Friend to Friend July 15, 2020

July 16, 2020

As Way Opens

I receive a daily blog (called Faith and Life Inspirational Message) from Alan Kolp, Quaker and former professor at Earlham College and former dean of Earlham School of Religion. He recently wrote about a group that he zooms into that engaged in a conversation that really impacted him when a woman in the group said that the church should be in the streets now. He shared that in the middle of the group conversation a young woman dropping that sentence on them, stunned him. She simply stated, “For me, church is in the streets right now.” Wow! The power and insight of this comment cut him to the bone. It was an intriguing affirmation of the church, but the church affirmed in a very different way. It was an insightful, creative way to answer the question, where is the church today?

I have been thinking a lot about this over the last few weeks. Where is First Friends? Are we the building that we entered for so many years on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday? Or are we a community without regard to our building? Are we a church in the streets?

I am reflecting on the early church in the Bible. Jesus ministry was certainly in the streets and the early church that grew dramatically was certainly a church in the streets. But over the years, the church became established, respectable, and more about the building, the Sunday morning service, the belief system, and the connections made and networks established.

I want First Friends to be a church in the streets. For me this means that we are a beacon of Light in the city, extending our collective arms around all and standing up for justice and peace. What does a church in the streets mean to you?

There are so many issues facing us right now. For many of us, being in the streets will not be a literal action but a virtual and figurative action to be out in the mud and messiness of all of our lives and to respond to God’s call in our hearts for each of our ministries.

Beth

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Update from the flowers ~ The Woods and the Courtyard are sending greetings of joy amid all the challenges we are encountering with the weather, COVID and political discord. Mindy and I gave them an extra drink of water and removed the noxious weeds and they responded with beauty and vibrancy and food for the pollinators who stopped by to chat and share in their bounty. If you can’t make it over to the Meetinghouse, go to your nearby garden and invite yourself to a charming visit.

Sadly, we lost two bird friends who probably flew into the big windows of Fellowship Hall. Birds can become confused by the reflections in the glass and think they are flying into safety. Check out this article from the American Bird Conservancy about the many birds who die each year from collisions with glass windows. https://abcbirds.org/get-involved/bird-smart-glass/

Interested in our men’s small group? Last Spring Kent F helped start a men’s book club small group at First Friends. The group is currently meeting on alternating Thursday nights at the home of Derek S to take advantage of great weather and have space to spread out, with the garage and Zoom being our backups. If you would like to join us for the next group of discussions, please contact one of us directly. We’ll begin sharing the next book, a collection of Steven Crane's short stories "The Open Boat and other Stories" on July 23rd. We've chosen to explore Glennon Doyle's "Untamed" after that.

Western Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions! All are invited to join the WYM annual sessions this July 24-26. This year our own Bob Henry will be recorded! Try as we might to stay in our comfort zone, this year’s annual sessions must be a drastic contrast to what we are used to. What are the elements we will miss the most? The face-to-face conversations we cherish with our spiritual friends. The comradery we feel when we come together as a body of believers. And, the strength we gain when we journey together.

With the way to our Yearly Meeting sessions are planned using technology join us, there is little we can do to make up for those missing elements. However, most events that will be offered on Zoom will have a “fellowship” time 15 minutes prior to starting the event during which we invite you to sign on and chat with others. In the printed schedule you will see a gray area that indicates time for gathering and socializing. We hope it is an acceptable substitute for greetings and maybe even hugs for the time being what it is. And we look forward to seeing you in those safe and protective little boxes on the screen. Here find the updated draft schedule as we have it. There will be adjustments yet to come in the next versions. Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, you can contact Western Yearly Meeting westernym@sbcglobal.net.

Perennial Herb Varieties (Part 2)

Marjoram is closely related to oregano. It is a creeping plant and reveals its strongest flavors if it is grown in a sunny locale. Marjoram must be cut back in the summer to make room for tasty new growth. If flowers are not removed the herb becomes tough. This perennial is drought resistant. The leaves have a spicy flavor and are a favorite in Mediterranean cuisine. Add marjoram leaves—not stems-- to vegetables, tomato-based dishes, stuffing, forcemeats, sausages, preserved meats, game, poultry and legumes. Add them at the end of cooking time. The herb and its oil are used as flavorings. The flowers, leaves and oil are used to make medicine and treat runny nose, coughs, colds, infections and digestive problems though there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.*

Mint spreads readily. To prevent this, gardeners can grow it in containers, even containers pushed into the ground. There are many types of mint including peppermint and spearmint. Mint is an upright plant that needs moist soil. It should be cut back in the summer to make room for new growth; flowers should be removed to preserve tenderness. Mint is used as a flavoring, a breath freshener and a garnish. It works well in both sweet and savory dishes. This herb is commonly used in salads and pesto. It is often used in drinks: tea, smoothies and fizzlers. It can be combined with berries or watermelon and even used to add pizazz to your Greek yogurt.

Oregano is a flowering perennial in the mint family. It sports purple flowers produced in erect spikes. Fresh oregano is an antibacterial agent with ingredients which fight infections such as staph. It contains antioxidants that help prevent cell damage, and it’s an excellent source of fiber, vitamin B6, manganese, iron, vitamin E, tryptophan and calcium. It has a slightly pungent flavor and a camphor-like aroma. An oregano tea contains the chemical carvacrol, which can be used to reduce blood pressure.* The herb’s name comes from the Greek words “oros,” meaning mountain, and “ganos,” meaning joy. Greeks and Romans used oregano as a symbol of happiness and joy. This perennial is often used in tomato-centric recipes, like pizza and pasta sauce, as well as olive oil-based dishes. Oregano and olive oil combinations result in oregano oil, Italian vinaigrettes, and marinades for lamb, chicken, and beef dishes. It is good in herbed breads and patted into burgers. Oregano also goes well with beans and pesto.

Rosemary is an aromatic, woody, ornamental herb. It is a shrubby evergreen with needle-like leaves that has potential to grow throughout the winter, though probably not in our 5b and 6a hardiness zone. It has white, pink, purple, or blue flowers. It is difficult to grow from seeds and The Farmer’s Almanac suggests starting it from cuttings. The perennial needs a sunny location with well-drained soil. It is drought tolerant but can be short-lived. Be sure to pinch back tips and prune for best results. Harvest up to one-third of the plant at any one time before taking more. It does not transplant into containers very easily so divide the plant or get cuttings for next season. The herb has a resinous flavor and teams well with lamb. It can be used in stews, soups and poultry dishes. Some say you can wear a sprig of rosemary in your hair or drink rosemary tea to improve your memory. *

Sage is a drought tolerant aromatic shrubby perennial with grey-green or purple leaves. Leaves can be variegated. This herb fares best in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. The easiest way to grow sage is to start with a small plant or cutting though you can use seed. Harvest lightly the first year. Once established, plants need to have tops pinched if they are to grow shrubby and strong. Stop harvesting in the fall so the plant can build strength for the winter. The heavier, woody stems need to be pruned every spring and plants should be replaced every few years in order to be productive. Many dishes can be flavored with sage including stuffing, beans and meat. Some people burn sage in an ancient spiritual ritual known as smudging in a belief that the practice cleanses and releases negativity.*

Thyme is an herb that does well in pots as well as beds. It can even be used as a no-mow lawn bed. There are upright types that are easy to harvest for culinary use, and there are creeping types that often have roots on their spreading stems. This means they are easily propagated. Thyme is a versatile herb that can be used in dishes like soups, rubs, marinades, salads and stews. It can be used with vegetables and seafood. If cooked too long in cuisine featuring poultry, meats and stuffing it can lose its delicate flavor—that of a slightly sour taste similar to mild lemon. Many times the herb can be added after cooking with a lid kept on as the pot is removed from the heat source. When a recipe calls for a sprig of thyme the stem should remain until after the leaves have fallen away during cooking. Only then should the stem be retrieved. Thyme’s flavor complements Southern Italian sauces of hot peppers and eggplants. The perennial is said to help the digestion of fatty foods.*

Enjoy spicing up your veggies & foods with some of these delicious perennials! ~Nancy

*I cannot guarantee medical and ritualistic claims mentioned in this article. The piece does contain practical information, but it is also for fun and recreation and is not necessarily backed up by scientific findings. Some herbs can be detrimental to health given certain medical conditions and if quantities an-re extreme. Please do your research.

Sources for this article include webmd.com, thespruceeats.com, mydeliciousblog.com, en.m.wikipedia.org, almanac.com, healthline.com, foodal.com, medicalnewstoday.com, masterclass.com, cookinglight.com, BBC.uk.food.com, and Small Plot; Big Harvest by Lucy Halsall.

All are invited to Fellowship Hour and Meeting for Business ~ After virtual worship this Sunday, we hope you will join us at 11:00am on Zoom for Fellowship Hour! For the link to join, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Service? Did you miss our Sunday Service premiere? Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56DTA6VchF4. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

How do I respond to the word, contemplation?
Am I “waking up” to new understandings during this difficult time?
How does my spiritual journey and relationship with God affect my contemplation?

(From self-led guide)

Do I recognize God’s love for me? What may be getting in the way of my receiving that love from God?
Who in my circles of influence needs to hear that they are loved, today?
Do I really believe God’s love is enough in this world?

Comment

Friend to Friend July 8, 2020

July 9, 2020

As Way Opens

Unexpected…now, there is a word I use more frequently these days.

Just the other day, I was reminiscing about all the major changes coming to our family in 2020 and the many milestones we would be celebrating as summer approached, only to end it with…“but then came the unexpected.” I am sure you have utilized that phrase on numerous occasions over the last couple of months.

Not only are we living in unprecedented times, we are experiencing the unexpected. If someone would have predicted back in January that we were going to be enduring a global pandemic, wrestling nationally with racial unrest, not having sports, concerts, or even Fourth of July celebrations, being isolated in our homes, washing off our groceries, wondering if there would be enough toilet paper and hand sanitizer, and wearing face masks, I would have probably thought you were from another planet. But ironically, what has taken place is the exact definition of unexpected.

The dictionary says the word unexpected means not regarded as likely to happen.

So far during this pandemic, Sue and I have carefully watched our emails only to receive update upon update explaining the likeliness of things not happening this summer. Our expectations of how things would play out slowly fell apart and it has been rather disappointing.

Then, this week, I was reading an article that quoted the Buddhist nun Pema Chodron and the following quote caught my attention and spoke to my condition. She said,

“Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.”

Personally, I did not have room for all that has already happened in the world – and if I am honest, I probably still don’t. So much has been unexpected. So much has fallen apart, come together, and fallen apart again. And as we see another spike in the Covid-19 cases across our nation, I have to ask myself, am I making room in my life for the unexpected to test me, to heal me, and to allow me a place to grieve, find relief, and joy? It has me again asking those words of James in the Bible, “…yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life (James 4:14a)”

Is our life simply about our expectations, our passing the test, our overcoming the problems and finding solutions? Or since we can’t always control what life is going to bring, are we focusing on making room for the unexpected to happen so with God’s help we can find relief and true joy in this world? Take a moment this week and allow yourself to ponder these thoughts and hopefully you will find room for some relief and joy during these difficult times.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Thank you to all who volunteered at the food pantry last Wednesday, July 1: Linda and Rik L; Kathy and Bill F; Phil G; Derek, Virginia and Melanie S; David B; Carol and Jim D. 63 families were served. Thank you for your service!

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

We recently received a note from the Secretary of Keyo Friends Women Group in Kenya thanking Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) for the food aid which was recently sent. This is the group that together with your support, First Friends was able to sponsor through RSWR. To see the note in full, click here.

Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) is a fellowship opportunity for young adults excited by the intersection of justice and Quaker spiritual deepening. This year, 36 Fellows are participating in this experiment, working at nonprofits in one of our five program cities, living in community together, and considering how their spirituality is integrally connected with community and justice. Fellows work with those experiencing homelessness, engage with climate change issues, support individuals in navigating the immigration system, teach in classrooms, work at neighborhood health centers, and so much more. Meanwhile, Fellows meet monthly with a Spiritual Nurturer and worship with Quaker communities. The current focus on the racial justice movement, global health pandemic, and economic crisis brings into even sharper relief QVS’s call to provide Spirit-grounded service opportunities for young adults.

This summer, QVS will celebrate the end of the eighth program year and the nearly complete four-year fundraising campaign to raise an additional $2.2 million to deepen the program offerings and seed an endowment. We have just $55,000 left to raise!

We welcome contributions from you as you consider how you are led to steward your financial resources. There is so much need in our local communities, in this country, and in the world right now. QVS is an opportunity to make change in all of these levels. Young adult Fellows work at local nonprofits before continuing into whole lives dedicated to spiritually grounded social change. If you are able to make a financial offering, please visit the QVS website for ways to give. This is truly the best way you can help QVS Fellows and the vulnerable communities they serve right now. Beth serves on the QVS board and thinks this is an amazing organization for our young people!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Interested in our men’s small group? Last Spring Kent F helped start a men’s book club small group at First Friends. In the last year we’ve covered “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl (Biography), "Let Your Life Speak" (self-help) by Parker Palmer, “Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemmingway, “Billy Budd” by Herman Melville, “Shane” (a Western) by Jack Schaefer, and “Freedom’s Forge” (History), and we are currently finishing up “Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work” by Alex Pattakos. The group is currently meeting on alternating Thursday nights at the home of Derek Snell to take advantage of great weather and have space to spread out, with the garage and Zoom being our backups. Our plan is to return to the Meeting House when it reopens. If you would like to help us choose our next book and/or join us for the next group of discussions, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. We’ll begin sharing the next book on July 23rd.

Raising Perennial Herbs

Perennial herbs live more than two years and are usually flowering plants. They grow and bloom over spring and summer, die back every autumn and winter, and then return in the spring from their rootstock. They can be used as decoration, borders, topiaries, food, garnishes and even lawn beds or no-mow grass. [Some plant types recommended for lawns are violet, plantain, yarrow, clover, Roman chamomile, purslane, lamb’s quarters, oregano, creeping thyme and several species of mint.] Perennials grow fast and can be raised in beds or containers. It is possible to dine on them year-round if raised indoors or if they are hardy. They can be served fresh or dried and stored for later use. Some perennials are tall, some are shrubby and others creep on the ground. They can be sown from seed, grown from cuttings or bought in pots. Evergreen types like bay and rosemary may need pruning and can grow all year, depending on the hardiness zone where they are located. Usually herbs need no fertilizer but they should be planted in a sunny spot with rich, well-drained soil. They need to be well-watered and if the gardener wants them bushy, flowers and tips need to be pinched off so they do not bolt and leaves can be harvested longer. Scissors or a sharp knife should be used to harvest them and they should be harvested often during the growing season. Place slug pellets or eggshells around perennials to stave off pests.

Drying Herbs

Perennial herbs can be dried for use throughout the winter. Short stems like thyme and marjoram can be laid out on wire racks for 24-48 hours and then stored away from light in sealed containers. Longer stems can be cut, bunched and hung upside down in a warm, dry, well-ventilated place.

Bay leaves grow on the laurel tree. These aromatic evergreen leaves can be trained into standards and used as topiaries. The plant can be large and may need pruning. It cannot survive Indiana winters outdoors. In cooking, the leaf can be used whole or dried and ground. The leaves are not generally eaten but are usually simmered or used in a braising liquid and then removed after cooking since they do not soften and since they have sharp edges that could even slice the digestive tract or choke a person. Bay leaves are good for digestion and rich in vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium.* They are commonly used in stews, soups, rubs, pickling brines, stuffing and when braising meat.

Perennial Herb Varieties (Part 1)

Chives have a mild flavor and are from the onion family. The pretty purple flowers and green leaves or stems can be used in many dishes such as scrambled eggs, soups, dips and sauces. They can be mixed into butter and pesto. They may be pureed with oil, heated a couple minutes and strained through a coffee filter before being refrigerated as a bright green infusion. This can be stored in a squirt bottle and splashed over grilled or poached fish and poultry. It can top roasted potatoes, pasta or creamy soups as a fancy surprise for the diner. What about harvesting? Individual leaves can be cut as needed. The plant seeds itself once it is established. If the gardener wants to limit its spread it can be grown in containers.

Fennel is another perennial that seeds itself once established. It is decorative and often used for ornamental borders. A member of the carrot family, this plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean region but now grows in areas around the world. It has lovely yellow flowers and a sweet scent. Its taste is similar to anise or liquorice and is a primary ingredient of absinthe. Almost all parts of the plant have a culinary use. Its bulb-like stem base is used as a vegetable and can be eaten raw, stewed, sautéed, braised or grilled. Its young shoots can be eaten like crunchy celery. The dried fruit is used as a spice. The feathery leaves can be used as a garnish; as a salad or in salad; to flavor puddings, sweet desserts and sauces; and in soup. Fennel pairs nicely with eggs, fish, chicory and avocado. It is a component of Italian sausage and can be used as a pickling agent, sometimes for eggplant. Fennel tea can be used to aid digestion.*

Tune in next week for Perennial Herb Varieties – Part 2!

Enjoy spicing up your veggies and foods with some of the delicious perennials spotlighted above!

~Nancy

Join us from virtually anywhere in the world as the Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading discusses Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink (558 pages)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17704902-five-days-at-memorial?from_search=true

In the tradition of the best investigative journalism, physician and reporter Sheri Fink reconstructs 5 days at Memorial Medical Center and draws the reader into the lives of those who struggled mightily to survive and to maintain life amid chaos.

After Katrina struck and the floodwaters rose, the power failed, and the heat climbed, exhausted caregivers chose to designate certain patients last for rescue. Months later, several health professionals faced criminal allegations that they deliberately injected numerous patients with drugs to hasten their deaths.

Five Days at Memorial, the culmination of six years of reporting, unspools the mystery of what happened in those days, bringing the reader into a hospital fighting for its life and into a conversation about the most terrifying form of health care rationing.

In a voice at once involving and fair, masterful and intimate, Fink exposes the hidden dilemmas of end-of-life care and reveals just how ill-prepared we are in America for the impact of large-scale disasters—and how we can do better. A remarkable book, engrossing from start to finish, Five Days at Memorial radically transforms your understanding of human nature in crisis. (goodreads.com).

Amy S will be leading the discussion in via Zoom starting at 7 pm on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.

To join the Zoom meeting, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Service? This week we had a special Prayer Service of Lament for Race & Injustice. Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L80HSQ4RARE. Did you hear the birds chirping throughout the service? Brad Jackson identified all the calls for us! Here’s what you’ll hear through the service:

Announcements: Carolina Wren

Prayer: House Sparrow, Northern Cardinal (snapping), Carolina Chickadee

Scripture: House Sparrow, Carolina Chickadee

Message: Northern Cardinal, House Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, House Wren, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, American Robin, Carolina Wren (heard throughout), Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker

Benediction: Northern Cardinal (song), Carolina Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, Song Sparrow.

We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for July
Northern Parula
Just Visiting, and Why?

When visitors are introduced at worship here at First Friends, I try to listen carefully to their words, and think of a connection, perhaps something about where they are from, perhaps a Quaker tie, or even a family connection. I want to have something to say if I see them after worship. It is sometimes tricky to find a balance between being friendly and “smothering.” I wouldn’t want to “scare” the visitor away. Without a connection, I’ll be sure to smile and say hello, and let the Friend know that I can help with questions or directions.

Similarly, in the natural world, we want to enjoy seeing a bird without scaring it away. One such avian visitor was singing in the Meditational Woods on June 17th. Although Northern Parulas do nest in the area, they prefer streamside woodlands, and so can be found at Holliday Park or any of the woods along Fall Creek. The closest habitat we have to that here is the muddy soil in the brushy northeast corner of the woods. So the male I found there in mid-June was not likely to stay. He was searching for insects and spiders in the sycamores and cottonwoods.

This beautiful warbler is a bold blue on the head, wings, and tail, with a strange mossy-colored triangular patch on his back. Most notable is the yellow chin and breast, with a black-on-chestnut necklace. Note the broken white eye ring. He is a stunning jewel to see. His song is a rising “ziziziziziziziziZIP”. If one hears that “ZIP” hook at the end, the identification is secure.

I wanted to ask him what he was doing at First Friends. Why was he here? What were his intentions? Would I see him every time I visited the woods? Did he have a female and a nest elsewhere? But alas, these are not questions to be asked aloud of this visitor. Anything outside of a silent welcome might frighten him away. I welcomed him with a smile, being glad he was here, in the Meditational Woods, on that day. ~Brad J

Join the Peace Church Conversation ~ After a deep discussion with other area Peace Churches we have decided to grow the conversation as we work together for "Positive Peace.” Please join our Friends group today—within the Peace Church Alliance—by clicking here. The introductory page is available at www.peacechurches.org but please use the longer link above to sign up because it will connect you directly to our First Friends group. Thanks again for your support, participation, and action at this critical and sensitive time!

Join us for Silent Worship on Zoom!

On Mondays, join us at the noon hour for Monday Meditation at 12:15 pm.
On Wednesdays, we typically spend 15 minutes before the hour to share joys and concerns starting around 6:45 pm, then begin Unprogrammed Worship at 7 pm. Friends are welcome to log in and out anytime during Zoom, as it will not disrupt the silence because microphones are turned off during worship.

For the Zoom link for worship, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

How am I coming alive in this world, today?
In what area do I need rescued, liberated, or saved?
Who do I know who is living oppressed and needing rescued – that I am being called to join God in helping?

(From self-led guide)

How hard is it for me to simply sit in the presence of the Divine? What in my life or the world distracts me from doing this?
When have I wanted to give up on or been impatient with God?
In what areas am I needing to “self-empty” and rely on God’s love working through me?

Comment

Friend to Friend July 1, 2020

July 2, 2020

As Way Opens

Friends, I have been thinking about my words for a few weeks- we are living in a time that is dramatic, unsettling and divisive.

As a white woman that grew up within the city of Detroit, I pushed back against the idea of white privilege for many years. I never felt that I had privilege as I was raised within an urban city and part of an interracial community. I embraced everyone regardless of color. I could not understand the idea of reparations or blaming me for the actions of predecessors that I never knew. We had a culture of slave labor in the south but I was a person living in the north and that was not representative of me. I embraced the idea that all lives matter. Of course, my grandparents that came to Detroit from Canada were completely racist. They came to Detroit to work at Henry Ford’s Rouge plant and even while living in an urban community that was multi-racial they rejected the equality of people of color. They even believed that there was different heaven for black people versus white people. We dismissed their views but those views were prominent among white folks in the 1900’s and certainly impacted the treatment of people of color.

In the last few years I began to read and study and discuss the idea that there are systemic privileges that white folks have that our black brothers and sisters do not enjoy. My eyes started to glimpse this idea that the systems and structures of our government and community do not give equal access to those of color - community building, education, policing, health care, housing, lending access to capital, and many other areas.

And then I developed a close relationship with a black man. And I began to step into the life and experiences of every black man in America. Last week a Crime Scene Investigator showed up at my next door neighbor - I was a bit stunned that she was in full uniform and went into the house (turned out that she was a family friend that does house sitting). While she was in the house, my friend Kevin became concerned about leaving my house - what? He knows that police view black men differently than white men. And he is a successful IT professional working at a hospital as well as having an IT consulting business, is a retired military veteran, an umpire and homeowner. However, it doesn’t matter how successful a black person is - the police may approach them differently because of the color of their skin. Several years ago, Kevin was driving in Ohio on a sales call for his employer and a police officer pulled him over. The officer approached the car and said “Boy, your car was drifting in the lane." One man calling another man boy can start an escalation (Kevin did not respond to the comment). This is more than an isolated incident and we can hear similar stories of every black man that we know and don’t know.

I know that many police officers abhor this behavior and join us in calling for police reforms. The officers that use wit, wisdom, de-escalation and dialogue to engage citizens should want to support these reforms because the racists and quick to pull a trigger officers make police officers look bad. I remember being in a waiting room with Ann Rodino’s brother (Ann was having surgery) who is a police officer for 30 plus years. He is a beautiful soul and as we sat there for hours talking about many things including his role as a police officer, he shared with me that in 30 years he had never fired his gun. This is the training and practice that we need to support!

As Quakers we embrace non- violence and that is the core of my being. I will never support violence to achieve change and believe the significant changes that happened in the 1960’s were because of the non-violent actions of MLK’s movement. Yet I do understand the frustration and anger of folks that have been waiting so long for change. And violence is such a part of our American life. There is no stronger lobbying group than the NRA. We invade countries with violence to take out leaders and seem to believe that violence and guns will solve our problems.

I am praying that we will share our Quaker testimony of peace, equality, and integrity to stand up in this pivotal moment. I am praying that we all look inside our own hearts and see where we hold resistance and violence. I am praying that we open our ears, our eyes and our heart to really listen to the experience of those that face oppression, prejudice and brutality. And I pray that we won’t remain silent but do the actions that God is calling each of us to do.

Beth

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Reopening Task Force Statement
June 29, 2020

Dear Friends, attenders, and anyone who values the community that is First Friends:

I thought I’d provide a brief update on the progress of the reopening committee. We are a really heavy group in terms of our specific strengths to address this task, our cohesion, and our collective light.

We are pulling on the best evidence and most reliable data we can find regarding the specifics for building access, use, and risk mitigation. This area is a real strength of our group and I’m confident we are going to get it right. I’ve received many emails from members regarding specific ideas, and please know those ideas are being heard and discussed. Feedback and direct communication with myself is authentically welcomed and appreciated.

We are currently formulating a timeline and staging system for reopening which we plan to formalize and share within the upcoming week or two. At the same time, we’re working on that vast gray area between being fully closed, as we currently remain, to being fully open.

“Business as usual,” the final stage of reopening, a return to the way things were prior to the pandemic, isn’t happening any time soon, within or without our meeting. This is a sobering fact; science is real.

With that in mind, we’re focusing on reopening in safe and creative ways, such as small group gatherings, both private and potentially meeting-endorsed alike. We’re early in that realm of discussion but seek to facilitate and nurture safe and effective ways to meet the vast burden of what is lost through the pandemic, which is community and connection.

We are currently allowing access to individuals and considering requests to building access and utilization on a case by case basis, and we’re incorporating the best-known safety measures, education, and communication with those cases.

We are planning to exploit and promote outdoor, small gatherings, within the context of initial stages of reopening, using the meditational woods and a proposed tent or canopy which would allow for more outdoor space. That discussion is underway.

We have a tentative date for a partial reopening for unprogrammed worship July 12. We have a lot of work to do and discussion remains widely open on this plan, but we seem to have unanimity on that proposed plan. Such a proposition would require that we’d have all risk mitigation policies and procedures in place and effectively communicated along with a lot of other leg work. However, I have no doubt in my mind we’re up to such a task!

Your Friend,

Andy C

Interested in our men’s small group? Last Spring Kent F helped start a men’s book club small group at First Friends. In the last year we’ve covered “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl (Biography), "Let Your Life Speak" (self-help) by Parker Palmer, “Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemmingway, “Billy Budd” by Herman Melville, “Shane” (a Western) by Jack Schaefer, and “Freedom’s Forge” (History), and we are currently finishing up “Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work” by Alex Pattakos. The group is currently meeting on alternating Thursday nights at the home of Derek S to take advantage of great weather and have space to spread out, with the garage and Zoom being our backups. Our plan is to return to the Meeting House when it reopens. If you would like to help us choose our next book and/or join us for the next group of discussions, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. We’ll begin sharing the next book on July 23rd.

Sign up NOW for VBS! Registration is now open for Vacation Bible School! This year’s theme is “Rocky Railway: Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through!” It will be held from July 26-30. This year we will have VBS virtually, including daily premiered videos on YouTube as well as live Zoom calls. Supplies and goodies will be sent to your door! If you would like to sign your kids up or have any questions, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Western Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions! The WYM annual sessions are happening virtually this year. The draft schedule is available here. Please note that many details are yet to be worked out and the schedule is subject to change. All sessions will be held through various technological platforms. The Sunday worship service may be a combination of live and Zoom. This year our own Bob Henry will be recorded! If you have any questions, you can contact Western Yearly Meeting westernym@sbcglobal.net.

Are You Being Called to Serve? Next Monday, June 29th, is the Nominating Committee for Western Yearly Meeting. The following committees have openings: Christian Education, Christian Ministries and Evangelism, Christian Outreach, Meeting Development and Nurture, American Friends Service Committee, Finance, Property Trustee. If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Service? This week we had a special Prayer Service of Lament for Race & Injustice. Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aZamrPEO3c. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for July
Northern Parula
Just Visiting, and Why?

Spice Up Life by Growing Herbs: Annual & Biennial

Be heart healthy by using less salt and replacing it with herbs. They are easy to grow and can help you create delectable dishes. They can be used fresh or dried and stored for later. Herbs can decorate indoors and outdoors. They don’t need to take much space and can be grown in beds and containers. Gardeners use some herbs in borders. They can be picked fresh and used throughout the growing season or even all year when grown inside. They are versatile and tasty, able to enhance many types of cuisine. The obliging cook can master their use after a little research and practice.

You may combine herbs in beds or containers. Most need rich, well-drained soil in a sunny location. Usually they do not need fertilizer. You may direct sow them or buy small plants to transplant. Water them well and be sure to hand-pick weeds so the herbs are not smothered. Scatter slug pellets or eggshells to protect them from pests. Pinch off tops and flowers to encourage bushiness and a longer harvest. When you harvest, use scissors or a sharp knife. You may place the stems in shallow water until you are ready to use them. Discard twig-like stems; soft stems are usually tasty. If you intend to use fresh herbs, pick them when you are ready to eat because they don’t last more than a day or two. Herbs grow quickly so more will be ready in the garden.

Biennial Herbs

Coriander and cilantro come from the same plant! It is a biennial herb, meaning it lives for two years. Of course, if left to seed it can reproduce itself. In the U.S. the leaves and stems are called cilantro and the seeds are named coriander. Some cultures call the entire plant cilantro, including Spanish-speaking areas. Another name is Chinese parsley. The entire plant is edible. It has flat, scalloped leaves and should be harvested once or twice a week to avoid bolting. Once it bolts, small white flowers form and seeds grow. A few scalloped leaves remain at the bottom but new leaves are light and feathery, almost like a completely different plant. Surprisingly, people experience the plant’s flavor according to their gene makeup! To some it is distasteful and soapy-tasting; others love its spiciness. Use the cilantro in soup and enchiladas. Dry the seeds by roasting them in a pan. Pulverize them for use in salsa, juice, curries, chutneys, bread (including gingerbread) and hummus.

Parsley comes in flat and curly varieties that look like miniature trees. The curly type is a favorite garnish in the U.S. The first year parsley forms a rosette of tripinnate leaves. The second year it has sparser leaves and a stem with a yellow flower. Flat leaf parsley has a stronger flavor than the curly type. Root parsley is used as a snack or vegetable in central, eastern and southern Europe where it flavors soups, stews and casseroles. Some cultures enjoy serving dishes with fresh green chopped parsley served on top. Middle Eastern bulgur salad uses parsley as the number one ingredient to create tabbouleh.

Annual Herbs

Basil comes in many delightful varieties. It is an annual herb meaning it grows for one season. I have experimented with Greek, lemon, cinnamon and Thai. Yes, they do taste like their namesakes. The lemon even smells like lemon and your cuisine can taste like an exotic dish from another country. Basil can be used in stews, casseroles, roasts, infusions, pesto, butter, stir-fry, seafood, soup, tomato sauce and much more. Try it as a garnish!

Dill is a tall plant with feathery leaves and a distinctive odor. Think pickles! Although it is an annual, it spreads easily from year-to-year because it is self-seeding. The wide, airy flower spreads out like Queen Anne’s Lace. Both the leaves (dill weed) and the seeds can be eaten. Both can be used as garnish. The leaves have a mild aniseed taste; the seeds are more pungent but similar in taste to caraway. Seeds can be used in acidic dishes like pickled carrots, beets and fish. They combine nicely with legumes like lentils. Dill weed complements fish, potato salad, dips and coleslaw. Seeds and leaves make extravagant vinegars and salad dressings.

Midwesterners can liven up our diets by using many more herbs on a regular basis. Have fun experimenting!

~Nancy

Sources include Wikipedia and Small Plot; Big Harvest by Lucy Halsall

What’s Blooming Around the Meetinghouse? ~ Today Mindy and I (Mary B) were weeding around the Meetinghouse and the pollinator garden and were treated to the sight of a widow skimmer dragonfly. Two dark wing patches on the Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) technically qualifies its being called the two-spotted skimmer. These insects are normally found around lakes and marshy areas, but we saw him moving amongst the wet flowers in the pollinator garden. We also saw hoverflies and bumble bees drinking the nectar of the bee balm (monarda, sp.) and coneflowers that are now blooming.

If you are at the Meetinghouse, please stop and see the native plants at the south and courtyard entrances. We have moonbeam coreopsis, geranium, echinacea, beebalm, and Annabelle hydrangea blooming. Our common milkweed plants in the pollinator garden are taking off, along with the Joe Pye Weed (It’s not really a weed). Then take a walk in the woods and admire the new signage that Krishan Coffman installed as his Eagle Scout Project.

First Friends not only nourishes souls, we nourish nature!

Join the Peace Church Conversation ~ After a deep discussion with other area Peace Churches this month, we have decided to grow the conversation online as we work together for "Positive Peace.” Please join our First Friends group today—within the larger Peace Church Alliance network—by clicking here: https://www.peacechurches.org/share/3LbkpLtX76sA4iPe?utm_source=manual The introductory page is available at www.peacechurches.org but please use the longer link above to sign up because it will connect you directly to our First Friends group. Thanks again for your support, participation, and action at this critical and sensitive time!

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

How can I nurture the seeds of peace within myself, my community, and the world?
How can I be more open to seeking the goodness in people who act with violence and hatred?
How can I increase my understanding of nonviolence and use it in all my interactions?

(From self-led guide)

Do I recognize that I can be a perpetrator as well as victim of violence? How do I deal with this? How can I support my neighbors, friends, and family so that healing may take place?
What am I doing to understand the causes of violence in my world and to work toward peaceful outcomes locally, nationally, and internationally?
How do I support institutions and organizations that promote peace?

Comment

Friend to Friend June 24, 2020

June 25, 2020

As Way Opens

It is almost hard to fathom that 25 years ago, today, June 24th, Susan Schroeder and I entered Emanuel Lutheran Church in New Haven, Indiana and recited our marriage vows before family, friends, and God. Emanuel Lutheran happened to be my home church and where I began my faith journey. As well, Sue had just served her first year as an elementary educator at Central Lutheran School, which was affiliated with Emanuel and directly across the parking lot from the church. Central was also the grade school I had attended from Kindergarten through 8th grade.

Two years earlier, Sue and I had met as camp counselors at Camp Lutherhaven in Albion, Indiana. Even though we both attended Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois and were in the same academic program, we didn’t meet until camp. It was there we quickly fell in love and realized that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Soon, I would be down on one knee after a picnic lunch in Franke Park, outside the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, asking for Sue’s hand in marriage. Who would have known then what the next 25 years would bring!

Two days after our wedding our adventures began as we packed up a moving truck and moved to Orlando, Florida for my internship as a Director of Christian Education. Unbeknownst to us at that time, we would get used to moving as we served God. After a wonderful first year of married life in Florida, we moved to Illinois, then to Texas, back to Illinois, to Michigan, back to Indiana, to Oregon, and finally back to Indiana where we currently reside. Our first son, Alex would be born in Illinois while Sam and Lewis would be born in two different cities in Michigan. Along with the moves, we also found ourselves moving around theologically from Lutheran, to Anglican, to Mennonite, to finally Quaker.

Through all the moves, changes, additions to family, challenges and even church struggles, there has been one constant – our deep love and friendship for each other. I know I am a better husband, father, pastor, and friend because of having Sue in my life. From day one, she has made my life complete and I cannot think of a better partner for this crazy journey we call life.

Also, as a pastor, I know how rare it is today to find a life partner that lasts. It takes work, it takes commitment, but most of all it takes being best friends. And that is exactly what I look for in every couple who I have the honor of officiating their weddings. My prayer is that if you are married, or you are considering marriage that God would bless you today and draw you even closer as partners and friends in this great adventure called life!

Happy Anniversary, Sue! Here’s to the next 25 years of adventure as best friends! I love you, always.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Please note, Shawn P will be on vacation July though August. You won’t see him in our Sunday service videos, but don’t worry, he is just enjoying the summertime!

Western Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions! The WYM annual sessions are happening virtually this year. The draft schedule is available here. Please note that many details are yet to be worked out and the schedule is subject to change. All sessions will be held through various technological platforms. The Sunday worship service may be a combination of live and Zoom. If you have any questions, you can contact Western Yearly Meeting westernym@sbcglobal.net.

Cat Needs New Home! Ursula R is looking for a new home for her cat, Jake. He is six years old, charismatic, very loving and cuddly. Sometimes bites. Likes to go outside. If you or someone you know is interested in adopting this cat, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.

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 will be June 30, 2020. For an application please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Join us from virtually anywhere in the world as the Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading book club discusses Doing Justice: A Prosecutor's Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law by Preet Bharara. By the one-time federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York, an important overview of the way our justice system works, and why the rule of law is essential to our society. Using case histories, personal experiences and his own inviting writing and teaching style, Preet Bharara shows the thought process we need to best achieve truth and justice in our daily lives and within our society. Preet Bharara has spent much of his life examining our legal system, pushing to make it better, and prosecuting those looking to subvert it. Bharara believes in our system and knows it must be protected, but to do so, we must also acknowledge and allow for flaws in the system and in human nature. The book is divided into four sections: Inquiry, Accusation, Judgment and Punishment. He shows why each step of this process is crucial to the legal system, but he also shows how we all need to think about each stage of the process to achieve truth and justice in our daily lives. (goodreads) Rik L will be leading the discussion in via Zoom starting at 7 pm on Tuesday June 30, 2020. To join the Zoom call, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org for the meeting information.

Caregivers Needed for Paid Study ~ TACTIC’s program is looking for caregivers of adults with dementia for a study testing programs that may be helpful in managing the challenges associated with caregiving. For more information, visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TACTICs-Program-for-Dementia-Caregivers-112738523778479

Five Garden Watering Questions Answered

Is your watering technique sabotaging your garden? Every gardener wants their hard work to result in a beautiful bounty. Here are some common watering concerns to address:

1. When should I water?

Do not water in the heat of the day when moisture evaporates quickly and sun can burn leaves (sunscald). Early morning is a terrific time to water since it gives the plant increased turgidity to help resist wilt. Late afternoon and early evening are also good but watering too late in the day can result in wet plants that can attract fungi and disease.

2. What part of the plant shall I water?

Water your plants at the base, not over the top. Roots are an efficient water absorption system. Leaves cannot absorb as much and leftover water invites sunscald in the day and fungi at night. The Community Garden has a cistern that collects water from the garage roof. Our agricultural agent warns that this water can contain pathogens so we need to water underneath the plant. Take care not to splash soil on plants, especially tomatoes. Fungal pathogens live in the dirt and can spread disease once they land on a plant (splashback).

3. How much water do my plants need?

A thorough soak in beds every few days should ensure deep roots get a drenching. Proper watering technique depends on soil components, weather and plant types. Raised beds drain well so be sure to water enough, though too much water can drain off nutrients. Use your finger to feel the depth the water has reached. Then you will know if you are overwatering or under watering. Often it may seem the plant is getting enough when it may just have a half-inch saturation point and water may not be reaching subsoil and deeper roots. A gardener can coat the surface and after watering other plants, return to rehydrate so water permeates the earth. Yellowing foliage, root rot and ironically, even wilt, can be symptoms of overwatering. Rain gauges are inexpensive and can help a gardener know how much water a plot is getting. Container plants need special consideration. If the container has no drainage the plant can get root rot. If the container has seepage holes a plant may need extra watering and nutrients because of fast drainage.

4. Does a plant’s life cycle factor into watering?

The life cycle of the plant makes a difference. Seedlings lack a strong root system and seeds need to be kept moist. Morning watering—and even a second later watering--can determine whether or not they survive. They should be watered directly since their roots are not fully developed. Take care to avoid drowning or bombing seeds and seedlings with “splashback boulders.” Heavy producers, like melons, need extra water. Water more often when plants, like tomatoes, are fruiting or flowering. Otherwise flowers and young fruit will wither and reduce the harvest.

5. Can mulch help?

Examples of organic mulch are straw, shredded newspaper, pine needles and bark chips. A top coat of mulch can help lock water and warmth in and may help feed plants. Of course, different mulches have different purposes so do your research. For example, pine needles slightly acidify the soil. Be sure the straw is weed-free if you don’t want to introduce invasive plants. If your area is experiencing drought or if you want to water less, mulch is one answer. Also, it helps prevent weeds. Hurrah! (Some article information from Epic Gardening YouTube)

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Service? Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://youtu.be/H37AamHRYaY. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s online service!

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

What descriptors of God do I have the hardest time relating to? And why?
What has “thrown me off course” and not allowed me to see the good gifts of God in my life?
How might seeing the Light of God “cascading down” through my life and the lives of those around me help me to value each person in this world?

(From self-led guide)

Where am I feeling anxiety or a sense that my life is spinning out of control? What may I need to focus on and who may I need to engage to help me with these feelings?
How am I allowing myself to “not go gentle into that good night” and “rage against the dying of the light”?
In the midst of all the chaos and pain in our world, currently, how am I experiencing and noticing the gifts coming from the Father of Lights?

Comment

Friend to Friend June 17, 2020

June 18, 2020

It was such a joy to spend a couple hours two weeks ago with some of the women at First Friends sharing poetry and creating collages of pictures and words that represent things I can control and things I can’t control. Michelle T led us in this activity that is so relevant in our current situation as there is much that we cannot control. Yet I found that I had more pictures and words on the page of things I can control, and I’ve put both pieces in my office to remind me of this. My joy, my happiness, my need to release perfection, my words, my attitude, my kindness, my respect etc are all things that I can choose to do no matter what the circumstances.

Part of our time together was a sharing of poetry. There is so much talent within our women at First Friends. I want to share a couple of poems that touched my heart from our friends.

-Beth

Permission

by Becki Heusel

My friend gives me permission.

She helps me lift the sofa cushions of my mind,

where coins of ideas have fallen,

and gives me permission to scoop them up.

My friend gives me permission.

She listens to me stumbling through obstacles,

unsure of my footing,

and points a light to show that I am on the right path.

My friend gives me permission.

She gently guides my halting steps,

until, as I become used to the lay of the land,

I am able to give myself permission.

My friend gives me permission.

She nurtures with love and confidence.

I have enjoyed my life so far,

But how much richer it is, and will be, with permission.

Anima itinere (Soul’s Journey)

by Becki Heusel

My soul is a cushion upon which

I rest my mortal being.

Blue and gold brocaded –

it gathers the light from other souls

congregated in its presence.

Then, as phosphorescent flotsam and jetsam

Along the shore, it carries the glow with it

Through dark valleys –

Extending the beam ahead to where

The trail leads once again up to the mountaintop.

Greeting the light of God

As it is projected through the sun,

My soul absorbs light and warmth,

Hope and delight,

And moves me endlessly through

This mortal existence

And takes its rightful place at last

In Paradise.

I Think I Know You

by Leslie Kartholl

You are unknowable

Yet I think I know you –

Familiar

Yet frightening as a sudden storm,

You drench me in great mystery –

My hands are small and unsteady

Weak and scarred –

They tremble with fear

As you hold them in yours

While you juggle the universe.

I reach for you

Hesitant, unsure –

Persuaded by your passion

That burns like a million stars

And courses through me

Like a hot comet

You are unknowable

Yet I think I know you

As familiar to me

As the rhythm of my breath

I inhale your heady fragrance

And think of lilacs.

Grace

by Leslie Kartholl

I extend my hands freely

For you to rap my knuckles

To take the ruler of justice

To my weak flesh.

I try to buy with bruises

A measure of peace

And the feeling that I have suffered

And so you are pleased.

But you take my hands and turn them

Palm up

Forming them into cups

To receive light and grace –

An unexpected rainbow

And the smell of autumn leaves

I baptize your blessings with bitter tears –

Do not give me what I do not deserve

But you never stop.

You pile on the sound of a child

Laughing at nothing,

And eyes that gaze at me with love,

An early crocus and ladybugs

On the window

And the blessings spill out of my hands

And drown me

In unmerited favor.

Heat Wave 1951

by Linda Caldwell Lee

Somewhere on a curvy country road Mom snapped,

“Donald, pull over.” Dad skidded

into field grass. Mom dumped the baby

on the seat and bolted out of the car barefoot.

We three sisters roasted silently in the back seat gaping,

while Mom yanked her blouse over her head,

dropped her skirt, sprinted along a tractor rut,

waded through reeds to launch herself into a lake.

She swam arm over arm all the way to the center

where she floated on her back.

Dad was bellowing, “Come back,” Bertha Jane, damn it,

come back here now.

Mom vanished underwater, swam to the far shore

before turning towards us.

Dad clenched his fists at his sides, helpless

among the Queen Anne’s lace.

We stood in a row in the shade,

even baby brother watching.

Mom drifted back, stopping to tread water on the way.

She rose from the lake with waterweed in her hair,

cow lily caught in her bra trailed across her midriff.

When she flipped her head, water sparked around her shoulders.

Peeling off wet underwear, she raised her arms to the breeze,

turned to air-dry before putting on the blouse and skirt.

She opened the car door and got in.

We children all sat in back without fighting for windows.

Dad slammed into the driver’s seat, mashed the gas so hard

the wheels spun. Mom's arm flew out the window,

she turned her hand to feel it lifted like a wing.

She never did pull her arm all the way back

inside that black Chevy.

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

IFCL ~ A very concrete action we can take to address inequities in our laws and political representation is to stop voter suppression here in Indiana. Indiana Friends Committee on Legislation (IFCL) has been working with allies in the All IN for Democracy coalition to educate the public about the many forms of voter suppression, including the most insidious, gerrymandering. This Thursday, June 18th, at 7:00pm, the documentary film "Uncivil War" will premier in a virtual screening event. It examines the many methods--all perfectly legal--used to suppress voter turnout, the dangers they pose to our democracy, and efforts to end them. To sign up for the screening, go to www.allinfordemocracy.org. For more on voter suppression and this event, see the excellent commentary by Julia Vaughn of Common Cause Indiana in TheStatehouseFile.com here. And for a column by John Krull which illuminates just what's at stake for us all right here in Indiana, see here.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Service? This week we had a special Prayer Service of Lament for Race & Injustice. Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://youtu.be/4_Dz_ZOw9Ks. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

All are invited to Meeting for Business and Fellowship Hour ~ After virtual worship this Sunday, we hope you will join us at 11:00am on Zoom for Monthly Meeting for Business and Fellowship Hour! You can join through computer or phone! To join please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. We will finish Meeting for Business first thing so that everyone may get to their Father’s Day activities. After the meeting, anyone is also welcomed to hang around and chat for coffee hour.

Men’s Threshing Together ~ Hey Men! Join us for a Zoom Happy Hour with Men's Threshing Together on Tuesday, June 23 at 7:00pm. (Note the date change from Thursday to Tuesday.) Bring your favorite beverage and connect with us on Zoom and let's check-in and see how everyone is doing during this pandemic! Pastor Bob will be hosting this event. See you at Happy Hour (our normal time - 7pm just on Zoom!) To join, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org for the meeting information.

Women’s Book Study ~ Deb S and Mary Ellen L are looking to start a women's book study group. The hope is to study a book that has meaning for the group members and at the same time deepen the bonds of friendship among them. We would like to take up Richard Rohr's Universal Christ . If you are interested or you have questions, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org. The first task will be to select the best day/time for all, frequency and location. During pleasant weather, the group might want meet outdoors, then maybe via Zoom. Details will be decided once the group has formed. Deb and Mary Ellen are looking forward to a lively discussion of this book and, hopefully, others.

Nipping Current Garden Troubles in the Bud

This article is about solutions to our Community Garden’s current seasonal woes.

Flea Beetles

If there are pinhole-size holes in eggplants, turnips, radishes, mustard and Cole crops they are made by flea beetles. These beetles are small, black and can fly. Suggested cures include:

using organic insecticides now and through August. Examples include neem oil, rotenone, garlic-based sprays, pyrethrines (derived from chrysanthemums), and Pyola (a canola oil and pyrethrins combo from www.gardensalive.com). Sprays must be reapplied after it rains. Plants should be covered completely, even on undersides of leaves;
planting companion plants such as thyme, garlic, allium and nasturtiums;
putting red plastic mulch under eggplants to repel the beetles;
putting yellow or white sticky cards or plastic wrap covered with petroleum jelly on boards placed near targeted plants. The color mimics eggplant blossoms and when insects land on them the fleas get stuck;
commercial sticky traps such as Tangle Trap; and
placing floating row covers over the plants.

(Information from the U. S. Department of Agriculture and pennlive.com.)

Fungi and Splashback

Lower leaves on tomato plants may have a holey or mottled look. This is often the effect of splashback from watering and soil spatters. Fungi develop on the plants. If the leaves turn yellow, cleanly snip and discard them. Some wilt disease can progress and continue yellowing and wilting leaves higher on the vine. Use an organic fungicide to help prevent and control these diseases. Specific tomato diseases can be difficult to identify since a multitude of tomato diseases exhibit similar symptoms.

Chipmunks, Squirrels and Rabbits

These critters seem to be especially hungry nuisances this year. Some solutions include:

scattering garlic, cayenne pepper, hair, fur, blood meal and bone meal around as deterrents;
using fencing around plants and atop soil to make it uncomfortable underfoot. Holly leaves, eggshells and sweet gum balls are also irritants on little paws;
planting a little extra and expecting some crops to be eaten; and
letting nature take its course through actions of hawks and birds of prey inhabiting the skies over our Community Garden.

Hope these ideas are helpful! Let me know if they make a difference and if I can help with other problems you are noticing in your raised beds. Many of our gardeners are knowledgeable in many areas of gardening. --Nancy

Cat Needs New Home! Ursula Roberts is looking for a new home for her cat, Jake. He is six years old, charismatic, very loving and cuddly. Sometimes bites. Likes to go outside. If you or someone you know is interested in adopting this cat, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.

Meditational Woods Bird-of the-Month for June
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Sweeter Than a Robin, but Icky

What could be sweeter than a robin? I’m talking bird songs here. Take the song of an American Robin, “Cheerio-cheerilee”, sweeten it up, enrich it, and extend it. You will have the song of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak! I suggest you listen to both on “All About Birds” or some other website. The icky part is the grosbeak’s call of “ICK.” It is diagnostic, meaning no other bird does it, and it is the way I find them if they are not singing. It’s like hearing someone say a single word down the hall in the meetinghouse, and recognizing the person by voice immediately, even though it may have been quite a while since your last encounter.

I have drawn a rose-breasted male, and one can see how the species gets its name. The female is brownish with a brown-on-white striped breast. Notice the huge bill (GROS-beak).

This species came through in May, in fairly large numbers, and yes, each year at least one stops by the Meditational Woods anytime during that month. By the time you read this, most rose-breasted grosbeaks have migrated farther north, however, some stick around for the summer in larger woods around here. Probably not ours, but one never knows, especially with the wooded neighborhoods nearby. Hence it is the bird for June, just in case. Listen for that sweet warble or the special “ICK”.

One final note: As of this writing 90 species have been documented in the Meditational Woods or seen on or from the First Friends property. That is significant because just a few years ago, the woods was simply a lawn with some large trees. More about that later!! ~Brad J

Queries for the Week

(From online service)

What historic roots (whether in my country, my church, my family, my community) are important to re-examine, be educated on, and teach to help benefit the development of the Beloved Community?
What journey do I need to take (and who must I ask along on the journey) to form a better expression of the Beloved Community? In moving forward what might I have to leave behind or what might I have to take along? Where might I need to get out of my box?
When looking inward, where am I not whole? What or who am I missing? What would make me a more healthy and vibrant expression of the Beloved Community?
Is community being developed in my life and ministry and am I becoming a faithful presence to the communities in which I participate, currently?
Who am I really serving? How much of my serving is self-serving? In looking outside myself and our meeting, who truly needs to be served?
How am I celebrating and finding joy with others? Am I able to see the reasons for giving thanks, remembering, and appreciating all people and their stories?

Comment

Friend to Friend June 10, 2020

June 11, 2020

As Way Opens

“We Will Be Prisoners No More”

(Watercolor and Pen on Paper)

9” x 12”

By Sam Henry

Before I was even thought of, my dad took a bus ride through Atlanta and arrived at the King Center. There he experienced the pain and plight of black people in America, and it was then he resolved to do the next chapter of his life differently. Since I was a toddler, my parents have been raising us in the conviction of racial inequality, taking us kids to every Civil Rights destination we could check off with the weeks of vacation allowed. From a young age, images of peaceful protesters meeting resistance, lynchings, unity, and injustice were ingrained in my mind. These lessons, these experiences, these sacred places are all burned into the core of my being. Education on these issues from a young age opened my eyes to the vital role education has in generating empathy for people who don’t share the same background, skin, ethnicity, etc. In tandem with this education in Civil Rights, it was no secret that I was equally as keen to learn about the role art-making has in our society and the ways in which it has been used to bring about symbols of revolution. For this reason, I created this artwork as a means of representing the current Black Lives Matter Movement.

My painting posted here, as a whole, is meant to be read in the same way you would a book; the narrative flows from top to bottom. In this case, we start with the exigence of the story, the reason we are standing up for black lives here in 2020. Put in the simplest of terms, that would be the death of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, all of whom are considered to be at the center of modern day lynchings, whether at the hands of police or fellow citizens and white supremacists. It was these three cases and the videos which captured the deaths of Arbery and Floyd which caught a nation off guard and moved us all to break outside the confines of quarantine to bring justice. From here, we move downward to a different, more metaphorical message. While the victories of the Civil Rights movement and the current Black Lives Matter Movement have been substantial, it is important to recognize that we don’t live in a post-racial society and the black community is still taking the brunt of our racist structures. In this painting, this is symbolically represented through a church choir, donned in prison orange, and praising in chains, acknowledging how members of the black community are still viewed as criminals before humans and remain prisoners to a racist society. Throughout this painting, I wanted no specific honor to go to one person in order to avoid undermining the power the voice of the common people unified. Besides the memorial to victims in upper third, the other two thirds serve as a conceptual reimagining of the black community. That being said, the pulpit is not occupied by anyone famous or with celebrity. Rather, it is the pulpit itself, which is famous, as it is an artistic representation of the Ebenezer Baptist pulpit, clad in the banner of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Hopping over the fence of the prison, one which looks suspiciously similar to the fence currently surrounding the White House, we see the faces of the movement, bearing picket signs in protest against America’s corrupt systems. However, there is one who goes beyond, breaking through the barriers restraining the protestors and raising her fist with power, showing the strength of the black community when unified. As many locals may notice, the signs stuck to the fence and held by the people are actually redesigned editions of the signs made for our Fishers Equity Awareness Protest and Demonstration, making these words not just mine, but the words of my entire community.

-Sam Henry

Joys & Concerns

Congratulations! Vicki and Chris W’s son, Will, and daughter-in-law Liz, have welcomed a new member of the family. Dylan Christopher W came into the world on Saturday, May 23rd. Congratulations to the family and to proud parents Will and Liz!

Some Friends from our Meeting joined about 1000 people in a Processional of Lament and Repentance in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood. They stopped along the way to lament black lives lost, confess their complicity in systems of racial injustice and white supremacy, and repent with a commitment to tangible action as they seek a more just world together. (Thanks to Mary B for the photos)

Check this out, the B. family participated in a peaceful demonstration in Beech Grove carrying a sign with a quote from our Meeting’s response. Thanks to Marshelle for sharing these photos.

On Monday night, several people from First Friends attended the Black Lives Matter Multi-Faith Community Prayer Vigil and Peace Demonstration in Liberty Plaza at the Fishers Municipal Center, Fishers, IN. Pastor Bob was invited to join with other faith leaders in and around Fishers to share an opening prayer he wrote utilizing the words of Quaker Bayard Rustin. Thanks to Sue Henry for capturing these great photos.

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Service? This week we had a special Prayer Service of Lament for Race & Injustice. Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://youtu.be/5cTWEUEt1oM. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

Join us for a called meeting on Reopening ~ All Friends are invited to join us after our service on Sunday to a called meeting on reopening. The Reopening Task Force has been established and we are now looking to gather input from our members and attenders as the group weighs our reopening options. The meeting will begin at 11am, with Fellowship Hour following for any who wish to stick around and chat. To join, contact the office for Zoom meeting information.

Meditational Woods Bird-of the-Month for June
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Sweeter Than a Robin, but Icky

What could be sweeter than a robin? I’m talking bird songs here. Take the song of an American Robin, “Cheerio-cheerilee cheerio-cheerilee”, sweeten it up, enrich it, and extend it. You will have the song of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak! I suggest you listen to both on “All About Birds” or some other website. The icky part is the grosbeak’s call of “ICK.” It is diagnostic, meaning no other bird does it, and it is the way I find them if they are not singing. It’s like hearing someone say a single word down the hall in the meetinghouse, and recognizing the person by voice immediately, even though it may have been quite a while since your last encounter.

I have drawn a rose-breasted male, and one can see how the species gets its name. The female is brownish with a brown-on-white striped breast. Notice the huge bill (GROS-beak).

Free Seeds; Tomato Care

Free seeds are now available at many branches of the Indianapolis Public Library through curbside pickup. More branches have seed libraries than in the past. Take advantage!

Most Hoosiers love tomatoes, but at one time people thought they were poisonous. Tomatoes are native to South America and were called the “Apple of Love” when introduced in France and Italy. People in the U.S started cultivating them in 1835 although Thomas Jefferson was feeding his guests his home-grown tomatoes as early as 1781.

Tomatoes come in many colors and shapes. Determinate tomatoes grow to a predetermined height determined by their genes. Flowers set at their growing tips. Flowers along the stems set fruit in about two weeks. They are good choices for canning and creating sauces.

Indeterminate tomatoes increase in height throughout the growing season, continuing to produce foliage. Side shoots produce fruit continually throughout the season, creating a long harvest.

Smaller plants can be staked two feet apart; larger plants need three or four feet. Some closeness in a small garden can produce more fruit. Remove early forming flowers so plants can produce healthy foliage to support tomatoes. Too much nitrogen in fertilizer will produce more foliage so a high phosphorus fertilizer is better and can be applied one to two weeks after first fruits are set; two weeks after picking first ripe fruit; and six weeks after picking first ripe fruit.

Train plants in a cage or on stakes at planting time for better air circulation and less disease. Tomatoes do best when held off of the soil. Caged tomatoes have less sunscalding injury because of more leaf cover and suckers* do not need to be removed. To create more support, stakes can be woven through cages and sunken approximately a foot into the ground.

If staking plants, poles should be set one to two feet into the soil and about four inches out from the stalk. Placing poles when planting will prevent the root destruction that could occur when placed at a later date. Soft cord or strips of cloth can secure plants to stakes. Strips should be tied in a figure 8 with one loop around the stem and the other around the stake to prevent rubbing. Check sucker development weekly and pinch out growing tips of suckers just beyond the first two leaves on that branch. Allowing the first two leaves to remain will give better foliage cover and help protect tomatoes from sunscald.

Mulch will help conserve soil moisture and help prevent fluctuations. It will help prevent weeds which, in turn, will help to ward off breeding sites of stalk borers which tunnel in the stem and kill the plant. Apply two to four inches of straw, hay or bark chips or black plastic mulch. Otherwise cultivate shallowly to remove weeds when small.

Red tomatoes are created when weather is not too hot. Tomatoes tend to be pink, yellow, or orange when temperatures are above 86 degrees. If picked earlier to avoid scalding and skin cracking, they can fully ripen off the plant and do not need further light.

I enjoy planting several types of tomatoes because success can vary due to temperature and rainfall variations. These developments can create environmental stresses such as disease and insect invasions. My motto: All gardening is an experiment. :) ~Nancy

*Suckers are side branches that form in the axils of the plant, the points where the leaves join the stem.

Information about tomatoes is courtesy of Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, Department of Horticulture in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Queries for the Week

(From self-led worship)

How can "Quaker Power" speed up "revolutionary changes" in our community/communities? How might it play a role in transforming systems of oppression?
How can we show "what love can do" for racial justice? Is there anything that should be added to Friend Barrington's list?
Is my Quaker meeting more than a "social club" for people with "common interests?" Who or what might be missing from our "Beloved Community?"

Comment

Friend to Friend June 3, 2020

June 4, 2020

As Way Opens

To: The People of Indianapolis

From: The Pastors, Clerk of the Meeting, Clerk of Ministry & Counsel, and Clerk of Witness & Service, Indianapolis First Friends

Re: Join us for a Peace Church Response

Dear Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that we have watched recent events unfold. As our resources and patience were already heavily taxed by an unparalleled pandemic, we watched the senseless execution of George Floyd in streets of Minneapolis. While capital punishment in any form is an affront to Friends, execution without process—without charge, judge, or jury—is an affront to all free peoples. This happened in broad daylight, at the hands of law enforcement officers, while the cameras rolled. This kind of violence, hatred, and unlawful discrimination are on display in our nation today in a way that is ringing old alarm bells not just for Quakers, but for Christians and people of other faiths who have worked for peace for hundreds of years. Today, we issue a fresh call: join us as we accelerate our work for peace once again—particularly in our capital city of Indianapolis.

The homicide we witnessed this past week is not isolated, but rather reinforced by a broad narrative of suspicion and culture of exclusion we have cultivated in our nation. Many of us, even in historic Peace Churches, have occasionally let our guard down or assumed certain events are isolated. However, when a white woman in Central Park threatens to phone a man into police apparently for being black, or an Ahmaud Arbery is gunned down for jogging in Georgia, we are reminded that these crimes against our brothers and sisters are not only connected by a common thread of ignorance, but a propagation of fear and violence against God’s creation. This is untenable, unbiblical, and un-Quaker.

As we did during our fight against slavery, our support for abolition, and during our cooperation in the underground railroad (which was unlawful at the time), we are prepared as a faith community to reignite this dialogue even in the face of strong opposition. We will no longer stand silently by while officers purporting to uphold the law extinguish the light of God in our fellow men or women; nor will we accept without resistance encroachments into our liberties—including the First Amendment—for which so many have worked and even perished. For example, we watched with disbelief as press have been arrested on-the-air, in direct contravention of well-established freedoms. The hour during which the cameras were unable to capture the escalating violence is further salt in the wound to our freedoms of expression.

Quakers reject violence in all circumstances—whether in instigation or response. Our traditional testimonies of Simplicity, Integrity, Peace, Equality, Community, and Stewardship aren’t just words; they are core beliefs by which we as Friends continue to stand today. We are joined not just by our Brethren and Mennonite brothers and sisters in Christ, but also the wider church. Please join us for an urgent conversation this Wednesday at 5p via Zoom to coordinate a Peace Church response among leaders of similarly-minded faith communities here in Indianapolis who have worked for peace in the face of violence. We anticipate that this conversation will be led by the representatives of our Indy-area historic Peace Churches, but all faith leaders are invited to attend this conversation. We also invite faith communities of color to join and inform us at this critical moment. We understand these concerns are not unique to Quakers, so we humbly wish to host—not own—the dialog, and sincerely look forward to your participation.

Friends: we are weary, but we must persevere. God’s voice speaks to Quakers and all of His children as clearly today as it did 400 years ago. We are called to reject violence, respect all people, and reconcile to God and one another as we build a future based on love, not fear. As Jesus taught us: we are to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and imprisoned, and be merciful and forgiving; but he also encouraged us to instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, and comfort the afflicted. We, as the aforementioned leaders of the oldest and largest Quaker Meeting in Indianapolis, intend to follow these examples and renew our vows to these principles—without hesitation or fear—again today. We know we are not alone, so please join as we embark on this journey together. May the Light of God’s love surround all of his people, particularly his people of color, in these dangerous and sensitive times.

Joys & Concerns

We are excited to announce Krishan K’s Eagle Scout Project is complete in our Meditational Woods. He has identified all our trees and provided a wonderful map for you to identify them as well. Beth Henricks joined the group to give a blessing upon their work! Thank you, Krishan (and all who helped) for your service and for beautifying our property!

A BIG thank you to those who continue to serve the food pantry during these times. We served 69. Those helping were Bill and Kathy F, David B, Phil G, Alex D, Megan B, Virginia S, and Rik and Linda L. It was pretty hot in the parking lot where food was distributed! Thank you all for your efforts!

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Bread for the World ~ At our virtual Shalom Zone meeting earlier this week, we hosted a representative from Bread for the World. Bread is an organization that focuses on food insecurity and lobbies government representatives to fund food needs for both international and US folks in need. The main thing that Bread focuses on is having organizations and individuals write letters/emails which Bread aggregates and then delivers to the representatives in bulk in order to make a big impression. Several of First Friends members participated in a letter writing endeavor last year at one of the Shalom Zone events. Since an “in person” event can’t be held at this time, and since the occurrence of food insecurity seems greater than ever, Bread is asking the churches in the Shalom Zone to ask their members to write letters and send them directly to their Senators/Representatives. The Shalom Zone will then report back to Bread the number of letters sent so Bread can use this information when talking with the Senators/Representatives. The Shalom Zone has a minimum goal of 10 individuals per church but we think that First Friends can more than double that number.

Bread has made it easy to compose and send letters/emails with this handy toolkit: https://www.bread.org/toolkit. Note that Bread recommends that you personalize the correspondence slightly to have a better impact. You may want to mention the increased need we see at the food pantry, a need that is likely to continue and that our Quaker faith compels us to help as we are able with this food insecurity issue. There are many other ways to personalize this message. Thanks for your help!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Calling all First Friends Women ~ we will have a women’s gathering on Zoom on Sunday, June 7th at 12:00 noon. We will hear poetry from some of our women and welcome other poets (please let our office know that you would like to share a poem). We will create a picture collage. You will need a large blank paper, glue and magazines. Michelle T has magazines and will deliver some to your doorstep - please let the office know if you would like a delivery of magazines. To join, contact the office for the Zoom information.

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Meeting for Worship? Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7JOQgJbda4. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

Quaker Life magazine is being offered to us for renewal at a group rate of $30.00 per year. Published by Friends United Meeting, issues come out quarterly, that will “inspire, inform and teach you.” It features articles from Quakers around the world and has featured writers including at least two familiar names, Ruthie Tippin and Bob Henry! The journal is normally priced at $40.00 annually. We keep one copy in our library. Please let the office know if you would like to join our group subscription. Thank you!

Meditational Woods Bird-of the-Month for June
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Sweeter Than a Robin, but Icky

I have drawn a rose-breasted male, and one can see how the species gets its name. The female is brownish with a brown-on-white striped breast. Notice the huge bill (GROS-beak).

Evidence of Elves and Gnomes in Community Garden;
More Tips for Tending Crops

“Fairies” and “gnomes” are weeding, mowing, planting and caring for the Community Garden’s communal spaces. They prefer to remain anonymous but we thank them and recognize their contributions.

Here are the latest tips for garden care:

Water well, but carefully. Since we use a cistern, water your plants from beneath to prevent contamination that can cause illness in humans. Raised beds drain fast and in a small plot every plant matters. Crops are more dependent on the gardener. Do check the soil underneath the surface so you do not overwater. Too much water can cause fungi. Once plants start developing fruit they need more water. Watering from overhead can cause plants to burn from the sun or, if late in the day, not dry completely so that they are more apt to develop disease. Watering well helps ensure strong root, pod and fruit development.

Thin direct-sown seedlings. For those tender-hearted souls who are hesitant, some seedling types can be eaten in salads so they are not wasted. Thinning seedlings results in less competition and produces stronger disease-resistant, pest-resistant plants.

Arrange serial plantings and harvests of crops like radishes, carrots and beets.

Stop slugs and snails. They love eating young plants. Stop them with pellets or sharp natural deterrents like egg shells, holly leaves and sweet gum balls. Place boards around the plot and check underneath early in the morning when sheltering pests can be removed.

Remove diseased plant growth and pests promptly. Remove yellowing foliage from plants such as zucchini, kohlrabi and kale. Dead plant growth makes a great hiding place for pests and fungi.

Tie in young cucumber stems and tomatoes to supports so they will not be weighted down with fruit later and break. Learn how to pinch off tomato plant growth so energy goes into fruit rather than leaves.

Harvest particular types of young plants before they become woody or too large. These include turnips, carrots, beets, okra and radishes. Radishes get too hot when grown too long.

Regularly pick and use salad crops, herbs, okra, beans and peas to encourage regrowth. You may pick the entire salad plant unless you want it to resprout or develop into a head if it is that type plant. In hot weather salad crops can become bitter. Shading them with other crops can be beneficial. Continuously pick the top growth off of salad crops and herbs so they do not bolt, stop producing and go to seed. Zucchini, beans, peas and okra need to be harvested often once the fruit develops.

Weed regularly before weeds become large and difficult to pull. Weeds can attract unwanted pests and reduce crop yields by stealing nutrients.

Queries for the Week

(From self-led worship)

What am I doing with my life? – What are the motives that order my days?
What am I weighed down by during this pandemic and how do I embrace the fact that I already have what I am looking for?
How am I learning that being my true self is discovering myself in God?

(From virtual service)

How am I facing my reality and yet living with the hope of the future?
What hard thing is God calling me to do?
How can I face my fears of uncertainty?

Comment

Friend to Friend May 27, 2020

May 29, 2020

As Way Opens

Graduation Sunday is my favorite Sunday of each year. I believe this is my 8th year of participating in this special service honoring our high school and college graduates. I always feel such hope in our future when we hear from our graduates, their plans, their dreams and the impact that First Friends has had on their lives.

This year, my need for hope is even greater. We all know our situation too well and my heart is heavy for these graduates that they won’t get to experience the normal “pomp and circumstance” of May. They have had to adjust to circumstances that 6 months ago we could not have imagined. What I am in awe of in these young people is how they have adjusted and adapted. I went to visit each one of them at their homes yesterday to deliver a small First Friends gift and take their picture. Each one of them made me so proud and so hopeful for where we go from here. I believe these young people are going to be part of a generation that will decide that we can’t keep doing things the way we have been doing them. I have faith that this generation is going to say enough already. We can’t keep destroying our environment, we can’t keep killing each other and we can’t pit groups against one another or we won’t be able to survive. I believe this generation will help lead us into a place that the founders of our country envisioned. That is how much hope I feel with these young people.

Class of 2020 - live out the words of Mahatma Gandhi - be the change in the world that you want to see. Thank you for giving me hope. Best of luck and know that you all are close to our hearts.

Help us shower our graduates with love! This year, with the normal graduation season in turmoil, we’d like to shower our graduating seniors with cards and love from First Friends. If you’d like to join us, please consider sending cards to our seniors!

Beth

Joys & Concerns

Let’s give a HUGE thanks to our Mid-North Food pantry volunteers and financial donors! Volunteers: Kathy and Bill F; Linda and Rik L; David B; Phil G; Derek, Virginia and Melanie S; and Carol and Jim D. Also THANK YOU to all who donated to the pantry for our fundraiser. First Friends raised $4,050 for the pantry. Can you guess who the folks are in the picture? Thanks to these volunteers and to all who contributed their prayers and financial resources to the pantry.

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Bread for the World ~ At our virtual Shalom Zone meeting earlier this week, we hosted a representative from Bread for the World. Bread is an organization that focuses on food insecurity and lobbies government representatives to fund food needs for both international and US folks in need. The main thing that Bread focuses on is having organizations and individuals write letters/emails which Bread aggregates and then delivers to the representatives in bulk in order to make a big impression. Several of First Friends members participated in a letter writing endeavor last year at one of the Shalom Zone events. Since an “in person” event can’t be held at this time, and since the occurrence of food insecurity seems greater than ever, Bread is asking the churches in the Shalom Zone to ask their members to write letters and send them directly to their Senators/Representatives. The Shalom Zone will then report back to Bread the number of letters sent so Bread can use this information when talking with the Senators/Representatives. The Shalom Zone has a minimum goal of 10 individuals per church but I think that First Friends can more than double that number.

Bread has made it easy to compose and send letters/emails in the attachment to this email. Both content and addresses for congressional representatives are contained in such email. Note that Bread recommends that you personalize the correspondence slightly to have a better impact. You may want to mention the increased need we see at the food pantry, a need that is likely to continue and that our Quaker faith compels us to help as we are able with this food insecurity issue. I’m sure you have other ways to personalize this message.

Bread would like these letters/emails to be sent by May-31. Thanks for your help.

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) Appeal for Food Relief -- Update and Thanks!

In April, the RSWR Board met to approve grant funding for twenty new projects in India, Kenya, and Sierra Leone this spring. These grants will resource women-led micro-enterprises with great promise for the future of the women, their families, and their communities, empowering them in a sustainable and self-determined way. But our hopeful planning for the future was tempered by the stark reality of the coronavirus pandemic, and the threat it poses to our women partners. Due to the spreading outbreak and government ordered sheltering-in-place in their countries, these women now cannot work. And without income, they cannot feed themselves or their families. RSWR's field representatives--some of whom worshiped with us here at First Friends last October--identified food relief as the most urgent need at this time. Until the public health crisis passes, food relief is how RSWR can best serve our women partners right now. (See a note of thanks from one of the women groups.)

To meet this crisis, RSWR decided to provide a total of $120,000 in food relief to the women who count on us. The Board approved an immediate disbursement of $50 in food relief to each of the RSWR grant recipients from the last two years--a modest amount for us in the U.S., but incredibly consequential for them. Since last week, an additional 250 women have been funded, bringing to 2,112 the number of women who have received food aid through your generosity. Our goal this final week of our appeal is to help the remaining 530 women and families we have targeted for aid. All these women were succeeding in their fledgling businesses until the coronavirus outbreak. Because of our relationship with these women, RSWR has been ideally situated to be the conduit for this assistance, with an efficient, reliable way to disburse funds using already established channels.

If you have already donated in response to this appeal, we--RSWR staff, Board, and our women partners--thank you for your help enabling women to feed their families until they are able to reopen their businesses. See the note of thanks from a spokesperson for one of the women's groups, addressed to the RSWR program director but meant for all who have helped. Also, a photo of a women's group receiving aid. If you haven't, please prayerfully consider a donation to RSWR in support of this food relief effort. You can donate by check mailed to RSWR at 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond, IN 47374, or for more information on how to donate go online to www.rswr.org. All donations labelled "food relief " will go directly to our women partners (please identify your donation in this way). By donating today, you make a better tomorrow possible for them. Thank you!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Friendly Reminder from the Trustees - Please remember to contact the trustees for approval before adding any landscaping/trees to the property/grounds at First Friends. After opinions from two different arborists last fall, the trustees met and determined that we needed to be more active in responsibly managing landscaping on the grounds. In addition, any new landscaping additions to the Meditational Woods also requires approval by The Meditational Woods Committee (a subcommittee of Ministry and Counsel). The Trustee decision was announced at monthly meeting in November. The Spring season is a good time to remind everyone of the decision. Thank you for assisting us as we work together to maintain the grounds.

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Meeting for Worship? Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V5S_Vg6phY. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

Can You Gather with God Over Zoom? Many thanks to Steve Sweitzer for sharing the following article, which explores Quakers from all over the nation and how they’ve been experiencing worship over Zoom. This is an article that we can all relate to! If you’re interested in reading more, see the NY times article at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/arts/quaker-meeting- zoom.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200526&instance_id=18775&nl=the-morning&regi_id=63439768&segment_id=29152&te=1&user_id=6bddf9b485e421a6b600bf387e342228

The Meditational Woods has an abundance of saplings available for transplanting. If you are interested in Tulip Poplar (state tree, grows straight and tall, likes sun) Redbud (beautiful spring buds, interesting shapes) Paw-Paw trees (understory tree, yield fruit in 10 years) Persimmon (can’t tell if male or female) Perhaps some oaks and maples. Let Mary B or Mindy S know. We’ll show you where and you get to dig ;)

Companion Planting and Inter-planting:
Garden Flowers as Pest Control, Decoration and Edible Delights

Organic gardens benefit from the beauty and natural pest control of flowers. Using flowers to attract beneficial insects that pollinate plants or prey upon harmful insects is a garden management technique called companion planting. Flowers can provide beautiful bouquets and emit pleasant scents. Some annual and perennial flowers also provide places for hibernation. Here are some of my favorite vegetable garden standards.

Marigolds
Surrounding your plot with marigolds helps to draw aphids away from crops. Marigolds repel squash bugs, thrips (minute insects with fringed wings), tomato hornworms and whiteflies. They also attract beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, hoverflies and parasitic mini-wasps that prey on garden pests. Rabbits may go elsewhere if your plot has marigolds. These flowers can be used as a cover crop and then plowed under to repel harmful nematodes.* If nematodes are a problem, leave marigold roots in the soil at season’s end. Marigolds come in red, orange, yellow and gold.

Zinnias
Zinnias, such as the Come and Cut Again variety, attract beneficial bees and butterflies to pollinate your plants. Zinnias attract hummingbirds which love to eat whiteflies. The flowers need the full sun our garden space supplies. When organically grown they are edible; they provide color in salads and summer dishes. The flowers come in a variety of bright colors including red, yellow, white, cream, burgundy, orange, pink, rose, purple and lilac.

Nasturtiums
Gorgeous nasturtiums provide climbing cover to shade sun-sensitive plants such as lettuce and greens. The flowers will last into the fall. They ward off squash bugs and beetles but aphids like them. Their foliage and colorful blossoms and buds are edible and sport a spicy, peppery flavor. Use them raw in salads or as decoration on desserts. They may be lightly cooked to serve in other dishes. When chopped they can be added to vinaigrettes, sauces and dips. Larger leaves can be used as wraps in much the same way as one would stuff grape leaves. Pick these plants early in the day for a milder flavor. They become spicier as the day wears on. They do wilt fast so use them when they are fresh and refrigerate them in water overnight if they are intended for next-day use. Red, orange, cream and yellow shades are available.

Cosmos
Cosmos flowers grow easily and attract helpful insects like green lacewings. Lacewings eat many soft-bodied insects including aphids, scale and thrips. White and orange cosmos varieties attract lacewings but cosmos comes in many other colors as well: pink, purple, red, yellow and white.

Sunflowers
These tall flowers with their strong, thick stems can serve as trellises for climbing plants. If a coarse-leaved vegetable like squash is planted beneath it, some animals may avoid your garden plot since they do not like to tread over rough surfaces. The sunflower’s nectar-laden blossoms attract pollinators. A potential pest, the squirrel, may be lured into your garden because of the same delicious sunflower seeds that the gardener craves. So might the birds! Sunflower colors include chocolate, red, yellow and burgundy.

Sweet Peas
These flowers can be inter-planted among pole beans and edible peas to attract more pollinators. Inter-planting saves space and time. You may cut flowers for a bouquet at the same time you are harvesting peas and beans for dinner. Sweet peas have colorful, sweet-scented blooms—fragile-looking but quite hardy. They will not cross-pollinate with edible peas. They come in red, pink, blue, purple and white. Generally, sweet peas are inedible unless specifically labeled as edible.

Borage
Borage is a wide, spread-out plant and an herb. Bees love it. Borage is a fast grower. Both its leaves and flowers are edible and taste slightly of cucumber. Some flowers are pink and others are blue-- sometimes on the same plant, perhaps blue representing the older blooms.

[Most flower information from thespruce.com]

*Nematodes are translucent multicellular insects with smooth, unsegmented bodies. There are thousands of nematode species on Earth and most are not harmful. You need a microscope to see some types of the long, slender or pear-shaped plant parasites that measure about 1/50 of an inch long. The harmful ones (some are beneficial) can cause root knots or galls, injured root tips, excessive root branching, leaf galls, lesions or dying tissue, and twisted, distorted leaves. Nematodes are of the large phylum Nematoda and are often referred to as roundworms even though the ones we are focusing on are plant parasites and not related to the roundworms that invade the human body. They are not closely related to true worms. Some plants they attack include cherry tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, lettuce, corn and carrots. Nematodes can injure the leaves and stems of chrysanthemums, onions, rye and alfalfa. Plant punctures they can cause may serve as entrance points for fungi and bacteria. They can inject viruses and bacterial diseases into plants. Plants may appear yellowed, wilted or stunted. Nematodes may live above the ground or in the soil. They cannot move fast unless they are in water or damp soil or spread through particles of infested soil on tools, boots, animals and infected plants. (Yes, I have never been real sure about nematodes either which is why I have diverged here for your benefit and mine. These are fascinating creatures and there is much more to learn about them!) Nematode information from Goodhousekeeping.com

--Nancy

Join us for Unprogrammed Worship by Zoom! We are now gathering for unprogrammed worship on Mondays and Wednesdays by Zoom. On Mondays, you can join us at 12:15, and on Wednesdays, log on with us at 6:45pm. We’ll spend 15 minutes to share joys and concerns and then have our hour-long worship. Many thanks to Kathy R, who is hosting this worship. To join the Zoom worship please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org for the Zoom meeting info.

Calling all First Friends Women ~ we will have a women’s gathering on zoom on Sunday, June 7th at 12:00 noon. We will hear poetry from some of our women and welcome other poets (please let our office know that you would like to share a poem).

We will create a picture collage. You will need a large blank paper, glue and magazines. Michelle T has magazines and will deliver some to your doorstep - please let the office know if you would like a delivery of magazines.

Queries for the Week

(From self-led worship)

What dominant feelings am I experiencing today that I need to continue to take inventory of?
How might I engage deep listening to become more in touch with the sounds of my soul?
During this pandemic, what “dark cellars and light rooms” should I explore to penetrate my own interiority?

(From virtual service)

Where have I been tempted to stretch the truth, take advantage of a privilege, break a commitment or gossip? What do I see about myself?
Where is it hardest for you to tell the truth?
Then this week, I challenge you to practice one of these habits: 1) not exaggerating, 2) not gossiping, or 3) not rationalizing. Then ask yourself, What is it like for me to do this?

Comment

Friend to Friend May 20, 2020

May 20, 2020

As Way Opens

This weekend was a rather full weekend of emotion and celebration for many at First Friends. It started Friday with the Celebration for Life for Florah Trench Wright (the mother of Kristin Noble). The pandemic did not deter us from remembering Florah and the amazing life she lived. This was the first funeral I’ve officiated that was socially distanced and live broadcast from the funeral home – it was even broadcast in Jamaica, Florah’s home. Millard, Florah’s husband, gave a beautiful eulogy that left me feeling as if I knew Florah (even though we never had the opportunity to meet). The family was grateful for the part First Friends played in Florah’s Life and it was evident throughout the service.

On Saturday, my family sat down in the comfort of our own home and watched the virtual commencement of our oldest son, Alex, from Huntington University. It was a bittersweet time as we watched photos of Alex and his friends, heard well-wishes from professors, students, and the college president, and tried to find some closure to Alex’s four years at Huntington. Obviously, this was not how we envisioned this experience for him, but we are proud of him for graduating with his Bachelor of Science in Animation. Our prayer now is that he will be able to find a job in the coming months – please pray!

On Sunday, after worshipping and meeting for business with all of you, I quickly ate my lunch and headed to our meditational woods. Again, due to the pandemic, we have wanted to bring some closure to the passing of our beloved Friend, Dan Rains. Beth and I prepared a brief committal service for Dan’s ashes and the planting of a memorial oak tree in our Meditational Woods. The socially distanced gathering took place as raindrops fell. We heard from Susan, Dan’s brother, and other family members who shared brief words honoring Dan. David Beatty and Mary Blackburn helped with making sure the tree was properly placed. As we all agreed afterward, this was just the beginning of a bigger celebration for Dan that will take place after this pandemic is over.

What I think we need to remember is that the emotions and awkwardness of this difficult time do not mean we stop celebrating and remembering people’s lives and accomplishments. It might mean we have different types of gatherings, and use new means of technology, but we must never forget those we love. I ask you to hold the families of Florah and Dan in the Light and remember all the graduates and their many accomplishments.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) -- Update and Appeal for Food Relief

In April, the RSWR Board met to approve grant funding for twenty new projects in India, Kenya, and Sierra Leone this year. These grants will resource women-led micro-enterprises with great promise for the future of the women, their families, and their communities, empowering them in a sustainable and self-determined way. But our hopeful planning for the future was tempered by the stark reality of the coronavirus pandemic today, and the threat it poses to our women partners. Due to the spreading outbreak and government ordered sheltering-in-place in their countries, these women now cannot work. And without income, they cannot feed themselves or their families. RSWR's field representatives--some of whom worshiped with us here at First Friends last October--have named food relief as the most urgent need at this time. Until the public health crisis passes, food relief is how RSWR can best serve our women partners right now.

To meet this crisis, RSWR has decided to provide a total of $120,000 in food relief to the women who count on us. The Board approved an immediate disbursement of $50 in food relief to each of the RSWR grant recipients from the last two years--a modest amount for us in the U.S., but incredibly consequential for them. As of this week, 1,862 women have received food aid through your generosity. Our goal is to help an additional 780 women and families over the next two weeks. These grantees were experiencing success in their fledgling businesses until the coronavirus outbreak. Because of our relationship with these women, RSWR is ideally situated to be the conduit for this assistance, with an efficient, reliable way to disburse funds using already established channels.

If you have already donated in response to this appeal, we--RSWR staff, Board, and our women partners--thank you for your help enabling women to feed their families until they are able to reopen their businesses. (See a note of thanks from one of the women groups in Sierra Leone, and a photo of a woman receiving her bag of rice, right.) If you haven't, please prayerfully consider a donation to RSWR in support of this food relief effort. You can donate by check mailed to RSWR at 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond, IN 47374, or for more information on how to donate go online to www.rswr.org. All donations labelled "food relief " will go directly to our women partners (please identify your donation in this way). By donating today, you make a better tomorrow possible for them. Thank you.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Meeting for Worship? Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sExYd0lU4I8. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

Men’s Threshing Together ~ Hey Men! Join us for a special Zoom Happy Hour with Men's Threshing Together on Thursday, May 21 at 7:00pm. Bring your favorite beverage and connect with us on Zoom and let's check-in and see how everyone is doing during this pandemic! Pastor Bob will be hosting this event. See you at Happy Hour (our normal time - 7pm just on Zoom!) To join, contact the office for a Zoom link!

We want to shower our graduates with love! This year, with the normal graduation season in turmoil, we’d like to shower our graduating seniors with cards and love from First Friends. If you’d like to join us, please consider sending cards to our seniors!

Join us from virtually anywhere in the world as the Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading book club discusses A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (496 pages) on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. “He can't leave his hotel. You won't want to. From the New York Times bestselling author of Rules of Civility--a transporting novel about a man who is ordered to spend the rest of his life inside a luxury hotel. In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel's doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery. Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count's endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose.” (Goodreads) Laura C will be leading the discussion in via Zoom starting at 7 pm, if you’d like to receive the Oak Leaf email or to join the Zoom meeting, please contact the office.

About Raised Beds; More Planting Tips ~ Community gardeners are doing a wonderful job planting and social distancing. The garage remains closed to gardeners at this time because of COVID-19. If there are concerns please contact Sam or Nancy by email, phone or Marco Polo.

Raised Beds

Pros: Our garden plots are arranged as raised beds. Individuals are responsible for their own garden planning and care. Raised beds can be readily replaced or moved. Advantages include that the soil can be replenished and warms faster and easier allowing for a longer growing season. It is easy to aerate and fertilize. The earth is well-drained and the pH can be tested and controlled. Rocks, weeds and grubs can be readily removed in your planting territory. Rid your garden of grubs before you plant anything or they will be back in force, transformed into bugs, later in the season!!

Cons: Watering may be required more often than at ground-level. Ants may accumulate since they prefer well-drained soil. Regular cultivation will hold them at bay. Snails enjoy the bed edges and will gather under wood. However, they are easy to find and remove.

Planting Vegetables

Thinning and spacing are often overlooked by inexperienced gardeners. Proper attention to these details makes a huge difference in the health and production level of organic gardens. Thin seedlings as directed by your research. Give individual plants enough space. This will encourage stronger individuals and reduce pests and disease.

Hardier plants can go into a plot during early spring: carrots, peas, beets and radishes. Later, tender plants like green and runner beans, tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini can be planted. They grow rapidly as the weather warms, especially tomatoes. Stake or cage them before they are out of control; leaves and stems break easily if a gardener tries to slip a cage over them later. Harvest herbs like basil and cilantro regularly to encourage further growth. Radishes, salad leaves and herbs provide early harvests. They may be sowed successionally-- spaced out in small batches throughout the growing season.

Weeds

Weeds grow rapidly, so keep up with them so they do not overrun your crops and before they are deeply-rooted. It has been said that one year’s weed is seven years’ seed. Let that truth motivate your labor! --Nancy

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for May:
Black-throated Green Warbler
Communication

During my college years, I was fortunate to have the chance to work during two summers at Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. The work was not glorious; I washed dishes, pots, and pans in the kitchen of the hotel. The glorious aspect was the northwoods wilderness symphony of bird songs. As a beginning birder that first year, I was amazed at the sounds of winter wrens and common loons, the latter echoing up and down the harbor. I wanted to describe what I was hearing to my brother, who had gotten me started in birding earlier that year. Each day I heard one bird in the pines, but could not find it. I wrote to Scott that it was saying, “Buzz-buzz duh-duh buzz.” That did not help him much, but he did suggest black-throated green warbler as a possibility. Eventually I DID see the bird, and Scott was correct. From guidebooks we learn that there are two songs: zee-zee zoo-zoo zee (when the male is establishing a territory), and zee-zee-zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee (when communicating with females). The song I had been hearing was the first.

In May, as this species is migrating through Indiana on its way up north, we can hear this warbler sing either song, as it is practicing for nesting season. I saw and heard this bird during the first week of May in the middle of the Meditational Woods, and I saw one there last fall on its way south.

Wouldn’t life be simple if we all communicated with each other using only two songs, one meaning this, and the other meaning that? Simple? -Brad J

Did You Know? We have lupines around the peace pole plaque and we invite you to watch and consider how you can make a miniature national park in your backyard. See this video from a Yosemite Conservancy naturalist. https://youtu.be/gM6GFtlfdDw

Queries for the Week

(From self-led worship)

What this week, do I need to spend more time contemplating and becoming more educated on as it relates to my own racism?
Where, in or around me, do I see inequalities? What causes those inequalities? And what can I do about them?
How might my degrading views of others be returning to me and not allowing me to see our reality?

(From virtual service)

What has me immobilized and fearful during this pandemic storm?
What is my potential and the opportunities that have arisen?
In what ways may I need to be bold, step out, and challenge myself to see with a new perspective this week?

Comment

Friend to Friend May 13, 2020

May 14, 2020

As Way Opens

It has been kind of amazing to me to see how we all are adapting to the significant and rapid changes in our lives. We are figuring out ways to hold worship services, committee meetings, social gatherings, graduations etc. While I know we desperately miss the physical contact of being with friends and families, we are figuring out ways to stay connected. Last Friday Earlham School of Religion held a baccalaureate service for seminary graduates through zoom. I was skeptical that this would work well and was surprised by how meaningful the service was. We had a women’s gathering two weeks ago that Nancy Scott planned with poetry, interpretative dance, and creation of our own poems. I wasn’t sure this could work on Zoom, but it was also a very meaningful and rich time of connection and creativity. Every Sunday morning at 10:15 I am watching our virtual worship service and feel connected to all of you and have been moved by the words and the music. Our Meetings for Business on Zoom have been productive and efficient. Sitting outside on patios and backyards has been sweet and fun.

Human beings have a great ability to adapt. We have been adapting to our environment since the dawn of time. While change is scary and hard, it is our ability to change that keeps us alive. I know that our lives will never go back to the way they were before this crisis. But I believe that we have an opportunity to live more deeply our Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship of the environment in our changing world. And these testimonies have never been more needed in this time of uncertainty and fear.

With all of these changes, it is comforting and reassuring to know that our God is constant and is there for us in all that we are experiencing. James 1:17-18 says “Every generous act of giving with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.”

Dear God, help us to be your first fruits as we adapt to living out faithfully in this time of change. May we bear this good fruit to our neighbors, our communities, and our families.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

Let’s all give a big THANK YOU to our dedicated food pantry volunteers! Phil G, Bill F, David B, Linda and Rik L, Virginia, Melanie and Derek S, and Carol and Jim D. Thanks to these dedicated First Friends volunteers who are willing to donate their time and assume the risk to help provide food for those in our community who are less fortunate.

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) -- Update and Appeal for Food Relief

To meet this crisis, RSWR has decided to provide a total of $120,000 in food relief to the women who count on us. The Board approved an immediate disbursement of $50 in food relief to each of the RSWR 2019 grant recipients--a modest amount for us in the U.S., but incredibly consequential for them. Then, if we are able to raise sufficient funds by the end of May, we hope to disburse a like amount per person to our 2018 grant recipients. Both these groups of grantees were experiencing success in their fledgling businesses until the coronavirus outbreak. Because of our relationship with these women, RSWR is ideally situated to be the conduit for this assistance, with an efficient, reliable way to disburse funds using already established channels.

If you have already donated in response to this appeal, we--RSWR staff, Board, and our women partners--thank you for your help enabling women to feed their families until they are able to reopen their businesses. If you haven't, please prayerfully consider a donation to RSWR in support of this food relief effort. You can donate by check mailed to RSWR at 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond, IN 47374, or for more information on how to donate go online to www.rswr.org. All donations labelled "food relief " will go directly to our women partners (please identify your donation in this way). By donating today, you make a better tomorrow possible for them. Thank you.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Did you miss the premiere of our past Sunday Meeting for Worship? Watch it ANYTIME at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1lMP6pbtx8. We hope you had a wonderful and safe Sunday! Keep an eye out in your email for details soon on the coming Sunday’s virtual service!

All are invited to Fellowship Hour and Meeting for Business ~ After virtual worship this Sunday, we hope you will join us at 11:00am on Zoom for Fellowship Hour! You can join through computer or phone! At 11:30 we will transition the Zoom call to Monthly Meeting for Business. At this meeting we will discuss reopening the Meetinghouse. See below for more info. If you’d like to join the Zoom meeting, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Reopening Discernment ~ One question on most of our minds today is “when can we regather for activities like Meeting for Worship?" The decision as to how long to delay (beyond the advice of our public health officials, which we have followed to date) belongs to us, and we would like to hear from you. Our discernment process will include the following online meetings:

Advancing Clerk’s Council from May 18th to May 11th (to gather initial feedback from our Committees and Trustees);
Seeking volunteers at our Meeting for Business on May 17th to join a special reopening task force;
Holding a Called Meeting on June 14th to seek all member feedback; and
Providing an update at Meeting for Business on June 21.

The Meetinghouse will remain closed until after the report from the task force is reviewed and approved. This forecloses any gatherings at the Meetinghouse until July at the earliest (and potentially beyond in accordance with the approved task force recommendations). Once the Meetinghouse reopens for Worship and other activities, we intend to live stream only those portions of our Meetings for Worship that would be appropriate for our Quaker manner or worship (in consultation with Ministry & Counsel). This should allow everyone to participate in most of our worship activities online until such time as we are individually comfortable returning to the Meetinghouse (and perhaps beyond to benefit anyone who is unable to attend in-person).

We look forward to regathering together in ways that balance health data, Meeting consensus, and individual circumstances, and we sincerely appreciate your involvement in this process!

Respecting Wildlife and Other Gardening Tips ~ When buying seeds for organic raised beds it is best to avoid treated seeds. Chemicals used in them often ward off fungicide, disease and animals like deer and rodents. However, in tests with mammals some animals’ organs have been damaged. Some chemicals used in treated seeds kill pollinators like bees and butterflies. Sometimes these agents travel through the plant as it grows; some other chemicals stay in the soil. Packets will say if seeds are treated. Usually the seeds themselves will be brightly colored to warn people not to eat them or handle them with bare hands. In short, consider the safety of wildlife as you buy. For your enjoyment, here is a portion of a treasured poem that the poet dedicated “To the right worthy and virtuous ladie; the Ladie Carey.”

Muiopotmos, or The Fate of the Butterflie

What more Felicite can fall to Creature,
Than to enjoy Delight with Libertie,
And to be Lord of all the Workes of Nature.
To raine in th’ Aire from Earth to the highest Skie,
To feed on Flowres , and Weeds of glorious Feature,
To take what ever thing doth please the Eie?

-Edmund Spenser (1590)

Some gardeners lost plants to our May freezes. It is not too late to try again but be ready to cover plants if needed. Cloth or glass jars are better than plastic since it can weigh down or burn plants if not removed early the next day.

Thank you F family for working on the communal portions of the garden!

Please note the new diagram for rotating crops. Unfortunately some previously printed versions are incorrect. I apologize for the confusion. --Nancy

Calling All Graduates! ~ As we do each year, we will be honoring our graduates on Sunday, May 31st. If you or someone in your family is graduating from high school or college, please notify the office so we may acknowledge them! office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485. Please have your graduate write a short bio of what they plan on doing after graduation, as well as fond memories at First Friends, and what First Friends has meant to them. Thank you for helping us honor your students!

First Friends Bible study ~ All are welcome to join this new bible study group here at First Friends! The first book we will study is a publication in the Barclay series called Illuminate: John (The Spiritual Gospel) (2011). The group will meet virtually each Thursday night at 7:30, beginning Thursday, May 14. The originators are Amy P, Linda L, Megan W, and Tim W. Members will take turns facilitating, as they feel comfortable. The facilitator will not be a teacher; rather they will manage the discussion based on the questions in the Bible Study book. The Illuminate series was highly recommended by Bob Henry. If you're interested in listening in and/or participating, please email the office at office@indyfriends.org to find out the virtual platform and how to participate. It is not necessary to attend all the sessions. You'll need to order your own copy of the book.

More about the book (from Barclay): Perhaps the most distinguishing feature about John’s Gospel is the long dialogues he records between Jesus and unbelieving Jews. John’s purpose is clearly evangelistic: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (20:31) Some commentators see sacramental overtones almost everywhere in the Gospel of John; however, it’s interesting to note that John is the only one of the four gospels where there’s no mention of the bread and wine at the Last Supper. As Friends there’s much in this gospel that supports emphasizing the primacy of spiritual reality as opposed simply to relying on a creed or a religious ritual. In fact, a primary purpose of the lessons in this quarter should be to teach a Quaker understanding of the gospel of Christ.

Material Aid / Food Pantry Fundraisers ~ This is the time of year that First Friends has held its fundraiser for the Mid North Food Pantry. You may have seen this in last week’s Friend to Friend newsletter. The food pantry is busier than ever and needs the financial support that First Friends has provided in the past. There’s also another area of help that we need to address...the First Friends’ Material Aid Fund. This is a fund that is used to provide emergency assistance to members and longtime attenders of First Friends. Due to the limited amount in this fund, the assistance provided is not on-going but rather for one-time emergency needs...rental assistance, a utility bill, a new tire, etc. This fund has historically maintained a balance of $3,000 – $4,000 but, due to several recent needs, is now down to a few hundred dollars.

Many folks at First Friends are not aware of the existence of the Material Aid Fund. This is understandable since distributions from this fund are not publicized. Given the current coronavirus situation, the need for both the pantry and the Material Aid Fund are expected to substantially increase. Your help is needed. Hopefully, over the next month or so, we will receive “stimulus monies” from the federal government. Some folks will need such monies (and possibly more) for food, rent and other basic living needs. Other folks may have less of a need or no need for such monies. Please consider donating some or all of such monies that you may not need to these outreach endeavors. With your help, the pantry will be able to provide food for the needy and the Material Aid Fund will be available for our neediest members. Checks can be written to First Friends with a notation of how you would like your contribution split between the 2 funds...50% FP/50% MA or however you are led. You can also give by text! Simply text the keyword and amount you’d like to donate to 317-768-0303. Use keyword “material” for the Material Aid fund or “pantry” for the Mid-North Food Pantry. Thanks for your consideration.

Support First Friends! Friends, during this time we are still in need of your support to keep the Meetinghouse going, to continue online Meetings for Worship, and to keep our ministries afload. As we all learn to navigate this new world of social distancing together, we are happy to share new and easier ways you can continue to support the Meeting while stuck at home! First Friends now accepts online giving. Please visit www.indyfriends.org/support for more information or to give. There are a number of ways to support, including:

giving online using a credit card or bank account (much like online shopping)
giving through text
setting up automatic contributions through your bank
submitting a pledge

These methods truly support First Friends while allowing you to stay within the safety of home. They are also incredibly secure; our online and text giving options offer bank-level security encryption, so you can give with confidence. If you have questions or would like to be walked through how to do it, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or call 317-255-2485. Thank you for supporting First Friends, especially during these times!

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for May:
Black-throated Green Warbler
Communication

Wouldn’t life be simple if we all communicated with each other using only two songs, one meaning this, and the other meaning that? Simple? -Brad J

Comment

Friend to Friend

As Way Opens

Beth

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

As Way Opens

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Queries for the Week

As Way Opens

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Queries for the Week

As Way Opens

Bob

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Queries for the Week

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Queries for the Week

As Way Opens

-Sam Henry

Joys & Concerns

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Free seeds are now available at many branches of the Indianapolis Public Library through curbside pickup. More branches have seed libraries than in the past. Take advantage!

Queries for the Week

As Way Opens

Joys & Concerns

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Queries for the Week

As Way Opens

Beth

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Queries for the Week

As Way Opens

Bob

﻿Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Queries for the Week

As Way Opens

Beth

Joys & Concerns

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations