As Way Opens
I have been reading Thomas Merton’s book New Seeds of Contemplation and his thoughts and words have touched my heart. For Merton,
“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the soil of freedom, spontaneity and love.”
"God’s inscrutable love seeks our awakening. It is God’s love that warms me in the sun and God’s love that sends the cold rain. God breathes on me with light winds off the river and the breezes out of the woods.”
The question we need to ask all of ourselves is if our minds and wills are ready to receive these seeds or will they be lost on us? How am I preparing the soil of my heart so these seeds will flourish? Am I doing the work of spiritual practice, empathy and openness to receive the seeds and live into God’s love and will?
Beth
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
WYM Office Manager Position Open ~ Are you a self-starter? Good with details? Flexible? Delight in working with fellow staff and the public? If so, the following job just might have your name on it. Western Yearly Meeting of the Friends Church (WYM) is looking for an Office Manager. Reporting to the General Superintendent, this position is responsible for the operations of the WYM Office in Plainfield, Indiana. This is a part-time Monday-Friday position @ $20 per hour, approximately 30 hours per week. Requires a valid Indiana Driver’s License. Find the full job description here. The Application deadline is today, October 13, 2021. To apply, send a resume and three references to westernyearlymeeting@gmail.com.
FRIDAY SINGALONG IS BACK! - Come join Jim and Jesse for a singalong in Fellowship Hall on Friday, October 15, at 7:00 pm. We will mask up (not Halloween!) and keep safe, social distance. Warm up your voices and bring your favorite percussion instrument if you wish. Hope to see you there.
Recycling Event! The Shalom Zone plans to have its yearly recycling event with Recycle Force on Saturday, October 16 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. If an item runs (or used to run) with a plug or a battery you can recycle it! This year it will be held at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Rd. A $20 donation is required for TVs and appliances containing Freon (fridges, freezers, ac units and dehumidifiers). Other monetary contributions are greatly appreciated. This is a great opportunity to clean out your basement, garage, closets, attic and responsibly recycle unwanted electronics and appliances. For more information, view the flyer here: https://bit.ly/3nC7go3.
Gnostic Gospel Group by Ed M ~ Hello Friends! Lately I have been reading the Gospels with a mind to read ALL of them. By all of them I mean the non-canonical or Gnostic Gospels as well as the common ones we usually think of. There are some very interesting facts about the so-called Gnostic writers. One is that generally they recognized the feminine aspect of the Divine much more than Catholic fathers.
We have gathered a study group together to study the Gospels with an emphasis on the Gnostic or newly discovered texts that we now have available. Would you like to join us? The dates will be Thursdays, October 21, November 18 and December 16 from 6:00-7:30pm. A light supper will be provided. If you are interested in this possibility, contact the meeting office (office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485). ~Ed Morris
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 in-person meeting Thursday, October 21 at 7:00pm. See locations for 2021 here.
USFW Dedication Celebration ~ United Society of Friends Women (USFW) is planning to hold a dedication celebration of their new Midwest Region of USFW in person on Tuesday, October 26 at Sycamore Friends Meeting in Greentown, Indiana. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by a program, and lunch ($13). Because the Midwest Region is comprised of women from all around Indiana, eastern Ohio, and western Illinois, part of the program will include a time of getting acquainted. They will also hear an update on the Pad Project that women have been participating in for a number of years and see the video of Katrina McConaughey handing out the completed pads to girls in Africa. The business will include approving the creation of this new group and of the officers put forth by the nominating committee. This will be followed by an installation of the officers. Lunch will be catered by a group from Greentown. Even if you haven’t been active in the “old” USFW, please plan to attend and help us make the new one a vital ministry. Please RSVP to midwestregionusfw@gmail.com by October 21st if you can come.
Overman Scholarship Fund Drive ~ We are kicking off a fund for the Overman Scholarship! This fund, in memory of Jesse & Marilyn Overman and Mark Overman, awards scholarships to members of First Friends attending higher academic or vocational/Quaker institutions. If you’d like to support this worthy cause, we encourage you to donate. For the next 5 years, the Overman family will match donations up to a certain amount. Checks can be payable to Indianapolis Monthly Meeting of Friends Trustees.” In the memo line, note "Overman Scholarship Fund.” Or you can donate securely on our website at https://www.indyfriends.org/support. Just choose “Overman Scholarship Fund” as the fund. Or text “Overman” to 317-768-0303.
Community Gardeners’ Harvest Festival ~ Get ready for the 2021 Community Gardeners’ Harvest Festival immediately following worship on Sunday, October 24. There will be games, contests, food, door prizes and fun—pandemic style. Bring your own lawn chair. Individually packaged sandwiches and snacks will be available. S’more kits will be provided for those wanting to roast them over fire pits. Bring your own hot dogs if you want to roast them. Drinks will include coffee, cocoa and cider. Participants may engage in basketball games, badminton, and corn hole. Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided.
Connections Program Meeting and Fellowship Committee is helping to put on this event. In case of rain people will move indoors and events and games will continue in a socially distanced manner. Come one, come all!
Restorative Yoga ~ Please join friend Kristyn G in a restorative yoga practice on Mondays Nov 1st, Dec 6th and Jan 3rd at 4:00 pm and last for an hour. This gentle practice will stretch and restore you. $10 suggested donation. Hope to see you in the parlor.
Garden Update - Monarchs and Mexican Sunflowers are a successful match in the Community Garden. Many Monarchs are attracted to the flowers on their migration route South. Both the Community Garden and the Meditational Woods are working to attract and feed this beautiful species. The plant varieties chosen seem to be helping the Monarchs and other butterflies and pollinators survive as habitat and wetlands are more difficult for them to find. Milkweeds attract Monarchs to our First Friends grounds as well since Monarchs only lay eggs on Milkweed and their caterpillars need it to eat and thrive. It is exciting to see so many butterflies fluttering throughout our gardens.
Shawn P’s Organ Preludes ~ Last week we heard the Toccata from Boellman’s Gothic Suite. (Toccata comes from Italian toccare, literally, "to touch", with "toccata" being the action of touching)and is a virtuoso piece of music typically for a keyboard or plucked string instrument featuring fast-moving, lightly fingered or otherwise virtuosic passages or sections, generally emphasizing the dexterity of the performer's fingers.
This Sunday we will hear one of the most well-recognized toccatas by one of the organ’s greatest composers ever to have lived, J.S. Bach. Today’s selection is the Toccata from Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in d minor, an often requested song by FF listeners.
Allegretto was written by Henry Purcell, a composer of Baroque music, and he is generally considered to be one of the greatest English composers. Today this song will feature the ranks of flute stops, all the way from the high 2’ flute stop to the very deep sounding16’ flute stop.
Celebrating Shawn P~ Please mark your calendars for Sunday, November 14th when we will gather in Fellowship Hall after Meeting for Worship to have a goodbye celebration for Shawn! We will have food and an opportunity to give Shawn a card, note or gift to thank him for his years of ministry. We hope you’ll join us!
Volunteer Opportunity with Easterseals! Indianapolis First Friends has partnered with Easterseals Crossroads to support community needs several times over the last few years. The support received from First Friends has impacted neighborhood lives in tangible ways. The pandemic has significantly affected the Respite program through which we offer free childcare for families who have a child with a disability or diagnosis. We are actively seeking new staff as well as volunteers for our Respite events which are held on Friday evenings four times a month from 6-9pm and twice a month on Saturdays from 10am-2pm at our main location at 52nd and Keystone. Volunteers join staff for a meal and instruction before each event. If you know of someone who would be interested in volunteering (or joining our Respite team) please have them contact Kristyn Greenawald at kgreenawald@eastersealscrossroads.org or by calling 317-409-2116 (cell). Thanks for your consideration!
Queries for the Week
• Am I paying attention?
• Am I extending myself?
• Am I choosing to commit myself to a higher way?
•Am I aware of my attitudes, attention, and need for personal adjustments?