Friend to Friend October 5, 2022

October 5, 2022

As Way Opens

This past week, I found myself on numerous occasions working on my back porch taking in the ambiance of fall. In the middle of our backyard, we have an Indiana native Tulip tree that the Tinsley’s gave us a few years ago. On Friday, the first of its leaves burst out in beautiful autumn colors (see photo). As I was acknowledging this one leaf’s beauty, I was reminded of Omid Safi’s words from the “On Being Project”

“Leaves are usually green because of chlorophyll. It is chlorophyll that gives leaves their distinctive green color, and it is (along with sunshine) the key ingredient in the magical, life-producing process of photosynthesis.

The hidden secret of fall: the leaves don’t actually “turn” colors. With the winter season coming, and the process of photosynthesis being without the key ingredients of warmth and sunshine, trees begin to break down chlorophyll. With the “green” gone, the other colors that have been there all along — the magical reds, golds, and oranges — begin to express themselves.

That’s the secret: there is no turning, no changing. There’s only the death of what has been masking the colors inside. The beauty has been there all along. And we as human beings are like this. Each one of us contains hidden jewels inside.”

Sometimes it is hard to see the beauty in those around us. It is masked by the struggles and challenges the world puts on us. During the season of autumn, as we observe the leaves changing and the beauty beginning to appear, may we also take time to seek the hidden beauty in our neighbors, friends, and in ourselves. Like each unique leaf, may we transcend the difficulties and death around us and embrace the hidden beauty within each other.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Quaker Affiliated Organizations

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) -- Now Hiring!

RWSR is seeking candidates for three senior leadership positions. All positions are fully remote. An eligible candidate must have legal authorization to work in the U.S. The full job descriptions (with salary information) are hyperlinked below.

The Associate Secretary of Operations is a senior leadership position responsible for organizational operations including accounting, bookkeeping, budgeting, and financial and legal transactions that promote the mission of RSWR.

The Associate Secretary for Advancement is a senior leadership position responsible for promoting the mission of RSWR, including all development, communications, and public relations.

The Associate Secretary of Programs is a senior leadership position responsible for implementation of international programs, and educational outreach and programming.

Note that the list of qualifications in each description are desired qualifications--no one has all of them, and successful candidates will bring a variety of life experience to their work.

Please share this with anyone you think would be a good fit. This is an exciting time in the life of RSWR, with expanding programs abroad and at home. Maybe one of these positions is a good match for you?

Feel free to contact the office with any questions. Thank you.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Adult Quaker Affirmation ~ We are glad to offer an adult Quaker Affirmation class series which began last Sunday, October 2, from 11:30-1:00. If you would still like to join us, come this Sunday from 11:20 – 1:00. This is an 8-week study of what it means to be a Quaker. It will cover Quaker history, theology, and what Quakers are doing in the world today. Anyone is welcome! If you’re interested, please contact the office.

Seasoned Friends Is Back! We had a wonderful gathering last Thursday with 30 friends joining together for lunch. We saw some new faces and old faces and it was so good to be together. Lots of future activity ideas were suggested and we agreed we wanted to meet once a quarter. We will gather again in December and will plan to visit the Wabash Historic Theater. Watch for a day and time in the next month.

SAWS Project – Many thanks to David B and John M for helping build a ramp to provide handicap access someone’s home. This project was done with the churches from the Shalom Zone.

Recycling Event! The Shalom Zone plans to have its yearly recycling event with Recycle Force this Saturday, October 8 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. If an item runs (or used to run) with a plug or a battery you can recycle it! This year it will be held at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Rd. A $25 donation is required for monitors, televisions, and appliances containing Freon (fridges, freezers, ac units and dehumidifiers). Other monetary contributions are greatly appreciated. This is a great opportunity to clean out your basement, garage, closets, attic and responsibly recycle unwanted electronics and appliances.

The Earlham College Choir will be performing at First Friends on Saturday November 5th at 2:00 p.m. If you have attended one of their choir performances in the past, you know we are all in for a delightful time of music and song. Please mark your calendars and invite family and friends to this free concert.

CTS Invites You: Community learning through a theological lens ~ Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) invites you to several series of online lectures and discussions to help understand how our faith and our money are intertwined in both our individual lives and in our society. There are three 6-week online courses which will be hosted online on Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. During the Fall 2022 course, “Christianity, Consumption and Capitalism,” Dr. Robert Saler, Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture at Christian Theological Seminary, will facilitate a series of guest lecturers including Andrew Whitehead and Joseph Tucker-Edmonds among other sociologists, economic thinkers and religious practitioners. These lectures and discussions will help us understand how our faith and our money are intertwined in both our individual lives and in our society. Subsequent courses, “Christianity and Poverty” (Winter 2023) and “Christian Practices of Economic Justice” (Spring 2023), will help you dive deeper into these topics while providing a space to discuss practical and faithful actions for justice. For more information and to register, visit https://www.cts.edu/academics/our-life-in-common-series/.

Bread for the World Offering of Letters October 30, 2022

Food insecurity is where a person literally doesn’t know when their next meal, or two, or three meals are coming from. This can happen because of lack of money, transportation, and housing. It can also happen because of drought, floods, wildfires, pandemics, the war in Ukraine and other conflicts.

An upcoming bill in Congress is the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act, originally passed in 2016 and reauthorized in 2018. The objectives of the bill are 1) inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth; 2) strengthened resilience among people and systems; and 3) a well nourished population, especially women and children. Passing this bill will help people all over the world deal with food insecurity and daily hunger.

Please join us on October 30 in Fellowship Hall right after the worship service to write letters to Senator Braun urging him to sign this bill.

From the Woods Committee: Buy your pollinator plants from reliable sources recommended by the Indiana Native Plant Society, Grow Natives. Or try to grow them from seed. Mary Blackburn has butterfly milkweed seeds( Aesclepsia tuberosa, a low growing yellow milkweed that thrives in sunny, dry locations). Let her know if you would like some!

Harmful Pesticides Found in Milkweeds from Retail Nurseries

Article from Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

A new study released in Biological Conservation found harmful levels of pesticides in milkweed plants purchased from retail nurseries across the United States. Pesticides were found in all plants tested, raising alarms for monarch conservation efforts that rely on planting milkweed sourced from commercial nurseries. (PORTLAND, Ore.; August 31, 2022). 38% of the samples had residue levels that could harm monarchs’ ability to migrate and forage, primarily due to high levels of fungicides. Fungicides have generally been overlooked as an issue for insect conservation efforts. Plants labeled “wildlife-friendly” from stores and nurseries included in the study did not have fewer pesticides in or on the leaves of the milkweed plants. In some cases, plants with wildlife labels had more harmful pesticide residues.

“This study provides a great starting point to help ensure the growing number of pollinator-gardens are of the highest quality possible,” said Aimee Code, Pesticide Program Director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Consumers can let their nurseries know they want plants that are free from harmful pesticides.

“It’s important to keep gardening for pollinators for the long term," said Code. "Just take steps to reduce pesticide exposure: cover new plants the first year, water heavily, discard the soil before planting, as it may be contaminated, and avoid pesticide use.”

The study’s findings highlight the need for nurseries to ensure that plants being sold as pollinator-friendly are also pollinator-safe.

To read the full article go to https://www.xerces.org/press/harmful-pesticides-found-in-milkweeds-from-retail-nurseries

Meditational Woods - Bird of the Month for October - Bay-breasted Warbler: Fashion Rules

According to custom, clothing of certain colors is not to be worn after Labor Day, or so I hear. It is true that I see a general change, especially in the color of pants worn by men.

Many male birds go through a similar change around Labor Day. In fact, there are pages in field guides entitled, “Confusing Fall Warblers.” Without such a guide or knowledge, recognizing the drab bird seen in September and October as the same species that had glorious, dazzling plumage last spring would be impossible. I would like for you to google Bay-breasted Warbler (right now!), and you will see the beautiful bay color on the cap, throat, and sides of the male. This reddish-brown contrasts with the black color on the face. In September a Bay-breasted Warbler, on its way southward, showed up in the Meditational Woods, and I managed to take photographs. In the photos, one can see that the bay colored area has been reduced to a narrow stripe along the wing. Some color change happens when the colorful ends of the feathers wear down due to activity. More importantly, most birds go through a molt at the end of the season, replacing their worn spring feathers with new ones.

Thusly, birding during fall migration can be very challenging. These small birds, in alternate plumage, moving from branch to branch in the canopies of trees still bearing leaves gives the birder only brief glimpses. In addition, the leaves themselves may be blowing in the wind, or falling, which look like birds moving down to a lower branch.

The human “plumage” rule is rather simple for me; I ignore it. I wear what is comfortable and appropriate for my activities. I am not the slave to seasonal fashion as are my avian friends.

Story and photo by Brad J

This Week’s Queries

· How do I feel about my level of empathy, and what does it say about my empathic skills?

· What am I learning from the empathy of Jesus?

· How might I utilize my empathy to bring more peace into my life and the life of those around me?

Comment

Friend to Friend September 28, 2022

September 28, 2022

As Way Opens

We had an amazing gathering at the women’s retreat (here are a couple of pictures). We had 22 women sign up for the weekend and unfortunately had a few women that couldn’t attend. But the 19 women that came together from our Meeting experienced something significant. Our retreat leader, Rachel Doll O'Mahoney had us create a timeline Friday night that highlighted all the significant events in our lives over the last 2.5 years. This was harder to do than I thought it would be as I had locks to remove my son Greg from my home at the start of the pandemic. As I talked with Greg about this he corrected me and said it was March 2019. How did I get that so wrong? It was such a significant and life changing event and I couldn’t remember when it happened.

I think the pandemic put us in a bit of a fog when it comes to dates and timelines. I think many of us feel like the time during the pandemic is blurry and something of a distant memory. It was beneficial to take time and create a visual timeline of all that happened during the past. We all experienced some lows (I lost both of my brothers during this time) and also some joyous times (thankful I finally received my masters in divinity). It was therapeutic to share our timelines with each other at our tables Friday night and to hear these highs and lows from others. There is something healing about being in community and sharing and reflecting on this past and how this will influence each of us into the future.

I encourage each of you to sit down and create a timeline for the last 2.5 years. We have much to be thankful for and we also have things to mourn. I find comfort that God is with us every step of our journey through all of our ups and downs. And the connections of a faith community are crucial as we take our journey. I am thankful for First Friends.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

Megan Lee S arrived at 7:49am on Thursday, September 22, weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces and 20 inches long. Stacy and Megan are both doing great! Congratulations to the new parents Jake and Stacy, and grandparents Lynda and Jim S!

Quaker Affiliated Organizations

IFCL -- Elections 2022 Voting Rights Webinar Sept. 28

The 2022 elections are just around the corner! You're invited to attend a free Voting Rights webinar next today, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m., sponsored by the All IN 4 Democracy coalition. It will provide important updates on what's happening with election issues and elections administration, from the national, state, and local perspective. Speakers from Common Cause Indiana, the League of Women Voters of the United States and LWV Indiana, and the Chicago Lawyer's Committee on Civil Rights will be featured and take your questions.

The registration link is here: Webinar Registration - Zoom

Please feel free to share this link with your friends and neighbors. And remind them to register to vote, to double-check their registration to confirm their voting district in light of recent redistricting--and to vote!

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) -- Now Hiring!

The Associate Secretary for Advancement is a senior leadership position responsible for promoting the mission of RSWR, including all development, communications, and public relations.

The Associate Secretary of Programs is a senior leadership position responsible for implementation of international programs, and educational outreach and programming.

Note that the list of qualifications in each description are desired qualifications--no one has all of them, and successful candidates will bring a variety of life experience to their work.

Feel free to contact the office with any questions. Thank you.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Seasoned Friends Is Back! Seasoned Friends will gather again for the first time in a few years since the pandemic tomorrow, Thursday, Sept 29th at 11:30. We will have a soup and salad lunch together and talk about the things we would like to experience together as a group over the next few months. This has been a wonderful gathering in the past for anyone over 50 that appreciates gathering for food, fellowship and interesting activities. We welcome anyone that considers themselves a Seasoned Friend to join us. If you’re interested, please RSVP to the Meeting Office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.

Adult Quaker Affirmation ~ We are glad to offer an adult Quaker Affirmation class series which will begin THIS Sunday, October 2, from 11:30-1:00. This is an 8-week study of what it means to be a Quaker. It will cover Quaker history, theology, and what Quakers are doing in the world today. Anyone is welcome! If you’re interested, please contact the office.

Unheard Voices in Christianity Gathering – we will gather in the parlor on Thursday October 6th for a simple meal at 6:30 and then share and reflect and share on the writings of Quaker Elizabeth Watson on stories of Rachel, Sarah, and Rebecah.

Recycling Event! The Shalom Zone plans to have its yearly recycling event with Recycle Force on Saturday, October 8 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. If an item runs (or used to run) with a plug or a battery you can recycle it! This year it will be held at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Rd. A $25 donation is required for monitors, televisions, and appliances containing Freon (fridges, freezers, ac units and dehumidifiers). Other monetary contributions are greatly appreciated. This is a great opportunity to clean out your basement, garage, closets, attic and responsibly recycle unwanted electronics and appliances.

Bread for the World: First Friends Offering of Letters ~ “Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. Moved by God’s grace in Jesus Christ, we advocate for a world without hunger.” This is the mission statement for Bread for the World, an organization that many of you are familiar with and others may not yet have discovered.

Started in the 1970’s by a Lutheran pastor in NYC, concerned people wanted to find a way to end the root causes of hunger rather than always reacting to the results of hunger. It was determined that this effort would require legislation by elected officials to provide funds and programs to feed hungry people in our country and around the world. The hope was to end hunger by 2030. As that date approaches, millions of people in the world are still battling food insecurity.

This is where we can help. On October 30, First Friends will have an Offering of Letters. We are asking you to join us in Fellowship Hall after Meeting, to write letters to support the passage of the Global Malnutrition Act. As of this writing, the bill has passed in the House but has not yet come to the Senate floor. Senator Young is a co-sponsor of the bill but Senator Braun has yet to sign on. Our letters will encourage Senator Braun to vote for this bill and to also increase the amount of money to continue vital programs such as SNAP and WIC.

In the next few weeks, you will be reading more about Bread for the World. Please consider taking part in the letter writing process with us on October 30.

This Week’s Queries

· Where have I become “walled-in” by the structures of my identity and ego? Where has First Friends become “walled-in” by the structures of our identity and ego?

· Where in my life am I seeking “the best for all”? What privilege(s) may I need to reject or lay down to better welcome and serve my neighbor?

Comment

Friend to Friend September 21, 2022

September 22, 2022

As Way Opens

This past Sunday, First Friends participated in the Indy Festival of Faiths hosted by the Center for Interfaith Cooperation. This was the nineth annual event in Indianapolis. For the last two years this event was held virtually due to the ongoing pandemic. Even though this year we were in a new location, Military Park at White River State Park made for a wonderful gathering place. The weather cooperated beautifully making it a nearly perfect ambiance for mingling among the many booths, listening to the sacred music, watching the fashion show, and having conversations with people of different faiths.

This year our Quaker booth was hosted by Friends from our Meeting, as well as Fairfield, Valley Mills, and North Meadow Friends Meetings. Beth H and Ed M represented First Friends by caring our banner in the parade of faiths to kick off the event. Throughout the day we interacted with a variety of people with a plethora of different backgrounds at our booth. We were excited to see the number of young adults interested in the Quaker Way. As usual, many were surprised that Quakers still exist outside their history books – another reason we need to be present at these events.

Many thanks go to Ed M for organizing this effort, our First Friends Ministry and Council for their financial support, and all those from First Friends who worked the booth and shared the Quaker Way. It was also good to have so many from First Friends attend the festival and stop by our booth to say, “Hi.” Even, our new superintendent, Shawn McConaughey and his wife Katrina stopped by for a while.

In a world where religious differences too often separate people and communities, this event continues to help the people of Indianapolis learn to work together, celebrate with one another, and respect our growing muti-faith society. Be watching in September of 2023 for how you too can participate in the next Festival of Faiths.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Festival of Faiths a Success! Ed M would like to send thanks to all the people who made our participation in the Festival of Faiths possible this year. Thank you to Beth, Bob, Kathy and Bill F, and Sara and Mike B. We were joined by folks from Fairfield, Valley Mills and North Meadow meetings. We had a great time talking with people who were curious about Quakers. They seemed to get excited when we talked about the Quaker Testimonies (aka the SPICES).

Quaker Affiliated Organizations

IFCL -- Elections 2022 Voting Rights Webinar Sept. 28

The 2022 elections are just around the corner! You're invited to attend a free Voting Rights webinar next Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m., sponsored by the All IN 4 Democracy coalition. It will provide important updates on what's happening with election issues and elections administration, from the national, state, and local perspective. Speakers from Common Cause Indiana, the League of Women Voters of the United States and LWV Indiana, and the Chicago Lawyer's Committee on Civil Rights will be featured and take your questions.

The registration link is here: Webinar Registration - Zoom

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) -- Now Hiring!

The Associate Secretary for Advancement is a senior leadership position responsible for promoting the mission of RSWR, including all development, communications, and public relations.

The Associate Secretary of Programs is a senior leadership position responsible for implementation of international programs, and educational outreach and programming.

Note that the list of qualifications in each description are desired qualifications--no one has all of them, and successful candidates will bring a variety of life experience to their work.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Men’s Threshing Together ~ Again this month, we are moving Threshing Together to the 4th Thursday of the month, September 22 at 7pm. Please see the Fall Schedule for locations. If you are interested in gathering with men who mull over current issues or topics, where all points of view are heard, no decisions are made, and all in a non-threatening atmosphere over a meal, then "Threshing Together" is for you! This group is trans inclusive/LGBTQ supportive.

SAWS Ramp Build ~ The Shalom Zone is planning another SAWS ramp build on the morning of Saturday, October 1st. SAWS is an organization that designs and builds ramps for folks who need a wheelchair and cannot afford a wheelchair ramp on their own. No experience is necessary...if you can carry some lumber and pound in a nail, then you qualify! The build usually begins at around 8 am and concludes around noon. Further details about time and location will be provided at a later date. The Shalom Zone needs to get its list of volunteers together no later than today. If you would like to volunteer or need more information, please contact the office. First time volunteers must complete the volunteer form before their first build. This form can be found on the SAWS website: www.sawsramps.org. Thank you.

Seasoned Friends Is Back! Seasoned Friends will gather again for the first time in a few years since the pandemic on Thursday, Sept 29th at 11:30. We will have a soup and salad lunch together and talk about the things we would like to experience together as a group over the next few months. This has been a wonderful gathering in the past for anyone over 50 that appreciates gathering for food, fellowship and interesting activities. We welcome anyone that considers themselves a Seasoned Friend to join us. If you’re interested, please RSVP to the Meeting Office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel (388 pages) Everyone is welcome!

Eva Traube Abrams, a semi-retired librarian in Florida, is shelving books one morning when her eyes lock on a photograph in a magazine lying open nearby. She freezes; it’s an image of a book she hasn’t seen in sixty-five years—a book she recognizes as The Book of Lost Names.

The accompanying article discusses the looting of libraries by the Nazis across Europe during World War II—an experience Eva remembers well—and the search to reunite people with the texts taken from them so long ago. The book in the photograph, an eighteenth-century religious text thought to have been taken from France in the waning days of the war, is one of the most fascinating cases. Now housed in Berlin’s Zentral- und Landesbibliothek library, it appears to contain some sort of code, but researchers don’t know where it came from—or what the code means. Only Eva holds the answer—but will she have the strength to revisit old memories and help reunite those lost during the war?

As a graduate student in 1942, Eva was forced to flee Paris after the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew. Finding refuge in a small mountain town in the Free Zone, she begins forging identity documents for Jewish children fleeing to neutral Switzerland. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Rémy, Eva decides she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember who they really are. The records they keep in The Book of Lost Names will become even more vital when the resistance cell they work for is betrayed and Rémy disappears.

An engaging and evocative novel reminiscent of The Lost Girls of Paris and The Alice Network, The Book of Lost Names is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of bravery and love in the face of evil.

We will gather in the Parlor and via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 led by Carolyn T.

Oak Leaf is searching for 33 titles to pick for next year. Each book must have at least 10 copies available at the Indianapolis library. Please contact the office with your favorite titles to consider for 2023! We will gather them for October survey and have the big reveal at our annual lasagna dinner on November 29th! Everyone is welcome!

Adult Quaker Affirmation ~ We are glad to offer an adult Quaker Affirmation class series which will begin on Sunday, October 2, from 11:30-1:00. This is an 8-week study of what it means to be a Quaker. It will cover Quaker history, theology, and what Quakers are doing in the world today. Anyone is welcome! If you’re interested, please contact the office.

Did you know? – Easterseals Crossroads has free family activities for those with disabilities! You might know Easterseals Crossroads from previous Christmases where we partnered with them to provide gifts for families in need during the holidays. Did you know Easterseals also provides events and services for adults and children with disabilities? One of their events will even take place here at First Friends! All the below events are free of charge and open to anyone. Contact the office if you’d like more information about any of these events!

· Parents Night Out - Event for a child with a disability in the age range from 6 months-12 years of age and any sibling who falls within that same age range. These events take place on the first, second, and third Fridays of a month. Families drop off at the Easterseals Crossroads building on Kingsway Drive at 6:15 pm and pick up at 9:30 pm. Children play in a respite area and there is also a park that kids play in when weather is appropriate. Caregivers qualify for a free gift card 1 time in a 2 month window.

· Parents Day Out - Same as Parents Night Out except on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month and the hours are from 10:00 am-2:00 pm.

· Teen Night Out - The last Friday of each month unless otherwise noted. Mainly occurs at the Easterseals building on Kingsway Drive and parents will be notified if it is a special community outing, such as the October 28th event here at First Friends! Ages for consumers are 13-17 years old. Only the child with the disability is able to attend this event. Time for the event is from 6:00 PM-9:00 PM

· Friday Night Out - This is the 2nd Friday of each month and is available to any consumer with a disability who is 18 and over. This mainly occurs at the Easterseals Crossroads building unless a community outing is planned. Hours of the event are from 6:00 PM-9:00 PM. Respite staff usually plans a theme and we provide a meal or snack and a craft, but adults are free to do their preferred activities as well.

Please bring your unneeded footwear of ALL types to the Donation Station in Fellowship Hall. Changing Footprints is on track to provide 50,000 pairs this year from our North Indy location alone. Demand for footwear is increasing, and our supply is dwindling! In addition to many Indiana nonprofits, we recently have been supplying shoes for people affected by the Kentucky floods. This summer we have provided footwear to organizations in Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thanks for your support!

The Stamp Program is Still as Active as Ever! The stamp program is still in full swing! The program collects and resells stamps to raise money for Right Sharing of World Resources, a nonprofit organization that provides grants (note corrected terminology) to female-owned businesses in Sierra Leone, India and Kenya. So be sure to save your stamps, and leave or mail your donations to the Meetinghouse. Another issue of the program’s newsletter, $tamping 4 Dollar$ is available! View it here.

In the next few weeks, you will be reading more about Bread for the World. Please consider taking part in the letter writing process with us on October 30.

This Week’s Queries

Consider someone you know who is suffering. Then ask yourself the following queries:

· Do I see and understand their suffering?

· Do I feel their suffering deeply in my emotions and feelings?

· Am I being led to have compassion on them?

Is there a way I might bring relief to their suffering in the present?

Comment

Friend to Friend September 14, 2022

September 15, 2022

As Way Opens

A couple of months ago, Penny Paraskevas shared with Circle of Care her love for specialty license plates during one of our meetings. Since she shared, I have been noticing a lot more specialty plates while driving around Indianapolis.

The other day on my way to have lunch with our Superintendent, Shawn McConaughey, I came to a traffic light and noticed the car’s license plate in front of me read, “BEWHO UR.” At first glance, I didn’t get it. But then as the car sped off, I read it slowly, “be who you are.”

As I continued down the street, this sighting reminded me of a children’s book that I read to the Maple Seeds Preschool Cooperative (which meets in our Meeting) by the same title. The book, Be Who You Are is the companion to bestselling author, Todd Parr’s classic, It’s OK to Be Different. Two great books to read to your kids, grandkids, or your neighbor’s kids for that matter.

In Be Who You Are, Todd says,

Be who you are!
Be proud of where you’re from.
Be a different color. Speak your language.
Wear everything you need to be you.

Todd Parr reminds kids and adults alike, that their unique traits are what make them so special.

A big part of empathy, which we are talking about in our fall sermon series, is acceptance – the ability to see that others have a right to be their own unique persons. To be empathetic people we need to work on accepting people for who they are and letting go of our desires to change them. When we do this, we let them be different and think differently from us – uniquely the way God made them.

Remember to be who you are this week, and let others be who they are, too!

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

You never know where Friends from our Meeting will show up. If you watch this video from the Broad Ripple Parks carefully you may see some familiar faces!

We had a great turnout for Sunday Funday and loved the amazing bounce house that was set up in fellowship hall. The kids (and a few adults) had so much fun bouncing and climbing the wall to slide down the other side. It was pretty cool to have this massive bounce house inside and thankful we could finally have something for the kids. We might do this again in the winter!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat: Kaleidoscope - The Magic of a Subtle Shift ~ Ladies, you’re invited to the 2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat! It will be Friday September 23rd beginning at 5:00 p.m. through 11:00 on Sunday Sept 25th. Rachel Doll O’Mahoney, the new pastor at Valley Mill Friends will be our retreat leader. We will gather at the Benedictine Center in Beech Grove and the Center will provide rooms and meals. We will gather together to talk about our lives the past 2 years and how our experiences are shaping our future. We will have workshops, free time, meals together and some fun activities. We invite you to reserve your spot by contacting the office. Registration is due by TOMORROW, September 15th! The following is the pricing for 2 nights stay, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts and one lunch:

Single room with common bath - $158
Double room with common bath - $117

(Please note that only rooms with common baths are left.) We will have scholarships available to ensure anyone can attend if they want to. Our previous retreats have been a rich time of connection and community. This is a retreat that is trans inclusive/LGBTQ supportive.

SAWS Ramp Build ~ The Shalom Zone is planning another SAWS ramp build on the morning of Saturday, October 1st. SAWS is an organization that designs and builds ramps for folks who need a wheelchair and cannot afford a wheelchair ramp on their own. No experience is necessary...if you can carry some lumber and pound in a nail, then you qualify! The build usually begins at around 8 am and concludes around noon. Further details about time and location will be provided at a later date. The Shalom Zone needs to get its list of volunteers together no later than September 20. If you would like to volunteer or need more information, please contact the office.. First time volunteers must complete the volunteer form before their first build. This form can be found on the SAWS website: www.sawsramps.org. Thank you.

Fall Migration is Underway and our bird friends may stop in our Woods ~ Each fall, billions of birds take flight, streaming through the air on their far-flung journeys. Cornell Ornithology hosts its annual Migration Celebration to celebrate and marvel at this amazing natural spectacle. Join them for a festival of free, online events from September 12–22. You can enjoy two weeks of webinars and family-friendly programs with ideas and resources for your own migration activities. For more information, visit the Cornell website.

Want to learn more about native goldenrods? Here is a post by Alyssa Nyberg, restoration ecologist at Kankakee Sands Nature Preserve.

Are you interested in learning more about being engaged in protecting God’s earth? The annual Hoosier Environmental Council “Greening the Statehouse” is October 15, 2022: https://www.hecweb.org/gts/.

Confront the Climate Crisis: Confront the Climate Crisis (CTCC), in preparation for advocating for SB 255 again for the 2023 Sessions, is hosting a conference to bring a diverse set of stakeholders to the table and have an in-depth conversation about potential climate solutions for Indiana. For more information, view the flyer here.

National Drive Electric Week Carmel EV Ride and Drive - Carmel, IN Oct 01, 2022 - https://driveelectricweek.org/event?eventid=3141

Selling a Car? Help Someone in Need! One of our attenders, Rosita Moore is seeking a reliable and affordable used vehicle. If you have one, or know of someone who may have one for sale, please contact the office. Thank you!

First Friends Financial Update: Members and attenders are reminded that the Meeting seeks and welcomes financial support, as we currently are experiencing a dip in donations. To donate online, visit indyfriends.org/support/#givenow, or text to give at 317-768-0303. Other means of support include automatic giving, stock gifts, estate planning, and donation of IRA Required Minimum Distributions. For assistance in donating, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485.

The Stamp Program is Still as Active as Ever! The stamp program is still in full swing! The program collects and resells stamps to raise money for Right Sharing of World Resources, a nonprofit organization that provides grants to female-owned businesses in Sierra Leone, India and Kenya. So be sure to save your stamps, and leave or mail your donations to the Meetinghouse. Another issue of the program’s newsletter, $tamping 4 Dollar$ is available! View it here.

Participate in our "Sponsor a College Student" project! Just select a college student and send them notes, cards, treats, etc throughout the school year so they feel connected. We still have 1 more student who needs to be sponsored! If you’d like to participate, take a student off the posterboard in the Meetinghouse. Please consider connecting with our students this year!

Are You Interested In Gleaning? ~ The Shalom Zone is trying to find out whether there are folks in our Shalom Zone churches who have an interest in gleaning crops. Gleaning is the process of walking through a farmer’s field and picking up produce left behind by machines that harvest the crops. The “gleaned produce” can then be donated to a food pantry or other organization who can use it. Notice of a gleaning event is typically short...a few days to perhaps a week. The farms are usually located in counties adjacent to Marion County. We would anticipate that we would meet at First Friends and ride together to the gleaning location. If you would be interested in helping with gleaning, please notify either the First Friends office. Our thought is to develop an email list of interested folks to use when gleaning opportunities arise. Notice can then quickly be sent out to determine whether there are folks who are able to help for a particular gleaning event that arises. Think of this opportunity as something that can not only provide food for the needy, but great exercise! Thanks for your consideration.

Indianapolis Festival of Faiths! Friends, the Festival of Faiths is coming around again and this time in person at White River State Park September 18th, 1:00 to 5:00pm! You can meet people of many different faiths, get "turbin-ized" by the Sikhs as Bob Henry did one year, join a drumming circle and maybe witness a Jewish wedding complete with the smashing of the wine glass. And of course, you can hang out with the Quakers and learn more about the Quaker Testimonies.

As in the past we expect to work with Fairfield Friends and perhaps another couple of local meetings. As always, we are looking for people to help us at the Quaker booth. Any amount of time is helpful but helping set up and take down are the times when we definitely need a minimum of two people.

If you would be willing to help with the booth, contact the office.

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for September

Chipping Sparrow: As Common As Dirt?

The Chipping Sparrow does not get much respect in the world of birders. The feeling is not negative as with a House Sparrow or the European Starling. Every year in the spring we watch newly-arrived migrants, and make daily notes of species found. Unlike the oohs and aahs brought on by the sightings of Baltimore Orioles or Black-throated Blue Warblers, the first views of Chipping Sparrows are greeted by a matter-of-factness. They have a rusty-red cap, black-and-white stripes on the face, and white wingbars on a brown upper body. The song is a rapid-burst series of chips, from which it gets its name. So what is the issue? I believe it is simply “commonness”.

Yes, Chippies are everywhere! While found in most natural habitats, they have adapted well to suburban neighborhoods, baseball fields, cemeteries, and churchyards, even our own. So to a birder, it would be as if the pastor has announced a surprise performer, and you are watching and listening for the Beatles, Elvis, or even John Denver, and what you get is a pew-neighbor member of congregation singing “Kum-bah-yah”…again.

HOWEVER: The point is that our meeting welcomes special guests, and we learn much from them, but we also depend on our COMMON pew-neighbor members whose frequent well-done renditions of “Kum-bah-yah” keep us going each day.

- Story and photos by Brad J

FWCC Midwest Regional Gathering ~ You’re invited to the Friends World Committee for Consultation’s (FWCC) regional gathering. Friends from the Midwest Region (Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois) will meet in Plainfield at the Western Yearly Meeting site on Saturday, September 24 from 12:00 - 4:30pm. Come and meet Friends from the Midwest and hear from Shawn McConaughey (Superintendent of Western Yearly Meeting) and Robin Mohr (General Secretary of FWCC, Section of the Americas). For more information and to register, click here.

Adult Quaker Affirmation Coming Soon ~ We are glad to offer an adult Quaker Affirmation class series which will begin on Sunday, October 2, from 11:30-1:00. This is an 8-week study of what it means to be a Quaker. It will cover Quaker history, theology, and what Quakers are doing in the world today. Anyone is welcome! If you’re interested, please contact the office.

This Week’s Queries

· Do I only give empathy when it is convenient to me?

· When other people offend me or make a mistake, do I withhold empathy?

· Do I look for opportunities to “educate” the other people in a conversation?

· Do I try to fix the problem instead of listening intently for how the person feels?

· Do I turn someone else’s vulnerability into an opportunity to draw attention to myself?

· Am I not willing to challenge my own beliefs, assumptions, or convictions in hearing another’s story?

Comment

Friend to Friend September 7, 2022

September 15, 2022

As Way Opens

I am reading a fascinating book called Bound for Canaan: The Underground Railroad and the War for the Soul of America by Fergus Bordewich. As Quakers and Hoosiers we probably know more than the average person about The Underground Railroad, but I’m not sure how in depth we go in our history lessons to understand how incredible this informal yet effective network was for many years. There might be a tendency to “romanticize” this organization but the courage, bravery, moral fortitude, religious inspiration and cleverness of abolitionists and blacks is heartening and hopeful.

It was the first organic racially integrated civil rights movement that defied society’s standards, that worked for the long term gain of equality and was likely one of the contributing causes of the Civil War. It started in Philadelphia. “At the turn of the nineteenth century, by the 1850’s the underground had developed into a diverse, flexible, and interlocking system with thousands of activists reaching from the upper South to Canada. The underground was a model of democracy in action, operating in most areas with a minimum of central direction and a maximum of grassroots involvement, and with only one strategic goal; to provide aid to any fugitive slave who asked for it.” It’s probably one of the reasons that the Quakers were such leaders in the organization. They came from a religious structure that was not hierarchal with minimal central direction. Many of the Quakers also felt strongly in their belief that there is that of God in each person and they could not look the other way when it came to slaves. Not all the Quakers were against slavery but because they were a fairly closed community, they would not report their neighbors assisting in the Underground Railroad even if they disagreed with the anti-slavery position.

When we visited the Levi Coffin house outside of Richmond, we learned that Indiana Yearly Meeting was not united on this issue and Levi’s own brother was not supportive of this cause. I think it was a difficult issue for many to engage in this civil disobedience, subverting the federal law and challenging the societal norms. Whenever there is cultural change taking place there will be resistance and many saying that we can’t push this hard and change will take time. Thank goodness there were brave and principled Quakers and others that made the decision that the time to act was right then, assisting thousands to freedom. As Levi said, “the dictates of humanity came in opposition to the law of the land, and we ignored the law.”

Beth

Joys & Concerns

Terry T is recovering from surgery and would like to say thank you to everyone who sent cards, calls, notes and meals!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Unheard Voices in Christianity ~ In the study group for Early Christian Writings, we found that there were many voices that have not been heard as Christianity developed its orthodoxy. Many of the women who were instrumental in the early Jesus movement were under-emphasized or written out of the story altogether. If we are indeed created in God's image male and female, it is important for us to pay attention in the women in the Bible and other Christian writings. In our next round of study, we will pay attention to these women of the Bible and other important unheard or lesser known voices in Christianity.

We invite you to join us on Thursday September 8th for our first look at Unheard Voices in Christianity with an emphasis on women. Just as the people of the Jesus movement met to break bread before meeting and worshiping together, so will we. Join us at 6:30pm for a light meal in Fellowship Hall before we begin our study. If you have any questions or comments contact the office.

SEEKING FRIENDS begins again this Sunday at 9:00am at First Friends, led by Bob Henry. This year we are beginning the year looking at Peter Enns’ book, The Bible Tells Me So…Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It. Enns is the Abram S. Clemens Professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University, St. Davids, Pennsylvania. From the cover of the book:

“Christians have been defending scripture from attack for two centuries. In fact, argues Bible scholar Peter Enns, we have become so busy protecting the Bible that we are now unable to read it. In The Bible Tells Me So, he provides a revolutionary new perspective.”

We have ordered several copies of the book to have on hand this Sunday. You may also purchase or download online, or even borrow the book from the library. Our copies are $17.00 (scholarships available for any who need them). We look forward to you joining for this wonderful conversation each Sunday.

This Weekend: 2022 Fall Kickoff & Sunday Funday! ~ Please note some changes for this Sunday! We are excited for this year’s fall kickoff which will begin on Sunday, September 11th. Sunday School classes will start at 9:00am and we will serve breakfast starting at 9:30am. Please note a change: The choir will NOT meet this Sunday, but will start rehearsing the following Sunday, September 18th. At this time, there will be no Sunday school for children or youth. Also, due to weather, Sunday Funday has again been postponed to this Sunday. We will have a bouncy house and slip ‘n slide with lots of fun for the kids. So instead of pajamas—we encourage everyone to wear their swimwear for the slip-n-slide or wear your favorite sports team apparel. Please mark your calendars for that day! We hope to see everyone in their pajamas for a fun day! Please join us.

Participate in our "Sponsor a College Student" project! Just select a college student and send them notes, cards, treats, etc throughout the school year so they feel connected. We still have 2 more students who need to be sponsored! If you’d like to participate, take a student off the posterboard in the Meetinghouse. Please consider connecting with our students this year!

Are You Interested In Gleaning? ~ The Shalom Zone is trying to find out whether there are folks in our Shalom Zone churches who have an interest in gleaning crops. Gleaning is the process of walking through a farmer’s field and picking up produce left behind by machines that harvest the crops. The “gleaned produce” can then be donated to a food pantry or other organization who can use it. Notice of a gleaning event is typically short...a few days to perhaps a week. The farms are usually located in counties adjacent to Marion County. We would anticipate that we would meet at First Friends and ride together to the gleaning location. If you would be interested in helping with gleaning, please notify the First Friends office. Our thought is to develop an email list of interested folks to use when gleaning opportunities arise. Notice can then quickly be sent out to determine whether there are folks who are able to help for a particular gleaning event that arises. Think of this opportunity as something that can not only provide food for the needy, but great exercise! Thanks for your consideration.

“Hijacking History” IPJC Event ~ The Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center is delighted to invite you to their Speakers Event. The topic will be Hijacking History: How the Christian Right Teaches History and Why it Matters. Dr. Kathleen A. Wellman, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor at Southern Methodist University will draw on material from her book by the same title recently published by Oxford University Press, and will also address recent proposed legislation in the state of Indiana and debates about Critical Race Theory. There will be time for questions and discussion following her remarks. It will be held on September 14th at 7:00 pm on Zoom. If you’re interested, please RSVP to indypeaceandjusticectr@gmail.com. A Zoom link will be sent to all who RSVP prior to the event. We hope you will join us!

If you would be willing to help with the booth, contact Ed Morris at (317) 691-5542 or at emorri@earthlink.net

2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat: Kaleidoscope - The Magic of a Subtle Shift ~ Ladies, you’re invited to the 2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat! It will be Friday September 23rd beginning at 5:00 p.m. through 11:00 on Sunday Sept 25th. Rachel Doll O’Mahoney, the new pastor at Valley Mill Friends will be our retreat leader. We will gather at the Benedictine Center in Beech Grove and the Center will provide rooms and meals. We will gather together to talk about our lives the past 2 years and how our experiences are shaping our future. We will have workshops, free time, meals together and some fun activities. We invite you to reserve your spot by contacting the office. The following is the pricing for 2 nights stay, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts and one lunch:

Single room with common bath - $158
Double room with common bath - $117

(Please note that only common bath rooms are left.) We will have scholarships available to ensure anyone can attend if they want to. Our previous retreats have been a rich time of connection and community. This is a retreat that is trans inclusive/LGBTQ supportive.

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for September

Chipping Sparrow: As Common As Dirt?

- Story and photos by Brad J

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel (388 pages) Everyone is welcome!

We will gather in the Parlor and via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 led by Carolyn T.

This Week’s Queries

1. Start by making a list of your current passions.

One might be a hobby.

One might be a relationship.

One might be a dream.

2. Next to each passion, write down whether or not you think you have to suffer for it.

Are your fingers nicked from failed attempts to accomplish a perfectly julienned carrot?

Does your significant other drive you crazy?

Are you wrestling with the title for the short story you’ve been sweating over?

3. Ask yourself if each passion is worth it.

Looking at your list, are there any that no longer give you that spark of excitement, curiosity, drive, and life force that they once did?

Comment

Friend to Friend August 31, 2022

September 1, 2022

As Way Opens

After taking our boys off to college last week, I finally found some time to enjoy our backyard once again. Sitting with a warm cup of coffee on our back porch in the early morning, I observed that much like our own boys, our gardens are in transition as well. Summer may be coming to an end, yet our Clematis is making one last resurgence and sending out some final blossoms. While our trees are starting to show some color change, the autumn bloomers are just at their peak.

I love these last moments of summer because they give us a chance to pause and enjoy all the work we have done throughout the spring and summer months. Another word for this moment is selah as is often seen in the book of Psalms. Many believe selah was a liturgical-musical mark meaning to stop and listen. Often while I am sipping my coffee, I simply get lost in the stillness and sacredness of this natural space, and I embrace Selah. It rejuvenates me and helps me prepare for what fall will bring in a few short weeks.

The other day as I was sitting on my porch, the following poem by poet and farmer, Wendell Berry came to mind. It articulates this transition taking place before our eyes.

The Summer Ends
by Wendell Berry, from A Timbered Choir

The summer ends, and it is time
To face another way. Our theme
Reversed, we harvest the last row
To store against the cold, undo
The garden that will be undone.
We grieve under the weakened sun
To see all earth’s green fountains dried,
And fallen all the works of light.
You do not speak, and I regret
This downfall of the good we sought
As though the fault were mine. I bring
The plow to turn the shattering
Leaves and bent stems into the dark,
From which they may return. At work,
I see you leaving our bright land,
The last cut flowers in your hand.

This week, take a moment to stop and listen to the transitions taking place all around us as we enter the season of autumn. Listen to the birds rustling, the leaves as they fall, and embrace selah in preparation for this new season to emerge.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Our kids had a great time at our babysitting co-op this past weekend! Look at all the smiles!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Selling a Car? Help Someone in Need! One of our attenders, Rosita M is seeking a reliable and affordable used vehicle. If you have one, or know of someone who may have one for sale, please contact the office. Thank you!

Maple Seeds Preschool Fall Harvest Mum Buddies Fundraiser! Maple Seeds Preschool Coop (MSPC) is selling fun fall mum buddies! Sales of these fun potted mum plants will directly benefit MSPC. (Watch the Kickoff Video here!) Hurry—orders must be placed by the end of the day on Friday, September 2nd! Plants will be available for pickup starting October 5th at the Meetinghouse (an email reminder will be sent). To browse or place an order, visit https://app.fundraiseit.org/shop.php?code=14C8DE. Thank you for supporting MSPC!

Participate in our "Sponsor a College Student" project! Just select a college student and send them notes, cards, treats, etc throughout the school year so they feel connected. If you’d like to participate, take a student off the posterboard in the Meetinghouse. Please consider connecting with our students this year!

RecycleForce Presentation ~ Shalom Zone churches have arranged a presentation by Andrew King of RecycleForce at Epworth United Methodist Church on Tuesday evening August 30th at 7PM. RecycleForce is a non-profit organization with a mission of providing job training and support to folks released from prison. By providing recycling services for electronics they are also addressing important environmental concerns by keeping electronics out of our landfills. This is a unique organization that is providing important services to our community. Come and learn how RecycleForce is benefiting our community.

Mark Your Calendars! Due to weather, Sunday Funday has been postponed to this Sunday, September 4th. We will have Meeting for Worship outside for Labor Day weekend, as well as a bouncy house and slip ‘n slide. Please mark your calendars for that day!

Are You Interested In Gleaning? ~ The Shalom Zone is trying to find out whether there are folks in our Shalom Zone churches who have an interest in gleaning crops. Gleaning is the process of walking through a farmer’s field and picking up produce left behind by machines that harvest the crops. The “gleaned produce” can then be donated to a food pantry or other organization who can use it. Notice of a gleaning event is typically short...a few days to perhaps a week. The farms are usually located in counties adjacent to Marion County. We would anticipate that we would meet at First Friends and ride together to the gleaning location. If you would be interested in helping with gleaning, please notify the First Friends office. Our thought is to develop an email list of interested folks to use when gleaning opportunities arise. Notice can then quickly be sent out to determine whether there are folks who are able to help for a particular gleaning event that arises. Think of this opportunity as something that can not only provide food for the needy, but great exercise! Thanks for your consideration.

Mark your Calendar: 2022 Fall Kickoff! ~ We are excited for this year’s fall kickoff which will begin on Sunday, September 11th. Everyone is invited to wear your pajamas at the Meetinghouse that day! Sunday School classes will start at 9:00am and we will serve breakfast starting at 9:30am. The Seeking Friends adult Sunday School class will be led by Bob H. The choir will also meet starting at 9:00am. At this time, there will be no Sunday school for children or youth. We hope to see everyone in their pajamas for a fun day! Please join us.

Indianapolis Festival of Faiths! Friends, the Festival of Faiths is coming around again and this time in person at White River State Park September 18th, 1:00 to 5:00pm! You can meet people of many different faiths, get "turbin-ized" by the Sikhs as Bob Henry did one year, join a drumming circle and maybe witness a Jewish wedding complete with the smashing of the wine glass. And of course, you can hang out with the Quakers and learn more about the Quaker Testimonies.

If you would be willing to help with the booth, contact the office.

2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat: Kaleidoscope - The Magic of a Subtle Shift ~ Ladies, you’re invited to the 2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat! It will be Friday September 23rd beginning at 5:00 p.m. through 11:00 on Sunday Sept 25th. Rachel Doll O’Mahoney, the new pastor at Valley Mill Friends will be our retreat leader. We will gather at the Benedictine Center in Beech Grove and the Center will provide rooms and meals. We will gather together to talk about our lives the past 2 years and how our experiences are shaping our future. We will have workshops, free time, meals together and some fun activities. We invite you to reserve your spot by contacting the office. The following is the pricing for 2 nights stay, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts and one lunch:

Single room with common bath - $158
Double room with common bath - $117

Being an Afghan Youngster in America~ The First Friends Afghan Project (FFAP) continues to sponsor our Afghan family. FFAP provides services, including transportation when public transit is not feasible for them.

I took the family’s youngest son to soccer practice a few weeks ago. I witnessed how the benefit of our support (in a country free of violence perpetrated by a military on its own citizens) can make a difference in the quality of life for children who have endured traumatic events. As this young man was practicing soccer on a beautiful sunny evening, he suddenly stopped what he was doing and raised his arms with a joyful smile toward the sky. It seemed like a prayer of joy and gratitude that he could just be a boy and worry about nothing but having fun with friends.

It is very rewarding to help this family to adjust to living in a new country and to help them to learn the skills and knowledge they need, especially when it results in such joy and gratitude.

~ Dana F, Team Member, First Friends Afghan Project

This Week’s Queries

· Why do you do what you do? And why is that important to you?

· Why do you get out of bed every day?

· What do you believe at your very core?

· What is the one reason you keep coming back to, regardless of what you’re doing or how you’re doing it?

Comment

Friend to Friend August 24, 2022

August 24, 2022

As Way Opens

My son Greg sent me this paragraph yesterday out of the AA Big Book - “All my life I depended on people for my emotional needs and security, but today I cannot live that way anymore. By the grace of God, I have admitted my powerlessness over people, places and things. I had been a real “people addict,” wherever I went there had to be someone who would pay some kind of attention to me. It was the kind of attitude that could only get worse, because the more I depended on others and demanded attention, the less I received. I have given up believing that any human power can relieve me of that empty feeling. Although I remain a fragile human being who needs to work A.A.’s steps to keep this particular principle before my personality, it is only a loving God who can give me inner peace and emotional stability.”

These truths go beyond those that are just in AA. There is much here that can apply to each of us. There are so many people trying to fill that emptiness with relationships, money, power, prestige, addictions of all sorts. This hole that will never be filled from others, is only complete with the love of God, a God that hounds us, a God that accepts us just as we are, that gives no shame but embraces us as God’s child. The journey to fill this emptiness is the journey of our lives.

I read recently that while religion has disappointed us from the beginning, we can’t throw it out because we humans need something to belong to, a place to feel loved and something to fill that emptiness. If we don’t have a community like the beautiful faith community here at First Friends where we experience the love of God, that creates a sense of belonging and a sense of fullness from God, we will be running fast to fill that hole and can choose destructive groups like a gang, a supremacist group, a cult, or other dangerous groups to help fill that emptiness. We will look for it in so many places and things and people. And we will come up empty.

As the Psalmist shares with us in Psalms 4:8, “I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” May we all lie down in the safety and peace of the Lord and feel the Lord’s fullness.

Beth

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Men’s Threshing Together ~ If you are interested in gathering with other men who mull over current issues or topics, where all points of view are heard, no decisions are made, and all in a non-threatening atmosphere over a meal, then Threshing Together is for you! Please note that for this month, we will meet on the fourth Thursday, August 25 at 7:00pm at Pastor Bob’s house. We will be excitedly kicking off our 6th year of Threshing Together! Beverages and light snacks will be provided. We will plan to meet in our backyard - weather permitting. We hope you will join us!

Participate in our "Sponsor a College Student" project! Just select a college student and send them notes, cards, treats, etc throughout the school year so they feel connected. If you’d like to participate, take a student off the posterboard in the Meetinghouse. Please consider connecting with our students this year!

The First Friends Thursday night Bible study invites you to study the book Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job: Three Ways of Wisdom for thirteen weeks beginning August 25. The book is in the Illuminate series, which was recommended by Bob Henry. Contact the office if you'd like to participate in this small group, or even if you'd like to join only occasionally. The study meets by Zoom every Thursday at 7:30 pm. From the website: "These books of wisdom help readers consider life’s big questions of meaning, purpose, and the existence of suffering. Readers are encouraged to grow in wisdom and to avoid folly, and there's a promise offered—that by seeking wisdom, we will be guided into righteousness. This path is not free from suffering, but God is present, and we can find joy in the moments we have. Journey through these books to discover three aspects of biblical wisdom and reflect on how God is leading you in the way of wisdom today."

Babysitting Co-Op ~ Our babysitting co-op is happening Saturday August 27, 4:30 – 8:30, hosted by Tiffany B and Beth H. Dinner will be provided for the kids. Please contact Beth if you would like to have your kids join in the fun that evening!

Are You Interested In Gleaning? ~ The Shalom Zone is trying to find out whether there are folks in our Shalom Zone churches who have an interest in gleaning crops. Gleaning is the process of walking through a farmer’s field and picking up produce left behind by machines that harvest the crops. The “gleaned produce” can then be donated to a food pantry or other organization who can use it. Notice of a gleaning event is typically short...a few days to perhaps a week. The farms are usually located in counties adjacent to Marion County. We would anticipate that we would meet at First Friends and ride together to the gleaning location. If you would be interested in helping with gleaning, please notify the First Friends office. Our thought is to develop an email list of interested folks to use when gleaning opportunities arise. Notice can then quickly be sent out to determine whether there are folks who are able to help for a particular gleaning event that arises. Think of this opportunity as something that can not only provide food for the needy, but great exercise! Thanks for your consideration.

From the Woods ~ On Sunday, I saw several American goldfinches enjoying the seed heads of our purple coneflowers in the courtyard. They are having a feast of the foods that are a part of their natural diet. Who have you seen eating from nature’s bounty in our courtyard and Woods?

On Monday, August 29, volunteers will be getting the Woods ready for the September 4 outdoor service in the Woods. If you are free from 9-11am, come join us do some weeding, getting the twigs and branches out of the area for the service. Insect repellent is recommended!

Upcoming events:

· The annual Indiana Water summit will be September 7 & 8. If you’re not familiar with the Indiana Water Summit, it is a two-day annual forum designed to take a look at all the issues that our water supply faces. You can find out more about the Indiana Water Summit here: https://thewhiteriveralliance.org/programs/water-summit/

· Solar United Neighbors will be participating in two local events to spread the word about the benefits of rooftop solar. The success of our co-ops and advocacy depends on the passionate solar neighbors who are inspired to talk to their neighbors and continually take action to advance solar power.

· Cumberland Baptist Church Green Festival (Saturday, 9/10 from 3pm - 6pm)

Cumberland First Baptist Church

116 S Muessing St, Cumberland, IN 46229

· Bates-Hendricks Street Fest (Saturday, 9/17 from 3pm - 8pm)

Bates-Hendricks Neighborhood

1546 S New Jersey St, Indianapolis, IN 46225

· Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Nature Conservancy’s Kankakee Sands on Saturday, September 24 (if you’re not able to attend the Women’s Retreat). Kankakee Sands is a fantastic place where part of the northwest plains have been restored and American Bison reintroduced. For more information and activity locations head to www.nature.org/events and be sure to mark September 24th, 2022 on your calendar!

~Mary B, Woods Co-Clerk

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt by Arthur C. Brooks (256 pages) Everyone is welcome!

To get ahead today, you have to be a jerk, right?

Divisive politicians. Screaming heads on television. Angry campus activists. Twitter trolls. Today in America, there is an “outrage industrial complex” that prospers by setting American against American, creating a “culture of contempt”—the habit of seeing people who disagree with us not as merely incorrect, but as worthless and defective. Maybe, like more than nine out of ten Americans, you dislike it. But hey, either you play along, or you’ll be left behind, right?

Wrong.

In Love Your Enemies, the New York Times bestselling author and social scientist Arthur C. Brooks shows that abuse and outrage are not the right formula for lasting success. Brooks blends cutting-edge behavioral research, ancient wisdom, and a decade of experience of experience leading one of America’s top policy think tanks in a work that offers a better way to lead based on bridging divides and mending relationships.

Brooks’ prescriptions are unconventional. To bring America together, we shouldn’t try to agree more. There is no need for mushy moderation, because disagreement is the secret to excellence. Civility and tolerance shouldn’t be our goals, because they are hopelessly low standards. And our feelings toward our foes are irrelevant; what matters is how we choose to act.

Love Your Enemies offers a clear strategy for victory for a new generation of leaders. It is a rallying cry for people hoping for a new era of American progress. Most of all, it is a roadmap to arrive at the happiness that comes when we choose to love one another, despite our differences.

We will gather in the parlor simultaneously with Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 led by Mary B.

Mark your Calendar: 2022 Fall Kickoff! ~ We are excited for this year’s fall kickoff which will begin on Sunday, September 11th. Everyone is invited to wear your pajamas at the Meetinghouse that day! Sunday School classes will start at 9:00am and we will serve breakfast starting at 9:30am. The Seeking Friends adult Sunday School class will be led by Bob Henry. The choir will also meet starting at 9:00am. At this time, there will be no Sunday school for children or youth. We hope to see everyone that day in their pajamas for a fun day! Please join us.

Mark Your Calendars! Due to weather, Sunday Funday has been postponed to Sunday, September 4th. We will have Meeting for Worship outside for Labor Day weekend, as well as a bouncy house and slip ‘n slide. Please mark your calendars for that day!

Green Team Summit 2022 is Approaching! You’re invited on Sunday, September 11 from 5:00-6:30 PM CT/6:00-7:30 ET for Green Team Summit keynote session with renowned climate scientist, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe! Dr. Hayhoe will deliver a live address with Q&A, exploring her latest book, Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World. Now, Saving Us gives us the tools to have those conversations with our friends and neighbors—successfully! This keynote session will be the first of six sessions, where participants will explore the intersection of faith, climate change, and justice, access lots of free resources and Faith in Place programs, meet other people passionate about environmental justice, and more! In addition to the virtual component welcoming guests from around the world, regional watch parties will be hosted in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. For more information and to register, please visit http://www.greenteamsummit.org.

Indianapolis Festival of Faiths! Friends, the Festival of Faiths is coming around again and this time in person at White River State Park September 18th, 1:00 to 5:00pm! You can meet people of many different faiths, get "turbin-ized" by the Sikhs as Pastor Bob did one year, join a drumming circle and maybe witness a Jewish wedding complete with the smashing of the wine glass. And of course, you can hang out with the Quakers and learn more about the Quaker Testimonies.

If you would be willing to help with the booth, contact the office.

2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat: Kaleidoscope - The Magic of a Subtle Shift ~ Ladies, you’re invited to the 2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat! It will be Friday September 23rd beginning at 5:00 p.m. through 11:00 on Sunday Sept 25th. Rachel Doll O’Mahoney, the new pastor at Valley Mill Friends will be our retreat leader. We will gather at the Benedictine Center in Beech Grove and the Center will provide rooms and meals. We will gather together to talk about our lives the past 2 years and how our experiences are shaping our future. We will have workshops, free time, meals together and some fun activities. We invite you to reserve your spot by contacting the office. The following is the pricing for 2 nights stay, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts and one lunch:

Single room with private bath - $187
Single room with common bath - $158
Double room with private bath - $129
Double room with common bath - $117

We will have scholarships available to ensure anyone can attend if they want to. Our previous retreats have been a rich time of connection and community. This is a retreat that is trans inclusive/LGBTQ supportive.

Last Week’s Queries

· Have any of my passions become obsessions?

· Do I live in humility and not hold my passions too tightly?

· How do I more passionately follow the path of St Francis?

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Friend to Friend August 17, 2022

August 18, 2022

As Way Opens

On Sunday, we hosted special guest, Bridget Moix, the General Secretary of Friends Committee on National Legislation. Bridget brought a wonderful message that had us considering our part in creating a Beloved Community in such a divided world.

After the message, I was moved to speak out of the silence about one of our family visits to the King Center in Atlanta. It was there that we first introduced our boys to Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community. The boys in turn pointed out how Quakerly the vision was. It is so important to the King legacy, that around the wall of the reflective pool that holds Martin and Coretta’s crypts they display the definition of the Beloved Community (see photo).

As I went back to look at the photo we took of the wall when we were there last, I was again moved by the words of the Dr. King’s vision and how important it is today in our world. Take a moment to ponder these words,

The Beloved Community is a realistic vision of an achievable society, one in which problems and conflict exist, but are resolved peacefully and without bitterness. In the Beloved Community, caring and compassion drive political policies that support the worldwide elimination of poverty and hunger and all forms of bigotry and violence. The Beloved Community is a state of heart and mind a spirit of hope and goodwill that transcends all boundaries and barriers and embraces all creation. At its core, the Beloved Community is an engine of reconciliation. This way of living seems a long way from the kind of world we have now, but I do believe it is a goal that can be accomplished through courage and determination, and through education and training, if enough people are willing to make the necessary commitment.

May our hearts and minds be filled this week with this spirit of hope and may we work to create a Beloved Community in our families, communities, and Meeting.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

We’d like to welcome Chrissy S as the new Clerk of Christian Education. Thank you for serving, Chrissy!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Babysitting Co-Op ~ Our babysitting co-op is happening Saturday August 27, 4:30 – 8:30, hosted by Tiffany Beaver and Beth Henricks. Dinner will be provided for the kids. Please contact the office if you would like to have your kids join in the fun that evening!

Are You Interested In Gleaning? ~ The Shalom Zone is trying to find out whether there are folks in our Shalom Zone churches who have an interest in gleaning crops. Gleaning is the process of walking through a farmer’s field and picking up produce left behind by machines that harvest the crops. The “gleaned produce” can then be donated to a food pantry or other organization who can use it. Notice of a gleaning event is typically short...a few days to perhaps a week. The farms are usually located in counties adjacent to Marion County. We would anticipate that we would meet at First Friends and ride together to the gleaning location. If you would be interested in helping with gleaning, please notify the First Friends office. Our thought is to develop an email list of interested folks to use when gleaning opportunities arise. Notice can then quickly be sent out to determine whether there are folks who are able to help for a particular gleaning event that arises. Think of this opportunity as something that can not only provide food for the needy, but great exercise! Thanks for your consideration.

The Stamp team invites you to help assemble a jigsaw puzzle with a Love stamp theme. It is set up in Fellowship Hall. Come by and fit a piece in, or stay and work for a while. Or just admire the bright colors. It will be fun to watch it take shape. You might enjoy seeing your favorite past Love stamps in the puzzle. If you’d like to join the fun $tamping for Dollar$ team (which benefits Right Sharing of World Resources), contact the office.

Unheard Voices in Christianity ~ In the study group for Early Christian Writings, we found that there were many voices that have not been heard as Christianity developed its orthodoxy. Many of the women in who were instrumental in the early Jesus movement were under-emphasized or written out of the story altogether. If we are indeed created in God's image male and female, it is important for us to pay attention in the women in the Bible and other Christian writings. In our next round of study, we will pay attention to these women of the Bible and other important unheard or less known voices in Christianity.

Mark your Calendar: 2022 Fall Kickoff! ~ We are excited for this year’s fall kickoff which will begin on Sunday, September 11th. Everyone is invited to wear your pajamas at the Meetinghouse that day! Sunday School classes will start at 9:00am and we will serve breakfast starting at 9:30am. The Seeking Friends adult Sunday School class will be led by Bob Henry. The choir will also meet starting at 9:00am. At this time, there will be no Sunday school for children or youth. We hope to see everyone that day in their pajamas for a fun day! Please join us.

USFW Annual Fall Retreat: Abounding in Hope ~ You’re invited to the Midwest Region United Society of Friends Women (USFW)’s Annual Fall Retreat, which will take place Monday-Tuesday, September 12-13 at Quaker Haven in Syracuse, Indiana. The theme is “Abounding in Hope” and will be led by Sylvia Graves Beane. There will be Opportunities for worship, fellowship, reflection and prayer. Because of COVID, masks will be required and all attenders will be asked to have a negative COVID test before arriving. The cost is $75 and includes accommodation and 3 meals. For more information and for the registration form, see their flyer here.

If you would be willing to help with the booth, contact the office.

2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat: Kaleidoscope - The Magic of a Subtle Shift ~ Ladies, you’re invited to the 2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat! It will be Friday September 23rd beginning at 5:00 p.m. through 11:00 on Sunday Sept 25th. Rachel Doll O’Mahoney, the new pastor at Valley Mill Friends will be our retreat leader. We will gather at the Benedictine Center in Beech Grove and the Center will provide rooms and meals. We will gather together to talk about our lives the past 2 years and how our experiences are shaping our future. We will have workshops, free time, meals together and some fun activities. We invite you to reserve your spot by contacting the office. The following is the pricing for 2 nights, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts and one lunch:

Single room with private bath - $187
Single room with common bath - $158
Double room with private bath - $129
Double room with common bath - $117

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Friend to Friend August 10, 2022

August 11, 2022

This is a rather busy week in the Henry household. Not only is it Sue’s first full week of teaching, two of our boys will be heading to Indiana University on Sunday to become roommates for the school year. That means a lot of last-minute trips to Target and figuring out how we are going to get all their stuff in our van. Someone on Facebook this week mentioned that parents are currently releasing their young adults to the next leg of their life journeys. I like that idea, probably because a journey is how I have come to describe my own life.

During my morning walk on Monday, I was listening to Marcus Borg’s book, Days of Awe and Wonder. In it he describes the Christian life as not just about believing, but also as a journey. I found Borg’s description to be a universal truth whether we are going off to college or living our daily lives. Here is what Borg said,

To be on a journey is to be in movement. Moving from place to place – there is change in such a life. A journey is a process that involves our whole being. It involves our feet as well as our minds and our heads. A journey involves following a path or a way. To be on a journey is not to be wondering aimlessly., though there may be times when it feels like that; people have gone on this journey before us, and there is a trial, and path, a way that we are called to. The journey image suggests that the Christian life is more like following a path than it is about believing things with our mind.
A journey also involves a leaving, a departing, a setting out. It involves leaving home.

Whether leaving home is getting in your car and going to work in the morning or packing up your parent’s van and moving to college, each time we step out it offers us a plethora of possibilities. Borg closes by offering this:

We are invited to make that journey, that journey of faith, in which we learn to trust our relationship to God, learn to be faithful to that relationship, and learn to see in a new way. We will be led in that journey into an ever more wonderous and compassionate understanding of our lives with God.

Enjoy the journey this week in grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

A big thank you to the 27 volunteers that spent part of their Saturday July 30th at the Dairy Bar at the Indiana State Fair. The Dairy Association sends us a check for $1600 for our participation there and we use this to help fund our youth activities. Thank you to the following folks: Lucy K, Sophie H, Phil G, Deb G, Tiffany B, Kevin F, Jim D, Carol D, James P, Halee P, Eric T, Erin T, Breda R, Selina G, Kathy R, Susan R, Mick V, Janis C, Jody L, Corinne I, Ray K, Kwali T, Jesse S , Sarah S, Deb S, and Barbara K. Thank you all!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

SUNDAY FUNDAY! Friends, we hope you will join us for our annual Sunday Funday, which will take place this Sunday, August 14 after a special outdoor Meeting for Worship. Afterward we will share in our annual picnic and Sunday Funday with a bounce house, slip-n-slide, and games! Please bring a lawn chair for yourself if able. We’re also asking people to bring dishes to share! For last names A-J, please bring salad or side; and for last names K – Z, please bring dessert. We hope you will join us for this fun time of fellowship!

We are also excited to welcome our guest speaker for the day, Bridget Moix, General Secretary of Friends Committee on National Legislation!

Bridget Moix is the fifth General Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). She also leads two other Quaker organizations, affiliated with FCNL: Friends Place on Capitol Hill and FCNL Education Fund.

While serving primarily as an ambassador for FCNL and its vision, Bridget also ensures that all aspects of the organization are sustained and nourished. She supports a staff of 63 and a full legislative agenda based on the regular discernment of more than 200 Quaker meetings and churches around the country. Bridget joined FCNL in January 2022. She brings with her 25 years of work on international peace and conflict issues, with a focus on US foreign policy. Prior to joining FCNL, she served as US Executive Director of Peace Direct (2015-2021).

Bridget lives in Washington, D.C., with her two sons who nurture and challenge her peacebuilding skills every day. As a convinced Quaker, she is a member of Friends Meeting of Washington, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, and attends Mexico City Monthly Meeting (virtually).

Help Washington Township Students ~ Teachers and school social workers in Washington Township are collecting “back to school” items for some of their kids. Needed items are as follows: 1) Pencils, 2) Zip pencil bags for 3 ring notebooks, 3) Folders with 3 holes, 4) Spiral notebooks. First Friends (and the other Shalom Zone churches) will be collecting such items through August 14. Please place items in the box in the foyer of the meetinghouse. Thanks for your support. Also, a big “THANK YOU!” to those who contributed items to our previous Washington Township school collection effort.

SUMMER SING-A-LONG! Come join Jim, Jesse, and many Friendly noisemakers for a sing-a-long on Friday, August 12, 7pm, in Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite percussion instruments. Some will be provided to share. Warm up those voices and join us!

Unheard Voices in Christianity ~ In the study group for Early Christian Writings, we found that there were many voices that have not been heard as Christianity developed its orthodoxy. Many of the women in who were instrumental in the early Jesus movement were under-emphasized or written out of the story altogether. If we are indeed created in God's image male and female, it is important for us to pay attention in the women in the Bible and other Christian writings. In our next round of study, we will pay attention to these women of the Bible and other important unheard or less known voices in Christianity.

From the Woods- this has been a difficult summer for our trees and plants due to the hot, dry weeks in July. We are witnessing the changes in our climate due to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. An exciting bill is now before the House to help reduce inflation and encourage a transition to lower carbon in the air. See this newsletter from the Evangelical Environmental Network to see why this bill is important and why we encourage you to call your congressional representative and urge them to vote YES.

IFCL is encouraging every eligible to vote to register to vote and if registered, check to make sure your registration is up to date. You must be registered to vote by Monday, October 11, 2022. A democracy is dependent on people voting and making their voices heard. We believe having a balanced general assembly is better for democracy and for civil discourse. Check to see who is on the ballot for your district, as some districts have recently changed. https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/

The First Friends Thursday night Bible study invites you to study the book Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job: Three Ways of Wisdom for thirteen weeks beginning August 25. The book is in the Illuminate series, which was recommended by Bob Henry. Contact the office if you'd like to participate in this small group, or even if you'd like join only occasionally. The study meets by Zoom every Thursday at 7:30 pm. From the website: "These books of wisdom help readers consider life’s big questions of meaning, purpose, and the existence of suffering. Readers are encouraged to grow in wisdom and to avoid folly, and there's a promise offered—that by seeking wisdom, we will be guided into righteousness. This path is not free from suffering, but God is present, and we can find joy in the moments we have. Journey through these books to discover three aspects of biblical wisdom and reflect on how God is leading you in the way of wisdom today."

You’re Invited to the Indiana Water Summit ~ The Indiana Water Summit is an apolitical and inclusive annual forum developed to examine the complex interests and issues that face our water supply. The Summit’s subject matter seeks to remain consistent with and build upon current legislative actions in order to provide a broad planning perspective, weaving together diverse topics that together demonstrate the interdependency of water issues and the science behind the state of the waters. The summit will take place September 7th & 8th at the Athenaeum in downtown Indianapolis. Early bird registration ends this Friday, August 12! For more information and to sign up, visit https://thewhiteriveralliance.org/programs/water-summit.

2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat: Kalaediscope - Exploring from New Angles ~ Ladies, you’re invited to the 2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat! It will be Friday September 23rd beginning at 5:00 p.m. through 11:00 on Sunday Sept 25th. Rachel Doll O’Mahoney, the new pastor at Valley Mill Friends will be our retreat leader. We will gather at the Benedictine Center in Beech Grove and the Center will provide rooms and meals. We will gather together to talk about our lives the past 2 years and how our experiences are shaping our future. We will have workshops, free time, meals together and some fun activities. We invite you to reserve your spot by contacting the office. The following is the pricing for 2 nights, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts and one lunch:

Single room with private bath - $187
Single room with common bath - $158
Double room with private bath - $129
Double room with common bath - $117

If you would be willing to help with the booth, contact the office.

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for August

Indigo Bunting: Seeing Is Believing…or Is It?

This time of year I love encountering male Indigo Buntings. These little jewels, although common, bring color to our summer landscape and our meditational woods. What color is the bird, really? Indigo is a shade that falls between blue and purple, and in spite of ROY G. BIV, some have argued that rainbows do not have a band of indigo color. There is not room here for the story of the indigo plant, slavery, and the refusal of some early Quakers to wear blue-colored cloth. The story I want to relate is about the true color of this bird. It is NOT blue (or indigo). The feathers that appear bluish are actually black!! While shoveling snow, have you ever noticed a hint of light blue color in the snow that will be the next shovelful? Have you ever seen the wall at the edge of a glacier that appears bluish? It is an optical illusion. There is no blue pigment in the snow or ice. What you see is the result of light striking the crystal structure, and being reflected into our eyes. The cells in the feathers of the bunting do the same thing, resulting in our perception of color. Indigo Buntings do have black wings and a black tail, and the head is a darker “blue” than the rest of the bird. Females are a grayish, milk-chocolate brown.

The song of the male Indigo Bunting is a series of paired notes on different pitches, sometimes ending with a triad of notes: “Fire, fire! Where, where? Here, here! See it, see it? Put it out!! We can debate whether it REALLY says that, or is simply our perception of the song. Hearing is believing?

- Photos and story by Brad J

This Week’s Queries

· What questions do I need to be asking about life?

· When do I find time to pause and reflect?

· Who could I work alongside and collaborate with?

· Who should I be serving, caring for, and helping?

· And how am I helping create a culture of respect at First Friends, in my family, and in my community?

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Friend to Friend August 3, 2022

August 3, 2022

As Way Opens

This past Sunday, Bob gave a message that was inspired by an episode of some of the best Super Soul Sundays, Oprah Winfrey’s show discussing faith and the meaning of life with theologians, pastors, writers and others. Bob shared a question that the movie critic Gene Siskel once asked Oprah that greatly impacted her life and her journey. The question was “What do you know for certain”?

I’ve been thinking about this question ever since Sunday. We hear so many viewpoints today that come across with great certainty. In an age dominated by social media, information and disinformation is available with the click of a button and it seems that viewpoints and opinions can often masquerade as facts.

Many churches declare truth and tell parishioners what the right things are to believe. There is no room for doubt or for our Quaker tradition of queries. Church doctrine can seem like settled law and one must believe a certain way to be a part of the group. This is what I love about the Quakers. They are not afraid of questions, queries, doubts and in fact welcome them as part of the spiritual journey.

I shared out of the silence on Sunday that my son Greg has two tattoos. He got them in a very dark period in his life. The first one was a saying and belief of his dad Jerry. The phrase is “God is Love”. The second one was a mantra from his best friend Marshall who was killed on a trip to Vietnam. His phrase is "Be Here Now”. These two phrases are from two of the most important men in Greg’s life. I think he had the right idea to have them permanently etched on his arm to remind him everyday what he knows for certain. There is so much I don’t know in this world but I know with everything in me that God is Love and that I need to embrace each moment and live and love in the fullest way that I can today.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

Our VBS was featured in the Center for Congregations Newsletter! The most recent Center for Congregations Newsletter highlighted our own VBS program! You can check it out here!

Terry T had successful hip replacement last week. She is doing well resting at home and would appreciate cards of support.

Fire Destroys the Lindi School in Kibera Slum ~ Friends throughout our beloved community are grieving with Friends in Nairobi, Kenya, following a traumatic fire on the evening of Sunday, 24 July, that destroyed the Lindi School building. While the school building is a complete loss, we are grateful that there was no loss of life and the fire did not spread beyond the school compound. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Given that the fire destroyed all books, school supplies, kitchen equipment, and furnishings, FUM has released $9000 from the Solidarity Fund to provide an immediate response. Friends who want to support this emergency response are invited to contribute online or by check to Friends United Meeting, Solidarity Fund. Friends can contribute online at https://www.friendsunitedmeeting.org/global-ministries/solidarity-fund or mail a check to 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond, IN 47374.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY FUNDAY! Friends, please mark your calendar for our annual Sunday Funday, which will take place on Sunday, August 14 after a special outdoor Meeting for Worship. We are also excited to welcome our guest speaker for the day, Bridget Moix, General Secretary of Friends Committee on National Legislation! Afterward we will share in our annual picnic and Sunday Funday with a bounce house, slip-n-slide, and games! Please bring a lawn chair for yourself if able. We’re also asking people to bring dishes to share! For last names A-J, please bring salad or side; and for last names K – Z, please bring dessert. We hope you will join us for this fun time of fellowship!

Online Fellowship Hour ~ Friends, please note that as of this Sunday, there will be no more online Fellowship Hour. We will still, as always, continue to meet in person in Fellowship Hall after Meeting for Worship. Also, the online version of the service on our YouTube Channel will still continue to be available weekly.

Restorative Yoga: DATE CHANGE ~ Please join friend Kristyn G in a restorative yoga practice session. Please note, due to changes in her schedule, Kristyn will now offer yoga once a month. The next session will be Monday, August 8th at 4pm in Fellowship Hall. Each session will last for an hour. This gentle practice will stretch and restore you. $10 suggested donation. Hope to see you there!

The First Friends Thursday night Bible study invites you to study the book Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job: Three Ways of Wisdom for thirteen weeks beginning August 25. The book is in the Illuminate series, which was recommended by Bob H. Contact the office if you'd like to participate in this small group, or even if you'd like join only occasionally. The study meets by Zoom every Thursday at 7:30 pm. From the website: "These books of wisdom help readers consider life’s big questions of meaning, purpose, and the existence of suffering. Readers are encouraged to grow in wisdom and to avoid folly, and there's a promise offered—that by seeking wisdom, we will be guided into righteousness. This path is not free from suffering, but God is present, and we can find joy in the moments we have. Journey through these books to discover three aspects of biblical wisdom and reflect on how God is leading you in the way of wisdom today."

2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat! ~ Ladies, save the date for the 2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat! It will be Friday September 23rd beginning at 5:00 p.m. through 11:00 on Sunday Sept 25th. We will share meals, have fellowship and food together, provide opportunities to reflect on the struggles/losses/opportunities/riches of the past 2.5 years as well as offering several workshops. Rachel Doll O’Mahoney, the new pastor at Valley Mill Friends will be our retreat leader. We will gather at the Benedictine Center in Beech Grove and the Center will provide rooms and meals. Our previous retreats have been a rich time of connection and community. This is a retreat that is trans inclusive/LGBTQ supportive.

To get ahead today, you have to be a jerk, right?

Wrong.

We will gather in the parlor simultaneously with Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 led by Mary B.

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for August

Indigo Bunting: Seeing Is Believing…or Is It?

- Photos and story by Brad J

This Week’s Queries

· As Quakers do you and I have interrogative souls?

· Are we allowing the Spirit to use the queries presented to us to rip us up, lay us open, and make manifest what is truly in our souls?

· Are we utilizing the gifts we have been given to critically think or are we simply blindly following those in leadership before us?

· Do we spend more time scrutinizing others instead of first scrutinizing our own souls?

· What do you know for sure?

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