Ames Friends Newslettr 2009

Ames

Friends

Newsletter

NOVEMBER 2009

Difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future. . . Let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe, working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil . . . Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

MEETING DATES

1 November - Meeting for Worship, 10

Query 12, 11

8 November - Meeting for Worship, 10

Meeting with Attention to Business, 11

18 November (Wednesday) - Midweek Worship and Simple Potluck

Betty’s, 1121 Harding

15 November - Meeting for Worship, 10

22 November - Meeting for Worship, 10

29 November - Meeting for Worship, 10

6 December - Meeting for Worship, 10

Query 9, 11

27-28 March 2010 - Midyear Meeting

Bear Creek Meeting

Earlham, Iowa

Bill Deutsch, resource person

AND

8 November - Good Neighbor Benefit, 3

Church and Synagogue Musicians from across Ames and surrounding towns

St. Cecilia Catholic Church

2900 Hoover

10 November (Tuesday) - Faith Club, 7

Bryce and Vicky Abel’s home, 711 Lynn

Every Wednesday, 5:30-6:00 - Peace Vigil,

Lincolnway and Welch

THE HOUR BEFORE WORSHIP

Having finally polished off George Fox, we have begun reading Friends for 350 Years by Howard H. Brinton in the hour before meeting for worship. This is a updated version of the classic Friends for 300 Years. In the words of Margaret Hope Bacon, the book is a “description of the birth of the Quaker movement as a form of group mysticism, the role of Quaker thought and belief and its place in the history of religious thought, the meaning of Quaker ministry, and the functioning of the Quaker meeting as both a worshiping group and a community.”

Noting that Brinton’s original work is limited by its neglect of the strong role of Quaker women, Margaret Bacon provides notes, explanations and updates from her extensive research on Quaker women. Bacon further updates the book by noting revisions in scholarly consensus over the fifty years since its writings. Finally, Bacon adds rich material on Quakers outside of the U.S. and Great Britain. These additions appear in notes that separate Bacon’s perspectives from those of Brinton.

The Finks have been doing the reading and selecting the books and articles. We invite any and all of you to join us in our exploration of the ground of Quakerism. If you come, you can help choose the next reading.

Friends responded to Query 1, the query on Meeting for Worship, in personal terms.

Much depends on what we bring to meeting with us, whether from the preceding week or from farther back in life. Those responding included one birthright Friend, some who have been Friends for decades, more recently convinced Friends, and one who was attending her first Friends meeting.

· Meeting is a time to reflect on the previous week, to look at the positives and negatives, and to reflect on where one might do better.

· Meeting is an opportunity to decompress and seek guidance from the Spirit and from other worshipers.

· Friends bring an array of imagery from different childhood religions and other experiences. This is pervasive and lasting. In silence, old prayers come back.

· Some Friends center by holding each individual present in the Light and wishing them well.

· Sinking into the encompassing Spirit may be like walking through a dark room. At first it is intimidating and difficult, but with time we learn the contours and ways of the Spirit and become comfortable with it. This requires practice and faith.

· Sometimes it is impossible to get beyond the jangling of a too-busy life. When you are in Quaker worship and nothing extraordinary happens, you know it. In the silence, there is no mistaking spiritual emptiness.

Those who wish to stay, eat and visit are invited to join in a very simple lunch after regular worship and business activities are completed. Basic fare is bread, peanut butter, cheese and tea. Bring anything you wish to fill out the table, but don’t let it be a burden and don’t stay away if you don’t bring anything. We always have enough.

Friends Committee on National Legislation is urging all Friends to take advantage of the current window of opportunity for peacemaking in Afghanistan. FCNL has written to President Obama, urging him to move toward peace. We can ask our own representatives in Washington to

· Halt offensive operations against the Taliban and concentrate on improving living standards in areas not under Taliban control;

· Support negotiation and reconciliation among all Afghan groups, including the Taliban;

· Greatly expand development aid and diplomatic efforts to achieve regional security.

(To contact members of congress electronically, it is best to do it through their websites.)

The Faith Club, an interfaith dialogue, is meeting again this fall. On Tuesday, November 10, the group will discuss our personal faith experiences of suffering. The last meeting included Bahai, Christian and Muslim participants. The November 10 meeting will be held at 7:00 at the home of Bryce and Vicky Abel, at the south end of Lynn Street, 711 Lynn. All are welcome.