IOWA CITY FRIENDS MEETING NEWSLETTER
Second Month — February 2002

SPECIAL EVENTS

 

Housewarming for Ames Friends Meeting – February 24 at the new Ames Meeting House, 121 S. Maple, Ames, Iowa.  (Meeting for Worship at 10, lunch at 11:30, talk (“A Quaker Calling”) by Alyssa Bennett at 1:15)  The Meadowlarks will meet for singing in Ames the preceding day.  For further information, contact Deborah Fisch (deborahf@fgcquaker.org).

 

Discussion about Ramallah Friends School – during the potluck on March 10 following Meeting for Worship.

 

Regular Events

Worship - We gather for worship on Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

Pre-Meeting normally meets the third Sunday of the month; will not take place in February.

First Day School meets 15 minutes after the start of worship in an upstairs room of the meeting house.  

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

Potluck is normally held the first Sunday of the month following meeting for worship, but in March it will be held on the second Sunday. 

Business Meeting is normally on the second Sunday of the month following worship and snacks, but in March it will be held on the first Sunday

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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 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.

 

Iowa City Monthly Meeting of Friends

Meeting for Business

Second Month 2002 (10 February)

 

Present: Ruth Dawson (Clerk), Tim Shipe, Susan Murty, Lori Nelson, Jeff Cox, Quinn Dilkes

 

Treasurer’s Report:  The Treasurer’s Report for December and January (attached) was presented and approved. It appears that Service Master has been paid twice for clean-up of the sewer overflow in January.  Our insurance covered the damages.  Susan will work with Jeff and Ruth to clarify these charges and payments and retrieve any overpayment.  Our entire allocation for Iowa Yearly Meeting has been paid.

 

Peace and Social Concerns:  We will have a discussion of Ramallah Friends School in connection with the March potluck (to be held on the tenth rather than the third).  Quinn will invite a local student who attended the school to join us.

 

Ministry and Oversight did not meet in the last month.

 

March Meeting for Business will be held on the third rather than the tenth.

 

 

Respectfully submitted

Timothy Shipe

 

 

Query 3

Meeting for Business

 

 

                                                                        Advice

     In the Meeting for Business, Friends seek divine guidance in handling the affairs of the meeting.  By opening the meeting with a period of worship, Friends can more easily wait patiently upon the will of the Divine Spirit while conducting business.  This assists our Meetings for Business in finding the loving unity that might never be achieved through discussion alone.  The right conduct of Meetings for Business, even in routine matters, is important to the life of the meeting.

     Friends are encouraged to prepare for and attend Meetings for Business just as they would other Meetings for Worship.  Participating in Meetings for Business and acceptance of responsibilities within the Meeting should not be taken lightly.  When filling positions within our meetings, it is important to consider the suitability of individuals for specific tasks.  Although the clerk is particularly charged with gathering the sense of the meeting, all Friends can assist in the process by committing themselves to be faithful in opening their hearts and minds to wait upon the Divine Spirit.

 

Query

     How can we hold our Meetings for Business in the spirit of love, understanding, and patient search for unity without becoming frustrated by differences of opinion or the pressures of time?

     How do we respond when no one else in the meeting seems to hold the views that we do on an issue?  How do we respond to a dissenting minority? 

     How do we share responsibilities among Friends in our meeting?  How do we serve our meetings?

 

                       

Iowa City Friends Meeting Committees

 

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 Iowa City:. Ruth Dawson

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 U.S. mail or by picking it up at meeting), but would prefer to receive it electronically, please forward your e-mail address to Liz Moon at  moonship@ia.net.)