IOWA CITY FRIENDS MEETING NEWSLETTER
Seventh Month — July 2004

Special Events

 

Meet with candidate for Meeting House Caretaker: 18 July following Meeting for Worship.

 

Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative): 27 July through 1 August at Scattergood Friends School, near West Branch.

 

Regular Events

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

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

Ministry and Counsel 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. (No Business Meeting in August.)

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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.

 

Meeting for Business

Seventh Month 2004 (11 July)

 

Present: Anna Bradshaw (Clerk), Tim Shipe (recording), Ruth Dawson, Ann MacMillan, Wendy Robertson, Tim Weitzel, Alan Nothnagle, Elsie Kuhn, Jeff Cox

 

Membership Request: Dorothy Rogers sent a letter requesting membership in Iowa City Meeting. A clearness committee consisting of Anna Bradshaw (convener), Elsie Kuhn, and Tim Shipe was appointed.

 

Building and Grounds: The Building and Grounds Committee reported. The lights in the kitchen and downstairs bathroom have been repaired. The new lawnmower is functioning.

 

Joe Dieme, a Ph. D. student from Senegal, is interested in the Caretaker position. We will meet with him following Meeting for Worship on 18 July. The current Caretaker’s agreement is terminated, and the Caretaker will move by 10 August. The new Caretaker’s agreement will be revised to clarify deadlines for vacating the Meeting House in the event of a termination of the agreement.

 

We have considered a letter from John Kammermeyer, a local allergist, asking us to file an objection to listing the Meeting House neighborhood on the National Registry of Historic Places. We will not file an objection.

 

The Meeting will reimburse the Caretaker for a coffee pot that was inadvertently discarded.

 

Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer’s report was presented and approved.

 

Ministry and Counsel: The Ministry and Counsel report was presented and approved.

 

Nominating Committee. We approve the appointments suggested by the Nominating Committee (as listed below). We still need Clerks and a Convener for the Religious Education Committee.

 

The Nominating Committee recommendations are as follows: Recording Clerk: Tim Shipe; Treasurer: Perry Howell; Religious Education: Lori Nelson, Tim Barrett, Jodie Plumert; Ministry and Counsel: Elsie Kuhn (convener), Kate Cowles, Kristen Gast, Ruth Dawson, Anna Bradshaw; Peace and Social Concerns: Lori Nelson (convener), Dorothy Rogers, Kristen Gast, Mindy Theisman, Judith Pascoe, Perry Lenz; Building and Grounds: Jeff Cox (convener), Dorothy Rogers, Alejandra Menchaca, Tim Weitzel; Library: Cheryll Clamon, Alejandra Menchaca.

 

Ministry and Council Report for June 27, 2000

(Present:  Ruth Dawson, Anna Bradshaw & Elsie Kuhn)

 

Greeter – Ruth Dawson will be greeter for the month of July.

 

Iowa Yearly Meeting Reports – Anna has contacted committee conveners within the Meeting who are responsible for submitting a report to Iowa Yearly Meeting. 

 

Nominating Committee – Positions remain open on several Meeting committees.  The co-clerk positions need to be filled. This may require another meeting of the nominating committee. 

 

ICFM Directory – Elsie will make copies of the latest updated version of the Directory for the entranceway table to the Meetinghouse.

 

Pamphlet of Introduction for Newcomers -  We keep these pamphlets in the box to the left of the meeting house door as you enter the building. Elsie is in the process of updating this pamphlet.

 

We prepared a response to Query #8 on Personal Responsibility to be submitted with the Iowa Yearly Meeting Query Report, which Elsie will submit.

 

 

Response to Query # 8 – Personal Responsibility

 

The section of the advice that states: “We need to free ourselves from distractions that interfere with our search for inner peace…” struck a familiar chord with us. We examined some activities that can distract us from our main goals in life. This might include spending large amounts of time reading material that is not of good quality or uplifting. What we choose to read and the language we use in daily life often influence the way we think and operate in the world. The habits we have developed in setting our priorities have often been influenced by our work schedules.  Understanding our personal energy cycles and  using energy wisely may facilitate completing unfinished tasks.  

 

It is important to use one’s sense of humor, intelligence, and knowledge with tact in our daily interactions. 

 

Query 8. Personal Responsibility

 

"Life is meant to be lived from a Center, a divine Center--a life of unhurried peace and power.  It is serene.  It takes not time, but it occupies all our time."     --Thomas Kelly

 

Advice

     Historic testimonies of the Society of Friends against taking oaths, joining secret organizations, gambling and using addictive substances grew out of efforts of Friends to live with integrity and consistency.  To swear an oath implies that one is obliged to be truthful only under oath.  Joining secret organizations, gambling and using addictive and/or consciousness-altering substances were recognized as practices which diverted resources from useful purposes, distracted attention from the Inner Light, and placed obstacles in the way of Friends seeking to lead lives of integrity.  We recognize the spirit of these testimonies and endeavor to apply the same principles in our lives today.

     Honesty and simplicity are essential parts of personal responsibility.  We manifest our commitment to our beliefs in all we do. .  We can have joy and beauty in our lives without allowing material things to dominate them.  We need to free ourselves from distractions that interfere with our search for inner peace and accept with thanksgiving all that promotes fullness and aids in service to the divine Center.

 


Query

     How do we center our lives in the awareness of God the Spirit, so that all things may take their rightful place?

     How do we structure our individual lives in order to keep them uncluttered with things and activities?  How does meeting help us examine our personal lives for simplicity?

     Do we choose recreational activities which foster mental, recreational and spiritual health?

     How are our lives affected by tobacco, alcohol and drug use?  What can we do to deal with problems resulting from their use?  What can we do to recognize and deal with unhealthy ways we treat ourselves?

     How do we ensure that we act with fairness and integrity?

    Are we sensitive to our own use of language which may be offensive or oppressive to others?

 

Iowa City Friends Meeting

311 N. Linn St.

Iowa City, IA 52245

(319) 351-2234

iowacityfriends@hotmail.com

 

Clerks: Anna Bradshaw, Jake Wedemeyer

Recording Clerk: Tim Shipe

Treasurer:   Perry Howell

Newsletter: Editor:  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.