Sunday, December 14, 2025
TODAY’S WORSHIP AND PROGRAM

For the Zoom link for Sunday programming, please email office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org.

9:00 AM – 9:40 AM Unprogrammed Meeting for Worship
Zoom host: Lavender J

9:45 AM – 11:15 AM Monthly Meeting for Business
Clerk: Lolly Lijewski; Recording Clerk: Tom Ward
Zoom host: John K

11:15 AM – noon Semi-programmed Meeting for Worship
Speaker: Sandy Olson, Care of meeting: Jane Furnas
Zoom host: John K

Children’s First Day School takes place every week in the lower level during 11:15 AM meeting for worship.

MORE WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT MFM

Sharing the Spirit, held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, is a brief centering time that is open to everyone. We gather at approximately 8:57 AM for ten-minute worship (online, cameras off) beginning at 9:02 AM. Click here for zoom link; use ID 859 3925 1575, passcode 251345; or paste the following into your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85939251575?pwd=1aHrNcUclfw3o99kyDnc9nAwzwkYGU.1

HOLD IN THE LIGHT

Please hold Sigurd in the light. His cancer has returned, and Sigurd and Sara made the decision to discontinue treatment, which was unclear anyway. He is now under hospice care, and his memory issues are also increasing. His disposition is good, no pain now, but he tires very quickly. Contact, which depends on his energy, is fine. Sara wrote to the meeting and thanked Friends for the attention to Sigurd all these years.

MFM ANNOUNCEMENTS

The office manager will be away December 20 – 29. Please make requests for bulletin announcements, zoom links, building use, etc. by noon Thursday, December 18. If there is information you wanted to share in the December 21 or 28 bulletin past this deadline, please share this information with the community via the Google Group, or by making a short post-worship announcement. Volunteers will check office voicemail and email twice a week for urgent needs, but most messages will be responded to when Ariel is back in the office.

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.

When parking on York Avenue, please be careful not to block driveways. Neighbors recently complained that they were parked in.

Friends for a Nonviolent World (FNVW) Holiday Fair: Thanks go to all who helped set up, clerk, or take down fair supplies. A special thanks goes to John K, who spent many days as the Meeting’s representative. while FNVW people worked here. Thanks also go to those who attended and lent their spiritual and financial support for FNVW. Many attendees expressed joy at the return of the FNVW Holiday Fair to Minneapolis Meeting as the rooms filled with music, holiday decorations, and the smell of wondrous food! Initial figures hover around $10,000 profit, but a more official number will be compiled next month.

FNVW Merchandise for Sale: There are some leftover crafts in the back of the meeting hall. Books abound in the conference room! These will be out this week and then collected. Please consider taking some of these items, donating whatever amount you feel appropriate to FNVW. Any amount is greatly appreciated. You were very generous last week as we collected $131 for FNVW.

Contributions update: First quarter contributions totaled $26,217, about 19% of our budget. Second quarter contributions totaled $14,549, about 10.5% of the budget. Contributions of $97,567 (70% of the budget) – or $16,261 per month – are needed to meet our budgeted obligations. Thank you, Friends, for your generous financial support of the meeting. There is now a donate tab on MFM’s website (click here). If you would like to set up automatic contributions to the meeting, contact Carolyn V, clerk of Stewardship and Finance Committee.

MFM EVENTS

In addition to the special events listed below, there are ongoing groups in the meeting. Pick up a flyer about these ongoing groups from the information table in the meetinghouse hallway, or email the office to request a copy.

December 21 (hybrid). Caroling Christmas. At mid-morning program on Sunday, December 21 (10:15 AM – 11:00 AM), there will be refreshments and treats generously provided by Welcome and Outreach along with setup and cleanup. (Pitch in and help where you can). The format will be simple for this participatory Christmas mid-morning, anyone who feels like it can call out a carol number and we all play and sing that.

December 28 (hybrid). How can we heal from white body supremacy? At mid-morning program on Sunday, December 28 (10:15 AM – 11:00 AM), members of the Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice Group will facilitate discussions of white body supremacy. What is it? Where do see it in action? How can we begin to heal from it? Group members will describe their experiences, and we’ll discuss it in small groups. We’ll hear about how the group has been partnering with each other to practice embodied activism.

December 29 (in person). Minneapolis Friends participates in Loaves and Fishes. Please come serve a meal to feed the multitude. Prepare a nutritious meal alongside TCFM, Mayim Rabim, and members of the Ismaili community. Monday, December 29 from 2:00 – 6:30 PM, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (2424 18th Avenue South, Minneapolis). Contact Greg L for details.

WIDER COMMUNITY

In addition to these events, there are many Quaker events held on a regular schedule in the wider community, and national organizations that offer online resources. You can pick up a copy of a flyer about some of these opportunities from the information table in the meetinghouse hallway, or email the office to request a copy.

December 18 (hybrid). Homeless Memorial March and Service. Every year, hundreds of community members come together to honor the memories of people who died while experiencing homelessness, who were previously homeless, or were advocates. All are welcome to attend on December 18, 4:45 PM at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis. Click here for details on Simpson Housing Services’ website.

Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) applications for the 2026-2027 Fellowship: QVS is a full-time service program for young adults aged 21-30. Want to learn more about the program, meet other prospective Fellows, and get help on your application? Click here for QVS’ website, which has more information and lists upcoming virtual informational sessions.

Job opening at Friends School of Minnesota (FSMN): The school is seeking a long-term substitute teacher to teach throughout spring 2026 in a mixed 3rd/4th grade classroom. Applications are due by December 31. FSMN is also accepting applications for a part-time position as the extended day staff member. Click here for the job postings on FSMN’s website.

Volunteer opportunity with Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC): Dedicated volunteers are needed to assist with administrative tasks in MCC’s Immigration Legal Services program. This minimum time commitment for this volunteer position is 20 hours a week. For a description of the volunteer duties and requirements, contact the MFM office.

OFFICE HOURS

The Office Manager, Ariel E, will be in the office Wednesday, December 17 in the afternoon; Thursday, December 18, 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM; and Friday, December 19, 12:30 – 5:30 PM, and then is taking vacation and will be out until December 30. Is there something you’d like included in the next two bulletins? Please plan ahead and try to send it by noon Thursday, December 18. Volunteers will staff the office while Ariel is away, but will only respond to urgent messages. Most messages will wait for a response until Ariel returns on December 30. Please call the office (612-926-6159) or send the information by email (office(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)minneapolisfriends.org).

The Children and Families Coordinator, Cathy N, is typically in the meetinghouse on Fridays 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. She is also available by phone or email, working remotely, on Wednesdays 2:30 – 5:00 PM and Thursdays 3:30 – 5:00 PM.