Services Cancelled & Coronavirus Update
Dear Friends,
With the Coronavirus now being labeled a pandemic, our first priority is to help keep all members—and in particular our most vulnerable populations—as safe as possible. As a result, we have decided to suspend this Sunday’s gathering at First Friends, including Unprogrammed Worship, Sunday School, and Meeting for Worship. The scheduled Meeting for Business will be postponed one week to Sunday, March 22 (unless circumstances require us to make other plans).
Also, we are asking that clerks and committees who are scheduled to meet this week refrain from doing Meeting business in person. Instead, we encourage you to seek an email format, conference call, or a video conferencing application (such as Zoom, Skype, Campfire, etc.) to do business.
We are also suspending Meditational Worship on Monday at noon and Unprogrammed Worship on Wednesday night at 7pm and our Experiment with Light which meets this coming Tuesday at 7pm—at least for this week, and until further notice. Also, the event at Marian University we shared in Friend to Friend, “Tradition and Transformation” on Friday, March 13 has been cancelled as well. We ask that small groups and other gatherings please take a hiatus for at least this week as well. With the impact of the Coronavirus changing daily, at this time, we are taking these measures for this week only, but will reassess next week and provide another update by next Thursday, March 19.
During this time, the First Friends Meeting Office plans to stay open, and our staff and leadership will work to communicate the ongoing state of the Meeting and cancellations of upcoming events. Our goal is to keep you as informed as possible of any and all changes in the life of the Meeting and its programming by email, phone, and other means we are currently exploring.
The pastors are working to create a self-guided worship resource to be sent by email for personal and family worship which will enable us to join together at 10:15am—as we always do on Sundays—but from the privacy of our own homes or other settings.
Also, this morning we were contacted by the leaders of the Maple Seeds Preschool Co-op (MSPC) housed in our building. They have chosen to close the preschool immediately due to the Coronavirus and plan to stay closed through the end of their spring break (April 6). Closer to the end of that time they will be reassessing the situation and deciding when to reopen.
As you heard yesterday in our Friend to Friend newsletter and on our social media sites, Western Yearly Meeting has postponed/canceled the Spring Retreat that was to be held this Friday and Saturday at Fort Benjamin Harrison and at First Friends. We have also been receiving word that several Friends Meetings within our Yearly Meeting have chosen to cancel Meeting for Worship and larger gatherings for the foreseeable future.
We know this is alarming and worrisome for many, but we want you to know that we at First Friends are being proactive and precautionary in our approach. We ask that you join with us in holding in the Light our country’s leadership, the health professionals, and all those who are working hard to stop the spread of this horrible virus. Also, we ask that you, personally, take every precaution possible to ensure your own safety and the safety of others at this time. For current updates and preventative measures on the virus, please review the Center for Disease Control’s website https://www.cdc.gov/.
In the Spirit,
The Pastoral and Office Staff of First Friends
As Way Opens
I returned last Saturday evening from a relaxing week of vacation in Orlando, Florida. I love having a week that I can read a book that I have been looking forward to for a while. Jon Meacham’s The Soul of America - The Battle for our Better Angels is just such a book. It is a fascinating journey into the history of our country highlighting a number of our Presidents and the key accomplishments, struggles and deficiencies in these men over the last 250 years. Reading this book gives me so much hope for our future - over the arc of our history things have improved and we continue to take steps forward (even though the movement includes lots of steps back). Even the greatest of our Presidents have had flaws and disappointed folks with their action or inaction. Our issues of race, class, immigration, and foreign influence have impacted our government and our culture right from the beginning. It was a good reminder that progress is usually slow and compromise is crucial to moving towards the ideals set up in our Constitution.
With all that is going on in our politics and in our country with this potential health crisis, we can lean into our history and remember that we are all called to be leaders with open hearts and minds, listening to all, remaining calm and not giving in to fear and panic. It is in our most difficult periods that we turn to God as our place of refuge and strength. As Psalms 46:1-3 says, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
Beth
Joys & Concerns
Many thanks to our food pantry volunteers last week: Kathy and Bill F, David B, Linda L, Dan H, Terri T, Christie M, Beth F, Mara S, Brad J, Carol and Jim D. A BIG THANK YOU to all of our volunteers, especially to newcomers Terri and Brad. Without you this ministry wouldn’t be possible.
Nichole and Joshua M welcomed to the world William Daniel M at 1:45 AM on March 8th. Weight: 6 pounds, 13 ounces. Welcome and happy birthday new Friend!
Lindsay and Stephen D are welcoming their new son, Oliver Thomas who was born Friday, March 6 at 10:13 PM. He is 4 lb. 15 oz. (15.5 inches long)—small but healthy! Lindsay and baby are doing well. Also, congratulations to Jim and Lynda S, the proud grandparents!
Steven & Lindsay P had a new addition to their family. Quinn Maeve P was born on March 2nd, weighing 7 lb 8 oz. Steven and his family live in Boston. Congratulations to them, and to grandfather Bob P! We know Ann P would have loved to meet her new granddaughter.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Western Yearly Meeting Retreat - CANCELLED~ PLEASE NOTE this message from WYM: Due to the concerns surrounding the coronavirus, the WYM Spring Retreat scheduled for this weekend, March 13-14 has been postponed/canceled for now.
We are giving consideration to rescheduling this event, but it will probably be scheduled, at the earliest, in the fall. We will let you know of the new date when that decision has been made.
Thank you for your understanding. If you have questions, you can contact the WYM Office at 317-839-2789 or 800-909-3452.
Plugged in devices notice ~ Friends, please refrain from unplugging devices from outlets around the building. Many of these devices are essential to the operation of the Meeting, such as Wi-Fi routers and security system peripherals. These should never be unplugged under any circumstance. If you see a device plugged in that you are concerned about, please bring it to the attention of church staff or a member of the maintenance committee. Thank you.
It’s not too late to pledge! Friends, please consider helping First Friends Meeting meet their financial needs this year. Your pledges help immensely with budgeting and making sure we have enough to carry out our ministries. If you’d like to make a pledge for 2020, you can fill out a card at the Meetinghouse, fill out our online form at https://forms.gle/Nb1r1ctRrfgAPigY8 or simply contact the office. First Friends would also like to sincerely thank all Friends in support of our ministries. We are grateful to everyone who’s turned in a pledge for 2020 and/or have turned on automatic donations through their bank. Thank you for supporting First Friends in the new year!
Tradition and Transformation - CANCELLED ~ Suzanne Moore’s presentation of “Tradition and Transformation”, scheduled for 3/13, has been cancelled as a precaution in light of COVID-19. We hope to reschedule her visit for a later date. If you would like to be notified when the program is rescheduled, please email saintjohnsbible@marian.edu.
Experiment with Light - CANCELLED ~ Please note that our regular Experiment with Light event scheduled for Tuesday, March 17 has been cancelled. Please see the statement above regarding coronavirus for more information.
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Needs Your Help! KIB needs your help to keep Indianapolis beautiful. 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 from 9:00am until about 12 or 1pm, located at 2150 N Capital (21st and Capitol). If interested, there will be litter-grabber options for alternative volunteer tasks on site. If you have any questions, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. We hope you will sign up for that day and join us!!
Weekly Lenten Reflections Week 3: Habitat
In Richard Bauckham’s book, The Bible and Ecology, the author provides biblically grounded scholarship to show God’s ever-present concern for all creation. His writing makes the case that we are co-creatures with everything on this planet and not demi-gods to rule over the earth. Read Psalm 104 and listen to the beauty and magnificence of the vision. Here are a few verses:
“You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills,
giving drink to every wild animal;
the wild asses quench their thirst.
By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation;
They sing among the branches.“ Ps 104: 10-12“The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
In them the birds build their nest;
The stork has its home in the fir trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats;
The rocks are a refuge for the coneys.” V 16-18
God designed the world to support all forms of life. Through human activity, habitat is being lost throughout the globe. Since 1970, there has been a loss of 3 billion birds as a result of development & habitat loss. If we are to love God’s creation & its inhabitants, what can we do?
We can do a lot, right in our own yards. Dr. Doug Tallamy says that “if half of American lawns were replaced with native plants we would create the equivalent of a 20-million-acre national park – nine times bigger than Yellowstone, or 100 times bigger than Shenandoah National Park.” https://ourstoriesandperspectives.com/2013/07/10/saving-nature-by-learning-to-live-with-it-the-benefits-of-native-plants/
We have evidence that this is true. Almost 20 years ago, First Friends made a commitment to change an acre of grass into an urban wood. Since that time, we’ve seen an increase in the number of native birds and insects. We had beautiful hummingbird moths drinking bee balm nectar this past summer. It is full of life that nurtures us, the community and our world.
As we prepare for Spring, look where you live. Is there an area that you could convert to native plants and flowers? To understand more, read Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, or Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard, by Dr. Doug Tallamy https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Best-Hope-Approach-Conservation/dp/1604699000. For local ideas, consult the Indiana Native Plant Society https://indiananativeplants.org/ and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. https://www.kibi.org/. Come join the Tree Planting Quakers on March 14 as we volunteer with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.
Abrahamic Traditions Dinner ~ The Niagara foundation invites you to their annual Abrahamic Traditions Dinner, which will be on Thursday, March 19, 6:30-9:00pm. It will be held at Meridian Street United Methodist Church, 5500 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, 46208. This is a free event. Please make reservations for this meal by March 17th at cenk@niagarafoundation.org. For more information, visit https://www.niagarafoundation.org/mirror/interfaith-engagement/abrahamic-dinner/.
IN NEED OF A VEHICLE: Bob and Sue H are looking for a reliable car for their teenage sons. They have a limited budget but would like to explore any options. If you know of a vehicle or you have one you want to sell, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
Quaker Earthcare Witness ~ “...Daily, we become more aware of the suffering of the planet and its people. We find an increasing call to do justice, to ‘let our lives speak’, individually and corporately. We are led, as Friends have been at other daunting moments in history, to overcome our own despair, to relieve suffering, and to unite with Spirit in ways never before imagined to bring new possibilities to Life. Living in Blessed Community in peace with each other and the natural world takes more than words, it requires action.” —Southeastern Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, 2019 Fourth Month
Beverly Ward, Southeastern Yearly Meeting's Field Secretary for Earthcare, shares these words in this newest issue of BeFriending Creation as a "faith touchstone" for earthcare action. Find the online PDF version of BeFriending Creation here, which highlights reflections and responses on the climate crisis.
Gardeners and Wannabe Gardeners: Plots Available. Get Ready, Set, Go! ~ Spring is nearly here! Get those seeds planted indoors if you want to grow your own seedlings! If you want to reclaim or claim a raised bed in the garden in the north lot, please contact the office at offce@indyfriends.org.
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!
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.
Men’s Threshing Together ~ If you are interested in gathering with other men who mull over current issues or topics, where all points of view are heard, no decisions are made, and all in a non-threatening atmosphere over a meal, then Threshing Together is for you! Join us for our next meeting on Thursday, March 19 at 7:00pm. See Winter/Spring 2020 locations here: http://bit.ly/ThreshingSpr2020.
First Friends Library Features ~ Wisdom’s Daughters: Stories of Women Around Jesus By Elizabeth G. Watson
“We find Jesus breaking every major taboo against women in his day. This book is a continuous (chronological with flashbacks) story of the life of Jesus pieced together from the four gospels to be as consistent as possible.”
Each story is told in detail as events seem likely to have happened. They read as easily as good fiction while being supported by scripture. The author is familiar with the looks, smells, clothing, customs of the times, so it all seems very real.
Chapters include scripture, commentary on the biblical scholarship, and questions for personal reflection or group dialogue.
Go to the library new bookshelf quickly because if you don’t someone else will be enjoying this book and you will need to wait!
Jim and the Band on the Third Friday ~ Singing Friday will be showing up on the calendar on the 20th of March. Jim, and probably Jesse and Luke will also be with us again. If we have as good a time as last month, everyone will have an enjoyable, relaxing evening. You may learn a new song or a few. Gather in the parlor from 7-8:30 or so.
Babysitting Co-Op ~ Our babysitting co-op is happening Saturday March 21, 5:30 - 9:30, hosted by Tiffany B and Beth H. Dinner will be provided for the kids. Please contact the office (office@indyfriends.org) if you would like to have your kids join in the fun that evening!
Free Lenten Concert ~ All are invited to this free concert presented by the vocal group VOCE, of which Carolyn T is a member. The “Road to Resurrection,” a show of hope and wholeness, features Schütz's Musikalische Exequien and works by Purcell, Rheinberger, Paulus, and Hogan, with special guest: Erica Rubis, viola da gamba. There are two available concert times, the first is Sunday, March 15th at 3:00pm at St. Francis In-The-Fields Episcopal Church, 1525 Mulberry Street, Zionsville, IN 46077, with reception to follow. Another concert will take place on Sunday, March 22nd at 4:00pm at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 8320 E 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46219, also with reception to follow. For more information, visit VOCE’s facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/voceindy/. We hope you will consider attending this special feature!
Shalom Zone 5th Tuesday ~ All are invited to the Shalom Zone’s next 5th Tuesday event which will be held here at First Friends on Tuesday, March 31st at 7 pm in Fellowship Hall. Dawn Barnes of the Society of St. Andrew plans to speak. The topic is “gleaning” and Dawn will tell us what is involved in gleaning and how gleaning helps to distribute food that otherwise would go to waste. The program will end by 8:30 pm and will include time for questions. For additional information on “gleaning” please visit Endhunger.org’s newsletter at https://www.endhunger.org/PDFs/Newsletter_Current.pdf.
Serenity Now Support Group ~ The next series of book-based support group meetings, Serenity Now, will meet in the parlor the third Thursday of every month from 1:30-3:30 p.m. This small group is for those experiencing family and relationship challenges and will focus its discussion for the next four to six months on Harriet Lerner's Dance of Connection: How to Talk to Someone When You're Mad, Hurt, Scared, Frustrated, Insulted, Betrayed, or Desperate. We are a very small group and new members are welcome, BYOB(ook). The first meeting of this session will be Thursday, April 16, at 1:30 p.m. We will discuss chapters 1-4, pp. 1-50:
1. "Finding Our Voice"
2. Voice Lessons from My Father
3. Our First Family: Where We Learned (Not) to Speak
4. Should You Share Your Vulnerability?
For questions, help getting a book or more information, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
Queries for the Week
Will I recognize God making that new life in me? Or will I ignore it, not believe it, or even stifle it?