As Way Opens
On Saturday morning, most of us in the greater-Indianapolis area woke to the first snowfall of the season. The blinds in my bedroom were open just enough that when I opened my eyes from sleep, I could see the flakes slowly descending. They were both calming and memorizing. Arising out of bed, I went to the window to unexpectantly find our entire backyard in a blanket of white.
Since childhood, I have always loved stepping outside after the first major snowfall. There is something that engages my senses, from the fresh clean smell to the brightness all around. Yet the thing that I probably appreciate the most is the remarkable silence. The world seems to be on mute.
A few years ago, I looked up the reason for the silence. The Michigan State University Extension studied snow and snowflakes. They found that snow can absorb sound because it is porous. As well, snowflakes are six-sided crystals, which are filled with open spaces. Thus, those spaces absorb sound waves, creating a quieting effect over a blanket of snow.
It almost seemed appropriate with the noise of election week that Mother Nature would choose to end it with a covering of silent snow. I appreciate how nature can speak to our condition if we are willing to experience it.
This reminds me of the poem The Silence of Snow by Hugh Tague:
No two flakes are exactly the same,
a gift to us all, I must further explain.
The air is crisp, and cold as can be,
the snow settles gently upon the trees.
Tiny little flakes free falling from the sky,
one quickly melted on the corner of my eye.
Squirrels frolic and play on the limbs up above,
their acrobatic display is a sight to be loved.
A clump of snow falls quickly to the ground,
but nothing is heard, not the slightest of sounds.
Snow falls from the heavens as silent as can be,
so quiet and peaceful, I can hear God breathe.
I am sure that won’t be the last snow fall this year. So, next time we get a blanket of snow, put on your coat, step outside your front door, and experience the silence with me. You too, may hear God breathe.
Grace and peace,
Bob
Joys & Concerns
On Sunday we dedicated six children and welcomed 4 new members to First Friends. It was a joyous time of celebration and affirmation! (Thanks to Kim Heusel and Sue Henry for taking photos)
Youth group had a fun time this past Saturday. Here they are baking treats! They had a blast.
Monroe B born November 9th. Sweet Monroe was 8 lbs. 8 ounces and 211/4 inches long. Monroe is the sister of Selina, the granddaughter of Kathy and Gary R and the daughter of Taylor. We are excited to celebrate the birth of this beautiful child.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
The Shalom Zone Thanksgiving Service is on Tuesday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m. This year the host will be Allisonville Christian Church (7701 Allisonville Rd, Indianapolis). Our theme this year is Giving Thanks in a Broken World. Each of the Shalom Zone pastors will be bring a brief meditation on the theme. We hope you will join us as this is such a wonderful opportunity to worship as a community and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.
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, November 17 at 7:00pm. See locations for 2022 here.
College Care packages - It is time to send care packages to our college students as they prepare for their exams at school. We are asking that everyone help fill the boxes with goodies like candy, cookies, cards, and other treats. Please bring enough for all 10 of our college students. Don’t have time to shop? We will gladly accept monetary donations! Just leave your check in the offering plate on Sunday with the notation “college packages” or donate online at www.indyfriends.org/support and choose “College care packages”. Please make sure all donations are in by Monday, November 28. Thank you for your support!
Blue Christmas Service & Luncheon ~ All are invited to our special Blue Christmas service which will be held during Meeting for Worship on Sunday, November 27. We will honor loved ones who have passed. This service recognizes the struggles that many people face during this season. After meeting for worship, we’ll meet in the parlor to share a light lunch and fellowship and have a facilitated discussion about our losses and grief. If you’d like to join us for this gathering, please RSVP to the office (office@indyfriends.org) and let us know how many people you plan to bring.
Christmas Vespers Concert ~ Our annual Christmas Vespers on Sunday, December 4th, evening at 5:30pm is always a wonderful tradition at First Friends. If you have never begun your holiday season with this event, we recommend you join us this year. Our theme is “The Journey to Christmas” where we will prepare for the season through music, readings, and queries. Plan to experience all the First Friends choirs, some special guest musicians, and a candlelit singing of Silent Night to end the night. This will be an opportunity for you and your family to renew old traditions and make new ones this season. Following Vespers, we will join in the Fellowship Hall for a wonderful dinner hosted by the Fellowship Committee - everyone is invited. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP by contacting the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485 or using the sign-up sheet in the meeting hallway. We hope you will share with us in this annual tradition!
Overman Scholarship Fund Drive ~ The Overman Scholarship 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 4 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. Thank you for your support!
Help Refugees in Need: The meeting for business Oct. 16 approved a proposal to help raise money for the family of Peter K’s Syrian employee Mohammad to emigrate from Turkey to Canada. The family of 6 has lived as refugees in Turkey for several years, and now are threatened with forceful repatriation. Because of Mohammad’s involvement with Peter, the family would be in great danger if they re-enter Syria. The family has approval of the Canadian government to enter as privately sponsored refugees provided that a certain amount of money will be held in a secure account to meet the family’s living expenses for the first year. The meeting will work with Ed and Paula K to raise the money by having an account into which tax-deductible donations can be held until they are submitted to Canada. To donate, mail in a check or drop it in the Sunday offering plate with the memo line “Mohammad’s family.” Or you can donate electronically online on our secure website at https://www.indyfriends.org/support, and choose “Mohammad’s family” as the fund, or text Mohammad to 317-768-0303. The K family express their gratitude to the meeting for agreeing to help facilitate this urgent need.
Indy Winds Flute Choir Concert ~ You’re invited to a holiday concert by the Indy Winds Flute Choir! It will be held Saturday, December 3rd at 3:00 PM at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, 2720 E 86th St. The concert will include a variety of classical and holiday music. Soloists Carl B and Lynda S will be featured on the Corelli Christmas Concerto. We hope you will attend!
Seasoned Friends ~ Seasoned Friends will gather on Tuesday, December 6th for a field trip to Wabash. Friends are invited to carpool by meeting at First Friends at 9:30 or join us in Wabash at 11am. We will see the Eagles Theater, have lunch at the Honeywell building, and see the Charley Creek Inn. 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.
Creation Care Team ~
Have you noticed?
During the worst of the pandemic, increasing ventilation in our gathering spaces was an important measure to decrease the risk of the COVID virus traveling in the air. Our Friend, Tom Wright, an engineer, has been helping the Meeting attain safer ventilation standards. During the pandemic, we kept the windows wide open and exhaust fans running. And it was cold!
Now that vaccines are available and a level of immunity is present, he is determining how much fresh air is needed with how many exhaust fans to run during Meeting for Worship.
Last Sunday, he kept 2 windows open and ran 2 attic exhaust fans. Even with the choir singing and good attendance in the meeting room, the CO2 levels remained in the “safe” zone. He will continue to monitor and find the sweet spot of good ventilation and keeping the meeting room warm.
Of course, if you are immunocompromised or have health concerns, take the precautions you need to stay protected.
Hopefully this winter, you won’t need to bundle up with coat and hat to worship on Sunday mornings!
The Shalom Zone sponsored an evening to get to know the executive director, Brian Sauder, of Faith in Place, the organization that Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light has joined. Pastor Sauder is full of energy and vision to support all of God’s creation. Faith in Place has an opportunity to hear a live report from COP 27 - Thursday, November 17; 6:00 p.m. ET
The UN Climate Change summit—COP 27—is underway in Egypt. And next week, as the summit winds down, we will be joined by special guest Elsa Barron—Faith in Place friend and former staffer—who is currently in Egypt and will give her perspective on the new climate commitments made by world leaders, as well as the work ahead of us.
See you there! Register Here Today
-The Faith in Place Team
Creation Care Team Reorganizing!
Are you interested in learning more about caring for God’s remarkable creation that is our home? Would you like to support activities that make First Friends a witness to right relationship with the earth and its inhabitants? If you’d like to learn more about Creation Care, contact the Office or Mary Blackburn. We will hold an organizational meeting in January 2023.
In the meantime, here are 3 faith-based groups that may be of interest to you.
Quaker Earthcare Witness Faith in Place Evangelical Environmental Network
This Week’s Queries
· Who are the nomads, vagrants, widows, orphans, homeless, poor, and strangers in my neighborhood?
· Who are the people who cannot repay me?
· Who are the people who are neglected by the mainstream of culture? Where do they live and spend their time? Why are they neglected?