Ed Cowles, an attender of
Iowa City Friends Meeting since 1999, died at the
Born in
A memorial Meeting for
Worship was held at the
Worship - We gather
for worship on Sundays at
Ministry and
Oversight
normally meets on the fourth Sunday of the month at
Potluck is held the
first Sunday of the month following meeting for worship.
Business
Meeting
is the second Sunday of the month following worship and snacks.
.
ICFM is
scheduled to volunteer for Free Lunch Program - 4th Wed. of
the month at Wesley House kitchen (335-6283). Let Jean Cadoret (644-2746) know
when you can help prep, serve, clean up. Contact Rebecca Rosenbaum (337-5187)
if you can help with clean-up for Free Lunch, or drop in between
We
are aware that some who attend meeting are allergic to perfume, so we are
asking folks not to wear it to meeting.
Meeting for Business
Sixth Month 2002 (9 June)
Present: Ruth Dawson (Clerk), Tim Shipe, Susan Murty, Roberta Golliher, Geraldine Zuercher, Elsie Kuhn, Gerry Clamon, Cheryll Clamon
Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer’s Report was presented and approved.
Ministry and Oversight. The Ministry and Oversight report is attached. A draft of the State of the Meeting report was presented and approved.
Yearly Meeting. Other Yearly Meeting reports have been assigned. We have sent a record number of query responses (nine) to Yearly Meeting. We have appointed Jeff Cox and Ruth Dawson as Yearly Meeting Representatives, and Ruth Dawson as member of the Yearly Meeting Nominating Committee.
Nominating Committee. We have appointed a Monthly Meeting Nominating Committee consisting of Kate Cowles (convener), Ruth Dawson, Tim Shipe, and Tim Barrett and/or Jodie Plumert.
Respectfully submitted
Timothy Shipe
One
of Iowa City Meeting’s positions on the Yearly Meeting Ministry and Oversight
Committee will become vacant this summer.
If you would like to volunteer for this, or would like to know what the
position entails, please contact Ruth Dawson.
This would be a great way to get to know people in the broader Friends
community.
Ministry & Oversight Report for
Present: Tim Shipe, Ruth Dawson, Elsie Kuhn
We discussed plans for hosting the Eastern Iowa Gathering to be held Sunday, May 26th at the Iowa City Friends Meeting House.
Ruth reminds us that committee reports for Iowa Yearly Meeting from our meeting are due at the next meeting for business. We will form a nominating committee to facilitate filling vacancies on committees for the coming year.
Response to
Query #4 Harmony Within the Meeting
We believe the last question of the query section
articulates well the Friends values we wish to express in all areas of our
lives: “Do we look to that of God in ourselves and seek to address that of God
in those with whom we disagree?” The scripture at the beginning is timeless:
“This is my commandment. Love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:1. Much of the interaction in our meeting
happens at announcement time when we are told of events happening in the larger
community or when the children share what they did in
(for
the
While the Iowa City Friends Meeting is a small group, we feel deep kinship with Friends everywhere from our contacts with Iowa Yearly Meeting, Mid-Yearly Meeting, Eastern Iowa Gathering of Friends, and through our members and attenders who have moved to other meetings and maintain contact with us.
During the past year we have joined with other Friends and
other groups as we sought to gain understanding of world problems illuminated
by the events of
In seeking ways to make meeting for worship more meaningful, we have held pre-meeting discussions on the Pendle Hill Pamphlet by Beatrice Saxon Snell, “A Joint and Visible Fellowship,” which focuses on preparing for worship and learning how to center in worship. In addition, we read Thomas Kelly’s A Testament of Devotion, which builds on the worship experience.
The joyful arrival of Federica Garcia-Lehmann occurred on
Ann McMillan arrived as the new meetinghouse caretaker in October. Soon after Ann’s move into the meetinghouse, she was confronted with numerous bats in the upstairs of the house. Ann was a model of patience during the time it took the house and grounds committee to seek an effective, humane way to get rid of the bats. We appreciate Ann’s welcoming presence at the meetinghouse.
Ed Cowles, father of Kate Cowles, died on
The Iowa City Friends Meeting hosted the Eastern Iowa Gathering of Friends on May 26. During potluck, Bill Douglas, from the Des Moines Valley Friends Meeting, spoke on “Leaving the Porch Light On,” giving a short history of conscientious objection. This was followed by lively discussion and fellowship.
We are thrilled with the addition of several children to the
meeting, who eagerly share their artwork from
Query 7
Home and Family
Advice
We seek an atmosphere within our homes and within our families which nurtures the many physical, social, spiritual, and emotional needs of each of us. This is true whether we live alone or with others.
A family, whatever its composition, is a unique and sometimes fragile bonding of people; at its best, it is concerned with the welfare of the whole and each of its constituents.
Children bring gifts to the families that nurture them. Our children's earliest encounters with the principles of Friends usually occur within our homes. Examples we set are often more effective than verbal guidance. The loving support of the meeting is needed as children learn to understand and practice Quaker principles in their lives.
While we try to make our homes centers of love, we sometimes feel anger and hostility. Part of the challenge of being human is to learn constructive ways to channel these feelings, relying on the Divine Spirit for love and guidance. Worship in the home can enable us to "hold ourselves and one another in the Light." Respect for truth, as each discerns it, is essential to the happiness and spiritual growth of all persons within the home. Clear communication, patience and a sense of humor are vital to family relationships.
We value setting aside time for rest, recreation, and creative activities. Offering hospitality can foster mutual bonds of friendship and love and enrich our own lives and the lives of others.
Query
How can we make our homes places of love and hospitality?
What different expectations do we hold for women and men, boys and girls? How can we bring more equality into our relationships?
How do we develop and maintain lines of communication?
In what ways do we share our deepest experiences, struggles, concerns and beliefs with our children and others, yet encourage them to develop their potential as the Spirit leads them?
What place do we make in our daily lives for meditation, spiritual renewal and the reading of inspiring literature, such as the Bible?
How does the meeting support families of all kinds?
Clerk: Ruth Dawson
Recording Clerk: Tim Shipe
Ministry & Oversight: Elsie Kuhn (convener), Tim Shipe,
Ruth Dawson, Perry Howell, Judith Pascoe, Micah Pulleyn
Building & Grounds: Jeff Cox (convener), Lea
Haravon-Collins, Brendan Holly, Steve
Tatum
Treasurer:
Susan Murty.
Peace & Social Concerns: Quinn Dilkes
and Kate Cowles (co-conveners), Jeff Cox, Holly Hart
Representative to Emergency Housing Project: Holly Hart
Librarian: Judith Pascoe
Religious Education: Perry Howell and Judith Pascoe
(co-conveners), Carolyn Turvey, Tim Barrett, Jodie Plumert, Micah Pulleyn
Representative
to Consultation of Religious Communities (CRC) of
Newsletter: Editor: Tim
Shipe (Please
send news to Tim at moonship@ia.net with a subject line of "Friends'
newsletter."). Distributor: Liz Moon (If you're currently receiving this
newsletter in print form (via