As Way Opens
Each morning I am reading some meditations from Howard Thurman's, Meditations of the Heart. Yesterday I was drawn to a meditation where Thurman quotes from the diary of George Fox, “Be still and cool in my own mind and spirit, from thy own thoughts, and then thou wilt feel the principle of God to turn thy mind to the Lord from whence cometh life; whereby thou mayest receive the strength and power to allay all storms and tempests.” Thurman goes on to say “It is a central stillness of spirit that is so vital that it can tame the wildness out of almost any tempest, however raging it may be. For it is in the quiet which invades us and which becomes a characteristic of our total respiration that we are most acutely aware of the operation of the presence of God.”
When we are in the middle of a storm the idea of being still and cool in my own mind is really hard. Our minds race to the problems, possible solutions, imaginations of what is to come, fears and a thousand other thoughts. It often seems like things speed up in the middle of a hurricane. Yet if we can practice stillness in the whirlwind, if we can be cool in our minds, that is when we will experience the presence of God most acutely and will feel a sense of calm in the midst of turmoil.
I know my heart was heavy with prayer concerns Monday morning and I joined our Monday meditation group for 45 minutes of stillness - it is in our stillness that we experience God’s heartbeat with ours and I felt a sense of Divine life with my concerns. It is one of the reasons that I have come to love unprogrammed worship - experiencing this life in community.
May we all take time this week to be still and cool our minds and spirits to feel God.
Beth
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
No Seeking Friends ~ Friends, please note, there will be no Seeking Friends Adult Sunday School for the next two Sundays, April 10 and 17. This week Bob is switching pulpits with Phil Gulley, and the following will be our special Easter Celebration.
Gnostic Gospel Group ~ Everyone is invited to join us on Thursday April 7th in the Parlor or on Zoom 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).
Restorative Yoga ~ Please join friend Kristyn Greenawald in a restorative yoga practice on Mondays April 11th and April 25th at 4:00 pm in Fellowship Hall. It will last for an hour. This gentle practice will stretch and restore you. $10 suggested donation. If you have any questions, reach out to Kristyn at her cellular number 317-409-2116 by text or call. Hope to see you there!
Join us for Palm Sunday! We hope you will plan to join us this Palm Sunday, April 10. We will resume our tradition of having the kids march in with palms to kick off the Meeting! Also, we will welcome our special guest speaker, Phil Gulley! He and Bob have switched pulpits for the day. We are thrilled to welcome Phil to our Meeting, and hope you will join us.
Philip Gulley is a Quaker pastor, writer, and speaker. He is currently pastor at Fairfield Friends Meeting in Camby, Indiana. He lives in the nearby town of Danville with his wife Joan and their two dogs, Ruby and Jack. They have two sons, and one granddaughter, Madeline, who rules the roost. Gulley has written 22 books, including his most recently published work of non-fiction, Unlearning God: How Unbelieving Helped Me Believe, in which he describes the process of spiritual growth, especially the re-interpretation of the earliest principles we learned about God. You can also read Gulley’s essays in every issue of Indianapolis Monthly and The Saturday Evening Post. Several times a month, Philip ventures from his Indiana home to tell stories, lead workshops, and discuss spirituality.
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 THIS SUNDAY, April 10. Thank you for your consideration.
Opportunities to Worship and Pray for Ukraine ~ All are invited to join us for a virtual Meeting for Worship to pray for Ukraine and to pray for peace. People from all over the world will be joining via Zoom in solidarity for peace. Friends in the US are invited to join Kyiv Friends each Sunday for their late meeting, which happens at 1pm Eastern time (please note the corrected time). For more information and the Zoom link, visit https://www.facebook.com/QuakersKyivUkraine/
Friends House Moscow (FHM) sponsors a Daily International Meeting for Worship for Peace. We hold in the Light all those affected by the events in Ukraine. Friends House Moscow is every day from12-1pm Eastern time. Please contact the office for Zoom information at office@indyfriends.org.
Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would love for you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss Let the Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty by Maurice Chammah. A deeply reported, searingly honest portrait of the death penalty in Texas—and what it tells us about crime and punishment in America
WINNER OF THE J. ANTHONY LUKAS AWARD
In 1972, the United States Supreme Court made a surprising ruling: the country's death penalty system violated the Constitution. The backlash was swift, especially in Texas, where executions were considered part of the cultural fabric, and a dark history of lynching was masked by gauzy visions of a tough-on-crime frontier.
When executions resumed, Texas quickly became the nationwide leader in carrying out the punishment. Then, amid a larger wave of criminal justice reform, came the death penalty's decline, a trend so durable that even in Texas the punishment appears again close to extinction. We meet Elsa Alcala, the orphaned daughter of a Mexican American family who found her calling as a prosecutor in the nation's death penalty capital, before becoming a judge on the state's highest court. We meet Danalynn Recer, a lawyer who became obsessively devoted to unearthing the life stories of men who committed terrible crimes, and fought for mercy in courtrooms across the state. We meet death row prisoners--many of them once-famous figures like Henry Lee Lucas, Gary Graham, and Karla Faye Tucker--along with their families and the families of their victims. And we meet the executioners, who struggle openly with what society has asked them to do.
We will gather in the parlor and simultaneously via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 led by Brenda R.
Nonviolence Training – We believe that Dr. King's vision for a Beloved Community is possible. We will achieve this by growing and living a culture of Nonviolence. You’re invited to a twelve-hour personal and professional development opportunity that will increase your knowledge, expand your perspective, and help you take action to build the Beloved Community with us. This is how we ensure our society and economy benefit everyone. This event is sponsored by the Indianapolis Martin Luther King Center. It will be held Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23, 10am-4pm at Common Ground Church at 46th & Illinois. For more information, please visit https://mlkcenterindy.org/nonviolence/
Words from the Woods
Do you like digging in the dirt and transplanting flowers? Weeding a flower bed? Picking up trash along Kessler Blvd? Join us as we pick up trash, transplant prairie drop seed and blue eyed grass and remove wild onion on Thursday morning April 7 from 9:30-11:00 AM.
Have you heard of “No Mow May”? Some communities choose not to mow the month of May to allow native pollinators to thrive on clover, dandelions and sedges. Help our early butterflies and bees thrive. For more, https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/ https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/travel/no-mow-may-wisconsin.html
Here's an interesting way to fight invasive species- feed them to your dog! I was reading Katharine Hayhoe’s book, Saving Us and here’s what Purina dog food has developed: https://rootlabpetfood.com/collections/invasive-species
So far, Emmett and Yogi find those Asian carp delicious.
A query for today. What actions can each of us take to keep our earth from further warming? Think of ways you can become more energy efficient and less fossil fuel dependent. Talk with friends and community members about your concern and hope for a healthier future.
Hortuscope has many opportunities to connect with local gardeners and native plant enthusiasts. See if there is an opportunity that “speaks to your condition.” Tending God’s creation renews the mind, body and spirit, so dig in!
https://hortusscope.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/HortusScope_Apr2022_rev2.pdf
May primary is May 3, 2022
The May primaries are coming up. Voting is both a privilege and an obligation for those who love this country. Early voting starts April 5 until May 2, 2022. You can vote absentee in person (early voting centers), mail-in ballot, or by traveling board for those who are homebound and need assistance. https://www.in.gov/idr/hoosiers-vote/vote-early/
Check your local newspaper for candidate information, or look for websites with the list of candidates and their voting record or political history.
“Please say,‘ NO!’ To Mosquito Joe and similar mosquito services. The insecticides are indiscriminate in their action. They kill helpful insects as well as mosquitoes. Use mosquito repellent, long sleeves. Save a monarch or a firefly. https://blog.nwf.org/2020/09/what-you-need-to-know-before-spraying-for-mosquitoes/
Mary B, Co-Clerk of the Meditational Woods
The Meditational Woods is celebrating 20 years of service to our community.
Afghan Family Learning the Ropes; Volunteers Learning New Skills; More Drivers Needed!
First Friends Afghan Project volunteers are learning many fun, new technical skills like using Bing.com/translator. Working with interpreters and accompanying family members to ethnic markets and health appointments is an educational experience. We have gone beyond the original four commitments to provide a welcome home apartment; stock the food pantry; provide rental assistance and collect and set up furnishings and household goods.
We are helping the family learn to use benefits and handle money as we shop with them. They need internet and we are in the process of arranging installation. We are introducing them to the community as they learn about new venues and places to visit. Engaging them in conversational English and helping with homework prove to be lively interactions. We are helping them with employment issues and in finding sports activities. Buying food and clothing with them and transporting them, when needed, are other current activities. We are providing tools for self-sufficiency such as bicycles, a sewing machine and gardening implements. We have purchased prayer cushions and Afghan kitchen items specific to their culinary traditions. At times these extra activities can be challenging for both the family and the volunteers. Bureaucracy comes with the volunteer and resettlement territory, unfortunately.
The family is hospitable and friendly. They usually provide attractive trays of dates, nuts and chocolates to visitors. They serve delicious teas that far surpass those made from a tea bag. Sometimes they serve mouth-watering meals to volunteers. These include fresh, colorful vegetables and fruits served raw or cooked to perfection with tasty blends of herbs and spices. The food delights the eye as well as the tummy. The meals are quite nutritious!
Vetted Drivers Needed
We could use a little more help with transportation if inactive, vetted volunteers would like to be back-ups. Drivers need to submit proof of insurance and drivers licenses to Exodus. Contact me if you would like to reengage in this manner.
Nancy S., Clerk
First Friends Afghan Project
Flood the Phones, Not Our Homes ~ Together we can make this month a turning point in our fight for health, climate, and God’s creation. From now until Friday, April 22, the Evangelical Environmental Network is hosting “Flood the Phones, Not Our Homes,” an opportunity for you to contact your Senators and urge them to act now by investing in crucial climate action.
Participating is easy! Simply call 1-866-531-4003 and enter your ZIP code. Use this sample message or feel free to personalize as you see fit!
This is a critical decade for climate change, and we must continue to act boldly and swiftly to address this pressing crisis. From extreme weather and fires to the poor health of our children and grandchildren, the harms of climate change are felt right now, across the country. This April, join us by calling your Senator and urging them to get bold climate investments across the finish line! Let’s flood the phones, not our homes.
Call Now: 1-866-531-4003 (To call both senators, simply redial the number, and you will be connected with your second state senator.)
Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for April
Yellow-throated Warbler
Last month I described a bird that reminded us that spring was right around the corner. This month’s selection, the Yellow-throated Warbler, arrives in early to mid-April, and signifies that spring has arrived indeed. In college days I remember going on bird expeditions to Southern Indiana over spring break, and oftentimes this species was the first spring-arriving warbler we found. We always heard it before we saw it. The song is, “too-weet, too-weet, too-weet, too-weet, too, too, TUHWEET. The first part goes down in pitch, while the very last goes up. The bird, which favors sycamores and pine trees, may a challenge to spot, but the song is loud, and with practice, unmistakable!!
As our Meditational Woods has both sycamores and pines, this bird is a good bet for visiting in the next couple of weeks. It will likely move on to a nesting habitat with a stream or river, but while it is here, let’s enjoy its angel-like herald of newly arrived springtime! -Brad J
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.
Queries for the Week
· Does unity still matter to me?
· How might I build trust with my neighbors and fellow Friends that I disagree with?
· Where do I need to seek to listen better, have an open heart, and truly honor what others bring to the table?