As Way Opens
This past Sunday was a very special day at First Friends. I missed most of the service as I was leading children’s worship (what a great time we had talking about the authors of the Bible and how it was written) but listened to it online and was so moved by the Spirit that was flowing. From the children’s message, the choir, Bob’s message of Selah, Eric’s singing and the sharing out of the silence - it all touched my heart and had me reflecting on my own need to pause and be still and know God. And then to head into fellowship hall for an “end of harvest” pitch-in that our community garden folks hosted with fall decorations, great food shared by everyone and discussion about our gardens made me smile and brought joy to my heart. And then another group headed into the parlor to brainstorm and talk about ways we could participate in offering alternatives to payday lending. A small group has had this concern on their heart and scheduled this gathering thinking that 8-10 people would show up. There were 25 people in the parlor with great interest and energy about this topic. And everyone stepped up to do research on alternatives that are currently in place. What a sight to see Quakers engaging in helping make positive changes in our community.
I went home that afternoon feeling full and thankful for this community of First Friends. I had this feeling that what we experienced on Sunday would be a modern-day version of the gathering of Friends from long ago. A place where we worship together, listen for God’s voice of calling, feed each other and work together for change. This is what church should be about.
Beth
Joys & Concerns
Fun, Food and A Festive Spirit Reign at Last Sunday’s Community Garden Pitch-In ~ Many can attest to the success of Sunday’s Community Garden Harvest Pitch-In. We are sharing pictures and featuring two of the recipes. One could use them for Thanksgiving! Thanks to all who helped bring this feast to fruition! (Photo credits: Bob Henry and Nancy Scott) If you’d like to see more pictures, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/indyfriends!
Here are some Fall recipes for you have your own harvest picnic!
Heather’s Pumpkin Pecan Dump Cake
Preheat your oven to 350F and grease a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
Ingredients:
1 box cake mix (yellow, white, or spice cake are all good)
3/4 cup melted butter (1 1/2 sticks)
1 cup chopped pecans
1 29oz can pumpkin puree
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
3 eggs
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 pinch salt
1 tbsp vanilla
1/4 cup honey
1. Mix the pumpkin, milk, eggs, spice, salt, vanilla, and honey together.
2. Pour into the bottom of the greased casserole dish.
3. Sprinkle the cake mix on top of the pumpkin filling.
4. Scatter the chopped pecans over the cake mix.
5. Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the cake mix & pecans.
6. Bake at 350F for about 40 minutes or until the top of golden brown and the pecans are toasted.
— Heather
Susan’s Pumpkin Muffins
1 box of carrot cake mix , 1 can of pumpkin , enough water to make it mixable. Best with electric mixer. Place in muffin papers . Cook time about what recommended for cupcakes on cake box. — Susan
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Greetings to all the women of our meeting! Please join us in the parlor on November 10th for a meal to further discuss the Enneagram test that we found out about during the Women's retreat. We would like to discuss how it affected you and what we want to do from now on to sustain this group. If you would like some more information or would like to take the test for free, please go to Enneagram Tests: https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test. During this meeting, we will also discuss reviving the Women at the Well but in a different way. We are going to meet right after worship so please RSVP to office so we can plan on the correct amount of food - office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485. We are also asking women to please fill out this survey regarding future women’s meetings and activities! https://forms.gle/rb1CRhKVJjogYKUo8
College Care packages - It is time to send care packages to our college students as they prepare for their exams at school. We will put out boxes starting this Sunday, November 10. We are asking that everyone help fill the boxes with goodies like candy, cookies, cards, and other treats. Please bring enough for all 4 of our college students. Don’t have time to shop? We will gladly accept monetary donations—and we will do the shopping for you! Just leave your check in the offering plate on Sunday with the notation “college packages” or send your donation to the office. Please make sure all donations are in by Sunday, November 24. Thank you for your support!
Reclaiming Our Democracy: One Dinner Table at a Time ~ The Indianapolis Peace & Justice Center invites you to come play politics! The Center is designing a game aimed at giving us a conversational, problem-solving “booster shot.” Conversation is a skill that involves more than just speaking. It requires meaningful and intentional listening. We need to practice it more often if we are to move beyond the tribalistic bunker-mentalities that threaten to overwhelm us. Based on conversations around a family dinner table, each participant will play a role as we tackle some of the thorny issues we face moving into this critical election year. It will be held on Wednesday, November 13th, 7:00-8:30 pm in the dining room at the Indiana Interchurch Center, 1100 W. 42nd St. There is ample off-street parking. Like all Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center events, this is free and open to all. But since we need to prepare materials, we ask that you RSVP: 317-288-0408 or 2.john.clark@gmail.com.
Directory Feedback Requested! We are asking all members and attenders of the meeting to fill out a short survey regarding the First Friends pictorial directory. Whether you participated in the photoshoots or not, we are hoping you will take a couple of moments to answer a few questions. This will greatly help the office in future directory endeavors, as well as give you a chance to voice your thoughts! Find the survey here: https://forms.gle/brcxacSzhA7RwNp76. Thank you for your time!
Jeff Rasley has a new book! Jeff Rasley has just released a new book titled You Have to Get Lost Before You Can Be Found: A Memoir of Suffering, Grit, and Love of the Himalayas and Basa Village. It's about changing direction in life after finding new meaning in middle age working with a remote village in the Nepal Himalayas. It's also an adventure travelogue through the Himalayan region of Southeast Asia. First Friends' involvement in helping to establish the Basa Village Foundation is part of the story. There are more pictures in the e-book, and they are all color photos. You can find the book on amazon at https://www.amazon.com/You-Have-Lost-Before-Found/dp/1696951860. For more information visit www.jeffreyrasley.com.
SING ALONG With JIM and the BAND! In October we are back to our regular third Friday, November 15. Come at 7:00 to the parlor for 1 1/2 hours of fun. Song sheets in large print are provided. May you be led from within to participate in the joy of making music together.
Experiment with Light! Friends, all are invited as we start our own program. This is a continuation of the lovely meditation experiment presented by Jaime Mudd in June. We will be gathering at the Meeting House on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. Our next meeting date is November 19, 7:00-8:30 pm. It's an amazing opportunity to grow both individually and as a community. Hope you join us.
Seasoned Friends invites you! All Friends of retirement age are invited to our next Seasoned Friends luncheon and wiener roast which will be Thursday, November 21 at 11:30am here at First Friends. If you are able to bring a dessert to share, please do so. After our luncheon we will hear from guest speaker Bill Henry who will tell about the history of Quakerism. Bill Henry is a graduate of Earlham College and a life-long Quaker who has been active in the FGC for over 50 years. He has served as the Mayor of Marion from 2000-2004 and is currently a candidate for Mayor of Marion as an Independent candidate. He started his Quaker journey as a member of First Friends Church in Marion, Indiana. If you would like to come, please RSVP with the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.
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! Join us for our next meeting tomorrow, Thursday, November 21 at 7:00pm. See locations here: http://bit.ly/ThreshingFall2019.
Mark your calendars for Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading’s 6th Annual Lasagna Dinner hosted by Ruth Kelly in her home on Tuesday, November 26th at 6:30 pm. We will be discussing Educated by Tara Westover led by Carrie Sample. Please bring a covered dish (see below) and a book for our Annual Holiday Book Swap. If your name ends with the letters: A-L Salads/Covered Dishes and M-Z Fruit Dishes/Desserts. Contact the office at office@indyfriends.org if you need directions. Hope to see everyone there, feel free to bring a friend if you’d like!
Christmas at First Friends 2019
Nov. 26 Shalom Zone Combined Thanksgiving Service at First Friends 7:00pm
Dec. 1 Blue Christmas Meeting for Worship 10:15am
Dec. 8 Christmas Vespers 5:30pm
Dec. 15 Christmas Tea (following Meeting for Worship) 11:30am & Christmas Caroling 3:30pm
Dec. 22 Children’s Christmas Pageant 10:15am
Dec. 24 Special Christmas Eve Meeting for Worship 5:30pm
Dec. 29 All-Meeting Unprogrammed Worship 10:15am
This Week’s Queries
Where do I need to stop and listen or take a needed pause in my life?
What is being stirred in my heart?
What is rubbing me the wrong way? And why?
In what way am I being led to respond?