IOW= A CITY FRIENDS MEETING NEWSL= ETTER
Sixth Month — June 2003

Special Events

Hospice Disc= ussion III – 20 July following Meeting for Worship

Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends (Conservative) <= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;font-weight:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>– 5-10 August at Scattergood Friends School

Regular Events

Worship<= /span> - We ga= ther for worship on Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

First Day School<= /span> meets 15 minutes after the start of worship in an upstairs room of the meeting house.

Ministry= and Oversight normally meets on the fourth Sunday of the month at 9:00 a.m.

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.<= /span>

ICFM is scheduled to volunteer for Free Lunch Program - 4th We= d. of the month at Wesley House kitchen (335-6283). Let Jean Cadoret (644-2746) k= now when you can help prep, serve, clean up. Contact Rebecca Rosenbaum (337-518= 7) if you can help with clean-up for Free Lunch, or drop in between 12:00 & 1:30.

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 2003 (22 June)

Submitted by: Judith Pascoe<= /span>

Attending: Judith Pascoe, Perry Howell, Elsie Kuhn, Zack Wedemeyer, Ann Macmillan, Geralyn Zuercher

The meeting began with a few moments of silence, followed by the Clearness Committee Report on Carolyn Turvey's request to become a member. Carolyn's request (for herself and= her two daughters [Mary and Sonia Liebig]) was approved by the committee and enthusiastically endorsed by those attending the Meeting for Business.=

Perry Howell presented the Treasurer's Report, and it was approved.

Elsie Kuhn, on behalf of the Ministry and Oversight Committee, announced that there would be no M= and O meeting in June, but that there will be one in July. She also read an excellent State o= f the Meeting report which was approved. The M and O Committee's response to the query on Peace and Nonviolen= ce has been sent to the yearly meeting.

Judith Pascoe read a report on behalf of the First Day School Committee, and a few changes were suggested so that the report could stand as the Religious Education Committee report. <= o:p>

Quinn Dilkes had submitted a report from the Library Committee, and this was approved.

The Peace and Social Concerns Committee was still in need of a report, so we sp= ent a few minutes recalling the activities of that committee so that Judith and Perry could try to put together a report on behalf of that committee. They will submit their draft of th= is report to any of the Peace and Social Concerns members who can be reached during the summer in order to make sure they haven't left anything out.

Judith reported that we are still in need of a clerk or co-clerks for next year. Kate has expressed a willingness t= o be a clerk again for a quarter of the year, so if we cannot find a single clerk,= or co-clerks, we may explore whether 3 other people might be willing to take t= he job on for a 3-month period.

Ministry and Oversight Report for 5/25/03

Present:= Susan Murty, Elsie Kuhn (Convener),= Ruth Dawson, Kate Cowles

Some of our members plan to be out-of-town during the last part of June, so we w= ill not hold a June Ministry and Oversight meeting. We plan to hold our next meeting o= n July 27.

The Hospice discussions led by Susan Murty have been very informative and helpful. We plan to hold our = next Hospice discussion following meeting for worship on July 20. During this discussion we plan to address bereavement and loss and simple burial. We feel it might be useful to prep= are a packet of information to keep at the meetinghouse to which people could ref= er for information on topics related to death and dying.

Elsie read a draft of the state-of-the meeting report and minor revisions were suggested. The report will be presented to the June meeting for business for approval before sending it to Iowa Yearly Meeting.

We prepared the following response to Query #12 on Peace and Nonviolence to be sent to the Yearly Meeting.

Query #12 Peace and Nonviolence

The war in Iraq has made the seeking of a way to live non-violently a higher priority in our lives. We observed that peopl= e in the meeting have become more active and more involved with the weekly vigils held near campus. We hear the voice of discouragement and fear among reside= nts of Iowa City and others whom we meet in various situations. It is a difficult thing to s= ee ourselves as others see us, both as a nation and as individuals. The press = in the United States often gives a pro-administration spin on reports from Iraq. One of our members, who visited London recently, believes the newspapers there are more accurate in their reportin= g on situations outside of our country than our own press is.

We would like to see the Iowa Yearly Meeting Young Friends and Junior Yearly M= eeting address this query and how it relates to the world. We feel that education in Friends&= #8217; values and studying the background of world events can make all of us more aware of what is happening. We see violence in movies and television progra= ms directed towards children. An alternative might be showing our children how= to lovingly care for the earth and its inhabitants, including animals and plan= ts.

12. Peace and Nonviolence<= /o:p>

"[We] seek to live in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occas= ion for all wars." --G= eorge Fox

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Advice=

We seek peace within our own lives. Sometimes there are barriers to peace within families and meetings, = and among individuals. Anger and frustration may result in hurtfulness which leaves physical, sexual or emot= ional wounds. Healing and forgivene= ss are possible when our hearts are opened to the transforming love that comes from the Spirit Within. The violen= ce we oppose is not only war, but all unloving acts.

Friends seek peaceful resolution to conflicts between nations and peoples. As long as nations depend upon arm= ed forces as an option for defense and order, wars can easily erupt. To oppose war is not enough if we = fail to deal with the injustices and inequalities that so often lead to violence. We need to address = the causes of war, such as aggression, revenge, overpopulation, greed, and religious and ethnic differences.

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Quer= y

What are we doing to educate ourselves and others about the causes of conflict in our own lives, our families and our meetings? Do we provide refuge and assistanc= e, including advocacy, for spouses, children, or elderly persons who are victi= ms of violence or neglect?

Do we recognize that we can be perpetrators as well as victims of violence? How do we deal with this? How can we support one another so = that healing may take place?

What are we doing to understand the causes of war and violence and to work toward peaceful settlement of differences locally, nationally, and internationally? How do we su= pport institutions and organizations that promote peace? Do we faithfully maintain our testimony against preparation for and participation in war?<= /span>

2002-2003 Library Committee Report

submitted by: Quinn Dilkes

The Library Committee of the Iowa City Friends Meeting ordered the followed boo= ks this year:

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GANDHI: CONVERSATIONS WITH SPIRITUAL SOCIAL ACTIVISTS. Ed. Catherine Ingram. Berkeley: Parallax Press, 1990.

A FEW SMALL CANDLES: WAR RESISTERS OF WORLD WAR II TELL THEIR

STORIES. Eds. Larry Gara and Lenna Mae Gara= . Kent, OH: <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Kent State

University Press, 1999.

THE POWERS THAT BE: THEOLOGY FOR = A NEW MILLENIUM. By Walter

Wink. NY: Galilee= Doubleday, 1998.

ONE MAN'S STORY: A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR IN WWI.&nb= sp; As told through letters written by Arthur C. Standing and his family, July 18 to September 1919.

THE WAR. By Anais Vangelade. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 2001. =

(A children's book.) Prince Fabi= en uses an ingenious trick to end the war between the Reds and the Blues witho= ut violence.

&nb= sp;

State of Iowa City Friends Meeting Report for 2003

&nb= sp;

We held our October Meeting for Worship, followed by a potluck picnic and fellowship, on a scenic hillside of Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City as a way= to become better acquainted with the new fall meeting attenders on the UI camp= us.

Iowa City Friends welcomed two children and three adults as members to the meeti= ng this year. They are Kristin Gast, Gabriel Middaugh, Carolyn Turvey, and her= two young daughters, Mary and Sonya Liebig.

We joyfully acknowledged the births of Sonya Grace Liebig to Carolyn Turvey and Chris Liebig on December 20, 2002 and Jeremiah Haravon Collins to Lea and Steve Haravon Collins on Christmas Day 2002. We held a special meeting for worship on the first potluck Sunday in May to celebrate these recent births. During this meeting for worship we remembered Jacob Haravon Collins, Jeremiah’s t= win brother, who died at birth on Christmas Day. Our special thoughts and praye= rs are with the parents, Lea and Steve.

We found the two worship-sharing sessions we held this year to be meaningful. = The first session was on the topic: “What it means to be a Friend.” The second one= was on: “Centering for worship.” We thought the first session provi= ded a nice transition into the second session. Participation by meeting attende= rs was excellent in both sessions.

Susan Murty, a member of our meeting, also a volunteer for Hospice of Iowa City, = led discussions on end-of-life issues, reminding us that we are all touched in = some way by the end-of-life events of close friends and relatives. She explained= how Hospice can step in to give support, alleviate suffering and help to remove feelings of isolation that often accompany the grieving process. We shared suggestions regarding pre-planning and beginning the conversation about liv= ing wills and funeral arrangements with our own loved ones to help prepare for death.

As a member of the Iowans for Peace Consortium, our meeting participated with other peace-oriented groups in two interfaith services of singing, praying = for peace, and giving voice to our various peace testimonies, at St. Thomas Moore Church in = Iowa City.

Our meeting has a growing program for first day school children initiated by parents in the meeting. A visit from 5^th and 6^th grad= ers from the Unitarian Church in Iowa City was inspiring as they asked us many questions about Quakerism. The Unitarians have offered to share materials for teenage= rs with us. We acknowledge that our meeting needs to develop a stronger program for teenagers in order to make them feel more welcome. Children have always taken an active part following meetings for worship as they eagerly report = to the meeting what they did in First Day School. In Dece= mber, they created a miniature town of Bethlehem with lights, and organized a Christmas pageant followed by carol singing. O= ne of the children accompanied the singing with her violin. =

As we prepared responses to the Friends’ queries, we became deeply aware= of the importance of balancing activities in our daily lives. The Quaker value of spiritual simplicity takes= on more importance for us in this age of rapidly developing technology, with i= ts many gadgets and fast pace of life constantly distracting us from setting r= ight priorities. When we feel overwhelmed by many situations that need to be cha= nged for humankind, we consider the words of Thomas Kelly, who advises us that we are not alone as we work in the world. He reminds us that “The Cosmic Patience becomes, in part, our patience, for after all God is at work in the world.”

2002-2003 Religious Education Report

Our religious education activities have mostly focused on First Day School. We were happy to welcome two new b= abies into the meeting at a special meeting for children at the beginning of May. The children in First Day School decorated a big banner for this event. First Day School usually has two or three children taking part each Sunday, but sometimes th= ere are as many as six children, ranging in age from one to ten. We encourage as many members as po= ssible to take turns leading first day school;&nb= sp; more than half-a-dozen adults took a turn at leading. We continue to struggle with devel= oping an overall plan of our goals for what we wish the children to get out of th= eir First Day School experience. Different leaders have addressed a= variety of themes from a Quaker perspective, such as the story of Christmas (comple= ted with a small Bethlehem model and a pageant of shepherds, sheep, angels, Mary, and Joseph, all accompanied by violin.) Other topics have included race relations, honesty, and dealing with emotions, usually addressed with a story and an accompanying art project. Because of the events of the year,= many First Day Schools focused on the topic of peace. The children helped to construct a= large peace banner that continues to hang across the meetinghouse's front window. We hope to put a grea= ter emphasis on adult religious education in the coming year.=

Iowa City Friends Meeting Committees

Clerks: Judith P= ascoe, Kate Cowles

Recording Clerk: Tim Shipe

= Ministry & Oversight: Ruth Dawson, Susan Murty, Ka= ra Hartzler, Elsie Kuhn

= Building & Grounds: Jeff Cox (convener), Ann MacMillan, Steve Tatum

Treasurer:   Perry Howell

Peace & Social Concerns: Monica Sandschafer (convener), Jeff = Cox, Lori Nelson, Kate Cowles

Representative to Emergency Housing Project: = (open)

Librarian: Quinn Dilkes

Religious Education: Tim Barrett, Jodie Plumert, Perry Howell

Representative to Consultation of Religious Communities (CRC) of Iowa City:. Ruth Dawson

Newsletter: Editor:&nbs= p; Tim Shipe (Please = send news to Tim at moonship@ia.net with a subject line of "Friends' newsletter."). If you're currently receiving this newsletter in print form = (via U.S. mail or by picking it up at meeting), but would prefer to receive it electronically, please forward your e-mail address to Tim.

Iowa City Monthly Meeting of Friends

Treasurer's Report, M= ay, 2003

General Fund

   &nbs= p;        Beginning Balance      =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            = +$1,540.03        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

Income

Non-caretaker contributions           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    $210.00        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

Caretaker contribution=             &nb= sp;            = $490.00

total income &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; +$700.00

Expenses<= /o:p>

Transfer to Building Fund (April & May)        &= nbsp; $300.00        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;

Phone   = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;          $103.95        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

Gas & Electric&nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           $1= 68.00        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

Water   = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;          $ 36.47      &n= bsp;            = ;                     =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =

total expenses &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;           -$676.= 24        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;             =

   &nbs= p;        Ending Balance      =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;     +$1563.79        &= nbsp;

Building Fund

   &nbs= p;        Beginning Balance      =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            = +$5641.78        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

Income

Transfer from General Fund for April & May    +$300.00        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

Interest  &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;        +$4.33

Expenses<= /o:p>

None this month

   &nbs= p;        Ending Balance      =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;     +$5,946.11

IOW= A CITY FRIENDS MEETING NEWSL= ETTER Sixth Month — June 2003