As Way Opens
This past Sunday, my sermon focused on Practicing Transfiguration. I mentioned that the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration was very Quakerly in nature as it focused on transformative light, personal enlightenment, and working on allowing the light of God’s love to shine out from within us to our world. I have continued to ponder this through numerous conversations with many of you and also in my own study this week.
On Monday night, as I was sitting in the Starbuck’s in Broad Ripple filling time until Sam was done with Youth Art Council, I returned to reading a book that has clearly been speaking to my condition. The book is Richard Rohr’s latest, The Universal Christ. After ordering a cup of coffee and finding a comfy chair, I opened to the second chapter, where I had left off the night before. In a spiritually weird way, the subheading of the upcoming section was titled, Light and Enlightenment. I guess when God is trying to teach you something, you begin to see it everywhere (which is actually one of Rohr’s points in the book). His words yet again added to the thoughts I had been engaging on Sunday. Rohr started with a query and then continued saying,
“Have you ever noticed that the expression “the light of the world” is used to describe the Christ (John 8:12), but that Jesus also applies the same phrase to us? (Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world.”) Few preachers ever pointed that out to me. Apparently, light is less something you see directly, and more something by which you see all other things. In other words, we have faith in Christ so we can have the faith of Christ. That is the goal…We need to look at Jesus until we can look out at the world with his kind of eyes. The world no longer trusts Christians who “love Jesus” but do not seem to love anything else.”
Now, that is something to ponder this week. Join me in asking, am I seeing the world with Jesus “kind of eyes”? Am I living up to being the “light of the world” that Jesus thinks I am?
Grace and peace,
Bob
Joys & Concerns
Let’s give thanks to our Mid-North Food Pantry volunteers: David B, Phil G, Christie M, Linda and Rik L, Beth F, Kathy and Bill F, Mara S, Jim D. Busy day...108 clients served. We couldn’t do it without you all. THANK YOU!
What a great night and turn out for “Reclaiming Democracy One Dinner Table at a Time” with the Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center. Thanks to Jim D, Jeff R and Susan E (the creator of the event/game and our facilitator) for helping bring this to First Friends and our community!
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Help Send a Friend to FUM! ~ We are asking for financial support so that Maggie C can attend Friends United Meeting (FUM) Triennial in Kenya this summer. She received a partial grant from WYM, but is in need of a bit more support to cover remaining expenses. It would be wonderful to have Maggie there to represent First Friends. Checks can be made out to First Friends with Maggie’s name in the memo line. Thank you for supporting a Friend, and for supporting FUM!
Join Samantha and Jillian R for Real Talk Personal Finances: Downey Series! We are halfway through this 4 week series on all things personal finance. Our next class is Thursday, February 27th at 6 pm at Downey Avenue Christian Church in Irvington. We will be covering savings and insurance. In this class, we’ll provide a general introduction to the different types of insurance coverage you actually need to have. We’ll also walk you through building your savings, how much you need to have in your emergency fund, and how to save and prepare for events and big purchases, like Christmas, holidays, vacations, a new car, etc. You can sign up here or just show up! If you have any questions you can contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
Weekly Lenten Reflections ~ February 26, 2020
Lent is the 40-day period used by many Christian traditions to prepare for Easter, when the resurrection of Jesus is celebrated. Often people choose to “give up” something as a spiritual discipline to come into closer relationship with God. This Lenten season, I invite you to consider your relationship with the Earth
In the first Creation story, God takes six days to create Heaven and Earth and all the creatures within. In the Message, Day 6, the Bible writers tell us what was created and their purpose.
God spoke:” Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind:
Cattle and reptiles and wild animals- all kinds”
And there is was: wild animals of every kind,
Cattle of all kinds, every sort of reptile and bug.
God saw that it was good.
God spoke:
“Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature.
So they can be responsible for the fish of the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle,
And, yes, Earth itself,
And every animal that moves on the face of the Earth.”
God created human beings,
He created them god-like,
Reflecting God’s nature.
He created them male and female.
God blessed them:
“Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take Charge!
Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
For every living thing that moves on the face of the Earth.”
God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good.
Scholars have suggested that humans are to rule over living creatures and occupy and make the earth fruitful through agriculture, always leaving land wild for the creatures to sustain themselves. How would a wise and loving ruler care for all the creatures, including humans, and how does a wise farmer care for the earth?
This week, re read the Creation story each day and spend time in contemplation about the magnificence of all of Creation. Listen each day for the birds singing joyously in the dawn. Watch for the bulbs pushing up through the earth. Listen, feel and rejoice!
Child Dedications at First Friends: On Sunday, March 1st during Meeting for Worship eight children will be brought by their parents/grandparents to be dedicated to God. Parents/Grandparents will stand with their child(ren) in front of the Meeting and make a promise to raise their child in the faith. As well, it will be an opportunity for the people of First Friends to commit to supporting, encouraging, and holding these eight children in the Light as they spiritually grow. Please join us for this special time.
Western Yearly Meeting Retreat ~ All are invited to the Western Yearly Meeting (WYM) retreat to be held here at First Friends on Saturday, March 14! This is a one-day conference for everyone featuring the authors of Slow Church, John Pattison and Chris Smith. The event will run from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. This begins with a continental breakfast and includes lunch and snacks. For more information and for registration forms, visit https://mcusercontent.com/acf67475c86114d6972c3a2fa/files/2fca754e-c4f4-4409-9f96-fe4716514b77/Brochure.2020.pdf. Registration deadline is Sunday, March 1st!
FCNL Legislative Priorities ~ Friends Committee on National Legislation (“FCNL”) is, again this year, requesting that Friends’ Meetings submit national legislative priorities to FCNL for the coming two years. Your input and wisdom are needed to determine the legislative priorities that are important to First Friends Indianapolis. Please visit our survey at https://forms.gle/9XRjbBBuqEn8wcL38 and list the 5 most important issues that you would like FCNL to address as it determines its priorities for the next two years. (No need to resubmit if you have already turned in a paper copy.) The 7 most popular issues will be brought to Monthly Meeting in March for consideration to be submitted to FCNL. Please submit responses by March 1. Thank you for your thoughtful responses.
Interfaith Still Beloved Worship ~ All are invited to a time of worship to celebrate and affirm those in the LGBTQ+ community, hosted by Newland Quaker Center. It is being held on Tuesday, March 3rd, 7:00 PM at the Stout Meetinghouse at Earlham College in Richmond. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2489291998054343/ or contact Em Howard: elhoward18@earlham.edu.
The next women’s gathering will be on Friday March 6th. We’ll be going to see Ruth K’s photography on First Friday. She is the featured artist in March at Full Circle Nine Gallery, 1125 Brookside Ave Suite B21 inside the Circle City Industrial Complex. If you would like to come, please let the office know you are going— office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485. We will meet around 6:00 there - if folks want to carpool they should let the office know and we will leave at 5:30 from the Meeting. We can decide after we see the artists if we want to go to dinner afterward.
WYM Visioning Process – Phase 2 Survey ~ Western Yearly Meeting (WYM) is now carrying out phase 2 of its visioning process. WYM is asking everyone who can, to please take 10-20 minutes to complete their survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7WG2CXZ. This survey will help focus the yearly meeting and help prepare for upcoming years. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact the WYM office at (317) 839-2789. If you would like a printed copy, please contact the First Friends office at 317-255-2485 or office@indyfriends.org.
Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for February:
The “Snowbird”: Dark-eyed Junco
Some retirees in our meeting are able to escape the harshness of our Indiana winters by migrating to Florida, Texas, or some other warm spot at the first cold winds of autumn. We welcome these “snowbirds” back with the warm cloak of late spring.
In the world of nature there is a bird which has this same nickname of “snowbird.” It does not winter in Florida. In fact, the Dark-eyed Junco travels from its nesting grounds in Michigan and Canada to spend the winter with us here at First Friends Meeting. I often see flocks of from five to ten birds in the bushes and trees which flank the sidewalk entrance to the Meditational Woods. On several occasions I have been near the courtyard, when suddenly a flock drops down from overhead, to feed in the shelter of that patio. Each individual announces its presence with a rattle-like call. They are a boisterous bunch in the air, but feed quietly on the ground.
In appearance, the bird is small in size, like a sparrow, with a black head and grayish back, a white belly, and a pink bill. When in flight, the white outer-tail feathers flash, and get our attention.
As these avian winter-lovers leave in April for their northern nesting territories, we human Friends will be welcoming back our own snowbirds from their balmy sojourns. ~Brad J
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Needs Your Help! KIB needs your help to keep Indianapolis beautiful. Even a few hours can make a big difference! Every year KIB relies on nearly 20,000 volunteers to help carry out a mission to help people and nature thrive together in our city. Whether you are interested cleaning up litter, building pocket parks, creating greenspaces, planting trees, preparing mail, or assisting with special projects, there's a way you can help. If you are interested, please visit https://www.kibi.org/projects for more information and to volunteer. Our Tree Planting Quakers are signing up for Saturday March 14 at 21st and Capitol. We hope you will sign up for that day and join us!!
Queries for the Week
Where am I feeling inadequate or fearful in life?
How do I “practice transfiguration” in the daily?
Where do I see transfiguration happening at First Friends, my community, my world?