November 3, 2024

MEETING SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM

TODAY

9:00 – 10:00 meeting for worship (unprogrammed)

10:15 – 11:00 The Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice Group’s Direct Action in the Community. Zoom host – Marilyn J.

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): John Dunham – speaker; Jacque Wiersma – musician; care of meeting, Benton Randolph; Zoom host – Marilyn J.

Email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapoisfriends.org for the link to worship and mid-morning program this Sunday.

You are welcome at the potluck today, at the rise of semi-programmed worship. Visitor, regular, member, attender, adult, youth – please linger for food and relaxed conversation! For regulars – potlucks are do-it-ourselves affairs. Look for ways to help the effort, especially clearing and washing tables and washing, drying, and putting away dishes. Some of the best conversations happen over shared tasks!

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

Our country, voters, leaders, representatives, poll workers and all those affected by this election.

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

NEWS FOR MINNEAPOLIS MEETING FRIENDS

Next Sunday at 9:45: monthly meeting for business. On the agenda: Care and Counsel Committee proposal; Fall Together report; Winter Gift recipient recommendations; criteria for funding organizations proposal.

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

Game Night: Nov. 9th, 4-7:30 PM. Join Minneapolis Friends Meeting children and families for a rollicking night of fun, games, and new friendships. Bring a favorite game that you/your family enjoy, and a potluck dish to share with others. Also, bring a favorite song you’d like to share with others – you can sing or play it on your phone. Meet at the meetinghouse. Questions to Cathy Nagler.

MFM Movie Night – Landfill Harmonic: The recycled orchestra of Cateura – at the meetinghouse or via Zoom – Friday Nov. 22, 7PM. The movie follows a Paraguayan orchestra whose instruments are made entirely out of garbage. The orchestra goes viral and attracts global fame. During a natural disaster in Paraguay the orchestra struggles to stay intact and remain a source of hope for their town. The movie portrays a symphony of the human spirit. Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCjbd21fYV8 Popcorn provided (courtesy of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee) at the meetinghouse. The movie available via zoom, but without free popcorn.

It’s here! THANK YOU to those who helped establish the Little Friends Library on 44th Street! John S. and Mary L. (inspiration and funding); Cathy N, MFM children and youth, Betsy S, and Mike H. (design and decoration); Ed S. and Rick VD. (post-setting and library mounting.) Now accepting book donations!

Friends are invited to the launch of Joanne Esser’s new book of poems from Fernwood Press, All We Can Do Is Name Them, Sun, Nov 17th, 3PM, here at the meetinghouse. Poets Jane Downes and Mary Logue will be reading in addition to Joanne. All three have recent poetry books. Reading, refreshments, book signing, and camaraderie. Save the date!

John Cutler is directing “Just For Us” at Six Point Theater, running through Nov. 10. Read a review here: https://www.startribune.com/review-its-goose-steps-versus-guffaws-in-six-points-theaters-witty-comedy-just-for-us/601171899

SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITIES AT MINNEAPOLIS MEETING

Established writers as well as dabblers will have an informal writing session, Mon night, Nov 4th, 7-9PM. This is a chance to connect with one another, writing with prompts and sharing what we write. Serious, whimsical, beautiful and quirky – we’ve enjoyed them all! You are welcome to come laugh, ponder, and create together, whether or not you have participated before! Contact Jane D. with questions or interest. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87325724605?pwd=BMdZYlimaFkLeeh3ROZ4LY7iCOuWRH.1 ID: 873 2572 4605; passcode: 763965.

Come to thirty minutes of Lectio Divina, Divine Reading, followed by worship sharing on ZOOM. Each Tuesday at noon we will hold a very brief reading from the Bible, Quaker, or other spiritual text to see how it might speak to us today. Contact Stephen for more.

Small group line-up: Lectio Divina – every Tuesday noon; Writing Group – first Monday night; Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice Group – second Tuesday night; Reading Group – fourth Tuesday night; Conflict Soiree – last Tuesday afternoon.

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIDER WORLD OF FRIENDS

Quaker Call to Action will offer a national Zoom worship, Nov 3, 6-7PM (CT). Register here to join Friends from across the country for a time of worship, reflection, inspiration and preparation two days before this consequential election. You will receive a zoom link the day before the gathering.

Towards a Just Democracy: Spiritual Grounding and Principled Action, a Pendle Hill First Monday Lecture will be Nov 4th, 6:30-8PM (CT). Alicia McBride and José Santos Moreno of Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) will speak about how to equip ourselves – spiritually, intellectually, and politically – for whatever comes in the days and weeks ahead. Registration and more at https://pendlehill.org/events/towards-a-just-democracy-spiritual-grounding-and-principled-action/

It’s not too early to be thinking about the Friends for a NonViolent World Holiday Fair, this year on the SECOND weekend of Dec, the 13th and 14th, at Friends School of MN in St. Paul! Plan what crafts or food you can contribute; start collecting books to donate to the book sale; start identifying small, giftable items that need new homes (Quaker Treasures); hold space in your schedule to be a musician, help set up, and/or clean up; and for sure invite friends and relatives to meet you there for shopping and eating! This is an important fund-raiser for FNVW and a lovely opportunity for community. Put your holiday dollars to work for peace and justice! Consider distributing a flyer in your neighborhood! View at https://tinyurl.com/FNVW-Holiday-Sale

Toward Healing: How Churches Face Accountability for their Indian Boarding Schools. Many Christian church denominations operated Indian boarding schools during the 19th and early 20th centuries, in collaboration with the federal government’s policy of forced assimilation. Now they are re-examining the roles they played, the harms that were done to Native families and nations, and the ongoing impacts in Native communities today. Representatives of Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Quaker faith communities will share how they are conducting research and approaching questions of accountability, apology, reparations, and healing. Sun, Nov 10th, 7-8:30pm(CT). Offered by Friends Peace Teams’ Toward Right Relationship. Register at https://friendspeaceteams.org/accountability-boarding-schools-2024/

Northern Yearly Meeting’s Anti Racism Working Group offers these resources to help Friends understand, identify, and work to address racism and racial wounding that can happen in Quaker Meetings.
Pendle Hill first Monday lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-isRe2EcxI
Understanding Racial Wounding and Racial Justice in Quaker Communities: https://friendsgc.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Racial-Wounding-and-Racial-Justice-in-Quaker-Communities.3.pdf ;
Guidelines for Addressing Racial Wounding: https://www.fgcquaker.org/fgcresources/fgc-policies-and-guidelines/guidelines-for-addressing-racial-wounding/ .

Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns hosts a monthly online worship on first Saturdays, (Nov 2) at 4PM(CT) and a monthly online worship sharing on fourth Saturdays, 4PM(CT). In addition, there is a Listening Line (listening support to queer Friends) from 4-11PM(PDT) every Saturday. And, Canadian Friends (U.S.ers invited) have a Queer Gender group, focusing on gender ID instead of sexual orientation. Email clerks(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)flgbtqc.org for more.

Friends General Conference is offering Silence & Light for Quaker Newcomers eRetreat, Saturdays from Nov 9 – Dec 14; 1 – 2:30PM (CT). This session is offered for people curious about Quakers or new to Quakerism and will explore the basics of Quaker theology and practice. Come explore and practice the experience of Quaker worship and silent waiting; the inward encounter with the Inner Teacher who leads, guides, and transforms us every day. More at https://www.fgcquaker.org/event/silence-light-for-quaker-newcomers-eretreat

Friends General Conference offers discussion/affinity groups and worship online: Gen X Quakers, Neurodivergent Quakers, Poetry as Spiritual Practice, and Newcomers. Details and dates at https://www.fgcquaker.org/fgcprograms/spiritual-deepening-program/spiritual-deepening-eretreats-and-online-offerings/. In addition, there is a monthly online worship for Friends of Color (https://www.fgcquaker.org/event/virtual-worship-for-friends-of-color-monthly-worship/) and online worship for White Friends Confronting Racism (https://www.fgcquaker.org/event/virtual-worship-for-white-friends-confronting-racism-thursday/)

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY

Reparations In Action, this year’s Overcoming Racism conference, will be at Metro State University (700 E 7th St., St. Paul, MN) on Friday, November 8, from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM CST. Registration and more at https://overcomingracism.org/programs/2024-orc/

Mayim Rabim’s Fall FUNdraiser – Cabaret & Silent Auction, Nov 16th, 6:15-9:15 at the meetinghouse! Come for an intimate evening of performance, silent auction, and light refreshments. This family-friendly event features Mayim Rabim members singing, dancing, strumming, and hamming it up. You’ll be able to take home art, crafts, and fine goods and services donated by members of our community. Suggested donation $18—more if you can/less if not; Also available via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82799945148?pwd=xgUynQSBnydEva0GAWhGwoHxORNOGT.1

Prayer for this election: May my vote re-awaken in me the truth that each one of us is unique and irreplaceable, each essential for the health of the whole. May my vote sow empathy, mutual understanding, reconciliation, and harmony. No matter the outcome, may my heart and mind be freed from any confusion, ignorance, deception, fear, hatred, ill will, cynicism, self-righteousness, pride, or greed. Let it turn toward peace, clarity, compassion, hope, humility, healing, and reconciliation. Let my life magnify all that is pure and promising in the days to come.
~ Source: the Stanford Office for Religious and Spiritual Life and The Institute for Jewish Spirituality

OFFICE HOURS

The Meeting Coordinator will be in the office Wed – Fri afternoons. 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).

The Children and Families Coordinator will be available: Mon and Wed. 2:30-5PM via phone/computer; Thurs 3:30-5PM at the meetinghouse; Sun: 9AM-2PM at the meetinghouse.