April 13, 2025

WORSHIP AND PROGRAM SCHEDULE TODAY

9:00 – 9:40 meeting for worship (unprogrammed): care of meeting, Carolyn VandenDolder; Zoom host – Sandy O.

9:45 – 11:15 monthly meeting for business: Stephen Snyder, clerk; Tom Ward, recording clerk; Zoom host – Sandy O.

11:15 – 12:15 meeting for worship (semi-programmed): Barbara Ziegenhagen – speaker; care of meeting, tbd; Zoom host – Sandy O.

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

NEWS FOR MINNEAPOLIS MEETING FRIENDS

Feeling stressed? Discouraged? Fearful? Come to mid-week worship, Wed nights, 7PM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84938257185 (copy and paste into your browser); ID: 849 3825 7185.

Mid-Morning Program next Sunday at 10:15: Celebration! Come and bring your favorite festive spring edibles and celebrate the beauty of creation, of spiritual renewal, and of loving community!

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. Serving as a closer is a ministry of service to the meeting.

Scott Wright memorial minute request: If you have something to contribute for consideration in the memorial minute for Scott, please email it to Pat J.

Come continue the democratizing electricity conversation with George Crocker on Tues, April 29, 7PM at the meetinghouse. George Crocker has done considerable work in the area and with legislators and will answer all your questions on how we rate-payers can turn our electric power system around to more cheaply and reliably serve our needs without expensive systems upgrades and increasing amounts of greenhouse gases. Hopes are to offer it via Zoom, too. Details coming.

The Minneapolis Friends/Mayim Rabim Joyful Aging Group is going on a walk at the Wood Lake Nature Center on Wednesday, April 30 at 1PM. Please join us—bring your friends—all ages are OK with us. More walks in the future. Wanna be in the Joyful Aging Google Group? Let Bill H. and Ellen S. know!

SAVE THE DATE: May 3rd. Come celebrate the strides the meeting has taken toward greening our community life. There will be an Energy Fair / ribbon-cutting celebration on May 3rd with food, activities for children, speakers from the nonprofits and for-profits that helped with the solar panel project, and a local politician or two. This is meant to be a celebration as well as an invitation to other churches, non-profits, and neighbors to investigate the support available for their own greening endeavors. Come be part of the party and outreach!

Register by May 1 for the Northern Yearly Meeting annual session over Memorial Day weekend in Rosholt, WI! Read all about the weekend on the NYM website at https://bit.ly/4iTv6Wt; find registration material at https://bit.ly/3Ydu6E0 or explore more generally at https://northernyearlymeeting.org/

Office Manager job posting: Minneapolis Friends Meeting is seeking an Office Manager for 15-20 hours a week, $25 an hour. Hours are flexible. This position requires someone who is comfortable working independently, and has at least intermediate skills working with Microsoft Office Suite. Preferred experience working with volunteers and knowledge of the Quaker faith. The Office Manager serves as a trusted hub for the internal and external communication for the Minneapolis Friends Meeting and its committees. Applications accepted until April 15. Job description is on the MFM website. Send cover letters and resume’ to Minneapolis Friends Meeting, office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org, Attention Rae Beth C.

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 Mary B, Mary G, Jimbo L, and Jeff N.

Contributions update: Records indicate that we had sufficient income to pay out all our aspirational contributions ($16,090) and fully fund the different Trustee funds of the aspirational budget ($21,500.) THANK YOU FRIENDS for your generous support of the meeting and each other this past year!

SMALLER GATHERINGS AT MINNEAPOLIS MEETING

Sharing the Spirit, open to everyone, every Mon, Wed, and Fri AM on zoom, cameras off. This brief opportunity for worship is focused on healing, in a broad sense, gathering at approximately 8:57; ten-minute worship beginning at 9:02. You may attend as the spirit moves you or as your schedule permits. Try it out! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85939251575?pwd=1aHrNcUclfw3o99kyDnc9nAwzwkYGU.1; ID: 859 3925 1575; passcode: 251345.

Come to thirty minutes of Lectio Divina, Divine Reading, followed by worship sharing on ZOOM, Tuesdays at noon. Hold a very brief reading from the Bible, Quaker, or other spiritual text to see how it might speak to us today: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82172920370?pwd=4v3zY9LtA79jzf5tGg24BDXb28Clkd.1 ; ID: 821 7292 0370; passcode: 661188

The Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice group meets this Tues night, April 15 (moved due to caucuses,) 7-8:30PM and is exploring and practicing the inner and outer work of direct action using Resmaa Menakem’s book The Quaking of America: An Embodied Guide to Navigating our Nation’s Upheaval and Racial Reckoning. There is a core group; visitors / newcomers are warmly welcome. Contact Nettie S. for more and for the link.

Minneapolis Friends Meeting’s LGBTQ+ Group invites other Queer individuals to join them on Free Thursday, THURS, April 24th, 7PM, at the Walker Art Center in the James Turrell installation, “Sky Pesher, 2005” / https://bit.ly/4hUH4O5. After a short period of silence, we will chat and see some of the other works at the museum. The qroup hopes to widen the circle going forward to support all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and Queer communities. For more information, you can contact Bill H.

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

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIDER WORLD OF FRIENDS

TODAY: Friends for a NonViolent World Reinvention gathering and potluck, 4:30-8PM at Twin Cities Meeting, 1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul. An ad hoc Quaker/FNVW Liaison Group is proposing a reinvention of FNVW that would bring the organization closer to area Quakers and feature Quaker Action Groups working on pressing issues using the model of a nonviolent action campaign. RSVP and indicate interest in participating in, or actively supporting, this project by filling out this online questionnaire. For more information, you may contact any of the Liaison Group members: Phil G, PJ H, Cynthia B, Pete R, or Charley U.

PLEASE COME to the Friends for a Non-Violent World annual meeting next Saturday, April 19th, at Twin Cities Meeting, 1725 Grand Ave; 9 AM – noon! The membership of FNVW will be deciding whether or not to establish the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) as an independent organization. Coffee tea and light breakfast will be served. Questions to ewu(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)fnvw.org .

The Friends School Plant Sale is coming May 9-11! Sign up for your favorite volunteer role. There remain many opportunities to volunteer, including helping feed the many volunteer workers! Volunteers get to shop the pre-sale. Read about the different jobs at https://www.friendsschoolplantsale.com/volunteer. Sign up at https://friendsschoolofminnesota.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/.

Friends General Conference introduces Young Adult and Youth (YAY) Gathering – an intergenerational Quaker event for children, youth, teens, and young adults (0-35). Come to Michigan July 2-6 for play, connection, laughter, spiritual practice, learning, and rest with family members and event volunteers of all ages. YAY puts young people at the center while celebrating the gifts that each generation brings to our community. Games, stories, music, walks in the woods, campfires, conversations, puzzles, and most importantly, a spiritual community of people who practice generosity, kindness, and curiosity. Learn more about the gathering on the FGC website here. Registration, housing, fees, and financial aid info are also on the FGC website here.

Earlham School of Religion invites Friends to a Perkins Lecture April 23, 6PM(CT), Yearning and Yielding: Living Together in the Life and Power of God with Colin Saxton, in Richmond, IN and via Zoom. More and register at https://esr.earlham.edu/event/2025-perkins-family-lecture-series-with-colin-saxton-2/

Spring Gayla at Twin Cities Meeting (1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul,) May 3, 6-8:30PM. All meeting LGBTQ people and their allies are invited to a party for fun and solidarity! Start in the Fellowship Room getting to know each other, then choose DJ-supported sock hop dancing in the meetingroom, or try on costumes for an uninhibited photo shoot. Downstairs you can sip lemonade in whatever wacky drinking vessel you bring and munch on potluck snacks. Chat, play games, or check out the free clothing exchange! Clothing donations, and interesting treats and non-alcoholic drinks welcome! Contact Kelly with questions: 651-246-6717.

Plan now to take part in People Camp next August 10-16! The theme: How We WIN! Non-violent, direct action campaign planning. Author and activist, George Lakey, will be at camp to share his experiences as we investigate non-violent, direct-action campaigns and how to apply them to the work for today. For more, see https://www.fnvw.org/peoplecamp

The Middle East
* join Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) in urging Congress to stop famine in Gaza by supporting the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act when it is reintroduced . More at https://fcnl.quorum.us/
* join AFSC every Friday at 11AM for an Action Hour for Palestine.
* 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
* join AFSC every third Tuesday for Rise, Resist, and Build to learn about how to protect, resist, and build just peace, just migration, and just economies. 7PM(CT) https://www.mobilize.us/afsc/event/746944/

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY

Palestine Liberation Pilgrimage, SAT, Apr 12th. Join the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimmage and many others in a prayerful walk for the people of Palestine. Walk the whole the length of the Gaza strip (14 miles,) observing the Stations of the Cross along the way, or join for a shorter segment. All lovers of peace are invited to this peaceful, prayerful show of solidarity. Learn more and register at https://www.peacecatalyst.org/gcpilgrimage

Middle East Peace Now will host a webinar, Gaza, Trump and the Great Unmasking (Part 1) Apr 19, (Sat), 10-11:30AM. Take stock of the movement for Palestine in the United States and globally. Time for sharing and discussion, setting the stage for Part 2 (Sat, May 17), which will consider the key roles played by the ascendancy of Christian nationalism and the weaponization of antisemitism. Info and RSVP at https://mepn.org/events/march-15-2025-forum-with-dr-mark-braverman-what-now-for-our-movement/

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 can be reached: Mon and Wed, 2:30-5PM; Thurs, 3:30-5PM; Sun, 9AM-2PM at the meetinghouse.