QUERY FOR DECEMBER

• Do we each take an active part in the life of our Meeting?
• How do we recognize the varied skills and spiritual gifts of our members and attenders?
• How do we nurture their use and growth?
• In what ways are we bringing together members and attenders, young and old, in love and community?

Holiday Potluck and Program

Noon - Sunday, December 10th at the Plimls, following Meeting for Worship at Marywood.

Lake Erie Yearly Meeting Queries

1. What do I understand "divine guidance" and "discernment" to mean?
2. How do I experience divine guidance and discernment in my life and in our life as a Meeting?
3. What are we, as Friends, being called to do or to be in the world at this time?

Time Change in December

Meeting for Worship will change to:
Sundays at 10:30 AM; Fellowship at 11:45 AM
on December 3, 2006

QUERY FOR OCTOBER

• Do we live in the virtue of that life and power which takes away the occasion of all war?
• Do we refrain from taking part in war as inconsistent with the spirit of Christ?
• What are we doing to remove the causes of war and to bring about the conditions of Peace?
• Where there are hatred, division and strife, how are we instruments of reconciliation and love?
• As we work for peace in the world, are we nourished by peace within ourselves?

QUERY FOR SEPTEMBER

Query: Is there a climate of love and trust in our Meeting which invites and encourages everyone to be open about individual and family lifestyles, including their satisfactions and problems? • How does the Meeting support families of all kinds in their attempts to improve communication, family life, and the rearing of children in a context of love? How do we help the Meeting give a sense of spiritual kinship to those who participate in it?

QUERY FOR AUGUST

Are we charitable with each other?
How careful are we of the reputation of others?
Do we avoid hurtful criticism and gossip?

Do we practice the art of listening to one another, even beyond words?
How well are we able to love each other unconditionally?
Are we sensitive to each other's personal needs and difficulties and do we assist in useful ways?

Fall Family Camp Out

The Fall Family Camp Out will be at the Highland Recreation Area near Pontiac, September 15-17 (this will be a rustic experience). That is the same weekend that the Quarterly Meeting at Friends School is held. Hopefully everyone that will be attending the meeting can join us for fellowship at camp (and visa verse).

For details, contact Cathi Deyo catherine.deyo@gmail.com

Meeting for Worship in Aquinata (at Marywood)

We will be trying out new space in Aquinata Hall at Marywood this Sunday, August 13th.
Meeting for Worship is at 10:00 am, followed by Meeting for Business in the same space.
Go in the building just to the north of the main parking lot. You can park in front of that building. Enter the door near the left front corner of the building. Someone will be out there to point you in the right direction. See you Sunday!

Summer Gathering of Green Pastures Quarterly Mtg

Sunday, August 6 - No Meeting for Worship at Marywood. Instead, going to Battle Creek for the Summer Gathering of Green Pastures Quarterly Meeting - takes place in Quaker Park, Battle Creek, on Sunday, August 6th at 11:00 am. Meeting for Worship is held at a simple monument which traces the walls of the original Friends Meetinghouse. Bring your own chair and weather protection for holding worship out in the open, as did Fox and Penn, rain or shine. Potluck lunch under the trees.

Directions: Quaker Park is on Fremont and Groveland Streets, three blocks north of the YMCA Kimball House.
From Grand Rapids: Take 131 to the Plainwell Exit. Go East on 89 to Battle Creek. 89 joins with 37. Continue into the downtown area, watch for Capitol Ave. which comes after the Kellogg Arena. Turn left on Capitol, which will cross the river, join with 66 and almost immediately is Fremont. Turn left on Fremont (north), Quaker Park is on your left in three blocks at Groveland. Park either on Groveland or Fremont.

Canoeing and Camping

Greetings Friends

Updated information on upcoming Friends events - (I am not sure if my distribution list is up to date; if there is some else that that should be receiving this information, please pass this on and let me know the correct email.)

Canoe trip July 22 - We will be floating the Chippewa near Mt Pleasant, $32 per canoe, $20 per kayak and the trip is 3-4 hrs long. Those with their own boats can arrange shuttles with out a 'put in' fee. Otherwise transportation for private boats is $10 per canoe and $5 per kayak. We will meet up at Buckley's Mountainside Canoes at 10am. I will be making the initial reservation July 8th. Anyone interested should contact me at catherine.deyo@gmail.com .

Camping at Fort Custer in Battle Creek - since there has been a very limited response there will not be an organized camp out prior to the Summer Quarterly.Fall Camp Out - there will be a Fall camp out the weekend of Fall Quarterly in southeast Michigan. Further details to be announced. Please complete the Family Camp Survey, if you have not already done so.

Thanks so much for helping to get the word out!
Be Well, Catherine Deyo
Grand Rapids Friends Meeting

Messages and Musings of Friends

Hi, everybody. Welcome to the new blog of the Grand Rapids Friends Meeting (Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA). This is just part of the setup. Jason Pliml has created a website for us, with map and calendar and placeholders for other stuff to keep us and our f(F)riends connected. This blog will link to the website and vice versa. The blog will be more for announcements and posting of writings and reflections that we want to share with each other and the rest of the world.

It is easier to do this with a blog. Anyone who wants to post something (or a reply) can submit it easily (details will come out later -- for now, I just wanted to get this started.

We'll also be soon changing the look and layout. I just had to get something started. So, any ideas on graphics or look/layout are welcome.

Have a great day!
Walt Marston (for Deb, Ben and Jason as well)