Richmond (VA) Friends Meeting

Masks in the Worship room will be optional

by WebPost | Oct 21, 2022 | Announcement, Ministry and Worship

The CDC and the VA Dept of Health rate our region as LOW in community transmission of Covid. Hence, we are making modifications according to their guidelines and also in sensitivity to the desires of our Quaker community.

For the present:

• We will designate one section of the worship room as "Masks required" and the rest of the room as "Masking is optional."
• The "masks required" section is near the front of the room, on the right side if coming in from the front door. Greeters can help guide us to the section.
• We will have windows opened sufficiently to allow ventilation in the worship room, about an inch, every other window.
• We are investigating HEPA filters and will have specific recommendations soon.
• We will keep an eye on CDC guidelines and how our arrangements are working and make adjustments as needed as time goes on.
• We will continue to have blended worship with Zoom as an option for worship from home.
  Note, the RE Committee makes decisions about children's masking. At this time, our young people, and their RE teachers, are wearing masks in their classrooms.

These decisions were made by the Ministry and Worship Committee in consultation with the Clerk of Meeting, the Covid Working Group, and Building and Grounds. We thank the Care and Counsel committee members, our Greeters, for their support. Thanks to all for their input and for their Light in making these decisions.

Barbara Myers
Clerk of Ministry & Worship

6th Annual Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival

by WebPost | Sep 30, 2022 | Announcement, Ministry and Worship

JOIN US FOR OUR 6TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 18-20, 2022 AT THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS’ LESLIE CHEEK THEATER IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

REFRAMING NATIVE AMERICAN LIFE AND EXPERIENCE THROUGH FILM 

Representation matters. It matters because it impacts how we interact with our fellow Americans, the way that we educate our children, and it shapes our path forward as a democracy. Storytelling and filmmaking have suffered from a dearth of representation of important groups that influenced American democracy, notably Native Americans. Native culture is rich, steeped in history, and multifaceted, yet mainstream films do not often capture this nuance. The Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival honors the contributions of Native Americans and reinvigorates conversations about telling stories of indigenous life. The Festival aims to raise awareness about Native American language, cultures, and societies through films that share Native American perspectives. The Festival, which is the only one of its kind on the East Coast, brings together artists, authors, cineastes, and actors who share a passion for film and features experiential learning opportunities for the entire public. In the past, filmmakers have used demeaning stereotypes when incorporating Native characters or storylines, which lack nuance, accuracy, and complexity. The Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival offers new insight into previously under-told narratives. It is befitting that this important East Coast American Indian film festival is held in Virginia. Long before English settlers first arrived to establish the Jamestown settlement, Native Americans inhabited the land that would become the birthplace of our nation. Upon their arrival, Native Americans shared their mastery of the land with the English settlers and ultimately ensured the Colony’s survival. In 1619 Virginia, three cultures collided: Virginia Indian, African, and English. The interactions between these cultures forged what would eventually become the United States and demonstrates that diversity has always been an integral part of the American story. Representation of these groups and their contributions in the stories we share has an impact on how our communities reflect on, and share, our collective history. Through the Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival, we hope to raise visibility around the need for more diversity in film, as well as elevate the perspectives of Native Americans in society.