As Way Opens
Last Saturday, Sue and I joined about 25 people from First Friends at the new masjid (the Arabic word which means “place of prostration” to God, also known to many as a mosque) in Fishers, Indiana. We were greeted by our host, Salah, with the common Muslim greeting, "As-Salam-u-Alaikum" ("Peace be unto you").
To begin our friends invited us to sit around tables and interact with their young people most of whom were born in America but whose families were from other countries. The youth were between the ages of 11-15. Salah had graciously prepared a wonderful and informative 45-minute program which was presented by these young people.
We learned about Islam, its history, and even the similarities to our own Quaker/Christian faith. The youth taught us about how Muslims view Jesus, their dedication to peace and justice, the misconceptions that many have about Islam and terrorism, and how they viewed us as brothers and sisters. We were all incredibly impressed at how articulate and knowledgeable the youth were about the faith they were so dedicated to follow.
After having an opportunity to have some time for questions and answers accompanied by pastries and coffee, we were given a guided tour of their new facility. It is both a beautiful worship space and community center for the growing population of Muslims in Hamilton and the surrounding counties.
The intricately painted domes, the large chandeliers imported from Egypt, and the tight knit pile of the carpets on the floor were enough to bring one to reverence and awe. Also, while we were on the tour, we had the opportunity to see their food pantry in action serving those in need in their community.
Overall, I found this to be a beautiful opportunity to learn, support, and engage our Muslim sisters and brothers. We were blessed by their hospitality and along with our Jewish neighbors, are honored to be considered “People of the Book” together. I pray we will remember this as we work for peace and mutual understanding in our world.
Grace and peace,
Bob
Quaker-Affiliated Organizations
FCNL Legislative Priorities ~ Friends Committee on National Legislation (“FCNL”) is, again this year, requesting that Friends’ Meetings submit national legislative priorities to FCNL for the coming two years. Your input and wisdom are needed to determine the legislative priorities that are important to First Friends Indianapolis. Please visit our survey at https://forms.gle/Za3t1r3yZpVkAT4c9 and list the 5 most important issues that you would like FCNL to address as it determines its priorities for the next two years. If you’d prefer to turn in a paper copy, they will be available during Meeting for Worship this upcoming Sunday. The 7 most popular issues will be brought to Monthly Meeting in March for consideration to be submitted to FCNL. Thank you for your thoughtful responses.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Meeting for Worship ~ Welcome back! We have resumed worship together at the Meeting House. Currently:
· Fellowship Hall will be open after Worship, but food and drinks will not be served
· There will be Children’s’ Message, but not Children’s Worship. After the Children’s’ Message, the children will be released to sit with their families
· There will be a Children’s’ Sunday School by Zoom for those worshipping from home.
· The windows will be open about 2 inches. It is expected to be comfortable, but cool. Please dress accordingly.
· Masks must be worn in the building and KN95 or N95 masks are recommended.
At Monthly Meeting on February 20th, we will discuss whether to resume in-person Sunday School and the need for any other precautions.
New Sermon Series ~ This Sunday (02/20/22) begins our new sermon series "To Be Thriving & Progressive Quakers in 2022". Pastor Bob will be kicking off the series with a sermon titled, "Moving from Heaven to Earth.” Join us at 10:15am in-person or virtually on YouTube.
As well, he has put together the following supplemental reading list for those who are interested in reading more on the subjects and ideas covered:
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Supplemental Reading List for “To Be Thriving & Progressive Quakers in 2022” Sermon Series (throughout the series additional books may be added):
· Living the Quaker Way – Phil Gulley
· Face to Face: Early Quaker Encounters with the Bible – T. Vail Palmer Jr.
· A Long Road: How Quakers Made Sense of the God and the Bible – T. Vail Palmer Jr.
· Grounded: Finding God in the World – Diana Butler Bass
· Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power and How They Can Be Restored – Marcus Borg
· Faith Unraveled (formerly Evolving in Monkey Town) – Rachel Held Evans
· Jesus and the Disinherited – Howard Thurman
· The Galapagos Islands: A Spiritual Guide – Brian McLaren
· Church of the Wild – Victoria Loorz
· Our Only World: Ten Essays – Wendell Berry
· Saving Grace: Speak Your Truth, Stay Centered, and Learn to
· Coexist with People Who Drive You Nuts – Kristen Powers
· The Rebirthing of God – John Philip Newell
· Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life – Karen Armstrong
· A Bigger Table, Expanded Edition with Study Guide: Building Messy, Authentic, and Hopeful Spiritual Community – John Pavlovitz
· A Testament of Devotion - Thomas R. Kelly
Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro ~ From the best-selling author of Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day, a stunning new novel—his first since winning the Nobel Prize in Literature—about the wondrous, mysterious nature of the human heart.
From her place in the store, Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her, but when the possibility emerges that her circumstances may change forever, Klara is warned not to invest too much in the promises of humans.
In Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro looks at our rapidly changing modern world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator to explore a fundamental question: what does it mean to love?
We will gather via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, February 22nd led by Larry C.
We’re Famous! Out of tiny acorns, giant oaks grow. Amy Perry answered the call to help revive the Right Sharing of World Resources stamp program. Little by little, people have helped grow the program. The RSWR Board members realized that the stamp program is much like the micro-lending program, growing organically. The Stamping for Dollars program was the highlight of the most recent newsletter of RSWR. Read more here: 2022-Q1-Newsletter.pdf (rswr.org)
Free Couples Counseling ~ The Christian Theological Seminary Counseling Center is offering free online Couples Checkups in the month of February with interns trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy. One of the interns is our own Jill F! If you’d like to make an appointment, please call (317) 924-5205. For more information, click here.
Woods’ Words ~ I’ve joined a book club for the next few weeks that is reading Dr. Katherine Hayhoe’s book, Saving Us, a book that explains how to talk to people about caring for creation to meet people where they are. Her work is thoroughly grounded in her beliefs as a Christian and a PhD educated climate scientist. I encourage everyone who is concerned about the changes that we are experiencing in weather, agriculture, flooding and impacts on the poor to get a copy of her book and learn to speak truth with love. http://katharinehayhoe.com
Spring is around the corner! One of the important things we can do on a small scale is plant more native plants in our yards. Native insects need native plants which in turn, nourish the birds and other wildlife. Our birds need to eat the protein in insects when they are feeding their hatchlings. By planting various native plants, you will help our chickadees and Carolina wrens and others survive. Here’s a list of places to buy native plants and some cultivars from local native plant landscape designer, Laura Essex.
Celebrate the Woods’ 20th birthday on Earth Day. Our Woods has become a haven for wildlife and for the community.
~Mary B
You’re invited to MSPC’s Silent Auction! You’re invited to Maple Seeds Preschool Coop’s annual fundrasing event. The online-only auction begins Friday, March 4 at noon and ends Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 10pm. The funds raised from the silent auction allow the school to offer scholarships to participants, as well as to purchase new equipment for their classrooms. Find the auction page at https://www.32auctions.com/mapleseedsauction2022. For more info, visit MSPC’s website at https://www.mapleseeds.org/.
Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for February
Rock Pigeon: What’s in a Name?
We humans like to classify, categorize, and label. We sometimes do this to other humans, and even each other! Pity the poor pigeon. Once the majestic cliff dweller of Britain and Europe, the species became domesticated by pigeon fanciers, and then, when many escaped or were released here in North America, they became feral, substituting our city buildings for their ancestral cliffs. Forty years ago, when Indiana birders were doing surveys, they ignored “Rock Doves” as being exotic, like an escaped parakeet or pet mallard duck. Over the years avian scientists here changed their minds and decided to count them as an official Indiana bird. More recently the name was changed to “Rock Pigeon” as the species was biologically more of a pigeon than a dove. Even with these changes the rehabilitation of pigeons is has not been accepted as much by the public, and many consider them a filthy nuisance!!
Rock Pigeons are present all year, but are seen, especially in winter, in large groups huddled together along power lines and the towers holding the lines. The flocks have their favorite perches, and, fortunately for us and our automobiles, the power lines crossing the meetinghouse property above the woods’ entrance ARE NOT among those favorites. Rock Pigeons can be seen in small flocks, flying over the meeting house, and especially to the south beyond Kessler. Whatever they are: wild or tame, clean or dirty, doves or pigeons, they are here to stay!! ~Brad J
Plastics: Impact & Action ~ You’re invited to a 4-week online course by Cornell University, from March 14-April 10. This course explores the multiple ways we interact with plastics, and uses plastics to investigate the complex dynamic systems shaping our planet and our lives. The course will apply critical thinking and systems thinking to learn about everything from the plastic lifecycle, to plastic's social and environmental impacts, to NGO efforts and government plastic policies. You will apply your knowledge by designing and implementing a locally-relevant action targeting plastic pollution. Course materials will be recorded so attenders may work the course at their own convenience. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.civicecology.org/plastics1. For questions. email CivicEcology@cornell.edu, use “Plastics” in the subject line.
Jeff Rasley’s Newest Book Now on Audio ~ Jeff Rasley’s latest (13th published) book, Love, Murder, and Pickleball is now available as an audio book as well as a paperback and ebook at https://www.amazon.com/Pickleball-Soap-Opera-Love-Murder/dp/B09S1DJND2. The book is a romping good story about a romance that develops within a pickleball group, a mysterious murderer stalking the group, and an ageing athlete learning how to play the game. Mixed into the story are the serious issues of coping with the loss of a loved one, finding meaning after retirement, domestic abuse, and how soldiers suffering from PTSD are treated.
Queries for the Week
• Where am I discovering “something worth seeing” in my neighbors?
• To whom do I need to have more compassion – a willingness to suffer with?
• How might I truly find joy in sharing my humanity with those around me?