As Way Opens
Last Friday, I spent the entire day just outside my wife Sue’s Kindergarten class creating fun bulletin boards with an Encanto theme. I love offering my artistic gifts to brighten the hallways of the school and make the kids smile. Especially since this past couple of years has been difficult for teachers and students alike due to the pandemic. Through all that difficulty I was pleasantly surprised to find so much hope in that hallway.
As I painted non-stop from 9:30am to 3:30pm, I had an opportunity to engage teachers, students, and maintenance workers, but it was the children that won the day. They were so respectful, full of questions, and always excited to see what I was doing. On several occasions, I had a little boy from first grade who came and sat below me and just watched as I painted. He would show up out of nowhere, stay for a while, and then say, “Thank you for painting for us.”
On several occasions a class would walk through behind me and break out in singing “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from the movie. At other times, I answered questions about drawing, painting, or what I liked about Encanto. But it was the innocent grace of the students that spoke so deeply to my condition and gave me hope for our world.
It made me realize how often we adults lose the excitement and gratefulness for other people’s gifts and talents. How often we are first critical or even critiquing before being thankful. Maybe this is why people are often reluctant to share their gifts these days. Those children taught me to see the gifts around me, to celebrate them, and be respectful and grateful for the joy they bring.
Ironically, at the end of the day several classes broke out in cheering for my wife, who had been awarded Teacher of the Month, and I too was able to join in the celebrating and joy!
This week, take a moment to acknowledge the gifts around you and like those school children celebrate those gifts this week!
Grace and peace,
Bob
Quaker-Affiliated Organizations
You’re invited to USFW’s Spring Gathering! The United Society of Friends Women Midwest Region invites you to their Spring Gathering on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. It will be held at Fairfield Friends Meeting, 10441 East County Rd 700 South, Camby, IN 46113. Registration starts at 9am and then the gathering kicks off with Meeting led by Jamie Lyon of Russiaville Friends, and then a time of business. A $10 lunch will be served (reservations required). For more information, please view their flyer here.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Mid North Food Pantry ~ First Friends has begun its annual Mid North Food Pantry fundraiser. Mid North relies not only on the volunteers of First Friends and others, but also on financial assistance to purchase food and other supplies needed to operate the pantry. Since Mid North is able to purchase food at a much lower cost than you can, you can show your support for the pantry by making a financial contribution to the pantry. Checks should be made out to First Friends (with a note “food pantry” in the memo section) and sent to First Friends no later than April 10. Thank you for your consideration.
A Friend in Need of Rides ~ Mac G is an attender and friend of Ed M & Linda L. He’s taking part in our Affirmation Class and would love to join in more First Friends activities. Unfortunately, due to health conditions, he has had to give up driving. He leaves over by Eagle Creek. If you would like to help Mac and be on a rotating list of people he could call up occasionally for a ride to the Meeting, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
Gnostic Gospel Group ~ Everyone is invited to join us on Thursday April 7th in the Parlor at 6:30pm for a group study on the non-canonical/Gnostic Gospels. If you are interested, contact the meeting office (office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485).
An Easter Garden at First Friends Meeting! ~ In celebration of Easter, we invite you to become a part of it through the gift of a garden of flowers for our Meetingroom on Easter Sunday. If you would like to order flowers, there will be order forms available in the bulletin each Sunday morning for the next 3 weeks. Simply fill out the form and drop it in the offering plate or send it to the Meetinghouse along with your payment. Or send your order to office@indyfriends.org. All orders are due by Sunday, April 3.
Creation Care Notes: A work team of Kathy and Bill Farris, Amy Perry, Mindy and Paul Sommer, Mary Blackburn and David Beatty and Dan Mitchell helped load up and then unload leaf compost to get the mound ready for spring planting. Amy Perry proposed a new design that will be easier to maintain over time and provide habitat for native insects and birds. Thanks, volunteers!
The Meditational Woods will be 20 years young this year. First Friends transformed an urban acre of grass into a wildlife habitat for people and wildlife. Neighbors love to come through and enjoy our woods.
Spring is a busy time in central Indiana. Not only are the birds busy migrating, finding partners and building their homes, people are thinking about planting more native plants to protect our birds. Here are a few opportunities:
Don’t miss upcoming native plant sales being held by three local partners:
Indy Urban Acres Plant Sale: in person and pre- sale information available here: iuaplantsale.com
Native Plants Unlimited-in person and pre- order information available here: nativeplantsunlimitedshop.com
Marian University Ecolab has an online plant sale starting April 1 through April 30. https://www.marian.edu/about-marian/nina-mason-pulliam-ecolab/programs/community-programs/native-plant-sale
Spring Gardening Workshops from the Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District/NRCS
Learn how to terminate cover crops and plant no-till vegetables! Join Kevin Allison for an in-depth tour of:
· Cover crop termination
· Use of tarps for bed preparation and weed control
· Use of compost and mulches
· No-till vegetable planting
· Growing Biodiversity
In-Person Sessions:
Let’s get together! Sign up for free sessions HERE.
Location: The SWCD Demonstration Garden, located within the larger community Mayor’s Garden at West 56th and Reed Road Thursday, April 14: 10am-11am; Thursday, April 14: 6pm – 7pm; Thursday, May 12: 10am-11am; Thursday, May 12: 6pm-7pm
Virtual Session: Terminating Cover Crops in a No-Till Garden Presentation via Zoom. Sign up HERE. Friday, April 8th 10am-11am
During the month of April, think of one action you can take to honor God’s creation. Is it planting native plants/trees/shrubs? Organizing a neighborhood trash pick-up.? Making your home more energy efficient? Installing solar panels?
Project Drawdown has a free video series with solutions that you can do to address the create a livable future for humans and our kindred creatures. Let me know if you would like to organize a watch party! https://www.drawdown.org/climate-solutions-101
Submitted by Mary B
Mysticism in Our Ordinary Life – Registration Open! ~ Mark your calendar for Saturday May 7th for the Linda Lee Spirituality Retreat where we will examine and experience a mystical life in a practical way. The retreat will be a time of gathering together for teaching and small groups, as well as choices of individual experiences inside and outside the retreat center for reflection and contemplation. The retreat will be led by Carole Spencer, former Professor at Earlham School of Religion; Kathi Gatlin, Adjunct Professor of Spiritual Formation at Portland Seminary; and Lynn Clouser Holt, Adjunct Professor of Spiritual Formation at Portland Seminary. The retreat will run from 10:00 – 4:00 at the Benedictine Center. Linda Lee’s books will be available. Retreat cost is $30. If you’d like to register, please visit https://forms.gle/S2iBVunJVq3bpTHw6. Feel free to share our flyer for the event for anyone who may be interested.
Help Ukrainians in Need ~ Aaron Thornburg’s friend and classmate, Vladyslav B is from Ukraine. He is currently attending Indiana University and is trying to help his family back home in Ukraine. Aaron has set up a Gofundme to raise funds to help Vladyslav’s family get out of Ukraine and find a safe place abroad to settle down until the conflict is over.
Vladyslav’s family lives in Uzhhorod - a tiny city on the southwest side of Ukraine surrounded by a breathtaking mountain chain called the Carpathian Mountains. Right now, the city is actively preparing for any possible attack that it may have to encounter in the next few weeks. Russians have managed to capture some of the territories on the way to the capital, but the Ukrainian army right now is fighting to defend the citizens and their freedom.
The raised money will support and help Vladyslav’s mother and sister to get to a safe place abroad and settle down there until the conflict in my country is resolved. She already got directions from friends abroad as to where she can drive to, but the main concern is the financial support to establish herself somewhere for a while.
Time is of great urgency; please consider giving on Gofundme if you’re able. For questions, contact Aaron.
Quaker Haven Camp ~ It’s time to think about your kids attending Quaker Haven Camp in Syracuse, IN. If you are not familiar with Quaker Haven, check out their website (www.quakerhaven.com). Our kids have been going there for many years and have enjoyed it. First Friends will pay for half of the cost of camp – ask the meeting office for a code you can use at checkout for 50% off. If you need additional assistance, please contact the office. Here are the dates:
· June 5th - 10th Senior high camp (9th - 12)
· June 12th - 17th Junior high camp (7th - 8th grade)
· June 17th - 19th Beginner’s camp (kindergarten - 2nd grade with an adult)
· June 19th - 24th Adventure camp (5th - 6th grade)
· June 26th - July 1st Senior high camp (9th - 12th grade)
· July 10th - 13th Little Friends camp (2nd - 4th grade)
· July 17th - 21st Pioneer camp (3rd - 5th grade)
Queries for the Week
· How often do I see and feel, but neglect to act?
· In all human life “infinitely precious” to me?
· How might I take the “higher road” of compassion this week?