As Way Opens
Exodus 20: 2-5
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God.”
You probably recognize this as the first commandment in the ten commandments. When I was younger I used to wonder why this was the first commandment. It seemed like this was a rule for ancient Israel that struggled with worshipping other gods from surrounding cultures. But I have come to realize the danger of creating idols in modern times and the power it can have over us. Even within the Christian tradition we create idols. The Bible has important teachings within it but it should not be worshipped. Those things within our various faith traditions like the Bible, the Eucharist, other rituals that point us to God are not equal with the great mystery of God. it is a danger to bow down or worship any of these elements and believe that we are worshipping God. God is a jealous God and our direct experience and revelation is the mystery and the communion with the God we worship.
Of course, we see plenty of examples of idolatry that is on the earth today. Our culture almost seems to encourage the worshipping of money, power, status and success. These nouns are not bad in and of themselves; rather it is the question of what captures our heart. Who or what are we worshipping? In our troubled times we need our hearts to be pointed to God, to pray for our world, look out for our neighbor, love our enemy and live in the brilliant and consuming Light of God.
I challenge all of us to examine our heart and what might be our idol? Is the God of the Israelites that brought them out of Egypt, the God that has been an anchor through times of trouble, the God that always seeks reconciliation, is this the God we love in our hearts and our north star guiding us in all that we do?
Beth
Joys & Concerns
Thank you to all who participated in our 24-hour Prayer Vigil for Peace this past Tuesday and Wednesday. At noon on Tuesday we had 20+ people join us on Zoom to kick off the vigil leading up to the inauguration. Then, at 6:30 Tuesday night we gathered in-person and fireside in our courtyard for a short service. Many thanks to those from our meeting (and several outside our meeting across the Midwest) to pray with us as we hold our country, the presidential transition, and our leaders in the Light. May peace prevail in our nation. Thank you to Kathy R, Nancy S and Bob H for taking photos and for Mary B and Ed M for organizing the prayer vigil.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Looking for an easy project to get you through the winter? Stamping for Dollars, S4$, a small group from First Friends meets weekly to process used postal stamps which will be sold and the profits used to support Right Sharing of World Resources, a Quaker woman’s self-help group. We could really use some help with the trimming of the stamps, neatly trimming the stamps to a 1/4 inch border. Easily done while watching TV! Mindless work but a contribution to a good cause. Older children can help! You will support women in Kenya, Sierra Leone, and India and learn a lot of cool stuff about postal stamps from all over the world. You can work from home! Contact the office to be a part of this cool project. office@indyfriends.org.
Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead ~ Winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction ~ In this bravura follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead brilliantly dramatizes another strand of American history through the story of two boys sentenced to a hellish reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. When Elwood Curtis, a black boy growing up in 1960s Tallahassee, is unfairly sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy, he finds himself trapped in a grotesque chamber of horrors. Elwood’s only salvation is his friendship with fellow “delinquent” Turner, which deepens despite Turner’s conviction that Elwood is hopelessly naive, that the world is crooked, and that the only way to survive is to scheme and avoid trouble. As life at the Academy becomes ever more perilous, the tension between Elwood’s ideals and Turner’s skepticism leads to a decision whose repercussions will echo down the decades.
We will gather via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. Contact us for the Zoom info— office@indyfriends.org.
SUPER BOWL TAILGATE! The Connections Team will host a Covid-safe, outdoor Super Bowl party on Sunday, February 7, 3:00-5:00 pm, at the meeting house parking lot. You'll watch the game on your own later that evening but we're going to get "fired" up pre-game. Yes, once again we will have fire pits to help keep you warm.
What should I bring? - face covering, lawn chair, tailgate food (hot dogs, s’mores) and drink
What are the super bowl activities?
- wear gear supporting your favorite team even if they are not in the big game (e.g., the COLTS)
- share a special Super Bowl snack with Friends (safe, individual packaging, please)
- answer Super Bowl questions correctly and win a prize
- play our Super Bowl "Punt, Pass, and Kick" game and win a prize
- predict the score (or come close) and win a prize (awarded later)
Concerned about weather? - we will update status on Facebook, or contact the office at office@indyfriends.org for Jim K’s cell phone number to call for updates.
Creation Care Update ~ “By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches… the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.” Psalm 104:12-13
The Indiana General Assembly is in session and many bills have been introduced. I (Mary Blackburn) volunteer with the Hoosier Environmental Council, a non-partisan advocacy organization that seeks to make Indiana a healthier and more resilient state for all Hoosiers.
Many scientists believe that climate change is the most concerning crisis for the earth. It has a profound effect on weather patterns, drought, heat, and diversity of organisms. The good news is that reducing the carbon in our atmosphere can stop the rise in global temperatures.
I will post bills coming up in the IGA for your consideration and if you feel led, you can contact your legislator to advocate for your position. For more information, click here.
Items of concern:
The IGA is only allowing citizens to give testimony when they go into the Statehouse physically, not allowing remote testimony during the COVID pandemic. Please remember that the Statehouse is typically very crowded and has not mandated wearing masks. Please let your legislator know that citizens should be able to access their statehouse safely or give testimony about bills remotely.
Call your representative to oppose removing local government’s ability from prohibiting unhealthy energy resources in their community. HB 1191 is before the Utilities committee on 1/13/21.
Support Rooftop Solar. If more citizens choose to invest in solar systems, they can help reduce the need to expand fossil fuel plants by selling back any extra energy to their local utility.
Support SB 249 by Ron Alting (R), to extend net metering for another 2 years.
Learn more about why HEC is concerned about coal ash ponds.
This Thursday, January 14 at 6:30 pm Central / 7:30 pm Eastern, HEC will present the first in a series of online legislative forums, beginning with the issue of coal ash.
Coal ash is the toxic waste product of burning coal and it is a ‘forever pollutant’ that does not break down over time.
Indiana has started approving plans to leave millions of tons of coal ash in the floodplains of Lake Michigan and Indiana’s rivers where it is contaminating groundwater, threatening those waterways, and endangering communities. In the next few weeks, we have an opportunity to turn this around as the Indiana legislature discusses bills on safe coal ash disposal.
Our January 14th forum is a collaboration between HEC, Earthjustice, and Just Transition NWI.
RSVP: To learn about the coal ash bills and how you can help, please register for our forum!
You can also find the Marion Count Soil & Water Conservation District newsletter here!
MSPC Early Enrollment ~ Maple Seeds Preschool Coop is accepting new students for 2021-2022! First Friends Families are invited to apply before enrollment opens to the public at the end of the month. If you are interested in signing up your child(ren), please use this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1XW3Qw9Q0jR1J2O93gKgV8LGXN11wx9KpjXbcdm6O0max0A/viewform Questions? Contact info@mapleseeds.org.
Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for January:
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Named for a Least-Seen Characteristic
Birds are traditionally named for a prominent feature (Scissor-tailed Flycatcher), outstanding color (Painted Bunting), or location (Carolina Wren). In the latter family, the reason for the name is somewhat apparent: Winter Wren, Cactus Wren, Rock Wren, and even House Wren. Wait a minute!! Does the House Wren name come from the fact that it nests in a bird house or that it lives around people’s houses? Both ideas are true, but I digress. This month’s bird, the Red-bellied Woodpecker, lives in or near our Meditational Woods year-round. It may be found on any trip through the woods, but is not guaranteed. I usually hear it before I see it: “Kwir-kwir-kwir” or “chug-chug”. The male has a short powerful drum in the spring.
Let’s talk about its plumage. The reddish-orange cap and zebra-striped back are very noticeable. Either might make a good name. However, it is a red-BELLIED woodpecker. What? Where is the red belly? Some individuals of this species show a quarter-sized pale reddish patch on the belly. But if even the bird has it, the observer might not notice it. I have drawn the male, with its full reddish-orange cap. The female has the reddish-orange on the forehead and on the back of the head, but the center of the cap is gray. If you look on the internet for pictures of this bird, also check out Red-headed Woodpecker while you are there. It has a much different plumage, but people see that name and confuse the two species.
This brings to mind the name “Quaker”. Is it our “red-bellied” misnomer? Do we really quake? Don’t get me wrong, I like seeing Quaker this or that because of the history and distinctives behind the term. However, when I arrive at a gathering for silent meeting for worship, and someone greets me with, “Hello, Friend!” that is really special. Hopefully it refers to our best-seen characteristic. ~ Brad Jackson
Reopening Task Force Report ~ The Reopening Task Force’s most recent statement is available here. Currently, the Meeting-house is open to small groups, with requirements for face coverings and social distancing protocol. Participants assume responsibility for risk of COVID-19 exposure. To check on availability of small groups, including Zoom options, contact the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485.
First Friends Pledges: If you’ve not yet had a chance to submit financial pledge information for 2021, please click here to submit your information. If you would like to have a pledge card mailed to you, contact the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485.
Queries for the Week
(From self-led guide)
· Have I been able to name the tensions that are causing my anxiety in this difficult time?
· How is the Divine, “steadying the pillars,” as the “earth totters”?
· How am I practicing love and standing up to the evil of this world?