As Way Opens
In my class for seminary this semester we read a fascinating book called Nobody Cries When We Die - God, Community and Surviving Adulthood by Patrick Reyes, a Latinx theologian, educator and activist. He grew up in Salinas CA , part of the central valley where his community picks the crops that provides fruits and vegetables for our tables. Salinas is a violent town, a town where the railroad tracks divide the wealthy and the poor, a town where there are few opportunities to break this cycle of backbreaking labor.
The book is part memoir, part theology, and part cultural experience of his marginalized community. When he was young, he was physically abused. He watched a 12 year old girl die next to him in a drive by shooting. Many friends were killed. His family had little money so he worked various labor jobs to support his schooling. He sought God’s call for his life and determined that the call was less about vocation and more about choosing life and surviving. Certain individuals were instrumental in his journey to college, a master’s program and a PhD. He questioned many things along his path including his place- was it among his people in the fields or was it in academia a place where he did not always fit in and his Latinx voice was not honored? He continued his education and survived and made sure his voice was among other theologians to bring a different perspective to the voice of God.
He gave a beautiful analogy of the support he needed to live into his call. He shared Howard Thurman’s description of a tree in the desert that has such a deep root structure that it can journey through the barren soil to reach water and nutrients. This has been an impactful metaphor for me of our spiritual life and the importance of our inner work to sustain us against the storms and Reyes embraced it for a time. But when he went into higher education he found that other trees were taking all of the nutrients and water in their roots and there was none for him. Instead he shared the metaphor of the redwood trees in California. One would think these massive trees would have a significant root system to support the tree against the storms. However, the roots of the redwoods are pretty shallow. The way they sustain themselves is that each root of each tree is entangled with all of the other roots of the other redwoods. The community of redwoods supports all of the trees and that is how these majestic trees survive.
The community of root support is so important in our marginalized communities. But this is so important in all of our communities. How are we intertwining all of our root structures to support one another? If ever there was a time that we need this kind of support for each other it is now.
Beth
Quaker-Affiliated Organizations
Coming Soon to Your Couch: Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission Public Meetings
We hear people say all the time, “I’m not interested in politics.” To which it can be replied, “Well, that’s really too bad, because politics are interested in you!”
In Indiana, we have a system in which elected politicians draw the legislative district maps used for state and congressional elections. Every ten years, they get together and literally place you into the groupings--districts--where they figure they are most likely to win based on voters’ Census data and voting records. By drawing made-to-order maps, your representatives are choosing you long before election day, when you are supposed to be choosing them. In this way the process called redistricting is the ultimate conflict of interest. If you sometimes doubt that your vote makes any difference, or wonder why in some elections you don’t even have a choice of candidates to vote for, our redistricting system is a big reason why.
This year is a redistricting year. It happens only once a decade. Would you like a voice in the process this time? The Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) has been formed to demonstrate that redistricting done in a transparent way that encourages public participation will result in congressional and state legislative districts that are better for voters than districts drawn by incumbent representatives behind closed doors.
The ICRC is holding virtual public meetings to hear from Hoosier voters what they want in their new districts. Should districts emphasize compactness? What about competition--should maps be drawn to maximize competitive elections? Should current politicians have districts drawn around their residences, or should they be drawn “incumbent blind”? Also, what are the important communities of interest in Indiana, and should they be kept intact, or divided, in the new districts?
You are invited to this conversation. What do you think should drive redistricting where you live? There will be an ICRC public meeting for each congressional district. It is important that the ICRC hear from a broad range of Hoosiers, because the testimony from these meetings will be consolidated into a report the ICRC will give to state legislators before they begin redistricting this spring, so they will know what voters say they want their maps to look like.
Redistricting will impact federal and state elections for the next decade. It really matters that Hoosiers from all over the state are a part of this conversation. Including you.
Here is the schedule for the public meetings. Again, all virtual—you can participate from your own couch! Register in advance, either at www.allinfordemocracy.org, or by using the link following the meeting for your congressional district listed below. And feel free to share this; the invitation is open to all. Note that the meeting for the district including Indianapolis (district 7) is first, and the meeting for many Indy suburbs (district 5) is second.
Now is the time to make your voice heard! Please contact Phil Goodchild with any questions (goodch713@aol.com). Thank you.
February 24 – Congressional District 7, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. EST
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jOCUnFlrSqqrITaeeTAKlg
March 3 – Congressional District 5, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. EST
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bN5cRbOjRqmjk64-LT4_Qg
March 6 – Congressional District 1, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. CST
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tfTusC9tQCe72z1DDzuCxQ
March 10 – Congressional District 9, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. EST
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wnyJd97cRUuZuF_DQkzUxA
March 13 – Congressional District 3, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. EST
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ujw84BSPStaPvW19xJc7hg
March 16 – Congressional District 6, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. EST
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sz1D_NtNRleutD2o-ieeqQ
March 18 – Congressional District 8, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. CST
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_euCRCwNkR8Kb2V_vmXxkEQ
March 23 – Congressional District 4, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. EST
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1_Tn9F59Rj2zT5TBPXEu0Q
March 30 – Congressional District 2, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. EDT
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5VQihioMQw2Mysl3HyK6kg
Joys & Concerns
MANY thanks to our food pantry volunteers from First Friends recently: Linda and Rik L; David B; Barbara O; Ruth K; Kathy and Bill F; Virginia and Derek S; Christie M; Corinne I; Jim D; AND Penny P (our apologies she was not listed last week). Our faithful volunteers braved the cold weather to serve about 60 families. Thanks to all!
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
New Information for Birdwatch with Brad on February 20 ~ Brad Jackson is going to lead us on a birdwatching tour of our Meditational Woods and Meetinghouse grounds on Saturday, February 20 at 9 a.m.* We will meet in the courtyard. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars if possible. We will socially distance and wear masks. Be prepared to walk on fallen leaves, dirt and grass. Birdwatchers will be out for about an hour. Connections Programmed Meeting arranged this activity.
Many of you may follow Brad’s bird column in Friend to Friend. He creates the pictures of each bird and has learned much about our feathered friends during his many years of following them as a hobby. He will answer questions and help us explore the fascinating and sometimes hidden world beyond our building. He can identify birds as well as their calls and songs. Come join the fun and be a birdwatcher with Brad!
*Watch Facebook for any changes in schedule due to weather. We will meet in snow and low temperatures though if it is stinging, biting cold we may shorten the walk. A firepit may be available. If it is sprinkling we can meet, but if rain is harder birds will hunker down and we cannot hear their calls so we will postpone the walk. If wind is 20 -25 mph or more we will not meet because birds will be hidden away. If you cannot tell, according to these guidelines, if we are meeting, look at Facebook.
Guest Speaker February 21! Tune into First Friends’ Meeting for Worship on Sunday, February 21 to hear guest speaker Jaimie Mudd! Jaimie and Bob are switching pulpits that day—Bob will be preaching for Greensboro First Friends in North Carolina. We hope you will join us in welcoming Jaimie that day. Jaimie has been serving Friends Meetings and churches since 1996. Currently serving Greensboro First Friends as Pastor for Congregational Ministries Jaimie has calling for fostering healthy communities. She leads retreats, workshops on discernment, and Friends Meeting/Church Revitalization. She has led workshops with Friends Meetings in Arizona, Inter Mountain Yearly Meeting, and Western Yearly Meeting. Over the past eight years Jaimie and her husband Dan have led Experiment with Light, and, Friends Couple Enrichment retreats. She provides coaching for pastors and retreats for faith communities that want to deepen their spiritual connections and community vitality.
Youth Group RESCHEDULED ~ Due to technical issues, Youth Group has been rescheduled to this Sunday, February 21st from 1:00 - 2:30pm with Aaron and Michelle via Zoom. Any youth (6th - 12th grade) that want to join us, please contact Beth at beth.henricks@indyfriends.org for the Zoom link.
Reopening Task Force Report ~ The Reopening Task Force’s most recent statement is available here, with a new statement to be shared at the next Monthly Meeting. Currently, the Meetinghouse 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. Additionally, the Ministry and Counsel Committee is working on plans for outdoors Meeting for Worship to take place Easter Sunday, April 4.
Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson ~ The Pulitzer Prize–winning, bestselling author of The Warmth of Other Suns examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions. “As we go about our daily lives, caste is the wordless usher in a darkened theater, flashlight cast down in the aisles, guiding us to our assigned seats for a performance. The hierarchy of caste is not about feelings or morality. It is about power—which groups have it and which do not.” In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.
We will gather via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 led by Cindy Kitchel.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/381157585?pwd=Zkg5eDFQeVk0a2ZlbS9OZ1E2Z25CUT09
Meeting ID: 381 157 585
Password: 3030
What’s in the Woods? ~ Native woodland sedges offer food for ground feeding birds and insects. For years, I used to weed them out of the garden, not knowing that they are part of the native ecosystem. You can tell the difference between grasses and sedges, because “sedges have edges!” The caterpillars of the butterflies Satyrodes Appalachia (Appalachian Brown) and Satyrodes eurydice (Eyed Brown) feed on their foliage. It’s amazing what small changes in ground plants can have on our environment. Have you started thinking about how you can contribute to the backyard national park? https://homegrownnationalpark.org
https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/cm_wdsedge.htm
Join Brad J on Saturday February 20 at 9 AM for an hour of bird watching in the Woods.
From our friends at Carmel Green
Catch Up on Climate Related Bills at the Statehouse
Even though it’s a little dated already, this IndyStar article provides a great summary of environmental bills introduced this session. To get the latest updates, check out these upcoming opportunities:
Sustainable Energy Forum Join the Hoosier Environmental Council for an online panel discussion on leading sustainable energy issues, including rooftop solar, utility-scale renewable energy, coal plant retirement planning, and electric vehicles! Thurs. Feb.18, 5:30 p.m.
Mid-Session Legislative Update Join us for a webinar on key environmental, energy and climate bills as they crossover between House and Senate and learn what you can do to make a positive difference in the second half of the session. Thurs. Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m.
IU Environmental Resilience Institute
Agriculture & Climate Change Learn about agriculture practices that may mitigate the climate change impacts on crops and reduce its footprint.
Fri. Feb. 19, Noon
Is Carbon Pricing Enough? Hear Severin Borenstein discuss whether a suite of policies can efficiently address climate change while also improving equity.
Fri. Feb. 19, 3:30 p.m.
Science, Economics & Politics at the EPA Hear authors discuss the book “Fifty Years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Progress, Retrenchment, and Opportunities. Wed. Feb. 24, Noon
From our friends at Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light: Upcoming Events
Environmental Peacebuilding Webinar Series
February 18th and 25th
Care for Creation as a Common Denominator: Interfaith Approaches to Environmental Peacebuilding (A Road to Geneva Event)
An interfaith dialogue around the environment will kick-off a three-part series exploring the role of faith communities in environmental peacebuilding. Information about the sessions is available at the links below.
Presented by Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion at the University of Notre Dame, and Environmental Peacebuilding Association
o Webinar 1 - Panel on faith-based approaches to environmental peacebuilding! https://www.environmentalpeacebuilding.org/.../EventItem...
o Webinar 2 - February 18th at 11 am EST: Decolonizing the Land: Christian Grassroots Approaches to Environmental Peacebuilding
o Webinar 3 - February 25th at 11 am EST: Practicing what we Preach: Dialogue and Futurism in Environmental Peacebuilding
Statewide Call - February 17, 2021
5:00 - 6:00 pm EST
Join our next Statewide Call to engage with others about creation care, energy efficiency, advocacy, and other news!
Advocacy Call - February 24, 2021
5:00 - 6:00 pm EST
We will be connecting to discuss our experiences at the Renewable Energy Lobby Day, and upcoming advocacy initiatives. Join us to learn how you can get involved!
Virtual Tour - The 'Greenest Building on Earth'
February 25, 2021
7:30 - 9:00 pm
Our Evansville affiliate Tri-State Creation Care will be hosting a virtual Zoom tour of the Phipps Conservatory's Center for Sustainable Landscapes, the first building to meet five of the highest green certifications. It is free and open to all!
Congregation Energy Conservation Webinar
Join us on March 24th from 5 - 7:30 pm for an informative webinar by our panel of energy experts! Learn all about reducing energy consumption in your buildings, including how to take advantage of an energy audit, find and work with a great HVAC contractor, and more!
Changing Footprints Is Still Active! We are still collecting all types of gently used footwear for Changing Footprints. If you are not able to drop off shoes at First Friends on a Wednesday, you can go to changingfootprints.org, where there is a listing of our many community collection sites (Shoe Drops). Thanks for helping us to provide footwear to those who need it!
From the Friendly Library ~ During Black History Month you may want to read Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, by Ibram X Kendi, a National Book Award winner.
“My definition of a racist idea is a simple one: it is any concept that regards one racial group as inferior or superior to another racial group in any way.” He realized he himself also harbored racist ideas along with W E B Dubois, Booker T Washington, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and many more famous people both black and white.
Racism doesn’t always occur purposely. It is often subtle and unintentionally treating African-Americans (American-Africans) as superior in sport and music, inferior in intellect, for example. Kendi writes that slavery began in ancient times in many countries. He gives multitudinous examples from early US history to present time.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates is another National Book Award winner.
Writing a letter to his adolescent son, Coates weaves together personal history with national history from the earliest settlers up to our current crisis. “What is it like to live in a black body?” Coates tells us with passion, insight and skill. He writes his struggle not to introduce his own fears to his son, not wanting to rein him in even while fearing for that son’s safety.
Both of these books contain sorrow, pain, and hope. Both are likely to evoke compassion, regret, and desire for a truly equal society where people are viewed as an individual.
Contact the office if you would like to borrow one of these or any other book from our collection. Books can be mailed, picked up on a Wednesday or delivered by a volunteer.
Benediction ~ Friends, here is the Benediction from last Sunday’s Meeting for Worship.
Your Love - Author Unknown
Bless us with Love, O Merciful God;
That we may Love as you Love!
That we may show patience, tolerance,
Kindness, caring and love to all!
Give me knowledge; O giver of Knowledge,
That I may be one with my Universe and Mother Earth!
O Compassionate One, grant compassion unto us;
That we may help all fellow souls in need!
Bless us with your Love O God.
Bless us with your Love. Amen.
Queries for the Week
(From virtual worship)
· How has love impacted my spiritual awakening?
· Who do I struggle to love and share the love of God with? How might I show love to them, today?
· Would others say my essential identity is love? If not, what could I do about that?
(From self-led guide)
· How am I awakening to the oneness of love?
· What do I need to do to “clean the lens” or “wipe the mirror” to observe my own patterns to my ego out of the way of love?
· Do I believe I have a “vocation” of love?