As Way Opens
Last Saturday afternoon I raked leaves and mulched my backyard and just before dark headed in with a feeling of completion and satisfaction. The lawn looked pristine and all the leaves that had been in my beds and on my driveway were gone. But before heading in I looked up above my garage and saw this tree that had a full head of hair of leaves! It was amazing to me that on November 7th after that wild windstorm we had 2 weeks ago, this tree was still hanging on to its leaves.
I usually consider the fall a time of release, of emptying myself, of letting go of all the things that I cling to. I am reminded every fall that the trees freely give away their leaves to nourish the ground and provide the cover for winter and the sustenance for the birth that will happen next spring. But here was this tree stubbornly clinging to its leaves. And I reflected on the idea that sometimes we need to just hang on. Even when we don’t know outcomes, have become discouraged and impatient, we just need to hang on and ask God to give us strength to do just that. This certainly speaks to my condition of a pandemic that continues to expand, uncertainties in the election process and fear about our current political situation. I have decided I am going to hang onto my leaves and be patient, be strong and unwavering and know that as Julian of Norwich has said “All will be well”.
I pray that you may also hang on this week and the upcoming weeks. Of course, at some point we all have to let go of our leaves and that has started to happen in my backyard. Here are some pictures this morning of my yard full of leaves everywhere. The work goes on!
Beth
Joys & Concerns
Thank you to our Mid-North Food Pantry volunteers last week: Virginia and Derek S, Bill and Kathy F, Linda and Rik L, Ruth K, Barbara O, David B, Penny P, Christie M, Phil G, and Carol and Jim D. In addition to the regular First Friends volunteer days on the first and third Weds. of each month, several of the First Friends volunteers are now volunteering on Monday mornings to assemble bags of food for distribution. Thanks to all the First Friends volunteers. 85 families were served on Weds. last week. A special thanks to Derek Snell for lending his mechanical skills to the assembly of an outdoor tower heater for the pantry in anticipation of the upcoming cold weather. If you are interested in helping at the pantry, contact Jim D.
Thanks to the Weed Wrangling team, we wrestled out huge honeysuckle shrubs that were woven together with grapevines, as well as several garbage bags of ivy that crowded out all of the native wildflowers. While we love native plants, we do discriminate against native poison ivy and greenbriar, so they also went into the trash heap.
Our next-door neighbor approved of the removal of the honeysuckle just over the property line and the addition of two blackhaw viburnums instead.
We received a nice thank you note from the executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council. Our contribution came from the proceeds of the Howard Taylor fund and is supporting folks like Paula Brooks and others on tangible work for economic justice issues. Such as working to block a polluting factory from being sited in an African American neighborhood with a childcare center and a school blocks away. What a legacy to Howard that this fund supports worthy not-for-profits working for real change in our communities.
Tailgate Party Goes Into Overtime
Last Saturday’s Tailgate Party, planned by Connections, continued for an hour overtime. People were not ready to end the pleasant evening of clear skies and perfect temperatures. Friends played hoops, corn hole and a marshmallow toss game. Leeann and Jackie wowed everyone with their basketball prowess. Aaron put up a volleyball net and we had a badminton set. Frisbees and a dodge ball were available. Prizes were given for superior performance—well, that’s sort of the story.* The real story is we had a lot of fun while wearing masks and staying socially distanced.
In the beginning a sleeping baby arrived, a curious husky with ice blue eyes surveyed the scene and men roasted brats because a man’s meal means more that roasting hot dogs. OK, getting carried away but I was inspired by the attenders. People brought their own sack meals and Amy pitched in s’more kits which we were not expecting. There were snacks and bottles of water.
Jesse sang Dylan’s “Knock, Knock, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” with his soft, smooth voice. He accompanied himself with Jim’s traveling guitar. (I had never heard of one either. It is small with a long neck.) A speaker system and playlist provided by Jim entertained the crowd. Jerry Henricks’ spirit was among us as we feasted our eyes on his photography and took home some original Jerry postcards.
The living and the remembered gathered together in spirit and in person to enjoy a rare, treasured November day—a respite from times of isolation in one tremendously baffling year. Thank you everyone who helped and all those who partook in the pleasures of the party.
*Prizes: Linda, first adventurer to roast wieners; Jackie, 3 hoops at basketball; Leeann, marshmallow and basketball baskets; Mike, marshmallow baskets; Robin, corn hole bags pocketed (he spreads out beans evenly for a better shot); Bob, name that tune; Amy, name that tune; Jan, best form of transportation to event (bike); Carrie, name that tune; Nancy, name that tune; Mindy and Paul, unsolicited volunteers for clean-up (or were they stealing benches ;)?) and Mary and David for last to arrive and a trivia question.
Prayer: God thank you for blessings of laughter and good times. Thank you for work, play and beautiful days. Thank you for the changing of the seasons and all of the transitions to which we adapt. Thank you for being with us and for us. Thank you that there is always more to learn and thank you for Your patience in teaching us through Your love. Amen. ~Nancy
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Small Groups and Building Use. As a reminder to the First Friends community, as of Oct. 1 the Meetinghouse has been open to small groups, with requirements for face coverings and social distancing protocol. Participants assume personal responsibility for risk of COVID-19 exposure. Several small groups offer Zoom options for those who prefer not to attend in person. To check on availability of small groups, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485.
Free Green Team Training ~ The singing frog was wrong - it IS easy being green! Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light invites you on November 11th at 6:00pm for a fun and informative workshop to find out how to create or expand a green team in your congregation. There will be much work to do in the next four years regardless of the outcome of the elections. All people of faith need to act together now with a sense of urgency. Learn about the faith bases of creation care and the supporting science and messaging. Discuss the typical challenges faced when starting or developing a green team, and ways to turn them into opportunities. It's free and easy to sign up, to find out more and register visit https://hoosieripl.salsalabs.org/greenteamtrainingnovember112020/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=33a22090-85ad-412d-8de1-3705e86998c4
Are these yours? Nancy had some hot dog skewers at the Tailgate Party that someone may have mistaken for theirs. The missing pair have rectangular block handles. Please contact Nancy to arrange an exchange.
The Holiday Season is almost here! Even during these trying times, we still look forward to having a Christmas with you full of joy, laughter, and peace. Look forward to these special virtual Christmas services coming very soon! We hope you will join us.
Show Your First Friends Christmas Spirit ~ First Friends has “adopted” a family to help this Christmas. While the family would like to remain anonymous, we do have a little info to share about the family. There are 5 children and a mom. The kids are ages 14 (girl), 13 (girl), 12 (boy), 9 (girl), and 9 (boy). Rather than ask folks at First Friends to purchase gifts as we have done in the past, at this time we intend to provide gift cards for the kids and mom and possibly a few smaller gifts. Please contribute as you are led to help provide a very Merry Christmas for this family. Checks can be sent to the First Friends office with a notation of “Christmas Family” in the memo section. We may seek out a second family if enough monies are collected. We hope to finalize this fundraiser by the end of November so please consider making your donation at your earliest convenience. Thanks for your consideration.
To Zoom or Not to Zoom or The Zooming Experience ~ How do you feel about zoom? What are your positive experiences? What are your complaints? Are you kept away by a lack of technology? Do you loathe zoom? Perhaps by examining the nature of your discontent, improvements could be discovered. We invite you to share your thoughts and preferences about meeting via Zoom to office@indyfriends.org. Thank you!
Apartment available ~ North Meadow Circle of Friends presently has a one-bedroom apartment available on the second story of the Meeting House in downtown Indianapolis. They maintain an affordable housing intention. Monthly rent is $650 including heat/cool, water, electricity and WIFI access. parking may be designated. Since the apartment is accessed through public Meeting House space that often may have programmed activities, including live singing, etc., tenants must be socially prepared to co-inhabit such an environment. Alternatively, all the facilities of the Meeting House (Library, Kitchen, front and rear sitting porches, garden plot, compost toilet, etc.) are available to the tenant. Interested parties should contact David Duvall 317-260-0601 or by e-mail, dblantonduvall7811@gmail.com.
Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for November
Sandhill Crane – The Wise Traveler
Today would have been a perfect day to listen and look up! An absolutely clear blue sky was overhead, with a cool breeze from the north. What you are listening for is a call, variously described as “ga-roo” or “hah-akkkk” or a bugle trill or a far-off soft bark of a dog. If you hear something, glance up, and what you are looking for is a flock of Sandhill Cranes, with as many as 150 or more individuals flying in and behind a loosely organized V-pattern. They will not be in a tight V like geese, or as fast, but will usually be much higher, almost out-of-sight. You may see one flock directly overhead, and at the same time have more flocks behind and off to one side. In the fall they gather by the tens of thousands at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in NW Indiana, and then, from late October to early December, they leave in large groups heading toward the Texas coast. In groups this large, these huge birds seem to find safety in numbers.
Sandhill Cranes stand three and one-half feet tall, and are mostly gray with red on the crown. Immatures are brown. In flight one can see their outstretched necks, and feet trailing behind their tails. They should not be confused with Great Blue Herons, which nest nearby us, although some call those birds “cranes”.
Several weeks ago as I walked in our woods, I found two Swainson’s Thrushes in the bushes above the waterfall. They were sitting silently, side-by-side, watching my movement. I wondered if these two had come together, all the way from Canada. Perhaps, instead, they met here, in the woods, and recognized each other, like two Ball State grads who just happen to pull in beside each other at a rest area in Arkansas. Either way, their migration is less conspicuous than that of the cranes.
This time of year some of us start preparing our Christmas cards. I like the ones depicting the journey of the Wise Men to visit the Christ Child. Usually in fabulous colors, those cards show three men on three camels traveling alone through the desert. But can that be? Instead of being like the two thrushes, wouldn’t it have been more like the hundreds of sandhill cranes? I believe there were three huge entourages of wise men, their servants, and hirelings, with skills in cooking, defensive safety, and animal herding: travelers all moving through possibly-foreseen dangers, together, trying to reach their destination. ~Brad Jackson
Advent Waiting: Clearing Space for New Life and Light ~ All are invited to “Advent Waiting,” a 3-session virtual gathering led by Sara Beth Terrell (leader of our current women’s gathering). This experience invites reflection on Advent themes in a year of waiting and uncertainty. Using contemplative prayer exercises, we will ask what we might learn from the dark places we’ve been as we anticipate the Light coming into our lives in new ways. The sessions will take place on December 1, 8 and 15 from 4-5:30 PM EST. The cost is $63, but scholarships are available upon request. For more information and to register, visit https://www.imaginingtheword.com/upcomingevents/advent-waiting. The Zoom link will be sent before the first session.
Queries for the Week
(From online service)
· How might I see the struggles and sufferings in my life as a vehicle for bringing resurrection (new life)?
· What relationships do I need to nurture so that I can experience the Divine more fully in my life?
· What concerns, convicts, and is calling me to love wastefully in the present moment?
(From self-led guide)
· Do you automatically rush to sort things out and fix them?
· Are you learning instead to listen and wait?
· Are you desirous of “good powerlessness?”