|
|
|
|
|
gether personalized packets for refugee children.
Three spiritual support groups are meeting on a regular basis with a total of 20 persons participating. Friendship dinner groups are also in progress.
We continue movie nights at the meetinghouse on the second and fourth Friday evenings. On the first Saturday there is another movie night sponsored by Rex Nyquist of the Wider Quaker Fellowship. Then once a month there is a Boggle/Scrabble Night for a low-key evening of stimulating word play.
As is our usual custom, an Inquirers Group met for six sessions, starting in February. This group provides an opportunity for new attenders to learn more about Quakerism and our meeting.
Agnes F. Peacock, our oldest member (non-resident), age 106, died on March 22. Agnes was an active member of the meeting for many years until she moved to Indiana to be near family members.
Heartland Worship Group
By Roy C. Treadway
Friends in the Heartland Worship Group have focused our energies and prayers in the last six months supporting those in our group who have had significant surgeries. Since October, Paul Schobernd has had three surgeries, first for a broken ankle a day before he planned to have neck surgery to fix disc problems. That neck surgery took place several weeks later. Paul's recovery was slow and painful; by February, a dissolved disc required another neck surgery for Paul and another very painful recovery, which now seems to be taking place.
Roy Treadway's knee surgery in December was less dramatic but also valuable; his recovery is well along, and he is walking better than he has for over a year. Fortunately, he was on the
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
mend before Carolyn (Wilbur) Treadway had retinal eye surgery to remove a membrane in front of her retina. While she has recovered, her eyesight still remains poor in that eye.
We have learned much about suffering and healing and the emotional, physical, and spiritual value of supporting one another during these difficult times. Perhaps, we have also deepened in the Spirit to provide valuable witness to members and others in the world who are suffering.
We are pleased that two new attenders have joined us recently for worship. We are extremely saddened, however, that Wayne and Renae Benenson are planning to leave us after about 14 years for new uncertain challenges and adventures in New Mexico.
As the end of June approaches, we are preparing to help other Bloomington-Normal Friends greet about 1600 Friends from all over the United States and the world at the annual Friends General Conference gathering at Illinois State University. Beth Schobernd is co-coordinator of Local Arrangements while Carolyn (W.) and Roy Treadway are coordinating field trips. Our small worship group will be both challenged, and we hope blessed, by this involvement with wider Quakerism.
South Bend
Marjorie Kinsey
South Bend Friends still greet you from our temporary site, the Charles Martin Youth Center on South Bend's near West Side. After the usual innumerable meetings, we reached unity last fall on an interesting but demanding move. Only then did we learn that it depended on our future landlord obtaining a variety of variances. We still wait for those variances to move through the necessary city offices--and for the structure we would move into to be moved! By next fall we should either be in this new home or in the midst of another search.
|
|
|
|
|
|
