Friend to Friend
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought
A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting
As Way Opens
Loving is one of the easiest things to do… until it gets hard. It’s so easy to love someone we admire, we respect, we enjoy, we agree with. But what happens when someone disappoints us, disagrees with us, hurts us, fails us? What happens when someone causes us pain? What happens when someone we thought we knew ends up acting, thinking, doing, being someone we don’t recognize any longer? Love gets hard. Love gets hard, but our hearts don’t have to. “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you…” This is God’s promise to us. And God has kept his promise, through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our hearts are made pliable, supple, flexible, so they can learn and grow, expanding with every heartache, and embracing every new challenge we face.
The work we have ahead of us as a Meeting in considering marriage equality is one that will take hearts of flesh – supple, open, hearts that are filled with God’s Spirit. When we began considering this, more than a year ago, I told you that I trusted your love for one another. I have, and I still do. More than that, I trust God’s love for us, and for our Meeting. God’s spirit will lead us and guide us in being faithful to God, to one another, and to our understanding of Friends’ faith and practice… if we come with hearts of flesh, willing and ready to think clearly, to consider openly, to be stretched deeply, to grow greatly, and to move forward together, especially when love gets hard.
Joys & Concerns
Considering the Query: ‘Do you work gladly with other religious groups in the pursuit of common goals? While remaining faithful to Quaker insights, try to enter imaginatively into the life and witness of other communities of faith, creating together the bonds of friendship.’ From Advices and queries; Britain Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice, 5th edition, @ 1995-2015
Our world is a complex place, and the world of spirituality is none the less diverse. This is what makes the experience of faith so beautiful. We have so many expressions of God revealed around us, both in nature and in one another. Rather than fearing what another person has to teach us, remain grounded in what you know, and enter into a broadening experience of faith that will bring more Light and more Life into your own. Remember that others are curious about the Light within you, as well.
Friendly Visitors: What a joy to see two good friends together! Helen Davenport and Ann Kendall were able to have a great visit last week, when this lovely picture was taken. If you have a bit of time, and would like to visit friends in our Meeting, please let John Beede and our Circle of Care know. We have such rich relationships within our Meeting! jpbeede@aol.com
‘How many things by season, seasoned are to their right praise and true perfection!’ William ShakespeareOver thirty people joined together today in a wonderful luncheon hosted by Kathy Farris for the Seasoned Friends – a group of (mostly) retired folks whose lives have been seasoned by the experiences of love, faith, family and friends. What a wonderful time was shared together! Thank you Kathy, and many thanks to our hot dog vendors – Dan Mitchell and Bill Farris!
Newcomers Are Welcome! Do you remember the first day you came to First Friends? The first person you met? The first person who spoke to you? First impressions make a big difference, and our newcomers are quick to decide if we are a welcoming faith community, or not. Are you heading down for coffee? Bring someone with you! Are you picking up your child in the Nursery? Find out who that new parent is! Enjoy meeting new people… and let them enjoy meeting you!
RecycleForce Recyling Day was a great success! Thanks to all
for the incredible support, and to our Witness and Service Committee for coordinating this event with Shalom Zone – five area churches that work together to do what we can’t do alone! First Friends Meeting, St. Pius Catholic, Cross and Crown Lutheran, Epworth United Methodist, & Allisonville Christian Church. Meridian St. PreSchool Co-Op, too!
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Crop Hunger Walk this Sunday: We need your donations - A number of walkers will gather at Christian Theological Seminary this Sunday Oct 18th at 1:45 p.m. to raise awareness of worldwide hunger and raise funds to help alleviate hunger both locally and globally. Please consider joining the First Friends team of walkers. Please also consider making a donation for this important cause. There is a basket in the front hallway for checks or contributions. Checks can be written to First Friends with a notation of Crop Walk in the memo line.
Those who regularly attend Sunday School may now join the choir too, in preparing for the traditional Vesper service! Vesper rehearsals will start this Sunday Oct. 18 at 9:45 am. The Vesper service will take place on Sunday, December 6 at 5 pm. “All are welcome”. Regular choir rehearsals start at the 9:00 am hour.
Three Great Adult Sunday School Classes To Choose from at First Friends!
Join us at 9:00 a.m.! Take a look at all these great choices:
Coffee Circle/Wired Word, led by Joyce Bowman, Kristyn Buckner and Jeff Rasley; current news events discussed in the light of scripture, and our response as Quakers to what’s happening in the world today.
Seeking Friends/Testament of Devotion, led by Jim Hejl; five compelling essays by Friend Thomas Kelly that urge us to center our lives on God's presence, to find quiet and stillness within modern life.
Mind the Light/Holy Silence by Brent Bill, led by Michael Hostetler; For centuries, Quakers have taught that when we are silent, God grants us insights, guidance, and spiritual understanding that is different from what we might realize in our noisy, everyday lives. A class geared toward young adults and parents of small children.
Friends Disaster Service Work Week -- Oct. 15, 16, 17, 2015
Combined workers from all of Indiana’s Yearly Meetings
Our case house is in Waverly, Indiana at 9450 Huggin Hollow Rd. Martinsville, In.
We have insulated and dry walled this house, three rooms are spackled, sanded and painted.
Need to do: The rest of the house has two coats of spackle on it and will be ready to paint by the 15th. Kitchen Base cabinets need set and counter top installed. Two bedrooms of carpet strips and pad. Stretch carpet. Anyone have a carpet “Kicker”? Install four rooms of vinyl laminate “wood look” planks. Put down all wall baseboard trim. Gutter repair and downspout drains dug in. Materials have already been paid for by Grants and other groups donations, and as normal F.D.S. will pay for workers food and travel expenses. We need a good turnout of local workers so check your calendar
and call our Coordinator so we canschedule the work days.
Coordinators
Eldon Studer at 812 879-4236 or cell 765 346-0587, Lane Sims at 317 774-0787 or cell 317 224-3135
Don Wimmerat 765 384-7429 or cell 765 661-0064, Catherine Griffithat 765 520-1703
Directions:
Located about one mile from the intersection of St. Rd. 144 and St. Rd. 37.
Go approximately 8 miles from Mooresville on 144 and 100 feet before the 37 intersection Light, turn right. Go ½ mile or so and the house is on the right side. The project house has tan siding with a brown porch at the front door. It is left and behind a yellow brick home with brown roof, same driveway. Look for the FDS trailer.
Fall Festival on October 17th at First Friends. The Preschool Co-Op has invited us to join them in their annual Fall Festival on Saturday October 17th from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. This is a great time of fellowship and includes games, crafts, door prizes, music and a chili cook-off. We have been asked to provide desserts if we plan on attending. This event will be held rain or shine and costumes are strongly encouraged. We invite all of our families to join in the fun. Please let Beth Henricks (beth.henricks@indyfriends.org) know if you will attend and if you want to enter the chili cook-off.
Sponsor a College Student: There are still a few students left to select for this important ministry of care and love to our college students. Please consider selecting a student (the poster board of student information is just outside fellowship hall) to periodically send notes, treats or words of encouragement throughout the year. Our students love to hear from us and receive something in the mail. Please let Beth Henricks (beth.henricks@indyfriends.org) know if you would like to sponsor a student.
Poetry Group will meet on Tuesday, October 20th, at 2:00 in the Parlor. Linda Lee will read new poems and will explain what led to the making of them.
18.25 - Grounded in God; Coffee and Queries for those 18-25 Begins Tuesday, October 20 from 7:45 – 9:00 pm in the basement at First Friends. Are you curious about God? Are you ready for conversation? Then join Ruthie Tippin and others like you for a cup of coffee and dialogue about things that really matter. Anyone 18 to 25 years old is welcome. Bring your friends, too.
Jewish and Quaker - Finding Solidarity in our Shared Values. Share a Middle Eastern meal and meet Brant Rosen, the American Friends Service Committee Regional Director on Thursday October 22nd from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Indiana Interchurch Center at 1100 42nd St. Brant is a Jewish Rabbi that has written the book, Wrestling in the Daylight - A Rabbi’s Path to Palestinian Solidarity and will speak about his experiences and work. Brant is a fascinating person in a leadership role at one of our Quaker national organizations so you won’t want to miss this. His book will be available for purchase that evening with all proceeds supporting American Friends Service Committee. Attached is the link to register - the cost to attend is $25.00. https://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50601/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=83234
Men of First Friends: The one day Mini Retreat at First Friends meeting house on scheduled for Sat. Oct. 31, has been cancelled. Ed Morris (317) 691-5542 emorri@earthlink.net
Report from Ministry and Counsel Clerk, Ed Morris:
Announcements – The issue of when and how to make announcements at meeting for worship continues to be a thorny issue with opinions varying widely. For now M&C in conjunction with Pastor Ruthie have decided that announcements will come as we break the silence with handshakes. There will be a final hymn after the announcements.
Dan Mosley Grant Fund: A subcommittee consisting of Carrie Sample, Bill Heitman (MG&P), Barb Dubois (M&C), and John Beede (COC) will work with Ruthie and Dan Mosley to integrate our learning from the Dan Mosley workshops into our meeting's practices and structures.
Concerns in the Meeting: Members of M&C are urged to listen carefully to concerns that members and attenders bring to them about the meeting. We should ask them if this is something they would like to bring before M&C. In most cases this can be done anonymously.
Marriage Equality: Ministry and Counsel after much discernment, inquiry, and prayer will now present a proposal for consideration of the Monthly Meeting on Oct. 18th. This will be done in a uniquely Quaker fashion focusing on the marriage process itself. Child care will be available as well as snacks.
Come One Come All! - Have your picture taken (at no cost, unless you want extra prints) for the First Friends Pictorial Directory! Pictures will be taken by Lifetouch Directories at the Meeting House on Wed., Nov. 4 – Sat., Nov. 7. The finished pictures will arrive in time for Christmas cards. This is a great chance to have a professional picture taken of you and/or your family. Having everyone participate enables the directory to be as useful as possible to facilitate our knowing one another, and in putting names and faces together. We only do this every 4 years, so hopefully everyone will be able to participate. If you cannot have your picture taken on the dates at First Friends, Lifetouch will allow you to go to another church that is also scheduling pictures at about the same time. Sign-ups have started this September, and will be on-line and in person at the Meeting house. More info will follow as we get closer to the sign-up dates. If you need more info, please contact Sue Mills. If you are interested in helping out as a Host / Hostess during the photo sessions, please let Sue know. Shifts are 4 hours. Times are 2:30 – 9 on Wed. – Fri., and 10:00 – 4:30 on Sat. If you would like to help with Sign-ups at the Meeting House after Meeting on Sept. 20 – Oct. 18, please let Sue know. Schedule your family portrait session now: https://www.securedata-trans14.com/ap/firstfriendsmeeting/index.php?page=10
First Friends Parents: Gently Used Toys (NOT new) are requested as Christmas presents for the children of food pantry recipients. If you are clearing out old toys in preparation for influx of new toys at Christmas, please keep us in mind. They can be dropped off at the food donation station in Fellowship Hall or Kathy Farris (842-5844) will pick up.
“Friends Of Nature Kids” ~ Nature by Memory: Clear a little space on the ground or on some grass and sit down. Look around for a couple of minutes in all directions and then shut your eyes. With your eyes closed, see how many things and details you can remember. Now open your eyes and see what you forgot to include.
From ‘52 Nature Activities for Kids’ by Lynn Gordon
Indianapolis First Friends Meeting
Compassionate v Christian v Quaker
3030 Kessler Blvd. E. Dr. Indianapolis,
317-255-2485 office@indyfriends.org