by WebPost | Sep 20, 2023 | Clerk’s Business
Midlothian Friends has invited us to join them in an exciting community-wide event on September 30, which unfortunately takes place on the same day as our fall retreat, September 30. Even if we can’t be there in person, there is another way to help this year – and there may be opportunities to more fully partner with them in future years, such as running/walking with other Friends in the event, staffing a water stop, and volunteering in other capacities.
Run Richmond 16.19 is a run/walk event with the theme of “Unity in Diversity,” and its two courses lead participants through 400+ years of Black History. It is hosted by the Djimon Hounsou Foundation, together with the City of Richmond, Richmond’s Black History Museum and Richmond Sports Backers, and has community partners including the Elegba Folklore Society, Richmond Public Schools, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Valentine Museum, and many others.
Midlothian Friends has started a grant fund to reduce fees for low-income runners
through coupon codes. Please spread the word that this is available; they are seeking interested runners, and will fund anyone. Interested runners can contact Carol Rice at 540-603-6419. To support the MFM Grant Fund, you can send contributions to Ann Duncan, MFM Treasurer, via Venmo or check. Designate 1619 Walk/Run on your contribution. Funds raised that are not used towards runners' fees will be donated to the Djimon Hounsou Foundation.
Visit www.runrichmond1619.org to learn more about the event and its historical route.
by WebPost | Sep 20, 2023 | Wayne Young Ad Hoc Commitee
On April 30 (in person at RFM) and September 14 (via Zoom), we held "listen and learn" sessions during which we shared our research and discovery process over the past two years and what it has revealed about Wayne Taylor's life, his values, and compelling community needs. For those unable to join us for either session, there now are some helpful resources available on the RFM website.
On the password-protected side of the website, go to Committee Files and open the folder for the Wayne Taylor Ad Hoc committee. There you will find summaries of our work during 2021 and 2022, and a copy of the September 14 PowerPoint presentation. The committee reminds F/friends that anyone of us is happy to meet with individuals, small groups, or committees to review the PowerPoint in detail. Our contact information is below.
If you were present during the September 14 Zoom session and you successfully recorded the session, please let us know. We would like to share a link to that recording, as the Zoom host's attempt to record the session sadly was not successful.
by WebPost | Sep 18, 2023 | Uncategorized
Hi Friends,
I'm serving on the Workshops Committee for the 2024 FGC Gathering, and I'm hoping some of you Richmond Friends might be willing to consider offering a workshop. We are a Meeting overflowing with members and attenders who have wonderful gifts that the wider Friends community would be grateful to receive. As someone who has personally benefitted from these gifts, I don't say this lightly.
The 2024 Gathering is June 30-July 6 at Haverford College. FGC is planning to alternate in-person and online Gatherings, so this will be entirely in person, with 2025's being entirely online.
Proposals are due at the end of September, along with a letter of support for each workshop leader. The FGC website has a page of detailed information (https://www.fgcquaker.org/fgcprograms/the-gathering/programs-and-events/workshops/gathering-workshop-proposal-information/) including links to the forms. I'll be glad to answer any questions I can, or to send you in the right direction.
Each workshop is allocated a 50% work grant, meaning half of fees (registration, meals, and basic room) are covered for one leader. There are also scholarships available, and FGC is eager to make sure that all workshop leaders can attend.
One caveat in all this: I don't get to decide which workshops go on the program. Everyone on the committee reads every proposal, and then the committee as a whole decides on the slate of workshops to be offered. It depends not only on the merits of each proposal, but also on the balance of topics on the program.
I really hope Friends will consider this, and I'd be glad to talk about it and/or brainstorm topics if you'd like.
With love & Light, Ted
by WebPost | Sep 14, 2023 | Ministry and Worship
Quakers have witnessed for peace for more than 350 years. And yet, our faith calls us not to rest on the words and actions of others, but to keep listening for how Spirit leads us today. In this retreat, we will explore how Friends have and are living a testimony for peace and wrestle with what actions, policies, and approaches can support peace amid the suffering and devastation of the war in Ukraine. Through worship, discussion, art, and sharing, we will bring together our experience of Truth, consider our leadings, and plan next steps in sharing our witness with the world.
Friends are encouraged to read a few short articles before the retreat in order to have some shared context for discussion. The links are below and copies are available at the Meetinghouse. In addition is a link to the FCNL event on The international Day of Peace, September 21st.
We will gather for bagels, fruit and coffee at 9:30 and after a morning session lunch soup will be provided. Please bring a side or dessert if you wish. We will finish at 3:00.
Do Friends Still Need the Peace Testimony?
https://www.fcnl.org/updates/2022-10/statement-peace-testimony-and-ukraine
by WebPost | Sep 11, 2023 | Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Clerk’s Business, Current
The Race and Racism Ad Hoc Committee would like to share the following training provided by BYM:
The BYM Working Group on Racism has arranged for Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training to provide training via Zoom for BYM Friends doing antiracism work in their local Meetings.
September 16th 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Introduction to Systemic Racism
We will gain shared language and frameworks with which to grapple not only with our unwitting legitimization of systemic racism but with what committing to the work of dismantling racism and of cultivating antiracist culture and practice in our Meetings will require. We will also be introduced to strategic methodology that can assist us to organize our work of dismantling racism in our Meetings.
October 14th 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Follow-up
Crossroads will work with us in developing next steps.
Registration
If you wish to attend, please register at this link.
