As Way Opens
My son Greg sent me this paragraph yesterday out of the AA Big Book - “All my life I depended on people for my emotional needs and security, but today I cannot live that way anymore. By the grace of God, I have admitted my powerlessness over people, places and things. I had been a real “people addict,” wherever I went there had to be someone who would pay some kind of attention to me. It was the kind of attitude that could only get worse, because the more I depended on others and demanded attention, the less I received. I have given up believing that any human power can relieve me of that empty feeling. Although I remain a fragile human being who needs to work A.A.’s steps to keep this particular principle before my personality, it is only a loving God who can give me inner peace and emotional stability.”
These truths go beyond those that are just in AA. There is much here that can apply to each of us. There are so many people trying to fill that emptiness with relationships, money, power, prestige, addictions of all sorts. This hole that will never be filled from others, is only complete with the love of God, a God that hounds us, a God that accepts us just as we are, that gives no shame but embraces us as God’s child. The journey to fill this emptiness is the journey of our lives.
I read recently that while religion has disappointed us from the beginning, we can’t throw it out because we humans need something to belong to, a place to feel loved and something to fill that emptiness. If we don’t have a community like the beautiful faith community here at First Friends where we experience the love of God, that creates a sense of belonging and a sense of fullness from God, we will be running fast to fill that hole and can choose destructive groups like a gang, a supremacist group, a cult, or other dangerous groups to help fill that emptiness. We will look for it in so many places and things and people. And we will come up empty.
As the Psalmist shares with us in Psalms 4:8, “I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” May we all lie down in the safety and peace of the Lord and feel the Lord’s fullness.
Beth
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
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!
Participate in our "Sponsor a College Student" project! Just select a college student and send them notes, cards, treats, etc throughout the school year so they feel connected. If you’d like to participate, take a student off the posterboard in the Meetinghouse. Please consider connecting with our students this year!
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 to 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."
Babysitting Co-Op ~ Our babysitting co-op is happening Saturday August 27, 4:30 – 8:30, hosted by Tiffany B and Beth H. Dinner will be provided for the kids. Please contact Beth if you would like to have your kids join in the fun that evening!
RecycleForce Presentation ~ Shalom Zone churches have arranged a presentation by Andrew King of RecycleForce at Epworth United Methodist Church on Tuesday evening August 30th at 7PM. RecycleForce is a non-profit organization with a mission of providing job training and support to folks released from prison. By providing recycling services for electronics they are also addressing important environmental concerns by keeping electronics out of our landfills. This is a unique organization that is providing important services to our community. Come and learn how RecycleForce is benefiting our community.
Are You Interested In Gleaning? ~ The Shalom Zone is trying to find out whether there are folks in our Shalom Zone churches who have an interest in gleaning crops. Gleaning is the process of walking through a farmer’s field and picking up produce left behind by machines that harvest the crops. The “gleaned produce” can then be donated to a food pantry or other organization who can use it. Notice of a gleaning event is typically short...a few days to perhaps a week. The farms are usually located in counties adjacent to Marion County. We would anticipate that we would meet at First Friends and ride together to the gleaning location. If you would be interested in helping with gleaning, please notify the First Friends office. Our thought is to develop an email list of interested folks to use when gleaning opportunities arise. Notice can then quickly be sent out to determine whether there are folks who are able to help for a particular gleaning event that arises. Think of this opportunity as something that can not only provide food for the needy, but great exercise! Thanks for your consideration.
From the Woods ~ On Sunday, I saw several American goldfinches enjoying the seed heads of our purple coneflowers in the courtyard. They are having a feast of the foods that are a part of their natural diet. Who have you seen eating from nature’s bounty in our courtyard and Woods?
On Monday, August 29, volunteers will be getting the Woods ready for the September 4 outdoor service in the Woods. If you are free from 9-11am, come join us do some weeding, getting the twigs and branches out of the area for the service. Insect repellent is recommended!
Upcoming events:
· The annual Indiana Water summit will be September 7 & 8. If you’re not familiar with the Indiana Water Summit, it is a two-day annual forum designed to take a look at all the issues that our water supply faces. You can find out more about the Indiana Water Summit here: https://thewhiteriveralliance.org/programs/water-summit/
· Solar United Neighbors will be participating in two local events to spread the word about the benefits of rooftop solar. The success of our co-ops and advocacy depends on the passionate solar neighbors who are inspired to talk to their neighbors and continually take action to advance solar power.
· Cumberland Baptist Church Green Festival (Saturday, 9/10 from 3pm - 6pm)
Cumberland First Baptist Church
116 S Muessing St, Cumberland, IN 46229
· Bates-Hendricks Street Fest (Saturday, 9/17 from 3pm - 8pm)
Bates-Hendricks Neighborhood
1546 S New Jersey St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
· Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Nature Conservancy’s Kankakee Sands on Saturday, September 24 (if you’re not able to attend the Women’s Retreat). Kankakee Sands is a fantastic place where part of the northwest plains have been restored and American Bison reintroduced. For more information and activity locations head to www.nature.org/events and be sure to mark September 24th, 2022 on your calendar!
~Mary B, Woods Co-Clerk
Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt by Arthur C. Brooks (256 pages) Everyone is welcome!
To get ahead today, you have to be a jerk, right?
Divisive politicians. Screaming heads on television. Angry campus activists. Twitter trolls. Today in America, there is an “outrage industrial complex” that prospers by setting American against American, creating a “culture of contempt”—the habit of seeing people who disagree with us not as merely incorrect, but as worthless and defective. Maybe, like more than nine out of ten Americans, you dislike it. But hey, either you play along, or you’ll be left behind, right?
Wrong.
In Love Your Enemies, the New York Times bestselling author and social scientist Arthur C. Brooks shows that abuse and outrage are not the right formula for lasting success. Brooks blends cutting-edge behavioral research, ancient wisdom, and a decade of experience of experience leading one of America’s top policy think tanks in a work that offers a better way to lead based on bridging divides and mending relationships.
Brooks’ prescriptions are unconventional. To bring America together, we shouldn’t try to agree more. There is no need for mushy moderation, because disagreement is the secret to excellence. Civility and tolerance shouldn’t be our goals, because they are hopelessly low standards. And our feelings toward our foes are irrelevant; what matters is how we choose to act.
Love Your Enemies offers a clear strategy for victory for a new generation of leaders. It is a rallying cry for people hoping for a new era of American progress. Most of all, it is a roadmap to arrive at the happiness that comes when we choose to love one another, despite our differences.
We will gather in the parlor simultaneously with Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 led by Mary B.
Mark your Calendar: 2022 Fall Kickoff! ~ We are excited for this year’s fall kickoff which will begin on Sunday, September 11th. Everyone is invited to wear your pajamas at the Meetinghouse that day! Sunday School classes will start at 9:00am and we will serve breakfast starting at 9:30am. The Seeking Friends adult Sunday School class will be led by Bob Henry. The choir will also meet starting at 9:00am. At this time, there will be no Sunday school for children or youth. We hope to see everyone that day in their pajamas for a fun day! Please join us.
Mark Your Calendars! Due to weather, Sunday Funday has been postponed to Sunday, September 4th. We will have Meeting for Worship outside for Labor Day weekend, as well as a bouncy house and slip ‘n slide. Please mark your calendars for that day!
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 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 lesser 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!
Green Team Summit 2022 is Approaching! You’re invited on Sunday, September 11 from 5:00-6:30 PM CT/6:00-7:30 ET for Green Team Summit keynote session with renowned climate scientist, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe! Dr. Hayhoe will deliver a live address with Q&A, exploring her latest book, Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World. Now, Saving Us gives us the tools to have those conversations with our friends and neighbors—successfully! This keynote session will be the first of six sessions, where participants will explore the intersection of faith, climate change, and justice, access lots of free resources and Faith in Place programs, meet other people passionate about environmental justice, and more! In addition to the virtual component welcoming guests from around the world, regional watch parties will be hosted in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. For more information and to register, please visit http://www.greenteamsummit.org.
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 Pastor Bob 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.
2022 First Friends Women’s Retreat: Kaleidoscope - The Magic of a Subtle Shift ~ 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 stay, 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.
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 Beth.
Last Week’s Queries
· Have any of my passions become obsessions?
· Do I live in humility and not hold my passions too tightly?
· How do I more passionately follow the path of St Francis?