As Way Opens
This Sunday will be our Blue Christmas service where we will remember and reflect on family and friends that we have lost this past year. Our Circle of Care started this event a number of years ago and it’s become such a special service to share together. Circle of Care has traditionally hosted a lunch and invited those that have experienced a significant loss to gather in the parlor and break bread together and then have a time of sharing in a circle expressing their experiences and feelings. Unfortunately, we are living in a pandemic with numbers in Indiana dramatically increasing and we won’t be able to gather together for this meaningful time. But Bob did put together a beautiful virtual service that we recorded together yesterday, and I felt so emotional from participating in this and experiencing the sense of reverence and mystery that brings life and death together in a web of connectivity.
I am so thankful for our Circle of Care. This is an umbrella group started by our friend Barbara Oberreich to provide a variety of care for folks that experience illness, birth, death, loss, short term needs, and a plethora of other issues. We have had a prayer chain and a meal ministry for some time and Circle of Care expanded these important ministries to include rides to appointments, home care, computer help, and other concerns for our community. For me, the care, concern and love we feel for each other is the foundation of First Friends. This will attract and draw folks into our community as we all need to feel a sense of connection and oneness.
Asking for support is terribly hard for many of us. It was only my experience of dealing with my Jerry’s Alzheimer’s for six years that brought me to a place where accepting help was honoring the ministry of others. Asking for support is not a sign of weakness but an opportunity to connect with the community and allow others to express their love in a tangible way. Friends, we want you to let us know if there is something we can provide to support you. Please email the office (office@indyfriends.org) or myself if there is anything we can do for you in this time or in the future (beth.henricks@indyfriends.org).
The ministries under Circle of Care are also a wonderful opportunity to offer love, care and support to others. We need more folks to be part of our meal ministry, our prayer chain and our group of volunteers that can provide rides, computer assistance and other areas of support. If you would like to join any of these ministries please email the office at office@indyfriends.org.
During these difficult times we need each other more than we ever have. I am thankful for each of you and your gifts and the ways that we bring ourselves to each other. I love this quote from Richard Rohr that describes our connectedness and unity with God and each other.
"Oh, God, we are one with You. You have made us one with You. You have taught us that if we are open to one another, You dwell in us. Help us to preserve this openness and to fight for it with all our hearts. Help us to realize that there can be no understanding where there is mutual rejection. Oh God, in accepting one another wholeheartedly, fully, completely, we accept You, and we thank You, and we adore You, and we love You with our whole being, because our being is in Your being, our spirit is rooted in Your spirit. Fill us then with love, and let us be bound together with love as we go our diverse ways, united in this one spirit which makes You present in the world, and which makes You witness to the ultimate reality that is love. Love has overcome. Love is victorious. Amen.”
Happy Thanksgiving.
Beth
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
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.
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!
Free Books to a Good Home ~ A Friend would like to donate a free book(s) to anyone who might be interested. They are three D. Elton Trueblood books: “Alternative to Futility “(1948), “The Recovery of Family Life” (1953) and “The Common Ventures of Life” (1949). If you are interested in any of these books for your collection, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
Thanksgiving Prayer ~ Thanks to Nancy Scott for sharing this Thanksgiving prayer. Sometimes, as a gratitude exercise, people list blessings starting with each letter in the word Thanksgiving. I decided to borrow from that idea to make a little prayer. Try it yourself!
Thank you God, that
Humanity is created in Your image.
Animals abide with us in
Nature, a magnificent gift with which you have blessed us.
Keepers of a peaceful and loving world: our mission.
Simply living and living simply can be a goal while we are
Giving and sharing what we can.
Imagining the best that we can be, we strive to live up to Your image.
Verily, You said unto us that Your love is everlasting.
Nothing need stand between us and Your love.
Grant us the courage to accept Your gift and then, to re-gift it.
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.
Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea The definitive Mexican-American immigrant story, a sprawling and deeply felt portrait of a Mexican-American family occasioned by the impending loss of its patriarch, from one of the country's most beloved authors. Prizewinning and bestselling writer Luis Urrea has written his Mexican coming-to-America story and his masterpiece. Destined to sit alongside other classic immigrant novels, The House of Broken Angels is a sprawling and epic family saga helmed by patriarch Big Angel. The novel gathers together the entire De La Cruz clan, as they meet for the final birthday party Big Angel is throwing for himself, at home in San Diego, as he nears the end of his struggle with cancer and reflects on his long and full life. But when Big Angel's mother, Mama America, approaching one hundred, dies herself as the party nears, he must plan her funeral as well. There will be two family affairs in one weekend: a farewell double-header. Among the attendants is his half-brother and namesake, Little Angel, who comes face to face with the siblings with whom he shared a father but not, as the weekend proceeds to remind him, a life. The discussion will be via Zoom starting at 7 pm on Tuesday, December 29, 2020.
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.
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!
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.
"It is just nice to see people and to hear what they have to say. For our Monthly Meetings it is nice to have the ability to see and speak to one another.” -Sara E
“I can just roll out of bed and Zoom, I’m at Sunday School.” -Ed M
“I typically use Zoom at FF for meetings. Zoom is quite efficient for typical meetings, but can be frustrating for large, casual group gatherings such as Fellowship Hour. Bill Heitman has done as well as possible in facilitating. But, if one person talks very much, it distracts from the overall group. However, a large group doesn't allow for much in-depth conversation, so it's really not ideal. I have heard what some persons said, and then followed up with a personal phone call later. That has worked pretty well. Because of the limitations of Zoom for large groups, I believe that it is important to gather in person whenever we can.” -Sue M
Queries for the Week
(From online service)
· Who allows me to vent my frustrations and struggles? Have I acknowledged my gratitude for their presence?
· Since gratitude is a choice, where in my life do I need to choose gratitude over becoming bitter?
· This week, how will I look for God to unveil hope in my life?
(From self-led guide)
· How am I expressing my gratitude and thanks to God in this difficult time?
· Where is gratitude transforming my openness and receptivity to people different than me?
· To whom should I send a special written note or make a phone call to this week to let them know of my gratitude for them being a fit to my life?