As Way Opens
A couple weeks ago I stopped at Half Price Books. I usually stop to peruse the new stock about every other week. As I entered, before me on the top shelf of the first bookcase was a copy of Indianapolis author, John Green’s first non-fiction book, “The Anthropocene Reviewed” (for those wondering - Anthropocene is the current geological age.) The title alone was intriguing, but as I cracked open the book, I found it was set-up almost devotionally - 46 short 4-5page essay/chapters that each could stand on their own.
At the end of his introduction, Green says that this book is his attempt to fulfill the last public words of author and illustrator Maurice Sendack, “Live your life. Live your life. Live your life.”
Closing each essay/chapter John Green gives the topic he is discussing a star rating, but it is the topics he chooses to cover that surprised me – everything from Diet Dr. Pepper to the World’s Largest Ball of Paint, right here in Indiana. One quickly realizes that Green has a way of making the ordinary become special and worthy of review.
I couldn’t help but thinking about what essay/chapters I would include in my review of the Anthropocene. I am sure I would include chapters on my love for Werther’s Candies, Artist biographies, Vinyl Records, or Pineapple Coconut Ice Cream from PF Changs (which may seem weird since I am allergic to pineapple). With Green’s help, I have been revisiting the things that make my life livable and I have found myself feeling a sense of hope in the ordinary during these unprecedented times.
Richard Rohr says that “One great idea of the biblical revelation is that God is manifest in the ordinary, in the actual, in the daily, in the now, in the concrete incarnations of life. Our experiences of ordinary life will transform us if we are willing to experience them fully.”
This week, I challenge you to take a moment to ponder the ordinary things that make life livable and bring you hope. Maybe read John Green’s book to get you started. I know I will start by having a Werther’s candy.
I give Werther’s candies 4½ stars!
Grace and peace,
Bob
Joys & Concerns
Let’s give a big THANK YOU to our Mid-North Food Pantry volunteers: Linda and Rik L; David B; Christie M; Penny P; Virginia and Derek S; Kathy and Bill F; Barbara O; Mara S; Mary and Craig H; Carol and Jim D. Over 75 families were served. Thanks to all First Friends volunteers who help the Mid North Food Pantry fulfill its mission.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
USHER TRAINING ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 after Meeting - For anyone who is interested in serving the Meeting as an Usher, Jim K and Derek S will hold a brief (15-20 minutes) training session after meeting for worship this coming Sunday. This informal training will start at the back of the meeting room, then move to fellowship hall. If you’re interested in volunteering but can’t make it on Sunday, the information can be sent to you afterward; just contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
Quaker Studies Weekly Program ~ Western Yearly Meeting is putting on a Quaker Studies program called First Things to build connections across the yearly meeting. The program is entirely virtual and over the platform called discord. It's a spiritual discussion group meant to build relationships. The plan is to watch videos or listen to speakers for 15 minutes once per week then discuss them. The entire program will last 8 weeks starting around mid-October. The sign up is here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uAZXpEAosua6l03Ch66PmLbaegUDEq8IPq6AUWDSnUI.
Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See.
Set on the Korean island of Jeju, The Island of Sea Women follows Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls from very different backgrounds, as they begin working in the sea with their village’s all-female diving collective. Over many decades—through the Japanese colonialism of the 1930s and 1940s, World War II, the Korean War, and the era of cellphones and wet suits for the women divers—Mi-ja and Young-sook develop the closest of bonds. Nevertheless, their differences are impossible to ignore: Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, forever marking her, and Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers. After hundreds of dives and years of friendship, forces outside their control will push their relationship to the breaking point.
This beautiful, thoughtful novel illuminates a unique and unforgettable culture, one where the women are in charge, engaging in dangerous physical work, and the men take care of the children. A classic Lisa See story—one of women’s friendships and the larger forces that shape them—The Island of Sea Women introduces readers to the fierce female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives.
We will gather at Ruth K’s house outdoors and via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 led by Carolyn T
SAWS Ramp Build ~ The Shalom Zone is planning another SAWS (Servants at Work) ramp build for the morning of Saturday, October 2. If you would like to volunteer please contact the office asap as we are trying to identify all volunteers (10 – 12 are needed) from the Shalom Zone as soon as possible. Volunteers must complete the volunteer registration form before their first build. Indicate that you are with the Shalom Zone on your registration. This form can be found on the SAWS website: sawsramps.org. If you should have any questions or need further information, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. Thanks for your willingness to be part of the SAWS group.
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.
Words from the Woods
Garage clean up September 25 ~ Hi Friends, Fall clean up and garage organization day is coming. Have you had something in storage in the garage? Now is the time to take it home or help it find a new home elsewhere! We will be paring down to the essentials so the garage is more usable for various groups. We will be following the Quaker practice of simplicity in this exercise. Come join us on September 25th from 10 am- 12 noon.
Some ways you can love the earth:
Take care of your trees- water them during hot, dry weather. With our increasingly warmer climate, our native trees suffer when they go too long without enough water.
The US Forest Service has this really good homeowner’s manual for all sorts of tree care. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5368392.pdf
Plant the right trees in the right place and the right location. One of the biggest problem is that many landscape companies don’t know how to plant a tree properly- the most common mistakes? Planting too deeply, not removing the container, burlap or wire basket and over mulching.
Mulch a little, but not too much!
https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Proper%20Mulch%20Tech_0321.pdf
https://us18.campaign-archive.com/?u=bb41e2b384f292fab14a6eb2e&id=cc70990f82
The earth is having a plastics waste crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic added to the amount of single use plastics around the country. It’s time to wash your reusable shopping bags and consider using them again as you shop.
· Do you really need a clear plastic bag for your lettuce?
· Designate one of your cloth bags for produce and put your veggies in those.
Try to develop a new habit this week and see how it goes. If we consumers change our habits, we can move toward a trash free planet.
Mary B, Tree Steward and Creation Care Advocate
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.
First Friends Partnering with Exodus Refugee to Welcome Afghan Evacuees to Indiana and the U. S. ~ Join the sixteen Friends planning to help Afghan refugees by partnering with Exodus Refugee, a local organization under Church World Service, the same organization that holds the CROP walk to help reduce hunger. Exodus Volunteer Coordinator Jericho Jones conducted a Refugee 101 training session Tuesday in the Meeting Room.
Those wanting to volunteer should:
Visit the Exodus website at www.exodusrefugee.org.
Attend a Refugee 101 training session. A pdf is available from Exodus and First Friends has the videotape of our training.
If still interested, pay $25 and complete a background check as directed via the Exodus website.
Volunteers can volunteer individually or in teams. To be part of the First Friends Welcome Team, one must make a minimum 90-day team commitment and someone on the team must meet with the Afghan family a minimum of once a week.
After a reasonable number of Friends have completed the training and passed their background checks, the F. F. Welcome Team will be matched with an Afghan family and overseen by Jericho Jones. Stay tuned for more information.
Many Afghans will soon be living in our midst. Whether volunteering with Exodus or not, you can help by being welcoming to refugees and by helping other Hoosiers understand the new arrivals.
Health & Safety Update ~ Now that the Meetinghouse has reopened, the Reopening Committee has dissolved and health and safety policy is now agreed upon by Clerk’s Council. Here is the current policy:
· We ask folks to continue wearing masks while inside the building - if a small group is meeting and everyone is vaccinated, then folks can take off the masks. We continue to monitor the Covid numbers in Indiana.
· The kids will gather for children’s worship with masks for all.
· Fellowship hour will continue with individual snacks and coffee and water/coffee with individually poured drinks.
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.
I would like to get 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 me? This would not be a Sunday school class so it would meet at a time that group members can agree on. If you are interested in this possibility, contact the meeting office (office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485). ~Ed M
Men’s Book Group, led by Kent F ~ A couple of years ago, we started a men’s book group at First Friends. We meet every two weeks, usually a group of four gathering on Wednesday or Thursday evenings at seven to catch up and discuss the portion of the current book we've agreed to read. We take turns recommending books, which has led to a wide variety including history, inspirational and fiction. We've all enjoyed reading books we would not have chosen for ourselves, that have turned out to be challenging and delightful. Plus, hearing other perspectives in our discussions has been insightful and rewarding.
We are excited to grow this group with new members, and look forward to the diversity you can add to the group. If you are interested, please talk with one of us about the group and the books we read.
Save the Date: Potato Drop! ~ Mark your calendars, the Shalom Zone is having a “potato drop” at Epworth United Methodist Church on December 4th. A semi-trailer full of potatoes will be “dropped” at Epworth and folks will need to sort and fill bags of potatoes. More info will be forthcoming but for now—save the date!
Queries for the Week
What ideas or attributes of God have not been helpful in my faith journey?
How might embracing God or the Divine as Love help me both worship and respond to my world?
How will I pay compassionate attention to myself and others this week?