As Way Opens
“The true Christmas spirit is putting others’ happiness before our own, and finding you’ve never known such happiness.” – Toni Sorenson
This year having Thanksgiving dinner with our immediate family with a computer screen at the end of the table so extended family could join via Zoom, was not how we had envisioned the holiday taking place. With Sue’s aunt dying from complications from Covid and my aunt’s Covid diagnosis debilitating her ability to take chemo in her battle against breast cancer (both since the Thanksgiving holiday), we are being even more careful and planning to hunker down once again for our Christmas celebration.
When Covid hits this close to home, it almost makes one need to question safety protocols or whether we should be wearing masks seem ludicrous. I often hear people say, “I don’t know anyone who has had Covid, so it must not be as bad as they say.” Yet almost every day, I hear a report of someone else who has been infected (Ironically, I was just interrupted while typing this article informing me of another case that hits close to home.) It saddens me deeply that people still are not taking this seriously and doing their part in protecting their fellow humans.
My gratitude abounds for the scientists and health care workers on the frontlines who are laboring so hard to prepare the vaccine and risking their lives to take care of the sick. And I am especially thankful for the psychologists, therapists, and mental health professionals whose workload has increased by staggering levels during this pandemic. It is clear that our mental health is unstable, and it is taking a toll on our lives.
As I have spent countless hours listening, pastorally counselling, and helping people during this pandemic, I have found an increased need to remind myself and those I am speaking with to be aware of our emotions and mental health. With life continuing to be a challenge and again our beloved holiday plans coming to a halt, we are struggling. I needed to hear how one director of behavioral health services put it,
“Once you have made the decision to skip the holiday trip or family gathering, you will have to cope not just with your own emotions, but your family’s emotions as well. For everyone involved, acknowledging the negative emotions and the sadness or disappointment is very important. Remember, ignoring emotions is not the same as controlling them; it’s just suppressing them…It’s OK to admit that you are sad and disappointed and that you will miss these events. But it’s entirely possible to still turn the holidays into a positive experience with alternative plans, even if they’re not the plans you’d hoped for. Traditionally, holidays create a spirit of giving and excitement which is good for our mental health — embrace the traditions you have and create new ones. They will ‘look’ different, but they can still provide a sense of stability and belongingness.”
I appreciate this perspective, because it turns us back to some positive and encouraging advice which gets to the true spirit of the holidays. Let’s be honest, life is hard, celebrating during a pandemic is hard, and often family is hard, but I pray that the hope and joy of this holiday season is a balm to your ailing lives. That it would provide some stability to the imbalance and help you embrace anew the Spirit of giving this Christmas.
Grace and peace,
Bob
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. http://bit.ly/2Kr5YLg.
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, 2021. 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
Thank you to even more food pantry volunteers! We’d like to thank additional volunteers who have been helping Mid-North Food Pantry on days other than Wednesday: Corinne I, Ruth K, and Barbara O. Thank you so much for your hard work!
Sunday Video Correction Notice: Please note a correction from this past Sunday’s video: Our handbell ringers were: Corinne I, Jake S, Lindsay D, Lynda S, Tiffany B, and Carolyn T. Many thanks to them for a beautiful performance!
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Sunday School Notice: Friends, please note that on Sunday, December 27th, there will be no Sunday School classes (as there will be no service that day). There will be unprogrammed worship at 10:15am. Also please note that Seeking Friends will be taking an additional 2 week hiatus and will return January 17th, 2021. We hope you stay happy and healthy this holiday season!
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!
Christmas Virtual Sing-a-long! Warm up your voices and break out the percussion. THE VIRTUAL SING-A-LONG is back! Join Jim and the band for a virtual Christmas sing-a-long WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 7:00-7:30 pm. The video will premiere live but will be available to watch any time after that. The video link will be available soon on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvZfU5zoW_wKzWzMWhXAZvQ. We hope you will join us!
Watch out for Zoom Scams! There are new Zoom phishing attacks you need to watch out for.
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.
· 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.
Remember: “Think Before You Click." It is more important than ever these days.
First Friends Financial Update: The meeting seeks your financial support, both in closing out 2020 and in planning ahead for 2021. For 2020, we currently are facing a deficit at year-end, but your financial support at this time can help us to end the year in the black. To assist, please click on indyfriends.org/support/#givenow and scroll down to the Give Now section.
For 2021, 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.
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. We thank you for your support.
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!
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.
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
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 takes place on the 15th of every month. 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.
The following Zoom link is for the next twelve months. You may want to copy and save it for future reference. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85812637962?pwd=cU9SZDArRExvZWRhaUEyR0tDa0h0dz09
To register and for further questions, contact Dan and Jaimie at lightsways@gmail.com.
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 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
Queries for the Week
(From virtual worship)
· Currently, who is helping me see hope in the world?
· Do I consider myself a co-worker, co-creator, co-hope-bearer with Christ?
· How am I being called to be a living hope and continue the legacy of Christ, this Christmas?
(From self-led guide)
· Where do I see hope outside my window?
· How is God’s presence in my life bringing hope this Christmas?
· In what ways can I “roll up my sleeves” and get to work for hope this week?