Sunday, June 22, 2025

WORSHIP AND PROGRAM SCHEDULE TODAY

10:00 – 11:00 AM meeting for worship (unprogrammed): Linda Ferguson, speaker; Joanne Esser, closer; Dave Bostrom, musician; Bill H, Zoom host

For the zoom link for worship this Sunday, email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org.

Friends are reminded to silence your cell phone before entering the meetingroom.

Following the closing handshake, we take time for introductions and there are a few moments for worship sharing and 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.

Additional worship opportunities:
Sharing the Spirit, open to everyone, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning on zoom, cameras off. Join this brief centering time, gathering approximately 8:57 AM for ten-minute worship beginning at 9:02 AM. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85939251575?pwd=1aHrNcUclfw3o99kyDnc9nAwzwkYGU.1; ID 859 3925 1575; passcode 251345.
Mid-week worship Wednesday night, online, 7:00 PM. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84938257185; ID 849 3825 7185; by phone +1-651-372-8299.

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

Jason Sole requests prayers from local Quakers. Jason is an abolitionist, former university professor, and past president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP. He’s been pressing the state of Minnesota to grant him a clemency hearing for months, if not years, since he completed his prison sentence – time and probation – years ago. His clemency hearing is scheduled for August 1. You can read a bit about Jason’s process – and the way he has transformed his life – in this article: https://www.blckpress.com/post/jason-sole-s-fight-for-full-freedom-advances-pardon-hearing-scheduled-after-public-pressure-concer.

NEWS FOR MINNEAPOLIS MEETING FRIENDS

A memorial service for Jim L will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, July 12 at the Minneapolis Friends Meeting. Jim was married to Kate C, a long-time member of our Meeting. The service will be Zoomed at
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87689080132?pwd=naMwyyzpx6KsQVMbSOUEtTZ1Hej1QF.1; ID 876 8908 0132; passcode 135701.

The Peace and Social Concerns Committee meets on fourth Mondays, 7:00 PM via Zoom (June 23 next). If interested in Minneapolis Meeting’s peace and justice focus and witness, you are warmly welcome! Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89914391038?pwd=WE1JOE9VdmpHWWJlSlVEMkFvSUprZz09; ID 899 1439 1038; passcode 455959.

Loaves and Fishes will take place Monday, June 30. 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 (2:00 PM); assemble the meals (4:00 PM) or serve meals and clean up (5:15 PM.) Fruit donations needed. Contact Sue K to sign up for a shift or to arrange to drop off fruit. Volunteers wear hair covering/hats, closed-toe shoes; food is served to-go. Sign up to come if you can!

The Shepherd Scholarship, created in 1977 by Roland and Zephra Shepherd, offers educational scholarships for members of a Quaker Meeting of at least five years standing, or their children. Interested adults and young adults can apply by filling out an application (available on the long table in the hall or on the website, https://minneapolisfriends.org/shepherd-scholarship-fund/). Application deadline is June 30. Return applications to the Shepherd Scholarship file in the blue box (on the long table) or email Betsy Souther.

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.

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.

Joining the MFM Google Group is an easy way to engage with the Meeting – to share and see articles of interest, participate in informal discussion, to receive reminders from other Friends about upcoming events. To sign up, simply send an email request to Roland. For more about the MFM Google Group, go to minneapolisfriends.org/google-group. Also, to keep abreast of Meeting news, you can find bulletins, events, and monthly meeting minutes on the meeting website, https://minneapolisfriends.org/.

Contributions update: $11,500 in monthly contributions is needed to meet this year’s budget. Contributions to general funds in April totaled $12,390; in May (sans EFTs), $8527. Thank you, Friends, for your generous support of the meeting! There is now a donate tab on the meeting website at this link: https://friendsfiduciary.org/minneapolis-friends-meeting/. If you would like to set up automatic contributions to the meeting, contact Carolyn V, clerk of Stewardship and Finance Committee.

Care and Counsel Committee facilitates pastoral care for Minneapolis Meeting members and attendees, 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 to explore that opportunity. Other committee members are Mary G, Jeff N, Mary B, and Jimbo L.

INTEREST GROUPS / SMALLER GATHERINGS AT MINNEAPOLIS MEETING

Watson Reading Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month, 7:00 – 8:30 PM via Zoom. Next meeting is June 24. 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 D know.

Lectio Divina, on Tuesdays at noon, is on break this summer.

Conflict Soiree, on last Tuesdays at 3:30 PM, is also on summer break.

Smaller gathering schedule: Lectio Divina, on summer break; Writing Group, first Monday night; Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice Group, second Tuesday night; LGBTQ Support Group – third Wednesday night; Reading Group, fourth Tuesday night; Conflict Soiree, on summer break.

OPPORTUNITIES AMONG FRIENDS

Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns hosts two regular events online at this link: https://zoom.us/j/96987966101?pwd=MGFYUmJMaDQwVkVOMkZ2L0JwMGNFZz09 – that is, a monthly online worship on first Saturdays at 4:00 PM (CT), and a monthly online worship sharing on fourth Saturdays at 4:00 PM (CT) – including this Saturday June 28. There is also a Listening Line (listening support to queer Friends) from 4:00 – 11:00 PM (PDT) every Saturday. Additionally, Canadian Friends (U.S.ers invited) have a Queer Gender group. Email clerks(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)flgbtqc.org for more.

Are you working with Quaker youth or young adults – or feeling a strong leading to do so? The Midwest Youth & Young Adult Worker Gathering will be held August 8 – 10 at Quaker Hill in Richmond, Indiana. Whether you’re a volunteer, staff member, or simply discerning a call to this ministry, this weekend is for you. Send questions to Tom (tom.s(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)westernyearlymeeting.org).

Be part of People Camp, August 10 – 16. This year, George Lakey and other trainers will offer a week-long training for nonviolent direct action strategizing, at the beautiful church camp near Park Rapids, MN, where People Camp has been held for many years. For more information on camp and to register, see https://www.fnvw.org/peoplecamp. Financial help to attend may be available from the Peace and Social Concerns Committee. Contact Nettie S for more. To find out how you can help this project come to life, read this fundraising letter from the People Camp planning committee: https://tinyurl.com/PeopleCampfundraiser.

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 is starting through Friends General Conference. 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.

Twin Cities Advocacy Team of the Friends Committee on National Legislation offered an update and call to action: Israel’s attacks on Iran succeeded in diverting attention from Israel’s continued blockade of Gaza. Each day Israel kills dozens of people seeking aid from the few sites in the southern sector that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation operates. The people of Gaza have no access to food including baby formula. The UN General Assembly on June 12 voted 149 to 12 (with 19 abstentions) for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid to Gaza. The US voted no! The StarTribune is reporting little or nothing on Gaza. Write the newspaper today and submit letters to the editor. Sens. Klobuchar and Smith, and Reps. McCollum and Omar are cosponsors of resolutions for increased aid to Gaza. Call them and thank them, and ask them to speak out. Call Democratic Reps. Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison and Minnesota Republican Representatives to ask them to speak out for humanitarian aid. Calling Members of Congress is easy: dial the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121. Say the name of the Member, and the switchboard will connect you.

Quaker Advocacy and Grounding
* Witness Wednesdays is a time for silent reflection with Friends Committee on National Legislation, Wednesdays 4:00 – 5:00 PM. For more and to register, see https://www.fcnl.org/events
* Worship with attention to peace in Palestine and Israel with Friends across the U.S. every Thursday, online, at 4:30 PM. Sign up to get the link at https://afsc.org/events/meeting-worship-attention-peace-palestine-israel.
* Action Hour for Palestine happens every Friday at 11:00 AM with American Friends Service Committee. Register at https://afsc.org/events/action-hour-palestine.
* Protect, Resist, and Build with AFSC is a monthly webinar series, every third Tuesday at 7:00 PM (CT), to learn how to move towards just peace, just migration, and just economies. Register at https://www.mobilize.us/afsc/event/746944/.

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY

Join Song Circle with a few MFM Friends on Saturday, June 28, 5:00 PM to sing under the trees, and picnic, on the grassy area of the parkway, facing Vincent Ave N, between N. 26th Ave. and N. 27th Ave. Hosted by Jimbo L. Potluck snacks or food to share, after we sing, if you wish. Bring your own eating and serving utensils, and lawn chairs or blankets. If you have one, please bring a folding table. As usual, bring your voices, song books (e.g., Rise Up Singing or Rise Again or your favorite) and/or song sheets, guitars, ocarinas or what you like.

The documentary film Zurawski vs Texas will be screened by AAUW (think Rae C and Sue K) on Wednesday, July 16 at 3:30 PM and 7:00 PM. Women denied abortions under Texas’ abortion bans come together with a fearless attorney to sue Texas. While battling in court against the state and its immovable Attorney General, they wrestle to regain their reproductive futures. Tickets are available in advance, and may sell out, at https://www.wfmn.org/events/lets-make-a-difference-for-women/.

OFFICE HOURS

The Office Manager will be in the office Thursday and Friday afternoons. Bulletin deadline: noon Thursday. Phone items in to the office (612-926-6159) or email (office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org).

Cathy Nagler, Children and Families Coordinator, can be reached: Mondays and Wednesdays 2:30–5 PM; Thursdays 3:30 – 5:00 PM; Sundays 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the meetinghouse.