Friend to Friend August 26, 2020

September 4, 2020

As Way Opens

Last week on August 18th, President Trump made a proclomation for the 100th Anniversary of the Ratification of the Nineteen Amendment giving women the right to vote. The proclomation stated that, “This milestone in American history was the product of the tireless efforts of suffragists and other advocates for women’s rights, who steadfastly pursued their vision of a more just and equal society… As we commemorate this historic event, we also celebrate the incredible economic, political, and social contributions women have made to our Nation.”

Many of those original suffragists were Quakers and have left a wonderful legacy for equality in our country and the world. I would like to introduce you to one of those Quaker suffragists whose tireless efforts and steadfast pursuits created a more just and equal society. You may notice as you read her story that her efforts and the reactions to them are very similar to those we see as the fight continues today for equality in our nation and world.

Alice Stokes Paul (1885-1977) was born into a Quaker family that strongly believed in equality. She graduated from Swarthmore College which was founded by the Religious Society of Friends with a degree in biology and continued on to earn a master’s degree in social work.

For Alice attending suffrage rallies were a family affair, as she attended most of them with her mother. When she realized her social work alone would not solve the problem of discrimination against women, and that current suffrage efforts were slow-moving and ineffective, she traveled to England and made her voice know in the suffrage movement there.

Before long she was back in the United States (1910) and began working on creating change at the federal level for the passage of the 19th Amendment. She was known for this bold saying:

“There will never be a new world order until women are a part of it.”

It was Alice who became a strong activist and organizer. She is known for planning the 1913 protest parade in Washington, D.C., and at her lead, suffragists stood in front of the White House displaying protest banners through all kinds of weather in 1917. Later that fall, Congress retaliated against the protesters and increased their jail times. Alice was arrested and taken to the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia, where she and the other women were beaten, starved, not allowed to sleep, and forced to live in filthy rat-infested cold cells. Alice was a fierce activist and on one occasion went on a hunger strike. She ended up being force-fed by guards before being put into a hospital where they considered her insane.

Nevertheless, Alice persisted, and continued to be arrested seven more times and jailed on three more occasions in England and another three times in the United States. Once the 19th Amendment finally passed, Alice continued to plan for more legal progress for women and went on to earn a law degree in 1922 from the University of Pennsylvania. She would later pen the words to the Equal Rights Amendment influencing the charter of the United Nations.

(adapted from “Profiles Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage,” Lacrosse Tribune)

We should be honored that Quaker Alice Stokes Paul and many other women persisted for the rights of all women throughout the world and for leaving a legacy for our young daughters to look up to as they take up the mantle of equal rights and work to make a positive contribution to society! For more about the Quaker impact on the American Suffrage Movement click here.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

FCNL Head Recognized as Faith Leader to Watch in 2020 ~ The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) appreciates the recognition given to General Secretary Diane Randall as one of the “Faith Leaders to Watch in 2020.” The list of 15 faith leaders was released recently by the Center for American Progress (CAP).

In a statement citing the 15 faith leaders, CAP stated: “Religious communities offer a clear moral voice in support of civic engagement, the peaceful transfer of power, combating voter suppression, and protecting the ability of marginalized communities to participate in elections.” The list included leaders across many Christian traditions as well as Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, and others.

To read the story in its entirety, visit https://www.fcnl.org/updates/fcnl-head-recognized-as-faith-leader-to-watch-in-2020-2901

WYM and FUM 2020 Mission Projects: Each year Western Yearly Meeting (“WYM”) and Friends United Meeting (“FUM”) designate mission projects for us to consider and help. WYM is a Quaker organization of which First Friends is a member and consists of approximately 32 monthly meetings located in Indiana and Illinois. FUM is a Quaker international organization based in Richmond, Indiana and consists of a number of yearly meetings around the world. These mission projects are the primary way that folks at First Friends can assist Quakers in parts of the world that can use our help.

The WYM project for 2020 is for the benefit of the Belize Friends School. The school needs financial assistance for its operating expenses and the WYM goal is to raise $15,000. You might recall that in 2017 WYM also designated Belize as its project but monies raised at that time were designated for re-locating the school and expanded ministries including community services and the starting of a Friends meeting. Many of you knew Dale Graves, a member of Mooresville’s West Newton Friends, who poured his heart and soul into the Belize school and surrounding area and was the driving force that enabled the Belize school and Friends meeting to become what it is today. While Dale is no longer with us, there is no doubt that Dale would be very proud of the ongoing efforts to improve the Belize school and Belize Friends meeting.

The FUM project is to assist the Friends in Turkana who are celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Turkana Friends Mission. Turkana Friends was founded in 1970 in Kalokol, Kenya. It began as a project of East Africa Yearly Meeting and FUM. Turkana Friends Mission has grown from one location to a vibrant multi-site Quaker community that, among other things, oversees six nursery schools and six primary schools. The number of meetings in Turkana Friends Mission has increased dramatically in the past few decades from seven village meetings in 2002 to twenty-five meetings in 2019.

We at First Friends Indianapolis seem far removed from our fellow Quakers around the world and FUM and WYM are organizations that help connect us through worthy projects each year. Please help these Quakers in Belize and Turkana as you are led. Checks should be made to First Friends with a notation as to whether the monies should go to (WYM) Belize, (FUM) Turkana, or split between these projects. Thank you.

Support FUM’s Online Auction Please support Friends United Meeting in this time of financial crunch by visiting the online auction and bidding on the lovely handmade items:
https://www.friendsunitedmeeting.org/resources/online-auction

Read about other FUM news including the fruits of collaboration among Friends organizations in Africa and Cuban Friends respond to COVID-19: https://mailchi.mp/fum/fum-e-news-25-august-2020?e=f8045113f7

Joys & Concerns

Thank you MNFP volunteers! It was another busy day at the food pantry for First Friends. Volunteers: Phil G, David B, Kathy and Bill F, Virginia and Derek S, Linda L, Christie M, and Jim D. These volunteers were kept busy as 70 families were served. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers.

We want to see what is bringing you joy during the Pandemic: Our Friend Nancy had this great idea for us to submit photos to Friend to Friend so we can stay visually connected (they may even end up being shown during the prelude of our virtual distancing Meetings for Worship if you give permission). Feel free to send your photos with a brief caption to office@indyfriends.org.

This week, we have (left to right above): LeeAnn exploring a fairy garden. Susan showing one of Dan’s favorite books, A Prayer for Owen Meany, to the “socially distanced” Fun Quakers gathering. She also shared some of Dan’s thoughts about it. Dan the Man striking a manly pose and wearing a manly countenance. Kathy teaching Nancy how to host Zoom!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Voter Information for the General Election ~ Are you determined to vote in the general election this fall, but a little confused (or nervous!) about what the pandemic might mean for Indiana's election process? Vote.org is a reliable, easy to use, non-partisan voter information resource that can be used to check deadline dates, confirm your voter registration status, find out the location of your polling place, and/or apply for an absentee ballot if you want to vote by mail. Vote.org is national in scope, with links to individual states. Just follow the link to Indiana, which will lead you through the process on the IN.gov website for registering or for making an application to get an absentee ballot. There are strict time deadlines, and the volume of voting by mail this election is forecast to be very high, so it would be best to act soon! Thank you for voting this year.

What Will You be Doing on Election Day? ~ One of the many challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic in an election year is that elections officials foresee a shortage of poll workers. Typically, the majority of poll workers are over the age of 61, and over a quarter of them are over 70. Because they are the most susceptible to the virus, many of these seniors have indicated they will not work the polls this November.

Where does that leave us on Election Day?

One solution is for younger Americans to step up.

Did you know that in Indiana, high school students as young as 16-18 can serve as poll workers? And that Indiana law treats this service as an excused absence from school? Requirements vary depending on what county you live in, but the non-partisan WorkElections project has gathered all the information you need to apply, wherever you live (https://www.workelections.com/). For all ages, if you want to be a poll worker, some training is required and (unless you're in high school) you must be a registered voter in your county of residence to work at one of its polling places. See the WorkElections website for specific county-by-county requirements.

At a pivotal moment in American history, when many of our most pressing problems can seem insurmountable and it's hard to know just how to help, you can act. You can enable others to perform one of the most sacred of civic duties: voting on Election Day. By serving as a poll worker, you will be doing something non-partisan, a matter of civics, not politics. And in the 2020 Elections, you can claim to have helped your neighbor--and defended democracy.

For more information, see or share a flyer here: https://bit.ly/2PCBUvs

A Wildlife Wonderland at First Friends ~ Hummingbirds, butterflies, birds, and bees are some of the creatures that have increased populations at First Friends. Our members and attenders have planned, planted and nourished native trees, gardens and plants. We have provided food and shelter for many living species. In just a few years some of us have seen major increases in the wildlife populations. We are richly blessed.

This year I have seen many hummingbirds dancing through the sky. I took photos of one lingering in the Community Garden. Last year I found a furry nest of baby bunnies in one of my plots. This year I wrote a limerick about the discovery.

I put black fabric on my garden plot

to keep weeds from overtaking the lot.

The plan worked quite well

For all I could tell.

Underneath: nesting bunnies—a lot!

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for August

Northern Flicker: Special Talk

Couples who have been together for a long time have special ways of communicating. After 40 years of marriage, Naomi and I often use shortcuts as a convenient way of quickly passing on sometimes complicated thoughts and ideas. It could be a word or two, a tone of voice, or even a look, all of which can “express volumes’” It is a sharing between spouses, and also co-workers or close friends.

The Northern Flicker is a species of woodpecker that visits the Meditational Woods from March to October. I have found them on almost every visit this season. During mild winters like we have had in recent years the flicker may overwinter, especially if it can find its favorite food: ANTS!! This could be in the ground, or as I have pictured it, a colony in a stump. Notice in the picture the bright yellow underwing and undertail; the former name of this species was “Yellow-shafted Flicker.” By the way, the black moustache (malar) mark is on the male only.

Now back to communication. Like other woodpeckers, male flickers have a drum unique to flickers. The male also has a kek-kek-kek song. It is the special “flicka-flicka-flicka” call (done by either gender) that relates to the human story above. This flicka call is exclusively between the male and the female. When I am out doing a bird survey, counting the number of each species, and I mark down a flicker doing the “flicka” call, I know to look for its mate nearby. There will likely be a duet. ~Brad Jackson

Are you ready to help people in need? The First Friends Meal Ministry is happy to provide meals to those in need of a bit of help, such as while recovering from surgery or going through a difficult time. This ministry is such an important and tangible ministry in our Meeting that connects and supports all of us. We need more folks to join us in this ministry- we can add your email to our ministry group and you can decide if the request for a meal is something you can do at the time. Lynda S and Vicki W lead this ministry and we have an app that allows for easy sign up for a meal. Will you join us in this important ministry? If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

Environment

Value what’s local

Where do I live or want to live?
How can I live most of life near that place?
What kind of commute is sustainable?

Time

Value presence

With whom do I spend time? Why?
How much extra time do my commitments cost?
What could I insource?
What kind of job allows the time I need elsewhere?
Am I on devices too much, and if so, would a digital disconnect help?

Money

Value generosity

How can I make my resources available to others?
How can I keep spending low?
Which investments now will pay off later?
Does my spending reflect my overall priorities?

Parenting

Value slow growth

What’s the right amount of unstructured time for my kids?
How can I keep commitments light to preserve the calm they need for open-ended exploring and curious learning?
Where does all the technology distract from what’s good?

Arts

Value mastery

What tasks completely immerse me (where do I experience flow)?
Outside of work, what could I create or produce?
Does my leisure time reflect my values?
Where do I achieve quality?

(From self-led guide)

Where does my soul need affirming during these difficult times?
How are the secret places of my heart moving from a “noisy workshop” to a “holy sanctuary” of adoration and peace?
How will I make more time this week to connect to my Inner Sanctuary and divine Center?

Comment

Friend to Friend August 19, 2020

August 20, 2020

As Way Opens

On Monday night I took some time to watch Michelle Obama’s speech during the opening of the Democratic National Convention. It clearly had a different tone and message than other political convention speeches as it focused around two subjects - empathy and character. No matter our political leanings, these two subjects can be found under and further explored in our Quaker S.P.I.C.E. of Integrity.

The advices under the Integrity section of the Friends General Conference website give us a better picture of this Quaker distinctive and help us see its importance in our lives and world.

When we live with integrity, alone or as a faith community, our words and deeds ring true. We are able to hear when there is discord between our values and our words or actions, and we often sense when others in our community are “out of tune” with their own truth, or when, as a community, we do not seem to be following the same conductor.
Giving testimony to truth and integrity also means refusing to place things other than God at the center of one’s life–whether it be one’s own self, possessions, the regard for others, belief in principles (such as rationality, progress, or justice) or something else. It is the understanding that even good things are no longer good when they supplant God as one’s center.
Community plays a critical role in discernment. Integrity calls us to recognize our gifts and our flaws alike with humility, helping each other lovingly to “let our lives speak,” the truth as we know it. When we live with integrity, we hold the imperfections and dark places in ourselves and our communities to the Light, remembering that our mistakes and flaws may help us understand the pain and burdens of others or even become a spring for ministry. Living with integrity requires that we not “outrun our guide.” Rather, as Carolyn Stephen wrote, we do our best to “live up to the Light we have,” knowing that “more will be given” when we are ready.

No matter if we are going to the polls, going to work or school, spending time with family, or just trying to make it through another day during this pandemic, integrity cannot be lost. It must again become essential and speak to our current condition. I thank Michelle Obama for being willing to hold the “imperfections and dark places” in our own lives and our nation to the Light this week so we would be reminded of the importance of integrity again. May you and I “live up to the Light we have” today!

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

First Friends Helps Changing Footprints ~ Several folks from First Friends recently helped Changing Footprints in its move to a new location. Tables, supplies and many, many bags and boxes of shoes needed to be moved. A BIG THANKS to Ann H, Deb and Phil G, Kathy and Bill F, and Carol and Jim D for their efforts with this move.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Judy D! Judy is celebrating a milestone birthday this week! Happy birthday, Judy!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Join the Peace Church Conversation ~ The next meeting of the Peace Church Alliance will happen on Thursday, August 20 at 5:30pm. All are invited to join this discussion. To join, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org for the Zoom link. If you’d like to join the network, you can do so here. Thanks for your support, participation, and action at this critical and sensitive time!

Join Samantha R and her sister Jillian R for Personal Finance education! We have two upcoming sessions on Insurance & Savings August 20th at 6 pm, and Home Buying & Renting August 27th at 6 pm. Any questions? Reach out to the office at office@indyfriends.org.

This Thursday, August 20th we'll be gathering for free over Zoom and would love for you all to join us to learn more about insurance and savings! This may not seem like the most exciting topic, however insurance and savings are a big part of our financial wellbeing! Insurance and savings help defend and protect you against life events that could spell disaster financially without proper protection. Insurance protects you as you build wealth and savings make many of life's larger purchases possible. Join us and we will share helpful tips and information.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/113935658622

DISCLAIMER: We are not insurance agents. We do not sell insurance products. We have taught courses on this topic and that has allowed us to provide an unbiased perspective.

Men’s Threshing Together ~ Hey Men! Join us for a Zoom Happy Hour with Men's Threshing Together on Thursday, August 20 at 7:00pm. Bring your favorite beverage and connect with us on Zoom and let's check-in and see how everyone is doing during this pandemic! Pastor Bob will be hosting this event. See you at Happy Hour (our normal time - 7pm just on Zoom!) To join, contact the office for the Zoom link.

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world to discuss Becoming by Michelle Obama. In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same. (goodreads)

Nancy S will be leading the discussion in via Zoom starting at 7 pm on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. For the Zoom info, contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

New Keycard Policy ~ In partnership with the office team and the reopening committee, the trustees are initiating a new system to borrow keycards for events held outside on the property at First Friends. Here is a simple application (or the office will have you sign a printed copy upon pickup of the key). It includes the new procedures for use including a due date to return the keycard. At this time, the trustees have chosen not to initiate a deposit to borrow a keycard. We want to maintain a welcoming spirit among friends and support small grounds wishing to meet together. You can assist all of us by kindly returning the keycard at the conclusion of an event.

A Guy and Some Watermelon Seeds

Anyone can plant seeds whether they are a kindergartener or a senior citizen, whether they are a farmer or have never planted anything before. Some seeds are more intriguing than others and the idea of planting watermelon seeds enticed one First Friends youth. Nolan planted the seeds, babied them and swirled the vines around inside his Community Garden family plot, neatly and artistically. I asked him about his adventure and this is his wise and candid reply:

It was a very fun experience. At first I did not know how they would turn out. Once they started to grow I was excited. I picked three watermelons too early. I cut up two of the three to see if they were ripe; they were not. I put the third in a brown paper bag with a ripe banana. After about two weeks I took the watermelon out and cut it open. It was good but it could have used a little more time in the bag. Right now I have seven or more watermelons growing. From this experience I learned that I need to wait a lot longer to pick the watermelons and if one is not ripe then the others are most likely to not be ripe as well so I should put them in brown paper bags.

Most of us can identify with this. We learn as we risk and try. I am impressed by Nolan’s ingenuity, perseverance and faith. I believe he will have some delicious, ripe watermelons to eat for his season finale. Once I was impatient to plant after readying a plot and did so too early. I learned. We grow when we learn from mistakes. My gardening motto is, “All gardening is an experiment,” because there are variables from weather to pests to individual knowledge that determine the outcome. Most of us harvest something from a garden. Throughout life we reap and sow. Sometimes we share the bounty; sometimes we lift one another through trying times. What follows is a quick summer recipe for a mouthwatering treat to feast on and lift your spirits. It is especially scrumptious on a sticky hot day!

Quick Watermelon Feta Salad
(sweet and savory, crunchy, creamy, juicy, colorful and yummy)

Though the combination of ingredients may sound off-putting at first, like the salt Mom used to sprinkle on her slice of watermelon (Yuck!!!), it can be surprisingly refreshing and delicious.

Ingredients: Chilled seedless watermelon, cucumber, fresh MINT, goat or sheep’s milk feta cheese and lime dressing (lime juice, pure virgin olive oil and honey or garlic if you want). The mint makes all the difference!! Don’t be afraid to alter ingredient amounts to fit your tastebuds!

Optional add-ons: red onion; avocado; basil; walnuts; cashews; black pepper; chili pepper for some heat

Prepare the ingredients. I recommend making this shortly before mealtime since you want if FRESH, FRESH and FRESH. Carve out the rind of an eight-pound watermelon to use as a bowl or just cut away the rind with a knife. Cube watermelon or use a melon baller. Crumble a block of feta cheese yourself if you want more flavor or use the shortcut of about 2 cups pre-crumbled feta. (Mom would approve of the salty feta complementing the watermelon.) Slice, cube or mince 1 cucumber. Longer English cucumbers have a thinner peel you can retain and you need not worry about its tiny seeds. If you use the more common, squatter cucumber, cut out the seeds and peel the thicker rind. You may use decorative cuts to keep some of the green tones and to play with design. Yes, you can play chef! Dice or thinly slice 1 red onion and/or 1 avocado if you are using them. Select small herb leaves or thinly cut about 1 cup larger leaves since they have a tendency to turn brown once they are wet.
Gently mix all the above ingredients together unless you want to save the herbs for the top.
Prepare the lime dressing. Combine about ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil and juice from about 3 limes. Some people prefer lemons. Add either 1 minced whole garlic clove or about 2 tablespoons of honey depending on the direction you want to take the dressing. Pour in three quarters of it and save the rest to drizzle over the top.
Sprinkle on the toppings you have chosen. You may want to garnish with sprigs of fresh herbs. Drizzle lime dressing atop the watermelon salad. Dressing is optional since the salad alone is delicious.
Serve, say grace and eat your salad with relish—meaning enthusiasm.

~Nancy

Local Compost Service Available ~ Ben Wertz’s non-profit organization Full Circle has created a compost service available to anyone located on or near the north side of Indianapolis. The service is $15 a month for bi-weekly pickup. Buckets are provided and switched out bi-weekly. Contact ben@fullcircleinitiative.org if you would like to sign up. This is an important practice for the community. The food waste collected will be turned into rich soil for community gardens in Indianapolis. The money generated from the service will likely be used to buy a truck to facilitate soil transport for community gardens.

Where does that leave us on Election Day?

One solution is for younger Americans to step up.

For more information, see or share a flyer here: https://bit.ly/2PCBUvs

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for August
Northern Flicker: Special Talk

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

Where might the Spirit be leading me to gain some new perspective this week?
What “mental chains” are holding me back from seeing?
In what ways am I longing for renewal, renovation, and change?

(From self-led guide)

In what areas am I struggling with being more open?
What obstacles are getting in the way of this openness?
What area might I need to focus more on this week to help me with my openness (disciplines, community, prayer, silence, being a caring presence, simple listening, adoration, or friendship)?

Comment

Friend to Friend August 12, 2020

August 13, 2020

As Way Opens

I am in the midst of an intensive 2-week class at Earlham School of Religion heading into my last year of seminary. The class I am taking is Quakers and the Bible and we have spent a significant amount of time reading and reflecting on a number of early Quaker writings that were important documents in birthing this new movement of Quakerism. Early Quakers knew the Bible well, embraced it and believed in the Words of God represented by the Bible but they could not accept that the Bible was The Word of God. They saw the Bible as a document that pointed us to look at the moon - but it was not the moon! The Word of God is Christ, Spirit, Inner Seed, the essence that we can’t adequately explain, and no words will ever describe it even in the Bible. Early Quakers wanted everyone to experience this real Presence and for me its foundational in why I am a Quaker.

But the real joy I found in this class (and vaguely knew existed) were the number of Quaker women that wrote, spoke and influenced this movement between 1650 - 1700. We have all heard about Maragert Fell and she is one of my heroes. But there was Sarah Jones, Sarah Blackborow, Esther Biddle, Dorothy White, Mary Pennington, Joan Vokins, Barbara Blaugdone, Susannah Blandford, Rebecca Travers, Elizabeth Bathurst, Anne Gilman, Elizabeth Hendericks, Mary Waite, Anne Whitehead, Katharine Whitton, Dorcas Dole and Theophila Townsend. I am in awe of how these women were leaders in the early Quaker movement, wrote eloquently, delivered messages in Meetings and spent much time in jail for what they believed. It’s pretty incredible that in the 17th century, women who had no rights or standing in the culture were elevated to this level in a male dominated society. These women were willing to leave their families and go to prison for these beliefs. This was revolutionary at the time.

I think about this as a woman of color has been selected to be the Vice-Presidential pick for the Democratic campaign today. It doesn’t matter our politics - we should rejoice that a woman of color has been identified as qualified and that her voice is brought forward to potentially lead us. Republicans and Democrats should rejoice in this progress whether we vote for her or not. Quakers led the way for this 350 years ago and this is part of our history that we stand on today. I plan to read the writings of every one of these Quaker women and pray that I will be as brave as they were.

Joys & Concerns

Joyce B would like to send her sincere thanks to everyone who has reached out to her as she recovers from surgery! She appreciates all the calls, cards, meals, help, and prayers sent her way. Her recovery is going well.

Please pray for the Trout family, who lost their teenage son, Logan Trout. Logan was the son of Kathy R’s cousin. Logan collapsed and died while running cross country with Brownsburg High School. The EMT’s could not revive him. Please hold his family in the light during this extremely difficult time. Kathy’s cousin Ken and his wife Melissa have 4 other children, Kendall, Hayden, MacKenzie and Jacob. Logan was the baby and the youngest of all the children in their family’s generation. Read more at https://www.wishtv.com/news/local-news/brownsburg-hs-student-dies-after-medical-emergency/.

Please pray for Phil and Verna B’s family during this time. Verna and Phil B informed us this week that their great nephew, Nathaniel Carl Mroz was killed in a boating accident on Lake Wawasee. Nathaniel was well known as the captain of the football team at Hamilton Southeastern High School and was currently pursuing his Bio-technology degree at Indiana University. His funeral will be virtual from Grace Church (Fishers Campus) on Olio Road at 7pm this Thursday. Nathaniel had just turned 21 years old on August 8th. Please consider sending a card to Verna and Phil and hold the family in the Light in this difficult time. You can read Nathaniel’s obituary at https://flannerbuchanan.com/obit/nathaniel-carl-mroz/.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

NOTE: No Monthly Meeting this Sunday ~ Please note that the Monthly Meeting for Business that would normally fall on this coming Sunday, August 16 has been cancelled. Of course we hope you will still join us for Fellowship Hour at 11:00am on Sunday by visiting https://bit.ly/FF-FellowshipHour.

Join the Peace Church Conversation ~ The next meeting of the Peace Church Alliance will happen on Thursday, August 20 at 5:30pm. All are invited to join this discussion. For the Zoom link, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. If you’d like to join the network, you can do so here. Thanks for your support, participation, and action at this critical and sensitive time!

Join Samantha R and her sister Jillian R for Personal Finance education! We have two upcoming sessions on Insurance & Savings August 20th at 6 pm, and Home Buying & Renting August 27th at 6 pm. Any questions? Reach out to the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Next Thursday, August 20th we'll be gathering for free over Zoom and would love for you all to join us to learn more about insurance and savings! This may not seem like the most exciting topic, however insurance and savings are a big part of our financial well-being! Insurance and savings help defend and protect you against life events that could spell disaster financially without proper protection. Insurance protects you as you build wealth and savings make many of life's larger purchases possible. Join us and we will share helpful tips and information.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/113935658622

DISCLAIMER: We are not insurance agents. We do not sell insurance products. We have taught courses on this topic and that has allowed us to provide an unbiased perspective

Where does that leave us on Election Day?

One solution is for younger Americans to step up.

Did you znow that in Indiana, high school students as young as 16-18 can serve as poll workers? And that Indiana law treats this service as an excused absence from school? Requirements vary depending on what county you live in, but the non-partisan WorkElections project has gathered all the information you need to apply, wherever you live (https://www.workelections.com/). For all ages, if you want to be a poll worker, some training is required and (unless you're in high school) you must be a registered voter in your county of residence to work at one of its polling places. See the WorkElections website for specific county-by-county requirements.

For more information, see or share a flyer here: https://bit.ly/2PCBUvs

New Teen Volunteers Grace and Beautify our Garden

The Community Garden is the lucky recipient of two new energetic volunteers. They are our own Lena and her friend Elena. Seniors at the International School of Indiana, they are required to complete a CAS (Community, Activity, and Service) Project as part of the curricula to earn the International Diploma. The school accepts students from kindergarten through 12th grade. They come from all over the world—places like Europe, Argentina and China. It is a good place to practice French and Spanish, the second and third languages that the girls speak. Elena grew up in a bilingual household, so French is the newest language for her.

“Elena and I are very excited for the collaboration aspect of this project and partnering with First Friends,” said Lena. “We have really enjoyed getting to know Nancy and Sam and are excited to extend this collaboration to other members of the garden as well!” Ruth, Lena’s mother, introduced Sam and Lena while informing her that Sam is an alumna of the ISI. Lena and Elena met in sixth grade and have become close friends. According to Elena the ISI curriculum is rigorous but the school feels like a second home to her since she has always attended there. She thought working with a “trusted companion” would be more fun for this particular project than working with students she did not know as well. The undertaking stresses prolonged community service, planning and student initiative. Both girls preferred a project that stretched beyond the school into the outside community. They enjoy the idea of the environmental benefits of a garden.

“Both of our families enjoy gardening but our experience with it has been somewhat limited. So we are excited to learn more about it and engage with different aspects of gardening,” said Lena. The girls are discussing the possibility of starting their own fall garden plot at First Friends. Currently they are helping with the upkeep of the Hope and food pantry plots. In addition to watering, debugging and weeding, they are committed to making regular produce deliveries to the Mid-North Food Pantry. Using their initiative, they supplied and placed a bin in the garden for additional pantry donations. They have already delivered food, contributing to yet another community. They met with Chelsea and Kendal to discuss Chelsea’s plans for her Girl Scout Gold Star project: a rotating compost bin.

The new garden hands introduced themselves to other gardeners in person and on Marco Polo, an audio-video platform the gardeners use as one method to connect. The students showed the viewers signs they created for the garden.

“The inspiration for the signs came from our interest in art and design and was a way to use our pre-existing skill set within the context of the garden,” said Lena. The girls wanted to use their creativity to make aesthetically pleasing signs that would complement the flowers and plants.

“We wanted to incorporate fun and bright colors and imagine how what we made for people might make them feel,” said Elena. “We thought the signs would be homey, uplifting and make people feel welcome,” she said. They coated the signs with an indoor/outdoor varnish and kept some to re-treat the wood in the future.

“We’re so excited to become more integrated into the garden community, and this being said, we want to be available for anyone to contact us regarding any help needed in the future!” said Elena. Both girls repeatedly use the word “fun” when they describe their joint project. They want to meet more people, have many little jobs, visit often, work consistently, and be a part of their new community and its outreach. I believe we can give them a “thumbs up” on that account and a couple green thumbs besides! Welcome ladies! We are so glad to include you in our garden family!

~Nancy

Local Compost Service Available ~ Ben W’s non-profit organization Full Circle has created a compost service available to anyone located on or near the north side of Indianapolis. The service is $15 a month for bi-weekly pickup. Buckets are provided and switched out bi-weekly. Contact ben@fullcircleinitiative.org if you would like to sign up. This is an important practice for the community. The food waste collected will be turned into rich soil for community gardens in Indianapolis. The money generated from the service will likely be used to buy a truck to facilitate soil transport for community gardens.

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for August
Northern Flicker: Special Talk

Help for Indiana Homeowners ~ Gregory W. Porter, Indiana State Representative, recently announced details about Indiana’s Hardest Hit Fund, a federally funded program that provides mortgage payment assistance to eligible Hoosier homeowners. If you or someone you know are an Indiana homeowner who has fallen behind on your mortgage payments or is unable to make future payments due to an involuntary financial hardship, the Hardest Hit Fund could help you stay in your home. For more information, click here.

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

Where might the Spirit be leading me to gain some new perspective this week?
What “mental chains” are holding me back from seeing?
In what ways am I longing for renewal, renovation, and change?

(From self-led guide)

In what areas am I struggling with being more open?
What obstacles are getting in the way of this openness?
What area might I need to focus more on this week to help me with my openness (disciplines, community, prayer, silence, being a caring presence, simple listening, adoration, or friendship)?

Comment

Friend to Friend August 5, 2020

August 6, 2020

As Way Opens

Back before the pandemic entered our lives, Sue, my parents, and I attended a special talk being given by the author/pastor Rob Bell in Indy. I wasn’t sure what to expect because it was new material and the title was somewhat bland, An Introduction to Joy. So, after finding our seats at the Fountain Square Theatre among a sold out crowd, Rob entered and opened by addressing my curiosity about his topic. He acknowledged that with a title like An Introduction to Joy we would be requiring a subtitle. Immediately, on the screen appeared what he said was a terse and short subtitle:

How To Be Less Cynical And
More Honest About the Subversive
Truth That Lurks Just Below the
Surface of Pretty Much Everything.

That set the tone for the next hour and a half. That night, I laughed harder than I have laughed in a long time, I came to tears a couple of times, and finally, I left realizing that I had been introduced to a joy I was missing. The world was already rather “heavy” back in September when we heard Rob speak, but in many ways, I found it a preparation for the times we are in now. If there is one thing that is missing in our world currently it is joy.

A few weeks ago, Rob Bell announced that he was going to post, for free, his talk, An Introduction to Joy on YouTube for us all to enjoy. On my day off as I was preparing for Yearly Meeting, I sat down and listened again to Rob’s talk. I laughed again, shed more tears, and once again was introduced to a joy I was missing. I immediately shared the video on Facebook and encouraged others to tune-in. One friend who watched, mentioned how his words almost seemed prophetic – and I think they were.

I want to challenge you this week, take an hour and a half alone or with someone who lives within your home, find a comfy chair, and watch, An Introduction to Joy. Here is the YouTube Video:

You can thank me later. ENJOY!

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading had a great meeting in July! It is a joy that meetings can continue safely online (left). If you’re interested in joining the group, find more info on their next meeting later in this newsletter!

A tree in memory of Dan R has been planted by Dan’s family in our meditational woods (right). All are invited to visit the woods, with safe social distancing, see the new tree, and pay their respects to our beloved Friend Dan.

Joyce B came through her surgery well and will be recovering in the hospital for several days.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

First Friends Reopening Committee, August 2020

Dear Friends,

Here’s an update on where we stand.

Any budding optimism for a staged opening of the Meetinghouse that might have been implied by my former open letter to the Meeting has been.. tempered, to speak succinctly. We currently have no plans for opening the Meeting House to gatherings of any kind, sanctioned or unsanctioned. We are meeting regularly and holding in the light the many facets of needs of Friends, attenders, and outside groups (who rely on our building for their ministries) in balance with health and community safety.

Currently, we’ve agreed to allow small gatherings in the Meditational Woods, requiring attenders to adhere to current state and local guidelines regarding social distancing, face mask wearing, avoiding personal contact, and limiting gathering size.

Access to the outdoor grounds has been and will continue to be considered on a case by case basis. Individuals interested in hosting a small group may reach out to Rebecca to initiate a request. We’ve been able to accommodate group requests efficiently to date. Aside from the meditational woods, our property offers other useful and magnificent outdoor spaces - opportunities for gathering - and we’d like to open those to hosts and their groups who feel led to use them.

To better meet the needs of this potentially expanded use of the outdoor space at First Friends, we have decided to create a protocol for bathroom use as well as a plan for emergency building access.

The designated host of small groups approved to use the property will be given a key card for building access. We have recently asked the trustees to consider replacing the current locks with a digital numeric code system, incidentally an overdue security upgrade, but for now we will continue to use key cards.

The following requirements will be clearly posted at any points of entry:

Face masks required
No more than 2 persons are allowed in the building at any time
Access to the building is for bathroom and emergency use only
Small group host is accountable and responsible for key access and ensuring compliance with all individuals in the group
Hand sanitizer prior to building access is required (stations - [table, hand sanitizer, face masks] be set up by meeting host prior to gathering with materials provided by First Friends; meeting host is required to coordinate)

-Reopening Committee

Personal Finance Education ~ Join Samantha R and her sister Jillian R for Personal Finance education! We have three upcoming sessions on Debt & Credit- August 6th at 6 pm, Insurance & Savings August 20th at 6 pm, and Home Buying & Renting August 27th at 6 pm. Any questions? Reach out to the office at office@indyfriends.org.

This Thursday, August 6th we'll be gathering for free over Zoom and would love for you all to join us to learn more about debt! Now buckle up, this is NOT your run of the mill lesson on how to improve your credit score and good credit vs. bad credit! Credit cards, loans companies, car payments, and more debt are ways to keep you behind financially. Creditors are predators and when you free yourself from debt then you can start winning with money! Are you ready?! What have you got to lose? https://www.eventbrite.com/e/113935321614

Nancy S will be leading the discussion in via Zoom starting at 7 pm on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. Please contact the office for Zoom information.

Indy Winds Flute Choir presents a summer pop-up concert! All are invited to join the Indy Winds Flute Choir on Sunday, August 9 at 6:30pm for a concert at the Riverwood Park shelter, 7201 Crittenden Ave in Indianapolis. Both our own Lynda S and Carl B are a part of this choir group. Bring a chair, a cooler, or a picnic, and enjoy a concert of light music programmed to help you relax and enjoy the fresh air! Admission is free. See the flyer here: https://bit.ly/2DDIjng.

Community Garden Refuge ~ The Community Garden is a fun place to meet up with friends and neighbors. One can find solace and peace in this magnificent retreat. The fruits and veggies we harvest make some mighty good feasts. A tabletop bouquet is a sweet added bonus.

WYM Session Recordings & Feedback ~ Western Yearly Meeting is currently in the process of processing and uploading videos of some of the sessions. As they become available, you will find them on WYM’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX47NfqZHgEtvbbPK06pVew. Their channel already includes a powerful Quaker Lecture by Colin Saxton which (hint hint!) Pastor Bob will be referencing in his sermon this upcoming Sunday.

In addition, WYM is asking for feedback on their annual sessions. You can take the survey electronically by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GK8VFFT, or by printing a paper copy here and sending it in, or you may request a print copy mailed to you by calling 317-839-2789.

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

How am I tapping this Power and Divine Energy in my daily life?
What “hard things” do I need God to help me through, currently?
How might I be bold and bring life into my world this week?

(From self-led guide)

How am I tapping this Power and Divine Energy in my daily life?
What “hard things” do I need God to help me through, currently?
How might I be bold and bring life into my world this week?

Comment

Friend to Friend July 29, 2020

July 31, 2020

As Way Opens

I have been immersed in VBS this week. We have been premiering a video each evening and then hosting a zoom call with the kids that want to join us (Rebecca has done an amazing job of creating the videos). I have appreciated the theme of VBS this year that Jesus’s power will see us through and help us face hard things, be bold, have hope and make friends. Our kids have talked about the things they are worried about and the hard things they are facing. We are all facing hard things and we desperately need hope. Jesus is our hope. Jesus is the hope I turn to everyday. Jesus lived a life of compassion, contemplation, care for others, healing and wholeness, accepting those on the fringes and of sacrifice. These are the values I want to embrace and try to exhibit in my life.

I have been wearing our “Watch for God” bracelet the last 2 weeks as a reminder for me to watch for God every day. We can get so immersed in ourselves, our concerns, our fears, our challenges that we forget to look for God all day in so many ways. Our kids shared they have seen God in the outdoors, in friends, family, pets. I know that I often forget to do this as my ego keeps getting in the way. As an example, I watch all of these videos we prepare for worship and VBS and think about how I look fat, say uhm too much, lick my lips, notice my collar is askew etc…. Why do I do this? What does it matter? It’s a continual struggle for all of us to limit our egos and instead turn to see the face of God in our activities and experiences.

Each year our kids remind me of this and remind me of the simplicity and depth of Jesus’s love and power. Even though we did VBS completely differently this year, it was a meaningful experience for me. A huge thank-you to Bob H, Jim K, Sue H, Bill H and Rebecca L for making VBS great this year. Jesus’s power pulls us through and helps us do hard things.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

Let’s give a BIG thank-you to our food pantry volunteers from the 15th: Virginia and Derek S; Linda L; Kathy and Bill F; Christie M; Phil G; Carol and Jim D. Food recipients were gracious and thankful for the efforts of our volunteers.

Western Yearly Meeting annual sessions were a success! Bob was also recorded during the worship service on Sunday. If you’d like to see the service and Bob’s recording, you can watch it on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=PSdd1JUN6y4 (his recording begins at 54:30). Or you can read the words Bob spoke here. Congratulations, Pastor Bob!!

Please pray for Joyce B. She will be having Hip replacement surgery on August 4. It had been pushed off due to the pandemic. Please pray for a successful surgery and speedy recovery for her!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Remembering to Bless the Hands that Pick Your Food

Jennifer grows everything from herbs to flowers and vegetables in her well-tended plots in the Community Garden. She even neatly fenced in her largest raised bed that features climbing tendrils reaching skyward. She loves being outside watching her garden grow.

“I am acutely aware of how hard it is to bring the food to the table from the field,” she says. Her ex-husband, a Mexican, came to the U.S as a field worker along with his brother. Jennifer was not as aware about where her food came from until they were sitting down at the table to eat and she was serving asparagus. Her husband started talking about how hard it was to pick asparagus in the fields, how he was always having to bandage his hands.

Now Jennifer personally knows people who have worked in fields and factories in slave-like conditions. She speaks of a relative in the ‘90s who had to escape his untenable situation. She said he was picked up at the border by people who turned out to be human traffickers. They took him to a farmer who had made a deal with them. He was treated like a slave or an indentured servant. He had nowhere to live except where his employer placed him. He owed his boss for rent, food and everything else, including the trafficking fee. He soon realized that he would never be able to pay off the debt he owed with the pitiful wages he earned. He recognized the dark threat hanging over him. When the farmer drove the workers to town for their weekly laundry trip he chose to escape. He traveled from North Carolina to Maryland with nothing but the clothes he wore until he arrived on Jennifer’s doorstep.

“[U.S.] people don’t understand how hard [Mexican] people try to do the right thing,” Jennifer said when talking about how hard undocumented immigrants work to try to become documented. She also spoke of a Mexican relative who merely wants to visit her but is not able because she must have income and property and is too poor to fit the criteria.

Jennifer believes the U.S. doesn’t recognize that many Mexican people might need refugee status. She used to live in Mexico and spoke of how she and her children feared being kidnapped by cartels.

“I know personally about the need to leave Mexico. People are often in dangerous situations.” She explained how young men can be threatened to join gangs and they want to run away so they do not need to do that and because they must find a way to support their poverty-stricken families. She explained how “U.S. businesses leave the back door open so they can obtain cheap labor.” Poor Mexicans are tempted by this arrangement and if they take these positions, which Americans typically don’t want, they lack health care and benefits. They also have no protection from the law. The country still needs the labor though, to feed the population. Corrupt employers sometimes call Immigration to conduct raids on payday at the end of a particular harvest when the migrant workers must move on anyway and are no longer needed. There are always more illegal immigrants to fill their vacated low-level jobs. New people will be hired illegally and treated accordingly.

Jennifer believes people are more aware of these inequities than ever before. Still, she is upset by people who have no compassion for the immigrants.

“Undocumented immigrants are still working in the fields, even with masks on. They have never stopped. They are planting, caring for the crops and harvesting. Meanwhile those who have no compassion and don’t think about where their food comes from are stuck in the house hoarding food,” she said. “They depend on the undocumented people for their food.”

She believes the “sins of the fathers,” like in the Black Lives Matter movement, are still with us and “the trauma is not over.”

“No matter what your political view is, we always need to provide food for the masses. No one wants field jobs because they want better jobs.” Then undocumented immigrants fill the less desirable jobs that we offer them. Before the undocumented immigrants, Jennifer is cognizant of the role of black slaves in working the crops.

“Always, it is the people who are disenfranchised that have to fill the void,” she said. “After black slaves the Mexicans, Central Americans, and other immigrants became the main sharecroppers and farmworkers. Some call it ‘contemporary slavery.’”

Jennifer KNOWS where her food comes from—her garden and the hands of others.

“I always bless the hands that picked my food,” she says. “I always remember the black slaves who raised the food first in this country because our country is built on slavery.”

~Nancy

Queries for the Week

(From self-led guide)

How might practicing equanimity help me as I struggle with the pandemic, racial unrest, and the political season our nation is in?
As I reflect on the mountains, what am I learning about God or my spiritual journey from them?
What pilgrimage might I need to go on, physically or spiritually this week?

Comment

Friend to Friend July 22, 2020

July 24, 2020

Back when we first moved to Oregon, I had a member of our meeting ask me a very important question for people in Oregon. He asked, “Are you a mountain guy or a beach guy?” Growing up a Hoosier and living most of my life in the Midwest, I had never once pondered such a query. I responded by saying, “I think I’m a beach guy.” That response was because I had never really been to the mountains. Sure, I had driven through them or stopped to look from a distance, but that was about it. I had been to the beach more times than I could count, so it must be the beach.

In the coming years, our family would take road trips. Many of which found us among the mountains out west. We found ourselves on Mt. Saint Helens, the Olympic Mountains, Mt. Hood, Mt. Washington, Three Finger Jack, The Grand Tetons, and even atop the mountains at Glacier National Park. Last week, we continued those journeys since coming back to Indiana by heading to the Great Smoky Mountains. Even though the elevations in the Great Smoky Mountains are about half of what they are in Glacier National Park, the views are still as stunning and unique with the “smoky” moisture layers and multiple shades of blue.

Come to think of it, the last time I was in the Great Smokey Mountains was after my senior year of high school before heading to college, just like our son, Sam. One place I wanted to return and take my family in the Great Smoky Mountains was Clingmans Dome. When I visited back in high school, I was not as aware of how we stole land from the First Nations people to make our national parks and to diminish the sacredness of the land. Today, at the base of Clingmans Dome the National Park System has placed an explanation which reads as follows.

“Clingmans Dome is a sacred mountain to the Cherokees, where the Magic Lake was once seen. The Great Spirit told the Cherokees that, “if they love me, if they love all their brothers and sisters, and if they love the animals of the earth, when they grow old and sick, they can come to the magic lake and be made well again. For Cherokees, these mountains have meant refuge, homeland, and a mythical and spiritual foundation for their people. During the Indian Removal Period of the 1800s known as the Trail of Tears, the mountains meant safety from pursuing soldiers. Today these slopes provide a refuge and offer inspiration for visitors from a hectic modern society.”

As I read that, I began to realize, I too found refuge in these mountains from our hectic modern society, the current pandemic, the racial unrest, and the political season. My family had headed to the mountains for healing, refuge and rest – all that a vacation should afford. But it was the Great Spirit’s words that spoke deep into my soul atop Clingmans Dome. As I looked out upon the silence and beauty from 6,643 ft. I heard our world being summoned by the Great Spirit in much the same way Jesus uttered the greatest commandments - love God, love ALL our brothers and sisters, even the animals of the earth, so that we can grow old and return to these sacred places for healing.

I sensed a rather straight forward leading in that moment - we are going to continue to struggle with receiving the healing benefits of the mountains, or creation in general, until we first put our priorities in order. I sensed deeply that unless we are more intentional about loving God, neighbor, even the animals, we are going to continue to struggle with finding the full benefit of all that we are offered. As I climbed back down Clingmans Dome, I found myself somewhat refreshed, having enjoyed the view, yet keenly aware that it was time to get back to those priorities the Great Spirit and Jesus had stated – to love God and neighbor.

Just maybe as I work to love God and my brothers and sisters, I will find myself becoming more and more a “mountain guy” and begin receiving the full benefits of all God wants to lavish upon me from the mountaintops of this world. To help us spiritually “head to the mountains” this week our Self-Led Worship Guide will be focused on spiritually looking at mountains – be sure to check it out.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Meeting Safely! We applaud the “Serenity Now!” support group for continuing their meetings—in a safe manner! Here they are meeting in the courtyard, safely distanced from each other.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Interested in our men’s small group? Last Spring Kent Farr helped start a men’s book club small group at First Friends. The group is currently meeting on alternating Thursday nights at the home of Derek Snell to take advantage of great weather and have space to spread out, with the garage and Zoom being our backups. If you would like to join us for the next group of discussions, please contact one of us directly. We’ll begin sharing the next book, a collection of Steven Crane's short stories "The Open Boat and other Stories" on July 23rd. We've chosen to explore Glennon Doyle's "Untamed" after that.

Western Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions! All are invited to join the WYM annual sessions this July 24-26. As a reminder, there will be no First Friends Sunday Service this weekend as all are encouraged to virtually attend the WYM annual sessions and Sunday service (where our own Bob Henry will be recorded!). The info on the events taking place can be found in their most recent email blast, which you can find here: https://bit.ly/WYM2020info. You can also find more information, as well as register on their website at https://www.westernyearlymeeting.org/2020vision. The registration deadline is tomorrow (Thursday)! To access the Zoom links each day when it is time to meet, please visit https://www.westernyearlymeeting.org/2020connection using password WYMQuaker (case sensitive!). If you have any questions, you can contact Western Yearly Meeting at westernym@sbcglobal.net.

Join us from virtually anywhere in the world as the Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading discusses Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink (558 pages).

In the tradition of the best investigative journalism, physician and reporter Sheri Fink reconstructs 5 days at Memorial Medical Center and draws the reader into the lives of those who struggled mightily to survive and to maintain life amid chaos.

After Katrina struck and the floodwaters rose, the power failed, and the heat climbed, exhausted caregivers chose to designate certain patients last for rescue. Months later, several health professionals faced criminal allegations that they deliberately injected numerous patients with drugs to hasten their deaths.

Five Days at Memorial, the culmination of six years of reporting, unspools the mystery of what happened in those days, bringing the reader into a hospital fighting for its life and into a conversation about the most terrifying form of health care rationing.

In a voice at once involving and fair, masterful and intimate, Fink exposes the hidden dilemmas of end-of-life care and reveals just how ill-prepared we are in America for the impact of large-scale disasters—and how we can do better. A remarkable book, engrossing from start to finish, Five Days at Memorial radically transforms your understanding of human nature in crisis. (goodreads.com)

Amy S will be leading the discussion in via Zoom starting at 7 pm on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.

Growing and Cooking with 깻잎 Perilla - By Heather D

Heather, one of our community gardeners, traveled to S. Korea last summer. She teaches Culinary Arts and is now growing Korean vegetables in our Community Garden. She has developed a taste for them and is sharing some of her expertise in this issue’s gardening article.

Perilla is a leafy Korean vegetable that has a pleasant taste somewhere between mint and basil and is a little peppery. Perilla is also sometimes called sesame leaf although it is actually part of the mint family. The Korean name for perilla is 깻잎 or kkaennip.

It's used in many traditional Korean dishes. Perilla is used alongside lettuce as a wrap for grilled meats. It can be made into a type of kimchi (naturally fermented and full of probiotics!), pickled, or even made into savory fritters! Perilla is also used as a filling for gimbap (also spelling kimbap) which is similar to Japanese sushi. The key difference is that gimbap has all cooked or fermented/pickled ingredients. It typically has seasoned beef or tuna, pickled daikon radish, and egg, wrapped in seasoned sticky rice and nori seaweed sheets. These recipes are available at www.maangchi.com.

Perilla is low maintenance and easy to grow. It does well in a large pot with self draining soil or outside in the ground. Simply sow perilla seed directly into the soil where you wish them to grow, covering them with a thin soil layer. They need partial to full sun and are self seeding for the next year.

Source: https://www.maangchi.com/ingredient/perilla-leaves

Buy local: Saraga International Grocery, located at 3605 Commercial Dr, Indianapolis

Buy online: Kizawaza's Seeds https://www.kitazawaseed.com/seed_260-172.html

Support First Friends! Friends, during this time we are still in need of your support to keep the Meetinghouse going, to continue online Meetings for Worship, and to keep our ministries afloat. As we all learn to navigate this new world of social distancing together, we are happy to share new and easier ways you can continue to support the Meeting while stuck at home! First Friends now accepts online giving and giving through text. We also highly encourage setting up automatic payments with your bank! You can do so by signing into your online bank account and setting up payments to First Friends. Please visit www.indyfriends.org/support for more information or to give. If you have questions or would like to be walked through how to do it, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or call 317-255-2485. Thank you for supporting First Friends, especially during these times!

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Service? Don’t worry if you missed it, you can watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BUvWo3lF4g. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday!

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

What are the practices I need to do to sustain me in this marathon?
What might I be willing to sacrifice?
How do I face my fear for the future?

(From self-led guide)

How am I being intentionally present to the love of God and allowing the Breath of God to fill and restore my soul?
What am I learning about the Spirit and its role in my spiritual formation?
How, each day, can I find time to just breathe?

Comment

Friend to Friend July 15, 2020

July 16, 2020

As Way Opens

I receive a daily blog (called Faith and Life Inspirational Message) from Alan Kolp, Quaker and former professor at Earlham College and former dean of Earlham School of Religion. He recently wrote about a group that he zooms into that engaged in a conversation that really impacted him when a woman in the group said that the church should be in the streets now. He shared that in the middle of the group conversation a young woman dropping that sentence on them, stunned him. She simply stated, “For me, church is in the streets right now.” Wow! The power and insight of this comment cut him to the bone. It was an intriguing affirmation of the church, but the church affirmed in a very different way. It was an insightful, creative way to answer the question, where is the church today?

I have been thinking a lot about this over the last few weeks. Where is First Friends? Are we the building that we entered for so many years on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday? Or are we a community without regard to our building? Are we a church in the streets?

I am reflecting on the early church in the Bible. Jesus ministry was certainly in the streets and the early church that grew dramatically was certainly a church in the streets. But over the years, the church became established, respectable, and more about the building, the Sunday morning service, the belief system, and the connections made and networks established.

I want First Friends to be a church in the streets. For me this means that we are a beacon of Light in the city, extending our collective arms around all and standing up for justice and peace. What does a church in the streets mean to you?

There are so many issues facing us right now. For many of us, being in the streets will not be a literal action but a virtual and figurative action to be out in the mud and messiness of all of our lives and to respond to God’s call in our hearts for each of our ministries.

Beth

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Update from the flowers ~ The Woods and the Courtyard are sending greetings of joy amid all the challenges we are encountering with the weather, COVID and political discord. Mindy and I gave them an extra drink of water and removed the noxious weeds and they responded with beauty and vibrancy and food for the pollinators who stopped by to chat and share in their bounty. If you can’t make it over to the Meetinghouse, go to your nearby garden and invite yourself to a charming visit.

Sadly, we lost two bird friends who probably flew into the big windows of Fellowship Hall. Birds can become confused by the reflections in the glass and think they are flying into safety. Check out this article from the American Bird Conservancy about the many birds who die each year from collisions with glass windows. https://abcbirds.org/get-involved/bird-smart-glass/

Interested in our men’s small group? Last Spring Kent F helped start a men’s book club small group at First Friends. The group is currently meeting on alternating Thursday nights at the home of Derek S to take advantage of great weather and have space to spread out, with the garage and Zoom being our backups. If you would like to join us for the next group of discussions, please contact one of us directly. We’ll begin sharing the next book, a collection of Steven Crane's short stories "The Open Boat and other Stories" on July 23rd. We've chosen to explore Glennon Doyle's "Untamed" after that.

Western Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions! All are invited to join the WYM annual sessions this July 24-26. This year our own Bob Henry will be recorded! Try as we might to stay in our comfort zone, this year’s annual sessions must be a drastic contrast to what we are used to. What are the elements we will miss the most? The face-to-face conversations we cherish with our spiritual friends. The comradery we feel when we come together as a body of believers. And, the strength we gain when we journey together.

With the way to our Yearly Meeting sessions are planned using technology join us, there is little we can do to make up for those missing elements. However, most events that will be offered on Zoom will have a “fellowship” time 15 minutes prior to starting the event during which we invite you to sign on and chat with others. In the printed schedule you will see a gray area that indicates time for gathering and socializing. We hope it is an acceptable substitute for greetings and maybe even hugs for the time being what it is. And we look forward to seeing you in those safe and protective little boxes on the screen. Here find the updated draft schedule as we have it. There will be adjustments yet to come in the next versions. Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, you can contact Western Yearly Meeting westernym@sbcglobal.net.

Perennial Herb Varieties (Part 2)

Marjoram is closely related to oregano. It is a creeping plant and reveals its strongest flavors if it is grown in a sunny locale. Marjoram must be cut back in the summer to make room for tasty new growth. If flowers are not removed the herb becomes tough. This perennial is drought resistant. The leaves have a spicy flavor and are a favorite in Mediterranean cuisine. Add marjoram leaves—not stems-- to vegetables, tomato-based dishes, stuffing, forcemeats, sausages, preserved meats, game, poultry and legumes. Add them at the end of cooking time. The herb and its oil are used as flavorings. The flowers, leaves and oil are used to make medicine and treat runny nose, coughs, colds, infections and digestive problems though there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.*

Mint spreads readily. To prevent this, gardeners can grow it in containers, even containers pushed into the ground. There are many types of mint including peppermint and spearmint. Mint is an upright plant that needs moist soil. It should be cut back in the summer to make room for new growth; flowers should be removed to preserve tenderness. Mint is used as a flavoring, a breath freshener and a garnish. It works well in both sweet and savory dishes. This herb is commonly used in salads and pesto. It is often used in drinks: tea, smoothies and fizzlers. It can be combined with berries or watermelon and even used to add pizazz to your Greek yogurt.

Oregano is a flowering perennial in the mint family. It sports purple flowers produced in erect spikes. Fresh oregano is an antibacterial agent with ingredients which fight infections such as staph. It contains antioxidants that help prevent cell damage, and it’s an excellent source of fiber, vitamin B6, manganese, iron, vitamin E, tryptophan and calcium. It has a slightly pungent flavor and a camphor-like aroma. An oregano tea contains the chemical carvacrol, which can be used to reduce blood pressure.* The herb’s name comes from the Greek words “oros,” meaning mountain, and “ganos,” meaning joy. Greeks and Romans used oregano as a symbol of happiness and joy. This perennial is often used in tomato-centric recipes, like pizza and pasta sauce, as well as olive oil-based dishes. Oregano and olive oil combinations result in oregano oil, Italian vinaigrettes, and marinades for lamb, chicken, and beef dishes. It is good in herbed breads and patted into burgers. Oregano also goes well with beans and pesto.

Rosemary is an aromatic, woody, ornamental herb. It is a shrubby evergreen with needle-like leaves that has potential to grow throughout the winter, though probably not in our 5b and 6a hardiness zone. It has white, pink, purple, or blue flowers. It is difficult to grow from seeds and The Farmer’s Almanac suggests starting it from cuttings. The perennial needs a sunny location with well-drained soil. It is drought tolerant but can be short-lived. Be sure to pinch back tips and prune for best results. Harvest up to one-third of the plant at any one time before taking more. It does not transplant into containers very easily so divide the plant or get cuttings for next season. The herb has a resinous flavor and teams well with lamb. It can be used in stews, soups and poultry dishes. Some say you can wear a sprig of rosemary in your hair or drink rosemary tea to improve your memory. *

Sage is a drought tolerant aromatic shrubby perennial with grey-green or purple leaves. Leaves can be variegated. This herb fares best in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. The easiest way to grow sage is to start with a small plant or cutting though you can use seed. Harvest lightly the first year. Once established, plants need to have tops pinched if they are to grow shrubby and strong. Stop harvesting in the fall so the plant can build strength for the winter. The heavier, woody stems need to be pruned every spring and plants should be replaced every few years in order to be productive. Many dishes can be flavored with sage including stuffing, beans and meat. Some people burn sage in an ancient spiritual ritual known as smudging in a belief that the practice cleanses and releases negativity.*

Thyme is an herb that does well in pots as well as beds. It can even be used as a no-mow lawn bed. There are upright types that are easy to harvest for culinary use, and there are creeping types that often have roots on their spreading stems. This means they are easily propagated. Thyme is a versatile herb that can be used in dishes like soups, rubs, marinades, salads and stews. It can be used with vegetables and seafood. If cooked too long in cuisine featuring poultry, meats and stuffing it can lose its delicate flavor—that of a slightly sour taste similar to mild lemon. Many times the herb can be added after cooking with a lid kept on as the pot is removed from the heat source. When a recipe calls for a sprig of thyme the stem should remain until after the leaves have fallen away during cooking. Only then should the stem be retrieved. Thyme’s flavor complements Southern Italian sauces of hot peppers and eggplants. The perennial is said to help the digestion of fatty foods.*

Enjoy spicing up your veggies & foods with some of these delicious perennials! ~Nancy

*I cannot guarantee medical and ritualistic claims mentioned in this article. The piece does contain practical information, but it is also for fun and recreation and is not necessarily backed up by scientific findings. Some herbs can be detrimental to health given certain medical conditions and if quantities an-re extreme. Please do your research.

Sources for this article include webmd.com, thespruceeats.com, mydeliciousblog.com, en.m.wikipedia.org, almanac.com, healthline.com, foodal.com, medicalnewstoday.com, masterclass.com, cookinglight.com, BBC.uk.food.com, and Small Plot; Big Harvest by Lucy Halsall.

All are invited to Fellowship Hour and Meeting for Business ~ After virtual worship this Sunday, we hope you will join us at 11:00am on Zoom for Fellowship Hour! For the link to join, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Service? Did you miss our Sunday Service premiere? Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56DTA6VchF4. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

How do I respond to the word, contemplation?
Am I “waking up” to new understandings during this difficult time?
How does my spiritual journey and relationship with God affect my contemplation?

(From self-led guide)

Do I recognize God’s love for me? What may be getting in the way of my receiving that love from God?
Who in my circles of influence needs to hear that they are loved, today?
Do I really believe God’s love is enough in this world?

Comment

Friend to Friend July 8, 2020

July 9, 2020

As Way Opens

Unexpected…now, there is a word I use more frequently these days.

Just the other day, I was reminiscing about all the major changes coming to our family in 2020 and the many milestones we would be celebrating as summer approached, only to end it with…“but then came the unexpected.” I am sure you have utilized that phrase on numerous occasions over the last couple of months.

Not only are we living in unprecedented times, we are experiencing the unexpected. If someone would have predicted back in January that we were going to be enduring a global pandemic, wrestling nationally with racial unrest, not having sports, concerts, or even Fourth of July celebrations, being isolated in our homes, washing off our groceries, wondering if there would be enough toilet paper and hand sanitizer, and wearing face masks, I would have probably thought you were from another planet. But ironically, what has taken place is the exact definition of unexpected.

The dictionary says the word unexpected means not regarded as likely to happen.

So far during this pandemic, Sue and I have carefully watched our emails only to receive update upon update explaining the likeliness of things not happening this summer. Our expectations of how things would play out slowly fell apart and it has been rather disappointing.

Then, this week, I was reading an article that quoted the Buddhist nun Pema Chodron and the following quote caught my attention and spoke to my condition. She said,

“Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.”

Personally, I did not have room for all that has already happened in the world – and if I am honest, I probably still don’t. So much has been unexpected. So much has fallen apart, come together, and fallen apart again. And as we see another spike in the Covid-19 cases across our nation, I have to ask myself, am I making room in my life for the unexpected to test me, to heal me, and to allow me a place to grieve, find relief, and joy? It has me again asking those words of James in the Bible, “…yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life (James 4:14a)”

Is our life simply about our expectations, our passing the test, our overcoming the problems and finding solutions? Or since we can’t always control what life is going to bring, are we focusing on making room for the unexpected to happen so with God’s help we can find relief and true joy in this world? Take a moment this week and allow yourself to ponder these thoughts and hopefully you will find room for some relief and joy during these difficult times.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Thank you to all who volunteered at the food pantry last Wednesday, July 1: Linda and Rik L; Kathy and Bill F; Phil G; Derek, Virginia and Melanie S; David B; Carol and Jim D. 63 families were served. Thank you for your service!

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

We recently received a note from the Secretary of Keyo Friends Women Group in Kenya thanking Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) for the food aid which was recently sent. This is the group that together with your support, First Friends was able to sponsor through RSWR. To see the note in full, click here.

Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) is a fellowship opportunity for young adults excited by the intersection of justice and Quaker spiritual deepening. This year, 36 Fellows are participating in this experiment, working at nonprofits in one of our five program cities, living in community together, and considering how their spirituality is integrally connected with community and justice. Fellows work with those experiencing homelessness, engage with climate change issues, support individuals in navigating the immigration system, teach in classrooms, work at neighborhood health centers, and so much more. Meanwhile, Fellows meet monthly with a Spiritual Nurturer and worship with Quaker communities. The current focus on the racial justice movement, global health pandemic, and economic crisis brings into even sharper relief QVS’s call to provide Spirit-grounded service opportunities for young adults.

This summer, QVS will celebrate the end of the eighth program year and the nearly complete four-year fundraising campaign to raise an additional $2.2 million to deepen the program offerings and seed an endowment. We have just $55,000 left to raise!

We welcome contributions from you as you consider how you are led to steward your financial resources. There is so much need in our local communities, in this country, and in the world right now. QVS is an opportunity to make change in all of these levels. Young adult Fellows work at local nonprofits before continuing into whole lives dedicated to spiritually grounded social change. If you are able to make a financial offering, please visit the QVS website for ways to give. This is truly the best way you can help QVS Fellows and the vulnerable communities they serve right now. Beth serves on the QVS board and thinks this is an amazing organization for our young people!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Interested in our men’s small group? Last Spring Kent F helped start a men’s book club small group at First Friends. In the last year we’ve covered “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl (Biography), "Let Your Life Speak" (self-help) by Parker Palmer, “Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemmingway, “Billy Budd” by Herman Melville, “Shane” (a Western) by Jack Schaefer, and “Freedom’s Forge” (History), and we are currently finishing up “Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work” by Alex Pattakos. The group is currently meeting on alternating Thursday nights at the home of Derek Snell to take advantage of great weather and have space to spread out, with the garage and Zoom being our backups. Our plan is to return to the Meeting House when it reopens. If you would like to help us choose our next book and/or join us for the next group of discussions, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. We’ll begin sharing the next book on July 23rd.

Raising Perennial Herbs

Perennial herbs live more than two years and are usually flowering plants. They grow and bloom over spring and summer, die back every autumn and winter, and then return in the spring from their rootstock. They can be used as decoration, borders, topiaries, food, garnishes and even lawn beds or no-mow grass. [Some plant types recommended for lawns are violet, plantain, yarrow, clover, Roman chamomile, purslane, lamb’s quarters, oregano, creeping thyme and several species of mint.] Perennials grow fast and can be raised in beds or containers. It is possible to dine on them year-round if raised indoors or if they are hardy. They can be served fresh or dried and stored for later use. Some perennials are tall, some are shrubby and others creep on the ground. They can be sown from seed, grown from cuttings or bought in pots. Evergreen types like bay and rosemary may need pruning and can grow all year, depending on the hardiness zone where they are located. Usually herbs need no fertilizer but they should be planted in a sunny spot with rich, well-drained soil. They need to be well-watered and if the gardener wants them bushy, flowers and tips need to be pinched off so they do not bolt and leaves can be harvested longer. Scissors or a sharp knife should be used to harvest them and they should be harvested often during the growing season. Place slug pellets or eggshells around perennials to stave off pests.

Drying Herbs

Perennial herbs can be dried for use throughout the winter. Short stems like thyme and marjoram can be laid out on wire racks for 24-48 hours and then stored away from light in sealed containers. Longer stems can be cut, bunched and hung upside down in a warm, dry, well-ventilated place.

Bay leaves grow on the laurel tree. These aromatic evergreen leaves can be trained into standards and used as topiaries. The plant can be large and may need pruning. It cannot survive Indiana winters outdoors. In cooking, the leaf can be used whole or dried and ground. The leaves are not generally eaten but are usually simmered or used in a braising liquid and then removed after cooking since they do not soften and since they have sharp edges that could even slice the digestive tract or choke a person. Bay leaves are good for digestion and rich in vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium.* They are commonly used in stews, soups, rubs, pickling brines, stuffing and when braising meat.

Perennial Herb Varieties (Part 1)

Chives have a mild flavor and are from the onion family. The pretty purple flowers and green leaves or stems can be used in many dishes such as scrambled eggs, soups, dips and sauces. They can be mixed into butter and pesto. They may be pureed with oil, heated a couple minutes and strained through a coffee filter before being refrigerated as a bright green infusion. This can be stored in a squirt bottle and splashed over grilled or poached fish and poultry. It can top roasted potatoes, pasta or creamy soups as a fancy surprise for the diner. What about harvesting? Individual leaves can be cut as needed. The plant seeds itself once it is established. If the gardener wants to limit its spread it can be grown in containers.

Fennel is another perennial that seeds itself once established. It is decorative and often used for ornamental borders. A member of the carrot family, this plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean region but now grows in areas around the world. It has lovely yellow flowers and a sweet scent. Its taste is similar to anise or liquorice and is a primary ingredient of absinthe. Almost all parts of the plant have a culinary use. Its bulb-like stem base is used as a vegetable and can be eaten raw, stewed, sautéed, braised or grilled. Its young shoots can be eaten like crunchy celery. The dried fruit is used as a spice. The feathery leaves can be used as a garnish; as a salad or in salad; to flavor puddings, sweet desserts and sauces; and in soup. Fennel pairs nicely with eggs, fish, chicory and avocado. It is a component of Italian sausage and can be used as a pickling agent, sometimes for eggplant. Fennel tea can be used to aid digestion.*

Tune in next week for Perennial Herb Varieties – Part 2!

Enjoy spicing up your veggies and foods with some of the delicious perennials spotlighted above!

~Nancy

Join us from virtually anywhere in the world as the Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading discusses Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink (558 pages)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17704902-five-days-at-memorial?from_search=true

Amy S will be leading the discussion in via Zoom starting at 7 pm on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.

To join the Zoom meeting, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Service? This week we had a special Prayer Service of Lament for Race & Injustice. Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L80HSQ4RARE. Did you hear the birds chirping throughout the service? Brad Jackson identified all the calls for us! Here’s what you’ll hear through the service:

Announcements: Carolina Wren

Prayer: House Sparrow, Northern Cardinal (snapping), Carolina Chickadee

Scripture: House Sparrow, Carolina Chickadee

Message: Northern Cardinal, House Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, House Wren, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, American Robin, Carolina Wren (heard throughout), Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker

Benediction: Northern Cardinal (song), Carolina Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, Song Sparrow.

We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for July
Northern Parula
Just Visiting, and Why?

When visitors are introduced at worship here at First Friends, I try to listen carefully to their words, and think of a connection, perhaps something about where they are from, perhaps a Quaker tie, or even a family connection. I want to have something to say if I see them after worship. It is sometimes tricky to find a balance between being friendly and “smothering.” I wouldn’t want to “scare” the visitor away. Without a connection, I’ll be sure to smile and say hello, and let the Friend know that I can help with questions or directions.

Similarly, in the natural world, we want to enjoy seeing a bird without scaring it away. One such avian visitor was singing in the Meditational Woods on June 17th. Although Northern Parulas do nest in the area, they prefer streamside woodlands, and so can be found at Holliday Park or any of the woods along Fall Creek. The closest habitat we have to that here is the muddy soil in the brushy northeast corner of the woods. So the male I found there in mid-June was not likely to stay. He was searching for insects and spiders in the sycamores and cottonwoods.

This beautiful warbler is a bold blue on the head, wings, and tail, with a strange mossy-colored triangular patch on his back. Most notable is the yellow chin and breast, with a black-on-chestnut necklace. Note the broken white eye ring. He is a stunning jewel to see. His song is a rising “ziziziziziziziziZIP”. If one hears that “ZIP” hook at the end, the identification is secure.

I wanted to ask him what he was doing at First Friends. Why was he here? What were his intentions? Would I see him every time I visited the woods? Did he have a female and a nest elsewhere? But alas, these are not questions to be asked aloud of this visitor. Anything outside of a silent welcome might frighten him away. I welcomed him with a smile, being glad he was here, in the Meditational Woods, on that day. ~Brad J

Join the Peace Church Conversation ~ After a deep discussion with other area Peace Churches we have decided to grow the conversation as we work together for "Positive Peace.” Please join our Friends group today—within the Peace Church Alliance—by clicking here. The introductory page is available at www.peacechurches.org but please use the longer link above to sign up because it will connect you directly to our First Friends group. Thanks again for your support, participation, and action at this critical and sensitive time!

Join us for Silent Worship on Zoom!

On Mondays, join us at the noon hour for Monday Meditation at 12:15 pm.
On Wednesdays, we typically spend 15 minutes before the hour to share joys and concerns starting around 6:45 pm, then begin Unprogrammed Worship at 7 pm. Friends are welcome to log in and out anytime during Zoom, as it will not disrupt the silence because microphones are turned off during worship.

For the Zoom link for worship, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

How am I coming alive in this world, today?
In what area do I need rescued, liberated, or saved?
Who do I know who is living oppressed and needing rescued – that I am being called to join God in helping?

(From self-led guide)

How hard is it for me to simply sit in the presence of the Divine? What in my life or the world distracts me from doing this?
When have I wanted to give up on or been impatient with God?
In what areas am I needing to “self-empty” and rely on God’s love working through me?

Comment

Friend to Friend July 1, 2020

July 2, 2020

As Way Opens

Friends, I have been thinking about my words for a few weeks- we are living in a time that is dramatic, unsettling and divisive.

As a white woman that grew up within the city of Detroit, I pushed back against the idea of white privilege for many years. I never felt that I had privilege as I was raised within an urban city and part of an interracial community. I embraced everyone regardless of color. I could not understand the idea of reparations or blaming me for the actions of predecessors that I never knew. We had a culture of slave labor in the south but I was a person living in the north and that was not representative of me. I embraced the idea that all lives matter. Of course, my grandparents that came to Detroit from Canada were completely racist. They came to Detroit to work at Henry Ford’s Rouge plant and even while living in an urban community that was multi-racial they rejected the equality of people of color. They even believed that there was different heaven for black people versus white people. We dismissed their views but those views were prominent among white folks in the 1900’s and certainly impacted the treatment of people of color.

In the last few years I began to read and study and discuss the idea that there are systemic privileges that white folks have that our black brothers and sisters do not enjoy. My eyes started to glimpse this idea that the systems and structures of our government and community do not give equal access to those of color - community building, education, policing, health care, housing, lending access to capital, and many other areas.

And then I developed a close relationship with a black man. And I began to step into the life and experiences of every black man in America. Last week a Crime Scene Investigator showed up at my next door neighbor - I was a bit stunned that she was in full uniform and went into the house (turned out that she was a family friend that does house sitting). While she was in the house, my friend Kevin became concerned about leaving my house - what? He knows that police view black men differently than white men. And he is a successful IT professional working at a hospital as well as having an IT consulting business, is a retired military veteran, an umpire and homeowner. However, it doesn’t matter how successful a black person is - the police may approach them differently because of the color of their skin. Several years ago, Kevin was driving in Ohio on a sales call for his employer and a police officer pulled him over. The officer approached the car and said “Boy, your car was drifting in the lane." One man calling another man boy can start an escalation (Kevin did not respond to the comment). This is more than an isolated incident and we can hear similar stories of every black man that we know and don’t know.

I know that many police officers abhor this behavior and join us in calling for police reforms. The officers that use wit, wisdom, de-escalation and dialogue to engage citizens should want to support these reforms because the racists and quick to pull a trigger officers make police officers look bad. I remember being in a waiting room with Ann Rodino’s brother (Ann was having surgery) who is a police officer for 30 plus years. He is a beautiful soul and as we sat there for hours talking about many things including his role as a police officer, he shared with me that in 30 years he had never fired his gun. This is the training and practice that we need to support!

As Quakers we embrace non- violence and that is the core of my being. I will never support violence to achieve change and believe the significant changes that happened in the 1960’s were because of the non-violent actions of MLK’s movement. Yet I do understand the frustration and anger of folks that have been waiting so long for change. And violence is such a part of our American life. There is no stronger lobbying group than the NRA. We invade countries with violence to take out leaders and seem to believe that violence and guns will solve our problems.

I am praying that we will share our Quaker testimony of peace, equality, and integrity to stand up in this pivotal moment. I am praying that we all look inside our own hearts and see where we hold resistance and violence. I am praying that we open our ears, our eyes and our heart to really listen to the experience of those that face oppression, prejudice and brutality. And I pray that we won’t remain silent but do the actions that God is calling each of us to do.

Beth

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Reopening Task Force Statement
June 29, 2020

Dear Friends, attenders, and anyone who values the community that is First Friends:

I thought I’d provide a brief update on the progress of the reopening committee. We are a really heavy group in terms of our specific strengths to address this task, our cohesion, and our collective light.

We are pulling on the best evidence and most reliable data we can find regarding the specifics for building access, use, and risk mitigation. This area is a real strength of our group and I’m confident we are going to get it right. I’ve received many emails from members regarding specific ideas, and please know those ideas are being heard and discussed. Feedback and direct communication with myself is authentically welcomed and appreciated.

We are currently formulating a timeline and staging system for reopening which we plan to formalize and share within the upcoming week or two. At the same time, we’re working on that vast gray area between being fully closed, as we currently remain, to being fully open.

“Business as usual,” the final stage of reopening, a return to the way things were prior to the pandemic, isn’t happening any time soon, within or without our meeting. This is a sobering fact; science is real.

With that in mind, we’re focusing on reopening in safe and creative ways, such as small group gatherings, both private and potentially meeting-endorsed alike. We’re early in that realm of discussion but seek to facilitate and nurture safe and effective ways to meet the vast burden of what is lost through the pandemic, which is community and connection.

We are currently allowing access to individuals and considering requests to building access and utilization on a case by case basis, and we’re incorporating the best-known safety measures, education, and communication with those cases.

We are planning to exploit and promote outdoor, small gatherings, within the context of initial stages of reopening, using the meditational woods and a proposed tent or canopy which would allow for more outdoor space. That discussion is underway.

We have a tentative date for a partial reopening for unprogrammed worship July 12. We have a lot of work to do and discussion remains widely open on this plan, but we seem to have unanimity on that proposed plan. Such a proposition would require that we’d have all risk mitigation policies and procedures in place and effectively communicated along with a lot of other leg work. However, I have no doubt in my mind we’re up to such a task!

Your Friend,

Andy C

Interested in our men’s small group? Last Spring Kent F helped start a men’s book club small group at First Friends. In the last year we’ve covered “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl (Biography), "Let Your Life Speak" (self-help) by Parker Palmer, “Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemmingway, “Billy Budd” by Herman Melville, “Shane” (a Western) by Jack Schaefer, and “Freedom’s Forge” (History), and we are currently finishing up “Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work” by Alex Pattakos. The group is currently meeting on alternating Thursday nights at the home of Derek S to take advantage of great weather and have space to spread out, with the garage and Zoom being our backups. Our plan is to return to the Meeting House when it reopens. If you would like to help us choose our next book and/or join us for the next group of discussions, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. We’ll begin sharing the next book on July 23rd.

Sign up NOW for VBS! Registration is now open for Vacation Bible School! This year’s theme is “Rocky Railway: Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through!” It will be held from July 26-30. This year we will have VBS virtually, including daily premiered videos on YouTube as well as live Zoom calls. Supplies and goodies will be sent to your door! If you would like to sign your kids up or have any questions, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Western Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions! The WYM annual sessions are happening virtually this year. The draft schedule is available here. Please note that many details are yet to be worked out and the schedule is subject to change. All sessions will be held through various technological platforms. The Sunday worship service may be a combination of live and Zoom. This year our own Bob Henry will be recorded! If you have any questions, you can contact Western Yearly Meeting westernym@sbcglobal.net.

Are You Being Called to Serve? Next Monday, June 29th, is the Nominating Committee for Western Yearly Meeting. The following committees have openings: Christian Education, Christian Ministries and Evangelism, Christian Outreach, Meeting Development and Nurture, American Friends Service Committee, Finance, Property Trustee. If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Service? This week we had a special Prayer Service of Lament for Race & Injustice. Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aZamrPEO3c. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for July
Northern Parula
Just Visiting, and Why?

Spice Up Life by Growing Herbs: Annual & Biennial

Be heart healthy by using less salt and replacing it with herbs. They are easy to grow and can help you create delectable dishes. They can be used fresh or dried and stored for later. Herbs can decorate indoors and outdoors. They don’t need to take much space and can be grown in beds and containers. Gardeners use some herbs in borders. They can be picked fresh and used throughout the growing season or even all year when grown inside. They are versatile and tasty, able to enhance many types of cuisine. The obliging cook can master their use after a little research and practice.

You may combine herbs in beds or containers. Most need rich, well-drained soil in a sunny location. Usually they do not need fertilizer. You may direct sow them or buy small plants to transplant. Water them well and be sure to hand-pick weeds so the herbs are not smothered. Scatter slug pellets or eggshells to protect them from pests. Pinch off tops and flowers to encourage bushiness and a longer harvest. When you harvest, use scissors or a sharp knife. You may place the stems in shallow water until you are ready to use them. Discard twig-like stems; soft stems are usually tasty. If you intend to use fresh herbs, pick them when you are ready to eat because they don’t last more than a day or two. Herbs grow quickly so more will be ready in the garden.

Biennial Herbs

Coriander and cilantro come from the same plant! It is a biennial herb, meaning it lives for two years. Of course, if left to seed it can reproduce itself. In the U.S. the leaves and stems are called cilantro and the seeds are named coriander. Some cultures call the entire plant cilantro, including Spanish-speaking areas. Another name is Chinese parsley. The entire plant is edible. It has flat, scalloped leaves and should be harvested once or twice a week to avoid bolting. Once it bolts, small white flowers form and seeds grow. A few scalloped leaves remain at the bottom but new leaves are light and feathery, almost like a completely different plant. Surprisingly, people experience the plant’s flavor according to their gene makeup! To some it is distasteful and soapy-tasting; others love its spiciness. Use the cilantro in soup and enchiladas. Dry the seeds by roasting them in a pan. Pulverize them for use in salsa, juice, curries, chutneys, bread (including gingerbread) and hummus.

Parsley comes in flat and curly varieties that look like miniature trees. The curly type is a favorite garnish in the U.S. The first year parsley forms a rosette of tripinnate leaves. The second year it has sparser leaves and a stem with a yellow flower. Flat leaf parsley has a stronger flavor than the curly type. Root parsley is used as a snack or vegetable in central, eastern and southern Europe where it flavors soups, stews and casseroles. Some cultures enjoy serving dishes with fresh green chopped parsley served on top. Middle Eastern bulgur salad uses parsley as the number one ingredient to create tabbouleh.

Annual Herbs

Basil comes in many delightful varieties. It is an annual herb meaning it grows for one season. I have experimented with Greek, lemon, cinnamon and Thai. Yes, they do taste like their namesakes. The lemon even smells like lemon and your cuisine can taste like an exotic dish from another country. Basil can be used in stews, casseroles, roasts, infusions, pesto, butter, stir-fry, seafood, soup, tomato sauce and much more. Try it as a garnish!

Dill is a tall plant with feathery leaves and a distinctive odor. Think pickles! Although it is an annual, it spreads easily from year-to-year because it is self-seeding. The wide, airy flower spreads out like Queen Anne’s Lace. Both the leaves (dill weed) and the seeds can be eaten. Both can be used as garnish. The leaves have a mild aniseed taste; the seeds are more pungent but similar in taste to caraway. Seeds can be used in acidic dishes like pickled carrots, beets and fish. They combine nicely with legumes like lentils. Dill weed complements fish, potato salad, dips and coleslaw. Seeds and leaves make extravagant vinegars and salad dressings.

Midwesterners can liven up our diets by using many more herbs on a regular basis. Have fun experimenting!

~Nancy

Sources include Wikipedia and Small Plot; Big Harvest by Lucy Halsall

What’s Blooming Around the Meetinghouse? ~ Today Mindy and I (Mary B) were weeding around the Meetinghouse and the pollinator garden and were treated to the sight of a widow skimmer dragonfly. Two dark wing patches on the Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) technically qualifies its being called the two-spotted skimmer. These insects are normally found around lakes and marshy areas, but we saw him moving amongst the wet flowers in the pollinator garden. We also saw hoverflies and bumble bees drinking the nectar of the bee balm (monarda, sp.) and coneflowers that are now blooming.

If you are at the Meetinghouse, please stop and see the native plants at the south and courtyard entrances. We have moonbeam coreopsis, geranium, echinacea, beebalm, and Annabelle hydrangea blooming. Our common milkweed plants in the pollinator garden are taking off, along with the Joe Pye Weed (It’s not really a weed). Then take a walk in the woods and admire the new signage that Krishan Coffman installed as his Eagle Scout Project.

First Friends not only nourishes souls, we nourish nature!

Join the Peace Church Conversation ~ After a deep discussion with other area Peace Churches this month, we have decided to grow the conversation online as we work together for "Positive Peace.” Please join our First Friends group today—within the larger Peace Church Alliance network—by clicking here: https://www.peacechurches.org/share/3LbkpLtX76sA4iPe?utm_source=manual The introductory page is available at www.peacechurches.org but please use the longer link above to sign up because it will connect you directly to our First Friends group. Thanks again for your support, participation, and action at this critical and sensitive time!

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

How can I nurture the seeds of peace within myself, my community, and the world?
How can I be more open to seeking the goodness in people who act with violence and hatred?
How can I increase my understanding of nonviolence and use it in all my interactions?

(From self-led guide)

Do I recognize that I can be a perpetrator as well as victim of violence? How do I deal with this? How can I support my neighbors, friends, and family so that healing may take place?
What am I doing to understand the causes of violence in my world and to work toward peaceful outcomes locally, nationally, and internationally?
How do I support institutions and organizations that promote peace?

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Friend to Friend June 24, 2020

June 25, 2020

As Way Opens

It is almost hard to fathom that 25 years ago, today, June 24th, Susan Schroeder and I entered Emanuel Lutheran Church in New Haven, Indiana and recited our marriage vows before family, friends, and God. Emanuel Lutheran happened to be my home church and where I began my faith journey. As well, Sue had just served her first year as an elementary educator at Central Lutheran School, which was affiliated with Emanuel and directly across the parking lot from the church. Central was also the grade school I had attended from Kindergarten through 8th grade.

Two years earlier, Sue and I had met as camp counselors at Camp Lutherhaven in Albion, Indiana. Even though we both attended Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois and were in the same academic program, we didn’t meet until camp. It was there we quickly fell in love and realized that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Soon, I would be down on one knee after a picnic lunch in Franke Park, outside the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, asking for Sue’s hand in marriage. Who would have known then what the next 25 years would bring!

Two days after our wedding our adventures began as we packed up a moving truck and moved to Orlando, Florida for my internship as a Director of Christian Education. Unbeknownst to us at that time, we would get used to moving as we served God. After a wonderful first year of married life in Florida, we moved to Illinois, then to Texas, back to Illinois, to Michigan, back to Indiana, to Oregon, and finally back to Indiana where we currently reside. Our first son, Alex would be born in Illinois while Sam and Lewis would be born in two different cities in Michigan. Along with the moves, we also found ourselves moving around theologically from Lutheran, to Anglican, to Mennonite, to finally Quaker.

Through all the moves, changes, additions to family, challenges and even church struggles, there has been one constant – our deep love and friendship for each other. I know I am a better husband, father, pastor, and friend because of having Sue in my life. From day one, she has made my life complete and I cannot think of a better partner for this crazy journey we call life.

Also, as a pastor, I know how rare it is today to find a life partner that lasts. It takes work, it takes commitment, but most of all it takes being best friends. And that is exactly what I look for in every couple who I have the honor of officiating their weddings. My prayer is that if you are married, or you are considering marriage that God would bless you today and draw you even closer as partners and friends in this great adventure called life!

Happy Anniversary, Sue! Here’s to the next 25 years of adventure as best friends! I love you, always.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Please note, Shawn P will be on vacation July though August. You won’t see him in our Sunday service videos, but don’t worry, he is just enjoying the summertime!

Western Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions! The WYM annual sessions are happening virtually this year. The draft schedule is available here. Please note that many details are yet to be worked out and the schedule is subject to change. All sessions will be held through various technological platforms. The Sunday worship service may be a combination of live and Zoom. If you have any questions, you can contact Western Yearly Meeting westernym@sbcglobal.net.

Cat Needs New Home! Ursula R is looking for a new home for her cat, Jake. He is six years old, charismatic, very loving and cuddly. Sometimes bites. Likes to go outside. If you or someone you know is interested in adopting this cat, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.

The Overman Family Scholarship, in memory of Jess and Mark Overman, is available again this year. High school seniors through graduate students are welcome to apply. Undergraduate students will be given first consideration. The scholarship fund is designated to support the members and attenders of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting. Scholarship funds may be applied to any school related expense, i.e. books, supplies, tuition, housing, computer, etc. The deadline for application will be June 30, 2020. For an application please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Join us from virtually anywhere in the world as the Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading book club discusses Doing Justice: A Prosecutor's Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law by Preet Bharara. By the one-time federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, an important overview of the way our justice system works, and why the rule of law is essential to our society. Using case histories, personal experiences and his own inviting writing and teaching style, Preet Bharara shows the thought process we need to best achieve truth and justice in our daily lives and within our society. Preet Bharara has spent much of his life examining our legal system, pushing to make it better, and prosecuting those looking to subvert it. Bharara believes in our system and knows it must be protected, but to do so, we must also acknowledge and allow for flaws in the system and in human nature. The book is divided into four sections: Inquiry, Accusation, Judgment and Punishment. He shows why each step of this process is crucial to the legal system, but he also shows how we all need to think about each stage of the process to achieve truth and justice in our daily lives. (goodreads) Rik L will be leading the discussion in via Zoom starting at 7 pm on Tuesday June 30, 2020. To join the Zoom call, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org for the meeting information.

Caregivers Needed for Paid Study ~ TACTIC’s program is looking for caregivers of adults with dementia for a study testing programs that may be helpful in managing the challenges associated with caregiving. For more information, visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TACTICs-Program-for-Dementia-Caregivers-112738523778479

Five Garden Watering Questions Answered

Is your watering technique sabotaging your garden? Every gardener wants their hard work to result in a beautiful bounty. Here are some common watering concerns to address:

1. When should I water?

Do not water in the heat of the day when moisture evaporates quickly and sun can burn leaves (sunscald). Early morning is a terrific time to water since it gives the plant increased turgidity to help resist wilt. Late afternoon and early evening are also good but watering too late in the day can result in wet plants that can attract fungi and disease.

2. What part of the plant shall I water?

Water your plants at the base, not over the top. Roots are an efficient water absorption system. Leaves cannot absorb as much and leftover water invites sunscald in the day and fungi at night. The Community Garden has a cistern that collects water from the garage roof. Our agricultural agent warns that this water can contain pathogens so we need to water underneath the plant. Take care not to splash soil on plants, especially tomatoes. Fungal pathogens live in the dirt and can spread disease once they land on a plant (splashback).

3. How much water do my plants need?

A thorough soak in beds every few days should ensure deep roots get a drenching. Proper watering technique depends on soil components, weather and plant types. Raised beds drain well so be sure to water enough, though too much water can drain off nutrients. Use your finger to feel the depth the water has reached. Then you will know if you are overwatering or under watering. Often it may seem the plant is getting enough when it may just have a half-inch saturation point and water may not be reaching subsoil and deeper roots. A gardener can coat the surface and after watering other plants, return to rehydrate so water permeates the earth. Yellowing foliage, root rot and ironically, even wilt, can be symptoms of overwatering. Rain gauges are inexpensive and can help a gardener know how much water a plot is getting. Container plants need special consideration. If the container has no drainage the plant can get root rot. If the container has seepage holes a plant may need extra watering and nutrients because of fast drainage.

4. Does a plant’s life cycle factor into watering?

The life cycle of the plant makes a difference. Seedlings lack a strong root system and seeds need to be kept moist. Morning watering—and even a second later watering--can determine whether or not they survive. They should be watered directly since their roots are not fully developed. Take care to avoid drowning or bombing seeds and seedlings with “splashback boulders.” Heavy producers, like melons, need extra water. Water more often when plants, like tomatoes, are fruiting or flowering. Otherwise flowers and young fruit will wither and reduce the harvest.

5. Can mulch help?

Examples of organic mulch are straw, shredded newspaper, pine needles and bark chips. A top coat of mulch can help lock water and warmth in and may help feed plants. Of course, different mulches have different purposes so do your research. For example, pine needles slightly acidify the soil. Be sure the straw is weed-free if you don’t want to introduce invasive plants. If your area is experiencing drought or if you want to water less, mulch is one answer. Also, it helps prevent weeds. Hurrah! (Some article information from Epic Gardening YouTube)

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Service? Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://youtu.be/H37AamHRYaY. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s online service!

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

What descriptors of God do I have the hardest time relating to? And why?
What has “thrown me off course” and not allowed me to see the good gifts of God in my life?
How might seeing the Light of God “cascading down” through my life and the lives of those around me help me to value each person in this world?

(From self-led guide)

Where am I feeling anxiety or a sense that my life is spinning out of control? What may I need to focus on and who may I need to engage to help me with these feelings?
How am I allowing myself to “not go gentle into that good night” and “rage against the dying of the light”?
In the midst of all the chaos and pain in our world, currently, how am I experiencing and noticing the gifts coming from the Father of Lights?

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