As Way Opens
We had an amazing gathering at the women’s retreat (here are a couple of pictures). We had 22 women sign up for the weekend and unfortunately had a few women that couldn’t attend. But the 19 women that came together from our Meeting experienced something significant. Our retreat leader, Rachel Doll O'Mahoney had us create a timeline Friday night that highlighted all the significant events in our lives over the last 2.5 years. This was harder to do than I thought it would be as I had locks to remove my son Greg from my home at the start of the pandemic. As I talked with Greg about this he corrected me and said it was March 2019. How did I get that so wrong? It was such a significant and life changing event and I couldn’t remember when it happened.
I think the pandemic put us in a bit of a fog when it comes to dates and timelines. I think many of us feel like the time during the pandemic is blurry and something of a distant memory. It was beneficial to take time and create a visual timeline of all that happened during the past. We all experienced some lows (I lost both of my brothers during this time) and also some joyous times (thankful I finally received my masters in divinity). It was therapeutic to share our timelines with each other at our tables Friday night and to hear these highs and lows from others. There is something healing about being in community and sharing and reflecting on this past and how this will influence each of us into the future.
I encourage each of you to sit down and create a timeline for the last 2.5 years. We have much to be thankful for and we also have things to mourn. I find comfort that God is with us every step of our journey through all of our ups and downs. And the connections of a faith community are crucial as we take our journey. I am thankful for First Friends.
Beth
Joys & Concerns
Megan Lee S arrived at 7:49am on Thursday, September 22, weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces and 20 inches long. Stacy and Megan are both doing great! Congratulations to the new parents Jake and Stacy, and grandparents Lynda and Jim S!
Quaker Affiliated Organizations
IFCL -- Elections 2022 Voting Rights Webinar Sept. 28
The 2022 elections are just around the corner! You're invited to attend a free Voting Rights webinar next today, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m., sponsored by the All IN 4 Democracy coalition. It will provide important updates on what's happening with election issues and elections administration, from the national, state, and local perspective. Speakers from Common Cause Indiana, the League of Women Voters of the United States and LWV Indiana, and the Chicago Lawyer's Committee on Civil Rights will be featured and take your questions.
The registration link is here: Webinar Registration - Zoom
Please feel free to share this link with your friends and neighbors. And remind them to register to vote, to double-check their registration to confirm their voting district in light of recent redistricting--and to vote!
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
Seasoned Friends Is Back! Seasoned Friends will gather again for the first time in a few years since the pandemic tomorrow, Thursday, Sept 29th at 11:30. We will have a soup and salad lunch together and talk about the things we would like to experience together as a group over the next few months. This has been a wonderful gathering in the past for anyone over 50 that appreciates gathering for food, fellowship and interesting activities. We welcome anyone that considers themselves a Seasoned Friend to join us. If you’re interested, please RSVP to the Meeting Office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.
Adult Quaker Affirmation ~ We are glad to offer an adult Quaker Affirmation class series which will begin THIS Sunday, October 2, from 11:30-1:00. 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.
Unheard Voices in Christianity Gathering – we will gather in the parlor on Thursday October 6th for a simple meal at 6:30 and then share and reflect and share on the writings of Quaker Elizabeth Watson on stories of Rachel, Sarah, and Rebecah.
Recycling Event! The Shalom Zone plans to have its yearly recycling event with Recycle Force on 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.
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: First Friends Offering of Letters ~ “Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. Moved by God’s grace in Jesus Christ, we advocate for a world without hunger.” This is the mission statement for Bread for the World, an organization that many of you are familiar with and others may not yet have discovered.
Started in the 1970’s by a Lutheran pastor in NYC, concerned people wanted to find a way to end the root causes of hunger rather than always reacting to the results of hunger. It was determined that this effort would require legislation by elected officials to provide funds and programs to feed hungry people in our country and around the world. The hope was to end hunger by 2030. As that date approaches, millions of people in the world are still battling food insecurity.
This is where we can help. On October 30, First Friends will have an Offering of Letters. We are asking you to join us in Fellowship Hall after Meeting, to write letters to support the passage of the Global Malnutrition Act. As of this writing, the bill has passed in the House but has not yet come to the Senate floor. Senator Young is a co-sponsor of the bill but Senator Braun has yet to sign on. Our letters will encourage Senator Braun to vote for this bill and to also increase the amount of money to continue vital programs such as SNAP and WIC.
In the next few weeks, you will be reading more about Bread for the World. Please consider taking part in the letter writing process with us on October 30.
This Week’s Queries
· Where have I become “walled-in” by the structures of my identity and ego? Where has First Friends become “walled-in” by the structures of our identity and ego?
· Where in my life am I seeking “the best for all”? What privilege(s) may I need to reject or lay down to better welcome and serve my neighbor?