As Way Opens
While we are in an interim period, some of our members will contribute to our publication. This poem comes to us from Linda L. Linda has enjoyed writing since 5th grade. Her first publications were during high school. Sometimes poems come easily, sometimes she hangs a poem on the refrigerator and revises it for weeks. Among mystics there is often a “holier than thou” problem; Fried Mystic offers an antidote.
Fried Mystic
In those days
I heard the planets sing,
I lived in the yolk
of the universe—
quivering, tender, raw—
formed yet fluid. I was
sunny side up,
perfect, and luminous
with Love,
smiling at everyone
in the manner
of a saint.
One day,
beyond the floodlight
of eternal oneness,
I saw the frying pan.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
This Sunday we will be selling coffee, chocolate, and tea to support Youth Group! We hope to see you there!
Join us for our Easter Sunday Celebrations!
10:15 Meeting for Worship, message from Beth
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt after the Children’s Message
Easter Brunch following Worship
Please note that due to Easter, we are moving Monthly Meeting to Conduct Business to Sunday, April 23 after worship. As always, all are welcome to attend.
A Few Notes from the Office… During this time of transition the office will now be open from 9am-3pm Monday through Thursday. Please note that office staff will be unavailable on Tuesdays from 1:30-3:00pm for our weekly staff meeting. Also, to help things run smoothly during this time, we’d like to remind everyone that the deadline for Friend to Friend submissions is Tuesday, and the deadline for Bulletin announcements is Thursday! Thank you!
The Pastoral Search Committee invites you to contemplate and provide feedback on the following query this week: In your opinion, how can our new pastor best participate in Quaker activities beyond First Friends? Please provide your thoughts on the query (or past queries, or any other feedback on the search process) to the office at office@indyfriends.org or (317) 255-2485.
Our own Dan Lee has written an article for Friends Journal about the incredible exhibit that Nichole Matthews put together from art work from German children after World War I. The exhibit is called Giving Voice to Ghosts and features the drawings of German children receiving aid from the Quakers. An amazing history for us to continue to pursue today and tomorrow. You can read the article online here: https://www.friendsjournal.org/the-art-of-gratitude/
‘Disturbing the Peace’ Film Showing ~ All are invited to attend a film debut at West Newton today, April 5th. DISTURBING THE PEACE, a film that follows former enemy combatants - Israeli soldiers from elite units and Palestinian fighters - who have joined together to challenge the status quo and say “enough." This film reveals their transformational journeys from soldiers committed to armed battle to nonviolent peace activists, leading to the creation of Combatants for Peace. It will be premiered at West Newton Friends Meeting 6800 S. Mooresville Rd. The evening will begin with a soup supper at 6 p.m. and then follow with film and discussion at 7:00 p.m. The film runs approximately 90 minutes. There is no charge for the film or the supper, but donations will be accepted to help pay for the food and film. A trailer for the film is available here: https://youtu.be/A95PDQWr4xs
Join us for Seasoned Friends luncheon and fellowship for all who are retired or of retirement age on Wednesday, April 12, 11:30-1:30. Lunch will consist of spring soup and tuna or egg salad sandwiches. Additional salads and desserts are welcome but not required. Afterward we will hear a presentation from the Marion County Public Health Department about Isolation & Seniors. Please contact the office if you’ll be able to join us. Hope to see you there!
Eco-Film: ‘Bidder 70’ ~ The next eco-film will be shown on Friday evening, April 14 at 7 p.m. at First Friends. The film is Bidder 70 which is a story of how a college student managed to win a federal auction of 22,000 acres of pristine Utah land which was intended to be used for mining. But the student had other ideas for this land and was ultimately sentenced to two years in federal prison for his act of civil disobedience.
“The Gospel Mass” Good Friday Service ~ Irvington United Methodist Church invites you to a Good Friday service, April 14, 7:00pm, featuring ‘The Gospel Mass’ by Robert Ray. “VOCE” (of which Carolyn T is a member) and “Sounding Joy” choirs will collaborate during the service. The traditional Mass is given a Gospel flavor by the composer. It features the choirs, soloist and a jazz combo of piano, bass and percussion. This event is free to the public. A free will offering will be taken. Located at 30 N. Audubon Rd, Indianapolis, 46219.
Easter Egg Hunt – Treats Needed! We are asking for contributions for our Easter Egg hunt on April 16th. Please consider bringing in treats and putting them in our basket in the front hallway.
College Care Packages ~ We ask for help to provide treats for our 10 college students as we will send a care box to our students as they prepare for finals. Or let Beth know that you want to contribute money to provide treats. Please bring contributions in by April 18.
Our next Poetry Group meeting will be on Tuesday, April 18th at 2:00 p.m. in the Parlor. Carolyn G will present a program on Langston Hughes, poet, social activist, playwright, and columnist. A currently popular restaurant in downtown Washington D.C. "Busboys and Poets" serves great food and remembers Mr. Hughes.
Western Yearly Meeting is having its annual Spring Retreat at Quaker Haven Camp on April 28th-April 30th. This year’s retreat will be led by Joyce Shroeder, M.S.. She was the keynote speaker at the Earlham School of Religion Leadership Conference in both 2012 and 2015. In 2014, She was the Plenary Speaker at New York Yearly Meeting’s Summer Sessions. Working as a consultant, she has a masters degree in Organizational Development and Leadership. She has been a member of Purchase Friends Meeting (New York YM) for nearly 20 years. This year’s retreat theme is Flex Your Mind, Build Your Body. For more information or to register, please visit https://www.westernyearlymeeting.org/wymretreat or contact Della Stanley-Green (dellasgwym@gmail.com). The registration deadline is April 15. JUST 10 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER!!
Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) board will be holding their semi-annual board meeting at First Friends from April 20th – 22nd. Our Meeting approved hosting this Meeting with Quakers from around the country.
Beth (who serves on the board) needs a few people to bring in a pot of soup or salad on April 20th and 21st. A sign up sheet is in the front hallway or contact Beth.
You’re also invited to RSWR’s anniversary jubilee!! You are invited to join others in the 50th anniversary celebration of Right Sharing of World Resources on April 23rd at First Friends at 5:00 p.m. Dinner will be provided and you will hear about the exciting work of the organization and its future. Colin Saxton will give a message that evening. Please let Beth know if you can attend.
Music Survey Results! We now have the results from the survey you filled out to help us find a new music director. The music committee is now in the process of writing up a job description. If you have any questions about this or know of anyone interested in the position, please contact me Mindy S or Carolyn T. To view the survey results, please visit https://goo.gl/cT4vFU.
Please clean your garden plots! It’s that time of year! Things are starting to warm up and greenery is starting to bloom! Nancy S and Sam R, co-coordinators for the gardens, would like to remind everyone to please clean up your garden plots! Please contact the office if you are interested in continuing to keep your garden plot, or if you don’t currently have one and are interested in signing up!
Would you like to start to garden? Do you wish you had a green thumb? Do all your plants die? Try the City Gardener Program! Purdue Extension-Marion County is offering a series of classes for new or inexperienced gardeners, with a focus on gardening in urban areas. You’re welcome to come to any single classes or attend the entire series. Sessions are on Wednesdays, 6-8:30pm from March 22-April 26, Discovery Hall, Indiana State Fairgrounds. Fee is $5 per session or $20 for all 6 sessions. For more information, call 317-275-9286 or email: dschelsk@purdue.edu.
Church Ladies with Typewriters
They're Back! Those wonderful Church Bulletins! Thank God for the church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced at church services:
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water. 'The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
Next Thursday there will be try-outs for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
Pot-luck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.