December Query & Announcements

Query for December:

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

Announcements:

• Tues, Dec. 1, 7:00: Sewing Circle at Dixie's.
• Sun, Dec. 6, noon: Worship Fastluck--broth & bread; $ contributions to benefit Degage Ministries.
• Fri, Dec. 11, 7:00 p.m.: Carol singing at Betty Ford's.
• Sun, Dec. 13, noon: Holiday potluck at Pliml's; "international gift shop"--bring homemade items for sale/auction to benefit Heifer International.
• Thurs, Dec. 17, 7:00: Sewing Circle at Jenn's.

November Programs

Nov. 15, 11:45 a.m.
Simple Gifts for this season but also our special gifts throughout the year. Facilitated by Mark Post.

Nov. 29, 11:45 a.m.
What are Meetings for Clearness and how do we conduct them? Interactive practice. Facilitated by Kim Ranger.

November Query & Announcements

Query:

• What efforts are made to help all Friends feel valued by the Meeting, and confident that their concerns will be heard?
• How is the meaning of Meeting for Worship communicated to the children and newcomers among you?
• What do you think children can get out of Meeting for Worship?
• What ministries and gifts can your children contribute to the life of the Meeting?

Announcements:

Heartside Neighborhood Talent Show: Friday, November 13th, 8: 00 at the Wealthy Theater.

Sewing Circle: will meet Tuesday, November 6, 7pm at Roberta Rossi's home. The Sewing Circle will also meet Thursday, November 19, tentatively at Jenn Seif's home. To both Sewing Circles bring sewing, crafts, mending, or whatever.

Friends Book Group: will meet Friday, November 13th, at Roberta Rossi's. We will discuss more of our “thoughts” about the Inner Light and also discuss and appreciate Kim Ranger's article in the September Friends Journal.

Well House: will host a Post Election Neo-holiday Art & Bake Sale on November 5th, 6th and 7th.

A Benefit for Healing the Children Injured in US Conflicts: Thursday, November 5th, 7:00 at the 29th Street Hall, 3668 29th St. SE. Music, Middle Eastern Food, Silent Auction and other entertainment until 10 pm. Tickets: $30 and Students $10. 616-262-4525.

IGE's 30th Annual Meeting: 5:30-6:00 for a Spaghetti Supper provided by SandMan. 7:00 David Blakeslee will talk about Peace in Song, Art, etc. 454-1642.

Seeker's Meeting Oct 18

A Seekers Meeting, facilitated by the Advancement Committee, will be the program on Sunday, October 18th. We will discuss Testimonies and Queries, Meeting for Worship, Beliefs and Membership, and Quaker Diversity Historically in the United States. There will be an opportunity for questions.

Announcement

GRFM will have a simple / fasting potluck on the first Sunday in December. Jason Pliml is working with Anna and Gerard to work out more of what this potluck will involve, and information will be forthcoming.

October queries & announcements

Query:

• Do we regard our time, talents, energy, money, material possessions, & other resources as gifts from God to be held in trust & shared according to the Light we are given?
• How do we express this conviction?
• What are we doing as individuals & as a Meeting to use & thereby perfect our gifts?
• How do we encourage others to use theirs?

Friends Book Group: 10/9 at Betty Ford's, on Philosophy of the Inner Light (pamphlet, $5)
Program 10/18: Seekers' meeting (Advancement Committee)
Program 10/25: individual faith journeys
Christ-Centered Worship at Miller/Seif's 10/25

September query & announcements

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?

Announcements:

• Friends Book Group meets Friday, 9/11 at Mark & Gerard's to discuss Christianity & the Inner Life by Margery Post Abbott.
• Mini PeaceFest 9/19 10:00-4:00 on Ethel St.
• Green Pastures Quarterly Meeting, 9/19 9:00-4:00 at Friends School in Detroit.
• Interfaith Peace Prayer Service, 9/20 2:00 at the Dominican Chapel at Marywood.
• Day of Peace/Peace Presence Vigil, 9/21 4:30-5:30.
• Program: 9/27 from 12:00-2:00. Scot Miller on George Fox & what it means to be a Friend today.

August Query & Announcements for Aug. 2

Query:
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?

Announcements:
Friends Book Group will not meet in August. The Book Group will meet again on Friday September 11th.

Living Lightly: Touching Nature, Feeding Spirit, Deepening our connections to the natural world with fun and exploration at Michigan Friends Center. Register by August 7th,: $35 or Family: $85 or as able. After August 7th $50 per person or $100 per family. Pre-registration by August 15th preferred. Call Friends Center at 734-475-1892.

Food Preservation Workshop with Kristen Uthus on August 29th 2-5pm $20 or as able, preregistration by August 22 required. Limit of 12, Call 734-475- 1892.

LEYM SPIRITUAL FORMATION PROGRAM: Fall Retreat, September 25th- 27th in Adrian, MI, cost for Fall event: $120, individual, $200, couple. Due by September 1st 2009. Spring event, May 1st, 2010. Place to be announced. Fee: $20, individual, $30 couple Additional Information and Registration Forms will be available beginning August 7th on the Information Table.

Hiroshima Day Observance: Friends are invited to join with the IGE at the Island Pavilion for a picnic and for making Japanese Lanterns to float in the Pond after the program, IGE TALKS: THE NUCLEAR AGE...past, present, future.

UN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE OBSERVANCE : Will happen beginning Saturday, September 19th, 12:30 – 2:30 in Wilcox Park on Robinson Road. On Sunday, September 20th, there be an Interfaith Peace Prayer Service in the Dominican Chapel on the Marywood Campus. Last year the different Faiths' responded to the question: “What is your Faith's Vision of Peace?” This year's question is “How is your Faith getting to their Vision of Peace?”

Announcements for July 12th

Announcements for July 12th

Greeters: Mark Post will ask for volunteers to help with childcare during the summer months so that the responsibility doesn't rest with greeters.

Sewing Circle , Thursday, July 16th: Join with other friends at Jenn and Scot's, 491 126th Ave, Shelbyville, (269) 792-9183 at 7:00 for sewing and knitting or just conversation. Car-pooling is possible.

Welcoming in to Membership: This Sunday we will welcome Amy Ranger as a recorded member of Grand Rapids Friends Meeting a Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.

Greeter info

The greeter may make the decision on whether to meet outdoors or indoors. When setting up for outdoors, please use the metal-bottomed chairs from the dining room & place them on the paved areas only. Others will fill in the circle with lawn chairs & blankets. Please bring out the guest sign-in notebook & info for first-time attenders. Thanks!

July query & 7/5/09 announcements

QUERY FOR JULY
When problems and conflicts arise, do we make timely endeavors to resolve them in a spirit of love and humility?

How do we use our diversity for the spiritual growth of our Meeting?

Are we prepared to let go of our individual desires and let the Holy Spirit lead us to unity?

ANNOUNCEMENTS
July 7: Advancement Committee meets 7:00 at Norlin's.

July 10: Friends Book Group Meeting will be Friday, July 10th, at 7:00 at Marston's. We will discuss the last half of Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg.

July 12: Annual Meeting for Business

Announcements June 28th

Announcements June 28th

From Finance Committee: The Finance Committee met on Wednesday to begin the process of planning the budget for 09/10 and considering whether we as a Meeting can make an extra donation to help the Friends School in Detroit. Right now is uncertain. If you would like to make an extra contribution to our Meeting which is earmarked for Friends School, please let Gerard know that you will do so by June 30th. Thank you.

Request for Help from Dixie: Dixie has been struggling for the last several months trying to get things sorted and in shape in her house. As you know her capacity for physical movement and strength is limited. If you are available for just "two hours" to help her she would appreciate it. Please phone her.

Meeting for Worship outside: Be sure to bring your folding chair or blanket on nice Sundays. (Some attenders bring extra chairs or blankets.)

June 21

Please bring a blanket, lawn chair, or slicker with you so that when it's good weather, we can hold Meeting for Worship outdoors.

Report about Friends School in Detroit: Because of the current economic slump that we are now in, the Friends School in Detroit is in financial trouble. Explicitly for the reasons below.

1. "By design, the school has always charged less tuition than costs and made up the rest through fundraising; fundraising has failed to keep up with the growing gap.
2. A growing number of parents have become delinquent in paying their tuition obligations.
3. Enrollment has fallen each of the last two years, and structural adjustments have not been made – i.e., classes have continued with as few as eight students with a full-time teacher."

"Any funds raised over the summer would help the board to meet its salary obligations and clear current liabilities before the new budget year begins. The board would like to raise sufficient funds near term to meet at least one biweekly payroll obligation (approximately $30,000) for August. In response to this need, Lake Erie Yearly Meeting has increased its financial support for this year by $1,000, and by $2,000 for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Green Pastures Quarterly Meeting has authorized an immediate payment of $5,000. PLEASE CONSIDER WHETHER YOU MIGHT ALSO BE ABLE TO HELP BRIDGE THIS FINANCIAL GAP."

The Finance Committee is meeting on Wednesday, June 24th and we will consider making an additional contribution. If anyone wants to make an additional contribution ear-mark your check and send it to Gerard at 315 Eastern SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Announcements & help needed

June 7:
The Advancement Committee meeting is rescheduled tentatively for Tuesday, July 7, place TBA.

Liz & Bob Webber's wedding anniversary is Monday June 8; Bob's birthday is Tuesday June 9. Congratulations & many happy returns.

Patricia Pennell has been ill since January. Please hold her in the Light & send her expressions of support & caring. If you are able to volunteer some help with cleaning or sorting at Pat's home, or taking her to doctor's appointments & taking notes as her advocate, please contact Amy Ranger or Judi Buchman.

Quaker Jam: Well House, 606 Cass Ave SE will be the site of the next Quaker Jam. It will be at 6pm and go as long as there is interest. We do have road construction. So the best is to come down Lafayette to west on Pleasant. It does say that the road is closed, but you can go to Cass. You can either park on Pleasant between Lafayette and Cass or turn left onto Cass and park there. You can enter through the back gate of 600, just pull the chain up. Go through the playground and in the back door of 606 (the house on the other side of the playground. If the weather is good we can also be outside. Otherwise you can go to the front door of 606. Look forward to singing with you all.

Query for May

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?
Do we visit one another in our homes and keep in touch with distant members?
How are strangers made to feel welcome in our midst?
How do we encourage attenders to share in Meeting activities and responsibilities?

Peace & Reconciliation Conference

GRCC Peace & Reconciliation Conference May 11-13, 2009

Grand Rapids Community College is hosting its first Peace and Reconciliation Conference, May 11-13, 2009. For a complete list of events, and speakers, please go to www.grcc.edu/peace.

John Hume, Nobel Peace Prize winner and an architect of the current peace process in Northern Ireland will deliver the keynote address on May 12. Other conference speakers include people who were active in Northern Ireland's civil rights movement, the Irish Republican Army, Sinn Féin, community reconciliation efforts, and people who went to prison for their beliefs and their commitment to Irish nationalism.

April Query

Do we center our lives in the awareness of the presence of God so that all things take their rightful place? Do we keep our lives uncluttered with things and activities and avoid comments beyond our strength and light? Is the life of the Meeting so ordered that it helps us simplify our personal lives? Do we order our individual lives so as to nourish our spiritual growth?

GR Fair Trade City Fundraiser

Place: Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE, GR
Time: 11:30 a.m. -
Cost: $7.00 ?
Events: 12:00 Mark Handler--Tibetan singing bowl performer; 1:30 film Black Gold about the fair trade movement in Ethiopia.

There will be a variety of locally-roasted fair trade & direct-trade coffee available for sampling, along with other fair-trade crafts & activities.

For more info, contact Sujen Diveney, Sdiviney@grmc.org.

David Zarembka from Kenya

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Date: March 9, 2009
Contact: Betty Ford,
Phone: (616) 942-4713 or 454-1642

Sponsors: Grand Rapids Friends Meeting with the Institute for Global Education

David Zarembka from Kenya, Coordinator of the African Great Lakes Initative of the
Friends Peace Teams

On Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at 7:00, David Zarembka will be speaking about nations in the African Great Lakes Region focusing on "What the New Administration Can Do to Solve the Conflicts in East and Central Africa" He will begin with a brief analysis of United States involvement in Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The emphasis on a military solution to these conflicts is not working and will only prolong them. Alternative strategies for promoting peace and development in this potentially very rich region will be described.

David will be speaking in the back Studio of the Wealthy Theater Annex, 1110 Wealthy SE just west of the Wealthy Theater.

Greeter schedule

The greeters for first day Meetings for Worship are now posted on the GRFM Calendar (http://www.grandrapidsfriends.org/ and click on Calendar in the upper right corner or on Events Calendar on the left blue menu). We have plenty of openings for Friends to sign up: contact Kim Ranger at kim.ranger@gmail.com .

Query for March

*Do we live 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 FEBRUARY

*How do we prepare our hearts and minds for worship?

*Do we meet in expectant waiting for the prompting of the Divine Spirit?

*Is there a living silence in which we are drawn together by the power of God in our midst?

*Is this inspiration carried over into our daily living?

QUERY FOR JANUARY

*In what ways has the Living Presence awakened my faith and turned me around?

*As a Meeting how do we support each other in being faithful?

*In what ways does our Meeting help to develop the spiritual lives of our children?

*Do we provide our children and adults with a framework for active on going participation in Meeting?