As Way Opens
I don’t know about you, but I have had an abundance of helicopter seeds this year that hang on top of my gutters, cover my driveway and flower beds and have traveled to other driveways and lawns. I’ve never seen this amount of seeds and decided to do some research on the cause of this phenomenon.
These seeds are often called whirly birds, twisters, whirligigs or whirlinuts. Their technical name is Samara Fruit and they hold the seeds of the mighty maple tree. Because only a few animals eat the seeds and carry them elsewhere, these helicopters are winged in a perfectly shaped dimension to be able to fly and travel. When there is a year of abundance of the seeds, it means that the tree has experienced stress and wants to produce more seeds to ensure that if part of it dies, another tree will grow somewhere else.
What an analogy to our experience. We are coming out of such a stressful time and we need to be sure we are spreading seed for the future. We may never see the outcome of this planting and should not be concerned about that. Our calling is to fly on wings to send out seed in many places for others. As Thomas Merton says in his book, Seeds of Contemplation, “Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them; for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the good soil of freedom, spontaneity, and love.”
We don’t know the soil where we spread seed but that doesn’t matter. Spreading seed brings vitality to our own soul. And some of these seeds will find fertile soil and flourish far beyond us.
Beth
Joys & Concerns
Mid-North Food Pantry—Over $7,000 Raised! Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Mid-North Food Pantry (MNFP) fundraiser. We were very happy to present a check in the amount of $7,187 to Matt Jennings of the MNFP. We send our thanks to all who helped to make this a successful fundraiser. There were about 100 families helped at the pantry on that day!
Connect To Friends Fair! ~ A huge thanks goes out to those who participated in the fair last Sunday during Fellowship Hour. Many committees and groups were represented and the booths were amazing! We are blessed to have so many faithful Friends doing such meaningful work here at the Meeting.
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Gnostic Gospel Group ~ A couple of weeks ago we dug into the ever controversial topic of resurrection and had a very lively conversation! Before taking a summer break, we will meet one more time on Thursday, May 26 at 6:30pm in the Parlor for our usual light meal before discussion. We will be discussing The Prayer of the Apostle Paul and The Second Book of the Odes to Solomon. We will also talk about possible plans for the fall. If you are interested in joining this group study on the non-canonical/Gnostic Gospels, contact the meeting office (office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485).
No Meditational Worship Next Week ~ Friends, due to the holiday there will be no Meditational Worship next Monday, May 30. The office will also be closed that day. We hope you and your family have a good Memorial Day!
Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like for you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss Hamnet: a Novel of the Plague by Maggie O'Farrell (373 pages) A New York Times Notable Book (2020) Best Book of 2020: Guardian, Financial Times, Literary Hub, and NPR.
Drawing on Maggie O'Farrell's long-term fascination with the little-known story behind Shakespeare's most enigmatic play, HAMNET is a luminous portrait of a marriage, at its heart the loss of a beloved child.
Warwickshire in the 1580s. Agnes is a woman as feared as she is sought after for her unusual gifts. She settles with her husband in Henley street, Stratford, and has three children: a daughter, Susanna, and then twins, Hamnet and Judith. The boy, Hamnet, dies in 1596, aged eleven. Four years or so later, the husband writes a play called Hamlet.
Award-winning author Maggie O'Farrell's new novel breathes full-blooded life into the story of a loss usually consigned to literary footnotes, and provides an unforgettable vindication of Agnes, a woman intriguingly absent from history.
We will gather in the Parlor and simultaneously via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 led by Loryne C.
Restorative Yoga ~ Please join friend Kristyn G in a restorative yoga practice session! These sessions will take place on Tuesday May 31; Mondays June 20 & 27; and Mondays July 11 & 25 at 4:00 pm in Fellowship Hall. Each session will last for an hour. This gentle practice will stretch and restore you. $10 suggested donation. Hope to see you there!
Your Talent is Needed! ~ The choir has gone on break for the summer. Please see the signup sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway to sign up for summer music! We are hoping you will come share your talent with the congregation while our choir takes a break. Be it with your voice by singing or by playing an instrument. Sign up now for any or several Sundays over the summer. Thank you for sharing your God-given gifts!
View our Bloopers! We always work hard to put forth a nice, polished video service each Sunday. But did you know that it took a lot of time and tries to get things just right? We put together a second short blooper reel to share! View it on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/Xqp0aKg2MmA for a good laugh!
Donations Needed ~ Leslie K works in a nonprofit residential treatment center for substance abuse disorders; many of the men who come in for treatment have come off the streets or have been incarcerated. If you've been doing spring cleaning and would like to donate gently used men's clothing, tennis shoes, books, Bibles, backpacks, duffels or unused musical instruments, any or all would be greatly appreciated by the residents. Donations can be left at the meeting house.
Artful Meditation ~ Join our instructor Shawn H on Saturday, June 4, from 10am-11:30 in Fellowship Hall as we make art while exploring the theme of joy. For this session jars will be prepped for painting and decorating, Also Shawn will set up a watercolor station and show some cool techniques that can be used. This is open to all ages. Shawn says, "Those that wish to attend will only need to bring themselves and their thoughts of what brings them joy in their everyday lives."
Save the Date: Organ Concert! We are so excited to announce an Organ Concert put on by our new organist, Wolff von Roos. We are very excited to hear him play! Join us on Sunday, June 5th at 4pm at Indianapolis First Friends. Be sure to save the date!
HIV Survivors Awareness Day Celebration ~ You’re invited to a celebration honoring long-term survivors and community advocates of HIV and celebrating their stories. It will take place on Sunday, June 5th, 3-5pm at Broadway United Methodist Church, 609 E 29th St, Indianapolis 46205. It will feature keynote speaker Rev. Leah Gunning Francis, Ph. D, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Christian Theological Seminary. There will be musical entertainment as well as survivor testimonies. For more information, visit https://broadwayumc.org.
Night of 1000 Comics! (Give or Take a Few) ~ You’re invited to a night of clean comedy on Sunday, June 5 at 7:00pm at Epworth United Methodist Church (6450 Allisonville Road). Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, with 25% of proceeds benefitting Society of St Andrew – Feeding America’s Hungry. Featured comics include Paul Aldrich, Robert G. Lee, and Gordon Douglas. To buy tickets and for more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/night-of-1000-comics-give-or-take-a-few-tickets-289003295637.
The Overman Family Scholarship, in memory of Jess and Mark Overman, is available again this year. High school seniors through graduate students are welcome to apply. Undergraduate students will be given first consideration. The scholarship fund is designated to support the members and attenders of Indianapolis First Friends Meeting. Scholarship funds may be applied to any school related expense, i.e. books, supplies, tuition, housing, computer, etc. The deadline for application is June 19th. For an application, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
Tell Your Senators: Climate Can’t Wait ~ This is a critical decade for the climate crisis, and together we can make this season a turning point for the health of our families and God’s creation. Join with the Evangelical Environmental Network as we “Flood the Phones, Not Our Homes” by calling your Senators and urging them to act now by investing in crucial climate action. Simply call 1-866-531-4003 and enter your ZIP code. Use this sample message or feel free to personalize as you see fit.
Call Now: 1-866-531-4003 (To call both senators, simply redial the number, and you will be connected with your second state senator.)
The Gospel of John: Illuminate Summer Speaker Series ~ You’re invited to join Barclay Press & Pendle Hill for a series of evening discussions with authors of the Illuminate Friends Bible Study summer curriculum on the Gospel of John. The series will kick off on Monday, June 13 at 7:30, and will take place the 2nd and 4th Mondays, June through August, from 7:30pm - 9:00pm Eastern Time via Zoom. Speakers will share insights from their studies as they prepared this summer’s lessons and “Friendly Perspectives.” This quarter’s Illuminate introduces us to the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus in this unique gospel, the most theological of the four gospels in the Bible. “Friendly Perspectives” accompany each week’s lesson, showing Jesus’s encounters with a variety of people, and prompting us to consider what it means to be a Friend of Jesus in this time. The basic fee for the series is $125, or $25 per single session. Financial assistance is available. For the schedule and more information as well as registration, visit https://pendlehill.org/events/illuminate-summer-speaker-series-2022/.
VBS: Sign-Ups Open & Volunteers Needed! This year we are having Vacation Bible School from Sunday June 26th through Thursday, June 30th. Registration is now open! We invite you to sign up your kids and grandkids, and invite your neighbors as well! This year’s theme is Monumental: Celebrating God’s Greatness. We are in need of volunteers for crew leaders and people to bring snacks during one of the weeknights. This is a wonderful event that children look forward to each year and we are able to offer it free of charge thanks to volunteers like you! If you can help, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.
Changing Footprints ~ Changing Footprints is a nonprofit that collects new and gently used shoes for distribution to homeless, disaster-stricken, or underprivileged people. They are on track to distribute a record 50,000 pairs this year just from the north Indy location alone. They provide gently used footwear to local nonprofits as well as refugees and the needy in foreign countries. Please bring to the Donation Station in Fellowship Hall any footwear that you no longer need. They collect all types, and are very grateful for your past contributions! Thank you.
Mark Your Calendars! First Friends will be working at the Dairy Bar again at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday, July 30th all day. Please consider volunteering for either a morning or afternoon shift for this major fundraiser for our youth programming. More details to come!
“I Am Spiritual but Not Religious!” ~ “Spiritual but not religious” (SBNR) is a popular phrase and initialism used to self-identity a life stance of spirituality that does not regard organized religion as the sole or most valuable means of furthering spiritual growth. First Friends Meeting of Kokomo invites you to a series of events focusing on examining this idea. The series begins with an evening of worship on Friday, July 8 at 6:30pm. On Saturday the 9th there will be a BBQ picnic at 5pm followed by a Talk on Kenya, Africa. Then on Sunday at 10:30am they will have Meeting for Worship with guest speakers Shawn McConaughey, General Superintendent of Western Yearly Meeting and Oscar Mmbali, Pastoral Minister of Belize City Friends. Join Kokomo Friends at 1801 Zartman Rd, Kokomo, IN 46902. For more information, view the flyer here or contact kokomofirstfriends@gmail.com.
Afghan Family Update
I joined the team of folks assisting our second Afghan family over 3 weeks ago, helping primarily with transportation. It has been a very rewarding and educational experience so far and we will be continuing to help them beyond the initial 90 days. The funds donated by First Friends members and attenders and community members has been most helpful and essential in helping with transportation needs such as bicycles, and equipment, rain gear, bus passes, etc., in addition to many other living expenses. Our goal is to help them to function independently, but coming to a new country when they have lost almost all that they owned, as well as experiencing deep personal losses has required a lot of assistance for this to happen. I remember having the sense one day when I was assisting a family member that it must feel like having landed on another planet, not knowing the language, culture or local geography, nor having any extended family support.
In regard to transportation, I found a 2019 WalletHub evaluation of public transportation in America that ranked Indianapolis last of 100 cities in the U.S. An example of this was when I looked up directions on my phone to the father’s place of employment which indicated it would be 8 minutes by car, 22 minutes by bicycle and 1 hour and 15 minutes by bus. While going by bus in Indy can be helpful at times, at others it could be described by, “You can't get there from here”, so there are still some challenges to be met.
I am very grateful for the chance to help this family, all of whom are friendly, respectful, appreciative, ready to laugh and to support each other. I am also grateful for our great team who are very supportive of each other and our family. Last but not least, I am grateful to everyone at First Friends who has contributed to this project and I know that our Afghan family members are very grateful also.
Dana F
First Friends Afghan Project
Team Member
Help Barclay Press! Barclay Press publishes and sells Quaker writers and other books of interest to seekers and those who wish to let their lives speak. BP is having a hard time financially and is seeking donations to help it transition into a self-supporting enterprise, as it is no longer funded by Northwest Yearly Meeting. Friends here deem it to be a worthy organization which operates on a shoestring. If you need more information about BP, you may email publisher Eric Muhr at emuhr@barclaypress.com. Here are some things you can do to help:
CHOOSE BARCLAY TITLES: Do you lead a book study group or First Day School class? Instead of selecting from Amazon, choose a Barclay book. Click this link to see the many enlightening titles sold by BP, including Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman, I'll Push You, A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Friends and a Wheelchair, by Patrick Gray, et al, So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo, many wonderful books of poetry and more. Click here to go to their shopping page, where you'll find a search bar in the upper right corner. All Books (barclaypressbookstore.com)
SHOP BARCLAY BOOKS: Birthdays, graduations, Father's Day, Christmas... go to the previous link to search the nearly 400 available titles. You can also search for BP titles on Amazon if you find it easier, but remember that Amazon takes a big cut of sales, so be sure to order directly from BP. When you shop, consider rounding up to the nearest five or ten dollars to make a small donation to BP.
DONATE: Click the DONATE button now on this page: BARCLAY PRESS to make an online donation or send a check to the address at the page of the same web page.
Queries for the Week
· When I am in the thick of the storms of life, do I take Jesus’ advice or simply push on?
· Do I find a quiet place to rest?
· Do I intentionally find time to recover and renew my life?
· Do I, while everyone else is frantic around me, have the personal awareness and fortitude it takes to find a place stop the madness around me and really rest?