We hope you will join us on Sunday, June 14, to worship with and honor our Friends Educational Fund scholars. Chris Lindley, Pastor of Blue River Friends Church will give the message that day and provide more information about the history of FEF, a Quaker college scholarship program for Indiana’s African American students. There will be a reception following Meeting for Worship with refreshments and time for you to greet and congratulate these aspiring young Hoosiers. This year, we were able to award 69 scholarships, and we expect a large turnout. Our tradition of providing these scholarships began with a large bequest from John Williams, a formerly enslaved man who bequeathed his assets to the only orphanage in Indiana that cared for African American children, which was founded by First Friends Meeting. When the orphanage was closed many years later, the assets were used to start the Friends Educational Fund because of Williams’ intent to fund the education of African American children. Please join us to hear the entire fascinating story of John Williams and to honor this year’s scholars.
Rebuilding Community, Remaking the World ~ The ILLUMINATE Friends Bible Study “Zoom Only” group cordially invites you to join us this summer on Thursday evenings beginning June 11th at 7:30 pm for our 13-week study Ezra; Nehemiah; Esther; Song of Songs: Rebuilding Community, Remaking the World
Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of the return home after the traumatic generations of forced exile under the empires of Assyria and Babylon. Through internal and external opposition, the descendants of Israel work to rebuild their city and their worshiping community and to learn how to be the people of God in a new era. Esther explores what it means to live faithfully outside of Israel. Esther navigates a setting that is dangerous due to her gender and her ethnicity, using the power she has to help her people. Song of Songs, a book of love poems, shows a biblical precedent for embodied joy and romantic love, as well as an allegory for the depth of intimacy between our souls and God.
1. Introduction to Ezra (Ezra 1; 3:1–3, 6–8, 10–13)
2. Persian Support for Ezra (Ezra 6:1–12; 7:1–5, 11–16, 25–28)
3. Worship Renewed, Foreigners Rejected (Ezra 6:13–22; 10:1–12)
4. Introduction to Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1; 2:1–5, 8d, 13, 17–20)
5. Enemies and Oppression (Nehemiah 4:1–13; 5:1–12)
6. Penitential Prayer (Ezra 9:5–11; Nehemiah 9:6–7, 29–38)
7. Rituals Reinstated–and Ethnocentrism (Nehemiah 8:1–3, 9–17; 13:1–3, 10–12)
8. Introduction to Esther (Esther 1:1–5, 9–12, 15–16, 19; 2:2, 5, 7–8, 12–18)
9. Courage Despite Risk (Esther 3:1–10, 13; 4:1–3, 9–17)
10. Esther Takes Action (Esther 5:3–14; 7:1–10)
11. Celebration through Purim (Esther 9:5–17, 20–32)
12. Introduction to Song of Songs (Song of Songs 1:1–5, 9–15; 2:1–12)
13. Seeking Deep Love (Song of Songs 3; 4:1–4, 9–16)
Feel free to drop in, everyone is welcome. To purchase your booklet online, go to this link: https://barclaypress.corecommerce.com/ILLUMINATE/Illuminate-Ezra-Nehemiah-Esther-Song-of-Songs.html An extra copy will be available for sale for $10 at the Connections Fair on May 31st.
Save the Date for Sitting Saturday! Our next Sitting Saturday is Saturday June 13th, 4:30-7:30 pm, hosted by Christina N and Violet T. This is a free event for kids ages 3 thru 5th grade. We hope your kids can join us for an evening of fun. It’s a great opportunity for parents to drop off their kids, and for the kids to have a fun night! RSVP online here! Questions? Reach out to Chrissy S via email.
CONNECTIONS FAIR - Do you want to become a more active participant in First Friends Meeting and get to know others on a deeper level? Learn more about Meeting committees and ongoing small groups by attending the Connections Fair on SUNDAY, MAY 31, in Fellowship Hall immediately after worship. The fair will give new folks and regular attenders a chance to see where they might be led to connect with others and help serve at the Meeting. Representatives will be available to answer questions at each booth. The Fair is sponsored by the Connections Committee. Contact Jim K or the office if you have questions or if you want a space at the fair to represent your group.
Men’s Threshing Together ~ If you’re 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! Join us for our next in-person meeting on Thursday, May 21 at 7:00pm. See upcoming locations here.
With the beginning of Bob’s sabbatical, we are entering a season of renewal, reflection, and shared ministry centered on Jesus’ words: “I have called you friends.” See our calendar of guest speakers and special events planned as we step together into this season of discovery, friendship, and renewal.
· May 17th - Emily Provance; catered lunch & open Meeting for Business
· May 24th - Jim S
· May 31st - Patrick J; soup buffet & Connections Fair
· June 7th - Eric B
· June 14th - Chris L; Friends Educational Fund Sunday & Reception
· June 21st - Jeff G
· June 28th - Kelly Kellum of Friends United Meeting; lunch
Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like for you to join us as we discuss Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green
Tuberculosis has been entwined with humanity for millennia. Once romanticized as a malady of poets, today tuberculosis is a disease of poverty that walks the trails of injustice and inequity we blazed for it.
In 2019, John Green met Henry, a young tuberculosis patient at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone while traveling with Partners in Health. John became fast friends with Henry, a boy with spindly legs and a big, goofy smile. In the years since that first visit to Lakka, Green has become a vocal and dynamic advocate for increased access to treatment and wider awareness of the healthcare inequities that allow this curable, treatable infectious disease to also be the deadliest, killing 1.5 million people every year.
In Everything is Tuberculosis, John tells Henry’s story, woven through with the scientific and social histories of how tuberculosis has shaped our world and how our choices will shape the future of tuberculosis.
We will gather in the parlor and on Zoom at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, May 26th led by Loryne C.
WYM Annual Session Gathering - Spring Meeting at Carmel Friends ~ Western Yearly Meeting invites Friends to gather for a day of worship, shared meals, and thoughtful conversation on Saturday, May 16, from 10:00am–4:30pm at Carmel Friends (651 W. Main St., Carmel, IN). This gathering will serve as the first part of their annual sessions and will focus on deep listening, vulnerability, and exploring the future of our faith and practice, with no decisions to be made, simply space to listen and discern together. Lunch is included, and childcare is available. Register online here or contact tom.s@westernyearlymeeting.org with questions. Zoom option available.
Summertime Special Music! Do you have a musical gift in ministry you’d like to share in our Meeting for Worship? As our choir takes a well-deserved hiatus for the summer, we are looking for volunteers to share their music. We need performers most Sundays starting May 31 through the end of August. Please see the signup sheet on the bulletin board and consider choosing a date when you’d be willing to perform in Meeting. Your ministry can be a blessing during this season of the year. Thank you!
The Overman Family Scholarship is available again this year. The scholarship fund is designated to support the members and associate members of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting. High school seniors as well as anyone attending post-secondary or vocational education is welcome to apply. Scholarship funds may be applied to any school related expense. The deadline for application will be July 8, 2026. Find/download the application online here, or contact the office if you’d like a printed copy sent to you.
First Friends Rummage Sale ~ After many years of hiatus, we are hosting a rummage sale on June 27 from 8-3. We are calling it the Nancy Pennington Memorial Rummage Sale in honor of our dear friend Nancy who passed away recently. Please bring your items and put them behind the curtain on the stage in fellowship hall. If you have something large that needs picked up, contact the office for more information.
We will need help setting up the week before and the day of. If you are available to help please contact Jody L or Janis C.
SPRING SINGALONG! Come join us for this fun time on Friday, May 15, in the parlor, from 6:30-8:00 pm. Pizza will be served at 6:30 and singing will follow at 7pm. Any questions? Contact Jim K or the office at office@indyfriends.org.
Emerging Friends Camp ~ Join us June 7–11 at Quaker Haven Camp for a week of fun, friendship, and unforgettable memories. From games and outdoor adventures to meaningful moments together, there’s something for everyone! Registration is now open! Scholarships are available. All are welcome. Register and learn more at quakerhaven.com
Midwest Young Adult Gathering ~ Everyone who considers themselves a young adult is invited to a fun evening of fellowship on Saturday, May 16th at 5:00 PM at Bru Burger (12901 Old Meridian St., Carmel). We’ll enjoy drinks, food, music, and games together, and then head back to Carmel Friends Church afterward for a board game night. Come connect, relax, and have a great time!
ARE YOU A NEW ATTENDER here at First Friends and have never been to a New Attenders Dinner? Please feel welcome to attend our next dinner on Thursday, May 7, 6pm-7:30pm, in Fellowship Hall. We would love to know more about you and answer any questions you might have about the Meeting. Childcare will be provided. The event is hosted by the Connections Team. Contact the office (office@indyfriends.org) or Jim K for details or if you have questions.
Sabbatical Kickoff May 3! It’s a CHURCH POTLUCK! Just like the olden days when your grandma would carry in her most comforting casserole or Jello Salad to share with Friends! On Sunday, May 3rd, please plan on bringing a little something to share for after-meeting lunch. No need to sign up; we’re trusting that we’ll get exactly what is needed to feed our flock. Just bring whatever you like, be it lasagna or lentils, cookies or cake, potato salad or cole slaw. You can drop it off in the kitchen on your way into Meeting for Worship. It’s going to be sooooooo good! (If you can’t – no worries! There will be plenty!)
2026 Linda Lee Spirituality Retreat: Register now! ~ Registration now open for our annual Linda Lee Spirituality Retreat! It will be held on Saturday, May 2, from 10am–4pm at Seton Cove Retreat Center. This year’s theme is Embodying a Prophetic Spirituality: Learning from the Old Testament Prophets Today. Together, we’ll explore what the biblical prophets can teach us about deepening our relationship with the Divine in turbulent times—how they learned to hear God’s whisper amid the noise, and how they found the courage to stand and speak with faithfulness.
Our presenter this year is Rev. Dr. Tim McNinch, Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis and Director of the Master of Theological Studies program. An ordained Presbyterian minister with a rich and varied church background, Dr. McNinch brings both scholarly depth and pastoral warmth to his work. Register now! The cost will be $40, with scholarships available. We hope you’ll plan to join us for this meaningful day of reflection and learning. See and share the flyer here!
In addition to Dr. McNinch’s presentation on the Old Testament prophets we will have some engaging and interesting breakout sessions after lunch. We will have the following:
· Poetry as Prophetic Speech presented by Jodi English. From the Bible to contemporary poets and singer song writers artists have put their spirituality into powerful words.
· Yoga for Integrating the Body and Spirit led by Jeannie Zeck. Bring your mat if you have one. Jeannie will have a few for those who might not have one.
· Spiritually Motivated Political Action facilitated by Diana Hadley the Clerk of the Indiana Friends Committee on Legislation. Quakers specifically and Christians in general have not been shy about speaking truth to power through social and political action.
Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would love for you to join us as we discuss The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong.
One late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to alter Hai’s relationship to himself, his family, and a community at the brink.
Following the cycles of history, memory, and time, The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which love, labor, and loneliness form the bedrock of American life. At its heart is a brave epic about what it means to exist on the fringes of society and to reckon with the wounds that haunt our collective soul. Hallmarks of Vuong’s writing – formal innovation, syntactic dexterity, and the ability to twin grit with grace through tenderness – are on full display in this story of loss, hope, and how far we would go to possess one of life’s most fleeting mercies: a second chance.
We will gather at Mary Jane M’s home starting at 7 pm on Tuesday, April 28th led by MJ M.
There will be NO ZOOM.