Concerns, Announcements and Devotional Thought
A Weekly Ministry of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting
As Way Opens by Ruthie Tippin
“You know when you’re hungry. You know when you’re full.” That’s the way I ended our Children’s Message this past Sunday. Most of us can tell when we’ve had enough to eat… we know when we’re full. And we know when we need to begin preparing a meal – we’re feeling hungry! All too many of God’s children are constantly hungry, and have nothing to prepare for a meal, unless…
Not too long ago, I was struck by the number of requests in Meeting for support of food pantries and food drives. A teacher was sponsoring a ‘soup bowl’ dinner – buy an artist’s soup bowl, enjoy some hot soup, and consider it a donation to the school’s food drive. Our own Sunday School is having a contest to see which class can bring in the greatest weight of food by month’s end. Another member has invited us to Oxfam’s Hunger Project, and ‘Stop Hunger Now’. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, and thoughts of tables brimming over with food, we begin to feel a tug on our hearts (and our consciences) for those whose table fare will be meager, at best.
It’s hard to feed others when you’re hungry yourself. Those of us who know we’re full have the opportunity to welcome the hungry to our table, in whatever way we can. Maybe it’s a Sunday School contest. Maybe it’s a soup bowl. Maybe it’s working in a Food Pantry. Maybe it’s an invitation to our home on Thanksgiving Day. Maybe, it’s the decision to push back from the table and say, “I’m full. I don’t need anymore. Pass the food on down… it looks like someone down there needs another helping.” For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me… Matthew 25:35
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Monthly Meeting for Business is this Sunday following Meeting for Worship! Last Month’s Meeting Minutes are attached for your review.
Indy First Friends Young Adult Fellowship. Hungry? It’s soup season; something warm and comforting is good for the body and the soul. Join us at 7pm in the basement on Wednesday, November 12th from 7-9pm for a casual dinner and the first of several discussions covering various Christian mystics; what did they have to say? Are they relevant to living a spiritual life in the 21st century? How are they similar and how do they differ from traditional Quaker thought? All 20-30 somethings are welcome!
Nov. 13 "Books and Basics" Party Will Welcome Baby Comacho. Introducing...Valerie Elizabeth Flores, born to Rocio and Jose on Thurs., Oct. 9th. Rocio is our cherished custodian and friend, and we invite you to celebrate Valerie's birth at a party on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, in the parlor. Refreshments will be hearty snacks, and, in keeping with the Quaker commitment to equality, this celebration is not gender-limited. All are welcome! If you would like to welcome Valerie with a gift, here are three ways to do that: 1.You may purchase one or more children’s books that will be on display as your gift. 2. You can bring diapers, in any small size for future use. 3. We are going to purchase a high chair. If you would like to participate in this purchase, you may give your contribution to Amanda, in the office. Please RSVP to Amanda Bow at office@indyfriends.org or by calling 255-2485, to help those who are preparing refreshments.
Join us for an Eco-Film Series at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Road, at 7:30 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. The next one is Friday, November 14th at 7:30 p.m. called “Plastic Paradise”. Thousands of miles away from civilization, Midway Atoll is in one of the most remote places on earth. And yet it’s become ground zero for The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, syphoning plastics from three distant continents. http://plasticparadisemovie.com.
Are you tired of all the violence and looking for a way to help make Indianapolis a more peaceful city? You can help by becoming a peace ambassador. Peace ambassadors are tutors or coaches who go into schools, camps, or other community centers and equip people with nonviolent tools and techniques to resolve conflict. To become a peace ambassador, volunteers from our churches must participate in training sessions from Peace Learning Center. The first session is being held at First Mennonite Church at 4601 Knollton Rd on Saturday, November 15th from 9am-4pm, or if you can’t make that, at Shalom Mennonite Church at 6100 32nd St. on Saturday, November 21st from 9am-4pm. Are you willing? This is a hands on way for you to help make Indianapolis a more peaceful city. Please contact Deb Hejl if interested at deb@hejlmail.com.
Stop Hunger Now project will be held this coming Saturday (the 15th) from 10 am to 2 pm at the Islamic Society of Greater Indianapolis in Plainfield, Indiana. Second, the annual Oxfam Hunger Banquet will be from 6:30 pm to 8 pm on Thursday, November 20th at the Indiana Interchurch Center. Dr. James Lemons, founder of the Riley Mother Baby Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya will be our primary speaker. This hospital is pretty amazing. It has the first Newborn ICU in all of East Africa and currently trains one-third of all the doctors in Kenya. Questions? Contact Kim Kiser at kdkiser@ameritech.net.
Conversations on Same-Sex Marriage - Friends hold that all people are equal in the eyes of God and have equal access to the “inner light.” This profound sense of equality leads Friends to treat each person with respect, looking for “that of God” in everyone. We welcome all persons whatever their race, religious affiliation, age, socio-economic class, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation or mental/physical ability. We are now forming a Team of five to eight individuals from across the congregation to revisit how First Friends Meeting will recognize same-sex marriage while building a stronger community of faith. All proceedings will be guided by listening to others, inviting the loving presence of God, and encouraging everyone to share their perspectives in a supportive environment. Two Conversations on Same-Sex Marriage are planned on Sunday evenings, November 16 and December 14, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The purpose of these sessions is to encourage dialogue about this issue, and provide a pathway for those interested in serving on the Team in 2015. Please contact Andy Cunningham, Mary Blackburn, John Beede, or Ruthie with any questions, comments or concerns. Please come join the conversations on November 16 and December 14. Everyone is welcome!
The Poetry Group is meeting on Tuesday, November 18th, at 2:00 pm. in the Parlor. Tom Davis will be presenting his poetry from his new book “This Side and That”.
Ladies! Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading will be discussing Jim Pym’s Listening to the Light on the Tuesday, November 18th, at 7 pm in the Parlor. If you would like to be on the email list or need a copy of the book list, please contact Kathy Rhyne at kathyrichelle@yahoo.com. Front Porch Stories by Phillip Gulley is our upcoming book for December.
Blood Drive at First Friends! On Sunday, November 23rd, the Indiana Blood Center will be set up here to accept donations from 9am-Noon. There is no need to sign-up beforehand, simply show up before or after worship that morning to give blood. This is an easy way to help others!
Upcoming Holiday Events
Tuesday, November 25th
7 pm Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at Cross & Crown Lutheran Church
Sunday, December 7th
10:15 am Royal Sensation in Meeting for Worship
5:00 pm Vespers Service followed by a reception
Sunday, December 14th
11:30 am USFW Tea
4:20 pm Caroling
Sunday, December 21st
10:30 am Christmas Pageant
Wednesday, December 24th
5:30 pm Christmas Eve Service
Finals are coming up for our College Students! We are preparing to send out Care Packages for the 21 college students that we are connected to. The boxes will be set up in the hall for you to drop goodies in. They will mail out after Sunday, November 23rd, so please bring goodies in before then! Anything will be appreciated as the students are working hard to ace those finals!!!
Circle of Care will be hosting a gathering on Sunday, November 30th over a light lunch (soup, bread and salad) in the parlor for those who have experienced a loss in the last 12 months. Barbara Oberreich will be facilitating a discussion amongst those who are dealing with recent loss.
Food Drive - We are having a food drive competition for the month of November! Please bring in your canned goods to your Sunday School each week and it will be judged at the end of the month by weight. The adult class will win a traveling trophy and bragging rights for a year! The youth class will win breakfast with Pastor Ruthie and bragging rights for a year! We recommend things like canned meat, canned fruit (maybe not pineapple), and canned vegetables. There will be boxes in each class room to store your canned goods. Good luck to everyone!
Jeff Rasley has a new book, “Godless – Living a Valuable Life Beyond Beliefs (Memoirs of a Thoughtful Traveler)”. The major claim of the book is "Beliefs divide us; values unite us." It makes the case that religious extremism and political gridlock can be defeated with pragmatic decision-making guided by positive values. It straddles memoir, philosophy-theology, and advice/self-help. Many of Jeff’s Nepali and Quaker friends will recognize themselves in the book as part of the book is about our shared experiences and values. Find it at www.amazon.com/dp/069232481X if you wish to purchase.
Would you like to receive a copy of each First Day’s sermon? Simply sign-up for Wednesday Word by sending an email request to office@indyfriends.org or call the Meeting Office at 317-255-2485. The sermons are also available both in text and audio on www.indyfriends.org.