVS Fellows can work are needed! Progressive, compatible for-profit and non-profit organizations will be considered. Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org with thoughts or with contacts to organizations.
~ Want to be involved with this program, nurturing and helping ground the leaders of tomorrow in Quaker values? Explore with Mary Ellen S, Tom W, Jane F, or Ed S.

The Care and Counsel Committee facilitates pastoral care for Minneapolis Meeting members and attenders, understanding the Quaker tradition that Friends minister to each other. If you are dealing with illness, grief, a major transition, or a stressful personal problem, we would like to be there for you. Contact committee clerk, Sandy O.
If a confidential discussion would support you as you make a decision, we will set up a clearness committee with you. Email John S. to explore that opportunity.
Other committee members are Connie A, Mary G, and Ellen S.

SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITIES AT MINNEAPOLIS MEETING

The Spirituality in Dance and Movement group is cancelled this Tues. It is usually held the last Tuesday of any odd month.

Experiment with Light: A recent mid-morning program focused on Experiment with Light process and groups. Friends who are interested in learning more about the Light Groups at MFM, either general questions or with thoughts about trying out a group, please contact Diane B. Also, the worldwide network of EwL has a website with a great deal of information about Light Groups, including various versions of the meditative process used: https://experiment-with-light.org.uk/

Small group line-up: Writing Group, first Monday night; Conflict Soiree, first Wednesday afternoon; Getting to Know You Group, second Tuesday afternoon; Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice Group, second Tuesday night; Right Relationship with Indigenous People, third Tuesday night; Reading Group, fourth Tuesday night; Spirituality of Dance Group, last Tuesday morning in odd months.

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIDER WORLD OF FRIENDS

URGENT ACTION REQUESTED: The U.N. states that today, over 90% of the population in Gaza is facing crisis levels of hunger and critical water shortages. Friends Committee on National Legislation has made it easy for you to contact your legislators in D.C. to urge a ceasefire, de-escalation, restraint, and respect for international law in Gaza and Israel. Click here. It also provides resources for talking with others in your community about what is going on there – to raise awareness and invite action. Click here.

American Friends Service Committee:
~ Action Hour every Friday at 11AM (CT) where you can get updates from AFSC folks in Gaza, hear what’s happening on Capitol Hill, and get resources for action. Register here for the link.
~ Link to AFSC’s most recent update about Gaza and the West Bank here.
~ weekly worship for peace in Palestine every Thurs, 4:30 (CT) through February or until a permanent ceasefire is reached: https://afsc-org.zoom.us/j/85831333364?pwd=VEtPTUZuYk5hTHV2OGs1VzRkY0ZKUT09; ID: 858 3133 3364; Passcode: 759311.

Quaker Call to Action is hosting another national Zoom call: “A Deeper Dive into Ranked Choice Voting and How It Can Transform Our Elections” Register HERE to join us on Tue, Jan 30, 7-8:30PM (CT) with Quakers Rob Richie (FairVote) and Cynthia Richie Terrell (RepresentWomen,) who together founded FairVote in 1992, for an exploration of how ranked choice voting can repair and strengthen our democracy. Learn how the National Popular Vote Plan and the Fair Representation Act can transform future Presidential and Congressional elections. Special guest, Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8). Rep. Raskin, a four-term congressperson in the House of Representatives, has been a tireless champion for civil rights and civil liberties.

Twin Cities Meeting is hosting First Sunday Sing-a-longs, beginning Feb 4th at 1:15PM. Bring your copy of Rise Up Singing and help make a joyful noise! 1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul.

Friends General Conference’s ongoing Poetry as Spiritual Practice workshop allows you to experiment with words to deepen your connection with your Inner Guide. No writing or poetry experience necessary! Just yourself, paper and pen. Register for one or more than one; the next session is Feb 7, 9-11AM (CT). More and to register here.

Right Sharing of World Resources invites Friends to an online workshop, The Power of Enough, meeting on Wednesdays, Feb 14th through March 13th. What is essential? How is my use of time, energy, and things in right balance to free me to do God’s work and to contribute to right order of our world? Through personal reflection, discussion and worship-sharing, explore queries to discover our power of enough. For more and to register, click here.

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY

From Mayim Rabim: Moving Towards A Shared Future – A Convening of the Progressive Israel Network. Join the Progressive Israel Network on Tues, Jan 30th 11AM (CT) for an online convening to hear from Israelis and Palestinians who are thinking and acting on a vision of Israel as a shared place—a place where the futures of Jewish Israelis and Palestinians are bound up together. To register, click on this link.
A recording is available of the recent program, “Holding on to Hope” featuring the work of three courageous and dedicated activists for co-existence and shared society in Israel/Palestine. Access the recording here.

Come to a Community Sing, here at the meetinghouse, Feb 1st, hosted by the Community Choir (which rehearses at the meetinghouse). All are welcome! A new singing season is starting. Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org to explore joining the choir for the spring!

Rise and Repair is a diverse alliance bringing together Minnesotans from across the state to push for bold proposals to advance climate justice and Indigenous rights during the 2024 Legislative Session. MN InterFaith Power and Light is hosting Pres-Session Policy event – a deep dive about key legislative priorities from partner organizations and a tutorial on how to get involved with the Legislative Session begins next month – Wed, Jan 31, 10-noon via Zoom. More, RSVP, and register here.

Rise and Repair will welcome and encourage legislators to be bold on climate justice and Indigenous rights on Mon, Feb 12th, 10AM-1PM at the Capitol. Gather in conference room 316. More, RSVP, and register here.

Middle East Peace Now: SAVE THE DATE: Feb 17, 11:30-2:30 potluck and Discussion of the Israeli-Hamas War at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 Snelling Ave S, St. Paul. Three panelists, Mariam El-Khatib, Muslim, Ruben Slomianski, Jewish, and Joan Deming, Christian, will lead us through the history and current challenges facing the Palestinians and the Israelis, and affecting the entire Middle East.

OFFICE HOURS
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).