As Way Opens
After taking our boys off to college last week, I finally found some time to enjoy our backyard once again. Sitting with a warm cup of coffee on our back porch in the early morning, I observed that much like our own boys, our gardens are in transition as well. Summer may be coming to an end, yet our Clematis is making one last resurgence and sending out some final blossoms. While our trees are starting to show some color change, the autumn bloomers are just at their peak.
I love these last moments of summer because they give us a chance to pause and enjoy all the work we have done throughout the spring and summer months. Another word for this moment is selah as is often seen in the book of Psalms. Many believe selah was a liturgical-musical mark meaning to stop and listen. Often while I am sipping my coffee, I simply get lost in the stillness and sacredness of this natural space, and I embrace Selah. It rejuvenates me and helps me prepare for what fall will bring in a few short weeks.
The other day as I was sitting on my porch, the following poem by poet and farmer, Wendell Berry came to mind. It articulates this transition taking place before our eyes.
The Summer Ends
by Wendell Berry, from A Timbered Choir
The summer ends, and it is time
To face another way. Our theme
Reversed, we harvest the last row
To store against the cold, undo
The garden that will be undone.
We grieve under the weakened sun
To see all earth’s green fountains dried,
And fallen all the works of light.
You do not speak, and I regret
This downfall of the good we sought
As though the fault were mine. I bring
The plow to turn the shattering
Leaves and bent stems into the dark,
From which they may return. At work,
I see you leaving our bright land,
The last cut flowers in your hand.
This week, take a moment to stop and listen to the transitions taking place all around us as we enter the season of autumn. Listen to the birds rustling, the leaves as they fall, and embrace selah in preparation for this new season to emerge.
Grace and peace,
Bob
Joys & Concerns
Our kids had a great time at our babysitting co-op this past weekend! Look at all the smiles!
Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities
Selling a Car? Help Someone in Need! One of our attenders, Rosita M is seeking a reliable and affordable used vehicle. If you have one, or know of someone who may have one for sale, please contact the office. Thank you!
Maple Seeds Preschool Fall Harvest Mum Buddies Fundraiser! Maple Seeds Preschool Coop (MSPC) is selling fun fall mum buddies! Sales of these fun potted mum plants will directly benefit MSPC. (Watch the Kickoff Video here!) Hurry—orders must be placed by the end of the day on Friday, September 2nd! Plants will be available for pickup starting October 5th at the Meetinghouse (an email reminder will be sent). To browse or place an order, visit https://app.fundraiseit.org/shop.php?code=14C8DE. Thank you for supporting MSPC!
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!
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.
Mark Your Calendars! Due to weather, Sunday Funday has been postponed to this 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!
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.
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!
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 H. 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 in their pajamas for a fun day! Please join us.
“Hijacking History” IPJC Event ~ The Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center is delighted to invite you to their Speakers Event. The topic will be Hijacking History: How the Christian Right Teaches History and Why it Matters. Dr. Kathleen A. Wellman, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor at Southern Methodist University will draw on material from her book by the same title recently published by Oxford University Press, and will also address recent proposed legislation in the state of Indiana and debates about Critical Race Theory. There will be time for questions and discussion following her remarks. It will be held on September 14th at 7:00 pm on Zoom. If you’re interested, please RSVP to indypeaceandjusticectr@gmail.com. A Zoom link will be sent to all who RSVP prior to the event. We hope you will join us!
Seasoned Friends Is Back! Seasoned Friends will gather again for the first time in a few years since the pandemic on Thursday, Sept 29th at 11:30. We will have a soup and salad lunch together and talk about the things we would like to experience together as a group over the next few months. This has been a wonderful gathering in the past for anyone over 50 that appreciates gathering for food, fellowship and interesting activities. We welcome anyone that considers themselves a Seasoned Friend to join us. If you’re interested, please RSVP to the Meeting Office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.
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.
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 common bath - $158
Double room with common bath - $117
(Please note that only common bath rooms are left.) 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.
Being an Afghan Youngster in America~ The First Friends Afghan Project (FFAP) continues to sponsor our Afghan family. FFAP provides services, including transportation when public transit is not feasible for them.
I took the family’s youngest son to soccer practice a few weeks ago. I witnessed how the benefit of our support (in a country free of violence perpetrated by a military on its own citizens) can make a difference in the quality of life for children who have endured traumatic events. As this young man was practicing soccer on a beautiful sunny evening, he suddenly stopped what he was doing and raised his arms with a joyful smile toward the sky. It seemed like a prayer of joy and gratitude that he could just be a boy and worry about nothing but having fun with friends.
It is very rewarding to help this family to adjust to living in a new country and to help them to learn the skills and knowledge they need, especially when it results in such joy and gratitude.
~ Dana F, Team Member, First Friends Afghan Project
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.
This Week’s Queries
· Why do you do what you do? And why is that important to you?
· Why do you get out of bed every day?
· What do you believe at your very core?
· What is the one reason you keep coming back to, regardless of what you’re doing or how you’re doing it?