August 18, 2024

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

10:00 – 11:00 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Diane Barrett; Zoom host – Rae Beth C; accessibility training zoom host – Kate W-J

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

Friends are encouraged to turn off your cell phone before entering the meetingroom. At the least, please silence it.

Accessibility Training TODAY – There will be an accessibility training in the meetingroom at the rise of worship TODAY. It will cover making Word and PowerPoint documents accessible. The clerks of all standing committees as well as all others available are encouraged to come. It will last for 90 minutes. Accessibility Coordinator Kelly M. from The Minnesota Department of Human Services is providing the training.

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

The Democratic National Convention happening Mon-Thurs, Aug. 19-22,in Chicago.

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

SPECIAL EVENTS

Welcoming and Inclusion of New (and old) Attenders at MFM will be the topic offered in a presentation by Windy Cooler, co-tutor of an upcoming course offered at Woodbrooke Center in England, “Friend, Guest, or Family? Deep Hospitality in Quaker Communities,” on Sept 1 at the rise of worship. This is a rare, exceptional opportunity to understand unconscious barriers to bringing newcomers (and even some old-timers!) into fuller belonging in the meeting. Please come if you are in town! The regular first Sunday potluck will follow the presentation.
There is still time to register for the month-long, online course at Woodbrooke. Find out more: https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/courses/friend-guest-or-family-deep-hospitality-in-quaker-communities/

TOMORROW: a Memorial Service for Janis (Bremer) Reuter will be held Monday, August 19, at 7PM. A simple reception will follow.

Important: Good Times Conference for youth, ages 11-18 is NEXT SAT, Aug 24th, 10AM-5PM.
NEEDED: pizza component donations: pizza sauce, cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, and black olives to be in the MFM kitchen by 9AM Sat, Aug. 24th. Please contact Cathy N. to let her know your intended contribution. THANK YOU for your support!

NEWS FOR MINNEAPOLIS MEETING FRIENDS

Heads up: the school year schedule begins on September 15th – the third Sunday of September: 9AM worship (unprogrammed); 10:15AM mid-morning program; 11:15AM worship (semi-programmed)

Mid-week worship is suspended in August.

We need a deeper bench of AV Techs! Being a substitute A/V Tech is a great way to support the Meeting’s worship and commitment to inclusion. Take advantage of the relaxed schedule of summer to get some AV training / refreshers! Running the AV system is not about technology – it’s more like following a recipe. There are step by step ‘recipe cards’ to operate the system. This is a call to a ministry of making connections – helping connect people remotely with the meetinghouse and back again. Willing to help? Contact Marilyn J. or Roger M.

The hint of autumn has been in the air! Make Fall Together, October 26th, one of your autumn events! Gather with Friends at beautiful Fish Lake Park to rest, relax, renew, re-connect and RELISH the company of Friends in the great outdoors! Start practicing your talent show offering NOW!

Monthly Meeting approved a curtailed 2024-25 budget. In order to meet the curtailed budget, contributions will need to increase 10% over those of last year, and Meeting will still need to use $25,000 of general fund reserves. If we are to make our usual contributions to other organizations and support MFM programming at the usual level this year, contributions will need to increase by about 24% in addition to using the $25,000 reserves. Contributions in the first quarter of the budget year totaled $31,307.39. $101,027.61 in contributions is needed this year to meet our curtailed budget obligations; roughly $12,629 per month. Contributions in July totaled $9,634.00. If you would like to set up automatic contributions to the meeting, contact Mike F. Thank you, Friends, for your generous financial support.

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 co-clerks, John S. or Ellen S.
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, Jill F, and Jimbo L.

SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITIES AT MINNEAPOLIS MEETING

Interested in gardening? Meeting gardeners (currently Clifford G, Betsy S, and Sarah McC,) will meet this Tues afternoon, 3:30. You are welcome to come, too, for satisfying fun playing in the dirt, fabulous people and lots of laughs. Questions? Contact Clifford G.

The Conflict Soiree will meet on the fourth Tues, (a new meeting day!) at 3:00PM. This is an ongoing group and drop-in’s are always welcome! We explore conflict and difference in our individual lives and in the meeting. We propose that becoming more skillful and comfort-able with difference might cause us to be more authentic peacemakers everywhere we go. Email Nettie S. for more.

The Watson Reading Group meets on the fourth Tues of each month, 7-8:30PM via Zoom. We are starting Becoming Wise, An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living, by Krista Tippett. Most participants have a copy of the book available to them, but it is not mandatory. If you have interest in joining, please let John Dunham know.

Small group line-up: Writing Group, first Monday night; Getting to Know You Group, second Tuesday afternoon; Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice Group, second Tuesday night; Conflict Soiree, fourth Tuesday afternoon (note the change); Reading Group, fourth Tuesday night.

OPPORTUNITIES AMONG FRIENDS

Friends General Conference offers monthly, virtual, worship for Friends of Color – third Sundays, 7PM – next on March 17th. These worships offer a place for Friends of Color to come together in community and worship in an environment with Friends who experience marginalization in their lives and Quaker meetings because they are a Person of Color. For more and to request the link, go to https://www.fgcquaker.org/event/virtual-worship-for-friends-of-color-monthly-worship

Friends General Conference has started a Gen Xer Quaker Discussion Group to explore Quaker spirituality, share personal experiences, and engage in meaningful conversations about faith, community, and social issues in a supportive and open environment! The group hopes to meet monthly (virtually.) If you are interested in hearing about future get-togethers, sign up at https://fgc.tfaforms.net/5109858.

LAST Quaker Call to Action: REGISTER HERE to learn how Friends are taking action to protect Democracy in NC, PA and elsewhere – Wed, Aug 21st, 6-7:30PM(CT). Hear first-hand from organizers and participants about state-wide, monthly meeting and individual initiatives. Connect with resources and actions as we approach the November elections. Interact with presenters and hear inspiring stories in this moderated session. You will receive the zoom link the day before the gathering. Please put info(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)quakercall.net in your contacts to make sure our email appears in your inbox.

Palestine
* urge Congress to resume U.S. funding for life-saving Palestinian aid. The situation for Palestinians in Gaza continues to deteriorate though there is hope for a ceasefire. All parties involved need to restore food aid before mass starvation occurs. If starvation reaches an advanced stage, the human body loses the ability to utilize food, and death may occur even with medical treatment. Quakers need to continue to demand a ceasefire. Friends Committee on National Legislation action link: https://fcnl.quorum.us/campaign/51886/?utm_source=fcnlaction
* join AFSC every Friday at 11AM for an Action Hour for a Cease-fire Now.
* worship with attention to peace in Palestine and Israel with Friends across the U.S. every Thurs, online, at 4:30PM. Sign up to get the link at https://afsc.org/events/meeting-worship-attention-peace-palestine-israel.

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY

JOIN THE COMMUNITY CHOIR! The choir rehearses on Thurs evenings, 7PM, here at the meetinghouse, starting Sept 12. No audition, friendly neighbors, really funny director, gifted accompanist, and music ranging from the fun and festive to the sublime. What more could you want? Registration, schedule, fees, and more at https://form.jotform.com/242254048609154. Register by Sept 6.

Not Another Bomb Solidarity Action TODAY, Aug 16th, 4-6PM, Loring Park (1382 Willow St.) As political decision-makers gather for the Democratic National Convention, help send a message to the establishment: the people call for not another bomb! In order to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, the U.S. must stop arming Israel’s brutal war and occupation in Palestine by enacting an immediate arms embargo. More at https://www.mobilize.us/nab/event/652224/

Check out the performances at the new Native Theater at the State Fair! Productions challenge the many different stereotypes held about Indigenous people and offer the opportunity to hear Native stories in an authentic voice. Short performances at the Grandstand Plaza on Mon, Aug 26 and Tues, Aug 27, 9:30, 10:15, and 11:45AM and 12:30PM.
Also at the Fair – there will be Indigenous People’s Day on Sun, Aug 25th with music, dancers, food, and educational demos, an exhibitor tent, and much more from New Native Theatre, Dream of Wild Health and the Indigenous Food Network. The events will take place at Dan Patch Park.

OFFICE HOURS

The Meeting Coordinator will be in the office Wed and Fri afternoons this week. 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.