As Way Opens
I just completed a class at Earlham School of Religion on Quakerism and Buddhism. My final paper was on comparing and contrasting the life of Jesus and the Buddha. There are some fascinating similarities as well as substantial differences. I read a book by Thich Nhat Hanh, Coming Home - Comparing Jesus and Buddha as Brothers that examined some of these similarities and differences. Hanh is generous in spirit and an open monk that feels at home with both Jesus and the Buddha. He had an interesting reflection on the last supper and Jesus sharing the bread and wine with his disciples. As an individual that grew up with communion, I always struggled with an understanding of communion and how we were to take the bread and wine to remember that Jesus gave his body and blood for us. Some Christian traditions believe that the wine and bread actually become Jesus’s blood and body once inside our mouths. This ritual has been troubling to me my whole life on several levels. It seems almost cannibalistic, pagan and a sacrament to remember Jesus when we should be remembering Jesus every day in every moment.
Hanh gave a different perspective in the book that resonates with me. He says ,”Even though Jesus gave us the bread, we still eat the idea. The bread that Jesus handed to you, to us, is real bread, and if you can eat real bread you have real life. But we are not able to eat real bread. We only try to eat the word bread or the notion of bread. Even when we are celebrating the Eucharist, we are still eating notions and ideas. “Take, my friends, this is my flesh, this is my blood.” Can there be any more drastic language in order to wake you up? What could Jesus have said that is better than that? You have been eating ideas and notions, and I want you to eat real bread so that you become alive. If you come back to the present moment, fully alive, you will realize this is real bread, this piece of bread is the body of the whole cosmos.”
This idea of eating the real bread to become fully alive really hit me this week. I embrace the idea of Quakers that we don’t need the act of communion to remember. But Jesus might be asking us to eat the real bread and become fully alive, fully awake to God’s presence and God’s loving spirit and to taste the cosmos and God’s creation. God is beyond any idea or notion we have of God and communion is about becoming alive.
I am praying we all feel awake to the real bread that Jesus offers us this week. Especially as we enter this continued time of upheaval, lament and disruption.
Beth
Joys & Concerns
Courtyard Update! Several years ago, our courtyard was refreshed with beautiful Annabelle hydrangeas and several other native species. Terry T tended the area for many years with great care and love. Last year, the plantings beneath Fellowship Hall windows disappeared! In order to get the right plants for that area, we consulted with a landscape architect who works with native plants and their better behaved “nativars”. Under her guidance, we have been busily weeding and planting and mulching in the courtyard. To reduce maintenance, several dwarf species of native plants were installed. Look for itea ‘Little Henry’ sweetspire along with dwarf ninebark ‘Tiny wine’ and dwarf oakleaf hydrangea ‘Sike’s Dwarf’. These small shrubs will provide the 'backbone' with coneflowers, bee balm, short’s aster, mist plant and others complementing each other through the seasons. Of special note is a group of three ninebark that are dedicated to the memory of Helen Davenport by her family.
We removed over 36 gallons of a pretty, but invasive plant called Common Star of Bethlehem. Hopefully, we will be better able to recognize weeds earlier and keep them under control. Gardeners are welcome to join in the fun! Thanks to all who contributed: Mindy and Michael and Felix S, Dan M, David B, Larry M, Terry T, Kathy F and Norma W- Mary B
Quaker-Affiliated Organizations
Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) -- Update and Appeal for Food Relief
Recently, the RSWR Board met to approve grant funding for twenty new projects in India, Kenya, and Sierra Leone this year. These grants will resource women-led micro-enterprises with great promise for the future of the women, their families, and their communities, empowering them in a sustainable and self-determined way. But our hopeful planning for the future was tempered by the stark reality of the coronavirus pandemic, and the threat it poses to our women partners today. Due to the spreading outbreak and government ordered sheltering-in-place in their countries, these women now cannot work. And without income, they cannot feed themselves or their families. RSWR's field representatives--some of whom worshiped with us here at First Friends last October--have named food relief as the most urgent need at this time. Until the public health crisis passes, food relief is how RSWR can best serve our women partners right now.
To meet this crisis, RSWR has decided to provide a total of $120,000 in food relief to the women who count on us. The Board approved an immediate disbursement of $50 in food relief to each of the RSWR 2019 grant recipients--a modest amount for us in the U.S., but incredibly consequential for them. Then, if we are able to raise sufficient funds over the next month and a half, we hope to disburse a like amount per person to our 2018 grant recipients. Both these groups of grantees were experiencing success in their fledgling businesses until the coronavirus outbreak. Because of our relationship with these women, RSWR is ideally situated to be the conduit for this assistance, with an efficient, reliable way to disburse funds using already established channels.
Please prayerfully consider a donation to RSWR in support of this food relief effort. You can donate by check mailed to RSWR at 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond, IN 47374, or for more information on how to donate go online to www.rswr.org. All donations labelled "food relief " will go directly to our women partners (please identify your donation in this way). By donating today, you make a better tomorrow possible for them. Thank you.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Meeting for Worship? Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5i-VypN3hE. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!
Calling all members and attenders! Please don’t forget to complete the Clerks’ Survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ffmeeting. Now’s your chance to tell Clerks’ Council what’s working for you (and areas of improvement) as we seek your feedback on everything from Meeting for Worship to our Christian Education programs. The survey only takes a few minutes. We appreciate your responses!
Women’s Workshop: Overcoming Darkness through Poetry and Dance
Free your Muse and enjoy one another’s company in this Sunday’s Women’s Workshop: Overcoming Darkness through Poetry and Dance from 12 to 1:30 p.m., May 3rd on Zoom. Several women from First Friends will read their original poetry and use interpretive dance in order to inspire you to create and detox. You must bring your own materials. Together we will learn how to make blackout and highlighter poetry and then decorate it. You DO NOT need to be a poet or artist and your work need not be perfect. We will take time to discuss the feelings evoked through this experience and individuals may share if they wish to do so.
Think ahead about your workspace so you can create, communicate and watch via Zoom. The main materials required are paper; a printed source such as a magazine; markers and decorative materials.
Please contact the office for the Zoom information.
It is probably easiest to eat lunch beforehand or finish up as you watch the dancing and listen to the poetry since our discussion time will occur on the tail end of the gathering and you will need to devote time and workspace to your project. Nancy S. will facilitate the workshop and Beth H. will host Zoom. Poets include Linda L., Becki H., Leslie K. and Nancy. Dancers include Amy P. and Nichole M. Before those gathered create their poetry, Mary Ellen L., Michelle T. and Naomi W. will show examples of ways they have enhanced their poems through the use of stickers, stencils, shapes, drawings, textures and colors.
How are highlighter and blackout poetry made?
Blackout poetry: a person blacks out all unwanted words from pages of books, magazines or newspapers so that the remaining words create a poem.
Highlighter poetry: the person uses a marker to highlight the words that appeal and creates a poem by using only those words selected.
In both techniques one goes from start to finish using the chosen words in the same order in which they were found.
What do I need to bring?
The workshop is a free-spirited exercise open to a broad range of interpretation and opinions. Bring your preferred media and printed materials. Bring a dark marker or instrument for blackout poetry and a yellow or light marker or tool for highlighter poetry. Some examples of what you may want are glue, scissors, stencils, stickers, chalk, pastels, paint, pencils, colored pencils, an eraser, glitter, pens, etc. You may prefer to put your ordered words on a separate piece of paper—or not. You may wish to have construction, plain or lined papers on hand. Some people cut the pages and or words and pictures out of the printed source. It is your choice.
Come join in the fun and creativity. Our creations may be dark, light-hearted or funny. Who knows? You reap what you sow in this gathering. You may find out what you did not know about yourself. We will reflect and overcome some of our pandemic-imposed isolation!
Community Gardeners Plotting, Planting and Digging In
The Community Gardeners are digging in—literally. All plots are claimed though more can be prepared if the demand is there. Everyone is preparing or has prepared their soil for planting; some gardeners have started planting. One plot is rebuilt on one gardener’s own initiative. All this has been accomplished despite our garage being off limits during the pandemic. Truly impressive! I don’t know that we have ever had so many gardeners prepare the soil this early and it is the foundation of an organic garden! On average, the Indianapolis (Growing Zone 6a) frost-free growing season starts April 27 and ends October 7.
Remember my motto that all gardening is an experiment. Each season is different because of many variables. Just jump in and learn as you go. Learn from other community gardeners. Mother Nature is forgiving or none of us would be here. Here are a few tips:
Planting dates are established according to annual weather patterns. Dates vary according to planting zones and areas. Indianapolis is Zone 6a. You may choose to have an early crop of one vegetable, harvest it and plant a late crop of something else in the same spot. This requires a little research and planning. Planting dates are important because of insect invasions and temperature. For instance, some invasions can be avoided according to the life stage of a particular insect at a specific time. Temperature is important when one considers that some plants, for example certain strawberry types, thrive in early spring. Some greens, such as kale, are cold-weather crops that can survive late into the season.
Pay attention to spacing. In raised beds plants are spaced more closely to avoid weed growth and to use space effectively. Even so, crowded plants can attract pests and disease. Weeding is imperative.
Planting depths matter because seeds can wash away or they may not receive enough warmth to generate the energy needed to reach the sunshine.
Some plants are easier to buy as seedlings or small plants rather than growing them from seed. These include tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, eggplant, Brussels sprouts and cabbage.
Put on those garden gloves and hats and enjoy company in the sunshine and fresh air. Remember to keep six feet apart from others and wear masks when others are nearby. A stray sneeze or cough can travel much farther than six feet and most of us are untested and don’t know if we are asymptomatic carriers of COVJID-19. Have fun and be safe!!
Useful gardening resources:
extension@Purdue.edu (Purdue Extension Marion County) has extensive local gardening information
Website garden.org has planting date guides and information for individual crops in individual zip codes.
Join us for Unprogrammed Worship by Zoom! We are now gathering for unprogrammed worship on Mondays and Wednesdays by Zoom. On Mondays, you can join us at 12:15, and 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 office at office@indyfriends.org for the Zoom meeting info.
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. You can also give by text! Simply text the keyword and amount you’d like to donate to 317-768-0303. Use keyword “material” for the Material Aid fund or “pantry” for the Mid-North Food Pantry. Thanks for your consideration.
Support First Friends! Friends, during this time we are still in need of your support to keep the Meetinghouse going, to continue online Meetings for Worship, and to keep our ministries afload. 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. There are a number of ways to support, including:
giving online using a credit card or bank account (much like online shopping)
giving through text
setting up automatic contributions through your bank
submitting a pledge
These methods truly support First Friends while allowing you to stay within the safety of home. They are also incredibly secure; our online and text giving options offer bank-level security encryption, so you can give with confidence. 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!
Queries for the Week
(From self-led worship)
What am I doing to unleash my inner creativity during these trying times?
As I look at the images that surround me on a daily basis, what are they teaching me about the Divine?
Where has my life become a little chaotic or messy lately? Where do I need to add some shape and color to bring out the beauty?
(From virtual service)
What current struggles do I need to share with God?
How can I become more aware of the struggles I am facing, and what is behind those struggles?
Where am I seeing God’s goodness in my life (whether in the past or in the current situation)?