As Way Opens
Richard Rohr, one of my favorite authors and theologians, has offered a conference for the last 10 years called “Conspire” at his retreat center in New Mexico. I have heard about this retreat for years and always wanted to attend. Richard is suffering with pancreatic cancer and I know his time is limited with us in an earthly way. This year’s conference was completely by zoom and I immediately signed up for it wishing I could go to New Mexico yet grateful for this opportunity.
The retreat lived up to my anticipation. I am still in the glow of this inspiring and life-giving spiritual gathering. There were so many beautiful nuggets of wisdom that Richard and the other presenters shared that I wrote down in my journal and now share with you.
Richard talked about the Latin definition of the word conspire. Most of us have a negative connotation of this word that we hear often in terms of conspiracy. The Latin definition of the word is to breathe together. Conspiring together is about breathing together, being in community and supporting one another. I really like this definition.
Richard is always talking about the expansive nature of God. Our human mind can’t grasp the eternal or the infinite so we pull God down to be like us. How we limit our understanding of God! How we are sometimes afraid of God. Yet the shape of God is the shape of everything.
Evil succeeds when it disguises itself as good. Evil can be disguised in religiousness! We keep darkness hidden and it lives on forever. It only becomes apparent when exposed to the light.
We are all perfectly imperfect. All of us have a dark side and it is only dangerous when we deny it. We are all wounded and yet we don’t want others to see this. Darkness is what teaches us that we are powerless. We come to God by doing it wrong. We become completely vulnerable, childlike, with a realization that we are alone together and can’t run from the aloneness, a realization that we know nothing and within the silence we understand that we are dying and that is what allows us to be born again. As Jesus’ mother Mary said, we must have a willingness to allow God to love us in our nothingness.
The best ally of God is reality - nothing is as we want it to be and we have to have a tolerance for ambiguity. Our need for contemplation is to consider that I don’t need to understand.
How are we invincibly vulnerable?
I pray that we will all consider these nuggets from Richard and others this week.
Beth
Joys & Concerns
We’re very grateful for volunteers who helped at the SAWs ramp build last Saturday! This is a great opportunity to help our neighbors in the community. Many thanks to David B, Kathy and Bill F, Derek S, Jim C, and Jim D, who all helped with the ramp build!
Linda L would like to thank everyone for their kindness after the passing of her mother. Your thoughts, prayers and cards were greatly appreciated.
Our own Breanna C attended the event First Friends hosted recently for Joe Roberts to speak about his father, Justin Roberts, who was involved in one of the biggest legal cases in Indiana history: the criminal trial of David “D.C.” Stephenson. Breanna wrote an article about this story for the Indianapolis Recorder! You can read it online here: https://indianapolisrecorder.com/the-klan-ran-indiana/. Breanna, thank you for shedding light on this story!
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Artful Meditation, Part II ~ Shawn H will lead a second Artful Meditation workshop using alcohol inks that bleed and run in surprising ways. All ages are welcome to attend at the Meetinghouse in Fellowship Hall on Saturday, Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. Non-staining watercolors will be available for children to use.
Attendees loved the first workshop. No artistic talent is required and participants will still have lovely creations to take home or give away. Don’t miss Part II!
Hooking Show with Shirley P Exhibit ~ All are invited to an Autumn Fiber Show at Revival's Fiber Arts (328 N Meridian, Greentown IN) on Saturday, October 9 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. It will be an outdoor event (weather permitting). Puckihuddlers Traditional Rug Hooking Guild will be providing demonstrations of Rug Hooking. There will be an Exhibit in Memoriam of Shirley P's Hooked Rugs and other items, in addition to exhibits of local rug hooking artists. Come for opportunities to sign up for upcoming classes as well. There will also be wool and quilt fabrics, books, tools, and more available for purchase. Open to everyone - come join us!
This Sunday’s music from Shawn:
Prelude: Gothic Suite by Leon Boellmann
IV Toccata
III Priere a Notre-Dame
My last prelude was by an English Composer, John Bull. This week, we will cross the English Channel to France, where Leon Boellmann wrote his “Suite Gothique” for organ. This work contains 4 movements, of which you will hear the 3rd and 4th movements. I will be play these in reverse order as the “Toccata” will feature almost all of the stops on the organ, a true “pull out all of the stops” piece, where the melody is in the pedal.
The third movement, “Priere a Notre-Dame” is a more meditative and contemplative work, which features the softer stops/sounds on the organ.
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 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.
First Friends Afghan Welcome Team Update ~ First Friends is creating a Welcome Team and is partnering with Exodus Refugee to sponsor an Afghan family. A core group has gone through training with Exodus Volunteer Coordinator, Jericho Jones. It is difficult to know when we will be matched with one of the families that is currently residing and being processed at Camp Atterbury. The families can be released to resettlement agencies suddenly and Exodus must be prepared.
Those ALREADY INVOLVED or WANTING TO PARTICIPATE should:
Read the Exodus website, exodusrefugee.org, including their newsletter.
Complete the online Refugee 101 Training. It will be held Wednesday, October 13th at 12pm. To register, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtdeqorj0rHtC1R3DObKmIdC4Um6w6sVan Registering via the above link will be the best way to ensure that you are connected to a session and move seamlessly through the volunteer process. If you are unavailable for this session, the recording of the session will be made available to you, as this will be the final Refugee 101 session until Exodus re-evaluates their volunteer needs starting early November. Jericho asks those who completed the in-person training to REVIEW the online training (either by registering above or viewing the supplemental training presentation info here) since he believes it will be beneficial.
In addition to the above steps, ONLY those wanting to work DIRECTLY with the Afghan family must:
Fill out the volunteer application. Currently there is a freeze on volunteers since Exodus has reached their manageable number. However, First Friends volunteers are already on their radar. The Exodus newsletter will announce when online applications will be resumed. Applications must be completed and reviewed before volunteers can work with families.
Complete the background check and pay the $25 fee. https://secure.safehiringsolutions.com/app.cfm?id=2CE1B74A-9635-40F9-B312-81C730914D30
Be able to prove full vaccination status against Covid-19.
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 M
Way of the Spirit—"What's yours to do?" ~ What helps you sort Holy guidance, your unique giftedness, and the clamor of urgent needs around us? The Quaker-based Way of the Spirit program invites prayer and learning for living Spirit-led every day. SCYMF member from North Seattle Friends Church, Jan Wood, is co-facilitating Way of the Spirit mini-courses on spiritual giftedness. She’s been exploring giftedness with Quaker communities for decades. It’s a great opportunity to learn more with a master teacher. https://goodnewsassociates.org/spirit/. Apply now for online offerings:
· Oct 13, Nov 10, etc, Monthly Reflection Group, online second Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30. Supportive, gently-guided small group processes to nurture awareness of the presence and guidance of the Spirit in your everyday life, 6-12 month commitment.
· Nov 6 & 20, Dec 4—Tending Your Spiritual Giftedness (online)
To answer, "What's yours to do?" in our fractured and hurting world, it's more important than ever to discern and tend your unique spiritual giftedness. Additional mini-courses in 2022 will explore obstacles to giftedness, creating a cultures of giftedness in meetings and churches, and passing it on to children and youth.
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.
Mark Your Calendars: 2021 Harvest Festival! ~ The 2021 Community Gardeners’ Harvest Festival will take place on Sunday, Oct. 24 immediately after Meeting for Worship. Put it on your calendar. More details to come.
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.
Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
The New York Times and USA Today bestseller!
In 1936, tucked deep into the woods of Troublesome Creek, KY, lives blue-skinned 19-year-old Cussy Carter, the last living female of the rare Blue People ancestry.
The lonely young Appalachian woman joins the historical Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky and becomes a librarian, riding across slippery creek beds and up treacherous mountains on her faithful mule to deliver books and other reading material to the impoverished hill people of Eastern Kentucky.
Along her dangerous route, Cussy, known to the mountain folk as Bluet, confronts those suspicious of her damselfly-blue skin and the government's new book program. She befriends hardscrabble and complex fellow Kentuckians, and is fiercely determined to bring comfort and joy, instill literacy, and give to those who have nothing, a bookly respite, a fleeting retreat to faraway lands.
Inspired by the true and historical blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek showcases a bold and unique tale of the Packhorse Librarians in literary novels—a story of fierce strength and one woman's belief that books can carry us anywhere—even back home.
We will gather at the Meeting House and via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 led by Ruth K. Contact the office for Zoom info.
First Friends Financial Update: The Meeting continues to seek financial support throughout the year, as we are experiencing a deficit. To explore ways to assist, click on indyfriends.org/support/#givenow and scroll down to the Give Now section. Additionally, First Friends is able to accept stock and planned gifts directly. For more information, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.
Shawn P’s Last Performances ~ As we say goodbye to Shawn as our organist at the end of this calendar year, we would like to share the dates that Shawn will be playing the organ at the Meetinghouse, in case you’d like to be there for some of his last days on the bench! Look for Shawn during Meeting for Worship on Oct 10, 17; Nov 14, 21; Dec 5, 12, & 19.
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
· How do you understand resilience and hope? Is this different from your Quaker neighbor?
· What elements of your Quaker faith enable you to have resilience and hope?
· How does being part of an international Quaker community help provide you with strength?