Friend to Friend November 23, 2022

November 28, 2022

As Way Opens

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. We don’t get bombarded with promotions for decorations, costumes or gifts months before the holiday. It is primarily focused on food (which is cause for celebration alone) and spending time with family and friends. There isn’t the pressure of Christmas searching for the perfect gifts, the perfect decorations, the perfect celebrations and having the whole month of December filled up with activities. Thanksgiving Day stands alone and provides us the opportunity to stop our normal lives and be grateful for many things. The abundance in our lives, the opportunities to serve, the bounty of family and friends to consider, and the grace we are given by God.

I was so moved by the entire service at First Friends this past Sunday focused on gratitude. My heart has been full and I am thankful for so many people and for the blessings I feel at this phase of life.

I received this message from my brother-in-law yesterday and it reminded me how Jesus lives through each one of us and how important our words and actions are in living out our spiritual transformation in gratitude.

"Tell people how good they are, highlight their acts of love, mention how they made a difference to you, let them feel appreciated, loved and special, allow them to fall in love with themselves, make their day brighter with good words, because at the end of the day we are all struggling, we are all fighting things we don't say even to ourselves, we are all running from our own demons, so be gentle, be kind, because one good word from you could change someone's mood and the opposite is true, leave a good trace in someone's heart it might be his savior."

Yasmine Lasheen

I pray that we all take these words to heart not just this week but every day throughout the year. May you have a Thanksgiving full of gratitude.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

Stamps are fun! Several families had fun completing this jigsaw puzzle of Love stamps. You can interact with stamps and do some good at the same time by helping trim or sort stamps for the Stamping for Dollars team. The team receives stamps, sells them, and gives the proceeds to Right Sharing of World Resources, an independent Quaker nonprofit organization. RSWR partners with women in Kenya, India, Sierra Leone, and Guatemala by granting seed money to help them start businesses that benefit the entire community. Here's their website: Home | Right Sharing of World Resources. To learn more or to help the team, contact the office at office@indyfriends.org.

Barbara Oberreich had successful knee replacement surgery and sends the following thanks:

I would like to tell everyone how grateful I am to the F/friends who supported me through the first helpless weeks after my knee surgery. I never had to ask; they just knew what would help. They are: Judy D, Taha G, Beth H, Paula K, Ed M, Amy P, Kathy R, and Damian W. When I put on my new hiking boots, I will think of you!

-Barbara O.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Order Poinsettias Now! It’s that time of year! At this time of year, we take orders for red and white poinsettias which you can buy in memory of a passed loved one or in honor of someone special in your life. We use these poinsettias to decorate the Meetingroom during the month of December, then on Christmas Eve we invite you to take your flowers home with you after the service to enjoy at home for the holidays! (Of course, you may take them home earlier if you will not be here on the 24th.) If you’d like to order flowers, they are $8.00 each for a 6” potted red or white poinsettia plant. Simply email or call the office at office@indyfrineds.org or 317-255-2485 and let us know how many flowers and what color(s) you’d like to order, and if those flowers are in memory or honor of someone. Please have your orders in by Saturday, December 3rd. Payment can be mailed to the meeting, dropped in the offering plate on a Sunday with the memo “flowers” or paid online at https://www.indyfriends.org/support - under the fund, choose “flower order.” We invite you to take part in this annual holiday First Friends tradition!

If you missed the Shalom Zone’s Ecumenical Thanksgiving service this week, you can still watch it! A recorded version is available online at https://youtu.be/TjTyC8-SWCE. It features our own Bob Henry as one of the speakers! Feel free to watch anytime and share with friends. The total offering and donations for Brightlane Learning (formerly School on Wheels) for 2022 will total almost $1,260!

College Care packages - It is time to send care packages to our college students as they prepare for their exams at school. We are asking that everyone help fill the boxes with goodies like candy, cookies, cards, and other treats. Please bring enough for all 10 of our college students. Don’t have time to shop? We will gladly accept monetary donations! Just leave your check in the offering plate on Sunday with the notation “college packages” or donate online at www.indyfriends.org/support and choose “College care packages”. Please make sure all donations are in by Monday, November 28. Thank you for your support!

First Friends Financial Update: You are invited to spread holiday cheer by making a pledge to First Friends Meeting for 2023. Your pledge is extremely helpful in making a budget for the new year. Click to pledge online, or contact the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485, for a pledge card to be mailed to you.

The Meeting also seeks support in closing out 2022, as we currently are experiencing a deficit. To donate online, visit indyfriends.org/support/#givenow, or text to give at 317-768-0303. Other means of support include automatic giving, stock gifts, estate planning, and donation of IRA Required Minimum Distributions. For assistance, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485.

Blue Christmas Service & Luncheon ~ All are invited to our special Blue Christmas service which will be held during Meeting for Worship on Sunday, November 27. We will honor loved ones who have passed. This service recognizes the struggles that many people face during this season. After meeting for worship, we’ll meet in the parlor to share a light lunch and fellowship and have a facilitated discussion about our losses and grief. If you’d like to join us for this gathering, please RSVP to the office (office@indyfriends.org) and let us know how many people you plan to bring.

Indy Winds Flute Choir Concert ~ You’re invited to a holiday concert by the Indy Winds Flute Choir! It will be held Saturday, December 3rd at 3:00 PM at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, 2720 E 86th St. The concert will include a variety of classical and holiday music. Soloists Carl B and Lynda S will be featured on the Corelli Christmas Concerto. We hope you will attend!

Christmas Vespers Concert ~ Our annual Christmas Vespers on Sunday, December 4th at 5:30pm is always a wonderful tradition at First Friends. If you have never begun your holiday season with this event, we recommend you join us this year. Our theme is “The Journey to Christmas” where we will prepare for the season through music, readings, and queries. Plan to experience all the First Friends choirs, some special guest musicians, and a candlelit singing of Silent Night to end the night. This will be an opportunity for you and your family to renew old traditions and make new ones this season. Following Vespers, we will join in the Fellowship Hall for a wonderful dinner hosted by the Fellowship Committee - everyone is invited. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP by contacting the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485 or using the sign-up sheet in the meeting hallway. We hope you will share with us in this annual tradition!

Seasoned Friends ~ Seasoned Friends will gather on Tuesday, December 6th for a field trip to Wabash. Friends are invited to carpool by meeting at First Friends at 9:30 or join us in Wabash at 11am. We will see the Eagles Theater, have lunch at the Honeywell building, and see the Charley Creek Inn. We welcome anyone that considers themselves a Seasoned Friend to join us. If you’re interested, please RSVP to the Meeting Office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.

Read the United Society of Friends Women Newsletter ~ The November issue of the USFW newsletter is out! You can read “Forward Together” online here. This issue includes a report from the Fall Conference, updates on local and global outreach, a Pad Project update, and more!

Help Refugees in Need: The meeting for business Oct. 16 approved a proposal to help raise money for the family of Peter K’s Syrian employee Mohammad to emigrate from Turkey to Canada. The family of 6 has lived as refugees in Turkey for several years, and now are threatened with forceful repatriation. Because of Mohammad’s involvement with Peter, the family would be in great danger if they re-enter Syria. The family has approval of the Canadian government to enter as privately sponsored refugees provided that a certain amount of money will be held in a secure account to meet the family’s living expenses for the first year. The meeting will work with Ed and Paula K to raise the money by having an account into which tax-deductible donations can be held until they are submitted to Canada. To donate, mail in a check or drop it in the Sunday offering plate with the memo line “Mohammad’s family.” Or you can donate electronically online on our secure website at https://www.indyfriends.org/support, and choose “Mohammad’s family” as the fund, or text Mohammad to 317-768-0303. The K family express their gratitude to the meeting for agreeing to help facilitate this urgent need.

Overman Scholarship Fund Drive ~ The Overman Scholarship fund, in memory of Jesse & Marilyn Overman and Mark Overman, awards scholarships to members of First Friends attending higher academic or vocational/Quaker institutions. If you’d like to support this worthy cause, we encourage you to donate. For the next 4 years, the Overman family will match donations up to a certain amount! Checks can be payable to “Indianapolis Monthly Meeting of Friends Trustees.” In the memo line, note "Overman Scholarship Fund.” Or you can donate securely on our website at https://www.indyfriends.org/support. Just choose “Overman Scholarship Fund” as the fund. Or text “Overman” to 317-768-0303. Thank you for your support!

This Week’s Queries

1. Identify 3 things that you feel thankful for and appreciate about your life. These things can be based on the past, present, or future. No category or thing is too big or small to appreciate, however, being specific might be helpful.

2. Identify 3 things that you take for granted but are actually very thankful for. We all have things that we take for granted. This is the time to reflect and discover which of those you value the most.

3. Identify 3 things that you appreciate about yourself. Pick things that are meaningful. These can involve your personality, your qualities, your actions, or anything else directly related to yourself.

4. Identify 3 things that you feel grateful for about First Friends. What does First Friends mean to you and your spiritual journey.

5. Identify 3 people who had a significant and positive experience on your life. These can be coaches, mentors, professors, bosses, family members, or anyone else. Call those people to mind and think about how they made a difference in your life.

Comment

Friend to Friend November 16, 2022

November 17, 2022

As Way Opens

On Saturday morning, most of us in the greater-Indianapolis area woke to the first snowfall of the season. The blinds in my bedroom were open just enough that when I opened my eyes from sleep, I could see the flakes slowly descending. They were both calming and memorizing. Arising out of bed, I went to the window to unexpectantly find our entire backyard in a blanket of white.

Since childhood, I have always loved stepping outside after the first major snowfall. There is something that engages my senses, from the fresh clean smell to the brightness all around. Yet the thing that I probably appreciate the most is the remarkable silence. The world seems to be on mute.

A few years ago, I looked up the reason for the silence. The Michigan State University Extension studied snow and snowflakes. They found that snow can absorb sound because it is porous. As well, snowflakes are six-sided crystals, which are filled with open spaces. Thus, those spaces absorb sound waves, creating a quieting effect over a blanket of snow.

It almost seemed appropriate with the noise of election week that Mother Nature would choose to end it with a covering of silent snow. I appreciate how nature can speak to our condition if we are willing to experience it.

This reminds me of the poem The Silence of Snow by Hugh Tague:

No two flakes are exactly the same,

a gift to us all, I must further explain.

The air is crisp, and cold as can be,

the snow settles gently upon the trees.

Tiny little flakes free falling from the sky,

one quickly melted on the corner of my eye.

Squirrels frolic and play on the limbs up above,

their acrobatic display is a sight to be loved.

A clump of snow falls quickly to the ground,

but nothing is heard, not the slightest of sounds.

Snow falls from the heavens as silent as can be,

so quiet and peaceful, I can hear God breathe.

I am sure that won’t be the last snow fall this year. So, next time we get a blanket of snow, put on your coat, step outside your front door, and experience the silence with me. You too, may hear God breathe.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

On Sunday we dedicated six children and welcomed 4 new members to First Friends. It was a joyous time of celebration and affirmation! (Thanks to Kim Heusel and Sue Henry for taking photos)

Youth group had a fun time this past Saturday. Here they are baking treats! They had a blast.

Monroe B born November 9th. Sweet Monroe was 8 lbs. 8 ounces and 211/4 inches long. Monroe is the sister of Selina, the granddaughter of Kathy and Gary R and the daughter of Taylor. We are excited to celebrate the birth of this beautiful child.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

The Shalom Zone Thanksgiving Service is on Tuesday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m. This year the host will be Allisonville Christian Church (7701 Allisonville Rd, Indianapolis). Our theme this year is Giving Thanks in a Broken World. Each of the Shalom Zone pastors will be bring a brief meditation on the theme. We hope you will join us as this is such a wonderful opportunity to worship as a community and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

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 next in-person meeting on Thursday, November 17 at 7:00pm. See locations for 2022 here.

Blue Christmas Service & Luncheon ~ All are invited to our special Blue Christmas service which will be held during Meeting for Worship on Sunday, November 27. We will honor loved ones who have passed. This service recognizes the struggles that many people face during this season. After meeting for worship, we’ll meet in the parlor to share a light lunch and fellowship and have a facilitated discussion about our losses and grief. If you’d like to join us for this gathering, please RSVP to the office (office@indyfriends.org) and let us know how many people you plan to bring.

Christmas Vespers Concert ~ Our annual Christmas Vespers on Sunday, December 4th, evening at 5:30pm is always a wonderful tradition at First Friends. If you have never begun your holiday season with this event, we recommend you join us this year. Our theme is “The Journey to Christmas” where we will prepare for the season through music, readings, and queries. Plan to experience all the First Friends choirs, some special guest musicians, and a candlelit singing of Silent Night to end the night. This will be an opportunity for you and your family to renew old traditions and make new ones this season. Following Vespers, we will join in the Fellowship Hall for a wonderful dinner hosted by the Fellowship Committee - everyone is invited. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP by contacting the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485 or using the sign-up sheet in the meeting hallway. We hope you will share with us in this annual tradition!

Indy Winds Flute Choir Concert ~ You’re invited to a holiday concert by the Indy Winds Flute Choir! It will be held Saturday, December 3rd at 3:00 PM at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, 2720 E 86th St. The concert will include a variety of classical and holiday music. Soloists Carl B and Lynda S will be featured on the Corelli Christmas Concerto. We hope you will attend!

Creation Care Team ~

Have you noticed?

During the worst of the pandemic, increasing ventilation in our gathering spaces was an important measure to decrease the risk of the COVID virus traveling in the air. Our Friend, Tom Wright, an engineer, has been helping the Meeting attain safer ventilation standards. During the pandemic, we kept the windows wide open and exhaust fans running. And it was cold!

Now that vaccines are available and a level of immunity is present, he is determining how much fresh air is needed with how many exhaust fans to run during Meeting for Worship.

Last Sunday, he kept 2 windows open and ran 2 attic exhaust fans. Even with the choir singing and good attendance in the meeting room, the CO2 levels remained in the “safe” zone. He will continue to monitor and find the sweet spot of good ventilation and keeping the meeting room warm.

Of course, if you are immunocompromised or have health concerns, take the precautions you need to stay protected.

Hopefully this winter, you won’t need to bundle up with coat and hat to worship on Sunday mornings!

The Shalom Zone sponsored an evening to get to know the executive director, Brian Sauder, of Faith in Place, the organization that Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light has joined. Pastor Sauder is full of energy and vision to support all of God’s creation. Faith in Place has an opportunity to hear a live report from COP 27 - Thursday, November 17; 6:00 p.m. ET

The UN Climate Change summit—COP 27—is underway in Egypt. And next week, as the summit winds down, we will be joined by special guest Elsa Barron—Faith in Place friend and former staffer—who is currently in Egypt and will give her perspective on the new climate commitments made by world leaders, as well as the work ahead of us.

See you there! Register Here Today

-The Faith in Place Team

Creation Care Team Reorganizing!

Are you interested in learning more about caring for God’s remarkable creation that is our home? Would you like to support activities that make First Friends a witness to right relationship with the earth and its inhabitants? If you’d like to learn more about Creation Care, contact the Office or Mary Blackburn. We will hold an organizational meeting in January 2023.

In the meantime, here are 3 faith-based groups that may be of interest to you.

Quaker Earthcare Witness Faith in Place Evangelical Environmental Network

This Week’s Queries

· Who are the nomads, vagrants, widows, orphans, homeless, poor, and strangers in my neighborhood?

· Who are the people who cannot repay me?

· Who are the people who are neglected by the mainstream of culture? Where do they live and spend their time? Why are they neglected?

Comment

Friend to Friend November 9, 2022

November 17, 2022

As Way Opens

Last Sunday evening we were invited over for dinner with friends that have 4 children ranging in age from 2-13. As you can imagine there was some chaos going on, but it was a joy to be with these kids and the 2 year old followed us around and talked in this sweet angelic voice all night. The kids served the food and cleaned up afterwards together with no complaints. They were so polite and I loved watching the positive interaction with both of their parents.

Monday night we took out to dinner the 7 year old son of friends of ours. Of course, every 7 year old wants to go to Olive Garden for dinner so we loaded up on carbs and breadsticks. Once again, my heart was so full of delight to engage with this child, hear his observations on his world and enjoy his gut level laughs. He also was so polite and grateful for spending time with us and taking him out to dinner.

As I sit in my office and watch a steady stream of voters coming into our building (which makes me emotional every year as I see so many folks giving of their time to ensure a fair election and observe so many folks voting), I am reminded again of the promise of our future and the hope of our next generations. We can all sometimes feel depressed at how divided we are in so many matters and it can sometimes feel like we won’t be able to move beyond these times. And then I start to think about those children (and those parents that are doing some incredible and yet difficult parenting) and I know there are so many other children like this that will take us to a different place in times to come. It was good for me to spend time with these kids to be yet again reminded of the potential of the future. I also see it every Sunday when our kids at First Friends come forward for the children’s message and bring their often astute observations about deep topics. And to see them engage with our volunteers as they learn about the expansiveness of God’s love for all and how that will form the character of these children and how they will do things differently when they are in positions to make decisions for our communities.

My heart is full of hope today and I pray that you will also come to a place of hope. God’s spirit is moving among all of us in ways that we cannot observe yet we can catch a glimpse of it in our children.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

First Friends was pleased to welcome the Earlham College Choir presenting “Spectrum in Song” on this past Saturday.

Bill K had successful surgery and is out of the hospital and in rehab. Please continue to hold him in the Light as he recovers.

We send our thanks to volunteer poll workers, county clerks, administrators, and others this week as well as volunteers for the Election Protection Program run by Common Cause Indiana. These volunteers are so important for our elections and our democracy—thank you for your service!

Nancy S’s brother, Sam, was honored by Nancy and some friends by planting spice bushes in the meditational woods this past Sunday. They planted three bushes, one for each of Scott’s siblings. It was a blessed time. Thank you to all for your notes and prayers during this time.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Be careful around sweetgums! It’s that time of year. Please be careful around the East door to the Meeting. The sweetgums are falling and they can be easy to trip on. We try to keep the area clean but they are constantly falling, so please watch your step!

Shalom Zone Creation Care Meeting ~ All are invited to a Shalom Zone Creation Care meeting on Thursday, November 10th at 7 p.m. at Cross and Crown (5233 E 79th St, Indianapolis, IN 46250). Indy Green Congregations is a satellite organization of Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light which has since joined forces with a bigger group called Faith in Place which includes Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Rev. Brian Sauder, the Executive Director of Faith in Place, and David Johnson, Faith in Place Board Chairman, are visiting Indianapolis to meet with faith groups. They are coming to Indy to listen and explore how we can partner together for environmental programming and advocacy to further our efforts together. We hope to see you there!

You’re Invited to Turkey Fest! Connections Committee would like to invite you to meet at Sullivan’s Hardware on 71st and Keystone Saturday, November 12th at noon for Turkey Fest. This has been a free event in the past but waiting on final details for this year. There’s indoor and outdoor space to explore, beautiful decorations and lots of yummy food to try. Contact the office if you’d like to attend so we can look for you. We’ll meet at the entrance to Sullivan’s at noon.

Quaker Affirmation Muslim Guest Speaker ~ The Quaker Affirmation class will be hosting Dr. Salah Saharti from Alhuda Mosque in Fishers on Sunday, November 13th. He will bring several young people from the Mosque to talk about the Muslim faith. They will be in the parlor from 11:30 - 12:15 as part of our Affirmation lesson on comparative religions. We invite everyone from the Meeting to join us for this interesting discussion about the Muslim faith.

In Paradisum: 500 Years of the Requiem Vocal Concert ~ VOCE (with which First Friend’s Carolyn T sings) presents “In Paradisum: 500 Years of the Requiem” on Sunday, November 13 at 4PM at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 1402 W. Main St, Carmel IN 46032. Beautiful live choral music, accompanied by organ, piano and cello. For more information, visit www.voceindy.org.

Looking for volunteer drivers ~ The mother of the Afghan family that First Friend sponsors is in need of occasional rides. Due to religious/cultural reasons, she cannot go alone with a male driver, so the volunteer must be female. If you’re interested, please contact the office (office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485) to sign up to be on an email list to be notified when she is in need of a ride. Thank you for considering this volunteer opportunity!

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for November:

Yellow-rumped Warbler and Its Magic Food

Approximately 30 different species of warblers come through the meeting property each spring and fall. During the former, the males are brightly colored; not so much in the latter. The eBird app on my phone gives me a list of expected species for any site on any given day. Both the number of warbler species and that of individuals peak in mid-September, and from then on until the end of October the number drops. Fifteen species are listed for one week, then ten the next, then five, and by the beginning of November there remains only one: the Yellow-rumped Warbler. It may stay through December even, as long as food is available. Their diagnostic chip can be heard while they search for a meal. With live insects no longer available, and many insects and spider eggs already found and gobbled up, what sustains them during the change to colder weather? The answer is BERRIES. Yes, some examples are hackberries, wild grapes, and some berries of ornamental plants. It may surprise the reader to know that one of the favorites of Yellow-rumps (and many other late migrants) is the POISON IVY berry. The clusters of white berries can be seen during the autumn, and several times I found large numbers of migrants chattering away at a grove of trees, the branches of which are covered by orange, red, and purple poison ivy leaves and white berries. Today I was out along a fencerow with fourth graders, and was able to show them a few small clusters that still remain.

I have included two photos of yellow-rumped warblers. One shows the typical fall plumage, but the yellow rump is easily seen. It is the patch on the upper side between the back and the tail. A second view shows one of this species eating poison ivy berries.

~Text and photos by Brad Jackson

Help a family this Thanksgiving ~ We are collecting monetary donations for 3 families in need to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. We received the information from Easter Seals and we will also be sponsoring these families at Christmas time. If you would like to make a donation, you can either give your money to Jody L at Sunday service or you can give your donation to the office. If you want to write a check, please put “Thanksgiving family” in the memo line. Thank you for your donation.

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 next in-person meeting on Thursday, November 17 at 7:00pm. See locations for 2022 here.

This Week’s Queries

· What do I need to die to – so that I can truly live?

· What do we need to die to as a Meeting at First Friends – so we can truly live?

Comment

Friend to Friend November 2, 2022

November 3, 2022

As Way Opens

Last Saturday, our family attended the Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis. With roots going back thousands of years to Indigenous traditions in Mexico, this holiday is a time to gather to remember and celebrate friends and relatives who have passed on. We loved experiencing the community, colors, music, dancing, parades, Catrinas with elaborate skull face paint and costumes, and wonderful mercado. The stunning community-created altars, or ofrendas (Spanish for offering), left us in tears.

If you have never encountered an ofrenda, they can be quite large and elaborate, and are usually created by the family members of a person who has died. They are prepared a few days before the 1st and 2nd of November, the dates when it is believed that the dead return to visit their friends and relatives.

Ironically, while we were viewing the community ofrendas, I received a text from Friend Nancy Scott, informing me that her brother, Sam, had passed away. We happened to be at the ofrenda where participants were invited to put a photo or note in remembrance of a departed loved one. I wrote a short note on one of the goldenrod pieces of paper in honor of Sam’s passing and placed it on the altar for Nancy.

We have so much to learn from our siblings in other cultures and religions. I encourage you to take some time exploring more about Día de Muertos and the people who celebrate this festive holiday. It may even help you find ways to remember, honor, and celebrate those who have died in your family and life.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

This past Sunday we enjoyed seeing the children in their Halloween costumes as we “advocated for witches” in the Spirit of Quaker Thomas Maule! What fun! (Thank you to Kathy R for the photos.)

Offering of Letters 2022 - Thank you to everyone who wrote letters to Senator Braun to encourage him to support the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act. Over forty letters were written on Sunday at First Friends, joining 40 other congregations in Indiana’s Bread for the World goal of feeding all hungry people. If you are interested in reading more about hunger issues, you might find these books helpful:

The Last Hunger Season: A Year in an African Farm Community on the Brink of Change by Roger Thurow (2013)

The First 1,000 Days by Roger Thurow (2017)

Exodus from Hunger by David Beckmann (2010)

Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ronald Sider (2015)

Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas (2018)

Bill K is in the hospital at Community North and will be having surgery on Friday. Please hold him in the Light during this time.

Please pray for Nancy S and her family as they mourn the death of Nancy’s brother, Sam S. A memorial service will be held here at First Friends on Saturday, January 14th at 11:00am.

Quaker Affiliated Organizations

IFCL -- Election Day Volunteers Needed

Common Cause Indiana, with whom IFCL frequently partners, directs the field program for the Election Protection Project in Indiana. EPP is a national effort to provide assistance to vulnerable voters to avoid disenfranchisement. The program is not affiliated with any political party. They are looking for nonpartisan volunteers in Marion County to work as voter advocates on Election Day, November 8th. Training is available, and you need not be a Marion County resident to volunteer. For additional information, check out this flyer or EPP online at https://protectthevote.net/. Every eligible voter deserves to have their vote counted! Thank you.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

The Earlham College Choir will be performing at First Friends this Saturday November 5th at 2:00 p.m. If you have attended one of their choir performances in the past, you know we are all in for a delightful time of music and song. Please also invite your family and friends to this free concert. We hope to see you this Saturday!

You’re Invited to a Singalong! Join us for a Singalong on Friday, November 4th, at 7 PM in the parlor at First Friends. Jim and Jesse will lead you in singing a variety of awesome songs!

Prayer Vigil for Detained Immigrants - On Saturday, November 5 at 10am, Shalom Mennonite Church is going to be leading a prayer vigil for immigrants who are detained in the state of Indiana. This will be held outside of the Clay County jail at 611 E Jackson St, Brazil, IN, which is where most immigrants are detained after being arrested in our state. Please consider joining us in this appeal to God for intervention, which also serves as a symbol of solidarity for those in jail and a witness to the injustices committed at that facility for the larger Indiana community. For more information, contact Pastor Brian Bither at brian@shalommennonite.com.

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for November:

Yellow-rumped Warbler and Its Magic Food

~Text and photos by Brad J

Jeff Rasley has a new book! Our own Jeff Rasley is proud to unveil his latest book, 72 Wisdoms. The book includes 72 short pieces, which cover 72 concerns all thinking people care about. The wisdoms come from sources as diverse as Old Testament proverbs, ancient Greek and Roman aphorisms, Quaker values, a Beatles song, neuroscience, astrophysics, and memorable lines from classic flicks and TV shows. The topics range from ordinary concerns to the deepest philosophical questions. If you are interested, you can check out a description of the book and review the 72 topics covered in the Table of Contents on the book’s Amazon page at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJYGHZCM.

Quaker Affirmation Muslim Guest Speaker ~ The Quaker Affirmation class will be hosting Dr. Salah Saharti from Alhuda Mosque in Fishers on Sunday November 13th. He will bring several young people from the Mosque to talk about the Muslim faith. They will be in the parlor from 11:30 - 12:15 as part of our Affirmation lesson on comparative religions. We invite everyone from the Meeting to join us for this interesting discussion about the Muslim faith.

Shalom Zone Creation Care Meeting ~ All are invited to a Shalom Zone Creation Care meeting on Thursday, November 10th at 7 p.m. at Cross and Crown (5233 E 79th St, Indianapolis, IN 46250). Indy Green Congregations is a satellite organization of Hooiser Interfaith Power and Light which has since joined forces with a bigger group called Faith in Place which includes Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Rev. Brian Sauder, the Executive Director of Faith in Place, and David Johnson, Faith in Place Board Chairman, are visiting Indianapolis to meet with faith groups. They are coming to Indy to listen and explore how we can partner together for environmental programming and advocacy to further our efforts together. We hope to see you there!

In Paradisum: 500 Years of the Requiem Vocal Concert ~ VOCE (with which First Friend’s Carolyn T sings) presents “In Paradisum: 500 Years of the Requiem” on Sunday November 13 at 4PM at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 1402 W. Main St, Carmel IN 46032. Beautiful live choral music, accompanied by organ, piano and cello. For more information, visit www.voceindy.org.

This Week’s Queries

· Am I aware of someone of another faith community that is being mistreated, neglected, or simply not heard?

· How might I advocate for them?

· What rhetoric might I need to change or stop using altogether, so that ALL people will benefit?

Comment

Friend to Friend October 26, 2022

October 27, 2022

As Way Opens

Last week I took a couple of days to travel to Louisville to connect with friends and then traveled an hour south to Thomas Merton’s monastery, the Abbey of Gethsemani. I have always wanted to visit this place as I have heard of its beauty, its simplicity, its quiet spirituality. I have also wanted to visit this place because of Thomas Merton who is a spiritual mentor to me even though he died over 50 years ago.

The drive to Gethsemani was stunning. It was in the upper 60’s and the road to Gethsemani wandered the back roads of Kentucky, with rolling hills, astounding colors of red, orange and yellow trees that were at their peak, bright sun and blue skies. I figured that so many pilgrims have traveled to Gethsemani because of Merton over the years that there would be road signs or arrows pointing the way. There was nothing. Without my Google Maps I never would have made it. The Abbey is truly in the middle of open space and one comes upon it suddenly with a metal sign identifying it as The Abbey of Gethsemani. The address is 3642 Monks Rd, Trappist KY.

We wandered the grounds and participated in the 12:15 service with the monks. We were the only guests in the room. There was a deep sense of God’s presence in that room as these men repeated and chanted words and prayers that they say every day and have been said in that room every day since its founding in 1848. These men come together 7 times a day to worship and pray while they work on premises in the morning and afternoon when they are not worshipping, praying or eating together.

There is a comfort in the sameness of the routine. But I have been reading a book about the Abbey that described a terrible storm last century that destroyed some of the property and buildings. The author Dianne Aprille wrote, “The storm made me see that, in fact, Trappist life - like the faith in God that inspires it and grounds it - is ever-evolving, growing, developing, expanding, deepening, changing. Branches break, paths diverge, dark history repeats itself, but always there is that hidden wholeness, that mystery of redemption that Merton linked to every vestige of creation; that “meek namelessness” as he called it, whose will it is to restore the shattered peace with forgiveness and love."

Merton spent over 30 years here, participating in the life of the Abbey and wrote over 50 books and articles while he lived here. He is buried in the cemetery along with other brothers with the same white cross. Here is the description of their life from the Gethsemeni website.

The Abbey of Gethsemani is a school of the Lord’s service, a training ground for brotherly love. Following Christ under a rule and an abbot, we Trappist monks lead lives of prayer, work, and sacred reading, steeped in the heart and mystery of the Church.

May we all lead lives of prayer, work, and sacred reading that is buried in the heart and mystery of our faith community today.

Beth

Quaker Affiliated Organizations

IFCL -- Election Day Volunteers Needed

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Help a family this Thanksgiving ~ We are collecting monetary donations for 3 families in need to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. We received the information from Easter Seals and we will also be sponsoring these families at Christmas time. If you would like to make a donation, you can either give your money to Jody Long at Sunday service or you can give your donation to the office. If you want to write a check, please put “Thanksgiving family” in the memo line. Thank you for your donation.

Looking for volunteer drivers ~ The mother of the Afghan family that First Friend sponsors is in need of occasional rides. Due to religious/cultural reasons, she cannot go alone with a male driver, so the volunteer must be female. If you’re interested, please contact the office to sign up to be on an email list to be notified when she is in need of a ride. Thank you for considering this volunteer opportunity!

Election Day is approaching, and we need your vote to help secure a healthy planet for all! Can’t make it out to the polls this year? Eligible Indiana voters can still apply for Absentee Ballots through tomorrow, October 27! The deadline to return Absentee Ballots is November 8 by 6:00 pm. Visit this site for information on how to hand-deliver an Absentee Ballot. For more resources and information on how to vote, click here.

Bread for the World Offering of Letters ~ During this time just prior to our mid-term elections, we are often encouraged to “vote - so that your voice will be heard.” Electing people who will work for legislation that ultimately shapes our lives in many ways is the purpose of elections. But often times once elected, those politicians may not always be aware of, or attentive to, how their constituents really feel about certain issues. Letters are a great way to communicate with elected officials. It takes effort to hand-write and mail a letter and when a large group of letters on a specific topic, such as hunger, arrive at a senator’s office, those letters make an impact. There are 40 Indiana churches, congregations, and now our meeting, that will be writing to Senator Braun to encourage him to support the reauthorization of the Global Food Security Act. Please come to Fellowship Hall after meeting this Sunday, October 30, to partake in a simple lunch and find out specifics about this legislation and to participate in this Offering of Letters.

You’re Invited to a Singalong! Join us for a Singalong on Friday, November 4th, at 7 PM in the parlor at First Friends. Jim and Jesse will lead you in singing a variety of awesome songs!

Prayer Vigil for Detained Immigrants - On Saturday, November 5 at 10am, Shalom Mennonite Church is going to be leading a prayer vigil for immigrants who are detained in the state of Indiana. This will be held outside of the Clay County jail at 611 E Jackson St, Brazil, IN, which is where most immigrants are detained after being arrested in our state. Please consider joining us in this appeal to God for intervention, which also serves as a symbol of solidarity for those in jail and a witness to the injustices committed at that facility for the larger Indiana community. For more information, contact Pastor Brian Bither at brian@shalommennonite.com.

The Earlham College Choir will be performing at First Friends on Saturday November 5th at 2:00 p.m. If you have attended one of their choir performances in the past, you know we are all in for a delightful time of music and song. Please mark your calendars and invite family and friends to this free concert.

In Paradisum: 500 Years of the Requiem Vocal Concert ~ VOCE (with which First Friend’s Carolyn T sings) presents “In Paradisum: 500 Years of the Requiem” on Sunday November 13 at 4PM at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 1402 W. Main St, Carmel IN 46032. Beautiful live choral music, accompanied by organ, piano and cello. For more information, visit www.voceindy.org.

Seasoned Friends ~ Seasoned Friends will gather on Tuesday, December 6th for a field trip to Wabash. Friends are invited to carpool by meeting at First Friends at 9:30 or join us in Wabash at 11am. We will see the Eagles Theater, have lunch at the Honeywell building, and see the Charley Creek Inn. We welcome anyone that considers themselves a Seasoned Friend to join us. If you’re interested, please RSVP to the Meeting Office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.

Comment

Friend to Friend October 19, 2022

October 20, 2022

As Way Opens

My son, Sam, was recently given a book titled, “Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think Is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis.” He passed it on to me because he found it speaking to many of our Quaker distinctives. As I said during my recent sermon series on empathy, many of the books I have been reading have a chapter dedicated to empathy. Sure enough, when I opened to the contents of this book there was a chapter titled, “The Strength of Empathy, Kindness, and Compassion.” I quickly turned to the chapter to see what the author Elin Kelsey had to say. Yet, before arriving at her definition of empathy, I was taken by another word at the beginning of the chapter – hopepunk.

Kelsey explains that “’hopepunk’ emerged within pop culture in a Tumblr post by Alexandra Rowland, a Massachusetts writer, in July 2017. She positioned it as an antidote to ‘grimdark,’ which includes the apocalyptic genres we know so well from films and video games.”

As I read on, I could see hopepunk being utilized as a Quaker term for a new generation. Just listen to Kelsey’s definition:

“When you stand up for other people and other species, you are adding your voice and actions to a vast movement focused on making change for the better. Hopepunk is a narrative of positive resistance.”

As she began to give examples of it in real life, it was hard not to see First Friends being included in hopepunk:

· Hopepunk is found in communities that welcome and support refugees.

· Hopepunk fuels protest, lobbying, and action against climate change, racism, inequality, and human-rights injustices.

· Hopepunk shines through in the rising tide of people who volunteer, and those who help friends and neighbors.

· Hopepunk situates heroism as a collective response. It’s about committing to what you believe in and acting as a force for good.

So, the next time you want to spark a conversation with someone about Quakers or even First Friends, I would encourage you to describe us as hopepunk!

Grace and peace,

Bob

Quaker Affiliated Organizations

IFCL -- Election Day Volunteers Needed

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

First Friends Financial Update: Members and attenders are reminded that the Meeting seeks and welcomes financial support, as we currently are experiencing a dip in donations. To donate online, visit indyfriends.org/support/#givenow, or text to give at 317-768-0303. Other means of support include automatic giving, stock gifts, estate planning, and donation of IRA Required Minimum Distributions. For assistance in donating, please contact the office at office@indyfriends.org, 317-255-2485.

“Hijacking History” IPJC Event RESCHEDULED for TONIGHT! ~ The Indianapolis Peace and Justice Center is delighted to invite you to their Speakers Event. This event had to be rescheduled from last month and is happening TONIGHT, October 19 at 7:00pm on Zoom! The topic will be Hijacking History: How the Christian Right Teaches History and Why it Matters. Dr. Kathleen A. Wellman, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor at Southern Methodist University will draw on material from her book by the same title recently published by Oxford University Press, and will also address recent proposed legislation in the state of Indiana and debates about Critical Race Theory. There will be time for questions and discussion following her remarks. If you’re interested, please RSVP to indypeaceandjusticectr@gmail.com. A Zoom link will be sent to all who RSVP prior to the event. We hope you will join us!

Rise Up Singing: In Concert! All are invited to a concert by Annie Patterson tonight, Wednesday, October 19 at 7:00 PM in person at the Bloomington Friends Meetinghouse, 3820 E. Moores Pike, Bloomington, IN and also online. The concert will focus particularly on songs of peace, justice, earthcare, and healing, with an aim to build community and resilience.

This is a “pay as you are led” concert: no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Since seating at the Meetinghouse is limited, we recommend that you obtain tickets in advance, and tickets are required if attending online so that you can receive the Zoom link. For those attending in person, masking is required. For general information and in-person tickets, go to https://www.riseupandsing.org/events/annie-patterson-concert-bloomington-2022

Annie is a singer, songwriter, and banjo and guitar player in the socially concerned tradition of Pete Seeger. With her husband Peter Blood, she coedited Rise Up Singing: The Group-Singing Songbook and Rise Again: A Group Singing Songbook, which together contain lyrics, chords, and sources for over 2400 songs. Annie and Peter are Quakers who have been singing and leading singalongs for decades and often lead singing at Friends General Conference Gatherings.

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 next in-person meeting tomorrow, Thursday, October 20 at 7:00pm. See locations for 2022 here.

You’re invited to Maple Seeds Preschool Coop’s annual Fall Festival! It will be held outdoors (weather permitting) in the First Friends courtyard. It will be Saturday, October 22 from 12pm-3:30pm. There will be food, make and take art, a costume dance party, pumpkin sensory play, a photo booth, face painting, reading circle, goodie bags, and a raffle. All families are welcome to join! Masks are not required.

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time, Slaughterhouse-Five, an American classic, is one of the world's great antiwar books. Centering on the infamous firebombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim's odyssey through time reflects the mythic journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we fear most.

We will gather in the Parlor and via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 led by Kristyn G. Everyone is welcome!

Help Refugees in Need: The meeting for business Oct. 16 approved a proposal to help raise money for the family of Peter K’s Syrian employee Mohammad to emigrate from Turkey to Canada. The family of 6 has lived as refugees in Turkey for several years, and now are threatened with forceful repatriation. Because of Mohammad’s involvement with Peter, the family would be in great danger if they re-enter Syria. The family has approval of the Canadian government to enter as privately sponsored refugees provided that a certain amount of money will be held in a secure account to meet the family’s living expenses for the first year. The meeting will work with Ed and Paula K to raise the money by having an account into which tax-deductible donations can be held until they are submitted to Canada. Ed and Paula are working with Beth H and Witness and Service to formulate plans. The K family express their gratitude to the meeting for agreeing to help facilitate this urgent need.

The Meditational Woods team is exploring ways to expand our native habitat to further love on God’s incredible creation. Over twenty years ago, the original plan included a prairie under the powerlines. Amy P, Mindy S and Mary B are investigating how they could install a test area under the high voltage electrical tower and extend it further north and whether it would be feasible. Indiana Native Plant Society has small grants to help with projects like this. We will keep you all posted about our progress!

AES Indiana, formerly known as Indianapolis Power & Light, is planning to reveal its next 20 year plan and it seems likely that they are not including any of the benefits offered by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. See Katharine Hayhoe’s newsletter and click on the link to the Sierra Club report on utilities' slow walk to convert to clean energy. AES IN gets a D grade for relying on fossil fuels for most of its energy. Our collective future is at stake. The effects of climate change are real and they are happening now and quickly. Call or write AES and urge them to go to clean energy by 2030.

You can sign up to participate in the final public meeting here: https://www.aesindiana.com/integrated-resource-plan

Election Day is approaching, and we need your vote to help secure a healthy planet for all! Can’t make it out to the polls this year? Eligible Indiana voters can still apply for Absentee Ballots through October 27! The deadline to return Absentee Ballots is November 8 by 6:00 pm. Visit this site for information on how to hand-deliver an Absentee Ballot. For more resources and information on how to vote, click here.

Bread for the World Offering of Letters ~ During this time just prior to our mid-term elections, we are often encouraged to “vote - so that your voice will be heard.” Electing people who will work for legislation that ultimately shapes our lives in many ways is the purpose of elections. But often times once elected, those politicians may not always be aware of, or attentive to, how their constituents really feel about certain issues. Letters are a great way to communicate with elected officials. It takes effort to hand-write and mail a letter and when a large group of letters on a specific topic, such as hunger, arrive at a senator’s office, those letters make an impact. There are 40 Indiana churches, congregations, and now our meeting, that will be writing to Senator Braun to encourage him to support the reauthorization of the Global Food Security Act. Come to Fellowship Hall after meeting on Sunday, October 30, to find out specifics about this legislation and to participate in this Offering of Letters.

From the Woods: Happy Anniversary to the Clean Water Act, signed October 18, 1972. The Clean Water Act was created in response to increased public concern for the environment and for the condition of the nation’s waters.

Before the CWA, rivers and streams were choked with pollution and were toxic to fish and not fit for recreation. One of the most famous triggers was the repeated fire and pollution of the Cuyahoga River near Lake Erie. Industry and people thought of our rivers and streams as trash pits, or “Dilution is the solution to pollution” For a visual story, read https://www.history.com/news/epa-earth-day-cleveland-cuyahoga-river-fire-clean-water-act.

The Sierra Club is concerned that parts of the Clean Water Act are threatened. To learn more, read this notice from The Sierra Club.

Vote for a Green Indiana ~ If climate change and sustainability are important policies when you vote, we encourage you to check out Voters for a Green Indiana who have prepared a digest of the environmental views of candidates for office in Central and NW Indiana. Voters for a Green Indiana is a non-partisan, independent advocacy group of volunteer citizens for urgent action on climate mitigation. Questions? Reach out to votersforagreenindiana@gmail.com.

This Week’s Queries

· When am I a Pharisee and when am I a Tax Collector?

· In searching my heart, where do I divide people and think one side is good and the other bad?

· Do I embrace God’s love, mercy and forgiveness for all?

· Do I speak my truth in love and care to others even when they believe or behave differently?

Comment

Friend to Friend October 12, 2022

October 12, 2022

As Way Opens

What a spectacular fall this year! Sometimes we have years where the leaves show us their orange, red and yellow brilliance and heavy rains come or we have significant wind and they are mostly gone in a few days. Not this year. We have had several weeks of sunny days and we are watching the slow turn of our trees. Every year I am taken aback by the beauty of the trees and it brings me immediately into the presence of God. I was out driving around the city making some deliveries on Monday and I turned down many side roads and saw beauty upon beauty and am amazed at the different hues of red, yellow and orange. Yesterday morning I walked along the Monon Trail into Broad Ripple for coffee and experienced a gentle shower of leaves for part of the trail. I felt like these yellow leaves were talking to me saying pay attention and don’t be afraid to let go and change.

My next door neighbor has a magnificent maple tree and every year the dimension of color is astounding (picture attached). This tree is like my old friend and I can count on it each year to take my breath away. My home was built in 1947 and I know this tree has been “wowing" the 4 families that lived in this home during the last 75 years. God is manifested to all of us through these trees, through all creation and is our alpha and omega. I turned to Psalm 90 this week in trying to express how much I experience God in all the seasons but especially fall -

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place, in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn us back to dust and say, Turn back, you mortals.

For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night.

You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning; in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers"

Take time to experience God during the next few weeks.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

Nancy P’s heart surgery was successful and she is recovering at home. Thank you to everyone for sending their prayers.

Quaker Affiliated Organizations

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) -- Now Hiring!

RWSR is seeking candidates for three senior leadership positions. All positions are fully remote. An eligible candidate must have legal authorization to work in the U.S. The full job descriptions (with salary information) are hyperlinked below.

The Associate Secretary of Operations is a senior leadership position responsible for organizational operations including accounting, bookkeeping, budgeting, and financial and legal transactions that promote the mission of RSWR.

The Associate Secretary for Advancement is a senior leadership position responsible for promoting the mission of RSWR, including all development, communications, and public relations.

The Associate Secretary of Programs is a senior leadership position responsible for implementation of international programs, and educational outreach and programming.

Note that the list of qualifications in each description are desired qualifications--no one has all of them, and successful candidates will bring a variety of life experience to their work.

Please share this with anyone you think would be a good fit. This is an exciting time in the life of RSWR, with expanding programs abroad and at home. Maybe one of these positions is a good match for you?

Feel free to contact the office with any questions. Thank you.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Rise Up Singing: In Concert! All are invited to a concert by Annie Patterson on Wednesday, October 19 at 7:00 PM in person at the Bloomington Friends Meetinghouse, 3820 E. Moores Pike, Bloomington, IN and also online. The concert will focus particularly on songs of peace, justice, earthcare, and healing, with an aim to build community and resilience.

Election Day is approaching, and we need your vote to help secure a healthy planet for all! Can’t make it out to the polls this year? Eligible Indiana voters can still apply for Absentee Ballots through October 27! The deadline to return Absentee Ballots is November 8 by 6:00 pm. Visit this site for information on how to hand-deliver an Absentee Ballot. For more resources and information on how to vote, click here.

From the Woods: Find a spot on your property to rake and store your leaves. Our bird and pollinator friends will thank you! https://www.birdnote.org/listen/shows/leave-leaves?fbclid=IwAR2EVglA3BdCLqI-rQAQzo0U30ykqaO16rpiZI1AzO4f0sTgGcmVpxflA2c

Protect migrating birds this fall. Turn off your house lights at night, put decals on the windows to make your windows obvious and speak up for birds and become an advocate. https://www.audubon.org/news/what-does-bird-safe-glass-even-mean

October 22, 2022: Want to learn more about native plants and why we humans need to live in harmony with them? Come either virtually or in-person to the Indiana Native Plant Society annual conference. Learn more here: https://indiananativeplants.org/inps-sponsored-events/annual-conference/

Bread for the World Offering of Letters October 30, 2022

Food insecurity is where a person literally doesn’t know when their next meal, or two, or three meals are coming from. This can happen because of lack of money, transportation, and housing. It can also happen because of drought, floods, wildfires, pandemics, the war in Ukraine and other conflicts.

An upcoming bill in Congress is the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act, originally passed in 2016 and reauthorized in 2018. The objectives of the bill are 1) inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth; 2) strengthened resilience among people and systems; and 3) a well-nourished population, especially women and children. Passing this bill will help people all over the world deal with food insecurity and daily hunger.

Please join us on October 30 in Fellowship Hall right after the worship service to write letters to Senator Braun urging him to sign this bill.

Meditational Woods Bird of the Month for October

Bay-breasted Warbler: Fashion Rules

According to custom, clothing of certain colors is not to be worn after Labor Day, or so I hear. It is true that I see a general change, especially in the color of pants worn by men.

Many male birds go through a similar change around Labor Day. In fact, there are pages in field guides entitled, “Confusing Fall Warblers.” Without such a guide or knowledge, recognizing the drab bird seen in September and October as the same species that had glorious, dazzling plumage last spring would be impossible. I would like for you to google Bay-breasted Warbler (right now!), and you will see the beautiful bay color on the cap, throat, and sides of the male. This reddish-brown contrasts with the black color on the face. In September a Bay-breasted Warbler, on its way southward, showed up in the Meditational Woods, and I managed to take photographs. In the photos, one can see that the bay colored area has been reduced to a narrow stripe along the wing. Some color change happens when the colorful ends of the feathers wear down due to activity. More importantly, most birds go through a molt at the end of the season, replacing their worn spring feathers with new ones.

Thusly, birding during fall migration can be very challenging. These small birds, in alternate plumage, moving from branch to branch in the canopies of trees still bearing leaves gives the birder only brief glimpses. In addition, the leaves themselves may be blowing in the wind, or falling, which look like birds moving down to a lower branch.

The human “plumage” rule is rather simple for me; I ignore it. I wear what is comfortable and appropriate for my activities. I am not the slave to seasonal fashion as are my avian friends.

Story and photo by Brad J

This Week’s Queries

· How do I let humor disarm me?

· Who in my life brings needed humor and allows me the freedom to be my authentic self?

· How might I utilize humor with others to build empathy in my world?

Comment

Friend to Friend October 5, 2022

October 5, 2022

As Way Opens

This past week, I found myself on numerous occasions working on my back porch taking in the ambiance of fall. In the middle of our backyard, we have an Indiana native Tulip tree that the Tinsley’s gave us a few years ago. On Friday, the first of its leaves burst out in beautiful autumn colors (see photo). As I was acknowledging this one leaf’s beauty, I was reminded of Omid Safi’s words from the “On Being Project”

“Leaves are usually green because of chlorophyll. It is chlorophyll that gives leaves their distinctive green color, and it is (along with sunshine) the key ingredient in the magical, life-producing process of photosynthesis.

The hidden secret of fall: the leaves don’t actually “turn” colors. With the winter season coming, and the process of photosynthesis being without the key ingredients of warmth and sunshine, trees begin to break down chlorophyll. With the “green” gone, the other colors that have been there all along — the magical reds, golds, and oranges — begin to express themselves.

That’s the secret: there is no turning, no changing. There’s only the death of what has been masking the colors inside. The beauty has been there all along. And we as human beings are like this. Each one of us contains hidden jewels inside.”

Sometimes it is hard to see the beauty in those around us. It is masked by the struggles and challenges the world puts on us. During the season of autumn, as we observe the leaves changing and the beauty beginning to appear, may we also take time to seek the hidden beauty in our neighbors, friends, and in ourselves. Like each unique leaf, may we transcend the difficulties and death around us and embrace the hidden beauty within each other.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Quaker Affiliated Organizations

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) -- Now Hiring!

The Associate Secretary for Advancement is a senior leadership position responsible for promoting the mission of RSWR, including all development, communications, and public relations.

The Associate Secretary of Programs is a senior leadership position responsible for implementation of international programs, and educational outreach and programming.

Note that the list of qualifications in each description are desired qualifications--no one has all of them, and successful candidates will bring a variety of life experience to their work.

Feel free to contact the office with any questions. Thank you.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Adult Quaker Affirmation ~ We are glad to offer an adult Quaker Affirmation class series which began last Sunday, October 2, from 11:30-1:00. If you would still like to join us, come this Sunday from 11:20 – 1:00. This is an 8-week study of what it means to be a Quaker. It will cover Quaker history, theology, and what Quakers are doing in the world today. Anyone is welcome! If you’re interested, please contact the office.

Seasoned Friends Is Back! We had a wonderful gathering last Thursday with 30 friends joining together for lunch. We saw some new faces and old faces and it was so good to be together. Lots of future activity ideas were suggested and we agreed we wanted to meet once a quarter. We will gather again in December and will plan to visit the Wabash Historic Theater. Watch for a day and time in the next month.

SAWS Project – Many thanks to David B and John M for helping build a ramp to provide handicap access someone’s home. This project was done with the churches from the Shalom Zone.

Recycling Event! The Shalom Zone plans to have its yearly recycling event with Recycle Force this Saturday, October 8 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. If an item runs (or used to run) with a plug or a battery you can recycle it! This year it will be held at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Rd. A $25 donation is required for monitors, televisions, and appliances containing Freon (fridges, freezers, ac units and dehumidifiers). Other monetary contributions are greatly appreciated. This is a great opportunity to clean out your basement, garage, closets, attic and responsibly recycle unwanted electronics and appliances.

The Earlham College Choir will be performing at First Friends on Saturday November 5th at 2:00 p.m. If you have attended one of their choir performances in the past, you know we are all in for a delightful time of music and song. Please mark your calendars and invite family and friends to this free concert.

CTS Invites You: Community learning through a theological lens ~ Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) invites you to several series of online lectures and discussions to help understand how our faith and our money are intertwined in both our individual lives and in our society. There are three 6-week online courses which will be hosted online on Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. During the Fall 2022 course, “Christianity, Consumption and Capitalism,” Dr. Robert Saler, Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture at Christian Theological Seminary, will facilitate a series of guest lecturers including Andrew Whitehead and Joseph Tucker-Edmonds among other sociologists, economic thinkers and religious practitioners. These lectures and discussions will help us understand how our faith and our money are intertwined in both our individual lives and in our society. Subsequent courses, “Christianity and Poverty” (Winter 2023) and “Christian Practices of Economic Justice” (Spring 2023), will help you dive deeper into these topics while providing a space to discuss practical and faithful actions for justice. For more information and to register, visit https://www.cts.edu/academics/our-life-in-common-series/.

Bread for the World Offering of Letters October 30, 2022

An upcoming bill in Congress is the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act, originally passed in 2016 and reauthorized in 2018. The objectives of the bill are 1) inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth; 2) strengthened resilience among people and systems; and 3) a well nourished population, especially women and children. Passing this bill will help people all over the world deal with food insecurity and daily hunger.

Please join us on October 30 in Fellowship Hall right after the worship service to write letters to Senator Braun urging him to sign this bill.

From the Woods Committee: Buy your pollinator plants from reliable sources recommended by the Indiana Native Plant Society, Grow Natives. Or try to grow them from seed. Mary Blackburn has butterfly milkweed seeds( Aesclepsia tuberosa, a low growing yellow milkweed that thrives in sunny, dry locations). Let her know if you would like some!

Harmful Pesticides Found in Milkweeds from Retail Nurseries

Article from Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

A new study released in Biological Conservation found harmful levels of pesticides in milkweed plants purchased from retail nurseries across the United States. Pesticides were found in all plants tested, raising alarms for monarch conservation efforts that rely on planting milkweed sourced from commercial nurseries. (PORTLAND, Ore.; August 31, 2022). 38% of the samples had residue levels that could harm monarchs’ ability to migrate and forage, primarily due to high levels of fungicides. Fungicides have generally been overlooked as an issue for insect conservation efforts. Plants labeled “wildlife-friendly” from stores and nurseries included in the study did not have fewer pesticides in or on the leaves of the milkweed plants. In some cases, plants with wildlife labels had more harmful pesticide residues.

“This study provides a great starting point to help ensure the growing number of pollinator-gardens are of the highest quality possible,” said Aimee Code, Pesticide Program Director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Consumers can let their nurseries know they want plants that are free from harmful pesticides.

“It’s important to keep gardening for pollinators for the long term," said Code. "Just take steps to reduce pesticide exposure: cover new plants the first year, water heavily, discard the soil before planting, as it may be contaminated, and avoid pesticide use.”

The study’s findings highlight the need for nurseries to ensure that plants being sold as pollinator-friendly are also pollinator-safe.

To read the full article go to https://www.xerces.org/press/harmful-pesticides-found-in-milkweeds-from-retail-nurseries

Meditational Woods - Bird of the Month for October - Bay-breasted Warbler: Fashion Rules

According to custom, clothing of certain colors is not to be worn after Labor Day, or so I hear. It is true that I see a general change, especially in the color of pants worn by men.

The human “plumage” rule is rather simple for me; I ignore it. I wear what is comfortable and appropriate for my activities. I am not the slave to seasonal fashion as are my avian friends.

Story and photo by Brad J

This Week’s Queries

· How do I feel about my level of empathy, and what does it say about my empathic skills?

· What am I learning from the empathy of Jesus?

· How might I utilize my empathy to bring more peace into my life and the life of those around me?

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Friend to Friend September 28, 2022

September 28, 2022

As Way Opens

We had an amazing gathering at the women’s retreat (here are a couple of pictures). We had 22 women sign up for the weekend and unfortunately had a few women that couldn’t attend. But the 19 women that came together from our Meeting experienced something significant. Our retreat leader, Rachel Doll O'Mahoney had us create a timeline Friday night that highlighted all the significant events in our lives over the last 2.5 years. This was harder to do than I thought it would be as I had locks to remove my son Greg from my home at the start of the pandemic. As I talked with Greg about this he corrected me and said it was March 2019. How did I get that so wrong? It was such a significant and life changing event and I couldn’t remember when it happened.

I think the pandemic put us in a bit of a fog when it comes to dates and timelines. I think many of us feel like the time during the pandemic is blurry and something of a distant memory. It was beneficial to take time and create a visual timeline of all that happened during the past. We all experienced some lows (I lost both of my brothers during this time) and also some joyous times (thankful I finally received my masters in divinity). It was therapeutic to share our timelines with each other at our tables Friday night and to hear these highs and lows from others. There is something healing about being in community and sharing and reflecting on this past and how this will influence each of us into the future.

I encourage each of you to sit down and create a timeline for the last 2.5 years. We have much to be thankful for and we also have things to mourn. I find comfort that God is with us every step of our journey through all of our ups and downs. And the connections of a faith community are crucial as we take our journey. I am thankful for First Friends.

Beth

Joys & Concerns

Megan Lee S arrived at 7:49am on Thursday, September 22, weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces and 20 inches long. Stacy and Megan are both doing great! Congratulations to the new parents Jake and Stacy, and grandparents Lynda and Jim S!

Quaker Affiliated Organizations

IFCL -- Elections 2022 Voting Rights Webinar Sept. 28

The 2022 elections are just around the corner! You're invited to attend a free Voting Rights webinar next today, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m., sponsored by the All IN 4 Democracy coalition. It will provide important updates on what's happening with election issues and elections administration, from the national, state, and local perspective. Speakers from Common Cause Indiana, the League of Women Voters of the United States and LWV Indiana, and the Chicago Lawyer's Committee on Civil Rights will be featured and take your questions.

The registration link is here: Webinar Registration - Zoom

Please feel free to share this link with your friends and neighbors. And remind them to register to vote, to double-check their registration to confirm their voting district in light of recent redistricting--and to vote!

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) -- Now Hiring!

The Associate Secretary for Advancement is a senior leadership position responsible for promoting the mission of RSWR, including all development, communications, and public relations.

The Associate Secretary of Programs is a senior leadership position responsible for implementation of international programs, and educational outreach and programming.

Note that the list of qualifications in each description are desired qualifications--no one has all of them, and successful candidates will bring a variety of life experience to their work.

Feel free to contact the office with any questions. Thank you.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Seasoned Friends Is Back! Seasoned Friends will gather again for the first time in a few years since the pandemic tomorrow, Thursday, Sept 29th at 11:30. We will have a soup and salad lunch together and talk about the things we would like to experience together as a group over the next few months. This has been a wonderful gathering in the past for anyone over 50 that appreciates gathering for food, fellowship and interesting activities. We welcome anyone that considers themselves a Seasoned Friend to join us. If you’re interested, please RSVP to the Meeting Office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.

Adult Quaker Affirmation ~ We are glad to offer an adult Quaker Affirmation class series which will begin THIS Sunday, October 2, from 11:30-1:00. This is an 8-week study of what it means to be a Quaker. It will cover Quaker history, theology, and what Quakers are doing in the world today. Anyone is welcome! If you’re interested, please contact the office.

Unheard Voices in Christianity Gathering – we will gather in the parlor on Thursday October 6th for a simple meal at 6:30 and then share and reflect and share on the writings of Quaker Elizabeth Watson on stories of Rachel, Sarah, and Rebecah.

Recycling Event! The Shalom Zone plans to have its yearly recycling event with Recycle Force on Saturday, October 8 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. If an item runs (or used to run) with a plug or a battery you can recycle it! This year it will be held at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Rd. A $25 donation is required for monitors, televisions, and appliances containing Freon (fridges, freezers, ac units and dehumidifiers). Other monetary contributions are greatly appreciated. This is a great opportunity to clean out your basement, garage, closets, attic and responsibly recycle unwanted electronics and appliances.

Bread for the World: First Friends Offering of Letters ~ “Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. Moved by God’s grace in Jesus Christ, we advocate for a world without hunger.” This is the mission statement for Bread for the World, an organization that many of you are familiar with and others may not yet have discovered.

Started in the 1970’s by a Lutheran pastor in NYC, concerned people wanted to find a way to end the root causes of hunger rather than always reacting to the results of hunger. It was determined that this effort would require legislation by elected officials to provide funds and programs to feed hungry people in our country and around the world. The hope was to end hunger by 2030. As that date approaches, millions of people in the world are still battling food insecurity.

This is where we can help. On October 30, First Friends will have an Offering of Letters. We are asking you to join us in Fellowship Hall after Meeting, to write letters to support the passage of the Global Malnutrition Act. As of this writing, the bill has passed in the House but has not yet come to the Senate floor. Senator Young is a co-sponsor of the bill but Senator Braun has yet to sign on. Our letters will encourage Senator Braun to vote for this bill and to also increase the amount of money to continue vital programs such as SNAP and WIC.

In the next few weeks, you will be reading more about Bread for the World. Please consider taking part in the letter writing process with us on October 30.

This Week’s Queries

· Where have I become “walled-in” by the structures of my identity and ego? Where has First Friends become “walled-in” by the structures of our identity and ego?

· Where in my life am I seeking “the best for all”? What privilege(s) may I need to reject or lay down to better welcome and serve my neighbor?

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Friend to Friend September 21, 2022

September 22, 2022

As Way Opens

This past Sunday, First Friends participated in the Indy Festival of Faiths hosted by the Center for Interfaith Cooperation. This was the nineth annual event in Indianapolis. For the last two years this event was held virtually due to the ongoing pandemic. Even though this year we were in a new location, Military Park at White River State Park made for a wonderful gathering place. The weather cooperated beautifully making it a nearly perfect ambiance for mingling among the many booths, listening to the sacred music, watching the fashion show, and having conversations with people of different faiths.

This year our Quaker booth was hosted by Friends from our Meeting, as well as Fairfield, Valley Mills, and North Meadow Friends Meetings. Beth H and Ed M represented First Friends by caring our banner in the parade of faiths to kick off the event. Throughout the day we interacted with a variety of people with a plethora of different backgrounds at our booth. We were excited to see the number of young adults interested in the Quaker Way. As usual, many were surprised that Quakers still exist outside their history books – another reason we need to be present at these events.

Many thanks go to Ed M for organizing this effort, our First Friends Ministry and Council for their financial support, and all those from First Friends who worked the booth and shared the Quaker Way. It was also good to have so many from First Friends attend the festival and stop by our booth to say, “Hi.” Even, our new superintendent, Shawn McConaughey and his wife Katrina stopped by for a while.

In a world where religious differences too often separate people and communities, this event continues to help the people of Indianapolis learn to work together, celebrate with one another, and respect our growing muti-faith society. Be watching in September of 2023 for how you too can participate in the next Festival of Faiths.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Joys & Concerns

Festival of Faiths a Success! Ed M would like to send thanks to all the people who made our participation in the Festival of Faiths possible this year. Thank you to Beth, Bob, Kathy and Bill F, and Sara and Mike B. We were joined by folks from Fairfield, Valley Mills and North Meadow meetings. We had a great time talking with people who were curious about Quakers. They seemed to get excited when we talked about the Quaker Testimonies (aka the SPICES).

Quaker Affiliated Organizations

IFCL -- Elections 2022 Voting Rights Webinar Sept. 28

The 2022 elections are just around the corner! You're invited to attend a free Voting Rights webinar next Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m., sponsored by the All IN 4 Democracy coalition. It will provide important updates on what's happening with election issues and elections administration, from the national, state, and local perspective. Speakers from Common Cause Indiana, the League of Women Voters of the United States and LWV Indiana, and the Chicago Lawyer's Committee on Civil Rights will be featured and take your questions.

The registration link is here: Webinar Registration - Zoom

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR) -- Now Hiring!

The Associate Secretary for Advancement is a senior leadership position responsible for promoting the mission of RSWR, including all development, communications, and public relations.

The Associate Secretary of Programs is a senior leadership position responsible for implementation of international programs, and educational outreach and programming.

Note that the list of qualifications in each description are desired qualifications--no one has all of them, and successful candidates will bring a variety of life experience to their work.

Announcements, Reports, & Opportunities

Men’s Threshing Together ~ Again this month, we are moving Threshing Together to the 4th Thursday of the month, September 22 at 7pm. Please see the Fall Schedule for locations. If you are interested in gathering with 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! This group is trans inclusive/LGBTQ supportive.

SAWS Ramp Build ~ The Shalom Zone is planning another SAWS ramp build on the morning of Saturday, October 1st. SAWS is an organization that designs and builds ramps for folks who need a wheelchair and cannot afford a wheelchair ramp on their own. No experience is necessary...if you can carry some lumber and pound in a nail, then you qualify! The build usually begins at around 8 am and concludes around noon. Further details about time and location will be provided at a later date. The Shalom Zone needs to get its list of volunteers together no later than today. If you would like to volunteer or need more information, please contact the office. First time volunteers must complete the volunteer form before their first build. This form can be found on the SAWS website: www.sawsramps.org. Thank you.

Seasoned Friends Is Back! Seasoned Friends will gather again for the first time in a few years since the pandemic on Thursday, Sept 29th at 11:30. We will have a soup and salad lunch together and talk about the things we would like to experience together as a group over the next few months. This has been a wonderful gathering in the past for anyone over 50 that appreciates gathering for food, fellowship and interesting activities. We welcome anyone that considers themselves a Seasoned Friend to join us. If you’re interested, please RSVP to the Meeting Office at office@indyfriends.org or 317-255-2485.

Oak Leaf: Meeting for Reading would like you to join us from virtually anywhere in the world as we discuss The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel (388 pages) Everyone is welcome!

Eva Traube Abrams, a semi-retired librarian in Florida, is shelving books one morning when her eyes lock on a photograph in a magazine lying open nearby. She freezes; it’s an image of a book she hasn’t seen in sixty-five years—a book she recognizes as The Book of Lost Names.

The accompanying article discusses the looting of libraries by the Nazis across Europe during World War II—an experience Eva remembers well—and the search to reunite people with the texts taken from them so long ago. The book in the photograph, an eighteenth-century religious text thought to have been taken from France in the waning days of the war, is one of the most fascinating cases. Now housed in Berlin’s Zentral- und Landesbibliothek library, it appears to contain some sort of code, but researchers don’t know where it came from—or what the code means. Only Eva holds the answer—but will she have the strength to revisit old memories and help reunite those lost during the war?

As a graduate student in 1942, Eva was forced to flee Paris after the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew. Finding refuge in a small mountain town in the Free Zone, she begins forging identity documents for Jewish children fleeing to neutral Switzerland. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Rémy, Eva decides she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember who they really are. The records they keep in The Book of Lost Names will become even more vital when the resistance cell they work for is betrayed and Rémy disappears.

An engaging and evocative novel reminiscent of The Lost Girls of Paris and The Alice Network, The Book of Lost Names is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of bravery and love in the face of evil.

We will gather in the Parlor and via Zoom starting at 7 pm EST on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 led by Carolyn T.

Oak Leaf is searching for 33 titles to pick for next year. Each book must have at least 10 copies available at the Indianapolis library. Please contact the office with your favorite titles to consider for 2023! We will gather them for October survey and have the big reveal at our annual lasagna dinner on November 29th! Everyone is welcome!

Adult Quaker Affirmation ~ We are glad to offer an adult Quaker Affirmation class series which will begin on Sunday, October 2, from 11:30-1:00. This is an 8-week study of what it means to be a Quaker. It will cover Quaker history, theology, and what Quakers are doing in the world today. Anyone is welcome! If you’re interested, please contact the office.

Did you know? – Easterseals Crossroads has free family activities for those with disabilities! You might know Easterseals Crossroads from previous Christmases where we partnered with them to provide gifts for families in need during the holidays. Did you know Easterseals also provides events and services for adults and children with disabilities? One of their events will even take place here at First Friends! All the below events are free of charge and open to anyone. Contact the office if you’d like more information about any of these events!

· Parents Night Out - Event for a child with a disability in the age range from 6 months-12 years of age and any sibling who falls within that same age range. These events take place on the first, second, and third Fridays of a month. Families drop off at the Easterseals Crossroads building on Kingsway Drive at 6:15 pm and pick up at 9:30 pm. Children play in a respite area and there is also a park that kids play in when weather is appropriate. Caregivers qualify for a free gift card 1 time in a 2 month window.

· Parents Day Out - Same as Parents Night Out except on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month and the hours are from 10:00 am-2:00 pm.

· Teen Night Out - The last Friday of each month unless otherwise noted. Mainly occurs at the Easterseals building on Kingsway Drive and parents will be notified if it is a special community outing, such as the October 28th event here at First Friends! Ages for consumers are 13-17 years old. Only the child with the disability is able to attend this event. Time for the event is from 6:00 PM-9:00 PM

· Friday Night Out - This is the 2nd Friday of each month and is available to any consumer with a disability who is 18 and over. This mainly occurs at the Easterseals Crossroads building unless a community outing is planned. Hours of the event are from 6:00 PM-9:00 PM. Respite staff usually plans a theme and we provide a meal or snack and a craft, but adults are free to do their preferred activities as well.

Please bring your unneeded footwear of ALL types to the Donation Station in Fellowship Hall. Changing Footprints is on track to provide 50,000 pairs this year from our North Indy location alone. Demand for footwear is increasing, and our supply is dwindling! In addition to many Indiana nonprofits, we recently have been supplying shoes for people affected by the Kentucky floods. This summer we have provided footwear to organizations in Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thanks for your support!

The Stamp Program is Still as Active as Ever! The stamp program is still in full swing! The program collects and resells stamps to raise money for Right Sharing of World Resources, a nonprofit organization that provides grants (note corrected terminology) to female-owned businesses in Sierra Leone, India and Kenya. So be sure to save your stamps, and leave or mail your donations to the Meetinghouse. Another issue of the program’s newsletter, $tamping 4 Dollar$ is available! View it here.

In the next few weeks, you will be reading more about Bread for the World. Please consider taking part in the letter writing process with us on October 30.

This Week’s Queries

Consider someone you know who is suffering. Then ask yourself the following queries:

· Do I see and understand their suffering?

· Do I feel their suffering deeply in my emotions and feelings?

· Am I being led to have compassion on them?

Is there a way I might bring relief to their suffering in the present?

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