Friend to Friend July 14, 2021

July 16, 2021

As Way Opens

My family and I just returned from what some people consider the Happiest Place on Earth (a.k.a. Walt Disney World). Others may disagree, but my family regarded this trip one of the best we have taken in quite some time. I am pretty sure this had a lot to do with feeling the need to celebrate and having the right place to do it!

As my wife described it so well on Facebook,

Finally on our intended 2020 Disney 25th Anniversary trip that turned into a “Celebrate 2020 graduations from high school and college, 25 + 1 wedding anniversary, 26 years in ministry, 20 years teaching in a school classroom, completed first professional animation movie contract, completed 1st year at School of the Art Institute Chicago, almost have my driver’s license, and beginning of senior year in high school” vacation!

Quaker Richard Foster believes celebration should be at the core of our life and at the heart of the way of Christ. He says,

Celebration brings joy into life, and joy makes us strong. Scripture tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10). We cannot continue long in anything without it.

After this prolonged pandemic, my family needed again to embrace a carefree spirit of joyous festivity! Just being together, singing songs, laughing, dancing [yes, I may have been caught a couple of times dancing], and enjoying each other’s company without the pressures of the world, ministry, work, and school felt so freeing and way overdue.

On Thursday night, as we stood with thousands of people from around the world to watch the Happily Ever After fireworks in front of Cinderella’s Castle, I found myself feeling overwhelmed and even had tears rolling down my cheeks. I have so much to celebrate – a wonderful wife, a beautiful family, and an exciting community of faith at First Friends just to name a few. My heart is so full.

Richard Foster said, that even though singing, dancing, and noise-making (a.k.a fireworks) are not required forms of celebration,

They are examples only, to impress upon us that the earth indeed is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Like Peter, we need to learn that nothing that comes from the gracious hand of God is inherently unclean (Acts 10). We are free to celebrate the goodness of God with all our viscera!

This week, I hope you can find a reason to celebrate! Sing, dance, make noise and celebrate the goodness of God with all your viscera!

Keep the Celebration Going!

Bob

Joys & Concerns

We’d like to give thanks to our food pantry volunteers last week: Christie M; Linda and Rik L; Tom F; David B; Mara S; Penny P; Virginia and Derek S; and Carol and Jim D. We were very busy and able to help 74 families.

Thank you for keeping our space beautiful! Many thanks to David B, Mary B and Dan M for working through the rain last week to help clean up our outdoor space!

Our own Steve S is among the six Hoosier broadcasters chosen to be inducted into the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2021! Steve is Chief Photographer and a reporter and producer for Pet Pals TV and Great Day TV with Patty Spitler. He’s spent much of his 40-year broadcast career at WISH-TV where he also reports his regular Steve’s Tech Talk segment. He also owns and operates Sweitzer Productions which has served a variety of clients including 60 Minutes, CBS Sunday Morning, CBS News and The Letterman Show. For the past 20 years, Steve has taught at IUPUI where he was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Read more about it here. What an honor! Congratulations, Steve!

Community Gardeners Plant and Harvest ~ Community Gardeners are reaping the rewards of much rain. They have not had to water as often. Crops and weeds are actively growing. Gardeners continue to plant. Some are harvesting beans, peas, asparagus, kale, lettuce and herbs. Flowers are appearing as bees gather their nectar. The weather has been humid and wet—not that comfortable for humans—but the gardeners persist. Their toil pays off. A walk among the raised beds is pretty and peaceful.

Lynda S’s mother, Bernice Wisehart, passed away in January of this year, but the family has been unable to hold a memorial service for her until now. There will be a memorial service celebrating Bernice’s life on Saturday, August 14th, at 2:00 PM. It will take place at West Richmond Friends Meeting in Richmond, IN. There will be an open house at the Wayne County Museum immediately following the service.

We are sad to share the news of the passing of our member Barbara Koons. A memorial service will be held in at Indiana Funeral Care, 8151 Allisonville Rd, Indianapolis, IN on Saturday, September 25. Visitation will begin at 10 am with a brief service at 11 am. Those who are not able to attend the service can watch the service on Zoom. To read Barbara’s obituary and/or to find more information on the Zoom event, please click here. Please keep Barbara’s family in your prayers during this time.

The Ministry Team learned this week that Culver G suffered a stroke about four weeks ago and has been recovering at home. Bob and Beth made a visit this week and found Culver doing very well. He has already graduated from physical and speech therapy and will be starting occupational therapy soon. Culver and Carolyn are excited about their Indianapolis son’s upcoming wedding in August and hope to be able to attend.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

No Monthly Meeting for Business ~ Friends, please note that there will be no Monthly Meeting for Business for this month (July). We will see you at the next Business Meeting!

Monday Meditational Worship Time Change ~ Please note that the Monday mid-day meditational worship will return to its original time of 12:15pm. Hopefully, this will allow some more people to join us for that time. We will begin with the new time starting on Monday, July 19th. We hope you will join us!

Fellowship Hour ~ We will begin holding fellowship hour in Fellowship Hall after worship each Sunday. We will offer some individually wrapped drinks and snacks for this time. We hope you will join us!

VBS Kicks off This Sunday! We are excited to kick off VBS this coming Sunday, July 18! This year’s theme is “Treasured: Discovering You’re Priceless to God.” Kickoff will be from 12-2pm after worship on Sunday, and lunch will be provided for all VBS participants that day. Daily VBS sessions will continue the following Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30. Preschoolers through 5th graders are welcome. Neighbors, friends, and grandkids are also invited!

Western Yearly Meeting Mission Project ~ The 2021 annual mission project for Western Yearly Meeting is to provide technology (e.g. laptops, desktop computers, internet services) to several Quaker groups. The Kisumu Kenya Office (which is the hub of all Quaker activities in Africa), Friends Theological College, and Belize Friends School will all benefit from the funds raised during this campaign. The WYM goal is $15,000. Checks should be made to First Friends with a notation “WYM Mission Project”. Or you can donate securely on our website at https://www.indyfriends.org/support. Just choose “WYM Project” as the fund. Or text “WYMProject” to 317-768-0303. Please examine your hearts and give as you are led.

USFWI “Quinquennial” Conference ~ The Executive Committee of the United Society of Friends Women, Incorporated, is inviting all women to participate in a “virtual triennial” that will be held via Zoom, this Friday-Saturday July 16 & 17. It might even be called a “Quinquennial (5 years) Conference” because we have not met since the 2016 Triennial that was held in Iowa. The conference theme will be “Resting in His Shadow,” which is the theme for the 2021-2022 Blueprints program year.

Click here for information about USFWI's upcoming virtual conference, including instructions for how to register. The sessions will be two hours long, one on Friday and one on Saturday. Guest speakers include Nikki Holland, Belize FUM Director, Dorcas Otieno from Tanzania Friends Mission, and Karla Jay, FUM Global Ministries Coordinator. The speakers will be exciting and the business kept to a minimum -- just what has to be done at each gathering -- so there will be opportunities to see F/friends from around the world.

The members of the First Friends Bible study group invite you to "Hearing God," the theme of the upcoming study book. This small group meets by Zoom at 7:30 pm each Thursday. The Samuel study will begin Thursday, July 29 and last 13 weeks. You are welcome to drop in and try out the group. To receive a Zoom link, contact the office. To order a study book, go to Illuminate: 1, 2 Samuel (barclaypressbookstore.com)

Western Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions ~ All are invited to Western Yearly Meeting’s (WYM’s) annual sessions which will be July 23-25, 2021. This year’s theme is “See I am Doing a New Thing” (Isaiah 43:19). Most events will be held online, with 3 in-person events at the WYM Meetinghouse with online streaming so friends can view remotely:

Friday 7/23 evening - Quaker lecture by Colin Saxton

Saturday 7/24 evening -Missions gathering

Sunday 7/25 morning - WYM meeting for worship

Other events held online will be held online in an interactive format (zoom) with the opportunity for friends to gather and participate virtually. There is no fee to participate, though donations are welcome. Please register by 12 Noon on Monday, July 19. To register and for more information, please visit https://www.westernyearlymeeting.org/2021newthing.

Pair of Binoculars! A pair of binoculars were found on the property about a month ago. If they’re yours, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485 to reclaim them! We’d like to get these back to their owner!

You’re Invited! We're super excited to invite you to Samantha and Gabe's baby shower happening Sunday, August 22nd! 👶Join us as we get ready to welcome baby Von Letscher into the world with raffles, don't-put-down-the-babe games, and all kinds of shower-friendly shenanigans designed by Sam's strange siblings. This party is completely co-ed (all are welcome!) and will be held at Miriam and James's place in Woodruff.

Feel free to swing by Sam and Gabe's baby registry to pick up a special tchotchke for the babe. And don't forget to come with a pack of diapers for automatic entry into the raffle! For more info, contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

From the Woods: Friends will notice a new look to the Woods this week. A new, accessible pathway has been installed to the Peace Pole area to match the main walkway into the Meditational Woods. The Peace Pole meditational area was donated by Scott Small as his Eagle Scout project several years ago. The Woods Committee decided that it was time to preserve the beauty of the project by making the path easier to maintain and use over time. Come, sit and contemplate the peace of God which passes understanding.

The Woods team enjoyed freshening up the courtyard and entrances to the meetinghouse last week, even in the rain! This Thursday morning from 9- 11 AM, we will work on tidying up the plantings around the west side of the building. Put on your gardening gloves and come join us!

Learn more about invasive species and why we should all care about them.

The 2021 Indiana CISMA Conference will take place as a multi-format event with a combination of virtual and in person opportunities. The theme this year is Why Do We Manage Invasive Species? Continuing education credits via pre-recorded presentations from conference speakers will be made available to registrants only. http://www.sicim.info/cismaconference

Virtual Meeting: Aug 5, 2021 | 9 AM -12 PM ET
Field Events: Aug 6 & 7, 2021, time(s) TBD, each event will be no longer than 4 hours
Registration Fee: $25.00 (includes virtual event and an onsite field event of your choice)
Continuing education credits via prerecorded sessions
Virtual meeting w/ keynote speaker to discuss why we manage invasive species
Field events around the state that include species identification, management techniques, and onsite examples of impactful restoration

Or, learn more about the 2021 Indiana Water Summit (https://thewhiteriveralliance.org/programs/water-summit/), "an apolitical and inclusive annual forum developed to examine the complex interests and issues that face our water supply. The Summit’s subject matter… build upon current legislative actions in order to provide a broad planning perspective, weaving together diverse topics that together demonstrate the interdependency of water issues and the science behind the state of the waters.” I have attended several times and find the information fascinating. ~Mary B

Your Talent is Needed! ~ As we reopen our Sunday Meeting for Worship, we are looking for vocalists or instrumentalists who would like to perform during Meeting for Worship over the summer. Simply pick a Sunday through August and let the office know which day you would like to perform. Eric is available for accompaniment and to help you with whatever your performance needs are. If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485 with the date you had in mind. Or, use the sign-up sheet in the office hallway. We look forward to hearing from you!

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for July

Chipping Sparrow: A Common Friend

This time of year, the number of birds singing decreases, as does singing itself. Nesting is coming to an end, and males no longer need to defend a territory. One bird that does continue to sing is the Chipping Sparrow. This species can be found anywhere in the woods, but most likely along the western edge near the parking strip. They can be in any of the trees in the front yard of the meetinghouse, or in those that line the meadow.

From April, when they arrive from the Gulf coast, through October when they leave, one can hear the song made of a string of rapid chips. This song is unlike any other Indiana bird, except for Pine Warbler (found in large pine woods), and Worm-eating Warbler (found on the slopes of the deep woods of Hoosier National Forest). Chippies are more associated with people, and have adapted to the changes in the landscape brought by humans.

Note the reddish-brown cap, black eye-stripe, clear breast, and wingbars, which help one identify this rather small bird.

I want to dedicate this month’s article to Linda Lee, who always had a bird story or question, often asked during our $tamping 4 Dollar$ sessions. Like the Chipping Sparrow, she was well-known to all and seemed to be ever-present. Her “song” was unique and special. Unlike the bird, Linda was quite uncommon. If I may share one final story: Linda and Ed came to a couple of the Indiana Stamp Club meetings to help auction off our stamps. I watched her as she made the rounds of the tables in the room, talking to the folks she encountered. Later she told me about many of the people she had met. Linda remembered names and details. I must admit that I have an awkward shy streak that appears in social situations like those meetings, but Linda had met and befriended more people in two hours than I had in two years! I will miss her!

~Brad J

Queries for the Week

• Are we too serious in our approach to life?

• Do we hold our beliefs too tightly in our hands?

• Do we love from our True Self?

• Can we release tradition that we hold dear and give grace and welcome to those that see things differently and might have slighted us or hurt our feelings?

Comment

Friend to Friend June 30, 2021

July 1, 2021

As Way Opens

Last Wednesday, Sue and I celebrated our 25+1 Anniversary in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. On Wednesday evening we had the opportunity to attend Summer Light: Art by Night at the historic Brookgreen Gardens a sculpture park and arboretum in Murrells Inlet. Upon entering the gardens, we were drawn into The Noble Gallery which featured, Wild Bees (https://www.sharpeatmanguides.com), a series of exquisite up-close photographs of native bees in their natural habitat. Sue and I were fascinated by the tremendous variety of shapes, colors, and details of these beautiful insects. Even a few of the photographs featured bees on flowers we have in the gardens surrounding our home.

While standing in the gallery viewing these photographs, I was taken back a couple weeks to a very special lunch I had with Linda Lee. After several hours of telling each other our life stories and love for different expressions of art, Linda became very animated, rose from her chair, and walked across the room to grab a large coffee table book. She was almost giddy about this book, but the subject matter came as a surprise. Linda smiled, handed me the big book, and exclaimed, “It’s a book about ants and I am learning so much from them!”

Linda proceeded to sit down next to me, and we looked in detail at each of the 160 pages of the book, Ants: Workers of the World by photographer Eduard Florin Niga and science writer Eleanor Spicer Rice. Linda pointed out the colors, the shapes, and the stunning diversity of each ant species. She told me what she learned about community and work, but it was her fascination with their dedication and commitment to one another that spoke to her condition. She remarked with a smirk on her face, “The Church could learn a lot from ants,” and then winked at me. We laughed.

Ants and Bees have always been considered metaphors for our lives. More than any other species, ants and bees function as part of a whole. They cannot and do not survive as individuals, they survive as members of a group, and the group’s survival is the implicit goal of each individual creature’s life. Linda lived her life as part of a whole and helped each of us live more fully as part of a community. What she saw in the lives of ants was what she lived out in our Meeting and the community surrounding her on a daily basis.

As Sue and I looked at those bees that evening at Brookgreen Gardens, I told her how Linda would love seeing these photos and how I couldn’t wait to share our experience with her. As we walked out into the gardens, we continued to talk about how impactful Linda has been in each of our lives, not knowing that later that very night she would suffer a massive heart attack and 48 hours later be gone.

Thank you, Linda, for always seeking to help us be whole – you will be greatly missed in our community and our lives.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

IFCL--'For the People Act' Rally

The 'For the People Act' (H.R. 1 and S.1 in Congress) represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build up our democracy by putting more power in the hands of everyday people by strengthening voting, elections, campaign finance and ethics laws. IFCL will join with Common Cause Indiana and other allied organizations to hold a rally in support of the 'For the People Act' on Tuesday, July 6th at noon in front of Senator Todd Young's office in downtown Indianapolis. We’ll hear a few speeches and then march a few blocks to Senator Mike Braun’s office at 115 N. Pennsylvania.

Indiana lags behind most other states when it comes to voter turnout. While IFCL and others continue to work at the state level to pass common sense voting reforms like Election Day voter registration, no-excuse vote by mail, and independent legislative redistricting, what we really need is federal legislation that will set a national standard for voting and elections.

That’s why this federal legislation is so important. We want to send a clear message to Senators Young and Braun to give this important bill fair consideration.

WHAT: For the People Act Rally
WHEN: Tuesday, July 6th at noon
WHERE: Meet outside 251 N. Illinois, downtown Indianapolis

Please RSVP here, then consider joining us on July 6th. Thank you.
RSVP NOW >>

Joys & Concerns

Please Pray for Ed M & family ~ Linda L passed away peacefully last Friday evening surrounded by family. She will be deeply missed by all of us. A memorial service will be held at the Meetinghouse on Saturday, July 10 at 1pm. A calling will follow afterward with a few chocolatey desserts available, which were Linda’s favorite. You can read Linda’s obituary here. Please hold Ed and Linda’s sons in healing prayers of Light and Love.

This week Beth is in Minnesota for her brother David’s funeral. The service went well, and Beth is grateful for the support from friends during this time.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

No Friend to Friend or Office Hours next week ~ Please note there will be no Friend to Friend on July 7 due to several staff holiday absences. Also, for the same reason, there will be no regular office hours that week (July 5-8).

NO MEETING FOR WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY ~ Please also note that there will be no Meeting for Worship on Sunday, July 4. We will instead hold unprogrammed worship that day at 10:15. Also, an online video (Light Reflections from First Friends) will premiere that day on our YouTube channel as usual. Feel free to join us either way.

Calling all ice cream lovers! First Friends will be working at the Dairy Bar at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday, August 7th all day. This is a major yearly fundraiser for our youth program! We plan to have two shifts, 9:30am-3:30pm, and 3:30-10:00pm. Volunteers will receive a free ticket to the State Fair for that day, as well as unlimited ice cream, shakes and cheese sandwiches. Please let the office know if you’re interested!

Sign up NOW for VBS! Registration is now open for Vacation Bible School this summer! This year’s theme is “Treasured: Discovering You’re Priceless to God.” We will kick off on Sunday, July 18 from 12-2pm after worship and then have daily sessions the following Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30. Preschoolers through 5th graders are welcome. Neighbors, friends, and grandkids are also invited! We also still need volunteers for group leaders, station leaders and folks to prepare a snack for a night. For more information, here is the link for the intro for the VBS program: https://www.group.com/category/ministry-resources/childrens-ministry/vbs/treasured.do. If you’d like to sign your kids up or help with VBS, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

New Raised Bed Technique in Community Garden ~ If you take a walk in the Community Garden you will see some new raised beds. They are the first to use a no drill/no hammer/no nail technique to fasten the frames. A special corner block is used. This method allows more portability and beds can easily be built higher, if desired.

I have included a planting guide from Purdue that I got at the library. We have passed the longest day of the year and gardeners might benefit from this chart that shows what can be planted locally at this time. Keep on planning! ~Nancy

Woods Words ~ Mother nature has given our trees and plants lots of water over the past week. As summer temperatures rise, make sure your trees are receiving one inch of water each week. Also, look at the trees on your property and evaluate if they have too much mulch and are at risk of disease. We think that we are protecting our trees with mulch, but too much is not a good thing. Here’s a YouTube video explaining why we should keep mulch away from the base of the tree and protect the root flare: https://youtu.be/osii6Uw-psM

Did you get over cooked the other week? David and I did on our trip out West to visit Sarah. Temperatures reached 105 during the day in Kansas, so we cut our plans short and headed straight for the air conditioning. Purdue University Climate Change Research Center is helping educate Hoosiers about climate change and things we can do here at home.

On the political front, some positive action is occurring to use economic tools to contain CO2 emissions. Senators Braun and Stabenow have sponsored legislation called the Growing Climate Solutions Act.

"The legislation, introduced by U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), joined by U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Boozman (R-AR), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and co-sponsored by more than half the Senate, helps producers to generate and sell carbon credits by setting up a third-party certification process through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The bill also creates an online resource for farmers looking to connect with those experts and get more information and establishes an Advisory Council to provide input to USDA and ensure the program remains effective and works for farmers.”

So plant trees well, turn off the lights when you leave the room and reduce unnecessary electrical use, treat water like the precious resource that it is and give thanks daily to God for the glorious universe that God created. ~ Mary Blackburn

USFWI “Quinquennial” Conference ~ The Executive Committee of the United Society of Friends Women, Incorporated, is inviting all women to participate in a “virtual triennial” that will be held via Zoom, Friday-Saturday July 16 & 17. It might even be called a “Quinquennial (5 years) Conference” because we have not met since the 2016 Triennial that was held in Iowa. The conference theme will be “Resting in His Shadow,” which is the theme for the 2021-2022 Blueprints program year.

Your Talent is Needed! ~ As we reopen our Sunday Meeting for Worship, we are looking for vocalists or instrumentalists who would like to perform during Meeting for Worship over the summer. Simply pick a Sunday in June-August and let the office know which day you would like to perform. Eric is available for accompaniment and to help you with whatever your performance needs are. If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485 with the date you had in mind. Or, use the sign-up sheet in the office hallway. We look forward to hearing from you!

Friday 7/23 evening - Quaker lecture by Colin Saxton

Saturday 7/24 evening -Missions gathering

Sunday 7/25 morning - WYM meeting for worship

Queries for the Week

• How has our definition/understanding of love affected/impacted the way we love each other?

• Like Jesus and Judas, how do we learn to love those that have betrayed our love for them in the past?

• As a church, what is our role in expressing Jesus’ love to those who are different from us?

Comment

Friend to Friend June 23, 2021

June 24, 2021

As Way Opens

I am just finishing the authorized biography of Eugene Peterson called “A Burning in my Bones”. Peterson was a pastor, theologian, scholar and translator of Greek and Hebrew Scriptures and while he wrote many books during his lifetime, his masterpiece was the translation of the Old and New Testament called The Message. The author, Winn Collier, had access to Peterson, his family, friends and all his papers and journals. This biography gave a candid and personal look into Peterson’s life and his journey to the place of tackling this huge project of translating the Scriptures from their original language. Peterson first translated the New Testament and a few years later translated the Old Testament. This translation was widely successful and it brought the Scriptures into common English language while attempting to share the energy, passion and life of the Scriptures.

There is a delightful story of how Bono, the lead singer from the rock group U2 loved The Message translation and incorporated readings of this translation into his concerts. He desperately wanted to meet Peterson and after a few attempts, Peterson’s agent finally set up this meeting. This began a lifelong friendship and Bono recognized that Peterson’s translation brought the Scriptures alive and they became more relevant to the common person and opened up the Bible to a whole new group.

Peterson also received a lot of criticism for this translation from some Christians that felt he was misinterpreting Scripture and strongly disagreed with much of what he wrote. They cited the King James version as the literal words of the Bible and Peterson always pointed out that every translation including KJV are an interpretation of the original writings. That is why we must read the Bible searching for Truth but holding the Scriptures lightly and with an understanding that all the words we read are an interpretation and open for discernment from the original language.

Peterson spent his entire life trying to follow God’s calling and it was inspiring to see how his path, his shortcomings and his wrestling with institutions like the Church and academia influenced his journey to a deeper relationship with God. He struggled with insecurities and ego and it once again reminded me that God uses us in all our glories and our shortcomings. May we all keep listening to our call from God.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

June Jubilee/Juneteenth: Hot and Humid but Fun and Educational

What a weekend! June Jubilee, a new federal holiday: Juneteenth, Father’s Day, graduation parties and the summer solstice! Neighbors walking in the First Friends lot dropped in and there was enough food to share, just like the Bible’s loaves and fishes story. Jim brought hot dogs and Craig set them up so they could roast on their own since it was too hot to sit by the fire. Amy T. had to attend a grad party but brough s’more kits daughter LeeAnn made for the event. Mary brought enough food to pass around, including melon. We weren’t sure until the last minute whether we would be inside or outside but the rain stopped and the sun came out. It was hot and humid but there were plenty of games: disc golf, corn hole, basketball, jump rope and fun quizzes about Juneteenth and Father’s Day. They were interactive and people won prizes.

Saturday the 19th in this year of 2021 was the first day Juneteenth was celebrated as a federal holiday. It commemorates the symbolic end of slavery in the United States. In 1863 during the American Civil War President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring the three million slaves living in Confederate States to be free. Two-and-a-half years passed before the news reached African-Americans living in Texas. In 1865 Major General Gordon Granger and 2000 Union troops arrived in Galveston to deliver the message and enforce the law. The freed slaves prayed, sang hymns and danced. Some called this the “break.” They were freed but had the means to support themselves when they had no land, property or jobs. In 1866 Freedmen in Texas organized Jubilee Day (Day of Jubilee). Sometimes “Day” was plural because news was sporadic in Texas. Confederates learned the war was over and finally surrendered by early summer. A few months later states that had rebelled had to adhere to the 13th Amendment of the Constitution in order to be reintegrated into the Union. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery everywhere in the U.S., not just in the states that seceded. In the 1890s Jubilee Day became known as Juneteenth. Until last Saturday only 47 states and D.C. officially celebrated Juneteenth. Early celebrations included political rallies to provide voting instruction. At the June Jubilee we discussed the Juneteenth flag, holiday colors and customary foods. We spoke of celebrating Juneteenth by supporting Black business and by educating ourselves and others about Juneteenth and race. We agreed that as humans we still have much to learn and much to do to improve human relations.

Holliday Park Songsters Entertain Birders ~ Enthusiastic is a descriptor for Brad Jackson. As leader of a birdwatching walk yesterday at Holliday Park, he gestured like a maestro as he encouraged birders to listen and really hear the multiple calls of the many species observed in the Park. Brad usually hears birds—even a tiny hummingbird—before he sees them. The group started the walk by watching a Cedar Waxwing “teeing up” (like a golf ball on a tee) atop a Hemlock tree. That is birdwatcher language for a bird perching at the very top of a tree for some time while it scans the view, possibly while singing. Lower down the tree sat a Northern Flicker. She was a female since she lacked the mustache marking of the male. Brad looks at subtle changes in flight patterns, color, types and lengths of tails and wings, bill shapes and bird size to I.D. the flyers. He also listens to their calls, songs and pecking noises. He engages walkers with his exotic interpretations of specific species’ calls and songs. Sometimes he mentions well-known humorous descriptions of auditory clues. For instance, Tanagers “sound like a hoarse robin—a robin with a sore throat.” It is lower-pitched with a thicker sound. The birders identified both male and female of this species.

Brad records birds’ locations and behaviors on apps that can be used by birders and scientists across the nation and the world. Through apps and observation he knows how common or unusual it is to find any given bird at a specific location. As a result he pronounced the Prothonotary Warbler the Bird of the Day. It is seldom seen in this area and is named for its yellow head that resembles the hood-like garment worn by judges in old England. This warbler nests in woodpecker holes that have caused tree limbs to weaken and lean over rivers, swamps and ponds in woodland settings.

When the birding group reached the river they looked up and saw 47 mud nests stuck to the side of the bridge. Cliff Swallows had fashioned them. The graceful swallows dived and swooped toward the round openings in their nests, delivering food to their hungry young. Brad informed the group about several types of nesting behaviors. Being able to detect them helps to locate mates, identify species and predict populations.

Both inexperienced and knowledgeable birders can benefit from birdwatching with Brad. Connections Program Meeting arranged for this second birdwatching session. Since nesting and fledging seasons are ending, birds will no longer need to stake out their territory and populations will quiet down. When birds sing less they are more difficult to locate and identify so birders will need to put serious birdwatching on hold. No doubt there will be future birdwatching sessions with Brad—eventually. After all, the walks are relaxing and fun jaunts for everyone involved. Read through the list of birds encountered at the Park yesterday:

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

No Friend to Friend or Office Hours week of July 4 ~ Please note there will be no Friend to Friend on July 7 due to several staff holiday absences. So be sure to get your notices in early! Also, for the same reason, there will be no regular office hours that week (July 5-8). If you need to be let in the building, please contact Beth at beth.henricks@indyfriends.org.

Also please note that there will be no Meeting for Worship on Sunday, July 4. We will instead hold unprogrammed worship that day at 10:15. Also, an online video (Light Reflections from First Friends) will premiere that day on our YouTube channel as usual. Feel free to join us either way.

We welcome Brown Mujete to Meeting for Worship this Sunday! Brown will be giving the morning message at both in-person and online worship. Brown, together with his spouse, Petra, and their children Alexis, Drake, and Alyssa, comes to us from Kenya in East Africa. Brown went to Friends Theological College (FTC) in Kaimosi – Kenya, then to St. Paul's University for his undergraduate studies, before joining Earlham school of religion in Richmond, IN, where he recently graduated with an MDiv. Brown has served as a pastor in several monthly meetings and a chaplain to quaker sponsored schools in Kenya. He is also an ordained minister with the Anglican Church of Kenya and has been serving as a supply priest for St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond. He is extending his studies at ESR for one more year to pursue a master's of peace and social justice while preparing for doctoral studies.

Your Talent is Needed! ~ As we reopen our Sunday Meeting for Worship, we are looking for vocalists or instrumentalists who would like to perform during Meeting for Worship over the summer. Simply pick a Sunday in June-August and let the office know which day you would like to perform. Eric is available for accompaniment and to help you with whatever your performance needs are. If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485 with the date you had in mind. Or, use the sign-up sheet in the office hallway. We look forward to hearing from you!

Friday 7/23 evening - Quaker lecture by Colin Saxton

Saturday 7/24 evening -Missions gathering

Sunday 7/25 morning - WYM meeting for worship

Two Poems read at Meeting on Father’s Day: Climbing by Linda Lee in her book Before the Final Fire and Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden which may be read at poetryfoundation.org.

Climbing

Higher than the house, higher

than the metal roof of the barn,

beyond the pointed top of the poplar,

up the old silo he climbed.

The ladder rattled, the rungs felt cool,

rough with rust.

Higher than the church steeple,

not higher than his wife’s voice.

“Donald it’s dangerous. Donald,

I’m afraid. You’ll fall. Don’t

fall, Donald, you’ll be a father soon.

His pleasure in the muscles of his arms,

the strength of his legs, in his fingers the grasp, pull, push,

in the motion of his body trusting.

His joy in the long view

across the valley toward his family’s farm,

the school where he’d met my mother

in second grade. His climbing because he wanted to.

His escape from her fear. The courage he claimed.

From within her womb I heard him say,

“Have confidence in my strength, my competence.

I will take care of you and this child,

of three more children and a dog.

Trust me and the child, this football-shaped moon, yourself and the love we share.”

When he stood safe, they squeezed me between them

with their hugging.

Queries for the Week

How has patriarchal and toxic masculinity effected my life?
Whether a father or not, what can I do to promote and model a better way of being human?
What father in my life might I need to speak life, beauty and hope to, today?

Comment

Friend to Friend June 16, 2021

June 17, 2021

As Way Opens

Many of you know I lost my brother Dave a little over a week ago. His death was not unexpected as he had been declining but it was still a shock. I thought I had more time with him. I had planned to visit him over the Fourth of July and didn’t do enough checking with him to make sure I had all his user IDs, passwords and information to handle things after his death. As we know, almost everything is online, so it is crucial to have all of this information to access a loved one’s data. The last week has cautioned me to make sure I have all of this information available for those that will handle my affairs after I’m gone.

Most of us don’t like to talk about this. We all think we have more time and we don’t want to think about our death or the death of any of our loved ones. We figure that we will get to this someday down the road. But the reality is that all we have is today and nothing more. We should not be afraid of this but embrace today. My experience has taught me that I do not need to fear death and can feel joy in the idea of only today as God is present with me always. As Psalms 139:8-12 shares, “If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night, even the darkness is not dark to you; for night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.” What a promise that God is with us always!

Friends, hug your family and friends today. Reach out to them and say that you were thinking about them today. If you have broken family relationships, consider how you might begin the work of reconciliation. All we know is that we have today. And we don’t need to be afraid to talk about death. God provides bread for this journey.

Beth

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Quaker Voluntary Service Annual Supporters’ Briefing ~ You’re welcome to join QVS’s annual supporters’ briefing, whether you’re a(n) alum, supporter, past or current spiritual nurturer, or Friend who’s curious to learn more about QVS. Quaker Voluntary Service is a fellowship program dedicated to equipping young adults for whole lives rooted in Spirit-led social change. The virtual event will take place on Thursday, June 17, 2020, at 7pm ET. There will be interactive opportunities to connect with one another, so we hope you can join us on the day-of.

This event will center on storytelling. We’ll hear stories of impact from QVS Fellows, alumni, and partnered Friends. Meanwhile, QVS board members and staff will share about the numbers that make up QVS and what those numbers mean! You will leave with a deeper understanding of our 2020 milestones, about the 2021 vision ahead, and how you can get involved. For registration, questions, or to ask for a recording, click here.

"Engaging With Ecological Grief" is an article that appears on the front page of the new quarterly Quaker Earth Care Witness. This article addresses the shock and grief caused by the results of climate destruction resulting from forest fires, floods, and overdevelopment, to name a few. Other articles include, "Rebuilding Infrastructure", "A National Black Climate Agenda", and "Advocating on Sustainable Energy and the Environment". Although this excerpt is depressing, Joanna Macy and others write that "Releasing our unaddressed grief and fear about climate change frees up energy we need to deal with the magnitude of the problem. Pain is the price of consciousness in a threatened and suffering world... It is an absolutely necessary component of our collective healing." The excerpt below may inspire or reinspire you to become a witness for the environment and/or subscribe to Earthcare Witness.

~ Sylvia A - "Befriending Creation Newsletter" liaison

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Men’s Threshing Together ~ If you are interested in gathering with other men who mull over current issues or topics, where all points of view are heard, no decisions are made, and all in a non-threatening atmosphere over a meal, then Threshing Together is for you! Join us for our in-person meeting TOMORROW, Thursday, June 17 at 7:00pm. See location(s) here.

No Meeting for Business in June ~ Friends, please note there will be no Monthly Meeting for Business in June. Please enjoy this summer “sabbath” and we look forward to seeing you all in a future Monthly Meeting.

JUNE JUBILEE - The Connections Team would like to invite you to a fun outdoor gathering on SATURDAY, JUNE 19, from 4pm to 7pm, in the north parking lot of the Meeting House. Let's celebrate our reopening this month with campfires, hot dogs, s'mores, cornhole, volleyball, basketball, and other surprises. Bring your own food and drinks, lawn chairs, and masks (just in case) as we follow social distancing protocol. The weather is looking good for Saturday but it might be a bit warm. Stay hydrated. If the weather changes for the worse, please check your email or the First Friends Facebook page for an announcement about postponement. Hope to see you there!

New Birdwatching Event THIS TUESDAY! Everyone is invited to a birdwatching walk this Tuesday, June 22nd from 8:30am to about 10:30am, led by Brad J. We will meet in front of the Nature Center at Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Rd, 46260. Please dress for a potentially muddy walk. It will be postponed in case of a hard rain. We hope you will join us!

Free Book Available ~ The Library has recently been the recipient of several large donations. As the Library already has two copies of the following title, there is a free copy up for grabs that we’d like to give a new home:

Thornburg, Opal. Earlham The Story of the College 1847-1962. The Earlham College Press 1963.

If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Calling all ice cream lovers! First Friends will be working at the Dairy Bar at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday, August 7th all day. This is a major yearly fundraiser for our youth program! We plan to have two shifts, 9:30am-3:30pm, and 3:30-10:00pm. It is fast paced but lots of fun! Volunteers will receive a free ticket to the State Fair for that day, as well as unlimited ice cream, shakes and cheese sandwiches. Please let Beth H know if you’re interested in volunteering!

Volunteers Needed for VBS! We can’t believe summer is already approaching, but we sure are looking forward to Vacation Bible School this year! We will hold VBS in person July 18th-22nd. The Sunday session will be held after Meeting for Worship and Monday-Thursday will be held in the evenings. We will need group leaders, station leaders and folks to prepare a snack for a night. For more information, here is the link for the intro for the VBS program: https://www.group.com/category/ministry-resources/childrens-ministry/vbs/treasured.do. This year’s theme is “Treasured: Discovering You’re Priceless to God.” If you’d like to help with VBS, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Woods Update ~ Last Wednesday, Dawn Slack of the Nature Conservancy, Director of Stewardship and Chair of the Invasive Plant Advisory Committee returned to our Woods for management update. She was happy to see so many violets, wild strawberries, and sedges serving as groundcover. As I’ve posted in past articles, these same changes are supporting so many pollinators. (Great spangled fritillary is one of several fritillary butterflies that use violets as a larval food source. Wild strawberry’s spring flowers attract bees and butterflies).

Dawn was excited to see our 19 year old woods and the wonderful variety that it provides for birds, animals, insects and plant species. She did, however, give us some assignments to continue to improve the habitat and keep the invasive plants under control.

To that purpose, a mighty band of peaceful Quaker warriors, armed with loppers, shovels, gloves, saws and the fantastic weed wrench, did battle with several of the top priorities on Dawn’s list. Dan Mitchell was expert in privet and larger honeysuckle shrub removal. Brad Jackson and I took a team approach to white mulberry treatment: he sawed and girdled the trunk, and I carefully applied brush killer to be absorbed by the xylem down into the roots, minimizing any negative effect on the environment. Amy Perry, Linda Lineback and Terry Trierweiler pulled honeysuckle, wild onion, and burning bush.

While not everyone finds this a fun way to spend 2 hours on a hot day, we had a delightful time, as you can tell from these photos. We invite you to join us next time or have fun tackling your own invasives in your backyard. For more information, see:

https://www.extension.purdue.edu/Marion/article/32299

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XWtXDIrBKAd486-uxcExB0YawlzBixVX/view

Newly Available Audiobook by Jeff Rasley ~ While beliefs and faith can inspire beautiful art, cathedrals, hymns, and glory on the battlefield and athletic arenas, they are also the cause of toxic polarization, hatred of the other, and wars. Godless - Living a Valuable Life beyond Beliefs is now available as an audio book narrated by the well known voice of George Utley (also in paperback and eBook). The book explains how and why religious and political beliefs, not based on facts, are the sources of so much pain and suffering in the course of human history. The book makes the case that, when people recognize their shared values, peace, prosperity, and progress follow, if individuals, religious organizations, and governments express those values in actions and policies. The book draws on the philosophy of American Pragmatism, the Quaker values Jeff learned here at First Friends Indy, and the animism and environmentalism of the Rai people of Basa, Nepal to describe how to live a values-based life. It's available through Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Godless-Living-Valuable-Beyond-Beliefs/dp/B08YF69516 or, on Audible at https://www.audible.com/pd/Godless-Audiobook/B08YFBJB5H

Tips for Community Gardeners and Organic Gardening

1. SOIL with rich nutrients is one of the most important components when creating a healthy organic garden. Use organic soil but no unprocessed animal manure because it can cause disease and spread weeds. Check the internet for proper ratios of ingredients or simplify the process by purchasing organic raised bed soil.

2. Handpick and remove grubs and roly-poly BUGS. Some grubs become beetles. These pests will eat seedlings, roots, and plants. They also feed on sap and may bore into stems.

3. Scatter washed (to avoid attracting curious canines) crushed eggshells or rough items like sweetgum balls around plants to prevent slug and snail infestation. The PESTS delicate tissues cannot tolerate ragged, cutting edges.

4. Because our cistern WATER is runoff from the garage roof it may contain unhealthy bacteria that should not be poured directly on edible plant parts. Our agricultural agent assures us it is safe to use when applied at the base of plants so always water the soil—not the plant. Backsplash can transfer bacteria from soil onto plants and cause fungal infections so water gently.

5. WATER your plot in early morning and late afternoon when sun will not scorch wet leaves. Avoid watering too late so plants can dry naturally and the possibility of fungal infection is lessened.

6. Plan ahead and even diagram a garden plan. Follow proper seed and plant SPACING guidelines so a crowded plot will not promote disease and so you have room to care for your plants. Raised beds are meant for compact growing that crowds out weeds but remember your plants will grow much larger. Inexperienced gardeners often plan too little space for plant growth. Thin seedlings when needed. It helps prevent pests and disease.

7. WEED when weeds are small and easy to remove—before their roots become deeper. Weeds spread rapidly—even into your neighbors’ plots. Make good use of fingers, hoes and trowels.

8. SANITIZE your tools after use and before working on a different plot. Pests and disease can be spread by tools. Use the galvanized trash can by the garage door and coat your tools with the sand and mineral oil found inside. It helps to preserve your tools as well.

9. In addition to buying seed and plants, consider using the Community Garden Seed Library stored in a shoebox shelved in the garage. Experiment by trading seeds and plants with fellow gardeners. Use the Indianapolis Public Library branches’ FREE SEED libraries. Claim the YOUNG PLANTS located between the cistern and garage. We thank the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired for donating them to us!

10. RESOURCES: If you have questions, ask fellow gardeners. Refer to the red three-ring notebook shelved in the garage and use internet and library sources.

11. CARE for your plot(s) responsibly and ask for help if you need it. Be respectful of fellow gardeners. Ask permission before messing with someone else’s plot. They have their own plan and what you identify as a weed may be an unfamiliar variety of produce. Your watering may result in overwatering or fungal growth because of backsplash. Get permission before picking plants outside of your plot. Don’t let your plants stray into another bed. Keep aisles clear for mowing.

12. Help maintain the Hope and Food Pantry plots. Ask Nancy for guidelines first so you are familiar with the plot design and plan. Volunteer to deliver produce to the Mid-North Food Pantry.

Thank you for taking part in our organic Community Garden. Remember, all gardening is an experiment. Enjoy! ~Nancy

Friday 7/23 evening - Quaker lecture by Colin Saxton

Saturday 7/24 evening -Missions gathering

Sunday 7/25 morning - WYM meeting for worship

Your Talent is Needed! ~ As we reopen our Sunday Meeting for Worship, we are looking for vocalists or instrumentalists who would like to perform during Meeting for Worship over the summer. Simply pick a Sunday in June-August and let the office know which day you would like to perform. Eric is available for accompaniment and to help you with whatever your performance needs are. If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485 with the date you had in mind. Or, use the sign-up sheet in the office hallway. We look forward to hearing from you!

Pair of Binoculars found! A pair of binoculars were found on the property recently, along with another personal item. If they’re yours, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485 to reclaim them! We’d like to get these items back to their owner!

Reopening Task Force Report. First Friends resumed indoors meeting for worship on June 6. The reopening plan, approved at Monthly Meeting on May 16, addresses specifics including social distancing, mask-wearing, ventilation and accommodations for children. The plan also details outdoors meeting for worship and future Monthly Meetings. Click to read the re-entry plan.

Trustees arranged for an air quality assessment during the June 6 meeting for worship and determined that CO2 levels were considerably better than CDC recommendations for inside air quality. The Reopening Task Force will be reviewing this data and other factors to determine next steps in the reopening process.

Note – in the meantime, until further notice:

· The re-entry plan continues to include a mask-wearing requirement, despite recent new directive of the CDC. The issue of mask-wearing can be revisited as appropriate in the near future, mindful of children’s ability to be fully vaccinated. Extra face masks will be provided for those who need them.

· Virtual worship services will continue to be offered each Sunday at 10:15 a.m. Online worship is to continue as a permanent alternative to in-person worship to ensure availability of worship options.

Currently, the Meetinghouse is open to small groups, with requirements for face coverings and social distancing protocol. A recent development is that, for groups of 10 or fewer, participants may remove face coverings if all have been fully vaccinated. Participants assume responsibility for risk of COVID-19 exposure. To check on availability of small groups, including Zoom options, contact the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485.

Additionally, larger groups of up to 30 people may meet in Fellowship Hall, with the same safety criteria and assumption of responsibility as smaller groups, including mask-wearing. Groups using Fellowship Hall will need to be trained to operate fans and switches, as well as shown how to open and reclose/relock the windows. Training sessions can be coordinated through the office.

Ventilation:

· As reported in March 2021, the Trustees have shared the following messaging with the Reopening Task Force: “Trustees established fresh air ventilation is abundant in Fellowship Hall and the Meeting Room. First Friends was built without central air conditioning. Ventilation was an important consideration during construction planning. We are blessed with an excellent ventilation system in Fellowship Hall and the Meeting Room. There are fans and switches in both locations. When fans are running and windows and doors are opened, there is an abundance of fresh air available in each of those rooms. Any group requesting use of Fellowship Hall is required to use the ventilation system in place while meeting.”

· As a review, the Trustees presented a report in November 2020 on the ventilation at the First Friends building, based on assessment including: the HVAC system and filters, attic and exhaust; a 1950s report created by the First Friends Construction Committee; and measurements taken using a CO2 detector. Among the findings:

- In the Meeting Room, there are four windows that open, plus four ventilation fans in the ceiling. With windows opened, the fans can draw air through the Meeting Room to meet the CDC guidelines of six fresh air exchanges per hour.

- In Fellowship Hall, a fan on the west wall and an exhaust fan in the kitchen draw air outside. A fan near the entrance brings fresh air inside, heats and circulates it. There are 11 windows that open and two new air conditioning fans.

Queries for the Week

What celebrations have I missed during this pandemic? And how has it affected me?
How might I seek a greater balance in my “doing and being” this week?
In what ways do I plan to celebrate my being in this present moment?

Comment

Friend to Friend June 9, 2021

June 9, 2021

As Way Opens

On Sunday, we joined together for worship within our Meetinghouse for the first time in over a year. Not only was it a joyous occasion to simply be together, but it was also an opportunity to acknowledge all that we have been through and have learned during this pandemic.

During my message, I spoke about a time of reorienting our lives by utilizing Sabbath Rest - one of the two subjects we will be looking at as we enter the summer months at First Friends.

As I mentioned on Sunday, reorienting through rest begins by making time to look at our self, our relationship with the Divine, and our interactions with one another, once again. This reorientation also involves seeking a balance between two mental modes of our lives:

doing — completing tasks towards a predetermined goal, and
being — allowing oneself to experience the present moment.

Kelsey Sorum in the article, Doing vs. Being: A Mindshift for Quarantine and Beyond provides the following chart to help you begin to explore the differences between these two modes.

I sense the pandemic has hyper-focused us on the Driven-Doing Mode and sent us out of balance with our Being Mode. Finding time for reorienting through Sabbath rest is how we as people of faith return the balance within our being and help us focus on celebrating and experiencing life in this moment right NOW!

My hope is that as we continue to emerge from the pandemic, you and I will find ways to embrace our being once again and come together and celebrate all that we are as individuals and as the body of Christ together!

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Many thanks to our Mid-North Food Pantry Volunteers! Christie M; Rik L; Tom F; David B; Brenda R; Mara S; Penny P; Phil G; Barbara O; Ruth K; Corrine I; and Carol and Jim D. Those who worked outside had to contend with rainy weather but helped out 27 needy families.

Please pray for Beth H and her family. After Beth finished her Affirmation Class this morning she received news of her brother, Dave Euler, passing away. He had had some health issues as of late, but passed away in his sleep. Dave lived in Plymouth, MN. This was Beth’s last living sibling. Please take a moment to lift Beth and her family in your prayers and shower her with love and Light.

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

Quaker Voluntary Service Annual Supporters’ Briefing ~ You’re welcome to join QVS’s annual supporters’ briefing, whether you’re a(n) alum, supporter, past or current spiritual nurturer, or Friend who’s curious to learn more about QVS. Quaker Voluntary Service is a fellowship program dedicated to equipping young adults for whole lives rooted in Spirit-led social change. The virtual event will take place on Thursday, June 17, 2020, at 7pm ET / 6pm CT / 5pm MT / 4pm PT. There will be interactive opportunities to connect with one another, so we hope you can join us on the day-of.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Kids Tennis Lessons! Are your kids interested in tennis? There will be kids’ tennis lessons near 96th and Keystone Ave. They will be held Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:45-5:45PM in June (weather permitting). First lesson starts today Wednesday, June 9. Please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

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 15, 2021. Find the application here. Please send the completed application and related material to the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Fellowship Hour: Now at 11:30 ~ Please make note that virtual Fellowship Hour will now take place at 11:30am each Sunday. This is to allow for the extra time that in-person worship takes. So please, remember to join us on Zoom at https://bit.ly/FF-FellowshipHour at 11:30 from now on. Look forward to seeing you there!

Free Plants Available for Community Gardeners ~ This spring is a challenge with late frost, heat, humidity and torrential rain. Most gardeners have plants in their plots and others will soon follow. Remember that new, rich soil provides nourishment and is key to success of an organic garden. There are still a few free plants available to community gardeners. They are in trays between the cistern and garage. Their roots are aching for freedom to spread out in a new home, free of the confines of a pot. Save a plant today!

JUNE JUBILEE - The Connections Team would like to invite you to a fun outdoor gathering on SATURDAY, JUNE 19, from 4pm to 7pm, in the north parking lot of the Meeting House. Let's celebrate our reopening this month with campfires, hot dogs, s'mores, cornhole, volleyball, basketball, and other surprises. Bring your own food and drinks and masks as we follow social distancing protocol. If the weather is nasty, check your email or the First Friends Facebook page for an announcement about postponement. Hope to see you there!

Calling all ice cream lovers! First Friends will be working at the Dairy Bar at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday, August 7th all day. This is a major yearly fundraiser for our youth program! We plan to have two shifts, 9:30am-3:30pm, and 3:30-10:00pm. It is fast paced but lots of fun! Volunteers will receive a free ticket to the State Fair for that day, as well as unlimited ice cream, shakes and cheese sandwiches. Please let Beth H know if you’re interested in volunteering!

Your Talent is Needed! ~ As we reopen our Sunday Meeting for Worship, we are looking for vocalists or instrumentalists who would like to perform during Meeting for Worship over the summer. Simply pick a Sunday in June-August and let the office know which day you would like to perform. Eric is available for accompaniment and to help you with whatever your performance needs are. If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485 with the date you had in mind. Or, use the sign-up sheet in the office hallway. We look forward to hearing from you!

Words from the Woods ~ We are enjoying a beautiful June here in the woods. The north part of the woods is purposefully wild to create a safe nesting place for our wildlife neighbors, but will keep the south side of the path tamer! We are hoping to have a new path installed to the Peace Pole soon, weather permitting. Next year we hope to celebrate our 20th anniversary in the Woods to celebrate an acre of grass transformed into an abundant habitat!

Today we will have a visit with Dawn Slack, from The Nature Conservancy to perform a follow up survey on our invasive removal program.

In the courtyard, the Little Henry itea, dwarf oakleaf hydrangea and evening primroses are in bloom. Soon our butterfly milkweed (Asclepius tuberosa) will be blooming and attract our hungry monarch butterflies. I hope that everyone has the opportunity to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

I like to highlight what local groups are doing in the community. Here is a partial update from the Carmel Green group in Hamilton County and the MCSWD.

What Can You Do to Help our Common Home? We should do all we can to flatten the curve of climate change. One of the easiest things Hoosier can do is to turn things off when you’re not using them because electricity is the largest single source of carbon emissions in Indiana. Save energy, save money and reduce your footprint! (Do you remember when your grandmother used to tell you that?)

Learn about Solar - Going solar is the cleanest energy you can get! And you can still take advantage of net metering and the 26% federal tax credit this year which make solar more affordable. Join us for a free solar webinar to figure out if solar is right for you! RSVP for Thursday, June 24, 6:30 p.m.

Heat Preparedness - On Wed. June 9, Noon, join IU ERI for a free webinar on how to use an equitable approach to prepare for extreme heat events. Think back to the super-hot summer of 2012 when the Morse Reservoir dried up and Indy issued a watering ban. According to the Purdue Climate Change Research Center, if we continue dumping carbon pollution into the atmosphere, every summer will be hotter than it was in 2012. We should do all we can to avoid this scenario, but since there is already some warming baked into the system, we need to start thinking about heat preparedness. Read more.

Climate Change & Invasives - On June 10, 11 a.m. join the MIPN for a free webinar on how climate change is affecting plants. You will learn which invasive plants might be expanding northward into the Midwest as the climate warms and which species might undergo range contraction. Register here.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby Conference - On June 12-13, join Citizens’ Climate Lobby for the virtual conference on The Push for a Price on Carbon. An economy-wide carbon price is the single most powerful tool we have to reduce America’s carbon pollution to net zero by 2050. We’re asking Congress to enact that powerful tool this year! You’ll get updates on what’s happening in Washington, D.C. and you’ll learn about actions you can take to push for a price on carbon. Read more and sign-up.

Eco-Film: KISS THE GROUND - Join us on Thurs. Jun 17, 7:30 p.m. for the screening of Kiss the Ground on the outdoor screen at Midtown Plaza by the Monon. Kiss The Ground is an uplifting documentary about climate solutions involving Regenerative Agriculture, a holistic approach to food production that’s good for your health and the environment. The screening is free and open to the public. Read more.

From the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District:

Workshops for a Cleaner Waterway - Our district is teaming up with ROW (Reconnecting to Our Waterways), Kheprw Institute and The City League to offer Rain Garden and Rain Barrel Build workshops this summer! Made possible by our Clean Water Indiana grant through the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, space for these outdoor workshops is limited to 25 Marion County residents and COVID-19 precautions will be followed. Here are the workshop details:

Fall Creek: Rain Garden Workshop, Thursday, June 24 from 6:30-7:45 PM at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Residents living along Fall Creek will be able to learn about the benefits of and how to build their own rain garden in their yard with step-by-step instructions and will even take home several native plants from Indy Urban Acres to get it started. Register here.
Pogue’s Run: Rain Barrel Build Workshop, Thursday, July 29 from 6:30-8:00 PM at the Boner Fitness & Learning Center. As part of The City League’s basketball tournament, residents living along Pogue’s Run will be able to build their own rain barrel to capture stormwater off of their home downspouts. Thank you to the Kheprw Institute (KI) and their ‘Express Yourself Rain Barrels’ program for providing both the knowledge and materials needed for this workshop. Register here.

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for June

Great Crested Flycatcher – Summer Riddle

Here is your riddle:

Who weeps every day, all day long, but never sheds a tear?

The answer is Great Crested Flycatcher!

This is a bird that I almost always hear before I see. It says, “Breeeep, breeeeep, weep, weep, weep.”

He or she may arrive as early as late April, and will be somewhere in the neighborhood throughout the summer. Indeed, I have heard or seen this bird in the Meditational Woods in May, June, and July, and as recently as this past week. It is often not very high up in a tree, affording us great looks, while it quietly sits waiting for an insect to fly by. The flycatcher does not just feed on flies, but will go for bigger insects such as dragonflies. How about periodic cicadas this year? Yum, yum!!

Let’s talk about the name. Many birds have hyphenated names. With ruby-throated hummingbird, white-eyed vireo, and red-winged blackbird, the descriptor is connected to the body part being described. It is usually a color, but not always (as in long-billed dowitcher). In the case of our June bird, however, there is no hyphen. The word “Great” therefore is NOT describing the crest (which is noticeable), but is instead describing the entire bird, as in Great Blue Heron or Great Horned Owl. It is true that the Great Crested is by far the largest of our Indiana flycatchers.

It “weeps,” but it does not cry. ~Brad J

First Friends Financial Update: The Meeting seeks your support in moving toward a vibrant new phase. As we begin to resume in-person worship and other activities, our expenses rise, yet our donations remain at a low level, strained by the difficulties of 2020.

Please give prayerful consideration to how you could help. While we were able to manage last year’s financial loss, we will need to increase donations in order to stem further losses. To assist, please visit indyfriends.org/support/#givenow.

Additionally, First Friends is able to accept stock and planned gifts directly at any time of year. For more information, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.orgor 317-255-2485.

Note – in the meantime, until further notice:

Ventilation:

Queries for the Week

• Amid the chaos of transitioning back from the pandemic, am I rediscovering ways to reorient my relationship with the Divine?

• Are any of my doubts fed by the notion that my worth comes solely from my productivity rather than my identity as a child of God?

• In relation to others, do I recognize and validate the worth and need for rest in others? How might I help someone this week find some needed rest.

Comment

Friend to Friend June 2, 2021

June 2, 2021

As Way Opens

What a beautiful Memorial Day weekend we experienced this past weekend. We had a couple of days of great weather where we could be out walking, playing, working in the yard, eating food with friends and/or family and enjoying the extraordinary creation around us. There was such a sense of joy as I viewed 135,000 fans gather at the Speedway and watch a race that inspired us. We had a small gathering at the Meeting on Sunday but the smiles, hugs and feeling of community was palpable. Folks across the country were thrilled to be able to visit friends and/or family and travel was incredibly high.

We are all feeling a sense of relief and blessedness (something I spoke about in my message) in being able to see, speak with, eat with and hug our friends and family. We are excited to come back into the building at First Friends for our morning worship service beginning this Sunday June 6th at 10:15. It’s been 15 months since we have been able to worship together in the Meeting room and I know, and feel myself, the happiness to be back together. We know things will never be exactly the way they were before but for now we are reveling in the joy of this important community to us.

We are coming out of a dark chapter in our world with its lessons and its pain over the last year and a half. However, I am reminded of what Paul writes in Romans 8:35-39:
The one who is blessed trusts in God’s love, no matter what: “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? . . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We have experienced such a devastating year with so many losses, yet despite these things God’s love is overwhelming and we will never be separated from this love.

See you Sunday!

Beth

Joys & Concerns

The Growing Season is Here in the Community Garden! The gardeners are hard at work as the gardening season gets kicked off! Looking forward to a healthy garden this year!

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

IFCL -- Faith Community Redistricting Event

Many of us attended one of the virtual public hearings held this spring by the Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) around the state. Almost 900 Hoosiers did, and they voiced their concerns. The ICRC recently sent its report to the Indiana General Assembly. It not only details what the public said is wrong with the current legislative districts, it also contains recommendations on how the legislature can draw districts to better serve the public interest, not political agendas. You can read the report here.

If you want to increase the chances that the General Assembly will follow the recommendations outlined in the ICRC report, there are several things you can do now.

First, please consider sending the ICRC report to your legislators with a request that they pay attention to it and become leaders in their party for a more open, transparent, and inclusive redistricting process this fall.

Second, sign up for a free virtual event scheduled for Monday, June 7, at 12pm-1pm EST. It will be a faith-oriented session, "Prayer for Democracy: Bringing Your Faith Community into the Redistricting Conversation," with the theme everyone counts. Several speakers will address why faith communities should care about redistricting, and how to talk with your legislators about redistricting from a faith perspective. (You'll recognize one of them--our own Beth Henricks.) Find more information in this flyer. You can register here: https://bit.ly/PrayerForDemocracy

And third, the ICRC and the redistricting coalition are assembling lobbying teams: a coordinated effort to lobby the General Assembly this summer on redistricting. You're invited to participate. You would be part of a group effort (this is not a solo mission) of regular citizens (not professional lobbyists). And no prior experience is necessary! There will be a Zoom organization and training session with ICRC members and coalition members on June 22nd at 8:00 p.m. EST. You'd be assigned to a lobbying team associated with your legislative district and led by an ICRC member. And you'd receive a lobby visit outline and talking points of what to say to legislators. Lobby visits would most likely be via Zoom, but could also be in-person depending on a team's preferences.

If you feel led to participate on a lobbying team, please RSVP to Phil Goodchild (goodch713@aol.com; 317-790-9054) by Thursday, June 3. This is our best chance to let our elected representatives at the Statehouse hear directly from us what we expect in redistricting. I hope you'll join me.

Please be a part of the growing movement for fair maps in Indiana. Thank you.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

In-person Sunday Services to resume THIS SUNDAY June 6! Monthly meeting has approved the resumption of in-person Sunday services in the Meetingroom, beginning on Sunday, June 6, with the following precautions in place:

• Face masks must be worn by everyone including children ages 2 and up

• Social distancing indoors and while waiting to enter

• One person at a time allowed in each restroom

• There will be no food service

• No formal Fellowship Hour

• Children’s worship will be provided

• Supervised play for children will be available outdoors, weather permitting, or in Fellowship Hall with fans running and windows opened. Children may also remain with families if preferred.

• A standing microphone at the front of the Meeting Room may be used for announcements or those who feel led to speak during waiting worship

• Bulletins will be in the foyer for attendees to pick up as they enter the Meeting Room

• Collection baskets will be in the foyer for attendees to drop in contributions

Ventilation

- The four ventilation fans in the ceiling must be turned on.

- The four opening windows must be opened.

Services will start at the usual time at 10:15am. For more information on the reopening plan, read the Reopening Committee update later in this newsletter.

Kids Tennis Lessons! Are your kids interested in tennis? There will be kids’ tennis lessons near 96th and Keystone Ave. They will be held Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:45-5:45PM in June (weather permitting). First lesson starts next Wednesday, June 9. Please contact the office if you’re interested: office@indyfriends.org.

Your Talent is Needed! ~ As we look to reopen our Sunday Meeting for Worship starting in June, we are looking for vocalists or instrumentalists who would like to perform over the summer. Simply pick a Sunday in June-August and let the office know which day you would like to perform. Eric is available for accompaniment and to help you with whatever your performance needs are. If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485 with the date you had in mind. We look forward to hearing from you!

Office Hours are Back! The Meeting office is now open from Monday-Thursday from 10am-3pm (or by appointment). Please note, Beth will be in the office on Mondays, Rebecca will be in on Tuesdays, Bob will be in on Thursdays, and all three will be in on Wednesdays. So if there’s someone specific you’d like to see, be sure to stop in on their day in the office!

Calling all ice cream lovers! First Friends will be working at the Dairy Bar at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday, August 7th all day. This is a major yearly fundraiser for our youth program! We plan to have two shifts, 9:30am-3:30pm, and 3:30-10:00pm. It is fast paced but lots of fun! Volunteers will receive a free ticket to the State Fair for that day, as well as unlimited ice cream, shakes and cheese sandwiches. Please let Beth H know if you’re interested in volunteering!

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for June

Great Crested Flycatcher – Summer Riddle

Here is your riddle:

Who weeps every day, all day long, but never sheds a tear?

The answer is Great Crested Flycatcher!

This is a bird that I almost always hear before I see. It says, “Breeeep, breeeeep, weep, weep, weep.”

It “weeps,” but it does not cry. ~Brad J

Additionally, First Friends is able to accept stock and planned gifts directly at any time of year. For more information, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.orgor 317-255-2485.

Reopening Task Force Report. First Friends is scheduled to resume indoors meeting for worship on June 6, the first Sunday in June. The reopening plan, approved at Monthly Meeting on May 16, addresses specifics including social distancing, mask-wearing, ventilation and accommodations for children.

The plan also details outdoors meeting for worship and future Monthly Meetings.
Click here for the re-entry plan.

Note:

· The re-entry plan includes a mask-wearing requirement, despite recent new directive of the CDC. The issue of mask-wearing can be revisited as appropriate in the near future, mindful of children’s ability to be fully vaccinated. Extra face masks will be provided for those who need them.

Ventilation:

Queries for the Week

(From in-person worship)

· Am I living in an inner state of well-being feeling blessed by God’s presence?

· To whom will I be a blessing to today?

· How can I open myself up more to be an instrument of God in this world?

(From virtual worship)

· Am I living in an inner state of well-being, feeling blessed by God’s presence?

· How can I open up myself to be more of an instrument of God in this world?

Comment

Friend to Friend May 26, 2021

May 26, 2021

As Way Opens

Several years ago, during one of my doctoral classes, we began a conversation on the importance of Sabbath rest. As the conversation progressed, we began to expand the idea. My professor mentioned that people aren’t the only ones who need a sabbath – churches/meetings do as well – and summer is that time.

As he continued to expand this idea, I found myself nodding in agreement. Often within our Meeting, we too need a change in our routine. Summer offers us this natural transition and affords us the opportunity to do things that we would not normally do like worship in our meditational woods, plant in our community garden, offer Vacation Bible School, and enjoy Fun Day Sunday, just to name a few. In Indiana, summer invites us to return outdoors where we can again breath in the outdoor air and reconnect to God’s creation and our natural surroundings. After a year of being contained in our homes, we need more than ever to reengage creation and nature.

We also must find time for what is restful. Sabbath at its most basic form is considered abstinence from work. This past year has been extremely taxing on people in so many ways. Work and ministry changed significantly, and it has taken a toll on all our lives. Yet, rest is not just about abstinence or retreating, rather it could be considered a redirecting of our attention to the things that fill us and provide hope and joy, once again.

This leads to our professor exclaiming that Sabbath needs to have some sense of CELEBRATION!

At First Friends, we need to be able to look back on where we have been throughout this past year and celebrate, if nothing else, our survival! Sabbath may look like coming together, just to be together again, to tell our stories, hear what all we have learned, all without the need to do anything more. This means being present with one another is a celebration of our togetherness!

As we transition into summer in the coming days, let’s remember the importance of Sabbath rest. Challenge yourself to make a change in your routine, find occasions to return outdoors, seek times for rest, and remember that being present with one another is an opportunity to CELEBRATE where we have been and where we are going!

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

MANY THANKS to our Mid-North Food Pantry Volunteers: Christie M Linda and Rik L; Corrine I, Bill F; Kathy F; Ruth K; Melanie, Virginia and Derek S; Barbara O, Penny P; Brenda R; Mara S; David B; Tom F; and Carol and Jim D. We had a super crew of volunteers, including the return of Tom F, and served over 50 families. Welcome back Tom!

We sadly share with you the death of Terri Ringley, former administrative assistant and former member here at First Friends. She passed away on Wednesday, May 12. To read her obituary, which Terri wrote herself, visit https://www.stegallberheideorr.com/obituary/therese-ringley. Her memorial is planned for Saturday, June 19; we will provide more details as they become available.

A note from Beth: Thank you for the showing of love and support with my graduation last weekend with a master’s in divinity from Earlham School of Religion. I have so appreciated the notes, cards and tangible expressions of congratulations with this degree. I thank you for your care and love to me. -Beth

Quaker-Affiliated Organizations

IFCL -- Faith-Based Redistricting Event

Many of us attended one of the virtual hearings held this spring by the Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission (ICRC) around the state. Almost 900 Hoosiers did, and they voiced their concerns. The ICRC recently sent its report to the Indiana General Assembly. It not only details what the public said is wrong with the current legislative districts, it also contains recommendations on how the legislature can draw districts to better serve the public interest, not political agendas. You can read the report here.

If you want to increase the chances that the General Assembly will follow the recommendations outlined in the ICRC report, there are two things you can do now. First, please consider sending the report to your legislators with a request that they pay attention to it and become leaders in their party for a more open, transparent, and inclusive redistricting process this fall.

And second, sign up for a free virtual event scheduled for Monday, June 7, at 12pm-1pm EST. It will be a faith-oriented session, "Prayer for Democracy: Bringing Your Faith Community into the Redistricting Conversation," with the theme everyone counts. Several speakers will address why faith communities should care about redistricting, and how to talk with your legislators about redistricting from a faith perspective. Find more information in this flyer. You can register here: https://bit.ly/PrayerForDemocracy

This is all part of an effort to build grassroots pressure for a different kind of redistricting this year: one which gives the public--not just politicians--a real say in how our districts are drawn. Please be a part of this growing movement for fair maps in Indiana.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Memorial Day In-Person Service

First Friends is happy to share that we will be holding an outdoor worship service in Meditational Woods on Sunday, May 30, weather permitting. In the event of rain, the outdoor event will be canceled. Updates will be posted to our Facebook page, or contact the office by Thursday to sign up for text alerts. If you are able to, please bring a chair. We are still requiring facemasks and social distancing. The building will be available for restroom use. Kids are welcome, as there will be a children’s message, but no children’s worship.

Rain or shine, we will offer our usual online worship through the First Friends YouTube channel at 10:15. Please note that Zoom Fellowship Hour will be held starting at 11:30 that day, and at 11:30 from now on! This is to allow for our in-person worship to conclude.

In-person Sunday Services to resume June 6! Monthly meeting has approved the resumption of in-person Sunday services in the Meetingroom, beginning on Sunday, June 6, with the following precautions in place:

• Face masks must be worn by everyone including children ages 2 and up

• Social distancing indoors and while waiting to enter

• No congregational singing (but there will be musical performances)

• One person at a time allowed in each restroom

• There will be no food service

• No formal Fellowship Hour

• Supervised play for children will be available outdoors, weather permitting, or in Fellowship Hall with fans running and windows opened. Children may also remain with families if preferred.

• A standing microphone at the front of the Meeting Room may be used for announcements or those who feel led to speak during waiting worship

• Bulletins will be in the foyer for attendees to pick up as they enter the Meeting Room

• Collection baskets will be in the foyer for attendees to drop in contributions

Ventilation

- The four ventilation fans in the ceiling must be turned on.

- The four opening windows must be opened.

Services will start at the usual time at 10:15am. For more information on the reopening plan, read the Reopening Committee update later in this newsletter.

Your Talent is Needed! ~ As we look to reopen our Sunday Meeting for Worship starting in June, we are looking for vocalists or instrumentalists who would like to perform over the summer. Simply pick a Sunday in June-August and let the office know which day you would like to perform. Eric is available for accompaniment and help you with whatever your performance needs are. If you’re interested, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485 with the date you had in mind. We look forward to hearing from you!

Office Hours are Back! Beginning Tuesday, June 1 the Meeting office will be open from Monday-Thursday from 10am-3pm (or by appointment). Please note, Beth will be in the office on Mondays, Rebecca will be in on Tuesdays, Bob will be in on Thursdays, and all three will be in on Wednesdays. So if there’s someone specific you’d like to see, be sure to stop in on their day in the office!

JUNE JUBILEE - The Connections Team would like to invite you to a fun outdoor gathering on SATURDAY, JUNE 19, from 4pm to 7pm, in the north parking lot of the Meeting House. Let's celebrate our reopening this month with campfires, hot dogs, s'mores, cornhole, volleyball, basketball, and other surprises. Bring your own food and drinks, and masks as we follow social distancing protocol. If the weather is nasty, check your email or the First Friends Facebook page for an announcement about postponement. Hope to see you there!

Monday Meditation will no longer be on Zoom, in accordance with Quaker Simplicity. Our regular attenders have all been vaccinated and are comfortable meeting in person. Others are welcome to join us. Amy Perry will anchor Monday Meditation on May 24th but not on Memorial Day. The 10 AM writing group followed by Meditation will resume on June 7th.

Get a Meal, Support MSPC! Mark your calendars! On Friday, May 28th from 11am-2pm, the Maple Seeds Preschool Co-op (MSPC) will host the Black Leaf Vegan Food Truck in the First Friends parking lot. A portion of the proceeds will support the Co-op, so please consider coming that day! You can place a to-go order, or feel free to stay and make a picnic out of it! If you have any questions, contact MSPC at 317-767-3003.

Friends have been busy in the Woods planting more native plants to enhance the dining options for our pollinator friends. Look for wood hyacinth in our wildflower patch south of the meditational circle. We planted 3 trays of seedlings south of the SE bridge of big-leaved asters and blue stemmed goldenrod that Mary grew from seeds.

Big Leaf Aster (Aster macrophyllus) is perfect for shady areas with less than perfect soil. Drought tolerant, it thrives in both dry sand and heavy clay soils that possess a modicum of organic matter. Big Leaf Aster is often planted for its large, heart-shaped basal foliage which forms a nice ground cover. Upright stems emerge from the base in late summer, bearing clusters of delicate, bluish-white rayed flowers, from August thru September. Great for stabilizing shaded hillsides and slopes, it spreads by rhizomes to form a ground cover. Aster macrophyllus is a host plant for the Pearl Crescent Butterfly.

Blue Stemmed Goldenrod does not spread as aggressively as some goldenrods. This Wisconsin endangered plant features graceful arching stems covered with hundreds of small yellow flowers. The distinct stems are purplish in color. Native to rich woodlands in the Eastern half of the U.S. it prefers light shade, but will tolerate full sun. A mature clump has great presence and texture – brightening any semi-shade garden late in the season.

Solidago caesia is an interesting goldenrod for a variety of garden styles: open woodland garden, border, cottage or butterfly garden. As with all goldenrods, it is a desirable source of late-season pollen. Other common names include Wreath Goldenrod.In mid to late August, you may find Brown Hooded Owlet Moth (Cucullia convexipennis) caterpillars feeding on the foliage. (From PraireNursery.com)

Wild Hyacinth, also called Atlantic Camas, is the only eastern species of its genus, which is in the Lily family and characterized by squat bulbs, similar to those of small tulips in size and shape. Its pale blue-violet flowers begin to bloom from the bottom, progressing toward the top of the spike-like raceme at the end of the plant’s central stalk. It will thrive in full sun, but also open shade such as a woodland edge. It likes rich, acidic soils, but can tolerate clay soils with adequate moisture, especially when it is in flower. The bulbs are edible and were a major food source for some Native American tribes and early European Settlers, but they are very hard to distinguish from Zigadenus elegans bulbs which are deadly poisonous

Attractive to a number of insects seeking nectar and pollen, Camassia scilloides re-seeds itself and, though slow to establish, is fairly long-lived. By mid-summer, the basal leaves turn yellow and wither away and the plant remains dormant for the rest of the year (from PrarieMoonNursery.com)

The woods is approaching a naturalized state, so will not appear like a botanical garden. It’s been delightful to watch the preschool children have their school pictures taken in the meditational circle and families from the neighborhood come to learn about trees and plants. They like finding some of the trees from the Woods map that Krishan Coffman created.

Come spend some time in the Woods, listen for the birds and see what’s blooming right now.

Bread for The World (“BFTW”), an organization that promotes letter-writing to federal representatives to provide federal funding for food for poor countries, is asking for our help. BFTW is requesting that folks send letters in the next 2 weeks to their Senators and House Reps. Please see the following info for a sample letter and other info concerning BFTW. Find an email template at bread.org/go. If you’d like to send a letter, find a fully updated sample letter here.

Additionally, First Friends is able to accept stock and planned gifts directly at any time of year. For more information, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.orgor 317-255-2485.

Jeff Rasley’s New Book! Jeff Rasley has released a new book, America’s Existential Crisis: Our Inherited Obligation to Native Nations. The book is a historical journey and a road trip. It starts with two ancestors of Jeff’s. One was an Indian fighter, who was at Wounded Knee and died from a wound received in a related action. The other was such a good friend of the Potawatomi he received a valuable gift, which Jeff inherited. Their stories take us back to the 1830 Indian Removal Act, which led to the Plains Indian Wars and the creation of the reservation system. One result of the brutal enforcement of the reservation system was the Potawatomi Trail of Death. Another was the massacre of Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek. The book transitions from history into an argument that the US has an obligation to help in the culturally sensitive development of Native communities. For now, the book is exclusively sold at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0951DF2HZ.

The plan also details outdoors meeting for worship and future Monthly Meetings.
Click here for the re-entry plan.

Note:

Ventilation:

Queries for the Week

(From virtual worship)

· Am I satisfied by my work?

· Where do my views of good work need to change?

· How can our Meeting effect change in the idea of work in our community?

Comment

Friend to Friend May 19, 2021

May 19, 2021

As Way Opens

I returned Monday from a few days of vacation in Holland Michigan with several friends. It had been an intense two weeks for me and it was refreshing and revitalizing to take a few days to put my toes in the sand and walk the beach. We all need to take time to step back, release our responsibilities and concerns for a few days and allow God to hold us, cradle us and give us permission to just be present.

The coast of Lake Michigan is one of my favorite places. I have been to South Haven, Holland, Saugatuck, White Lake and Grand Haven many times over the last 35 years. We enjoyed beautiful weather during our stay and the sunsets were magnificent. I was struck by the Light and how it changed the sky every night. Sometimes the Light was diffused and the sunset was muted. Other times the Light was intense and the sunset burst forth in color. And the Light created everything in between each evening. it was the same lake, the same sky, the same view each evening but what a difference the Light made in what I viewed.

I needed the reminder that the Light, the Seed, the Divine, Spirit always shows up but is manifested in many different ways. The Light is always there but what I see can vary by day. And that is okay as the beauty is there even if its muted and hesitant. We are God’s creation and we shine the Light in different ways.

As Thomas Kelly says in his opening paragraph in his classic book, Testament of Devotion, “Deep within us all there is an amazing inner sanctuary of the soul, a holy place, a Divine center, a speaking Voice, to which we may continuously return. Eternity is at our hearts, pressing upon our time-torn lives, warming us with imitations of an astounding destiny, calling us home unto Itself. Yielding to these persuasions, gladly committing ourselves in body and soul, utterly and completely, to the Light Within, is the beginning of true life.” May we embrace all the manifestations of the Light and savor this true life.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

This Sunday we are asked to hold in prayer Quaker Haven and all of the campers, counselors and staff as they prepare for camp. Our own Aaron Thornburg is the WYM co-director for Quaker Haven this year so we hold him and others in the Light.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Help Us Honor Our Graduates! We are excited to be honoring our 2021 graduates! This year’s high school graduates: Krishan C, Sam A, Lena B-K, Isaiah S; College graduates: Eli S, Elle A; Advanced degrees: Shawn H, Kristen K, Beth H. Please join us this Sunday as we share about each of these graduates and their future plans.

Men’s Threshing Together ~ We’re back! If you are interested in gathering with other men who mull over current issues or topics, where all points of view are heard, no decisions are made, and all in a non-threatening atmosphere over a meal, then Threshing Together is for you! Join us for our in-person meeting on Thursday, May 20 at 7:00pm. See location(s) here.

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss A Promised Land by Barack Obama.

A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making—from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy.

In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency—a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.

Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.

We will gather via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 led by Larry C.

Help Memorialize Our Departed Friends! As some of you know there was a period of time when our practice of writing memorials for deceased members fell by the wayside and many didn't get written. You may remember that for our purposes a memorial is much like an obituary but with a more personal touch and may give information about the person's connection and/or work at First Friends or in the larger Quaker world. If the writer knew the person pretty well there might be a little story or stories that illustrate something about that person.

Here is a list of memorials that are being written and need to be written. Take a who look at the list and see of there is a person that is not yet assigned a writer that you might like to write about. We might be able to help you collect information about the person if you like. If you are interested contact Ed Morris (emorri@earthlink.net). And a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has or is writing memorial(s) to honor our departed Friends!

Write with Friends: New Activity ~ Friends are invited to a small writing group where participants may write whatever they want to write—stories, memoirs, journaling, poems, etc. 10:00 AM immediately before Monday Meditation. Two prompts to get you started will be offered, but what is offered need not be accepted.

This will be a live activity in the parlor, socially distanced and masked. Please bring writing materials and a clipboard or notebook. Open to anyone around age 12 and over.

It’s not necessary to stay for the Meditation that begins at 11:15 and finishes at noon. Although we have a practice of sharing our meditational experiences afterwards. Meditation participants do not require that you stop writing. Join us 10-11 AM on June 7, 21, & 23.

Bread For The World (“BFTW”), an organization that promotes letter-writing to federal representatives to provide federal funding for food for poor countries, is asking for our help. BFTW is requesting that folks send letters in the next 2 weeks to their Senators and House Reps. Please see the following info for a sample letter and other info concerning BFTW. bread.org/go OL 2021 Sample Letter (as of May 14)

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for May

American Redstart – The Crying Voice

May is the month for warblers, both residents and migrants. Most male warblers are colorful, and this characteristic, along with a diagnostic song, is supposed get the attention of a female. Woe is the male that must attract a female from the depths of a thick, brushy river bottom. But wait! God has provided for this by endowing many deep forest birds with an extra-loud song. This month’s selection, the American Redstart, is a tiny jewel, dressed in reddish-orange on black (yellow on gray in the female). His song is a rapid, explosive, “Hurry up and quit!” Although the species migrates through our woods in May and September, and can nest in many different types of woodlands, it prefers the wet mosquito-filled backwaters of Geist Reservoir, and the Kankakee Swamp, and similar places farther north. I have depicted him with his tailed fanned, which is a habit. When I hear this tiny bird singing from afar in the deep swamp, I think, with apologies to Isaiah and John the Baptist, of “a voice crying in the wilderness.” I hope he is successful! -Brad J

Note:

· The re-entry plan includes a mask-wearing requirement, despite recent new directive of the CDC. Similarly, Marion County is upholding its mask mandate for the time being. The issue of mask-wearing can be revisited as appropriate in the near future, mindful of children’s ability to be fully vaccinated. Extra face masks will be provided for those who need them.

Ventilation:

Financial Update: The Meeting seeks your support in moving toward a vibrant new phase. As we begin to resume in-person worship and other activities, our expenses rise, yet our donations remain at a low level, strained by the difficulties of 2020.

Additionally, First Friends is able to accept stock and planned gifts directly at any time of year. For more information, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.

Silent Meeting for Worship Now Also in the Parlor~ Friends have returned to meeting in the parlor for Silent Worship, Meditation and Un-Programmed Worship. Appropriate social distancing and face covering is required. A laptop with the zoom will be available simultaneously to interact with Friends from home. The option to worship via Zoom is still available; those on Zoom will join those in the Parlor virtually.

Comment

Friend to Friend May 12, 2021

May 12, 2021

As Way Opens

Last Wednesday, I began sharing with you about my recent spiritual retreat. One thing I did not share in last week’s As Way Opens, was the other aspect of my retreat. For 2-3 hours each night, I attended an Art Retreat at the Indianapolis Art Center in Broad Ripple.

The topic I explored was Intuitive Painting. If you are not familiar with Intuitive Painting, it is considered a tool for artists of all levels, where playful exploration and curiosity is encouraged. The goal is not to specifically make paintings for exhibition or to learn specific techniques. Rather, the goal is to allow yourself the space to be inside color, paint, and process while locating the inner core of your creative self. We were told it can be a wonderful mindful, meditative process.

At first this was hard to get used to for me, much like when people first experience Quaker silence or centering. Instead of setting out with a goal, concept, sketch, or developed plan, we began each day with considering individual marks, colors, emotions, environments, and non-traditional materials. Our instructor would begin class by reminding us of the four goals for the retreat: play, explore, share, expand.

Since over the years, I have found my practice of art evolving into what I consider a spiritual practice and even an expression of personal worship, I found this retreat enhancing the experience in a variety of new ways. I could not wait to arrive at my class each night, to center down with my materials, and see where my curiosity would take me. I found that I was longing to play, explore, share, and expand.

During the week, I was reading Brian McLaren’s latest book, Faith After Doubt and it was obvious that his words were influencing my evening experiences. The last evening class, we were given a larger canvas to work with and encouraged to take all that we had learned throughout the week and put it into our process for this final piece.

That morning, I had finished the final chapters of Faith After Doubt and continued to inwardly wrestle with all that I had personally journaled. The thoughts, concepts, and emotions were still very raw. As I sat at my studio space, I found myself choosing a color palette much different than my usual bright expressive colors. Instead of premeditating my marks or brush strokes, I allowed the process to become an expression of my overall week. Layer upon layer, scrape after scrape, and mark over mark unveiled an emerging new style for me.

As my instructor and I stood back at a distance to look at what had materialized on the canvas for the past two and a half hours, I simply was stunned. She mentioned that each mark was clearly intentional, that the color palette emoted a specific feeling, and that the techniques each came together to present a theme. Being aware that I had been on a spiritual retreat, when she came across the single word I included, but was not easily recognized, she said, “You nailed it.” The hidden word and title of the piece is Doubt.

I challenge you to think of your worship and spiritual practice in new ways this week. How will you play, explore, share, and expand this week?

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Food Pantry News ~ First Friends “hit a home run” with its recent fundraiser for the Mid North Food Pantry. Volunteers from First Friends were excited to present a check in the amount of $9,430.05 to the pantry last Wednesday. Matt Jennings, on behalf of the pantry, was so appreciative and thankful for this contribution from First Friends. Thanks to all who helped to make this fundraiser a big success!

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

The Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center will feature Vop Osili, President of the Indianapolis City-County Council, at its virtual annual meeting TONIGHT, Wednesday, May 12, at 7 pm. Working with his fellow public servants on both sides of the aisle, President Osili is committed to addressing the important issues of the day: equity, fair and affordable housing, homelessness, reentry, police/community engagement, inclusive urban development; the issues that impact daily lives of all Indianapolis citizens. A short business meeting will follow conversation with Vop Osili. If you wish to join, please rsvp to indypeaceandjusticectr@gmail.com. A Zoom link will be sent to all who RSVP.

This Sunday is Meeting for Business! This Sunday, May 16 is our Monthly Meeting for Business. Everyone is welcome to attend to discuss important matters of the meeting, including a possible resumption of in-person services. We hold Monthly Meeting for Business every third Sunday of the month at 11:30. Feel free to join us at 11:00 if you would like to join us for weekly Fellowship Hour as well! We hope to see you there!

Help Us Honor Our Graduates! We are happy to soon be honoring our 2021 graduates! We plan on honoring high school graduates: Krishan C, Sam A, Lena B-K, Isaiah S; College graduates: Eli S, Elle A; Advanced degrees: Shawn H, Kristen K, Beth H. If you or anyone in your family is graduating this Spring, please let the office know at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485!

What’s Up in the Woods: The Woods team has been busily weeding, transplanting and planting in the Woods and courtyard. The courtyard was weeded prior to application of a new layer of mulch to discourage weeds and let the plants shine in their beauty. Amy Perry has been rearranging the entrance to the Woods by surrounding the Memorial entrance plaque with native wildflowers and moving the switchgrass to the back to provide a nice feathery backdrop. Thanks to Mindy Sommer, Linda Lineback, Amy Perry, Brenda Rodeheffer, Jan Hise, Kathy Rhyne, Terry Trierweiler, Mary Blackburn, Dan Mitchell and Larry Mills for all their work to keep these areas beautiful.

We have planted two sections of flag iris in the sun dappled and wet areas north of the meditational circle to commemorate the generous donation of Marjorie Wright to endow the Woods maintenance. Next year, look for the cheery blue flowers on slender stalks that will attract early butterflies.

Look for the graceful columbine in the woods that bloom in May. These native plants are valuable sources of nectar for spring insects and hummingbirds.

You may notice areas of new growth in the Woods. Where invasive euonymus and honeysuckle were cleared, we have planted a special mix of seeds prepared by a restoration company, Cardno, to fill in with plants that will nurture our native birds and insects.

It’s a great time to think about how you can care for the earth. Can you reduce the size of your lawn, so there is less to mow and more places for birds as you alter your landscape? For helpful hints, utilize your local soil and water conservation district- https://marionswcd.org/lawn-and-garden/

Also, did you know that trees communicate and protect each other? You can learn more about this fascinating topic by listening to this podcast: https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/2021/05/04/993507176/fresh-air-for-may-4-2021-mother-tree-ecologist-suzanne-simard?showDate=2021-05-04.

Happy Planting!

This will be a live activity in the parlor, socially distanced and masked. Please bring writing materials and a clipboard or notebook. Open to anyone around age 12 and over.

Plastics: Impacts and Action ~ We are becoming more aware of the convenience of plastics in our lives, and also becoming aware of the problems of overuse. Cornell University has an online learning opportunity about plastics and how to design an action to reduce plastics pollution. The course, Plastics: Impacts and Action, is a 5-week online course open to anyone! This new course explores the multiple ways we interact with plastics, and uses plastics to investigate the complex dynamic systems shaping our planet and our lives. The course is largely asynchronous--meaning you can access the short lectures, readings, and other materials when it’s convenient for you. We also hold weekly webinars (recorded for those who can’t make it) as well as optional weekly office hours. The course will go from May 17 through June 20, 2021. If you’re interested, you can learn more and register here. Cost is $60 (strongly encouraged), though they also accept participants who are only able to pay less or who are not able to pay. Participants who complete the course are awarded a Cornell University certificate (PDF). Questions? Email CivicEcology@cornell.edu, Use “Plastics” in the subject line.

Get a Meal, Support MSPC! Mark your calendars! On Friday, May 28th from 11am-2pm, the Maple Seeds Preschool Co-op (MSPC) will host the Black Leaf Vegan Food Truck in the First Friends parking lot. A portion of the proceeds will support the Co-op, so please consider coming that day! You can place a to-go order, or feel free to stay and make a picnic out of it! If you have any questions, contact MSPC at 317-767-3003.

Richmond Friends School is seeking a Head of School! Richmond Friends School is a Preschool-8th grade independent Quaker school founded in 1971 in Richmond, Indiana. Their multi-age classrooms are purposefully designed to have low student-teacher ratios allowing for customized instructions, expectations, and assessments that are tailored to the academic and social needs of each individual child. RFS is eager to find a leader who can continue our tradition of excellence in Quaker education! For more information on the job, qualifications, and how to apply, please visit https://www.richmondfriendsschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Advertisement.pdf

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for May

American Redstart – The Crying Voice

Reopening Task Force Report. Currently, the Meetinghouse is open to small groups, with requirements for face coverings and social distancing protocol. Participants assume responsibility for risk of COVID-19 exposure. To check on availability of small groups, including Zoom options, contact the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485.

The Reopening Task Force has prepared an updated recommendation for reopening for meeting worship indoors, based on input from the Christian Education Committee about how best to serve our children and young families. The recommendation is to be presented to a called meeting of Clerks Council on May 12. If the recommendation meets with approval from Clerks Council, it will be presented for full meeting review at the May 16 Monthly Meeting.

Note: For all in-person gatherings, indoors and out, members and guests will be required to maintain social distancing, wear masks and following additional CDC guidelines. Extra face masks will be provided for those who need them.

Ventilation:

Queries for the Week

(From virtual worship)

· Who am I, really?

· What about God am I most uniquely suited to reveal to others

· And how is that meaning in my life best lived out?

Comment

Friend to Friend May 5, 2021

May 6, 2021

As Way Opens

For the past week, I have been on a spiritual retreat at the Fall Creek Abbey, an urban retreat center here in Indianapolis. Upon arrival, it was clear how overdue I was for a retreat and for some needed rest. So much so, that I found myself taking an unexpected nap before dinner on my very first day.

I believe spiritual retreats are important to give one’s mind, body, and soul a break from everyday life and its related stresses. Sadly, I began this retreat much like the SpaceX capsule reentering the Earth’s atmosphere early this week. I came in hot and turbulent from the previous year of pandemic, political, and social/racial craziness and literally splashed down into this welcoming and sacred space. To have a place to escape, be introspective and find healing and renewal is essential to our mental health, awareness, and spiritual journey.

Throughout the retreat, I found my own personal sacred space on the large front porch of the Abbey. It was here each morning I would enjoy a cup of coffee while reading through a book I had chosen specifically for this time. In the first chapter, author Brian McLaren explained exactly why my contemplative side was crying out for this retreat.

Why did I need distance between me and other human beings? Because thinking, it turns out, is a social act, and to think freely, to think differently, to think independently, you sometimes need to escape from the herd. If you can’t get physical distance from your clan, tribe, herd, or hive, you’ll at least need to create some emotional distance, perhaps by retreating into a book (as you’re now doing). This need for withdrawal helps explain at least in part why contemplatives and other mystics have always upheld the value – no, the necessity – of solitude as a spiritual practice. (from Faith After Doubt)

It was clear that “escaping the herd,” was a necessity for me and helped get me back in touch with my own voice and thinking, as well as with the voice and thinking of the Divine. I look forward in the coming weeks and months to share more of what I learned at my retreat. How might you find time to “escape your clan, tribe, herd, or hive” this week to reconnect?

Grace and peace,

Bob

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Mother’s Day In-Person Service - First Friends is happy to share that we will be holding an outdoor worship service in Meditational Woods on Mother’s Day, May 9, weather permitting. In the event of rain, the outdoor event will be canceled. Updates will be posted to our Facebook page, or contact the office by Thursday to sign up for text alerts. If you are able to, please bring a chair.
The following safety precautions will be in place:

· Face masks must be worn by everyone age 2 and older.

· Social distancing will be in effect.

· No congregational singing, but there will be musical performances.

· Building access for restrooms only, with use limited to one person at a time.

· There will be no food service or formal Fellowship Hour.

· Kids will leave the service after the children’s message and have children’s worship out back with Tiffany.

Rain or shine, we will offer our usual online worship through the First Friends YouTube channel at 10:15. Please note there will be no virtual Sunday School in the morning nor Zoom Fellowship Hour following the service.

The Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center will feature Vop Osili, President of the Indianapolis City-County Council, at its virtual annual meeting on Wednesday, May 12, at 7 pm. Working with his fellow public servants on both sides of the aisle, President Osili is committed to addressing the important issues of the day: equity, fair and affordable housing, homelessness, reentry, police/community engagement, inclusive urban development; the issues that impact daily lives of all Indianapolis citizens. A short business meeting will follow conversation with Vop Osili. If you wish to join, please rsvp to indypeaceandjusticectr@gmail.com. A Zoom link will be sent to all who RSVP.

Help Us Honor Our Graduates! We are happy to soon be honoring our 2021 graduates! We plan on honoring high school graduates: Krishan C, Sam A, Lena B, Isaiah S; College graduates: Eli S, Elle A; Advanced degrees: Shawn H, Beth H. If you or anyone in your family is graduating this Spring, please let the office know at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485!

This will be a live activity in the parlor, socially distanced and masked. Please bring writing materials and a clipboard or notebook. Open to anyone around age 12 and over.

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss A Promised Land by Barack Obama.

A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making—from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy.

We will gather via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 led by Larry C.

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for May

American Redstart – The Crying Voice

The Reopening Task Force presented a report to Monthly Meeting on April 18, available by clicking here. The report included recommendations that the meeting consider plans for outdoors worship on Mothers’ Day, May 9, in Meditational Woods, and for indoors worship the following Sunday, May 16, to continue indefinitely as circumstances allow. A called Clerk’s Council meeting took place April 22 to discuss these recommendations, but consensus was not yet reached. It was agreed that the Reopening Task Force will gather additional input from the Christian Education Committee about how best to serve our children and young families, which will be used to inform an updated recommendation to Clerk’s Council later in May. The Reopening Task Force is scheduled to meet on May 6.

In the meantime, outdoors Meeting for Worship is scheduled to take place this Sunday, May 9, for Mother’s Day, weather permitting. Details appear elsewhere in this edition of Friend to Friend.

Ventilation:

Queries for the Week

(From virtual worship)

· How am I the embodiment of the Church?

· How do I need to grow in maturity of Christ?

· How do I need to practice resurrection in my life?

Comment