As Way Opens
This past week, I found myself on numerous occasions working on my back porch taking in the ambiance of fall. In the middle of our backyard, we have an Indiana native Tulip tree that the Tinsley’s gave us a few years ago. On Friday, the first of its leaves burst out in beautiful autumn colors (see photo). As I was acknowledging this one leaf’s beauty, I was reminded of Omid Safi’s words from the “On Being Project”
“Leaves are usually green because of chlorophyll. It is chlorophyll that gives leaves their distinctive green color, and it is (along with sunshine) the key ingredient in the magical, life-producing process of photosynthesis.
The hidden secret of fall: the leaves don’t actually “turn” colors. With the winter season coming, and the process of photosynthesis being without the key ingredients of warmth and sunshine, trees begin to break down chlorophyll. With the “green” gone, the other colors that have been there all along — the magical reds, golds, and oranges — begin to express themselves.
That’s the secret: there is no turning, no changing. There’s only the death of what has been masking the colors inside. The beauty has been there all along. And we as human beings are like this. Each one of us contains hidden jewels inside.”
Sometimes it is hard to see the beauty in those around us. It is masked by the struggles and challenges the world puts on us. During the season of autumn, as we observe the leaves changing and the beauty beginning to appear, may we also take time to seek the hidden beauty in our neighbors, friends, and in ourselves. Like each unique leaf, may we transcend the difficulties and death around us and embrace the hidden beauty within each other.
Grace and peace,
Bob
Quaker Affiliated Organizations
Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) -- Now Hiring!
RWSR is seeking candidates for three senior leadership positions. All positions are fully remote. An eligible candidate must have legal authorization to work in the U.S. The full job descriptions (with salary information) are hyperlinked below.
The Associate Secretary of Operations is a senior leadership position responsible for organizational operations including accounting, bookkeeping, budgeting, and financial and legal transactions that promote the mission of RSWR.
The Associate Secretary for Advancement is a senior leadership position responsible for promoting the mission of RSWR, including all development, communications, and public relations.
The Associate Secretary of Programs is a senior leadership position responsible for implementation of international programs, and educational outreach and programming.
Note that the list of qualifications in each description are desired qualifications--no one has all of them, and successful candidates will bring a variety of life experience to their work.
Please share this with anyone you think would be a good fit. This is an exciting time in the life of RSWR, with expanding programs abroad and at home. Maybe one of these positions is a good match for you?
Feel free to contact the office with any questions. Thank you.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Adult Quaker Affirmation ~ We are glad to offer an adult Quaker Affirmation class series which began last Sunday, October 2, from 11:30-1:00. If you would still like to join us, come this Sunday from 11:20 – 1:00. This is an 8-week study of what it means to be a Quaker. It will cover Quaker history, theology, and what Quakers are doing in the world today. Anyone is welcome! If you’re interested, please contact the office.
Seasoned Friends Is Back! We had a wonderful gathering last Thursday with 30 friends joining together for lunch. We saw some new faces and old faces and it was so good to be together. Lots of future activity ideas were suggested and we agreed we wanted to meet once a quarter. We will gather again in December and will plan to visit the Wabash Historic Theater. Watch for a day and time in the next month.
SAWS Project – Many thanks to David B and John M for helping build a ramp to provide handicap access someone’s home. This project was done with the churches from the Shalom Zone.
Recycling Event! The Shalom Zone plans to have its yearly recycling event with Recycle Force this Saturday, October 8 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 $25 donation is required for monitors, televisions, 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.
The Earlham College Choir will be performing at First Friends on Saturday November 5th at 2:00 p.m. If you have attended one of their choir performances in the past, you know we are all in for a delightful time of music and song. Please mark your calendars and invite family and friends to this free concert.
CTS Invites You: Community learning through a theological lens ~ Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) invites you to several series of online lectures and discussions to help understand how our faith and our money are intertwined in both our individual lives and in our society. There are three 6-week online courses which will be hosted online on Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. During the Fall 2022 course, “Christianity, Consumption and Capitalism,” Dr. Robert Saler, Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture at Christian Theological Seminary, will facilitate a series of guest lecturers including Andrew Whitehead and Joseph Tucker-Edmonds among other sociologists, economic thinkers and religious practitioners. These lectures and discussions will help us understand how our faith and our money are intertwined in both our individual lives and in our society. Subsequent courses, “Christianity and Poverty” (Winter 2023) and “Christian Practices of Economic Justice” (Spring 2023), will help you dive deeper into these topics while providing a space to discuss practical and faithful actions for justice. For more information and to register, visit https://www.cts.edu/academics/our-life-in-common-series/.
Bread for the World Offering of Letters October 30, 2022
Food insecurity is where a person literally doesn’t know when their next meal, or two, or three meals are coming from. This can happen because of lack of money, transportation, and housing. It can also happen because of drought, floods, wildfires, pandemics, the war in Ukraine and other conflicts.
An upcoming bill in Congress is the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act, originally passed in 2016 and reauthorized in 2018. The objectives of the bill are 1) inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth; 2) strengthened resilience among people and systems; and 3) a well nourished population, especially women and children. Passing this bill will help people all over the world deal with food insecurity and daily hunger.
Please join us on October 30 in Fellowship Hall right after the worship service to write letters to Senator Braun urging him to sign this bill.
From the Woods Committee: Buy your pollinator plants from reliable sources recommended by the Indiana Native Plant Society, Grow Natives. Or try to grow them from seed. Mary Blackburn has butterfly milkweed seeds( Aesclepsia tuberosa, a low growing yellow milkweed that thrives in sunny, dry locations). Let her know if you would like some!
Harmful Pesticides Found in Milkweeds from Retail Nurseries
Article from Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
A new study released in Biological Conservation found harmful levels of pesticides in milkweed plants purchased from retail nurseries across the United States. Pesticides were found in all plants tested, raising alarms for monarch conservation efforts that rely on planting milkweed sourced from commercial nurseries. (PORTLAND, Ore.; August 31, 2022). 38% of the samples had residue levels that could harm monarchs’ ability to migrate and forage, primarily due to high levels of fungicides. Fungicides have generally been overlooked as an issue for insect conservation efforts. Plants labeled “wildlife-friendly” from stores and nurseries included in the study did not have fewer pesticides in or on the leaves of the milkweed plants. In some cases, plants with wildlife labels had more harmful pesticide residues.
“This study provides a great starting point to help ensure the growing number of pollinator-gardens are of the highest quality possible,” said Aimee Code, Pesticide Program Director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Consumers can let their nurseries know they want plants that are free from harmful pesticides.
“It’s important to keep gardening for pollinators for the long term," said Code. "Just take steps to reduce pesticide exposure: cover new plants the first year, water heavily, discard the soil before planting, as it may be contaminated, and avoid pesticide use.”
The study’s findings highlight the need for nurseries to ensure that plants being sold as pollinator-friendly are also pollinator-safe.
To read the full article go to https://www.xerces.org/press/harmful-pesticides-found-in-milkweeds-from-retail-nurseries
Meditational Woods - Bird of the Month for October - Bay-breasted Warbler: Fashion Rules
According to custom, clothing of certain colors is not to be worn after Labor Day, or so I hear. It is true that I see a general change, especially in the color of pants worn by men.
Many male birds go through a similar change around Labor Day. In fact, there are pages in field guides entitled, “Confusing Fall Warblers.” Without such a guide or knowledge, recognizing the drab bird seen in September and October as the same species that had glorious, dazzling plumage last spring would be impossible. I would like for you to google Bay-breasted Warbler (right now!), and you will see the beautiful bay color on the cap, throat, and sides of the male. This reddish-brown contrasts with the black color on the face. In September a Bay-breasted Warbler, on its way southward, showed up in the Meditational Woods, and I managed to take photographs. In the photos, one can see that the bay colored area has been reduced to a narrow stripe along the wing. Some color change happens when the colorful ends of the feathers wear down due to activity. More importantly, most birds go through a molt at the end of the season, replacing their worn spring feathers with new ones.
Thusly, birding during fall migration can be very challenging. These small birds, in alternate plumage, moving from branch to branch in the canopies of trees still bearing leaves gives the birder only brief glimpses. In addition, the leaves themselves may be blowing in the wind, or falling, which look like birds moving down to a lower branch.
The human “plumage” rule is rather simple for me; I ignore it. I wear what is comfortable and appropriate for my activities. I am not the slave to seasonal fashion as are my avian friends.
Story and photo by Brad J
This Week’s Queries
· How do I feel about my level of empathy, and what does it say about my empathic skills?
· What am I learning from the empathy of Jesus?
· How might I utilize my empathy to bring more peace into my life and the life of those around me?