As Way Opens
Last Sunday evening we were invited over for dinner with friends that have 4 children ranging in age from 2-13. As you can imagine there was some chaos going on, but it was a joy to be with these kids and the 2 year old followed us around and talked in this sweet angelic voice all night. The kids served the food and cleaned up afterwards together with no complaints. They were so polite and I loved watching the positive interaction with both of their parents.
Monday night we took out to dinner the 7 year old son of friends of ours. Of course, every 7 year old wants to go to Olive Garden for dinner so we loaded up on carbs and breadsticks. Once again, my heart was so full of delight to engage with this child, hear his observations on his world and enjoy his gut level laughs. He also was so polite and grateful for spending time with us and taking him out to dinner.
As I sit in my office and watch a steady stream of voters coming into our building (which makes me emotional every year as I see so many folks giving of their time to ensure a fair election and observe so many folks voting), I am reminded again of the promise of our future and the hope of our next generations. We can all sometimes feel depressed at how divided we are in so many matters and it can sometimes feel like we won’t be able to move beyond these times. And then I start to think about those children (and those parents that are doing some incredible and yet difficult parenting) and I know there are so many other children like this that will take us to a different place in times to come. It was good for me to spend time with these kids to be yet again reminded of the potential of the future. I also see it every Sunday when our kids at First Friends come forward for the children’s message and bring their often astute observations about deep topics. And to see them engage with our volunteers as they learn about the expansiveness of God’s love for all and how that will form the character of these children and how they will do things differently when they are in positions to make decisions for our communities.
My heart is full of hope today and I pray that you will also come to a place of hope. God’s spirit is moving among all of us in ways that we cannot observe yet we can catch a glimpse of it in our children.
Beth
Joys & Concerns
First Friends was pleased to welcome the Earlham College Choir presenting “Spectrum in Song” on this past Saturday.
Bill K had successful surgery and is out of the hospital and in rehab. Please continue to hold him in the Light as he recovers.
We send our thanks to volunteer poll workers, county clerks, administrators, and others this week as well as volunteers for the Election Protection Program run by Common Cause Indiana. These volunteers are so important for our elections and our democracy—thank you for your service!
Nancy S’s brother, Sam, was honored by Nancy and some friends by planting spice bushes in the meditational woods this past Sunday. They planted three bushes, one for each of Scott’s siblings. It was a blessed time. Thank you to all for your notes and prayers during this time.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Be careful around sweetgums! It’s that time of year. Please be careful around the East door to the Meeting. The sweetgums are falling and they can be easy to trip on. We try to keep the area clean but they are constantly falling, so please watch your step!
Shalom Zone Creation Care Meeting ~ All are invited to a Shalom Zone Creation Care meeting on Thursday, November 10th at 7 p.m. at Cross and Crown (5233 E 79th St, Indianapolis, IN 46250). Indy Green Congregations is a satellite organization of Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light which has since joined forces with a bigger group called Faith in Place which includes Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Rev. Brian Sauder, the Executive Director of Faith in Place, and David Johnson, Faith in Place Board Chairman, are visiting Indianapolis to meet with faith groups. They are coming to Indy to listen and explore how we can partner together for environmental programming and advocacy to further our efforts together. We hope to see you there!
You’re Invited to Turkey Fest! Connections Committee would like to invite you to meet at Sullivan’s Hardware on 71st and Keystone Saturday, November 12th at noon for Turkey Fest. This has been a free event in the past but waiting on final details for this year. There’s indoor and outdoor space to explore, beautiful decorations and lots of yummy food to try. Contact the office if you’d like to attend so we can look for you. We’ll meet at the entrance to Sullivan’s at noon.
Quaker Affirmation Muslim Guest Speaker ~ The Quaker Affirmation class will be hosting Dr. Salah Saharti from Alhuda Mosque in Fishers on Sunday, November 13th. He will bring several young people from the Mosque to talk about the Muslim faith. They will be in the parlor from 11:30 - 12:15 as part of our Affirmation lesson on comparative religions. We invite everyone from the Meeting to join us for this interesting discussion about the Muslim faith.
In Paradisum: 500 Years of the Requiem Vocal Concert ~ VOCE (with which First Friend’s Carolyn T sings) presents “In Paradisum: 500 Years of the Requiem” on Sunday, November 13 at 4PM at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 1402 W. Main St, Carmel IN 46032. Beautiful live choral music, accompanied by organ, piano and cello. For more information, visit www.voceindy.org.
Looking for volunteer drivers ~ The mother of the Afghan family that First Friend sponsors is in need of occasional rides. Due to religious/cultural reasons, she cannot go alone with a male driver, so the volunteer must be female. If you’re interested, please contact the office (office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485) to sign up to be on an email list to be notified when she is in need of a ride. Thank you for considering this volunteer opportunity!
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!
Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for November:
Yellow-rumped Warbler and Its Magic Food
Approximately 30 different species of warblers come through the meeting property each spring and fall. During the former, the males are brightly colored; not so much in the latter. The eBird app on my phone gives me a list of expected species for any site on any given day. Both the number of warbler species and that of individuals peak in mid-September, and from then on until the end of October the number drops. Fifteen species are listed for one week, then ten the next, then five, and by the beginning of November there remains only one: the Yellow-rumped Warbler. It may stay through December even, as long as food is available. Their diagnostic chip can be heard while they search for a meal. With live insects no longer available, and many insects and spider eggs already found and gobbled up, what sustains them during the change to colder weather? The answer is BERRIES. Yes, some examples are hackberries, wild grapes, and some berries of ornamental plants. It may surprise the reader to know that one of the favorites of Yellow-rumps (and many other late migrants) is the POISON IVY berry. The clusters of white berries can be seen during the autumn, and several times I found large numbers of migrants chattering away at a grove of trees, the branches of which are covered by orange, red, and purple poison ivy leaves and white berries. Today I was out along a fencerow with fourth graders, and was able to show them a few small clusters that still remain.
I have included two photos of yellow-rumped warblers. One shows the typical fall plumage, but the yellow rump is easily seen. It is the patch on the upper side between the back and the tail. A second view shows one of this species eating poison ivy berries.
~Text and photos by Brad Jackson
Help a family this Thanksgiving ~ We are collecting monetary donations for 3 families in need to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. We received the information from Easter Seals and we will also be sponsoring these families at Christmas time. If you would like to make a donation, you can either give your money to Jody L at Sunday service or you can give your donation to the office. If you want to write a check, please put “Thanksgiving family” in the memo line. Thank you for your donation.
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.
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.
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.
This Week’s Queries
· What do I need to die to – so that I can truly live?
· What do we need to die to as a Meeting at First Friends – so we can truly live?