Richmond (VA) Friends Meeting

Adult Spiritual Education Fall Program

by WebPost | Aug 22, 2023 | Adult Spiritual Education, Current

Adult Spiritual Education will be holding two sessions on the Pendle Hill pamphlet, “Reclaiming the Transcendent: God in Process” by Thomas Gates(pamphlet #422). Both sessions will be held on Saturdays from 9:30 to 11:00 am and will be hybrid, available on ZoomAND in person in the Worship Room.

• October 14 - God is Less like a King and More Like an Energy Field, page 3 to the middle of page 9

• November 11 - The God/Gods You Don't Believe In, pages 9 to 16 

Pre-reading is strongly encouraged because we believe you will more deeply benefit from the ideas presented and we would love to benefit from your seasoned thoughts and reflections. Of course, we warmly welcome you whether you have read the pamphlet or not. We will have extra pamphlets available at the sessions, so if you're curious you'll be able to participate. If you would like to have a pamphlet please let us know by September 17 so we can order and get it to you in early October.  

If you plan on attending, especially if you would like the pamphlet, please email or speak to Beth Morrison, Ellen Arginteanu, Allen Lee, or Monica Shaw.  

ASE believes these sessions will be a time to stretch our spiritual lives and provide a rich discussion. We're excited to offer this opportunity and to have you join.

Invitation to a deeper spiritual experience:

by WebPost | Aug 15, 2023 | Adult Spiritual Education, Current

Spiritual Formation Program, Sept. 2023-May 2024

The Baltimore Yearly Meeting(BYM) Spiritual Formation Program invites its participants into a deeper spiritual experience through retreats, a virtual large group, spiritual community in the local meeting, and individual spiritual practices. This year there are some drop-in small groups for those unable to commit to be present for all the meetings.

• Richmond Friends will carpool to BYM’s opening Fall Spiritual Formation Retreat Sept. 22-24, 2023 at the Claggett Conference and Retreat Center, Adamstown, MD. (Carpool coordinator is Mary Fran Hughes-McIntyre).

• The Spiritual Formation Program is founded on a daily spiritual practice of each person’s choice.

• All participants gather in person for RFM large group meetings at the Program’s Sunday evening opening (October 1), and closing (May 5) from 5 to 7pm, including a potluck at 6:30 at RFM. In January, program team will check with participants to see how things are going and address any issues.

• BYM offers a virtual large group (with a worship-sharing format) for those needing to meet online, Tuesdays once a month 7:00pm to 8:30pm. (Contact co-facilitator Rita Willett for information or registration).

• From October 2023 through May 2024, Spiritual Formation participants build community through committing to monthly virtual or in person small groups, a drop-in group,or to a spiritual friendship pair.  Small groups, usually around 6 members, meet once a month to share spiritual journeys and support one another in a daily spiritual practice.  Options are:

• Listening for Spirit in Contemplation will use a worship sharing format in response to sacred readings or poetry from many traditions. Each participant can identify a word that “shimmers” for them, consider how it relates to our world at this time, and how it relates to their personal life. Alternate Thursdays online 9 to 10am. (Contact facilitator Sylvia Shurcliff).

• Spiritual Companions Group will be in person and offers worship sharing in response to a query. (Contact Mary Fran Hughes-McIntyre, facilitator) .

• Young Adult and Newcomers Spiritual Journey Group focuses on learning about Quaker worship through brief readings, QuakerSpeak videos, and queries. An in-person drop-in group. Probably after Meeting for Worship at RFM. (Contact Mason Mairead, facilitator).

• “Parenting As a Spiritual Journey” Support Group with child care through Religious Education program , meeting 4th Sundays 11:15 to 12:05. An in person drop-in group. (Contact facilitator Susan Singer, seasoned Quaker parent ).

• Spiritual Friendships (group of 2) are for sharing spiritual journeys with format and time chosen by the pair, such as sharing joys and concerns, reading a book together or formats suggested by handouts about spiritual friendships. Virtual or in person. (For information, contact coordinator Mary Fran Hughes-McIntyre ).

Our first large group meeting will be held on Sunday, October 1 from 5-7 PM as an introduction to the process, for organizing small groups, for sharing spiritual journey resources, and opening feast.  

REGISTRATION FOR RFM SPIRITUAL FORMATION 2023-24

https://testsite.richmondfriends.org/spiritual-formation-registration

The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus

by WebPost | Aug 15, 2023 | Adult Spiritual Education, Current

The Adult Spiritual Education Committee will host a meeting of the Historical Jesus Study Group on the book, The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus, written by Jewish author Amy-Jill Levine.  The book will be discussed at the meeting, which will be on Sunday, October 1, 1:00 pm to 2:30pm, in the community room and on Zoom.

You don’t have to become a member of the study group — you can come for just the one meeting. For more information, contact Allen Lee.

In the past, the Historical Jesus Study Group has discussed the following books:

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, by Reza Aslan

God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question--Why We Suffer, by Bart Ehrman

Liberating the Gospels: Reading the Bible with Jewish Eyes, by John Shelby Spong.

How Jesus Became God, by Bart Ehrman

Jesus Before the Gospels: How the Earliest Christians Remembered, Changed, and Invented Their Stories of the Savior, by Bart Ehrman