As Way Opens
I was going through some papers on my desk two weeks ago and came across a Richard Rohr Daily Meditation from last year that I share with all of you today as we live in compassion week and reflect on this Easter that is so different from any Easter we have experienced before.
"The archetypal encounter between doubting Thomas and the Risen Jesus (John 20:19-28) is not really a story about believing in the fact of the resurrection but a story about believing that someone could be wounded and also resurrected at the same time. That is quite a different message and still desperately needed. “Put your finger here’, Jesus says to Thomas (John 20;27). Like Christ, we are all indeed wounded and resurrected at the same time. In fact, this might be the primary pastoral message of the Gospel.
I’ve often said that great love and great suffering (both healing and woundedness) are the universal, always available paths of transformation because they are the only things strong enough to take away the ego’s protections and pretensions. Great love and great suffering bring us back to God and I believe this is how Jesus himself walked humanity back to God. It is not just a path of resurrection rewards but a path that now includes death and woundedness.
Jesus the Christ, in his crucifixion and resurrection, “ summed up all things in himself, everything in heaven and everything on earth” (Ephesians 1;10). Jesus agreed to carry the mystery of universal suffering. He allowed it to change him (resurrection) and, it is to be hoped, us, so that we would be freed from the endless cycle of projecting our pain elsewhere or remaining trapped inside of it.
This is the fully resurrected life, the only way to be happy, free, loving and therefore “saved”. In effect, Jesus was saying, if I can trust it, you can too. We are indeed saved by the cross - more than we realize. The people who hold the contradictions and resolve them in themselves are the saviors of the world. They are the only real agents of transformation, reconciliation, and newness.”
May we live out the resurrection in our lives by being agents of transformation and reconciliation. There has never been a more urgent need in our world for this.
Beth
Joys & Concerns
What fun we had at our first virtual sing-along last Friday! While singing together isn’t ideal for online, we still enjoyed the music and each other’s company!
Thank you, Mid-North Food Pantry Volunteers! The needs of the Mid North Food Pantry are greater than ever. Thanks to the dedicated work of First Friends volunteers Linda and Rik L, Kathy and Bill F, Phil G, Derek, Virginia and Melanie S, and Carol and Jim D, about 115 folks were provided much needed groceries last week. The pantry continues to implement new ways to protect volunteers and its customers from spreading the coronavirus. If you have the time and are interested in helping on the first and/or third Wednesday of each month between 9:30 and 1:30, please contact Jim Donahue or any of the folks noted above.
Check out the latest Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) newsletter (www.rswr.org/newsletter) and see a great picture of our stamping team with our representatives from Kenya. A big shout out to this team that has continued this important ministry.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Join us for Unprogrammed Worship by Zoom! We are now gathering for unprogrammed worship on Mondays at 12:15 and Wednesdays at 6:45pm by Zoom.
On Mondays, join us at 12:15. On Wednesdays, log on with us at 6:45pm. We’ll spend 15 minutes to share joys and concerns and then have our hour-long worship. Many thanks to Kathy R, who is hosting this worship. To join the Zoom worship, please contact the meeting office at office@indyfriends.org for the Zoom info.
Latest Coronavirus news for Indiana ~ All of our decisions on the status of the Meetinghouse are in light of recommendations and orders given by state and health officials. 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.
Material Aid / Food Pantry Fundraisers ~ This is the time of year that First Friends has held its fundraiser for the Mid North Food Pantry. You may have seen this in last week’s Friend to Friend newsletter. The food pantry is busier than ever and needs the financial support that First Friends has provided in the past. There’s also another area of help that we need to address...the First Friends’ Material Aid Fund. This is a fund that is used to provide emergency assistance to members and longtime attenders of First Friends. Due to the limited amount in this fund, the assistance provided is not on-going but rather for one-time emergency needs...rental assistance, a utility bill, a new tire, etc. This fund has historically maintained a balance of $3,000 – $4,000 but, due to several recent needs, is now down to a few hundred dollars.
Many folks at First Friends are not aware of the existence of the Material Aid Fund. This is understandable since distributions from this fund are not publicized. Given the current coronavirus situation, the need for both the pantry and the Material Aid Fund are expected to substantially increase. Your help is needed. Hopefully, over the next month or so, we will receive “stimulus monies” from the federal government. Some folks will need such monies (and possibly more) for food, rent and other basic living needs. Other folks may have less of a need or no need for such monies. Please consider donating some or all of such monies that you may not need to these outreach endeavors. With your help, the pantry will be able to provide food for the needy and the Material Aid Fund will be available for our neediest members. Checks can be written to First Friends with a notation of how you would like your contribution split between the 2 funds...50% FP/50% MA or however you are led. Thanks for your consideration.
New Community Garden Guidelines ~ A garden plot is the perfect way to practice social distancing and get some fresh air and sunshine. Some gardeners have already been working. We have new guidelines due to the Coronavirus. Until further notice, for the protection of our community:
the garage is closed to gardeners;
bring or borrow your own tools or equipment;
provide your own disinfecting supplies;
practice keeping at least 6 feet between yourself and others in the garden;
be meticulous about washing your hands and cleaning off shared surfaces such as the faucet handle and the sanitizing sand container which we will put outside the garage; and
enjoy laughing exercising and communicating—from a distance. Have fun!
We want to enable everyone who wants to be a gardener to do so. Contact Sam or Nancy if you need special arrangements, extra assistance or if you have questions or helpful ideas. Also, please notify us if you are using your old plot(s) or if you would like garden space.
Our condolences to Sam on last week’s loss of her beloved grandmother who was 94 and died of natural causes. The burial was last Thursday in Illinois and a memorial service will take place later. Please pray for Sam and her family and reach out to her in these difficult times.
Lenten Reflections Week 7
Last week, Ed M shared how being in nature refreshes his spirit daily in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. That strikes a similar chord with me. Every spring is a rebirth of life and its message is crucial today. It’s no wonder that Easter is celebrated at this time of year. We emerge from the cold and dark of winter into the abundance of spring. Everywhere you look, life is rising. The other day, I saw early wildflowers in full bloom and observed tiny bees go from flower to flower. We watched the buds of the buckeye trees unfurl, almost before our very eyes. When I wake in the morning, the air is full of bird song and I greet our brother and sister robins as they sing out to the rising sun. As we go through the valley of the shadow, God is with us, God’s rod and staff and God’s creation comfort us, giving us hope for tomorrow.
Nature nurtures us. How do we nurture nature?
Originally, I had planned to give out packets of native flowers during a children’s message after Easter. Those plans will have to wait for another time. However, while many of us are staying at home, now is the time that we can do something good for nature. Pick up trash in your neighborhood. If mulch is piled high around the base of your trees, pull it back away from the bark so that mold doesn’t weaken the tree. Plan to add some native plantings to your yard to provide food and habitat for the creatures. Spend time looking at creation around you and be outdoors. Start evaluating your carbon footprint and find ways to use less and waste less. Let your elected officials know that our earth is God’s creation and we have an obligation to treat it as holy. Be a part of the incredible web of life that God has provided. As we suffer with Jesus and acknowledge our own mortality, we also celebrate the joy of resurrection and hope.
~Mary B
New Ways to Support First Friends! As we all learn to navigate this new world of social distancing together, we are happy to share new and easier ways you can continue to support the Meeting while stuck at home! First Friends now accepts online giving. Please visit www.indyfriends.org/support for more information or to give. You can now also make donations by text! Simply text GIVE to 317-768-0303 to sign up. Once you enter your payment method via a secure online portal, you can give any time instantaneously by simply sending a text! No more writing checks or driving to the post office—you can give anytime from the safety of your own home! If you have questions or would like to be walked through how to do it, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or call 317-255-2485. Thank you for supporting First Friends, especially during these times!
Youth Group Skyzone Night: Cancelled ~ Please note that the Youth Group activity scheduled for Friday, April 24 at Sky Zone has been cancelled, due to the ongoing pandemic and continued restrictions on social gatherings.
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
Oak Leaf Meeting for Reading ~ Join us from virtually anywhere in the world as the Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading book club discusses Born A Crime, by Trevor Noah on Tuesday, April 28, 2020. Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.(from Goodreads) Ruth K will be leading the discussion via Zoom Meeting starting at 7 pm, if you’d like to receive the Oak Leaf email, and/or are interested in the Zoom meeting information, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
All women are invited to join our women’s gathering on Sunday May 3rd from 12:00 - 1:30. We will gather virtually through zoom. Please mark your calendars and watch for details of this time for fellowship and reflection.
Calling all sewing Friends! Deb S who works at IU North said they are in need of masks. If you are able and willing, please make some that we can get to Deb. You can drop them by the Meeting office on Wednesdays. We are providing a link for one guide for making masks, but there are many out there if you Google them: https://www.madeeveryday.com/fabric-face-mask-free-pattern/ Thanks for your help.
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.
Queries for the Week
(From self-led worship)
What about our ordeal (the pandemic) has been absolutely essential for something new or change to take place in my life? (Consider making a list of the things that have brought you new life to return to throughout the week).
What “still needs to be cured and tempered” in my life so that I can see what new thing God is doing?
How am I experiencing the promises of God (not to be orphaned, the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment, being seen, and renewed life)?
(From virtual Palm Sunday service)
Currently, how am I relating to the suffering of Jesus?
How am I working to take the next step of putting myself in someone else’s shoes?
How, this week, will I lead with compassion and not my own agenda?