As Way Opens
I was so moved by the Blue Christmas service on November 29th where we remembered family and friends connected with First Friends that passed away this year. I was part of that group as I lost my beloved brother last January and the reverence and symbolism of lighting candles meant so much to me. There were 25 names that we read so there has been a lot of physical loss of loved ones this past year.
Last week I called Tom Price to check in on him and see how he was doing. I heard his updates (which were significant as he has bought a home on an acre of land on the northside and moved from The Stratford into this home on November 24th and his daughter Jessica will move into his home this spring). He then said that he watched the Blue Christmas service and at that moment I realized with horror that we had not read Pat’s name. I felt sick to my stomach as I contemplated this oversight. I don’t know how we all missed this. Pat became my close friend during the last 18 months of her life as I visited her a number of times. She was a person that showed me how to deal with a terminal illness with grace, dignity and a selfless attitude where she continued to always want to hear about how I was doing. i fell in love with Pat during her illness.
What happened during my conversation with Tom last week was my advent experience. While Tom was surprised that we did not mention Pat, he was gracious and forgiving about our oversight. He appreciated the service, and it was meaningful to him. He did not want me to feel terrible about this and offered supportive messages. I cannot express the sense of care and love I experienced from Tom. This is what advent and this season is about. The idea of offering grace and forgiveness to each other and to ourselves. This is the coming of Christ that we wait for each year. The experience of grace, forgiveness, and love. May we offer this to each other and to ourselves this year.
Beth
Quaker-Affiliated Organizations
IFCL -- Announcing the Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission ~ IFCL is one of 25 members of the All IN for Democracy coalition hoping to influence redistricting, the legislative map-drawing in 2021 that will determine Indiana's voting districts for the next decade. IFCL recently participated in a coalition press conference announcing the formation of the Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission, part of a project for citizens to take part in redistricting. At the press conference, remarks were made on behalf of IFCL speaking to Quaker reasons for supporting this effort. https://drive.google.com/file/d/18GfY-kBw24At2buvL0CLZTUd-1DE_E8z/view?usp=sharing
Friends are encouraged to apply for service on the Commission or urge others to apply. Note, this is neither a Republican nor a Democrat effort. It's a citizens' effort, and anyone of any party affiliation--or no political affiliation at all--is welcome to apply. Below is information from Julia Vaughn of Common Cause Indiana (another coalition member) explaining the criteria for selection to the Commission, and a link to the application. The deadline for application is January 4, 2020. If you have questions, please contact Phil Goodchild (goodch713@aol.com; 317-790-9054). Thank you.
From Common Cause Indiana:
There will be hundreds of issues debated when the Indiana General Assembly reconvenes in 2021, but the upcoming session really boils down to one thing: redistricting.
Next session the legislature will draw new district maps for Congress and themselves, and those maps will play an outsized role in who gets elected to represent us for the next decade. A fair, politically balanced and transparent redistricting process is more important now than ever.
Unfortunately, despite efforts from 2012 to 2020 to pass redistricting reform legislation through the State House, legislators failed to act.
It’s clear that if we want a better way to draw maps in 2021, we have to do it ourselves. And, you can be part of the solution by signing up for our Citizens Redistricting Commission today!
I'LL SIGN UP!
Common Cause Indiana, through the All IN for Democracy coalition, is organizing the Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC), a diverse and representative group of nine Hoosiers who will lead a public discussion about what criteria should direct redistricting in Indiana and identify important communities of interest throughout the state.
This information will be compiled and delivered to legislators with the request that they follow its recommendations as they embark on their map-drawing efforts.
ICRC members will also serve as judges for a public mapping competition which will invite Hoosiers to get directly involved in redistricting by drawing Congressional and state legislative maps themselves using open source software and public data.
Many of you would be great candidates for a seat on the ICRC because you understand that the future of democracy requires politically engaged people putting aside partisanship for the public interest. Thank you.
Joys and Concerns
MANY THNAKS to our Food Pantry Volunteers: Linda and Rik L; Christie M; Penny P; Phil G; Bill F; Derek S; Carol and Jim D. Our First Friends volunteers braved the chilly weather to serve 72 very thankful families. Thanks to everyone at First Friends for the support given to the Mid North Food Pantry.
Happy Birthday, Lowell! Dr. Lowell R is celebrating his 100th birthday today! Wow!!
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Remember to save your holiday stamps! As you receive Christmas cards this season, remember to save your stamps for Right Sharing! Here are some examples of some new stamps you might see this year (right). Of course, all stamps are welcomed. Just bring or mail them to the meetinghouse anytime. Stamping is still going on, even through this pandemic! Happy Holidays!
Watch out for Zoom Scams! There are new Zoom phishing attacks you need to watch out for. The Better Business Bureau has three great tips.
Out of the blue, you receive an email, text, or social media message that includes Zoom’s logo and a message saying something like, ‘Your Zoom account has been suspended. Click here to reactivate.’ or ‘You missed a meeting, click here to see the details and reschedule.’
You might even receive a message welcoming you to the platform and requesting you click on a link to activate your account". The BBB warned:
Double check the sender’s information. Zoom.com and Zoom.us are the only official domains for Zoom. If an email comes from a similar looking domain that doesn’t quite match the official domain name, it’s probably a scam.
Never click on links in unsolicited emails. Phishing scams always involve getting an unsuspecting individual to click on a link or file sent in an email that will download dangerous malware onto their computer. If you get an unsolicited email and you aren’t sure who it really came from, never click on any links, files, or images it may contain.
Resolve issues directly. If you receive an email stating there is a problem with your account and you aren’t sure if it is legitimate, contact the company directly. Go to the official website by typing the name in your browser and find the ‘Contact Support’ feature to get help.
Remember: “Think Before You Click." It is more important than ever these days.
Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for December: White-breasted Nuthatch
An Upside-Down Bird to End 2020
This year has been a strange one in almost every way. Instead of giving a list of unusual events, allow me to call it simply topsy-turvy or upside down. Yes, that’s it: Upside down in almost every category. What better way to end this year of Birds of the Meditational Woods, than to select a bird, found here in every month, but especially in December, that fits the upside-down moniker?
The white-breasted nuthatch is our only resident bird which can regularly move on the bark of a tree in an upside-down orientation. Several species crawl up the trunk, looking for insects, spiders, and the eggs of each, but when you see one moving upwards, and then suddenly change direction into a head-down posture, it is this guy. Its smaller cousin, the red-breasted nuthatch, shares the upside-down ability, but is found in Central Indiana only from October through April, and I have yet to see one of that species in our woods.
The white-breasted is bluish-gray on the back and white underneath. It has patches of brownish-orange on each flank. Notice the bill shape and size, and the short tail. If the cap is bluish-gray, the individual is a female. If black, as shown here, it is a male. I almost always hear the “yank, yank” call before I see the bird, and always enjoy adding this sometimes upside-down bird to my day’s list from the Meditational Woods. ~Brad J
Order Poinsettias and Fair-Trade Goodies! ~ This year we are offering poinsettias and various fair-trade foods/gifts—virtually! You are still welcome to buy a poinsettia in honor or in memory of a loved one. We will deliver your orders to you personally before Christmas!
The fair-trade co-op relies on a lot of churches and service organizations, so their business has declined, and this is a great opportunity to purchase treats and gifts for the holiday. Some of the funds for the purchase will go towards our youth group activities. You can browse https://shop.equalexchange.coop if you would like to order different items beyond what we normally offer.
6" Poinsettia pot - $8 (Red or White)
Coffee - $10 (Love Buzz, Hazelnut Creme, Breakfast Blend, Decaf)
Tea - $ 3.50
Chocolate $3.50 (lots of types)
Olive Oil - $12
Hot Cocoa - $5
If you’re interested, you can place an order at https://forms.gle/EtGaScUVKUCgt1du8. Payment can be made by sending a check to the office at 3030 Kessler Blvd E Dr, Indianapolis IN 46220, with the notation of "poinsettias" or "fair trade purchase"; or visit https://www.indyfriends.org/support to pay electronically. Under funds choose either "Flower Order" or "Fair trade food/gift order." Please place your order by December 9th. Happy Holidays!
Join the First National Experiment with Light Group! Dan and Jaimie Mudd invite Friends to the first monthly online North American Experiment with Light meditation. It will start on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. The mediation will begin at 7:30 PM Eastern time with the Zoom room being opened at 7:00 PM Eastern. Those new to the Experiment are encouraged to arrive at 7:00 so that they can receive a brief overview of what to expect. To register and for further questions, contact Dan and Jaimie at lightsways@gmail.com.
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, or you can give online at https://www.indyfriends.org/support, or text Christmas to 317-768-0303. We may seek out a second family if enough monies are collected. We plan to purchase the gift cards for this family next week so please send whatever contribution you plan to make to the First Friends’ office THIS WEEK. Thanks to everyone for their support.
Vespers Benediction ~ For those asking and for anyone else interested, here is the Benediction from this past Sunday’s Vespers service!
A Christmas Benediction – anonym
At Christmas may God open
Your heart to His love,
Your mind to His wonders,
Your ears to His voice, and
Your life to His presence.
May you experience
His peace for your troubles,
His forgiveness for your guilt,
His presence for your loneliness,
His light for your path,
His guidance for your journey, and
His joy for your life... Amen!
Reopening Task Force Report
At this time, the Reopening Task Force does not yet feel comfortable recommending reopening the Meetinghouse for worship, due to current trends and upcoming holidays. The issue will be revisited in the new year. Detailed reports from the Reopening Task Force are to be emailed to full membership prior to each Monthly Meeting.
In the meantime, please be reminded that Meetinghouse is currently 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.
First Friends Financial Update: The Meeting currently is collecting pledges for 2021 to help plan for the new year. While some aspects of First Friends activity are on hold due to the pandemic, the need for financial support continues, as major fixed expenses remain in place. Recently, a request for pledges was emailed to the meeting. If you need to have the email resent, or if you would like for a pledge card to be mailed to you, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485. Kindly return pledges by December 13.
Note: For your convenience, you may make arrangements with your bank for donations to First Friends to be made automatically. Contact the office if you have questions about this option.
Use our online directory for the holidays! This holiday season, we encourage you to use our online directory to get the most up-to-date addresses when you send out holiday cards. You can find the directory at https://mobiledirectory.lifetouch.com/318079/first-friends-church. We hope this online resource will serve you well!
Mark your calendars for Oak Leaf book club titles for 2021!
January 26 ~ The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
February 23 ~ Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
March 30 ~ My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
April 27 ~ The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
May 25 ~ A Promised Land by Barack Obama
June 29 ~ The Colorado Kid by Stephen King
July 27 ~ The Soul of America by Jon Meacham
August 31 ~ Still Life by Louise Penny
September 28 ~ The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
October 26 ~ The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
November 30 ~ Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl
December 28 ~ Heartland by Sarah Smarsh
The group meets at 7pm either on Zoom or in the Parlor. To sign up for the email list, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
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.
The Joys and Sorrow of Zoom~ 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.
Here are some comments. Please send us yours.
Amy P says she likes having less driving, not having to buy gas so often, and having more time at home with her husband. In addition to Monday Meditational Worship and Fellowship time, she can also visit the Arizona Native Plant Society. Arizona desert retreats have been an important part of her spiritual journey.
"I don’t know how Zoom worship works. Maybe that is of the Spirit…What I do know is that I often have the sense of a gathered Meeting for Worship and this nourishes me." -Catherine S
SEND US YOUR PICTURES! We are looking for photos of you and your family. Let us see how you are doing, and what you’ve been up to during these times! Let us see your smiling faces. We will put these photos into future slideshows during virtual meeting for worship on Sundays. Just email your pictures to office@indyfriends.org or post them here. Thank you in advance!
Queries for the Week
(From self-led guide)
· In this time of waiting, where do I feel alone or consumed by the darkness around me?
· Where am I clinging to a specific path and not allowing God to guide me?
· How is my life a “Advent of patient waiting and trust”?