As Way Opens
It is hard to write this message as we are all living in a situation that we could not have imagined a few months ago. Our lives have been turned upside down and our daily routines completely disrupted. It feels like we keep readjusting every day with more grim news. It does not seem like our lives will “get back to normal” any time soon.
So what do we do in these anxious and uncertain times? I mentioned before that I am taking a class at Earlham School of Religion on Quakerism and Buddhism. I have been required to do a daily meditation and it’s been such a grounding experience for me that has quieted my pounding heart. Bob’s self-guided meditations that he has provided the last two Sundays has done the same thing. I have also been doing a lot of reading to understand the elements of Buddhism and the similarities and differences with Quakerism. Valerie Brown, a Quaker and a Buddhist wrote in her Pendle Hill pamphlet The Mindful Quaker: A Brief Introduction to Buddhist Wisdom for Friends about the Buddhist tea ceremony. This is an experience of making and drinking tea with a deep intention of the tea leaves, the farmers that grew the tea leaves, the sun, the soil that nurtured the tea leaves, the smell, the warmth, the taste and the calming and soothing liquid entering my body. While I like an occasional tea, I am a coffee drinker and have started this intention every morning when I make my coffee.
With this time in our homes, this is an opportunity to slow our pace and think about the holy in the ordinary. There is a holiness and sacredness in a hot shower, fresh sheets, making a fruit smoothie, mixing spices for a chicken rub, breath meditation, holding and reading a treasured book, creating a piece of art, prayer - the list goes on. I am taking the time to appreciate and see the beauty in the simple things. I also went outside in the yard for a while yesterday. Nature knows nothing of this virus and the buds are sprouting, flowers are getting ready to open, leaves are close to coming into our sight. I was grateful to see this promise of the rebirth of life after a barren winter. The next few days will be warm, and I would suggest a slow walk (with appropriate social distancing) around the yard or the park or the woods to experience this promise of hope and the holiness of our natural world.
I am reminded of the holy and sacred in the ordinary with the lyrics to Carrie Newcomer’s song Geodes:
Geodes
by Carrie Newcomer
You can't always tell one from another
And it's best not to judge a book by its tattered cover
I have found when I tried or looked deeper inside
What appears unadorned might be wondrously formed
You can't always tell but sometimes you just know
'Round here we throw geodes in our gardens
They're as common as the rain or corn silk in July
Unpretentious browns and grays the stain of Indiana clay,
They're what's left of shallow seas glacial rock and mystery,
And inside their shines a crystal bright as promise
All these things that we call familiar,
Are just miracles clothed in the commonplace
You'll see it if you try in the next stranger's eyes,
God walks around in muddy boots, sometimes rags and that's the truth,
You can't always tell, but sometimes you just know
Some say geodes are made from pockets of tears,
Trapped away in small places for years upon years
Pressed down and transformed, 'til the true self was born,
And the whole world moved on like the last notes of a song,
A love letter sent without return address
You can't always tell one from another
And it's best not to judge a book by it's tattered cover
Now I don't open them to see folks 'round here just like me,
We have come to believe there's hidden good in common things
You can't always tell but sometimes you just know
You can't always tell but sometimes you just know
Dear friends, we need each other during these times. We need to pray for each other and talk on the phone or by Skype or Zoom, and communicate by text and email. And let’s have a tea or coffee ceremony.
Beth
Joys & Concerns
Dan R’s Memorial Service Postponed ~ Please note that Dan R’s memorial service originally scheduled for Saturday April 18 has been postponed for the time being. Please keep an eye out in the future for a rescheduled date.
Our bluebirds now have a place to shelter in place. Thanks Brad J and Kathy F for setting up this lovely birdhouse at the Meeting (right)!
Adam C fell Sunday night and broke his arm. He had successful surgery Monday morning and is recovering (left). Please keep Adam and his family in your prayers.
Fox Hill Parade! ~ While class is suspended due to health concerns, Fox Hill Elementary staff participated in a fun makeshift ”parade” where teachers drove through their students’ neighborhoods waving and honking. Our own Bob and Sue H participated and the story ended up making national news (right)! Find the full news link here: https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2020/03/24/fox-hill-elementary-teacher-parade-students-coronavirus/2910235001/
Pantry News ~ Thanks to the dedication and willingness of First Friends volunteers to help out at the food pantry last week. We served 128 families which was the third highest total in 2020. We handed out bags of food outside in back of the pantry. Some volunteers packed bags inside while others were outside handing out the bags. Customers were not allowed inside the building. The safety plan developed by Susan McMahon and Matthew Jennings went very smoothly and kept volunteers, for the most part, separated from the customers as much as possible. The customers were most appreciative that First Friends volunteers were there to hand out food. Thanks to our great group of pantry volunteers: Kathy and Bill F; David B; Derek, Virginia and Melanie S; Linda L; and Carol and Jim D.
This is the time when Witness & Service was to begin its annual fundraiser for the Mid North Food Pantry. A luncheon was planned to “kick off” the fundraiser but it has been postponed due to the coronavirus situation. You can continue to help by sending a check to the First Friends office with “food pantry” noted in the memo section. Some folks need help now more than ever. Your support will certainly be appreciated. Thanks for your consideration.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Latest Coronavirus news for Indiana ~ If you’d like to keep track of the latest news regarding COVID-19 specific to Indiana, please visit the State of Indiana’s official Coronavirus homepage at https://www.in.gov/coronavirus/. This page contains the latest news and responses from the Governor, as well as current totals of infected and tested individuals in our state.
Join us Each Day at Noon!
Dear First Friends Family,
I have been having several conversations about offering a set time each day for us to come together, from wherever we are, to meditate and pray for 5-15 minutes for the healing of our globe.
My friends at the Fishers Multi-Faith Community for Compassion and St. Luke’s Healing Partners have come together for this same purpose and have invited us to join with them.
I believe that as Quakers we know how important it is to take time to enter silence, center down, expectantly wait, and send God’s light, love, and healing to our world. So I am asking you, and your families, to join with us each day at noon (wherever you are) as we collectively meditate and pray.
This may be a good break from all the technology, e-learning, and binge TV and movie watching taking place. Mindfulness exercises of this nature are so important for adults and children alike, so make sure to invite your kids (if you have them) to participate.
To help you in centering down, we are offering this very simple prayer that people of all faiths can join together in praying:
We pray for love over fear,
faith over doubt,
empowerment over victim hood.
We pray for all humanity as well as all creation.
Our plan right now is to join together in meditation and prayer for one month. Remember, it is amazing the power of even 5 minutes of mindful meditation and prayer. I look forward to joining together each day at noon.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Bob Henry
Monthly Meeting for Business ~ We will hold Monthly Meeting for business virtually through Zoom on Sunday, March 29 at 11:30am. To join the meeting that day, simply follow this link: https://zoom.us/j/657020278?pwd=cGNKeVFjUkpzQnNwL1cvdC9jQi9XZz09. Or, you can dial in by phone by calling 312-626-6799. Meeting ID: 657 020 278; Password: FFMFB. For a walkthrough of how to join a Zoom meeting, visit https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting for a helpful video. If you have any questions, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
Waterways Offer Healing in Uncertain Times ~ As we stay home and practice social distancing to maintain healthy communities, Earth may be taking some respite from the disruptions our regular human activities cause. This could be a time to spend connecting to nature, finding activities on your own or with family. Read the Reconnecting to Our Waterways newsletter for more information: https://mailchi.mp/fd8b0e63e1ee/current-news-from-row-march-1349164?e=3066926b24. Read to find out how waterways can be a source for making the days pass more easily, connecting to our natural world.
Join us at the Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading book club as we discuss Beartown by Fredrik Backman (432 pages) on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at 7:00pm via Zoom. The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove returns with a dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true. "People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.” (from goodreads) Larry C will be leading the discussion. Here is the New York Times review: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/books/review/a-different-kind-of-sports-novel.html. To join the Zoom meeting, use this link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/272950388. Meeting ID: 272 950 388. For a walkthrough of how to join a Zoom meeting, visit https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting for a helpful video.
The Rise Up Sing-along is Happening! All are invited to join our first ever virtual sing-along! We will join by Zoom for a time of much-needed fellowship and song. It will be held on Friday, April 3 at 7pm. You can join via computer (even if you don’t have a webcam) by visiting https://zoom.us/j/522883222, or by phone 312-626-6799. Meeting ID is 522 883 222. For a walkthrough of how to join a Zoom meeting, visit https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting for a helpful video.
What You Can Do to Stay Connected at a Distance: Second Helpings ~ Second Helpings is desperately in need of financial support as they face the front lines of food scarcity in our local communities. They are working closely with local government and an enormous network of agencies to bring nutritious meals to vulnerable Hoosiers. The demand for Second Helpings meals will continue to go up as many seniors and families living with limited resources either cannot stock their own shelves or are living in shelters for domestic violence, human trafficking and homelessness. Continued financial support during these uncertain times will ensure that Second Helpings can continue to share meals with our neighbors in need. https://www.secondhelpings.org/donate/
Things are changing so quickly right now, for all of us. Second Helpings CEO, Jennifer Vigran, is keeping the community updated through regularly blogging on our website. Read and share to hear how Second Helpings and others are responding to current events Please visit: https://www.secondhelpings.org/news/. Follow their social media to ensure you don’t miss our current blog posts.
Reduce your Use! This week, the Green Team considers the plastics problem that our world is facing. Please consider clicking on the links below--the first is a few minutes about the problem, and the second is a short video on how to reduce our use of plastics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTUWK7CM-Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g00rzQvyxZ8
Mid-North Food Pantry: Still Open! It goes without saying that all Witness & Service events at the First Friends meetinghouse are cancelled through the end of the month. But First Friends folks, as of now, are still assisting at the Mid North Food Pantry on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Just as most people need grocery stores to remain open, so too does a segment of our community need food pantries to remain open. And volunteers are needed to run the pantries. The Mid North Food Pantry has made a number of changes in its operations to protect its volunteers. For instance, as of now, the pantry has volunteers fill bags of food inside the pantry building and they are then taken outside and provided to those who come to the pantry for food. No pantry customers are currently allowed inside the pantry. There is a conscious effort to keep customers at an acceptable distance from volunteers and from touching items that the volunteers may touch. We will keep the First Friends pantry volunteers up to speed on any future changes to the pantry routine. Thanks to our dedicated group of pantry volunteers.
Resources for home ~ Our friends at Wired Word have provided 4 days’ worth of devotions and activities to keep your spiritual life active during this time. These resources are free, unrestricted, and may be shared. Find them here: www.hometouchministry.com/covid19-resources-for-elderly-homebound. We hope these will help during this time.
Need Ink? The office is in possession of 6 ink cartridges (a mix of black and color) for a printer that takes HP 61XL cartridges. If your printer takes this kind of ink, and you are in need of more, the office is giving these away (thanks to Joyce B). If you are interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for March
Eastern Bluebird
Bluebird of Happiness
Bluebird of Happiness? Really? Where did that nickname come from? It sounds like a very old name, maybe Shakespearean, but no. The name actually comes from the title of a song from the early 1900s. For me, it is absolutely true. The sight of this beautiful bird always brings a smile to my face. The blue on the head and back of the male almost defies description. The blue on the female is muted with gray. Note the red-orange breast.
I often hear the male before I see it, and bird guides describe the song as, “Cheer cheerful charmer”. This month I heard it sing only the “Cheerful” syllables.
This is not a bird one finds in the Meditational Woods itself. During the summer it frequents the lower powerline above the grassy yard north of the garage. From there it can quickly drop to the ground to catch an insect. This month I heard it over by the Parker Street entrance to the north parking lot. While stamping for dollars last week, Ed Morris suddenly remarked, “I believe that’s a bluebird out there!” Sure enough it was, sitting on a guy wire just outside the window of the stamp room (the old choir room). Because the blue is iridescent, it shows best in full sunlight, as it did that day. We all got great looks, and we were happy!! ~Brad J
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 (pending the Meetinghouse being open and everyone being able to safely travel and gather). 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.
Youth Group Skyzone Night: Rescheduled ~ Please note that the Youth Group activity scheduled for Friday, April 17 at Sky Zone has been moved to Friday, April 24. This is of course, pending the Meeting has resumed normal activities and everyone is able to safely travel and gather. If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. Of course, stay tuned in the future for the status of events going forward.
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 Bob at the Meeting Office or by email office@indyfriends.org.
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 office@indyfriends.org.
Queries for the Week
As I center down and connect to my Inner Light, do I realize how united I am with my sisters and brothers throughout the world, even while quarantined?
How, from the comfort of my own home, can I share and let the Light of God shine out into the world?