This is a rather busy week in the Henry household. Not only is it Sue’s first full week of teaching, two of our boys will be heading to Indiana University on Sunday to become roommates for the school year. That means a lot of last-minute trips to Target and figuring out how we are going to get all their stuff in our van. Someone on Facebook this week mentioned that parents are currently releasing their young adults to the next leg of their life journeys. I like that idea, probably because a journey is how I have come to describe my own life.
During my morning walk on Monday, I was listening to Marcus Borg’s book, Days of Awe and Wonder. In it he describes the Christian life as not just about believing, but also as a journey. I found Borg’s description to be a universal truth whether we are going off to college or living our daily lives. Here is what Borg said,
To be on a journey is to be in movement. Moving from place to place – there is change in such a life. A journey is a process that involves our whole being. It involves our feet as well as our minds and our heads. A journey involves following a path or a way. To be on a journey is not to be wondering aimlessly., though there may be times when it feels like that; people have gone on this journey before us, and there is a trial, and path, a way that we are called to. The journey image suggests that the Christian life is more like following a path than it is about believing things with our mind.
A journey also involves a leaving, a departing, a setting out. It involves leaving home.
Whether leaving home is getting in your car and going to work in the morning or packing up your parent’s van and moving to college, each time we step out it offers us a plethora of possibilities. Borg closes by offering this:
We are invited to make that journey, that journey of faith, in which we learn to trust our relationship to God, learn to be faithful to that relationship, and learn to see in a new way. We will be led in that journey into an ever more wonderous and compassionate understanding of our lives with God.
Enjoy the journey this week in grace and peace,
Bob
Joys & Concerns
A big thank you to the 27 volunteers that spent part of their Saturday July 30th at the Dairy Bar at the Indiana State Fair. The Dairy Association sends us a check for $1600 for our participation there and we use this to help fund our youth activities. Thank you to the following folks: Lucy K, Sophie H, Phil G, Deb G, Tiffany B, Kevin F, Jim D, Carol D, James P, Halee P, Eric T, Erin T, Breda R, Selina G, Kathy R, Susan R, Mick V, Janis C, Jody L, Corinne I, Ray K, Kwali T, Jesse S , Sarah S, Deb S, and Barbara K. Thank you all!
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
SUNDAY FUNDAY! Friends, we hope you will join us for our annual Sunday Funday, which will take place this Sunday, August 14 after a special outdoor Meeting for Worship. Afterward we will share in our annual picnic and Sunday Funday with a bounce house, slip-n-slide, and games! Please bring a lawn chair for yourself if able. We’re also asking people to bring dishes to share! For last names A-J, please bring salad or side; and for last names K – Z, please bring dessert. We hope you will join us for this fun time of fellowship!
We are also excited to welcome our guest speaker for the day, Bridget Moix, General Secretary of Friends Committee on National Legislation!
Bridget Moix is the fifth General Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). She also leads two other Quaker organizations, affiliated with FCNL: Friends Place on Capitol Hill and FCNL Education Fund.
While serving primarily as an ambassador for FCNL and its vision, Bridget also ensures that all aspects of the organization are sustained and nourished. She supports a staff of 63 and a full legislative agenda based on the regular discernment of more than 200 Quaker meetings and churches around the country. Bridget joined FCNL in January 2022. She brings with her 25 years of work on international peace and conflict issues, with a focus on US foreign policy. Prior to joining FCNL, she served as US Executive Director of Peace Direct (2015-2021).
Bridget lives in Washington, D.C., with her two sons who nurture and challenge her peacebuilding skills every day. As a convinced Quaker, she is a member of Friends Meeting of Washington, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, and attends Mexico City Monthly Meeting (virtually).
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! Please note that for this month, we will meet on the fourth Thursday, August 25 at 7:00pm at Pastor Bob’s house. We will be excitedly kicking off our 6th year of Threshing Together! Beverages and light snacks will be provided. We will plan to meet in our backyard - weather permitting. We hope you will join us!
The Stamp team invites you to help assemble a jigsaw puzzle with a Love stamp theme. It is set up in Fellowship Hall. Come by and fit a piece in, or stay and work for a while. Or just admire the bright colors. It will be fun to watch it take shape. You might enjoy seeing your favorite past Love stamps in the puzzle. If you’d like to join the fun $tamping for Dollar$ team (which benefits Right Sharing of World Resources), contact the office.
Help Washington Township Students ~ Teachers and school social workers in Washington Township are collecting “back to school” items for some of their kids. Needed items are as follows: 1) Pencils, 2) Zip pencil bags for 3 ring notebooks, 3) Folders with 3 holes, 4) Spiral notebooks. First Friends (and the other Shalom Zone churches) will be collecting such items through August 14. Please place items in the box in the foyer of the meetinghouse. Thanks for your support. Also, a big “THANK YOU!” to those who contributed items to our previous Washington Township school collection effort.
SUMMER SING-A-LONG! Come join Jim, Jesse, and many Friendly noisemakers for a sing-a-long on Friday, August 12, 7pm, in Fellowship Hall. Bring your favorite percussion instruments. Some will be provided to share. Warm up those voices and join us!
Unheard Voices in Christianity ~ In the study group for Early Christian Writings, we found that there were many voices that have not been heard as Christianity developed its orthodoxy. Many of the women in who were instrumental in the early Jesus movement were under-emphasized or written out of the story altogether. If we are indeed created in God's image male and female, it is important for us to pay attention in the women in the Bible and other Christian writings. In our next round of study, we will pay attention to these women of the Bible and other important unheard or less known voices in Christianity.
We invite you to join us on Thursday September 8th for our first look at Unheard Voices in Christianity with an emphasis on women. Just as the people of the Jesus movement met to break bread before meeting and worshiping together, so will we. Join us at 6:30pm for a light meal in Fellowship Hall before we begin our study. If you have any questions or comments contact the office. We hope to see you there!
From the Woods- this has been a difficult summer for our trees and plants due to the hot, dry weeks in July. We are witnessing the changes in our climate due to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. An exciting bill is now before the House to help reduce inflation and encourage a transition to lower carbon in the air. See this newsletter from the Evangelical Environmental Network to see why this bill is important and why we encourage you to call your congressional representative and urge them to vote YES.
IFCL is encouraging every eligible to vote to register to vote and if registered, check to make sure your registration is up to date. You must be registered to vote by Monday, October 11, 2022. A democracy is dependent on people voting and making their voices heard. We believe having a balanced general assembly is better for democracy and for civil discourse. Check to see who is on the ballot for your district, as some districts have recently changed. https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/
The First Friends Thursday night Bible study invites you to study the book Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job: Three Ways of Wisdom for thirteen weeks beginning August 25. The book is in the Illuminate series, which was recommended by Bob Henry. Contact the office if you'd like to participate in this small group, or even if you'd like join only occasionally. The study meets by Zoom every Thursday at 7:30 pm. From the website: "These books of wisdom help readers consider life’s big questions of meaning, purpose, and the existence of suffering. Readers are encouraged to grow in wisdom and to avoid folly, and there's a promise offered—that by seeking wisdom, we will be guided into righteousness. This path is not free from suffering, but God is present, and we can find joy in the moments we have. Journey through these books to discover three aspects of biblical wisdom and reflect on how God is leading you in the way of wisdom today."
You’re Invited to the Indiana Water Summit ~ The Indiana Water Summit is an apolitical and inclusive annual forum developed to examine the complex interests and issues that face our water supply. The Summit’s subject matter seeks to remain consistent with and build upon current legislative actions in order to provide a broad planning perspective, weaving together diverse topics that together demonstrate the interdependency of water issues and the science behind the state of the waters. The summit will take place September 7th & 8th at the Athenaeum in downtown Indianapolis. Early bird registration ends this Friday, August 12! For more information and to sign up, visit https://thewhiteriveralliance.org/programs/water-summit.
Adult Quaker Affirmation Coming Soon ~ We are glad to offer an adult Quaker Affirmation class series which will begin on Sunday, October 2, from 11:30-1:00. This is an 8-week study of what it means to be a Quaker. It will cover Quaker history, theology, and what Quakers are doing in the world today. Anyone is welcome! If you’re interested, please contact the office.
2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat: Kalaediscope - Exploring from New Angles ~ Ladies, you’re invited to the 2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat! It will be Friday September 23rd beginning at 5:00 p.m. through 11:00 on Sunday Sept 25th. Rachel Doll O’Mahoney, the new pastor at Valley Mill Friends will be our retreat leader. We will gather at the Benedictine Center in Beech Grove and the Center will provide rooms and meals. We will gather together to talk about our lives the past 2 years and how our experiences are shaping our future. We will have workshops, free time, meals together and some fun activities. We invite you to reserve your spot by contacting the office. The following is the pricing for 2 nights, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts and one lunch:
Single room with private bath - $187
Single room with common bath - $158
Double room with private bath - $129
Double room with common bath - $117
We will have scholarships available to ensure anyone can attend if they want to. Our previous retreats have been a rich time of connection and community. This is a retreat that is trans inclusive/LGBTQ supportive.
USFW Annual Fall Retreat: Abounding in Hope ~ You’re invited to the Midwest Region United Society of Friends Women (USFW)’s Annual Fall Retreat, which will take place Monday-Tuesday, September 12-13 at Quaker Haven in Syracuse, Indiana. The theme is “Abounding in Hope” and will be led by Sylvia Graves Beane. There will be Opportunities for worship, fellowship, reflection and prayer. Because of COVID, masks will be required and all attenders will be asked to have a negative COVID test before arriving. The cost is $75 and includes accommodation and 3 meals. For more information and for the registration form, see their flyer here.
Indianapolis Festival of Faiths! Friends, the Festival of Faiths is coming around again and this time in person at White River State Park September 18th, 1:00 to 5:00pm! You can meet people of many different faiths, get "turbin-ized" by the Sikhs as Bob Henry did one year, join a drumming circle and maybe witness a Jewish wedding complete with the smashing of the wine glass. And of course, you can hang out with the Quakers and learn more about the Quaker Testimonies.
As in the past we expect to work with Fairfield Friends and perhaps another couple of local meetings. As always, we are looking for people to help us at the Quaker booth. Any amount of time is helpful but helping set up and take down are the times when we definitely need a minimum of two people.
If you would be willing to help with the booth, contact the office.
Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for August
Indigo Bunting: Seeing Is Believing…or Is It?
This time of year I love encountering male Indigo Buntings. These little jewels, although common, bring color to our summer landscape and our meditational woods. What color is the bird, really? Indigo is a shade that falls between blue and purple, and in spite of ROY G. BIV, some have argued that rainbows do not have a band of indigo color. There is not room here for the story of the indigo plant, slavery, and the refusal of some early Quakers to wear blue-colored cloth. The story I want to relate is about the true color of this bird. It is NOT blue (or indigo). The feathers that appear bluish are actually black!! While shoveling snow, have you ever noticed a hint of light blue color in the snow that will be the next shovelful? Have you ever seen the wall at the edge of a glacier that appears bluish? It is an optical illusion. There is no blue pigment in the snow or ice. What you see is the result of light striking the crystal structure, and being reflected into our eyes. The cells in the feathers of the bunting do the same thing, resulting in our perception of color. Indigo Buntings do have black wings and a black tail, and the head is a darker “blue” than the rest of the bird. Females are a grayish, milk-chocolate brown.
The song of the male Indigo Bunting is a series of paired notes on different pitches, sometimes ending with a triad of notes: “Fire, fire! Where, where? Here, here! See it, see it? Put it out!! We can debate whether it REALLY says that, or is simply our perception of the song. Hearing is believing?
- Photos and story by Brad J
This Week’s Queries
· What questions do I need to be asking about life?
· When do I find time to pause and reflect?
· Who could I work alongside and collaborate with?
· Who should I be serving, caring for, and helping?
· And how am I helping create a culture of respect at First Friends, in my family, and in my community?