As Way Opens
I have so enjoyed my connection with scripture this past few months. I’ve been reading through The One Year Bible in the English Standard Version. Each day, a series of readings are given from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. The Holy Spirit has blessed me, finding connections between the readings at times, and feeding my soul and spirit. Recently, I read a portion from the Song of Solomon, and then Second Corinthians. In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes about ‘cheerful giving’. This is something I’m used to hearing when any church or meeting is urging people to give financially for the work of God. But, juxtaposed against the readings in the Lover’s Tale, I found much more.
It struck me that in this beautiful love story, there is a generosity of giving and caring – you can’t miss it. There is a devotion to one another, exceeding anything else. And then, Paul writes this to friends in Corinth: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” When I read it a second time, I added this… “whoever sows their life sparingly, will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows their life bountifully will also reap bountifully.” What am I sowing/planting with my life? Am I generous in my care and devotion to others? Have I been mindful about this? Does my giving of self come from a place of love that can’t be missed, or from compulsion? What is the fruit of the harvest of my life?
And then, another thought… Do I sow love into my own life? Am I generous and caring with myself? Am I mindful of how I care for myself, and do I remember how much the Lord cares for me? Just as Paul encourages us to sow bountifully, I must remember how bountiful God’s love has been sown into my own life. It is from this place of abundance that I can live and move and be – cheerfully sharing God’s love in me – a love that can’t be missed - with everyone around me.
God bless you, as you discover with me, the bounty, depth, and goodness of God’s love. God bless you, as you become more and more mindful of the generosity of God, in your soul, your spirit, your heart, and your life.
Ruthie
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Rotation teachers needed for our 3rd through 5th Grade Sunday School Class. You would teach once/month! Class begins Sunday September 11th. It will be from 9:00 - 10:00 and we have a curriculum provided for volunteers. If interested, please contact the Office. Your help is appreciated!
Adult Sunday School at First Friends Meeting begin Sunday, September 11th at 9:00am. Here are the choices for Fall Semester. Take a look and see what interests you most!
- Coffee Circle/Wired Word; current news events discussed in the light of scripture, and our response as Quakers to what’s happening in the world today.
- Seeking Friends; ‘Our Life is Love: The Quaker Spiritual Journey’ by Marcelle Martin focuses on ten elements of spiritual transformation as revealed in the lives of Friends past and present. "Questions for Reflection" at the end of each chapter invite exploration of personal spiritual life. Ten copies are available in the office. By going to the web site Inner Light Books, electronic copies can be downloaded.
- Old Testament Overview; a consideration of the writings of the Old Testament - their stories and significance in our lives today.
- Couples Tune-Up; a chance to check ‘under the hood’ and consider challenges that all couples face. A query-based group discussion class.
- Choir; rehearses each Sunday morning at 9:00 in the Choir Room
3B: Body • Brain • Belief ~ Our neighboring church, the Northminster Presbyterian Church, is offering a new exercise program for anyone 55 years old and over. The program is called 3B, which stands for: Body – balance and flexibility; Brain – challenge and build new cells; Belief – nurturing one’s faith. This is free and everyone is welcome! The Church is located at 1660 Kessler Blvd E Dr. Sessions are Mondays & Thursdays at 1:30 P.M. in the boardroom. The next session starts on September 12 for 12 weeks. The program is on-going. If you have any questions, you can contact the church at (317) 251-9489.
We’d love to have you in our pool! The 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month give us an opportunity to “jump in” and help those who struggle for food, through our ministry at Mid North Food Pantry. Working from 10:00 to 2:00, teams of six to eight people work together to serve clients who come in to ‘shop’. We need a bigger pool of volunteers, and we’d love your help! Some of our ‘swimmers’ travel, become ill, have other responsibilities at times, and need others to take their place. Please consider suiting up, and jumping in – even for a quick dip! Please contact the Office if you’re able to help!
Festival of Faiths! Coming Sunday, September 18th! The festival is held from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Veteran’s War Memorial. The Indy Festival of Faiths is an annual gathering in downtown Indianapolis designed to recognize, highlight, and celebrate the diverse religious landscape in central Indiana. Let’s represent Quakerism! We are looking for volunteers to help with our booth. If you are interested in assisting or want more information, contact the office.
SHALOM ZONE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT ~ The Shalom Zone will be hosting an Electronics Recycling Event on Sep-24 at St. Pius X, 7200 Sarto Drive, Indianapolis, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Contact the office for more info.
Buddy Bags ~ The Witness and Service Committee has partnered with Shalom Zone to put together Buddy Bags for needy students at Allisonville Elementary School for their Fall Break this year. Why? Some students face insufficient food needs, and will not be in school to receive assistance over their break. We can help them, and their families. We will need to gather very specific food for this event. If you are interested in donating food, please put it on the stage in Fellowship Hall. We need to have all the food at the meeting house by September 25th so we can put together the bags to be delivered on the following Thursday. Here is a list of what we need:
• Microwaveable Entrees 2-4oz size qty 90
• Chicken or Tuna Salad with Crackers qty 60
• Peanut Butter Box of 8 small cups or 15 oz plastic jar qty 30
• Fruit cups 4 or 6 pack qty 30
• Vegetable cups 4 or 6 pack qty 30
• Pudding cups 4 pack qty 10
• Raisins qty 180 small boxes
• Applesauce squeezable pouches or plastic cups 4 or 6 pack qty 120 pouches or 30 packs
• Oatmeal packets qty 250 packets
• Pop Tarts qty 60 foil packages
• Protein or Granola bars qty 180 bars
• Peanut butter or Cheese Crackers 4 or 6 crackers in an package qty 60 packages
• Fruit roll up or Fruit snacks 1 oz qty 60
• Saltine crackers qty 6 boxes
• Goldfish 6.6 oz qty 20
• Activity items like Coloring Books and Crayons, Puzzle Books, Flashcards, PlayDoh, or Books qty As many as we can get
There is a bulletin board outside of the parlor that also illustrates everything that’s needed. Cash donations will also be accepted and we will go shopping. Please contact Jody Long at jody.long@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.
Join IFCL for a conversation & new book-signing with environmentalist author Scott Russell Sanders and environmental advocate Jodi Perras! Scott Russell Sanders is the author of twenty books of fiction and nonfiction, including A Private History of Awe and A Conservationist Manifesto. He is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English at Indiana University, where he taught from 1971 to 2009. The event is being held on Friday, September 30 at 7pm in the Parlor. For more information, contact the office.
Giving Voices to Ghosts - After both World Wars, American Friends Service Committee gave aid and food to starving children and pregnant women in Germany. As a ‘Thank You’, these beautiful artworks, poems, stories and letters were sent from those children back to meetings in the States. An exhibit at Marian University, including these Post WWI and II German Children's Thank You Art, Stories and Poems has been mounted. Giving Voices to Ghosts highlights some of the pieces in the collection. Here is a link to the entire collection: http://goo.gl/xzAZCa. The exhibit runs from runs from now through October 7th. This exhibit is free and open to the public daily from 9-5. If you are interested in visiting, please contact Marian University Art Gallery Director, Crystal Vicars-Pugh, 317-955-6664, cvicarspugh@marian.edu.
IFCL now has a newsletter! ~ IFCL’s very first monthly newsletter is now available! IFCL will use this means to share updates on their work lobbying as a Quaker voice at the Indiana Statehouse and to share the issues, legislation status, and events that are on their radar. This month’s articles include information about summer study committees, a recap on a conversation with Rep. Ed DeLaney, a look into what events the IFCL has planned for September, and more! To view the newsletter, you may use this link: http://goo.gl/E4RVpQ. To sign up to receive the newsletter monthly, visit http://www.quakerifcl.org/NewsletterSubscribe.htm.
The Friends Journal is available online! Did you know that you can read articles from the magazine Friends Journal for free online? The September issue is available now! Just visit http://www.friendsjournal.org/2016/september-2016/. Current subscribers can also download a PDF version by logging into the site.
Leave a green footprint! ~ The Earth is an amazing and beautiful place. All its riches will last, so long as we learn to use only what we need.
How can we use energy wisely?
Tip #1: We can turn off: games, computers, lights, TV’s, stereos, and other appliances when we’re not using them.
Tip #2: We can close doors behind us, so we don’t let out the heat in winter or air conditioning in summer.