Friend to Friend April 25, 2018

April 26, 2018

As Way Opens

Since Christmas, I have spent several of my days off at Newfields (formerly the Indianapolis Art Museum) taking in the collections. Not only does art inspire me, it also allows me to center myself and find renewal in my ministry, family, and artistic life.

On a recent visit, I found myself drawn to the Eiteljorg Suite of African Art on the 3rd floor at Newfields. As I meandered through the exhibit, I was not expected to be moved so deeply by one unique piece of art. The piece was titled The Healing of the Abiku Children by artist: Twins Seven-Seven (1973). On further research of this piece, I learned it was made from a large wooden plaque intricately carved and dyed with pigment to depict an important Yoruba ceremony.

As I pondered the interesting scene, I found a seat where I could study the piece in greater detail. I was moved by the colors, the faces, the story being told, and the native culture represented. I could not help but think of our faith tribe, the Quakers. Many early Quakers did not fancy art and at times discouraged artists by calling it a frivolous pursuit. As an artist, I find this a bit problematic, because I believe our art speaks volumes to who we are, what we believe, and the progress we have made.

At a recent conference on Racial Justice and Your Congregation, we heard about the importance of art in our places of worship and how it can help or hinder people feeling welcome. It had me taking a closer look at the art in our main hallway at First Friends. Next time you enter the Meeting, take a moment to consider what the message, the colors, the stories of our art conveys to people of other races, nationalities and cultures, our Native American sisters and brothers, or to those simply not having a background in Quaker history? Does our art welcome, represent, and inspire all people as they enter into our Meetinghouse?

*The Light Shines Forth by Bob Henry will be on display at First Friends beginning this week.*

These are just a few of the reasons, I have decided to begin creating new Quaker art. In my first, The Light Shines Forth (20”x20” acrylic on canvas) I utilized a similar style to that of the African piece that had inspired me by Twin Seven-Seven. Not only did I want it to convey our Quaker distinctives, I also sensed a need to tell a story of our rich history of social action while including faces from several different cultures and races. I chose the historic Quaker grays to represent the equality among us and yellow to represent the importance of the Light throughout. As well, the simplicity and rudimentary design of the artistic style is befitting our Quaker heritage. You may also note that Margaret Fell takes a slightly higher position in the center over George Fox to show the importance of the leadership of women from the very beginning among Quakers.

My hope is that new art will offer welcome, representation, and inspiration for a new generation within the Society of Friends. If you are an artist, of any medium of form, I challenge you to consider joining with me in seeing how your art can reflect our Quaker heritage and values and be a welcoming presence in our present day.

Grace and Peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

A big thank-you to our food pantry volunteers! Sue M, Susan R, Dan H, Ray G, Beth F, Linda L, Carol and Jim D. Thanks to all the volunteers who “stepped up” when some of our “regulars” were not available.

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Quaker Voluntary Service at First Friends! Come to Meeting on Sunday, May 6th to learn more about Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS)! QVS is an 11-month experiment, living at the intersection of transformational spirituality and activism. Young adults work full-time in professional positions at community-based organizations addressing a wide range of issues, while living in a cooperative house and worshiping with, and being mentored by, local Quakers. Our guest speaker for the morning message that day will be Christina Repoley, founding executive director at QVS. Currently living in Atlanta, GA, Christina has a rich history of Quakerism and activism. She has carried the leading to create QVS for many years and is thrilled that it is finally coming into being. Christina will also be hosting an open house in our Parlor that day at 4pm. Please join us as we celebrate and learn more about this important program!

Friends in Action – “Let Your Life Speak” ~ All are invited to attend the Friends in Action conference on Thursday, May 10th at 6:00pm hosted by Iglesia Amigos. Come hear what Quakers are doing in these times of confusion. We will hear from our own Bob Henry about our grounding of social justice in scripture and in our Quaker tradition. We will hear from Brian Young and Lamont Hulse and their experience of defying power and also what Friends in Muncie are doing with Neighbors for Justice. We will also have delicious food and good fellowship. Held at Iglesia Amigos, 831 N. Edmondson Ave, Indianapolis, 46219. For more information, please call 317-719-5015.

FCNL Anniversary Celebration ~ Join the Friends Committee on National Legislation at Earlham College in Richmond on the weekend of May 11-13, 2018 for a 75th anniversary celebration. The theme will be “Returning to Our Roots” as they celebrate 75 years working for “the world we seek.” The events will begin at 1:30pm on Friday and will include various workshops, panels, receptions, luncheons, and speakers, including Indiana Senator Todd Young. To view the full schedule of events and to RSVP, please visit http://fcnl.org/richmond75. If you have questions, you can contact Anna McCormally at Anna@fcnl.org or (202) 903-2522.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Calling All Graduates! ~ As we do each year, we will be honoring our graduates next month on Sunday, May 20th. If you or someone in your family is graduating from high school or college, please notify the office so we may acknowledge them! office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.

Women at the Well ~ A gathering of women who ponder current issues and topics, where differing views are discussed, no decisions are made, and food and drinks are enjoyed. It will take place every fourth Thursday of the month, and our next gathering will be on Thursday, April 26, 7pm, at Cooper Still (917 Conner St, Noblesville). Join other women of First Friends and enjoy a wonderful night of conversation together.

MSPC’s Rummage Sale ~ All are invited to Meridian Street Preschool Co-op’s rummage sale, happening Saturday April 28th from 10am-2pm! It will be held just outside of our building. In case of rain, the sale will be moved to May 5th from 10am-2pm. We hope you will come to help support MSPC!

All are invited to join in the City Nature Challenge! This challenge, created by the March for Science, is an effort for cities to find and document as much urban nature as possible by challenging residents to become citizen scientists: Residents are asked to explore their area (backyard, playgrounds, parks, etc.) for plants and bugs/animals, document their findings (take a photo), and report them (via the iNaturalist website or app). The underlying objective of this event is to develop a new baseline of a city’s biodiversity and to monitor how exactly change is accelerating. The City Nature Challenge will be April 27-30, 2018 and will be undertaken in dozens of cities across the world this year, and Indianapolis will be one of those cities competing in this international event! For more information and to join the challenge, please visit https://sciencemarchind.org/events/cnc/. This event has the potential to the largest citizen science event in Hoosier history, so sign-up today and make history!

In the Footsteps of Jesus’ Pilgrimage ~ Please join us on Sunday, April 29th at 9:00am as we combine our Sunday School classes to view a presentation by our own Gary W. Come see a scripture-based tour of the highlights of Gary & Cheryll's eleven-day pilgrimage in Israel. Gary will present just a small portion of the things seen and the places walked on their Pilgrimage. We will see you there!

Free VOCE Concert! ~ VOCE and Friends presents A Concert of Favorite Opera Choruses. VOCE is a vocal group of which our own Carolyn T is a member. They will be putting on a free concert on Sunday, April 29th, 3:00pm at Marion University, 3200 Cold Springs Rd, Indianapolis, 46222. Their performance will feature works by Giacomo Puccini, Georges Bizet, Guiseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner, Henry Purcell, Charles Gounod, Douglas Moore and Leonard Bernstein. A free-will offering is appreciated. We hope to see you there!

A callout for some native shade tolerant plants! If you have some extra wild ginger, may apples, trillium, etc that you’d love to donate to the Woods, please bring them this Sunday or anytime it’s convenient. Don’t know what’s native? Check out the INPAWS.org website. We are trying to recreate a native habitat that will nurture our native birds and insects. Having native plants provides pollination for fruits and insects provide protein for any nesting birds. Drop Mary B a line if you have any questions.

Friends Education Fund is a Quaker college scholarship program for African American students. If you know of a student who might be interested in applying, please ask them to visit our website at www.indyfriends.org/friends-education-fund/. Completed applications should be emailed to FriendsEducationFund@indyfriends.org. Applications are being accepted through May 1st, 2018. The selected applicants will be celebrated later in June.

Worship in the Woods – Mark Your Calendars! Please note that our annual Worship in the Woods and picnic will be held Sunday, July 8. We will also hold a dedication of the new Mediational Woods path, in memory of Bob H. We hope you will join us on that day.

We are in need of volunteers for the Mid North Food Pantry! ~ Several of our “regulars” will not be able to volunteer at the food pantry on Wednesday May 2nd. If you are in town and available, please consider volunteering. The food pantry is located at 3333 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, and is open from 10am-2pm. You are welcome to stay the whole time or part of the time as you are able. Please contact the office with any questions at office@indyfriends.org. Thank you for your service!

Give us your stamps! The Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) stamp project is happy to accept used stamps of many types from all over the world. You can leave your stamp donations in the box in Fellowship Hall. Please note that while in the past we have accepted and sold collectibles in addition to stamps, we are now only able to process and sell stamps. In order for the stamps to be salable, please follow these guidelines:

USA stamps:
Cut or carefully tear the corner bearing the stamp(s) from the body of the envelope. If more than one stamp has been used for postage, remove the stamps as a group on the paper (do not remove separately). Leave a border of 1/8-1/4 inch around the stamp or group of stamps.

Especially desirable are:

Harry Potter or other popular culture stamps (television, movies, singers, comic books, etc.)
Stamps bearing values greater than 50 cents
Zazzle and personalized stamps

Please do not donate USA flag stamps, USA nonprofit stamps, or USA stamps from mail sent before 2000. These cannot be profitably sold.

Foreign stamps:
If the envelope is intact, leave the complete envelope, Otherwise, cut or carefully tear the corner bearing the stamp or group of stamps, leaving a 1/8-1/4 inch border.

Thank you for your support of this important ministry!

Spring Small Groups ~ Last Fall over 40 First Friends attenders and members gathered over 6 weeks at different times and locations to explore a book study and hold space for sharing parts of our spiritual autobiographies. It was a deeply enriching for those that were able to join! This Spring we have 1 more small group studies available to those that are able and interested in deepening their connections in a small group with Friends. Contact the office at office@indyfriends.org with your preferred time or sign up on Sundays just outside of the sanctuary when you're at worship. We ask that you commit to missing 2 or fewer sessions during the 5-6 week journeys together to build cohesive connection. Your presence is needed!

Exploring Your Spiritual Garden
Led by Linda L and Ed M
Location: Linda and Ed's home
Time: 6:30pm Wednesdays May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Instead of a book, we will have five focus questions: Examples might be: What nurtures your heart? How has forgiveness been important in your life? Has anger been helpful and when? What seeds do you want to grow more of?

Changing Footprints ~ We appreciate your donations of unneeded footwear for Changing Footprints. Please fill the container in Fellowship Hall in the Donation Station corner. Last year our Indy shoe room location gave more than 46,000 pairs to primarily Indy-area nonprofit organizations. We also helped hurricane victims in Texas and Puerto Rico! Thank you all for your support of this important ministry.

Help keep our kitchen clean! In an effort to keep our kitchen clean and pest-free, and to ensure the health of all of our congregation, please help us by keeping the following guidelines: If you leave food in the kitchen, please make sure it is labeled and properly dated, to ensure food is not kept longer than is safe. If you bring food to share during fellowship hour, please take leftovers home with you, as things left in the kitchen may not be served or discarded in a timely manner. We will occasionally clean out the fridge and dispose of anything not labeled or that is too old, so if you wish to keep anything, please take it home on a timely basis. Thank you!

"The Daughters of Z" Musical at Allisonville Christian ~ All are invited to "The Daughters of Z", a new musical based on 5 Sisters who are fighting for their inheritance at a time when such a thing was unthinkable. The musical is based on a short story of the same name from the book But God Remembered: Stories of Women from Creation to the Promised Land written by local Rabbi and writer Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Sometime near the end of the Exodus, the 5 daughters of Z (Zelophehad) defy the law and convention of the day to petition for their father’s inheritance and land. Performances will be April 27 at 7pm, April 28 at 2pm and 7pm, and April 29 at 2pm at Allisonville Christian Church, 7701 Allisonville Rd. Tickets are $10 per person, $25 per family, or $7 per person for groups of 10 or more. For more information, visit www.allisonville.org.

Broad Ripple Park Master Plan Open House ~ Broad Ripple Park is our closest public park. The City of Indianapolis and Indy Parks is continuing the process of developing a comprehensive Broad Ripple Park Master Plan with public open houses. This plan will guide future development and partnership opportunities in the park. There are two remaining public comment meetings to discuss future planning and development. The next meeting is May 2 from 6-8 pm at Broad Ripple High School Auditorium. For more information, please visithttps://www.broadripplepark.org/please-come-broad-ripple-park-to-get-master-plan/

Fix It: Healthcare at the Tipping Point ~ Why do we Americans pay the world’s highest health care costs that leaves many Americans vulnerable? An entrepreneurial businessman explores the high cost of coverage for his employees. Join us for a screening of the documentary film Fix It: Healthcare at the Tipping Point, and a discussion to follow. Our discussion will be led by Rob Stone, M.D., a palliative care physician and director of Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan. It will be held Thursday, May 3rd at 7PM in the Parlor. Please contact the office with any questions at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485. Co-sponsored by Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan and People of Faith for Access to Medicines.

Community Soup ~ Witness & Service will host the next Community Soup, Friday May 4th, from 5:30 pm – 7 pm. Please note that we have changed the date back to Friday instead of Thursday. Everyone is invited to this very informal dinner. If you’d like you’re welcome to bring a soup or salad but not necessary. Our motto is: No cooking, no cleanup, no cost! Hope to see you there.

Youth Group Sunday ~ Calling all youth! We will hold Youth Group after worship on Sunday, May 6 at 11:30, led by Aaron and Michelle T and Ben W. See you there!

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Friend to Friend April 18, 2018

April 19, 2018

As Way Opens

Mark 2:5-12 - When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” 12 And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

I have a dear friend with a terminal illness that I have been seeing on a regular basis. Last week I was in her kitchen and saw this colored cutout made by a child with the words, "Stand up, take your mat and walk". I have been reflecting on the many meanings of this scripture from Mark. This is the story of the faith and care of friends of a paralyzed man that bring him to see Jesus and are so determined to have an encounter with Jesus that they make a hole in the roof and lower their friend on a mat in the house. Jesus blesses the faith of these men and tells the lame man to stand up and walk. The religious authorities are questioning Jesus’ words and his claim to forgive sins. And Jesus promptly forgives their sins and tells the man to go home and he does.

I think Jesus is telling us that we have to participate in our faith and our life needs to be in and through God and that we are co-creators with God. We can’t just lay on our mats and say, help me God. We can’t wallow in our perceived limitations, disabilities and sorrows. We must be active, get involved and be fully alive in our faith. I also think Jesus is telling us that we need a community of faith to give us love, support and encouragement and in turn for us to be the hands and feet of God to others. I believe my friend has this cutout on her refrigerator to remind her every day that she is picking up her mat with God, and must keep standing and walking through this valley of the shadow of death.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

Congratulations to Chelsea and Kendal T for winning the state First Robotics competition! First Robotics is a worldwide competition that was started by Dean Kamen (of Segway fame). The idea is that high schoolers challenge themselves using science, creativity and hard work to build a competition robot. Each year teams work on fundraising and outreach before the competition goal is revealed in January. After 6 weeks of designing and building, thousands of teams compete to have their robots accomplish various tasks. 36 teams qualified for the State Competition based on their performance in local/district matches. Chelsea and Kendal’s team, the TechHOUNDS recently won at the state level and will be competing against about 400 other teams in the world event this month in Detroit. If you’d like to see more, visit their team’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/Team868. Congratulations Kendal and Chelsea, and good luck!

Welcome Jackie! Congratulations to Katie and Milton F. who are welcoming Jackie to their family. Katie says, “Baby Jackie came home from the NICU this weekend. Thank you so much for the support and prayers from everyone at First Friends. It was really a long road, but Jackie is doing well and we are so glad to have her here safe and sound. We are very grateful for all the wonderful, heartfelt care we have been given.” Congratulations to the family!

Jon and Ruthie T. left Indianapolis almost exactly one year ago today. They have just left their home in Iowa and are unpacking in their new home in Washington State. Contact the office if you'd like their new address.

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

AFSC’s Gaza Unlocked: Hearing in the Heartland is a special opportunity to learn more about the crisis in Gaza and connect with others working to end the blockade. The event is modeled after a congressional committee fact-finding hearing. You’ll hear from expert witnesses who will share seldom-heard stories from Gaza about the impacts of the blockade and raise critical questions about U.S. policies in the region. Hearing in the Heartland is free and open to the public. After the hearing, join us for a ticketed dinner and celebration of Palestinian culture, featuring food, music, dance, and poetry. We hope you will join us on Saturday, April 21st, 1-5pm at the Indianapolis Central Library, 40 E St. Clair St. For more information or to buy tickets for the dinner, visit http://gazaunlocked.org/heartland.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

The Ordinance Film Screening & Discussion (Rescheduled) ~ Join the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network, an initiative of Prosperity Indiana and the Indiana Institute for Working Families, for a screening of The Ordinance, a documentary that examines the payday and auto title loan industry while also following a small Texas town fighting for change. After the screening, members of a coalition of consumer advocates will lead a discussion about the film and answer attendees' questions about the payday industry in Indiana. Coalition members include Erin Macey, Indiana Institute for Working Families; Glen Tebbe, Indiana Catholic Conference; Bill Chapman, Indiana Friends Committee on Legislation; and Marie Morse, HomesteadCS. The event was postponed due to weather and will now be held Thursday, April 19 6:30-8:00pm at 1845 W. 18th St., Indianapolis. We hope to see you there!

Threshing at the Tap ~ In April, we are taking our "Threshing" to CHURCH - literally! Join us at St. Joseph Brewery and Public House. Saint Joseph Brewery and Public House was established in 2015, but the building that houses the restaurant and brewery has quite a history. In order to meet the demands of the growing population in the northeast section of Indianapolis, the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis established the parish of St. Joseph in 1873, at that time it was the fourth Catholic parish in Indianapolis. Today, the church is a brewery and public house! We will be meeting at St. Joseph’s (540 N College Ave, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202) on Thursday, April 19th at 7pm.

Threshing at the Tap: (def.) a gathering of men who mull over current issues or topics, where all points of view are heard, no decisions are made, and beverages and food are enjoyed.

Rise Up Singalong! The next Sing Along with Jim K and Dan H will be April 20th, the third Friday of the month, at 7:00 in the parlor. Those who have Rise Up Singing and Rise Again, please bring them. We are planning a song list ahead of time and will have enlarged copies of the selections for those who lack books. You are welcome to invite friends. We had sixteen singers in March for a delightful evening.

Recycling Event ~ The City of Lawrence has teamed up with Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana to host a Community Shred-It and Electronics Recycling Day on Saturday, April 21 from 10 am – 1 pm at the Lawrence Government Center, 9001 E. 59th St. A $5 per shredding box donation is requested to benefit Crime Stoppers. Recycling personal electronics is free, courtesy of Technology Recyclers. There will be a $10 fee for all TV/Computer monitors.

Education Training ~ The Christian Education Committee will be holding a training session on Sunday, April 22 from 11:30-1:15 in the Parlor. We will view a presentation by Julie Burk from the Indiana Autism Society on tips and strategies on how to teach kids on the autism spectrum as well as discussing our Sunday School and Children’s Worship curriculum. We will provide lunch and childcare for those with kids. Everyone who may be interested is invited. Since we have several children in our faith community that are on the spectrum, it could be very beneficial to attend this training so we are better equipped to provide a positive experience for all of our children. Please let the office know if you'd like to attend: office@indyfriends.org

College Care packages - It is time to send care packages to our college students as they prepare for their final exams at school. We will have boxes out this Sunday for you to fill with goodies like candy, cookies, cards, and other treats. Please bring enough for all 10 of our students. Any money donated will be used to purchase additional items for the boxes, and to also mail small gifts and cards to our Friends Education Fund (FEF) Scholarship recipients—29 additional students. We will be mailing them April 23rd so please bring everything in by this Sunday, April 22nd. Thank you for your support!

This Earth Day, April 22, 2018, we will celebrate the wonder of God’s creation. The earth where we live and breathe and have our being is a miracle of creation. According to Genesis we are not separate from the earth, but we have our origin out of the elements of the cosmos and we will return to that at the end of life.

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Gen 3:19

In his message on Easter morning, Pastor Bob shared about the role of the gardener in both the Old and New Testaments. He gave many illustrations of how gardening and earth care are essential parts of our spiritual and physical lives. When Mary Magdalene returns to the tomb on Easter morning, she mistakes Jesus for the gardener. The New Testament authors wanted to emphasize this connection between the simple acts of earth care and the resurrection. (You can listen to his message online at https://www.indyfriends.org/sunday-morning-messages/).

This month of April, you are invited to consider how you can take little steps to care for this amazing blue ball that exists within the magnificence of the heavens by remembering this credo: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The first step is to reduce the amount of waste that we create. Simple things like taking your own bags to carry home purchases, planning menus to reduce the amount of unused food or helping us at Meeting when we choose to use the tableware and dishes to decrease the amount of material we recycle. This week, what could be your one step to take to reduce waste?

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading: A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter will be held Tuesday, April 24 at 7 pm in the Parlor. Nancy S will be leading the discussion. If you'd like to read ahead for the May 29th discussion, the title is Truevine: Two Brothers, a Kidnapping, and a Mother's Quest: A True Story of the Jim Crow South by Beth Macy.

In the Footsteps of Jesus’ Pilgrimage ~ Please join us on Sunday, April 29th at 9:00am as we combine our Sunday School classes to view a presentation by our own Gary W. Come see a scripture-based tour of the highlights of Gary & Cheryll's eleven-day pilgrimage in Israel. Gary will present just a small portion of the things seen and the places walked on their Pilgrimage. We will see you there!

Especially desirable are:

Harry Potter or other popular culture stamps (television, movies, singers, comic books, etc.)
Stamps bearing values greater than 50 cents
Zazzle and personalized stamps

Please do not donate USA flag stamps, USA nonprofit stamps, or USA stamps from mail sent before 2000. These cannot be profitably sold.

Foreign stamps:
If the envelope is intact, leave the complete envelope, Otherwise, cut or carefully tear the corner bearing the stamp or group of stamps, leaving a 1/8-1/4 inch border.

Thank you for your support of this important ministry!

Reducing Electrical Consumption and our carbon footprint: Did you know that CFL and LED light bulbs use about 75% less electricity then incandescent bulbs? One of the environmental theme words for April is "reduce". We at First Friends Meeting are doing our best to reduce our use of electricity by changing out our incandescent and CFL light bulbs for LED bulbs. In doing so we reduce our carbon footprint by 100lbs. of CO2 per light bulb in addition to reducing our electricity bill. We are almost complete with the change out which is ongoing throughout the building. We are not using CFLs because they do contain mercury and must be disposed of properly so as not to pollute the environment. If you bring your used CFL bulbs to the recycle are in Fellowship Hall and put them in the bin we will take them to one of the city's Tox Drop sites.

Now a word about batteries. Be aware that non-rechargeable batteries are not recyclable. They are considered toxic waste and we take them to one of the Tox Drop sites where they are disposed of by the city. You may bring them to the meeting house and we will take care of them for you.

Exploring Your Spiritual Garden
Led by Linda L and Ed M
Location: Linda and Ed's home
Time: 6:30pm Wednesdays May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Instead of a book, we will have five focus questions: Examples might be: What nurtures your heart? How has forgiveness been important in your life? Has anger been helpful and when? What seeds do you want to grow more of?

"The Daughters of Z" Musical at Allisonville Christian ~ All are invited to "The Daughters of Z", a new musical based on 5 Sisters who are fighting for their inheritance at a time when such a thing was unthinkable. The musical is based on a short story of the same name from the book But God Remembered: Stories of Women from Creation to the Promised Land written by local Rabbi and writer Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Sometime near the end of the Exodus, the 5 daughters of Z (Zelophehad) defy the law and convention of the day to petition for their father’s inheritance and land. The story has been adapted for the stage by Indiana writer Georgeanna Smith and set to music by local composer Stephanie Caress. Performances will be April 27 at 7pm, April 28 at 2pm and 7pm, and April 29 at 2pm at Allisonville Christian Church, 7701 Allisonville Rd. Tickets are $10 per person, $25 per family, or $7 per person for groups of 10 or more. For more information, visit www.allisonville.org.

We are in need of volunteers for the Mid North Food Pantry! ~ Several of our “regulars” will not be able to volunteer at the food pantry on Wednesday May 2nd. If you are in town and available, please consider volunteering. The food pantry is located at 3333 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, and is open from 10am-2pm. You are welcome to stay the whole time or part of the time as you are able. Please contact the office if you have any questions at office@indyfriends.org. Thank you for your service!

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Friend to Friend April 11, 2018

April 12, 2018

As Way Opens

For several weeks now, I have been slowly digesting the internationally renowned art dealer, Michael Findlay’s latest book, Seeing Slowly: Looking at Modern Art. I am sure I was drawn to the title because of its Quaker-like focus on taking it slow. Also, as one who has seen the benefits of the Slow Food, Money, and Church movements, I was hoping it would offer an exploration into a Slow Art movement. In his introductory section called, Peeling the Onion, Findlay briefly talks about how viewing art has changed in our day, by explaining;

“We collect experiences rather than engage in them, as demonstrated by our widespread use of cameras in museums and galleries. We glance at a work of art, tell ourselves it is so compelling that we want to remember it, and immediately capture its image digitally. Ironically, what we experience is capturing the image, not actually seeing the work, and often the experience of taking the picture is all we remember.”

This week I was helping our ministry team look for a specific photo to go on one of our bulletin boards at the meetinghouse. As I began looking through the photos on my phone, I quickly realized that I was able to put together a fairly complete timeline of all I had experienced at First Friends since arriving 9 months ago. The same was true of the photos of my life since 2007 on Facebook and 2011 on Instagram. As one who enjoys the art of photography and the spontaneity of taking selfies, I realized I had become a collector of experiences in digital images for the past 11 years. I had to ask myself,

“Am I just a collector or was I truly seeing and engaged?”

I wonder how many of us, if we really took time to reflect would find ourselves just “collectors” in many areas of life. Allow yourself this week to see slowly, don’t quickly capture the photo (mental or digital) and move on. Find opportunities to linger, reflect, slow down, and engage, and you may find yourself remembering a greater experience than just taking that photo.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Many thanks to our food pantry volunteers! We had a couple of new individuals help at the pantry. We needed them as we helped 99 families. Our volunteers were: Ray G; Dan H; Dan R; Phil G; Linda L; Phil K; Lewis and Bob H; Beth F; Carol and Jim D. Thanks to all!

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Eco-Film: The Breakthrough in Renewable Energy ~ Join us right here at First Friends Meeting for the April Eco-Film! It will be held Friday, April 13 at 7:00pm in the Parlor. Clean energy is becoming less exotic and more practical than ever before thanks to the efforts of a few key countries. Collectively, they're greasing the wheels for a worldwide revolution. The Breakthrough in Renewable Energy, a new documentary produced by the acclaimed VPRO Backlight series, takes us inside the corporate offices and production lines where this groundbreaking work is being done, and examines what it could mean for the future of energy consumption on Earth.

USA stamps:
Cut or carefully tear the corner bearing the stamp(s) from the body of the envelope. If more than one stamp has been used for postage, remove the stamps as a group on the paper (do not remove separately). Leave a border of 1/8-1/4 inch around the stamp or group of stamps.

Especially desirable are:

·         Harry Potter or other popular culture stamps (television, movies, singers, comic books, etc.)
·         Stamps bearing values greater than 50 cents
·         Zazzle and personalized stamps

Please do not donate USA flag stamps, USA nonprofit stamps, or USA stamps from mail sent before 2000. These cannot be profitably sold.

Foreign stamps:
If the envelope is intact, leave the complete envelope, Otherwise, cut or carefully tear the corner bearing the stamp or group of stamps, leaving a 1/8-1/4 inch border.

Thank you for your support of this important ministry!

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for April
Fox Sparrow
“This bird was a surprise for me. It literally took my breath away as I gasped, ‘It’s a Fox Sparrow!’ The truth is I had just walked several miles in a couple of Carmel parks, but I had an errand that would take me near the meetinghouse. So I arrived in mid-day (not the best time for birds singing), and expected only a few common species.

“This visitor comes through Indiana in March and April on its way up to northern Ontario to nest. It has a wonderfully bold song, although this one did not sing; perhaps it was a female. I first noticed it when the traffic on Kessler ceased for a moment, and I heard scratchings in the leaves on the ground. Only a few bird species find food this way: Jump forward and scratch backward with both feet at the same time. I knew it had to be one of those! The bold red streaking and other red markings is what really grabs one’s attention. The bird was near the far northeast corner of the woods.

“I have noticed that occasionally when I am tired and expecting very little from a situation, God surprises me in a quiet moment with an unexpected treat, even a colorful avian visitor passing through, pausing for lunch in our Meditational Woods.” ~Brad J

Spring Small Groups ~ Last Fall over 40 First Friends attenders and members gathered over 6 weeks at different times and locations to explore a book study and hold space for sharing parts of our spiritual autobiographies. It was a deeply enriching for those that were able to join! This Spring we have 2 more small group studies available to those that are able and interested in deepening their connections in a small group with Friends. Contact the office at office@indyfriends.org with your preferred time or sign up on Sundays just outside of the sanctuary when you're at worship. We ask that you commit to missing 2 or fewer sessions during the 5-6 week journeys together to build cohesive connection. Your presence is needed!

Braving the Wilderness
Led by Deb S and Bill H
Location: Deb's home
Time: 7:00pm Mondays April 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21
Book study: Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown

We are in need of volunteers for the Mid North Food Pantry! ~ Several of our “regulars” will not be able to volunteer at the food pantry on Wednesdays April 18th and May 2nd. If you are in town and available during any of these dates, please consider volunteering. The food pantry is located at 3333 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, and is open from 10am-2pm. You are welcome to stay the whole time or part of the time as you are able. Thank you for your service!

From the Creation Care Team: As you may know, we at First Friends are doing our best to be good stewards of the creation that God has given us. In the realm of environmental sustainability little things can make a big difference. We have done away with Styrofoam containers and we are encouraging everyone to use our reusable coffee cups instead of paper as much as possible. We continue to use recyclable plastic for cold drinks and sometimes plastic dishes for special occasions. What we have not been doing so well is recycling our plastic containers. If you drink from one of our plastic cups we would like for you to put them in the GREEN RECYCLE CONTAINER that you will find near the serving area in Fellowship Hall. Drinking cups should be empty and if you are using a plastic container for food shake or wipe it off before putting it in the recycle container. Please DO NOT put plastic containers in the trash can unless you are absolutely sure it is non-recyclable. Thank you all!

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Gen 3:19

Threshing at the Tap: (def.) a gathering of men who mull over current issues or topics, where all points of view are heard, no decisions are made, and beverages and food are enjoyed.

Recycling Event ~ The City of Lawrence has teamed up with Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana to host a Community Shred-It and Electronics Recycling Day on Saturday, April 21 from 10 am – 1 pm at the Lawrence Government Center, 9001 E. 59th St. A $5 per shredding box donation is requested to benefit Crime Stoppers. Recycling personnel electronics is free, courtesy of Technology Recyclers. There will be a $10 fee for all TV/Computer monitors.

"The Daughters of Z" Musical at Allisonville Christian ~ All are invited to "The Daughters of Z", a new musical based on 5 Sisters who are fighting for their inheritance at a time when such a thing was unthinkable. The musical is based on a short story of the same name from the book But God Remembered: Stories of Women from Creation to the Promised Land written by local Rabbi and writer Sandy Eisenberg Sasso. Sometime near the end of the Exodus, the 5 daughters of Z (Zelophehad) defy the law and convention of the day to petition for their father’s inheritance and land. The story has been adapted for the stage by Indiana writer Georgeanna Smith and set to music by local composer Stephanie Caress. Performances will be April 27 at 7pm, April 28 at 2pm and 7pm, and April 29 at 2pm at Allisonville Christian Church, 7701 Allisonville Rd. Tickets are $10 per person, $25 per family, or $7 per person for groups of 10 or more. For more information, visit www.allisonville.org.

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Friend to Friend April 4 2018

April 5, 2018

As Way Opens

I had a great awareness of Jesus’ suffering last week, starting from his entrance into Jerusalem, the betrayals, the rejections, pain, torture and the cross. I reflected on how Jesus could possibly continue to offer grace and love throughout all that he was experiencing. I think I was preoccupied with this because it was a tough week for me. I spent time with a dear friend with a terminal illness, lost a dear friend to Alzheimer's (and relived my husband Jerry’s loss two years ago to the same disease), and struggled in a couple of important personal relationships to me. Yet I felt Jesus along side of me all week experiencing his own suffering of the passion week. There is such comfort in knowing that Jesus understands my pain through his own experience of suffering. Dan Rains sent me a quote from Martin Luther King Jr that said, “One must learn to make the transition from “let this cup pass from me” to “nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done.” And God grant that as you face life with all of its decisions--as you face the bitter cup which you will inevitably face from day to day--God grant that you will learn this one thing and that is to make the transition from “this cup” to “nevertheless”….This, you see, is the thing that determines whether you go through life devoted to an eternal cause or whether you go through life depending on your own finite answers, which really turn out to be no answers. This is the thing that determines whether you can rise out of your egocentric predicament to devotion to a higher cause. This is what Jesus was able to do and this is the lesson that he presents to us today.

I needed Easter this past Sunday. The promise of hope and resurrection. The path of Jesus that triumphs over death. The knowledge that the cross was not the end of the story. The idea that Jesus as my gardener that tends to me and cares for me through my own struggles and rebirth to a greater spiritual awakening. Throughout the morning of beautiful flowers, children’s laughter and smiles, songs, words, and sermon - my heart was overflowing with a sense of optimism of the future and my part in that future that contrasted so much with my heavy heart of last week. This is the story of Easter.

Beth

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

IFCL Legislative Update -- Indiana Friends Committee on Legislation has been hard at work at the Statehouse, attempting to translate the social concerns of Friends into legislative action. Here are summaries of legislation that received particular focus from IFCL this past session: http://www.quakerifcl.org/legislative-issues/2018-ifcl-legislative-summary/ Following each bill is a notation indicating whether IFCL supposed or opposed, and current status.

IFCL had notable victories in stopping two predatory lending bills (HB 1319 and SB 420); expanding mental healthcare access (HB 1007) and funding for community mental health centers (HB 1141); resourcing suspected victims of human trafficking (HB 1191); and incremental progress towards eventual redistricting reform (SB 326) and a meaningful hate crimes bill (SB 418), among others. The breadth of accomplishments that will have a real-world impact is what separates IFCL from other lobbying organizations.

Many of the bills that did not become law this year will likely resurface in the future, for example HB 1022, which would have repealed the current law that requires a person to obtain a license to carry a handgun in Indiana, and SB 33 regarding firearms in houses of worship (both opposed by IFCL). In light of the recent March for Our Lives and Pastor Bob’s message this past Sunday, now is a great time for Friends, through IFCL, to have a direct impact on how their elected representatives address vital issues of statewide and national importance. To echo the call and response during the March for Our Lives rally at the Statehouse -- "What does democracy look like?" "THIS is what democracy looks like!" -- your involvement with IFCL can be what democracy looks like. If you are interested in relating our Quaker testimonies to the shaping of responsible decisions by our state government, please reach out to Ed Morris at emorri@earthlink.net or (317) 691-5542 or Phil Goodchild at goodch713@aol.com or (317) 790-9054, or visit the IFCL website at www.quakerifcl.org.

AFSC’s Gaza Unlocked: Hearing in the Heartland is a special opportunity to learn more about the crisis in Gaza and connect with others working to end the blockade. The event is modeled after a congressional committee fact-finding hearing. You’ll hear from expert witnesses who will share seldom-heard stories from Gaza about the impacts of the blockade and raise critical questions about U.S. policies in the region. Hearing in the Heartland is free and open to the public. After the hearing, join us for a ticketed dinner and celebration of Palestinian culture, featuring food, music, dance, and poetry. We hope you will join us on Saturday, April 21st, 1-5pm at the Indianapolis Central Library, 40 E St. Clair St. For more information or to buy tickets for the dinner, visit http://gazaunlocked.org/heartland.

Save the Date: FCNL Anniversary Celebration ~ Join the Friends Committee on National Legislation at Earlham College in Richmond on the afternoon of Saturday, May 12, 2018 for a 75th anniversary celebration. The theme will be “Returning to Our Roots” as the celebrate 75 years working for the world we seek. We will share more information as it becomes available. If you have questions, you can contact Anna McCormally at Anna@fcnl.org or (202) 903-2522.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Spring Wildflower Hike ~ Join our very own Norma Wallman, author of Wildflowers of Holliday Park, for a leisurely spring hike at Holliday Park to see what’s blooming. It will be held at the park at 6363 Spring Mill Road this Saturday, April 7 from 10-11:30am. Norma began personally documenting wildflowers on walks and has now collected 20 years of data specific to the flowers of Holliday Park. Ages 16+. Call 317-327-7180 for reservations. Tickets are $7/person, pre-registration is required. For more information, visit https://www.hollidaypark.org.

Youth Group this Sunday ~ Calling all youth! We will hold Youth Group after worship this Sunday, April 8 at 11:30, led by Aaron and Michelle T and Ben W. See you there!

Friends Education Fund is a Quaker college scholarship program for African American students. If you know of a student who might be interested in applying, please ask them to visit our website at www.indyfriends.org/friends-education-fund/. Completed applications should be emailed to FriendsEducationFund@indyfriends.org. Applications are being accepted through May 1st, 2017. The selected applicants will be celebrated later in June.

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for April: Fox Sparrow

“This bird was a surprise for me. It literally took my breath away as I gasped, ‘It’s a Fox Sparrow!’ The truth is I had just walked several miles in a couple of Carmel parks, but I had an errand that would take me near the meetinghouse. So I arrived in mid-day (not the best time for birds singing), and expected only a few common species.

Spring Small Groups ~ Last Fall over 40 First Friends attenders and members gathered over 6 weeks at different times and locations to explore a book study and hold space for sharing parts of our spiritual autobiographies. It was a deeply enriching for those that were able to join! This Spring we have 2 more small group studies available to those that are able and interested in deepening their connections in a small group with Friends. Contact the office at office@indyfriends.org with your preferred time or sign up on Sundays just outside of the sanctuary when you're at worship. We ask that you commit to missing 2 or fewer sessions during the 5-6 week journeys together to build cohesive connection. Your presence is needed!

Braving the Wilderness
Led by Deb S and Bill H
Location: Deb's home (N side behind Walmart on Keystone)
Time: 7:00pm Mondays April 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21
Book study: Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown

By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Gen 3:19

Support our Ministries with Automatic Donations ~ We welcome any Friends that would like to set up their contribution as an automatic debit. This can be helpful for folks that don’t have checks and don’t want to have to remember to bring a checkbook to the Meeting. In order to do this, you will first need to contact your bank (in person or via the website) and set up online automatic payments (also commonly called “Bill Pay”). Once that is set up, you can add First Friends as a payee by typing our name and address into the system, and choosing how much you’d like to contribute, and how frequently. Your bank will automatically send a check to us at the specified frequency. After it’s set up you don’t have to do anything else! We are grateful for everyone’s continued support of ministries here at First Friends.

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Friend to Friend March 28, 2018

March 28, 2018

As Way Opens

For many this week is Holy Week. That means by Sunday morning we will be hearing a great deal about resurrection. There will be talk of a tomb, a stone being rolled away, and new life emerging. Yet, for people unaffiliated with the church or somewhat skeptical, the resurrection story of Jesus is simply a great myth or a fairy tale with a grand ending, and that’s about all. If the life of this radical rabbi from the Middle East, who our entire religious movement is named for, is going to have any lasting impact on our current lives, we must continue to learn how to see resurrection in our present condition not just as something that happened 2000+ years ago.

Throughout my spiritual life, I have had many people ask me if I believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Most were the theological privileged trying to question my faith and see if I was a “true believer” or at least made from their same mold. Often my affirming answers would trail long, and I enjoyed firing challenging questions back at those asking. I think in my mind I was always trying to find a way to answer the question that made sense both when I thought about it and actually said it.

Then in 2009, I attended the “Poets, Prophets and Preachers” conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. One of the main speakers for this event was writer, philosopher, storyteller and public speaker, Peter Rollins. Rollins, who is from Belfast, was just hitting American audiences at this time. His controversial message, as his website indicates, “sets aside questions regarding life after death to explore the possibility of life before death.”

As Rollins closed his last session, he caught the audience off guard when he said the following,

“Without equivocation or hesitation, I fully and completely admit that I deny the resurrection of Christ. This is something that anyone who knows me could tell you, and I am not afraid to say it publicly, no matter what some people may think…”

Briefly we all sat in shock with Rollins’ boldness, but before people had a chance to protest or leave the gathering, he continued.

“I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I do not serve at the feet of the oppressed, each day that I turn my back on the poor; I deny the resurrection of Christ when I close my ears to the cries of the downtrodden and lend my support to an unjust and corrupt system.

However there are moments when I affirm that resurrection, few and far between as they are. I affirm it when I stand up for those who are forced to live on their knees, when I speak for those who have had their tongues torn out, when I cry for those who have no more tears left to shed.”

Rollins’ explanation left me weeping and changed. For the first time, I truly knew what the resurrection of Jesus meant and the impact it has on our world. May the resurrection of Jesus impact your world in the same way this week.

Easter Blessings,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

We had a great turn out for the March for our Lives in Indy last Saturday! Thousands of people came out to show their support, despite the snow. Some of us and our signs even made it onto local and national news! We also had a chance to meet Senator Joe Donnelly. Thanks to all who braved the weather and came to represent First Friends!

Last Sunday we celebrated Palm Sunday with our traditional “Hosanna” while our kids danced in with palm branches. Thanks to Kathy R for capturing these wonderful shots of our Meeting for Worship!

Youth group had a great time last Friday evening at SkyZone Trampoline Park. We had 16 jumpers as well as several of us adults enjoying the action from comfortable chairs in the lobby. Upcoming events include helping in the woods this Saturday morning, youth group with Aaron and Michelle T and Ben W on April 8th and a trip to Connor Prairie for the Follow the North Start experience on April 20th. Please let Beth H know if your youth (6th - 12th grade) would like to join us.

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Many of the bills that did not become law this year will likely resurface in the future, for example HB 1022, which would have repealed the current law that requires a person to obtain a license to carry a handgun in Indiana, and SB 33 regarding firearms in houses of worship (both opposed by IFCL). In light of the recent March for Our Lives and Pastor Bob’s message this past Sunday, now is a great time for Friends, through IFCL, to have a direct impact on how their elected representatives address vital issues of statewide and national importance. To echo the call and response during the March for Our Lives rally at the Statehouse -- "What does democracy look like?" "THIS is what democracy looks like!" -- your involvement with IFCL can be what democracy looks like. If you are interested in relating our Quaker testimonies to the shaping of responsible decisions by our state government, please reach out to the office at office@indyfriends.org, or visit the IFCL website at www.quakerifcl.org.

AFSC’s Gaza Unlocked: Hearing in the Heartland is a special opportunity to learn more about the crisis in Gaza and connect with others working to end the blockade. The event is modeled after a congressional committee fact-finding hearing. You’ll hear from expert witnesses who will share seldom-heard stories from Gaza about the impacts of the blockade and raise critical questions about U.S. policies in the region. Hearing in the Heartland is free and open to the public. After the hearing, join us for a ticketed dinner and celebration of Palestinian culture, featuring food, music, dance, and poetry. We hope you will join us on Saturday, April 21st, 1-5pm at the Indianapolis Central Library, 40 E St. Clair St. For more information or to buy tickets for the dinner, visit http://gazaunlocked.org/heartland.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Join us for our Easter Celebrations!
Sunday, April 1st
10:15 Meeting for Worship
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt after the Children’s Message
Easter Brunch following Worship

Spring Cleaning in the Woods: Put on your work gloves and join us in the Woods this Saturday, March 31 @ 9 AM! We will freshen up the Woods for Spring! One team will cut back the switch grass, others will weed around the fountain area and others will pull out some more of that invasive honeysuckle. Our Woods is becoming a haven for local and migrating birds. Come enjoy the fellowship of working with others to care for creation. If you have questions: email office@indyfriends.org. Our next Woods work day will by May 19th, so mark your calendars!

Garden Plots ~ Spring time is around the corner and the community garden is gearing up! Please reach out to the office at office@indyfriends.org if you are interested in having a garden box and participating in the organic community garden. Fresh produce and flowers are calling your name!

The Ordinance Film Screening & Discussion ~ Join the Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network, an initiative of Prosperity Indiana and the Indiana Institute for Working Families, for a screening of The Ordinance, a documentary that examines the payday and auto title loan industry while also following a small Texas town fighting for change. After the screening, members of a coalition of consumer advocates will lead a discussion about the film and answer attendees' questions about the payday industry in Indiana. Coalition members include Erin Macey, Indiana Institute for Working Families; Glen Tebbe, Indiana Catholic Conference; Bill Chapman, Indiana Friends Committee on Legislation; and Marie Morse, HomesteadCS. The event will be held Tuesday, April 3 6:30-8:00pm at 1845 W. 18th St., Indianapolis.

We are in need of volunteers for the Mid North Food Pantry! ~ Several of our “regulars” will not be able to volunteer at the food pantry on Wednesdays April 4th and 18th and May 2nd. If you are in town and available during any of these dates, please consider volunteering. The food pantry is located at 3333 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, and is open from 10am-2pm. You are welcome to stay the whole time or part of the time as you are able. Please contact the office if you have any questions at office@indyfriends.org. Thank you for your service!

Financial Education Class ~ Join us this spring, Thursday, April 5th for the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class! Want to learn how to better handle your money, budget, and dump debt? Then this is the class for you! The class will be hosted by Sam R and her sister. This class has made a HUGE impact on her life and her financial plan for the future and can do the same for you! Click here to sign up or copy and paste the link below. Also, you're welcome to contact the office if you have any questions at office@indyfriends.org. This will be a 9-week class held at East Tenth United Methodist Church, 2327 E 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46201.
https://www.fpucentral.com/classes/1061655/registration

Rise Up Singalong! The next Sing Along with Jim K and Dan H will be April 20th, the third Friday of the month, at 7:00 in the parlor. Those who have Rise Up Singing and Rise Again, please bring them. We are planning a song list ahead of time and will have enlarged copies of the selections for those who lack books. You are welcome to invite friends. We had sixteen singers in March for a delightful evening.

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Friend to Friend March 21, 2018

March 22, 2018

As Way Opens

I am reading a book called A People’s History of Christianity - The Other Side of the Story by Diana Butler Bass for my class at ESR. She examines the question that many outside the Christian faith ask - I don’t have a problem with Jesus, but what happened after Jesus? How did our Christian faith and tradition develop after Jesus? What did that early faith community look like when it was being persecuted by the Romans? And how did Christianity change after Constantine declared Christianity the official state religion in the Roman Empire in 380 AD?

The Bible is the most important book in my life and because of that I invest the time and effort to study and wrestle with the Scriptures. The words of the early Christian leader Origen of Alexandria (184-253 AD) speaks to my condition in studying the Bible. He felt that the study of the Bible and the spiritual practice of prayer were intertwined. And he searched for the "wisdom hidden" under the literal words.

In that context, the more I study the life of Jesus in the Bible, the more aware I am of how radical his call is to us and how difficult this call is to embrace in our world today. Jesus didn’t come to set up a new religion but to transform Judaism. Jesus wasn’t interested in setting up doctrinal and faith statements to establish a new movement called Christianity and to provide the guidance to set up its hierarchical structure (which is often how the Bible is used in modern Christianity). Jesus proposed a new way of life for people living in a chaotic world in the Roman Empire. Jesus’ entire ministry was about transformation of the heart to a way of love, non-violence, acceptance, equality, humility, community and sacrifice. And the early Christian community embraced this message of Jesus as these early Christians were called the "People of the Way”. I like the quote from one of the early Christian defenders, Justin Martyr (100-165 AD) “We who formerly…valued above all things the acquisition of wealth and possession, now bring what we have into a common stock, and communicate to everyone in need; we who hated and destroyed one another, and on account of their different manners would not live with men of a different tribe, now, since the coming of Christ, live familiarly with them, and pray for our enemies.” This was the beginning of Christianity and these early Christians were willing to lose their life not for a belief system but for a new way of living. How has our 21st century Christianity come so far from this original idea? Are we reading the Bible more to determine our theological positions on doctrine and less on the passion, energy and zeal for living in the way of Jesus? Has Christianity become too aligned with power and position and seeks purity of belief versus acceptance and embrace of all?

Bass highlights a term of generative Christianity that does not reject tradition but can find new discoveries in the early Christian church around meaningful spiritual practices and social justice. A re-emerging Christianity that is not new but has always been the beating heart of Christian history. She says that “Whereas militant Christianity triumphs over all, generative Christianity transforms the world through humble service to all. It is not about victory; it is about following Christ in order to seed human community with grace.” In these troubled times in our world, I am hopeful for renewal of the People of the Way that take Jesus and the Bible seriously in how we are to transform our community. That is the challenge for each of us individually as well as collectively in our faith communities.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

This past Saturday, a few friends gathered at Coburn Place to set up an apartment for a new resident that will be moving in soon. We went shopping in the furniture store and pantry in the basement for all the decorations and kitchen wares. We cleaned the apartment first and then began decorating. It was fun picking out furniture, bedding and dishes for this new resident. Coburn Place is the only transitional housing available in the state for victims of domestic abuse who are homeless. The residents are allowed to stay there up to two years rent free while getting their lives back on track. First Friends has supported this mission for several years now by donating items and for the past two years we have purchased an apartment. Thanks to Jim and Carol D, Amy P, Kathy and Bill F, Rebecca L, and Jody L for all of your help. If you would like more information about Coburn Place, please visit www.coburnplace.org.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

We hope to see you this coming Palm Sunday at Meeting for Worship. Beth Henricks will also be selling chocolate, coffee, tea, and olive oil to support youth group.

Women at the Well – Discussion for Women ~ For several months now, the women of First Friends have been asking for their own Threshing at the Tap. We are proud to introduce Women at the Well- a gathering of women who ponder current issues and topics, where differing views are discussed, no decisions are made, and food and drinks are enjoyed. It will take place every fourth Thursday of the month, and our next gathering will be on Thursday, March 22, 7pm, at Flatwater (832 E Westfield Blvd, Indianapolis). Join other women of First Friends and enjoy a wonderful night of conversation together.

March For Our Lives Gun Violence Rally ~ Come and join us for a local Rally for Hoosiers Concerned about Gun Violence this Saturday, March 24. This is a rally in support of the fight against gun violence in our state and our country, being held nationwide. This event is led by youth and students. The event in Indianapolis will start at 11:00 a.m. at the Indiana Statehouse. If you’d like to carpool with us, meet at the Meeting at 9:45 a.m. Please visit https://marchforourlives.com/ for more information.

The Absurd Cross: Escaping the Tyranny of Certainty & Satisfaction ~ See Peter Rollins and GraceUnlimited at Christian Theological Seminary (1000 West 42nd Street) on Saturday, March 24, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. At any moment we might be undone by the feeling that this world is absurd. In response, we shore up all manner of religious defenses that promise to keep the void at bay. In contrast, Peter Rollins argues that there is a religionless heart to Christianity that overturns the tables of meaning, clears out the temples of tidy answers and drives out the sellers of certainty. We will hear a gospel with the incendiary ability to break down our defenses against the abyss, so that we might confront it face to face. Join Rollins and GraceUnlimited as they sensitize themselves to the scandal of this gospel message—a message that promises personal and political transformation only when we embrace a life beyond meaning, beyond certainty and beyond satisfaction, a life freed from the frenetic pursuit of wholeness, and from all the demons hidden along that path. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://goo.gl/MvxTN1.

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading: Turtles All The Way Down by John Green will be held Tuesday, March 27th at 7 pm in the Parlor. All are welcome! Cindy K will be leading the discussion. If you'd like to read ahead for next month, the April 24th title will be: A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter

Spring Cleaning in the Woods: Put on your work gloves and join us in the Woods on March 31, 2018 @ 9 AM! We will freshen up the Woods for Spring! One team will cut back the switch grass, others will weed around the fountain area and others will pull out some more of that darn invasive honeysuckle. Our Woods is becoming a haven for local and migrating birds. (See Brad Jackson’s birding observations). Come enjoy the fellowship of working with others to care for creation. If you have questions: email Mindy- mcs16zoom@gmail.com or Mary- mary.blackburn4@gmail.com. Our next Woods work day will by May 19th, so mark your calendars!

Join us for our Easter Celebrations!
Sunday, April 1st
10:15 Meeting for Worship
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt after the Children’s Message
Easter Brunch following Worship

Help a Nurse Practitioner ~ Janice H is a First Friends attender working at Hawthorne Community Center and is trying to help a lovely Chinese-American client named Sophie find a primary care physician office or similar setting for her family nurse practitioner preceptorship. This is her capstone practicum and she has lots of prior clinical experience and has worked the last seven years in out-patient surgery at IU Health. She has a BSN from Purdue. The doctor who has supervised her prior clinicals is on maternity leave. Her university (Chamberlain) leaves it up to the student to arrange her practicum and her employer has not provided any leads that were fruitful. The requirements of the supervisor are minimal: 1) a 5 min. online evaluation of the student at four weeks and end of practicum (eight weeks). 2) Completion of 125 HOURS of clinical experience with primary care patients, preferably between April 30 and June 20, 2018. Preceptor can be an MD, NP, or PA. If you can help or even provide a referral to someone who might be willing to help, please contact Janice at jhise@hawthornecenter.org or 317-443-6458 or leave a message at work: 317-637-4312 X 125 and she will call back.

Financial Education Class ~ Join us this spring, Thursday, April 5th for the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class! Want to learn how to better handle your money, budget, and dump debt? Then this is the class for you! The class will be hosted by Sam R and her sister. This class has made a HUGE impact on the her life and her financial plan for the future and can do the same for you! Click here to sign up or copy and paste the link below. Also, you're welcome to contact the office if you have any questions at office@indyfriends.org. This will be a 9 week class held at East Tenth United Methodist Church, 2327 E 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46201.
https://www.fpucentral.com/classes/1061655/registration

AVP Annual National Gathering ~ All are invited to join the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) annual conference held this year at Earlham College in Richmond. It will be on Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28. If you’re interested in registering, please visit https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=2022849. In an attempt to bring their work to high school students, AVP is also trying to raise funds to help send some of their students to the conference as well. They have included in the program a youth panel discussion which their students will participate with youth from AVP programs in New Jersey and New York. They have invited the Peace Learning Center to be a part of this as well. This is an exciting opportunity for the students. It costs $100 to send one high school student to the entire weekend conference where they will have the opportunity to meet and learn from experienced AVP facilitators from across the country. If you’re interested in donating, please visit https://avpindiana.org/.

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Friend to Friend March 14, 2018

March 15, 2018

As Way Opens

Theologian Walter Wink once wrote, “Violence is the ethos of our times. It is the spirituality of the modern world.” Sadly, I am starting to believe this more and more as I listen to my children speak casually of lock-downs drills, live-shooter-evacuation plans, “Run, Hide, Fight” directives, and their growing fear of “When will it happen at my school?”

I was stilled on Tuesday as I watched a slow-motion video of seven thousand pairs of empty shoes which were placed on the lawn outside the US Capitol to represent every child killed with a gun since the Sandy Hook Massacre. It’s hard to believe that April 20th is the 20-year anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado. Where have these 20 years gone? What have we done to stop this violence? What horrific atrocities we’ve endured.

To even think that our children have to take up the cause and plan a National Walkout Day (March 14) to try and get the attention of politicians, school administrators, and the national public, is beyond comprehension.

As well, it is bewildering to consider the fact that my family and I believe it to be a priority to spend our “family day” next Saturday at the March for Our Lives (from 11am-2pm at the Indiana Statehouse). We will be joining other children, youth, teachers, colleagues, and families as we together take to the streets of Indianapolis (and cities all across our country) demanding that our lives and safety become a priority, and that we end gun violence in our schools and communities.

Sadly, gun violence and mass shootings are only one manifestation of the violence that is permeating our lives and world. Quaker Parker J. Palmer wrote:

“Violence is done when parents insult children, when teachers demean students, when supervisors treat employees as disposable means to economic ends, when physicians treat patients as objects, when people condemn gays and lesbians ‘in the name of God,’ when racists live by the belief that people with a different skin color are less than human.”

Is it any wonder why violence has spiraled out of control? It is evident at so many levels.

Sadly, for most people, nonviolence does not come naturally. The seeds of nonviolence are planted deep within each of us. I believe it is far time we began cultivating and nurturing those seeds, whether that is marching with our children or simply treating our neighbors kindly. If we are going to reverse our current condition and create an ethos of peace, we must be willing to develop and hone our skills to promote nonviolence. Even though our daily actions may not make the evening news, living out our Quaker values in our homes, workplaces, and schools is the way we begin to create an ethos of peace. It is in the daily where change begins.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

A Big Thank-You to our food pantry volunteers last week: Phil K, Ray G, Christie M, Beth S, Bill and Kathy F, Carol and Jim D. Thank you for your service!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Youth Group this Sunday ~ Calling all youth! We will hold a combined Youth Group in the basement after worship this Sunday, March 18. It will be led by Aaron & Michelle Thornburg who will be talking about their trip to Belize and about service work. Please RSVP if you plan on coming, as we plan on providing lunch. You can RSVP with the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Christ in the Passover ~ All are invited to Christ in the Passover, presented by Jews for Jesus. It is being held this Sunday, March 18 at 6:00pm at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Rd. Attenders will be able to observe as Ofer Levy from Tel Aviv, Israel re-creates the traditional Passover service and explains how it foreshadowed Jesus’ death and resurrection. Ofer Levy will also be happy to answer questions after the demonstration. This presentation has been done in over 38,000 churches since 1973. This event is free and open to the public. If you have questions, please call 317-251-1481.

Threshing at the Tap: (def.) a gathering of men who mull over current issues or topics, where all points of view are heard, no decisions are made, and beverages are enjoyed.

Threshing at the Tap takes place every third Thursday, 7pm at various breweries in greater Indianapolis. We will meet this Thursday, March 15 at Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. in Broad Ripple (please note the location change)! We have the "Conference Room" already reserved under "Bob Henry." See you there!

Volunteers Needed for Coburn Place ~ Please join us this Saturday, March 17 at Coburn Place from 9-noon for a work morning. We will be doing some fun projects to help the residents. Coburn Place is the only transitional housing available in the state for victims of domestic abuse. Each resident has their own fully furnished apartment rent free for a period of up to two years. When they leave Coburn Place, they take their whole apartment furnishings with them. Coburn Place is located on the corner of 38th and Park and the address is 604 E 38th Street. Please join us at 9am this Saturday and learn more about this wonderful place. If you want to carpool, please notify the office asap and we can arrange to meet at about 8:30. If you are driving yourself, the entrance is on the Park and you will need to tell the gate keeper that you are with First Friends. If you have any questions, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. If you would like more information about Coburn Place, please go to www.coburnplace.org.

The Absurd Cross: Escaping the Tyranny of Certainty & Satisfaction ~ See Peter Rollins and GraceUnlimited at Christian Theological Seminary (1000 West 42nd Street) on Saturday, March 24, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Even in the midst of our daily routines, we can be painfully aware that our world is precarious. At any moment we might be undone by the feeling that this world is absurd. In response, we shore up all manner of religious defenses that promise to keep the void at bay. In contrast, Peter Rollins argues that there is a religionless heart to Christianity that overturns the tables of meaning, clears out the temples of tidy answers and drives out the sellers of certainty. Here the supposed “good news” that we can be all that we can be, is exposed as bad news. In its place we will hear a gospel with the incendiary ability to break down our defenses against the abyss, so that we might confront it face to face. Join Peter Rollins and GraceUnlimited as they sensitize themselves to the scandal of this gospel message—a message that promises personal and political transformation only when we embrace a life beyond meaning, beyond certainty and beyond satisfaction, a life freed from the frenetic pursuit of wholeness, and from all the demons hidden along that path. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://goo.gl/MvxTN1.

Spring Cleaning in the Woods: Put on your work gloves and join us in the Woods on March 31, 2018 @ 9 AM! We will freshen up the Woods for Spring! One team will cut back the switch grass, others will weed around the fountain area and others will pull out some more of that darn invasive honeysuckle. Our Woods is becoming a haven for local and migrating birds. (See Brad Jackson’s birding observations). Come enjoy the fellowship of working with others to care for creation. If you have questions email the office at office@indyfriends.org. Our next Woods work day will by May 19th, so mark your calendars!

Join us for our Easter Celebrations!

Sunday, April 1st
10:15 Meeting for Worship
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt after the Children’s Message
Easter Brunch following Worship

Financial Education Class ~ Join us this spring, Thursday, April 5th for the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class! Want to learn how to better handle your money, budget, and dump debt? Then this is the class for you! The class will be hosted by Sam R and her sister. This class has made a HUGE impact on the her life and her financial plan for the future and can do the same for you! Click here to sign up or copy and paste the link below. Also, you're welcome to contact the office if you have any questions at office@indyfriends.org. This will be a 9 week class held at East Tenth United Methodist Church, 2327 E 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46201.
https://www.fpucentral.com/classes/1061655/registration

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Friend to Friend March 7, 2018

March 8, 2018

As Way Opens

I spent the last week on vacation in Orlando visiting my brother and sister in law along with my old neighbor and good friend Penny. It was a wonderful week of relaxation and recharging in the warmth of the Florida sunshine. One day I was at the pool reading a fascinating book by John Dominic Crossan called God and Empire for my class on Peace and Social Justice. I looked up in the sky and saw the word LOVE boldly proclaimed against the bright blue backdrop.

I did a double take and then smiled and felt the warmth of this message cover my body and mind. This unexpected reminder in the sky connected to my readings of Crossan examining a significant question - Is God violent? Do we believe in a God of non-violence or a God that uses violence? There certainly is a lot of violence in the Bible, including the New Testament book of Revelation which describes the rapture, the second coming of Christ, and a new heaven and earth. Religion has been the basis of many of our wars and violent acts in our world. Is God behind all of this violence? Or is God in the word LOVE and seeks for all of us to embrace non-violence as our way of life? This is a difficult path as violence is embedded in our civilization. But Jesus calls us to this radical life and says numerous times to us that we need to create a new Kingdom here on this earth. Jesus describes this new Kingdom as one of love, justice through peace and non-violence. He sacrificed his life for this principle. It is the basis for our Christian religion. And yet it seems to have become twisted and intertwined with the violence in our culture. I believe Jesus continues to call us today to seek this path of non-violence (that doesn’t mean we don’t resist inequities and injustice) and become participants in taking the word LOVE out of the sky and living it out each and every day.

Joys & Concerns

Thank you to the Thornburg family for sharing with us last Sunday their adventures in Belize. It was because of your support they were able to go and make a difference!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Remember, Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 11th at 2:00 am!! This means that we “spring forward” in time as we anticipate the wonderful weather to come with it. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward!

Eco Film ~ The next Eco-film showing will be Clean Disruption: Energy and Transportation, held this Friday, March 9th at 7:00-8:00pm at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Rd. Clean Disruption: Energy and Transportation features an award-winning presentation by Tony Seba, professor at Stanford University. Dr. Seba presents an amazing and hopeful analysis of new developments in energy and transportation that will revolutionize energy and transportation in the very near future. He explains why a 10x exponential development of renewable energy will nearly eliminate the use of fossil fuels within a decade. Often our environmental films focus on problems. No doubt it is controversial as the author makes some very bold predictions. We’ll have a short discussion afterward. Also keep an eye out for more information on the April showing, which will be held here at First Friends!

Rise Up Singing! ~ The Sing Along will happen again this Friday, March 9 at 7:00 in the parlor. We are using Rise Up Singing and Rise Again. Lyrics for all the songs from Rise Again are on YouTube and many from the older book are also available. If you don’t want to buy the books, charge your electronics and come ahead. You may email song requests and/or book orders to the office@indyfriends.org. We have an order already for two books, so if three more books are ordered there is a 20% discount on all. The larger size is $29.00, plus shipping. Slightly lower for smaller size. Dan and Beth H, founders of Indy Folk Series, will again be joining Jim K. Three guitars and lots of song and laughter along with the singing. Ends around 8:30. Our voices were tired by 9:00.

Babysitting Co-Op ~ Our babysitting co-op is happening this Saturday March 10th from 5:30 - 9:30, hosted by Jeff & Beth S. Dinner will be provided for the kids. Please contact the office (office@indyfriends.org) if you would like to have your kids join in the fun that evening!

RESCHEDULED Family Bowling ~ We have rescheduled bowling for this Sunday, March 11th at noon. Because of the change, please RSVP again and let us know if you are able to attend on this new date. We hope you will join us for this bowling party hosted by the Christian Education Committee at Woodland Bowl, 3421 E 96th St. First Friends will provide 2 games, shoe rental, pizza and drinks for everyone. Please RSVP with the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Threshing at the Tap: (def.) a gathering of men who mull over current issues or topics, where all points of view are heard, no decisions are made, and beverages are enjoyed. Threshing at the Tap will take place every third Thursday, 7pm at various breweries in greater Indianapolis. This month it will be Thursday March 15 at 7pm at Metazoa Brewing, 140 S College Ave, Indianapolis.

Women at the Well – Discussion for Women ~ For several months now, the women of First Friends have been asking for their own Threshing at the Tap. We are proud to introduce Women at the Well -a gathering of women who ponder current issues and topics, where differing views are discussed, no decisions are made, and food and drinks are enjoyed. It will take place every fourth Thursday, and our next gathering will be on Thursday, March 22, 7pm, at Flatwater (832 E Westfield Blvd, Indianapolis). Join other women of First Friends and enjoy a wonderful night of conversation together.

Celebrating Women~ This week on Thursday, March 8th we celebrate International Women’s Day. Last Sunday we started the celebration as we deemed it, International Women’s Sunday. After a challenging morning dedicated to the plight of women in our world, Linda L referenced a poem by Allyson Horton during waiting worship in the manner of Friends. Linda received permission for us to reprint this poem in celebration of women.

Understanding Eve by Allyson Horton (from her book Quick Fire)

I mean—to put it all on Satan might be a little unfair. Considering the fact that a woman has her own mind. Her own set of ribs. Her own eyes for examining both sides of a fig leaf. Nose for sensing fire in a single drop of rain. Her own lips for speaking when asked for directions. Brain for deciding left or right. A body bearing its own garden of lush fruits. And besides His, her own breath coursing through each flared nostril. And cravings scratching at the surface of her earth brown rainbow skin. Own teeth perfect for chewing the fat with a serpent. Her own seeds planted in hidden places. Her own dark voices, caprices, coiling inside. Her own solutions to curing mass ignorance, climate change, pre-inflation theories, and doubling the learning capacity of children. Her own reasons for not eating the waxed skin of an apple. And, wouldn't you say, her own ideas on how to get to the core.

Allyson Horton is a native of Marion County. She is also a graduate of Indiana University, and she received her MFA in Creative Writing from Butler University. Her poetry will be featured in the upcoming anthology It Was Written: Poetry Inspired By Hip Hop (Minor Arcana Press). She currently works and resides in her hometown of Indianapolis where she teaches at Butler University as well as within the Indianapolis Public Schools system.

The Absurd Cross: Escaping the Tyranny of Certainty & Satisfaction ~ See Peter Rollins and GraceUnlimited at Christian Theological Seminary (1000 West 42nd Street) on Saturday, March 24, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Even in the midst of our daily routines, we can be painfully aware that our world is precarious. At any moment we might be undone by the feeling that this world is absurd. In response, we shore up all manner of religious defenses that promise to keep the void at bay. In contrast, Peter Rollins argues that there is a religionless heart to Christianity that overturns the tables of meaning, clears out the temples of tidy answers and drives out the sellers of certainty. Here the supposed “good news” that we can be all that we can be, is exposed as bad news. In its place we will hear a gospel with the incendiary ability to break down our defenses against the abyss, so that we might confront it face to face. Join Peter Rollins and GraceUnlimited as they sensitize themselves to the scandal of this gospel message—a message that promises personal and political transformation only when we embrace a life beyond meaning, beyond certainty and beyond satisfaction, a life freed from the frenetic pursuit of wholeness, and from all the demons hidden along that path. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://goo.gl/MvxTN1.

Help a Nurse Practitioner ~ Janice H is a First Friends attender working at Hawthorne Community Center and is trying to help a lovely Chinese-American client named Sophie find a primary care physician office or similar setting for her family nurse practitioner preceptorship. This is her capstone practicum and she has lots of prior clinical experience and has worked the last seven years in out-patient surgery at IU Health. She has a BSN from Purdue. The doctor who has supervised her prior clinicals is on maternity leave. Her university (Chamberlain) leaves it up to the student to arrange her practicum and her employer has not provided any leads that were fruitful. The requirements of the supervisor are minimal: 1) a 5 min. online evaluation of the student at four weeks and end of practicum (eight weeks). 2) Completion of 125 clinical experience with primary care patients preferably between April 30 and June 20, 2018. Preceptor can be an MD, NP, or PA. If you can help or even provide a referral to someone who might be willing to help, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Spring Cleaning in the Woods: Put on your work gloves and join us in the Woods on March 31, 2018 @ 9 AM! We will freshen up the Woods for Spring! One team will cut back the switch grass, others will weed around the fountain area and others will pull out some more of that darn invasive honeysuckle. Our Woods is becoming a haven for local and migrating birds. (See Brad J's birding observations). Come enjoy the fellowship of working with others to care for creation. If you have questions: email the office at office@indyfriends.org. Our next Woods work day will by May 19th, so mark your calendars!

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Friend to Friend February 28, 2018

March 1, 2018

As Way Opens

This past Sunday, we ended our Meeting for Worship by sharing three words with each other – I need you. So simple, yet so profound. Margret J. Wheatley points out our need for each other in the welcome to her book Turning to One Another where she writes,

“We have never wanted to be alone. But today, we are alone. We are more fragmented and isolated from one another than ever before. Archbishop Desmond Tutu describes it as ‘a radical brokenness in all of existence.’”

Top – Women at the WellBottom – Threshing at the Tap — *Top – Women at the Well*
*Bottom – Threshing at the Tap*

To acknowledge and vocalize our need is only the beginning. Coming together and talking with each other is key for us to “weave a fabric of care” and meet each other’s needs as God intended. At First Friends we are creating a plethora of opportunities (small groups, connection dinners, book studies, gatherings at local eateries and coffee shops, etc.) for us to stop ignoring one another, stop fearing people that are different than us or have differing views, and to discover what just may be at our depths – a need for each other.

This isn’t easy and it definitely takes time – what my friends and authors John Pattison and Chris Smith label “Slow Church.” Too often we misunderstand “church” for a structure rather than the interaction of the people. And as Quakers we understand what it means to be “slow” especially in our processes. Conversations take time, listening takes time, action takes time, and dreaming takes time – thus I believe First Friends is part of a “slow church” movement.

Maybe it’s time we put our smart phones down, turned off our TVs, and found some time in our schedules to get to know each other again. We need to reclaim what I like to call Togethering – where conversations, relationships, and imaginations can be rekindled for the good of our world and the benefit of our souls. Margret Wheatley says what we are doing is learning “how to work and live together in ways that bring us back to life.”

Will you join First Friends in some Togethering? Find a place or a person to connect with and let it bring you back to life!

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Many thanks to our Food pantry volunteers last week: Ray G, Phil K, Bill and Kathy F, Rik and Linda L, Beth S, and Jim D. 65 families were served. Thank you for your service!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

AVP Workshop ~ Please note that the AVP workshop scheduled at First Friends this weekend is being postponed. Be on the lookout for additional information on the rescheduled workshop in a few months!

Come See the Thornburgs! This Sunday, March 4th, the Thornburgs will be showing photos and sharing about their mission trip to Belize last year. As you might recall,the family felt led by God to go to Belize and help with the facility renovation and provide other assistance to the Friends school. Thanks to your generosity, their Belize leading was made into a reality. Come visit them in Fellowship Hall after worship!

Monthly Yoga will be this Sunday March 4th at 11:30 in the basement, led by Kristyn G. Several varieties of yoga practice will be explored, such as yin yoga, vinyasa yoga, and restorative yoga. The class is open to all levels and members of the class will help determine the content of the practice.

Are you subscribed to Western Work? Did you know that Western Yearly Meeting has their own newsletter? It’s called Western Work and it comes out several times a year. They have information about the happenings at other Meetings, event photos, reports, announcements, and upcoming events. The February/March issue is available now—and Pastor Bob’s writing is featured! You can find a copy on the bulletin board at the Meetinghouse or view it online here: https://goo.gl/nYci5P. If you’re interested in subscribing, visit https://www.westernyearlymeeting.org/newsletter/ to sign up!

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month ~ Longtime friend and recently retired teacher from Fishers High School, Brad J has been spending time in our meditational woods. We ran into him this week with his binoculars and camera. He is identifying all of the birds that come into our meditational woods and we will highlight what he finds each month. We are thankful to Brad for connecting us to our birds and to creation through the blessing of our beautiful nature site.

This is one of the smallest birds of our woods. The male, however, has a very loud song; its “Tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle” can be heard from far away. One of the wren’s calls is a descending, “dee-dih-durp”, and it scolds with a “zhur-zhur-zhur,” especially when a predator (or human) gets too close.

You will recognize it by its reddish-brown back and cap, and golden-tan below, with a white eyestripe. The short, stubby tail may be held downwards, straight back, or upright. Males and females are identical.

This wren prefers brush piles, downed limbs, tree stumps, and low branches. Look for it especially in the far northeast corner of the Meditational Woods.

See the bulletin board for the birds seen in February.

Brad Jackson

Stamps for RSWR ~ Those interested in sorting stamps for Right Sharing of World Resources, please come to the parlor at 1 o’clock on Monday, March 5. The Monday Meditational Worship group will be eating their sack lunches and (for those who so desire) having their first stamp sorting party. We will sort for 60 to 90 minutes. The group plans to sort the first Monday of each month. For those who can’t make it on Monday, there will be opportunities at other times. If you think you might come on Monday, please let Amy know so she can prepare accordingly. If you have questions or would like to help, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org

Indiana Daylily & Iris Society, featuring Leslie Bishop from Earlham~ The Indiana Daylily & Iris Society is starting up for the year! They hold their meetings on the first Tuesday of the month here at First Friends, and the public is welcome! Their first meeting of the year will be on Tuesday, March 6 at 6:30 in the Parlor. Their guest speaker is Leslie Bishop. Her presentation, “Spectacular-not Spooky, the World of Spiders” will introduce us to the fascinating world of spiders and their vital role in nature. She will focus on the interesting diversity and unique life styles of spiders that live right here in Indiana. Leslie is a retired professor of biology from Earlham College, where she taught for over twenty years. Since retirement, she has taught Wildlife Ecology in Tanzania, and has been a Fulbright Scholar teaching in Dominica. Her current interest is to raise awareness about the conservation of biodiversity, and to encourage people to learn about the natural world. For more information, visit http://www.indianadaylilyirissociety.org/

Eco Film ~ The next Eco-film showing will be Clean Disruption: Energy and Transportation, held on Friday, March 9th at 7:00-8:00pm at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Rd. Clean Disruption: Energy and Transportation features an award-winning presentation by Tony Seba, professor at Stanford University. Dr. Seba presents an amazing and hopeful analysis of new developments in energy and transportation that will revolutionize energy and transportation in the very near future. He explains why a 10x exponential development of renewable energy will nearly eliminate the use of fossil fuels within a decade. Often our environmental films focus on problems. No doubt it is controversial as the author makes some very bold predictions. We’ll have a short discussion afterward.

Also keep an eye out for more information on the April showing, which will be held here at First Friends!

Rise Up Singing! ~ The Sing Along will happen again on Friday, March 9, the second Friday of the month, at 7:00 in the parlor. We are using Rise Up Singing and Rise Again. Lyrics for all the songs from Rise Again are on You Tube and many from the older book are also available. If you don’t want to buy the books, charge your electronics and come ahead. You may email song requests and/or book orders to the office at office@indyfriends.org. We have an order already for two books, so if three more books are ordered there is a 20% discount on all. The larger size is $29.00, plus shipping. Slightly lower for smaller size. Dan and Beth H, founders of Indy Folk Series, will again be joining Jim K. Three guitars and lots of song and laughter along with the singing. Ends around 8:30. Our voices were tired by 9:00.

Babysitting Co-Op ~ Our babysitting co-op is happening on Saturday March 10th from 5:30 - 9:30, hosted by Jeff & Beth S. Dinner will be provided for the kids. Please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org if you would like to have your kids join in the fun that evening!

RESCHEDULED Family Bowling ~ We have rescheduled bowling for Sunday, March 11th at noon. Because of the change, please RSVP again and let us know if you are able to attend on this new date. We hope you will join us for this bowling party hosted by the Christian Education Committee at Woodland Bowl, 3421 E 96th St. First Friends will provide 2 games, shoe rental, pizza and drinks for everyone. Please RSVP with the office at office@indyfriends.org.

The Absurd Cross: Escaping the Tyranny of Certainty & Satisfaction ~ See Peter Rollins and GraceUnlimited at Christian Theological Seminary (1000 West 42nd Street) on Saturday, March 24, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM. Even in the midst of our daily routines, we can be painfully aware that our world is precarious. At any moment we might be undone by the feeling that this world is absurd. In response, we shore up all manner of religious defenses that promise to keep the void at bay. In contrast, Peter Rollins argues that there is a religionless heart to Christianity that overturns the tables of meaning, clears out the temples of tidy answers and drives out the sellers of certainty. Here the supposed “good news” that we can be all that we can be, is exposed as bad news. In its place we will hear a gospel with the incendiary ability to break down our defenses against the abyss, so that we might confront it face to face. Join Peter Rollins and GraceUnlimited as they sensitize themselves to the scandal of this gospel message—a message that promises personal and political transformation only when we embrace a life beyond meaning, beyond certainty and beyond satisfaction, a life freed from the frenetic pursuit of wholeness, and from all the demons hidden along that path. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://goo.gl/MvxTN1.

Comment

Friend to Friend February 21, 2018

February 22, 2018

As Way Opens

My heart was broken last week to hear of the senseless deaths of 17 students and teachers from Marjory Stoneland Douglas High School in Parkland Florida. I feel so many emotions to this tragedy. Pain, sorrow, regret for those families experiencing the horrible death of their children, anger and outrage. How can we as a society not address and do something about this issue of a public shooting in a school setting that impacts our children? And that this is a regular occurrence.

I am praying for these families but feel disgust that our leaders offer thoughts and prayers and yet offer nothing to our society that will positively impact this dilemma.

I sat with our young people last Sunday and our junior and senior high kids feel fear. They believe it is possible to have a school shooting in their schools. When I was growing up, we used to have air raid drills because of our fear of the Russians. Today we have active shooter drills so our kids know what to do in this situation. I heard that half of Carmel High School students did not attend class last Friday because of a series of events and threats and their absences were excused due to mass hysteria. Really? We are the trusted stewards of our young people and we are failing them.

We need to embrace a policy of yes/and. There is no one answer that will solve this problem. We need gun safety restrictions and reject the idea that limiting certain guns is some kind of rejection of the 2nd amendment. We need real, affordable access to mental health services for our citizens. We need to secure our schools. We need to have a significant background check for obtaining a gun.

I have felt such anger during these last few days. But I also have felt hope with the number of young people that have come forward. I heard an amazing interview with a young man from the school that passionately advocated for gun safety. We can dismiss this passion as idealistic, but it was this kind of passion from young people that helped change the dynamic of our views of the Vietnam War during the 1960’s and 1970’s. I have been praying for our students, our families, our legislators and government and I refuse to give up hope and faith that we will come together to make changes that will positively impact this critical public safety issue.

Beth

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Threshing at the Tap: (def.) a gathering of men who mull over current issues or topics, where all points of view are heard, no decisions are made, and beverages are enjoyed.

PLEASE NOTE we are changing the date in February so as not to conflict with Community Soup & the FCNL priorities discussion. It will be held Thursday night, February 22nd at 7pm at Taxman Brewing, 29 S Main St, Fortville, IN 46040. We hope to see you there!

Women at the Well – Discussion for Women ~ For several months now, the women of First Friends have been asking for their own Threshing at the Tap. We are proud to introduce Women at the Well -a gathering of women who ponder current issues and topics, where differing views are discussed, no decisions are made, and food and drinks are enjoyed. Our first gathering will be on Thursday, February 22, 7pm, at Matt the Miller’s Tavern (11 City Center Dr. Carmel, IN 46032). Join other women of First Friends and enjoy a wonderful night of conversation together.

Monthly Yoga (not to be confused with weekly Gentle Yoga on Fridays) will be this Sunday February 25th at 11:30 in the basement, led by Kristyn G. This is to make up for the missed yoga session on February 4th due to illness. Several varieties of yoga practice will be explored, such as yin yoga, vinyasa yoga, and restorative yoga. The class is open to all levels and members of the class will help determine the content of the practice.

The Earlham College Group “Students for Justice in Palestine” has developed a resolution asking that the college divest all investments in businesses that operate in the Occupied West Bank. The students are holding a rally. The rally is taking a place this Friday, the 23rd of February. They will start at 3:30, and finish by 5. They will have posters, music, copies of the resolution, and a petition for people to sign up. Any in support of this cause are welcomed to join. Feel free to share this with your networks of Earlham Alumni to ensure we encourage any visitors from Richmond and the broader community show up for the rally.

Free Choir Performance ~ If you have been present for the Sunday in December when our Shawn P's Hamilton Southeastern choir performs at First Friends, you know how talented they are. The entire choir program of Hamilton Southeastern High School performs a concert at St. Luke's United Methodist Church on Friday, February 23rd at 7pm. They perform primarily classical, gospel and folk style music. The concert is FREE, but they do take a good will offering as the purpose of the concert is to raise money for a scholarship fund. The church is located at 100 W. 86th St.; doors open at 6:30. We will see you there!

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson book discussion will be held Tuesday, February 27th at 7pm in the Parlor. Wilkerson was interviewed by Krista Tippett for On Being on NPR recently (https://onbeing.org/programs/isabel-wilkerson-the-heart-is-the-last-frontier-jan2018/). She was also interviewed by Terry Gross for Fresh Air in 2010 when the book was first published (https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129827444). Everyone is welcome. If you're interested in reading ahead for next month, the March 27th title is: Turtles All the Way Down by John Green.

AVP (Alternatives to Violence Project) Indiana is planning a Basic Workshop to be held here at First Friends! It will be on Saturday March 3rd from 8:30am to 8:00pm and Sunda arch 4th, from :30am to 7:00p. Lunch and dinner will be provided. They use a sliding fee scale to cover food and expenses of the workshop: $10 to $40, depending on your financial means. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. AVP seeks to help those interested in learning new and creative ways to respond to conflict in personal relationships and groups. The workshops use the shared experience of participants, interactive exercises, games and role-plays to examine the ways in which we respond to situations where injustice, prejudice, frustrations and anger can lead to aggressive behavior and violence. The training is highly experiential and fun, with participants choosing many of the ways in which the exercises and skill-learning occurs. For more information and to register, visit their website at www.avpindiana.org/registration. They are also looking for volunteers to host out-of-town facilitators and help with food. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or at (317) 255-2485. Thank you.

Stamps for RSWR ~ First Friends is now entrusted with a stamp program that benefits Right Sharing of World Resources. RSWR funds micro-enterprise projects with marginalized women in Sierra Leone, Kenya, and southern India. The women then start their own businesses, thus becoming more independent, newly able to send their children to school, and contributors to the local economy. The women repay the loans and the money stays in the country. Beth Henricks serves on the RSWR board, which met at our Meeting last spring. Amy Perry is coordinating the transition of this program from Earl Walker, a California Quaker, to our Meeting.

Here's how it works: people send us used stamps, which we sort and send to collectors, who purchase them and send the sale price to Right Sharing of World Resources.

A backlog exists of many boxes of stamps. We need a pilot team of at least five people: 1) data entry person(s) to input donor contact information into a spreadsheet; 2) a mailer who will weigh the packages and affix postage at the First Friends office; and 3) as many sorters as possible. Sorting criteria are very simple--there are about five types of stamps. Data entry and sorting can be done anywhere and on your own schedule. Mailing will take a maximum of 1 hour a week. Sorting also will take place the first Monday of the month at 1 pm Mondays, after Meditational Worship.

Contact the office at office@indyfriends.org with questions or to volunteer to help. The first five people to volunteer to help will receive a mint (never-used) 3-cent stamp promoting peace: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Scott-1085-Childrens-Stamp-Friendship-Key-to-Peace-MNH-3c-1956

You may volunteer for the pilot team or to help one time.

The only collectible RSWR currently is accepting is stamps. However, First Friends is helping to sell donations of other collectibles made before this restriction went into effect. If you collect used or unused US and foreign postcards and/or old-fashioned postcard-size greeting cards, or if you know of a collector who buys these collectibles, please contact Amy Perry.

Also keep an eye out for more information on the April showing, which will be held here at First Friends!

Rise Up Singing! ~ The Sing Along will happen again on Friday, March 9, the second Friday of the month, at 7:00 in the parlor. We are using Rise Up Singing and Rise Again. Lyrics for all the songs from Rise Again are on You Tube and many from the older book are also available. If you don’t want to buy the books, charge your electronics and come ahead. You may email song requests and/or book orders to office@indyfriends.org. We have an order already for two books, so if three more books are ordered there is a 20% discount on all. The larger size is $29.00, plus shipping. Slightly lower for smaller size. Dan and Beth H, founders of Indy Folk Series, will again be joining Jim K. Three guitars and lots of song and laughter along with the singing. Ends around 8:30. Our voices were tired by 9:00.

Babysitting Co-Op ~ Our babysitting co-op is happening on Saturday March 10th from 5:30 - 9:30, hosted by Jeff & Beth S. Dinner will be provided for the kids. Please contact Beth (beth.henricks@indyfriends.org) if you would like to have your kids join in the fun that evening!

RESCHEDULED Family Bowling ~ Due to the icy conditions, both Meeting for Worship and bowling were cancelled last week. We are rescheduling bowling for Sunday, March 11th at noon. Because of the change, please RSVP again and let us know if you are able to attend on this new date. We hope you will join us for this bowling party hosted by the Christian Education Committee at Woodland Bowl, 3421 E 96th St. First Friends will provide 2 games, shoe rental, pizza and drinks for everyone. Please RSVP with the office at office@indyfriends.org.

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