Second Month, 2003

QUERIES for the Second Month: MINISTRY

• Is the vocal ministry in your meeting exercised under the leading of the spirit?
• Are you sensitive to one another's needs and to God's promptings, whether your response be in silence or through the spoken word?
• Do you foster the use and growth of the spiritual gifts of your members?

CALENDAR NOTES

• Two for One: Help "our" land at 702 N.W. 38th Street and take part in Gainesville City-wide rescue of our natural areas from these noxious weeds. Free T-shirt, food and a free drawing for all participants.
• Rakes, yard bags and willing hands are needed to spruce up our Meetinghouse grounds in time for our Chain of Prayer Day. See Mona Morris for more information.
• Bible Seminar: We will focus on John 8-12. You may find it helpful to read these scriptures ahead of time.
• Join us for a special evening among F/friends enjoying the warm hospitality of the Buskirks, and a celebration of food and Spirit. Judy Shea will lead a session on Walk Gently over the Earth by John Youngblut.
• Reserve Sunday, March 2, for our annual Chain of Prayer, which is sponsored by Friends United Meeting. The selected theme this year is Peace Prayer. Each of FUM's affiliate meetings chooses a First Day during the designated 3 month period on which to carry the chain of prayer so that it girds the planet. It is a time for spiritual renewal and joyful fellowship. Details next newsletter.

MEETING NEWS

• We are so happy to have you here with us in Gainesville, Judy Shea.
• Please hold Don Smith and his wife, Mary Sue, in the LIGHT as they deliberate on a difficult decision regarding Mary Sue's medical care.
• Thanks to our unsung Hero in the kitchen, Tak Hayakawa, who lovingly restores the kitchen to order and cleanliness after each of our communal meals. We are grateful for your gift, Tak.
• Every Church A Peace Church coordinator, John Stoner, will first speak Friday January 31 at 6:30, at a Peace Potluck followed by his talk, Every Church a Peace Church - -Why There is Reason for Some Hope Even for the Church. CCAWT, Emmanuel Mennonite Church and Student Group sponsor this. Several more events follow. Details are on the bulletin board in the kitchen.
• This January, our very own Jean Larson has become a member of the board of Trustees of the University of Florida by virtue of being chair of the Faculty Senate. There was a great article about her life, accomplishments and philosophy on the front page of the Gainesville Sun on Tuesday, January 21. If you missed it, check bulletin board.
• Peace Tax Fund. Sybil Brennan calls our attention to the many citizens now suffering persecution and retaliation from the IRS because of their religious conviction that they must not financially support our country's war activities; they do conscientiously donate their tax money to social causes. They are courageous souls who, in the spirit of Gandhi, are engaged in a non-violent protest, who willingly take on the suffering entailed in their resistance, who do their best to obey the laws within the limits of their conscience and who are courteous and respectful as they maintain their rights. For more information go to the Web: http://www.peacetaxfund.org, or phone toll-free: 888-PEACE-TAX, or talk to Sybil.
• Thanks to all for the success of our Guatemala Scholarship event. Especial thanks to Mona Morris for her role of official hostess and auxiliary auctioneer, to Walter Morris for his role as treasurer, to Phil Buskirk, Chief Auctioneer, and to everyone for the good food, the generous donations and the enthusiastic bidding!
• Welcome back, Traci Darnel, and we look forward to hearing about your research in the Chilean rainforest.
• The State Mental Health Planning Council, District 3, has appointed Don Smith to an advisory role for the Dept of Children and Families. He will assist their effort to meet the needs of people with serious mental illness. His appointment began Nov 7, 2002 and extends through Nov 7, 2005.

• Dear Friends,

  Cities for Peace: presently, we are scheduled to be on the agenda for the city commission on FEB 10th 5:30pm. Stay tuned: I hope to have a website up for Gainesville in the next few days. It will have links so you can e-mail the commissioners about your support of the resolution: www.citiesforpeace.org Let's get those signatures!!

  Peace, Brenda

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  WEB SIGHTINGS

  This month I'd like to encourage you to visit two websites, a local friendly one and a state Friendly one. To begin with, go to the site for Gainesville's own Community Coalition Against War and Terrorism (CCAWT): http://www.civicmediacenter.org/ccawt/. On its home page it describes itself as "a group of residents from Gainesville, FL, and the surrounding areas that formed out of concern for the victims of war and terrorism. We are united by the belief that killing more innocent victims is not an acceptable response to acts of terrorism." The group formed shortly after the events of September 11, 2001. On the website you can read its mission statement, learn about its meetings, and see a description of events it has sponsored. Then go to the site for our own yearly meeting: http://www.seym.org/. Here you will see a map showing all of the worship groups and monthly meetings in Florida (including ours). You will also find, among other things, a description of SEYM's projects and concerns as well as new items and information about upcoming events.

  I think you'll find these F/friendly web sites most informative.

  Don Smith

  
  
  

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  Joan Andrews, editor j6and8@aol.com
  converted to HTML by Bill Mitchell, mitchell@math.ufl.edu