As Way Opens
Every year we have an opportunity to do a service project to help fund our youth programming at First Friends. In conjunction with the American Dairy Association of Indiana we serve a plethora of yummy dairy items to Indiana State Fair attendees at the famous Dairy Bar on a Saturday in August. If you grew up in Indianapolis, you may make the Dairy Bar an annual trip. The long lines, the heat of August in Indiana, and the smell of cheese, milk, and ice cream is what it’s all about.
Yet, there is much more going on within the walls of that round barn-like structure than just the making of grilled cheese sandwiches, the pouring of milkshakes, and the hand-scooping of ice cream. Each year our two teams of volunteers work either the morning or evening shifts on our given Saturday.
The work itself can be tiring, but it also is greatly rewarding. Not only do we have the pleasure of serving thousands of people at our three windows, we also get to interact and enjoy spending time with each other – and boy do we. The laughter, the smiles, the child-like joy is contagious! I would say we let down our hair, but we actually have to keep it up in a cow-print bandana – which always makes for some memorable photos.
This year, since Beth Henricks was out of town for a wedding, Eric Tinsley and Jim Donahue led the morning shift, while Jed and Beth K took care of the evening shift – and a fine job they all did! Working the Dairy Bar has become a tradition for many at First Friends, yet for some folks this was their first time experiencing the fun! A BIG THANK YOU to all of this year’s volunteers – Deb S, Ben F, Vera F, Eric T, Chelsea T, Kendal T, Erin T, Jim D, Carol D, Gary W, Tiffany B, Bob H, Sue H, Brenda R, Carrie S, Eli S, Rik L, Linda L, Tom F, Kevin F, Beth K, Jed K, Lucy K, Logan K, Alana K, Noelle C, Sophie H, and Gabby B.
After it is all over, we usually don’t want to see another grilled cheese sandwich or milkshake, for quite some time. And definitely no one wants to scoop ice cream because our arms continue to hurt for the next week, but the memories and stories live on.
Bob
Joys & Concerns
MANY THANKS to our Mid-North Food Pantry Volunteers: Ruth K, Barbara O, Linda and Rik L; Kathy and Bill F; Christie M; Dana F; Barb D; Deb and Phil G; Virginia and Derek S; Penny P; Mara S; Carol and Jim D. A big welcome to newcomers Dana, Barb and Deb! Over 50 families were served.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Lynda S’s mother, Bernice, this Saturday, August 14th, at 2:00pm. The service will be held at West Richmond Friends Meeting, 609 W. Main St. in Richmond, IN. A reception will be held on the lawn outside the church after the service. Bernice was a strong and compassionate woman who was a wonderful role model to all who knew her. All are welcome to join in person or remotely through Zoom—contact office@indyfriends.org for the Zoom information.
Dan R Memorial Service ~ A service in memory of Dan R has been scheduled for Saturday, August 21st at 1pm at First Friends. We lost Dan in February of last year but have been unable to hold a service due to the pandemic. All F/friends are invited to attend the in-person service next month.
A Walk Through an Urban Wonderland~ Would you like to hear about last Wednesday’s urban homestead tour at Carrie’s house? It was a fantasyland of not-so-usual urban experiences. It included a walk through tunnels of beans winding up trellises; the sight of soft sunlight spilling over sunflowers as their heads turned to follow the fireball’s journey; the sound of colorful hens quietly clucking inside the covered pen of their chicken coop where they avoided any hawks flying overhead; and the soothing sound of sweet splashing water flowing into a homemade pond afloat with lily pads. Other experiences included dodging slightly irritated—yet friendly—bees as gathered “tourists” blocked their flightpaths to cleverly painted European hives. One hive was blue and the other, yellow. They were decorated with lovely script, quotes about nature. One example by E. B. White: “I am a queen, I am a bee, I am devil-may-care and fancy free.“
Busy educator Carrie has a casual and loving air about her garden and brands her luscious gardening style as “benevolent neglect.” After all, she is in league with her partner, Mother Nature, who seems to cover any loose ends. The “Queen Bee Carrie” tour highlighted raised beds of beans, basil and other crops in the backyard. Flowers climbed up fences while luring pollinators. Pink hollyhocks stood at the yard’s edge overseeing the activities of the adults and one awe-struck child as they gazed at and stepped over, under and around multiple plants. A pine towered over the backyard. Two small pear trees hovered near the chicken coop and a small greenhouse. (Carrie’s three children built the greenhouse as her Mother’s Day gift.) Additional garden elements included a cherry tree, four apple trees and a fringe of raspberries and blackberries along the fence line.
The front yard beckoned passers-by from the street. Many varieties of flowers, including zinnias, a peony and sunflowers, waved them in. Neat pathways among crops invited a closer inspection. Watermelon and pumpkin vines wound prettily over straw mulch. Onions, leeks and asparagus covered the ground. A flower box with purple petunias peeping over the edge sat in front of an enclosed front porch with tall multi-paned windows. The entranceway boasted a large, decorative limestone slab that hung above its double doors. Carrie is still looking into secrets of her home’s history.
Carrie invited all participants to sit and relax in a circle of chairs behind the house. She brought out a refreshing red, homemade punch made from shrub (cider vinegar, sugar water and berries). It was thirst-quenching and tour participants appreciated the accompanying snacks. Carrie handed out some of her chickens’ eggs to those who had RSVP’d. The eggs varied in hue according to the type chickens from whence they came. The temperature for this summer evening was perfect; an empty fire pit was available for cool evenings and cookouts.
What a convivial evening for all who attended this fun-filled event! Thank you to a gracious hostess and her supportive hubby.
—Submitted by Nancy on behalf of Connections Program Meeting. If you have ideas for events, please pass them on to Connections Clerk Jim Kartholl.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
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 on Thursday, August 19 at 7:00pm. See locations for 2021 here.
Artful Meditation ~ The Connections Program Meeting is offering a workshop guided by ART THERAPIST Shawn H. It will take place on Saturday, August 28th from 10-11:30am at First Friends in Fellowship Hall. Participants of all ages are invited to join in and experience. Shawn will introduce alcohol ink processes to adults and youth and conduct watercolor exercises for young children. No experience is necessary. (Please note: this is art meditation, not art therapy.) More details will be announced closer to the date.
SUNDAY FUNDAY IS COMING AUGUST 29TH! Sunday Funday is an opportunity for everyone at First Friends to come together and worship through PLAY! We will gather at our normal Meeting for Worship time (10:15am) in the meditational woods. Be sure to bring the kids and the swimsuits, because after worship there will be a bouncy house, a giant slip n’ slide, and volleyball. In fellowship hall we will provide board games and puzzles for those wanting to stay out of the sun (feel free to bring your own games as well)! We will provide a lunch of individually wrapped Jimmy John’s sandwiches, sides, and beverages. Mark your calendar and plan to come and enjoy worshipping through PLAY!
GLEANING Shalom Zone Event! ~ What is Gleaning? Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops from farmers' fields after they have been commercially harvested or on fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest. Come learn about GLEANING, its benefits, and gleaning opportunities here in Indiana. Guest Speaker Dawn Barnes of the Society of St. Andrew will present and take any questions. All are invited to this free event, sponsored by the Shalom Zone, which will be held Tuesday, August 31st at 7 pm at Allisonville Christian Church and on their Facebook page. Join us in person at the church at 7701 Allisonville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46250 or on Facebook for a livestream at https://www.facebook.com/allisonville. Dawn Barnes of the Society of St. Andrew plans to speak. The program will include time for questions. We hope to see you there!
Looking for WYM Volunteers! Friends, we are looking for volunteers to fill two roles for Central Area representation for Western Yearly Meeting. See below for information on the roles. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact the office at 317-255-2485 or office@indyfriends.org!
Quaker Men Representative - meets twice a year, once during the annual sessions and again in the spring. Objectives include bearing witness to Christ’s way of life in fellowship, business dealings, and social actions, and engaging in Christian service projects.
Peace & Christian Social Concern Board Member (term 2021-2023) – Responsibilities include promoting and supervising the raising of funds for the Yearly Meeting budget and the FUM Goal, recommend to the Yearly Meeting the names of persons to serve as Treasurer, Benevolence Treasurer and Financial Trustees of Western Yearly Meeting, and provide a fidelity bond for persons handling Yearly Meeting funds.
For more information or to volunteer for either of these positions, please contact the office at 317-255-2485 or office@indyfriends.org. Thank you for your consideration.
America's Existential Crisis was just released as an audiobook ~ Jeff Rasley’s America's Existential Crisis: Our Inherited Obligation to Native Nations is a historical journey and a road trip through "Indian country". The personal histories of two of Jeff’s ancestors illustrate the conflicted relationships of white Americans with Native Americans in the 19th century. The book makes the case that the history of land theft, broken treaties, massacres, and cultural suppression created a moral obligation of the USA to Native nations. Because the United States of America pledged to grant "justice for all", Americans must reckon with that history. The book proposes how that can be done through the culturally sensitive development of Native communities. The book is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Existential-Crisis-Inherited-Obligation/dp/B09C2MBJL4 and on Audible at https://www.audible.com/pd/Americas-Existential-Crisis-Audiobook/B09C2LKB9K
Western Yearly Meeting Mission Project ~ The 2021 annual mission project for Western Yearly Meeting is to provide technology (e.g. laptops, desktop computers, internet services) to several Quaker groups. The Kisumu Kenya Office (which is the hub of all Quaker activities in Africa), Friends Theological College, and Belize Friends School will all benefit from the funds raised during this campaign. The WYM goal is $15,000. Checks should be made to First Friends with a notation “WYM Mission Project”. Or you can donate securely on our website at https://www.indyfriends.org/support. Just choose “WYM Project” as the fund. Or text “WYMProject” to 317-768-0303. Please examine your hearts and give as you are led.
Meditational Woods
Bird of the Month for August
Barred Owl: Too Late for this Friend
Pastor Bob called me this week to let me know that on the church grounds he had found a bird that might interest me. It did! After not having observed any new species here for more than a year, I had wondered what the 93rd species would be. This was it: a Barred Owl! Of the eight or nine owls that regularly appear in Indiana, five or six are rare and found in habitats much different than our woods and grassy yard. The three remaining are screech owls, which prefer more trees and less grass, great horned owls, which frequent open areas like our north meadow, but more likely ones with scattered mature trees, and barred owls, which can be found in wooded neighborhoods, but usually denser than ours. Barreds are known by their rounded head, apparent black eyes, and dark streaks…or bars…on their neck and chest. It is this last characteristic that gives the species its name.
I had often thought of coming down to the meeting house on a late spring evening, just after sunset, to imitate a barred owl, with a call of “Who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all,” just to see if one would respond, but I had never gotten around to it. Now it was TOO LATE!! Too late at least for this individual. You see, Bob had gotten out of his car, and noticed nearby what he thought was an item of striped clothing. It turned out to be a dead Barred Owl! Birders familiar with keeping a birdlist know that although I saw this bird, I cannot count this on my personal list for the woods. It does count on the historical list of birds “observed” on the property. So thanks to Bob, it is #93.
I wondered about this “too late” business as it applies to people. Many is the time a Friend has said, “Do you remember (so-and-so) who used to be a member here…?” Although I know our paths had crossed at one time, I had never gotten to know that person, even his or her name. For most, it is indeed, too late! This even applies to asking grandparents about family history! Don’t put it off! No time like the present!!
Note: I DID examine the owl, and found no signs of trauma or injury as if it had been hit by a car on an adjacent street. It could be the malady that is affecting the bird world, or simply old age.
~Brad J
Queries for the Week
What are the stories that have shaped my understanding of my life as a Quaker?
How might communicating my story help create better communication with those at First Friends and within our Yearly Meeting?