Friend to Friend - January 7

Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought

A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting

As Way Opens 

I am personally thankful for your constant, faithful giving and for the many year-end contributions that have come to First Friends Meeting in support of our ministries, staff, and outreach.  When the past year began, we made an intentional step of faith in extending ourselves to budget for more staff hours to cover Office Administration, and Children, Family and Youth Ministries.  Over the course of the year, we have seen the effective work of our communications via website, newsletter, phone and email contacts, and interpersonal/interchurch help offered by our incredibly gifted Office Administrator, Amanda Bow.  Our youth program has expanded exponentially with the birth of the Affirmation Program, bringing in fourteen middle school and high school youth who are learning what faith as a Friend means.  Our Sunday School program is busy and active, as is our Children’s Worship time with many new children participating each Sunday in lessons devoted to Quaker concepts and character.  In addition, parents are invited to spend a night out, as they form a babysitting co-op, allowing our children to get to know one another better. These programs, and many more including our Summer Vacation Bible School are under the watchful and devoted care of our gifted Christian Education and Family Ministries Director, Beth Henricks.  These two persons care for many duties that would otherwise fall to your Pastor, Clerk, or Committee Clerks, and the scope of work would either not be done, or not be done with nearly the efficiency and care that it is because of their ministry positions on staff.  Your giving matters.  Your generosity matters.  Your participation matters.  Financially and personally.  Many of you give of yourselves because you cannot give in any other way.  I see you here often, cleaning, teaching, pruning, sorting, cooking, decorating, leading, caring. I often don’t see you, because you come when no one else is around.  Our work is the work of devotion to our Meeting, and our Meeting is a gathering of those who are devoted to God.  We are asked to love and serve God by loving and serving others.  I am thankful for the many ways you do this, faithfully, mindfully, without expecting anything in return.  I hope you will take time to notice the fruit of your generosity… those who are coming to worship with us, the children who are learning and growing as Friends, the community of love and strength you are building in love and light, under the care of God’s Spirit at First Friends.

                                                                                                                                  With gratitude,

  Ruthie Tippin

Joys & Concerns

Our college students are returning to campus after their winter break.  It’s been so good to see many of them at First Friends during the holidays!  Please hold them in prayer as they begin another round of studies, and return to student life.

Our new carpet is being installed this week! The main hallway, Meeting Room, and Seeking Friends Sunday School Room are all getting new carpet! It’s such a blessing to be able to do a much-needed update to this wonderful Meetinghouse! Thank you Trustees for your careful stewardship.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

We are grateful for a donation of stock on December 16, the source of which has not been identified. Please contact Finance Committee Clerk Carol Donahue at her NEW email address, cjdonahue@indy.rr.com, if you made that stock donation. Thank you!

Do you want to get Quaker Life Magazine sent to your home?  Subscribing with our Group Plan means that you save on your subscription! The regular rate is $26, but if you are on our plan it’s only $20! If you would like to add a new subscription or renew your current, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org and submit your payment of $20. Please write your check to First Friends and write Quaker Life in the memo line. The renewal date is January 13th, so please let us know by then!

A Greeter Story 

Back in 1985 my husband Bob and I were starting our careers and living in Houston, Texas. We bought a condo in a very urban part of the city (Sharpstown for those of you familiar with Houston). We enjoyed the city but I had not found a church to call my own yet. Back then I was Presbyterian, so I visited several of those churches trying to find one I felt comfortable in. I found one not far from our condo – it was a small church on the other side of the Southwest freeway, across from the Sharpstown Mall. As I made my way to church I had to deal with the traffic (even on a Sunday!) but I wanted to give it a shot.

It was a little intimidating walking into a church you have never been to before, but just as I entered I was greeted by an older man who was very warm and made me feel welcome. He had a grey crew cut (back when crew cuts were not in fashion), and he was rather reserved. But he smiled, introduced himself as ‘John’, took my hand into both of his large ones and shook it warmly.  He then guided me to the sanctuary where I was given a bulletin.

I really liked the church since they were multicultural and actively involved in the community, so I went back again the next Sunday. This time I took Bob. John was there to greet me and he remembered me from the previous week! Once again I felt welcome. We ended up joining that church and my son was baptized there. The man that welcomed me (John) continued to greet me each week and I owe my returning to him. If I hadn’t felt welcomed I wouldn’t have returned the second time and eventually joined.

Would you like to welcome people into our wonderful First Friends Meeting? I’m looking for people interested in greeting in the coming six months. I’m asking people to sign up for an entire month so greeters can remember new attenders from the previous week(s). If you cannot take the whole month I’ll work with you to fill in the gaps. Let me know if you are interested in this important ministry. You do not need to be an extrovert – just a welcoming person.

Thanks,

Ann Panah

A_panah@yahoo.com or 317-250-4161

BeFriending Creation is the bi-monthly newsletter of Quaker Earthcare Witness. The most recent issue included an article by Roger Plenty, entitled ‘Considering the Consequences of Unchecked Population Growth.’ Here is a portion of the article: ‘During an economics course, the lecturer told us about Thomas Robert Malthus and his assertion that any population would grow until it absorbed all the resources available to it. My instant reaction was, "Of course: that’s absolutely obvious," so I was astonished when the lecturer went on to say that no one took any notice of that these days, and that events had proved Malthus wrong.’ If you’d like to read it in its entirety, please follow this link to the newsletter: http://www.quakerearthcare.org/bfc/volume-27-number-6

Save Your Stamps!  Before your throw away all those Christmas Card envelopes, trim off the stamps and donate them at First Friends Meeting.  The stamps are worth money, and go to support Right Sharing of World Resources.  Peel ‘Em, Stick ‘Em, Send ‘Em, Cut ‘Em, Save ‘Em, Send ‘Em!

An Exhibition of Fine Art Prints from The Saint John’s Bible are on display at the Indiana Interchurch Center until January 31st. They are located at 1100 West 42nd Street, here in Indianapolis. There are also related special events being held there, such as a calligraphy workshop on January 10th, a panel discussion on January 21st, and many more.  For information on events, please visit www.indianainterchurch.org. 

Discovering God in a Changing World. Save the date for the second of an exciting 4-part program series with Dr. Dan Moseley right here at First Friends! The second session is January 31-February 1, where Dan will focus on hospitality, creating space for others, and assessing the role of companionship. It will consist of a Saturday retreat from 9-1pm, Meeting for Worship on Sunday at 10:15am followed by a luncheon and then a Q&A with Dan. There is no fee, but you are encouraged to pre-register with Amanda Bow in the office at office@indyfriends.org.  Copies of Dan’s book, Lose Love Live: The Spiritual Gifts of Loss and Change is available in our office for $10 each.

IFCL Lobbyist Needed:  Indiana Friends Committee on Legislation (IFCL) has announced a Search Committee to fill the staff position of lobbyist to the Indiana legislature.  IFCL has for decades worked as a legislative action group advocating the social concerns of Friends to Indiana legislators. The position is a paid position. Bill Chapman is heading the Search Committee and can be contacted at drchapman@earthlink.net  or (317) 255-4739. You can learn more about IFCL at quakerifcl.org.

Save the date for the start of an Eco-Film Series here at First Friends, at 7p.m. on the second Friday of each month from February- April. The first one is Friday, February 13th at 7p.m. called “Silent Spring”. It is the story of Rachel Carson and the battle over her groundbreaking work “Silent Spring”.  Carson and her research were savagely attacked by the chemical industry but Carson would not be silenced. A powerful story that sparked a revolution in environmental policy and inspired a generation to activism. (55 minutes.  http://www.silentspringmovie.com) 

Friend to Friend - December 24

Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought

A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting

As Way Opens 

What we have waited for has finally come… family is arriving, gifts are wrapped and set under the tree, the table is set.  Christmas is here!  With anticipation, hope, and patience we have waited.  And in that waiting, our time has been filled – preparation has called us to work, to think, to act in ways that move us forward.  Waiting has not been an empty space, but rather a space filled with intention.  We have anticipated presence.  We have hoped for gifts.  We have cultivated patience by remaining open to all that is possible.  These are the things that have held God’s children since our beginning – through our forming, our living, our struggles, and our release. 

What we have waited for has finally come.  God has come as Light – True Light – that gives Light to all people.  Christ’s birth into the world – into our lives – brings Light to each one of us.  What will we do with this Light?  Will we receive it into ourselves, making it our own, warming ourselves with its heat, filling ourselves with its energy, recreating ourselves with its life?  Will we share this Light with those who do not recognize it, with no understanding of its presence, its gifts, its possibility?  Will we reflect the brilliance and beauty of this Light to others with its love?

So many are waiting, just as those in Luke’s Gospel story of Christ’s birth… Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna, Mary…  As Henri Nouwen writes, ‘The whole opening scene of the good news is filled with waiting people.  And right at the beginning all those people in some way or another hear the words, “Do not be afraid.  I have something good to say to you.”’  For all those who have waited so long, I have something good to say to you… Christ the Light has come! 

Christmas Blessings,

Ruthie Tippin

Joys & Concerns

We gave 135 lbs of food to the Mid North Food Pantry last week! Our volunteers were kept very busy and were able to serve 105 families. Thank you to all who donated and to all of the volunteers. Collectively this year we have given 3,572 lbs of food to Mid North Food Pantry. Thank you for all of your generosity!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to each and every one of you from your staff at First Friends Meeting! We will not have a Friend to Friend newsletter to send out next week, but watch for it in the New Year! Ruthie will be traveling between the holidays, returning on New Years Day.  Please contact Beth Henricks or Mary Blackburn for any needs or concerns.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Join us tonight for our very special Christmas Eve Service at 5:30.  Christmas Carols, Handbells, Children and Families, special music, the Christmas Story, candlelight, and a time for Silent Worship, promise to bring us to the manger.  Invite your friends and family for this meaningful time together.

Meeting for Worship will gather on Sunday, December 28th, with our traditional ‘open sing’ of beloved Christmas Carols.  Mary Blackburn will lead us in meditative worship considering friendship.  Bring your friends.  Invite your family.  Enter into our treasured gathering among Friends.

Do you want to get Quaker Life Magazine sent to your home?  Subscribing with our Group Plan means that you save on your subscription! The regular rate is $26, but if you are on our plan it’s only $20! If you would like to add a new subscription or renew your current, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org and submit your payment of $20. Please write your check to First Friends and write Quaker Life in the memo line. The renewal date is January 13th, so please let us know by then!

Finance Committee Report – 11/30/2014 - For the 11 months ending November 30,2014, expenses exceeded income by $22,235. We are hopeful that increased December giving will allow us to have adequate income to cover our expenses for 2014. We appreciate the financial support that many have shown to First Friends!  We are grateful for a donation of stock on December 16, the source of which has not been identified. Please contact Finance Committee Clerk Carol Donahue at her NEW email address, cjdonahue@indy.rr.com, if you make that stock donation. Thank you!

Beginning in 2015, our Monday night Yoga class will change their weekly meeting time to 6-7pm. The instructor is Annie Spilbeler. Class will remain donation based, with a suggested amount of $10. Newcomers are welcome. 

Lucretia Coffin Mott is coming to Meeting for Worship on January 4th! Be sure to return to Meeting after the first of the new year to meet and enjoy hearing from Lucretia… and to celebrate her 222nd Birthday! (We have a party planned for her during Fellowship Hour!)  Lucretia Mott was a Friend, a women’s rights activist, an abolitionist, a religious reformer.  Don’t miss her! 

Gathering Group is Tuesday, January 6th at 7:00 pm. Friends gather to do all kinds of handwork: crochet, knitting, rug working, whatever you want to do. All are welcome to join in and create.

Discovering God in a Changing World. Save the date for the second of an exciting 4-part program series with Dr. Dan Moseley right here at First Friends! The second session is January 31-February 1, where Dan will focus on hospitality, creating space for others, and assessing the role of companionship. It will consist of a Saturday retreat from 9-1pm, Meeting for Worship on Sunday at 10:15am followed by a luncheon and then a Q&A with Dan. There is no fee, but you are encouraged to pre-register with Amanda Bow in the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Would you like to receive a copy of each First Day’s sermon?  Simply sign-up for Wednesday Word by sending an email request to office@indyfriends.org or call the Meeting Office at 317-255-2485. The sermons are also available both in text and audio on www.indyfriends.org.

Friend to Friend - December 17

Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought

A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting 

As Way Opens by Beth Henricks

This past Sunday, our young people in our Affirmation class asked deep and significant questions about Quakers and their faith to a panel of long term Friends - Linda Lineback, Jon Tippin, Eric Tinsley and Mary Blackburn.  It was an amazing experience to hear the questions our young people wanted to have answered and the insightful and thoughtful answers of our panel of Friends.  Here is a sample of the questions that our young people came up with - What do you think is the most important thing in life?  Which of the testimonies is most important to you?  How do you recognize science in terms of the creation story in Genesis?  Is the Bible important to you?  What are the essentials of Quakerism - what are the essentials that you could not take out to remain a Quaker?  What does God's voice sound like to you?  Describe a time that the Inner Light impacted your decision.

Wow!  These are tough questions that really make us examine our faith, our relationship to God and how the Inner Light changes what we do.  Our panel provided some profound answers that I am still processing and provided insight that will impact my own theology.  I wish we had recorded this session for all of you to hear.  

It has been such a joy and privilege to get to know our young people and watch how God is present in their lives.  We have some awesome kids in our Meeting and I am thankful that our faith community has been willing to invest time and monetary resources to impact their lives.

May you reflect on some of these questions during this holiday season as we all make our journey to the manger and allow Christ to be born again in our lives.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

There will NOT be a Monthly Meeting for Business in December. We will resume the standard schedule in January, with our next one on January 18th, 2015.

Join us this Sunday during Meeting for Worship to see the “The Christmas Story” presented by the children of the Meeting.  Our children’s Christmas pageant is such a blessing – unlike any other – with each child able to play the part they choose.  We may have three Joseph’s, two Mary’s, four Wise Men… you never know!  It’s pure joy, as the children tell the story, in their own unique way, of the Christmas Child.  Join us, and invite your family and friends to worship!

During our fellowship time this Sunday December 21st, our kids will be selling cookie and soup jars for donations to Right Sharing of World Resources (www.rswr.org).  This is a great gift item and all proceeds will help support this Quaker micro lending not for profit.  We will also have fair trade coffee, tea, chocolate and olive oil for sale during our fellowship time so we encourage Christmas gift shopping this Sunday.  

Christmas Eve is Coming!  Plan now to attend our very special Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 on December 24th.  Christmas Carols, Handbells, Children and Families, special music, the Christmas Story, candlelight, and a time for Silent Worship, promise to bring us to the manger that night.  Invite your friends and family for this meaningful time together.

Meeting for Worship will gather on Sunday, December 28th, with our traditional ‘open sing’ of beloved Christmas Carols.  Mary Blackburn will lead us in meditative worship considering friendship.  Bring your friends.  Invite your family.  Enter into our treasured gathering among Friends.

Do you want to get Quaker Life Magazine sent to your home?  Subscribing with our Group Plan means that you save on your subscription! The regular rate is $26, but if you are on our plan it’s only $20! If you would like to add a new subscription or renew your current, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org and submit your payment of $20. Please write your check to First Friends and write Quaker Life in the memo line. The renewal date is January 13th, so please let us know by then!

Lucretia Coffin Mott is coming to Meeting for Worship on January 4th! Be sure to return to Meeting after the first of the new year to meet and enjoy hearing from Lucretia… and to celebrate her 222nd Birthday! (We have a party planned for her during Fellowship Hour!)  Lucretia Mott was a Friend, a women’s rights activist, an abolitionist, a religious reformer.  Don’t miss her! 

 Discovering God in a Changing World. Save the date for the second of an exciting 4-part program series with Dr. Dan Moseley right here at First Friends! The second session is January 31-February 1, where Dan will focus on hospitality, creating space for others, and assessing the role of companionship. It will consist of a Saturday retreat from 9-1pm, Meeting for Worship on Sunday at 10:15am followed by a luncheon and then a Q&A with Dan. There is no fee, but you are encouraged to pre-register with Amanda Bow in the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Would you like to receive a copy of each First Day’s sermon?  Simply sign-up for Wednesday Word by sending an email request to office@indyfriends.org or call the Meeting Office at 317-255-2485. The sermons are also available both in text and audio on www.indyfriends.org.

Friend to Friend - December 10

Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought

A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting 

As Way Opens by Ruthie Tippin

Where do you see Christ this Christmas?  In all the hustle and bustle?  In the Christmas jingles and carols on the radio and in the stores?  In the quiet peace of a walk at night?  Christ is everywhere! 

It’s an exercise in patience as we wait in line (or wait online!) for goods and services, but in our waiting, if we take a second look, we can find the joy, compassion, tenderness, and love of Jesus.  It’s a discipline of time management, but if we take a few moments for reflection, we can discover the breath, the stillness, the gentleness, the restorative strength of Jesus.  It’s a matter of choice, but if we focus our thinking on beauty, we can find Jesus in the smile of a stranger, the power of a strong, cold wind, the red berries of a tree stripped bare. 

Christ has come.  Do we see him?  Are we, like those wise men, intent on discovering Christ this Christmas? 

Joys & Concerns

Vespers Evening was a Blessing!   Many thanks to Shawn Porter, our Chancel Choir, the Flute Choir and the Handbell Choir, Jim and Leslie Kartholl, Chelsea and Kendall Tinsley, our readers - Bill Heitman, Tiffany Beaver and Sam Miller, our First Friends Children and Christine Pfiester for their musical gifts.  It was a joy to welcome the storyteller – Gladys Sowder – this year, as well.

The Vespers Buffet was a Smash! What a lovely way to meet new friends, and to spend time together with old friends, too!  Delicious food and delightful company were made possible by our wonderful Fellowship Committee.  Many thanks to everyone who helped.

First Friends collected 1,647 lbs. of food for the Mid-North Food Pantry in November.  Each of the four adult Sunday School classes collected more than 150 lbs.  The children’s classes also did well with the Preschool class collecting the most with 94 lbs.  The adult Quakerism class led the adult classes by collecting 621 lbs.  Thanks to everyone who helped in this worthy cause.  

Our Preschool Co-Op has joined our Mid North Food Pantry Drive! The children and their families have joined with us this past month, bringing in lots of food!  Thank you MSPSC!

Thank you to everyone who donated blood during our Blood Drive.  The Blood Center was most happy that we were able to have 14 folks show up to donate.  They are already asking when we would like to schedule our next drive.  Thanks for giving “the gift of life.”

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

You are all invited to the USFW Christmas Tea after meeting for worship this Sunday, December 14th. Please come and enjoy tasty cookies baked by our members. It is a great time to get to know our many new members and also get reacquainted with old friends. If you would like to donate at least 2 dozen cookies, they can be dropped off on December 13th from 10-11 or the morning of the 14th. Please join us for a great time and good cookies!

Please join us for Christmas Caroling on Sunday, December 14. We will meet at 4:20 p.m. at The Stratford, 2460 Glebe St., Carmel. We will sing there, at Marquette Manor, and at The Forum. After caroling, we will eat at Steak ‘N Shake at 86th and Westfield Blvd. Everyone is welcome, both children and adults. Musical talent is not required! If you have any questions, please contact the office or Carol Donahue.

Conversation on Same-Sex Marriage - Friends hold that all people are equal in the eyes of God and have equal access to the “inner light.” This profound sense of equality leads Friends to treat each person with respect, looking for “that of God” in everyone. We welcome all persons whatever their race, religious affiliation, age, socio-economic class, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation or mental/physical ability. We are now forming a Team of five to eight individuals from across the congregation to revisit how First Friends Meeting will recognize same-sex marriage while building a stronger community of faith.  All proceedings will be guided by listening to others, inviting the loving presence of God, and encouraging everyone to share their perspectives in a supportive environment. The second Conversation on Same-Sex Marriage is planned on Sunday evening, December 14, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The purpose of this session is to encourage dialogue about this issue, and provide a pathway for those interested in serving on the Team in 2015. Please contact Andy Cunningham, Mary Blackburn, John Beede, or Ruthie with any questions, comments or concerns.  Please come join the conversation, everyone is welcome!

Oak Leaf Ladies and Reading Friends! Please join the Oak Leaf Meeting for Reading at Ruth Kelly's home for a Holiday Lasagna Dinner on December 16th at 7 pm.  We will be talking about Front Porch Stories by Phillip Gulley, we thought it might be fun to tell some of our own stories that evening as well!  Bring a side dish and a book from home for a Holiday Book Swap.  People who haven't previously attended book discussion are MORE than welcome to come join us!   Please contact Ruth on her mobile at (812) 322-9954 or via her email Rgkelly4@att.net for directions! 

Do you need a quick, easy and healthy appetizer for an upcoming holiday party or family gathering? And as an added bonus, would like to help raise funds for MSPC? The Preschool Co-Op is having a fundraiser. Thanks to a generous donation of vegetable trays from Caito Foods, MSPC is now taking orders for veggie party platters with 100% of proceeds to benefit our school.   WHAT? Vegetable party platters; each 3lb tray includes broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, celery, and dip WHEN? Place orders between now and December 12; veggie trays will be available for pickup at MSPC on December 18 & 19 HOW? Email renate.myler@gmail.com to place your order (payment will be due Dec. 18-19)

Christmas Eve is Coming!  Plan now to attend our very special Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 on December 24th.  Christmas Carols, Handbells, Children and Families, special music, the Christmas Story, candlelight, and a time for Silent Worship, promise to bring us to the manger that night.  Invite your friends and family for this meaningful time together. 

Lucretia Coffin Mott is coming to Meeting for Worship on January 4th! Be sure to return to Meeting after the first of the new year to meet and enjoy hearing from Lucretia… and to celebrate her 222nd Birthday! (We have a party planned for her during Fellowship Hour!)  Lucretia Mott was a Friend, a women’s rights activist, an abolitionist, a religious reformer.  Don’t miss her! 

 Discovering God in a Changing World. Save the date for the second of an exciting 4-part program series with Dr. Dan Moseley right here at First Friends! The second session is January 31-February 1, where Dan will focus on hospitality, creating space for others, and assessing the role of companionship. It will consist of a Saturday retreat from 9-1pm, Meeting for Worship on Sunday at 10:15am followed by a luncheon and then a Q&A with Dan. There is no fee, but you are encouraged to pre-register with Amanda Bow in the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Would you like to receive a copy of each First Day’s sermon?  Simply sign-up for Wednesday Word by sending an email request to office@indyfriends.org or call the Meeting Office at 317-255-2485. The sermons are also available both in text and audio on www.indyfriends.org.

Friend to Friend - December 3rd

Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought

A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting

As Way Opens    by Beth Henricks

This past Sunday was a very busy day.  I arrived early at 8:30 because I had copies to make, food to bring in for the Food Pantry, preparations to be made for our Grief Gathering and Children's Worship.  And I wanted to join choir practice at 9:00.  

My hands were full as I entered our building and walked past a visually impaired woman and her young son standing in the hallway.  I said hello and then went into my office to drop off my things and hurriedly start all of the work I needed to complete in 30 minutes.   I sat down and heard that still small voice say "What are you doing? There is a new person in your hallway and you walked right past her - go and speak with her and see how you can help her and make her feel welcome."  I am ashamed to admit to you that my first response to that voice was "But I have church work to do".   The tasks I needed to complete were important, but the real work of our Meeting is to live out the gospel of Love to each other.  God was giving me a second chance and I took it. I set aside the work I wanted to complete and came back into the hallway and started a conversation with this new friend.  I spent the next 25 minutes with her talking about our Meeting, opportunities for her son, helping them to the restroom and seeing our Meeting through the eyes of a visually impaired person (we have some work to do).   My heart was touched to speak with her and her son, and to begin to hear her story. 

Friends, the next 27 days are full of busyness and activities.  I am praying that we will stay awake to our still small voice inside, and not walk past opportunities to connect with others and experience together the holiness of God's spirit binding us in human fellowship.

Joys & Concerns

Mid North Food Pantry will receive over $200 as our portion of the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Offering, taken at the Thanksgiving Service last Tuesday evening.  A number of people from First Friends attended, sang in the Choir, and enjoyed this time of worship in thanksgiving with friends.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Please join us for Community Soup on Friday, December 5th, beginning at 5:30p.m.  Enjoy soups, bread, and dessert in a relaxed atmosphere.  No cooking, no dishwashing, and no charge.  All are welcome. After dinner, join us for a screening of the film “The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It”. When a society overwhelmingly says military force is “just” and the term “Good War” becomes a mantra for that action. What is the price for refusing to kill?  This month’s film is the story of several men who said “This I cannot do” to the challenge of using military force during World War II. Several of the men profiled were Quakers who faced many challenges by living out there faith in a time of war. A timely film in todays seemingly never ending global war. How do we as Quakers today respond to this challenge? Please join us for our December film selection “The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It”.

Babysitting at the Meetinghouse on Saturday, December 6th from 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. will be provided for our families. We will provide dinner for the kids. Please let Beth Henricks know if you are joining us at henricksbeth2@gmail.com.

Royal Sensation is visiting First Friends!  The talented Girls Choir from Hamilton Southeastern is led by our very own choir director, Shawn Porter, and they will be joining us in Meeting for Worship on December 7th. All are welcome at our regular meeting time of 10:15am - it’s bound to be a spirited morning! 

Vespers will also be sung December 7th at 5pm!  Invite your friends and family!  Our choir director and organist, Shawn Porter has put together a memorable holiday celebration for us, and the choir has been practicing! Please mark your calendars and join us for a celebratory evening. A light buffet reception will follow.

Greetings Friends! You are all invited to the USFW Christmas Tea this year after meeting for worship on December 14th. Please come and enjoy the huge variety of tasty cookies baked and brought in by our members. It is a great time to get to know our many new members and also get reacquainted with old friends. If you would like to donate at least 2 dozen cookies, they can be dropped off on December 13th from 10-11 or the morning of the 14th.  If you have any questions, please contact Jody Long at jody.long@sbcglobal.net. Please join us for a great time and good cookies!

Please join us for Christmas Caroling on Sunday, December 14. We will meet at 4:20 p.m. at The Stratford, 2460 Glebe St., Carmel. We will sing there, at Marquette Manor, and at The Forum. After caroling, we will eat at Steak ‘N Shake at 86th and Westfield Blvd. Everyone is welcome, both children and adults. Musical talent is not required! If you have any questions, please contact the office or Carol Donahue.

Conversation on Same-Sex Marriage - Friends hold that all people are equal in the eyes of God and have equal access to the “inner light.” This profound sense of equality leads Friends to treat each person with respect, looking for “that of God” in everyone. We welcome all persons whatever their race, religious affiliation, age, socio-economic class, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation or mental/physical ability. We are now forming a Team of five to eight individuals from across the congregation to revisit how First Friends Meeting will recognize same-sex marriage while building a stronger community of faith.  All proceedings will be guided by listening to others, inviting the loving presence of God, and encouraging everyone to share their perspectives in a supportive environment. The second Conversation on Same-Sex Marriage is planned on Sunday evening, December 14, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The purpose of this session is to encourage dialogue about this issue, and provide a pathway for those interested in serving on the Team in 2015. Please contact Andy Cunningham, Mary Blackburn, John Beede, or Ruthie with any questions, comments or concerns.  Please come join the conversation, everyone is welcome!

Oak Leaf Ladies and Reading Friends! Please join the Oak Leaf Meeting for Reading at Ruth Kelly's home for a Holiday Lasagna Dinner on December 16th at 7 pm.  We will be talking about Front Porch Stories by Phillip Gulley, we thought it might be fun to tell some of our own stories that evening as well!  Bring a side dish and a book from home for a Holiday Book Swap.  People who haven't previously attended book discussion are MORE than welcome to come join us!   Please contact Ruth on her mobile at (812) 322-9954 or via her email Rgkelly4@att.net for directions! 

Discovering God in a Changing World. Save the date for the second of an exciting 4-part program series with Dr. Dan Moseley right here at First Friends! The second session is January 31-February 1, where Dan will focus on hospitality, creating space for others, and assessing the role of companionship. It will consist of a Saturday retreat from 9-1pm, Meeting for Worship on Sunday at 10:15am followed by a luncheon and then a Q&A with Dan. There is no fee, but you are encouraged to pre-register with Amanda Bow in the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Would you like to receive a copy of each First Day’s sermon?  Simply sign-up for Wednesday Word by sending an email request to office@indyfriends.org or call the Meeting Office at 317-255-2485. The sermons are also available both in text and audio on www.indyfriends.org.

Friend to Friend - November 25

Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought

A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting

As Way Opens   by Ruthie Tippin

‘Gratitude goes beyond the 'mine' and 'thine' and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.’  

Henri Nouwen

It is not always easy to give thanks… there are many times in life when thankfulness would not be the first way we would describe our attitudes, hearts, minds.  God does not ask us to give thanks for all things… instead, we are asked to give God thanks in all things.  Gratitude is a way of seeing life in the midst of struggle and pain.  It is a way of discovering treasure, buried deeply beneath the overwhelming sense of lostness, loneliness, or fear.  It is a way to discover God’s presence in seeming absence, to discover a centered place in the midst of chaos.  It is a way of finding yourself loved – not abandoned.  As we discover this truth for ourselves, we find it in those around us. 

Before you sit at the table of thanksgiving this week, find time to purposefully bring your mind and heart to God, center yourself there with God, wait to discover the many gifts of love, presence, purpose, and personhood that are yours in God, regardless of your circumstances, and begin to celebrate with joy.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Joys & Concerns

 Thank you for your gift of life this past Sunday!  Thirteen people were able to donate blood in our Thanksgiving Blood Drive, and we hope to do this again next year.

 Many friends will be traveling this Thanksgiving holiday, or welcoming friends and family who will be coming their way.  Let us hold one another in prayer for safety, ease of travel, and a blessed time shared together with family and friends.

 If you were not able to attend the Interfaith Memorial Service for Abdul Rahman Peter Kassig, you may view it on the web at this address:  http://www.cloweshall.org/events/event/715-remembering-abdul-rahman-peter-kassig

What changes should we make in our own reactions to attitudes about racism, violence, care and concern for others, and the understanding of ‘that of God in every person’?  Let us pray for the people of Ferguson, Missouri who are struggling with answers to these questions, and much, much more.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Food Drive – This Sunday is your last chance to help your Sunday School class win the Food Drive contest! Please bring in your canned goods – the competition will be judged at the end of the month by weight. The adult class will win a traveling trophy and bragging rights for a year! The youth class will win breakfast with Pastor Ruthie and bragging rights for a year! We recommend things like canned meat, canned fruit (maybe not pineapple), and canned vegetables. There are boxes in each class room to store your goods. Good luck to everyone!

 Advent Celebrations at First Friends begin this Sunday, November 30th.  This year, we will prepare for Christ’s birth with a series of reflections about Anticipation, Hope, Patience, Waiting… in joyful, quiet reverence. Come ready.  Come curious.  Come…  You, your family and friends are welcome at each and all of our gatherings throughout the season, and beyond.     

 How are things going this holiday season?  Circle of Care will be hosting a gathering on Sunday, November 30th over a light lunch (soup, bread and salad) in the parlor for those who have experienced a loss in the last twelve months. Barbara Oberreich will be facilitating a discussion amongst those who are dealing with recent loss.   

 Please join us for Community Soup on Friday, December 5th, anytime between 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.  Enjoy soups, bread, and dessert in a relaxed atmosphere.  No cooking, no dishwashing, and no charge.  All are welcome.

 Babysitting at the Meetinghouse on Saturday, December 6th from 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. will be provided for our families. We will provide dinner for the kids. Please let Beth Henricks know if you are joining us at henricksbeth2@gmail.com.

 Royal Sensation is visiting First Friends!  The talented Girls Choir from Hamilton Southeastern is led by our very own choir director, Shawn Porter, and they will be joining us in Meeting for Worship on December 7th. All are welcome at our regular meeting time of 10:15am - it’s bound to be a spirited morning! 

 Vespers will also be sung December 7th at 5pm!  Our choir director and organist, Shawn Porter has put together a memorable holiday celebration for us, and the choir has been practicing! Please mark your calendars and join us for a celebratory evening. A light buffet reception will follow.

 Greetings Friends! You are all invited to the USFW Christmas Tea this year after meeting for worship on December 14th. Please come and enjoy the huge variety of tasty cookies baked and brought in by our members. It is a great time to get to know our many new members and also get reacquainted with old friends. If you would like to donate at least 2 dozen cookies, they can be dropped off on December 13th from 10-11 or the morning of the 14th.  If you have any questions, please contact Jody Long at jody.long@sbcglobal.net. Please join us for a great time and good cookies!

 Please join us for Christmas caroling on Sunday, December 14. We will meet at 4:20 p.m. at The Stratford, 2460 Glebe St., Carmel. We will sing there, at Marquette Manor, and at The Forum. After caroling, we will eat at Steak ‘N Shake at 86th and Westfield Blvd. Everyone is welcome, both children and adults. Musical talent is not required! If you have any questions, please contact the office or Carol Donahue.

 Oak Leaf Ladies and Reading Friends! Please join the Oak Leaf Meeting for Reading at Ruth Kelly's home for a Holiday Lasagna Dinner on December 16th at 7 pm.  We will be talking about Front Porch Stories by Phillip Gulley, we thought it might be fun to tell some of our own stories that evening as well!  Bring a side dish and a book from home for a Holiday Book Swap.  People who haven't previously attended book discussion are MORE than welcome to come join us!   Please contact Ruth on her mobile at (812) 322-9954 or via her email Rgkelly4@att.net for directions! 

 Conversation on Same-Sex Marriage - Friends hold that all people are equal in the eyes of God and have equal access to the “inner light.” This profound sense of equality leads Friends to treat each person with respect, looking for “that of God” in everyone. We welcome all persons whatever their race, religious affiliation, age, socio-economic class, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation or mental/physical ability. We are now forming a Team of five to eight individuals from across the congregation to revisit how First Friends Meeting will recognize same-sex marriage while building a stronger community of faith.  All proceedings will be guided by listening to others, inviting the loving presence of God, and encouraging everyone to share their perspectives in a supportive environment. The second Conversation on Same-Sex Marriage is planned on Sunday evening, December 14, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The purpose of this session is to encourage dialogue about this issue, and provide a pathway for those interested in serving on the Team in 2015. Please contact Andy Cunningham, Mary Blackburn, John Beede, or Ruthie with any questions, comments or concerns.  Please come join the conversation, everyone is welcome!

 Finance Committee Report – 10/31/2014

For the 10 months ending October 31, 2014, expenses exceeded income by $14,475. Please consider whether you could make an EXTRA contribution before year-end so that our income will cover our expenses! Our 2015 budget was approved at the November 16th Monthly Meeting. We appreciate the financial support that many of you have indicated for next year. Although our committees, pastor, and staff continue to be prudent in their use of resources, we are including a “faith factor” of $24,000. This represents the shortfall between anticipated income and expenses. We hope that you will feel led to give as much as you can to support our growing programs and services.

 Would you like to receive a copy of each First Day’s sermon?  Simply sign-up for Wednesday Word by sending an email request to office@indyfriends.org or call the Meeting Office at 317-255-2485. The sermons are also available both in text and audio on www.indyfriends.org. 

Friend to Friend November 19th

Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought

A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting 

As Way Opens by Beth Henricks

This past Saturday night, sixteen of us (including nine of our young people) traveled to Conner Prairie to experience the immersion experience of being a runaway slave with the Follow the North Star program.  I have been filled with emotion ever since and still processing this experience.  During a ten minute period that evening, our group (slaves brought from the South and sent to slave traders in Indiana to be sold) were marched to the woods in front of a roaring fire and were dehumanized, terrorized and experienced something that tens of thousands of our African brothers and sisters experienced 170 years ago.  It was the most disorienting experience I have ever had - a number of men surrounded us and invaded our personal space screaming to keep our eyes to the ground - we could never look up as we were not worthy to look a white man in the eye.  Viewing the world with eyes down at all times takes away our Light, our value and connection with any other human being.  All I saw were guns, large men with flowing coats, and dirt.  These men condemned me as less than human and yet I had no idea what they looked like.  As we broke free from these terrorists, it was shocking that I wanted to keep my eyes lowered as we tried to find a way forward.  

Everyone we encountered encouraged us to travel to the Quaker house.  We walked into the home of this Quaker family and were given food and told to raise our eyes and look directly into their being because there is that of God in each of us.  How amazing to experience this love and courage from these Quakers.  This Quaker family were only concerned about our safety and risked their lives to help us secure our freedom.

As Quakers, we have a tremendous heritage of stepping out beyond the accepted cultural norms and leaning into the flow of equality and love.  Jesus is our example of offering love to all - in fact He commanded us to do this if we really are His disciples.   Are each of us taking a risk stepping out of our comfort zone and leaning into the profound love and acceptance of Jesus?  If we study Jesus’ life, he embraced everyone that was rejected by the culture - are we ready to do this?

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Poinsettias are available for order from First Friends! You can order a red or white Poinsettia in a 6 inch pot for $8.50 each.  All orders must be submitted to the office by this Sunday, November 23rd, as the order will be placed the morning of the 24th. Order forms are available, or you can email your order to the office and send in your check separately. If emailing your order to office@indyfriends.org, please list how many of which color you want, if it is in memory of or in honor of someone, and please put ‘Poinsettia order’ in the memo line of the check when you send it in.

Finals are coming up for our College Students! We are preparing to send out Care Packages for the 21 college students that we are connected to. Boxes will be set up in the hall for you to drop in goodies. They will mail out after Sunday, November 23rd, so please bring treats by Sunday morning at the latest! Anything will be appreciated as the students are working hard to ace those finals!!!

The annual Oxfam Hunger Banquet will be from 6:30 pm to 8 pm tomorrow, Thursday, November 20th at the Indiana Interchurch Center.  Dr. James Lemons, founder of the Riley Mother Baby Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya will be the primary speaker.  This hospital is pretty amazing.  It has the first Newborn ICU in all of East Africa and currently trains one-third of all the doctors in Kenya. Questions?  Contact Kim Kiser at kdkiser@ameritech.net.  

Are you tired of all the violence and looking for a way to help make Indianapolis a more peaceful city? You can help by becoming a peace ambassador. The next session, if you didn’t make the one last Saturday, is being held at Shalom Mennonite Church at 6100 32nd St. on Saturday, November 21st from 9am-4pm. Peace ambassadors are tutors or coaches who go into schools, camps, or other community centers and equip people with nonviolent tools and techniques to resolve conflict. To become a peace ambassador, volunteers from our churches must participate in training sessions from Peace Learning Center.  Are you willing? This is a hands on way for you to help make Indianapolis a more peaceful city. Please contact Deb Hejl if interested at deb@hejlmail.com.

This Just In: Barbara Blackford will be taking a group of Marian University nursing students on a mission trip to Haiti over spring break (March 2015).  The Haiti Team 2015 is having a fundraiser to raise funds for the mission trip.  The fund raiser is the sale of Poinsettias.  Poinsettias are $15 each in 5 different colors - pink, red, marble, ice punch, & white. The poinsettias will be delivered to the Marian University Evans Center on Thursday December 4th.  She would be happy to deliver them to First Friends.  Orders are due by November 24th - please see Barbara Blackford with questions or to place an order.

Food Drive - We are having a food drive competition for the month of November! Please bring in your canned goods to your Sunday School each week and it will be judged at the end of the month by weight. The adult class will win a traveling trophy and bragging rights for a year! The youth class will win breakfast with Pastor Ruthie and bragging rights for a year! We recommend things like canned meat, canned fruit (maybe not pineapple), and canned vegetables. There will be boxes in each class room to store your canned goods. Good luck to everyone!

Blood Drive at First Friends! This Sunday, November 23rd, the Indiana Blood Center will be set up here to accept donations from 9am-Noon. Please sign up with Jim Donahue and come before or after worship that morning to give blood, from 9am to noon.

Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, 7:00 pm, Tuesday, November 25; Cross and Crown Lutheran Church. Come join Ruthie, our Choir, and folks from five different congregations – Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, Disciples of Christ, and Quaker - as we offer thanks to God for our blessings!  This was a wonderful service last year, and promises to be again.  An offering will be taken for local food pantries.

Advent Celebrations at First Friends begin Sunday, November 30th.  This year, we will prepare for Christ’s birth with a series of reflections about Anticipation, Hope, Patience, Waiting… in joyful, quiet reverence. Come ready.  Come curious.  Come…  You, your family and friends are welcome at each and all our gatherings throughout the season, and beyond.     

How are things going this holiday season?  Circle of Care will be hosting a gathering on Sunday, November 30th over a light lunch (soup, bread and salad) in the parlor for those who have experienced a loss in the last 12 months. Barbara Oberreich will be facilitating a discussion amongst those who are dealing with recent loss.   

Royal Sensation is visiting First Friends!  The talented Girls Choir from Hamilton Southeastern is led by our very own choir director, Shawn Porter, and they will be joining us in Meeting for Worship on December 7th. All are welcome at our regular meeting time of 10:15am - it’s bound to be a spirited morning!  Vespers will also be sung December 7th!  Our choir director and organist, Shawn Porter has put together a memorable holiday celebration for us, and the choir is already practicing! Please mark your calendars and join us for a celebratory evening.

Does anyone know how to build a manger?  Word has it that a little boy will need one on December 24th… Is there someone out there who could put one together for First Friends by Christmas Eve?  Please call the Church Office or let Ruthie know!

Friend to Friend November 12th

Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought

A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting

As Way Opens   by Ruthie Tippin

   “You know when you’re hungry.  You know when you’re full.”  That’s the way I ended our Children’s Message this past Sunday.  Most of us can tell when we’ve had enough to eat… we know when we’re full.  And we know when we need to begin preparing a meal – we’re feeling hungry!  All too many of God’s children are constantly hungry, and have nothing to prepare for a meal, unless…

   Not too long ago, I was struck by the number of requests in Meeting for support of food pantries and food drives.  A teacher was sponsoring a ‘soup bowl’ dinner – buy an artist’s soup bowl, enjoy some hot soup, and consider it a donation to the school’s food drive.  Our own Sunday School is having a contest to see which class can bring in the greatest weight of food by month’s end.  Another member has invited us to Oxfam’s Hunger Project, and ‘Stop Hunger Now’.  With Thanksgiving just around the corner, and thoughts of tables brimming over with food, we begin to feel a tug on our hearts (and our consciences) for those whose table fare will be meager, at best.

   It’s hard to feed others when you’re hungry yourself.  Those of us who know we’re full have the opportunity to welcome the hungry to our table, in whatever way we can.  Maybe it’s a Sunday School contest.  Maybe it’s a soup bowl.  Maybe it’s working in a Food Pantry.  Maybe it’s an invitation to our home on Thanksgiving Day.  Maybe, it’s the decision to push back from the table and say, “I’m full.  I don’t need anymore.  Pass the food on down… it looks like someone down there needs another helping.”  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…  Matthew 25:35                                                        

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Monthly Meeting for Business is this Sunday following Meeting for Worship! Last Month’s Meeting Minutes are attached for your review.

Indy First Friends Young Adult Fellowship. Hungry? It’s soup season; something warm and comforting is good for the body and the soul. Join us at 7pm in the basement on Wednesday, November 12th from 7-9pm for a casual dinner and the first of several discussions covering various Christian mystics; what did they have to say? Are they relevant to living a spiritual life in the 21st century? How are they similar and how do they differ from traditional Quaker thought? All 20-30 somethings are welcome!

Nov. 13 "Books and Basics" Party Will Welcome Baby Comacho.  Introducing...Valerie Elizabeth Flores, born to Rocio and Jose on Thurs., Oct. 9th. Rocio is our cherished custodian and friend, and we invite you to celebrate Valerie's birth at a party on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, in the parlor. Refreshments will be hearty snacks, and, in keeping with the Quaker commitment to equality, this celebration is not gender-limited.  All are welcome! If you would like to welcome Valerie with a gift, here are three ways to do that: 1.You may purchase one or more children’s books that will be on display as your gift.  2. You can bring diapers, in any small size for future use. 3. We are going to purchase a high chair.  If you would like to participate in this purchase, you may give your contribution to Amanda, in the office. Please RSVP to Amanda Bow at office@indyfriends.org or by calling 255-2485, to help those who are preparing refreshments.

Join us for an Eco-Film Series at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450  Allisonville Road, at 7:30 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. The next one is Friday, November 14th at 7:30 p.m. called “Plastic Paradise”. Thousands of miles away from civilization, Midway Atoll is in one of the most remote places on earth. And yet it’s become ground zero for The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, syphoning plastics from three distant continents. http://plasticparadisemovie.com.

Are you tired of all the violence and looking for a way to help make Indianapolis a more peaceful city? You can help by becoming a peace ambassador. Peace ambassadors are tutors or coaches who go into schools, camps, or other community centers and equip people with nonviolent tools and techniques to resolve conflict. To become a peace ambassador, volunteers from our churches must participate in training sessions from Peace Learning Center.  The first session is being held at First Mennonite Church at 4601 Knollton Rd on Saturday, November 15th from 9am-4pm, or if you can’t make that, at Shalom Mennonite Church at 6100 32nd St. on Saturday, November 21st from 9am-4pm. Are you willing? This is a hands on way for you to help make Indianapolis a more peaceful city. Please contact Deb Hejl if interested at deb@hejlmail.com.

Stop Hunger Now project will be held this coming Saturday (the 15th) from 10 am to 2 pm at the Islamic Society of Greater Indianapolis in Plainfield, Indiana.  Second, the annual Oxfam Hunger Banquet will be from 6:30 pm to 8 pm on Thursday, November 20th at the Indiana Interchurch Center.  Dr. James Lemons, founder of the Riley Mother Baby Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya will be our primary speaker.  This hospital is pretty amazing.  It has the first Newborn ICU in all of East Africa and currently trains one-third of all the doctors in Kenya. Questions?  Contact Kim Kiser at kdkiser@ameritech.net.  

Conversations on Same-Sex Marriage - Friends hold that all people are equal in the eyes of God and have equal access to the “inner light.” This profound sense of equality leads Friends to treat each person with respect, looking for “that of God” in everyone. We welcome all persons whatever their race, religious affiliation, age, socio-economic class, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation or mental/physical ability. We are now forming a Team of five to eight individuals from across the congregation to revisit how First Friends Meeting will recognize same-sex marriage while building a stronger community of faith.  All proceedings will be guided by listening to others, inviting the loving presence of God, and encouraging everyone to share their perspectives in a supportive environment. Two Conversations on Same-Sex Marriage are planned on Sunday evenings, November 16 and December 14, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The purpose of these sessions is to encourage dialogue about this issue, and provide a pathway for those interested in serving on the Team in 2015. Please contact Andy Cunningham, Mary Blackburn, John Beede, or Ruthie with any questions, comments or concerns.  Please come join the conversations on November 16 and December 14.  Everyone is welcome!

The Poetry Group is meeting on Tuesday, November 18th, at 2:00 pm. in the Parlor. Tom Davis will be presenting his poetry from his new book “This Side and That”.

Ladies!  Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading will be discussing Jim Pym’s Listening to the Light on the Tuesday, November 18th, at 7 pm in the Parlor.   If you would like to be on the email list or need a copy of the book list, please contact Kathy Rhyne at kathyrichelle@yahoo.com. Front Porch Stories by Phillip Gulley is our upcoming book for December.

Blood Drive at First Friends! On Sunday, November 23rd, the Indiana Blood Center will be set up here to accept donations from 9am-Noon. There is no need to sign-up beforehand, simply show up before or after worship that morning to give blood. This is an easy way to help others!

Upcoming Holiday Events

Tuesday, November 25th

7 pm Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at Cross & Crown Lutheran Church

Sunday, December 7th

10:15 am Royal Sensation in Meeting for Worship

5:00 pm Vespers Service followed by a reception

Sunday, December 14th

11:30 am USFW Tea

4:20 pm Caroling

Sunday, December 21st

10:30 am Christmas Pageant

Wednesday, December 24th

5:30 pm Christmas Eve Service

Finals are coming up for our College Students! We are preparing to send out Care Packages for the 21 college students that we are connected to. The boxes will be set up in the hall for you to drop goodies in. They will mail out after Sunday, November 23rd, so please bring goodies in before then! Anything will be appreciated as the students are working hard to ace those finals!!!

Circle of Care will be hosting a gathering on Sunday, November 30th over a light lunch (soup, bread and salad) in the parlor for those who have experienced a loss in the last 12 months. Barbara Oberreich will be facilitating a discussion amongst those who are dealing with recent loss.   

Food Drive - We are having a food drive competition for the month of November! Please bring in your canned goods to your Sunday School each week and it will be judged at the end of the month by weight. The adult class will win a traveling trophy and bragging rights for a year! The youth class will win breakfast with Pastor Ruthie and bragging rights for a year! We recommend things like canned meat, canned fruit (maybe not pineapple), and canned vegetables. There will be boxes in each class room to store your canned goods. Good luck to everyone!

Jeff Rasley has a new book, “Godless – Living a Valuable Life Beyond Beliefs (Memoirs of a Thoughtful Traveler)”. The major claim of the book is "Beliefs divide us; values unite us." It makes the case that religious extremism and political gridlock can be defeated with pragmatic decision-making guided by positive values.  It straddles memoir, philosophy-theology, and advice/self-help. Many of Jeff’s Nepali and Quaker friends will recognize themselves in the book as part of the book is about our shared experiences and values. Find it at www.amazon.com/dp/069232481X if you wish to purchase.

Would you like to receive a copy of each First Day’s sermon?  Simply sign-up for Wednesday Word by sending an email request to office@indyfriends.org or call the Meeting Office at 317-255-2485. The sermons are also available both in text and audio on www.indyfriends.org.

Friend to Friend November 5

 

Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought

A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting

As Way Opens           By Beth Henricks

This past Saturday sixteen of us traveled to the Levi Coffin House and a visit to the campus of Earlham College for our first field trip with the Quaker Affirmation Class.  Many of you have heard the story of Levi Coffin and his significant role in the Underground Railroad.  The guides told us that he may have been responsible for helping more than 2,000 black men, women and children during a twenty year period as they traveled through Indiana on their way to Canada for freedom.  

Levi took the Quaker testimony of equality seriously and believed that God's law of equality trumped any man made law.  What was inspiring in touring his and Catherine's home, was to observe and hear about how they acted so strongly and forcefully in living out this testimony.  God called them to take this action and they risked much for acting on this principle.  But what really struck me on this visit, was the description of a Quaker community that surrounded Levi and Catherine with this leading and created a "cocoon" setting for them.  Their town was full of Quaker families and some of them owned slaves or did not take the same kind of stand that the Coffin family did.  But even though some in the community disagreed with the Coffin's approach, they created a supportive and safe community where Levi and Catherine knew that no one was going to turn them in to the authorities.    

What a wonderful story of community.  Maybe some of us are called to lovingly support and provide a safe place for others to live out a leading from God?  Is First Friends this kind of community?  Do we create a network of support and safety to examine and act on testimonies like the issue of equality for all?   God's call to each of us is different.  I think there might be a Levi Coffin among us - but others are called to be that community of support.  I encourage all of us to spend time listening to God's voice and call.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Tonight!!!  Wednesday, November 5th:  All interested Friends are invited to come to West Newton Friends Church to hear David Zarembka share information about the peace work in Kenya (and surrounding countries) being done by Friends there.  David, a member of Baltimore YM, started the Africa Great Lakes Initiative (AGLI) several years ago and the organization continues to do pro-active work to teach peace-making skills and promote reconciliation in areas of conflict.  AGLI continues to be an important collaborative element in the Friends Church Peace Teams formed after the post-election violence in 2008.  You'll be amazed at David's personal accounts of the impact Friends are having and may learn a few peace building ideas that we can use, too. A light supper will be served at 6:00 and David's interactive presentation will begin at 6:30. 

New 2015 Pocket Directories are now available. Indianapolis First Friends meeting has just received a new shipment of updated pocket directories. These directories have current contact information for our members and attenders alike. We encourage you to pick up a new directory in the main hallway (one per family please). An electronic version (PDF) and a larger print paper list (not a booklet) are also available by contacting Amanda Bow at 255-2485 or email office@indyfriends.org.

Please join us for Community Soup on Friday, November 7th, anytime between 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.  Enjoy soups, bread, and dessert in a relaxed atmosphere.  No cooking, no dishwashing, and no charge. Stay after dinner for a movie, “The Loving Story”. In 1958 Mildred and Richard Loving left their home state of Virginia to marry in Washington D.C. When they returned to Virginia they were arrested for the crime of “co-habitating as a man and wife, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Virginia”. Little did the state of Virginia know when they convicted the Loving’s that the power of love between two people can bring down a mountain of intolerance. As we see dramatic changes in equality happening in our state and nation the “Loving Story” offers valuable lessons for us to think about today. The power of love, the humanity of an activist U.S. Attorney General and the power of a U.S. Supreme Court willing to come together across ideological lines to tackle the issue of whether the state can control who one chooses to love.

Indy First Friends Young Adult Fellowship. Hungry? It’s soup season; something warm and comforting is good for the body and the soul. Join us at 7pm on Wednesday, November 12th from 7-9pm for a casual dinner and the first of several discussions covering various Christian mystics; what did they have to say? Are they relevant to living a spiritual life in the 21st century? How are they similar and how do they differ from traditional Quaker thought? All 20-30 somethings are welcome!

Are you tired of all the violence and looking for a way to help make Indianapolis a more peaceful city? You can help by becoming a peace ambassador. Peace ambassadors are tutors or coaches who go into schools, camps, or other community centers and equip people with nonviolent tools and techniques to resolve conflict. To become a peace ambassador, volunteers from our churches must participate in training sessions from Peace Learning Center.  The first session is being held at First Mennonite Church at 4601 Knollton Rd on Saturday, November 15th from 9am-4pm, or if you can’t make that, at Shalom Mennonite Church at 6100 32nd St. on Saturday, November 21st from 9am-4pm. Are you willing? This is a hands on way for you to help make Indianapolis a more peaceful city. Please contact Deb Hejl if interested at deb@hejlmail.com.

Nov. 13 "Books and Basics" Party Will Welcome Baby Comacho.  Introducing...Valerie Elizabeth Flores, born to Rocio and Jose on Thurs., Oct. 9th. Rocio is our cherished custodian and friend, and we invite you to celebrate Valerie's birth at a party on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, in the parlor. Refreshments will be hearty snacks, and, in keeping with the Quaker commitment to equality, this celebration is not gender-limited.  All are welcome! If you would like to welcome Valerie with a gift, here are three ways to do that:

{C}1.    {C}An assortment of excellent children's books will be on display at the party.  You may purchase one or more as your gift.  That's the "books" part of the party.

2.    As for the "basics," you could bring a package of disposable diapers, in a size that is likely to fit Valerie sometime between now and her first birthday.

3.    As our community gift, we are going to purchase a high chair.  If you would like to participate in this purchase, you may give your contribution to Amanda, in the office.

Please RSVP to Amanda Bow at office@indyfriends.org or by calling 255-2485, to help those who are preparing refreshments.

Join us for an Eco-Film Series at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450  Allisonville Road, at 7:30 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. The next one is Friday, November 14th at 7:30 p.m. called “Plastic Paradise”. Thousands of miles away from civilization, Midway Atoll is in one of the most remote places on earth. And yet it’s become ground zero for The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, syphoning plastics from three distant continents. http://plasticparadisemovie.com

Food Drive - We are having a food drive competition for the month of November! Please bring in your canned goods to your Sunday School each week and it will be judged at the end of the month by weight. The adult class will win a traveling trophy and bragging rights for a year! The youth class will win breakfast with Pastor Ruthie and bragging rights for a year! We recommend things like canned meat, canned fruit (maybe not pineapple), and canned vegetables. There will be boxes in each class room to store your canned goods. Good luck to everyone!

Conversations on Same-Sex Marriage - Friends hold that all people are equal in the eyes of God and have equal access to the “inner light.” This profound sense of equality leads Friends to treat each person with respect, looking for “that of God” in everyone. We welcome all persons whatever their race, religious affiliation, age, socio-economic class, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation or mental/physical ability. We are now forming a Team of five to eight individuals from across the congregation to revisit how First Friends Meeting will recognize same-sex marriage while building a stronger community of faith.  All proceedings will be guided by listening to others, inviting the loving presence of God, and encouraging everyone to share their perspectives in a supportive environment. Two Conversations on Same-Sex Marriage are planned on Sunday evenings, November 16 and December 14, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The purpose of these sessions is to encourage dialogue about this issue, and provide a pathway for those interested in serving on the Team in 2015. Please contact Andy Cunningham, Mary Blackburn, John Beede, or Ruthie with any questions, comments or concerns.  Please come join the conversations on November 16 and December 14.  Everyone is welcome!

The Poetry Group is meeting on Tuesday, November 18th, at 2:00 pm. in the Parlor. Tom Davis will be presenting his poetry.

Ladies!  Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading will be discussing Jim Pym’s Listening to the Light on the Tuesday, November 18th, at 7 pm in the Parlor.   If you would like to be on the email list or need a copy of the book list, please contact Kathy Rhyne at kathyrichelle@yahoo.com. Front Porch Stories by Phillip Gulley is our upcoming book for December.

Blood Drive at First Friends! On Sunday, November 23rd, the Indiana Blood Center will be set up here to accept donations from 9am-Noon. There is no need to sign-up beforehand, simply show up before or after worship that morning to give blood. This is an easy way to help others!

Upcoming Holiday Events

Tuesday, November 25th

7 pm Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at Cross & Crown Lutheran Church

Sunday, December 7th

10:15 am Royal Sensation in Meeting for Worship

5:00 pm Vespers Service followed by a reception

Sunday, December 14th

11:30 am USFW Tea

Caroling-time to be determined

Sunday, December 21st

10:30 am Christmas Pageant

Wednesday, December 24th

5:30 pm Christmas Eve Service

Would you like to receive a copy of each First Day’s sermon?  Simply sign-up for Wednesday Word by sending an email request to office@indyfriends.org or call the Meeting Office at 317-255-2485. The sermons are also available both in text and audio on www.indyfriends.org.

Friend to Friend October 29

Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought

A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting

As Way Opens  by Ruthie Tippin

“We have gathered today to honor one of the great men of the twentieth century.  His is the story of what is best in the American heritage.  He bears witness to a way of life which we seldom demonstrate, but which is infinitely precious in that it provides a standard by which we may judge our relative failures, as well as our relative successes.”  These are the opening sentences from the Eulogy for Herbert Hoover, written by D. Elton Trueblood that I was honored to share this past weekend, in remembrance of President Hoover’s death fifty years ago.  Representatives from Belgium, the United States, and the Society of Friends had been asked to come to honor his death, and the meaning of his life.  The winner of the World Food Prize spoke.  As in all our lives, we sometimes fail and sometimes succeed.  Hoover was able to outlive the ‘worldwide economic storm’ that plagued his Presidency, the criticism he received, and move into a future that held much more work and success.  Do we trade in failure?  Do we hold each other, or even ourselves, in the failures we endure?  Or do we choose freedom?  Freedom to admit imperfection, to accept grace, to be thankful for what we can and do achieve, and to move forward, empowered by a new understanding of ourselves?  President Hoover could have left his presidency and fulfilled the expectations of all those who derided him.  Instead, he went on to a life filled with public service… a life of integrity, challenging us all to ‘accept responsibility for some unique contribution to the total community.’  What will be our choice?  To bind ourselves and others to past failures, or to free one another and ourselves to future success?  God give us grace.        

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Daylight Savings Time Ends at 2am this Sunday, so don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour before you go to bed, or you may show up to church an hour early on Sunday!

New 2015 Pocket Directories are now available. Indianapolis First Friends meeting has just received a new shipment of updated pocket directories. These directories have current contact information for our members and attenders alike. We encourage you to pick up a new directory in the main hallway (one per family please). An electronic version (PDF) and a larger print paper list (not a booklet) are also available by contacting Amanda Bow at 255-2485 or email office@indyfriends.org.

Gathering Group is Tuesday, November 4th at 7:00 pm. Friends gather to do all kinds of handwork: crochet, knitting, rug working, whatever you want to do. All are welcome to join in and create.

Wednesday, November 5th:  All interested Friends are invited to come to West Newton Friends Church to hear David Zarembka share information about the peace work in Kenya (and surrounding countries) being done by Friends there.  David, a member of Baltimore YM, started the Africa Great Lakes Initiative (AGLI) several years ago and the organization continues to do pro-active work to teach peace-making skills and promote reconciliation in areas of conflict.  AGLI continues to be an important collaborative element in the Friends Church Peace Teams formed after the post-election violence in 2008.  You'll be amazed at David's personal accounts of the impact Friends are having and may learn a few peace building ideas that we can use, too. A light supper will be served at 6:00 and David's interactive presentation will begin at 6:30. 

Quaker Earthcare Witness has released the newest ‘Befriending Creation,’ their bi-monthly newsletter. This issue has eyewitness accounts from several Friends who participated in the People’s Climate March in New York City on September 21, 2014, and also had an article regarding UNFCCC negotiations. To download the newsletter free of charge, please visit http://www.quakerearthcare.org/bfc/volume-27-number-5. 

Please join us for Community Soup on Friday, November 7th, anytime between 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.  Enjoy soups, bread, and dessert in a relaxed atmosphere.  No cooking, no dishwashing, and no charge. Stay after dinner for a movie, “The Loving Story”. Mildred and Richard Loving were told they were criminals. Their crime was that while being of different races, they chose to spend their lives together. In 1958 Mildred and Richard left their home state of Virginia to marry in Washington D.C. When they returned to Virginia they were arrested for the crime of “co-habitating as a man and wife, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Virginia”. Little did the state of Virginia know when they convicted the Loving’s that the power of love between two people can bring down a mountain of intolerance. As we see dramatic changes in equality happening in our state and nation the “Loving Story” offers valuable lessons for us to think about today. The power of love, the humanity of an activist U.S. Attorney General and the power of a U.S. Supreme Court willing to come together across ideological lines to tackle the issue of whether the state can control who one chooses to love.

Indy First Friends Young Adult Fellowship. Hungry? It’s soup season; something warm and comforting is good for the body and the soul. Join us at 7pm on Wednesday, November 12th from 7-9pm for a casual dinner and the first of several discussions covering various Christian mystics; what did they have to say? Are they relevant to living a spiritual life in the 21st century? How are they similar and how do they differ from traditional Quaker thought? All 20-30 somethings are welcome!

Are you tired of all the violence and looking for a way to help make Indianapolis a more peaceful city? You can help by becoming a peace ambassador. Peace ambassadors are tutors or coaches who go into schools, camps, or other community centers and equip people with nonviolent tools and techniques to resolve conflict. To become a peace ambassador, volunteers from our churches must participate in three 6-7 hour training sessions from Peace Learning Center.  The first session is being held at First Mennonite Church at 4601 Knollton Rd on Saturday, November 15th from 9am-4pm, or if you can’t make that, at Shalom Mennonite Church at 6100 32nd St. on Saturday, November 21st from 9am-4pm. Are you willing? This is a hands on way for you to help make Indianapolis a more peaceful city. Please contact Deb Hejl if interested at deb@hejlmail.com.

Nov. 13 "Books and Basics" Party Will Welcome Baby Comacho.  Introducing...Valerie Elizabeth Flores, born to Rocio and Jose on Thurs., Oct. 9th. Rocio is our cherished custodian and friend, and we invite you to celebrate Valerie's birth at a party on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, in the parlor. Refreshments will be hearty snacks, and, in keeping with the Quaker commitment to equality, this celebration is not gender-limited.  All are welcome! If you would like to welcome Valerie with a gift, here are three ways to do that:

• An assortment of excellent children's books will be on display at the party.  You may purchase one or more as your gift.  That's the "books" part of the party.
• As for the "basics," you could bring a package of disposable diapers, in a size that is likely to fit Valerie sometime between now and her first birthday.
• As our community gift, we are going to purchase a high chair.  If you would like to participate in this purchase, you may give your contribution to Amanda, in the office.

Please RSVP to Amanda Bow at office@indyfriends.org or by calling 255-2485, to help those who are preparing refreshments.

 Join us for an Eco-Film Series at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450  Allisonville Road, at 7:30 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. The next one is Friday, November 14th at 7:30 p.m. called “Plastic Paradise”. Thousands of miles away from civilization, Midway Atoll is in one of the most remote places on earth. And yet it’s become ground zero for The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, syphoning plastics from three distant continents. In this independent documentary film, journalist/filmmaker Angela Sun travels on a personal journey of discovery to uncover this mysterious phenomenon. Along the way she meets scientists, researchers, influencers, and volunteers who shed light on the effects of our rabid plastic consumption and learns the problem is more insidious than we could have ever imagined. http://plasticparadisemovie.com.

 Mid-North Food Pantry Wins $4500 Grant! In September, the Mid-North Food Pantry got some good news: it was awarded a $4500 matching grant by the outreach committee of Trinity Episcopal Church. These outreach grants are awarded once a year at the committee’s discretion.They plan to plow that grant money directly into our general operating expenses. Food and staff salaries are both their biggest expenses and greatest needs. They’re a no-frills operation, and use every penny to fulfill their mission of feeding the hungry. Trinity’s grant will help to keep their doors open and the shelves stocked. What wonderful news!

 Would you like to receive a copy of each First Day’s sermon?  Simply sign-up for Wednesday Word by sending an email request to office@indyfriends.org or call the Meeting Office at 317-255-2485. The sermons are also available both in text and audio on www.indyfriends.org.