by WebPost | May 28, 2023 | Care and Counsel, Current
Have you wondered about lectio divina and how it’s done at RFM ? Basically, it’s contemplation - a chance to experience a reading of a passage, meditating upon your chosen word or phrase from the passage, feeling what comes up for you personally in your life as the passage is read, and resting in awareness of the sacredness in our lives.
Passages come from different sources. Lectio divina in Latin of course means divine reading; passages are chosen carefully. The passage is read several times; silence helps us settle enough to experience the passage in four ways:
- Findingawordorphrasethatspeakstoyouandthatmayhavepersonalmeaninginyourlife.
- Meditatinguponthiswordandthefeelingsyouhaveaboutitandthepassage.
- HavinganinnerconversationwiththeDivineaboutthisandwhatitmeansinyourlife.Discoveringanew connection.
- Restingincontemplation,intheawarenessfromtheexperienceoflisteningwithyourheart.
Lectio divina meets twice a month, every other Thursday morning on Zoom at 9am. It’s not a discussion or therapy group, but a chance to experience a connection with the Divine through a sacred passage that can come alive in silence and through worship sharing. Any one attending is welcome to just listen.
Please contact Sylvia Shurcliff with any questions.
by WebPost | May 28, 2023 | Current, Peace and Social Concerns
Have you ever wondered if you could do something to help those in poverty that would help get them out and to thrive? You can make a difference. Circles RVA does this one person at a time in a small group, but over time those small groups of one person with allies builds up as more and more become financially stable and are able to thrive.
Circles RVA has been in Richmond since 2017. It is part of Circles USA, which was developed after over 20 years of research into poverty. Their model was developed after learning that social service agencies was effective in providing long term solutions for only a small proportion of those in poverty. They saw that placing the responsibility for making goals, making them in steps that could be measured in the hands of each poor person within 18 months a huge difference could be made.
Circles RVA is starting a new cohort and looking for people in poverty to be trained to be Leaders in their journey to escape poverty and to build a better life for themselves and their loved ones. They are taught about becoming leaders, financial management and setting goals to make it possible to attain their dreams. We are also looking for Allies to join them in an intentional relationship in this journey. In this Allies are many things: someone to listen to them, to help them with problems, if possible, or to help them find help for a problem, mentor may be a small part.
Circles meets every Tuesday from 6-8pm at Grace and Holy Trinity Church, between Sacred Heart Cathedral and The Altria Theater on Laurel St. We have a dinner and then time for the Circles to get together or programming of some sort. We also get together outside of our regular times. For more information see Verna Boos or talk to Chris Olsen Vickers, a former ally. Check out www.CirclesRVA.org for more information on how you can help and to learn about previous cohorts.
by WebPost | May 22, 2023 | Current
There will be a four week reading group about our Peace Testimony. On Friday June 2nd, at 7:30pm, we will hold an organizational session, via Zoom We will discuss format, readings and most importantly best days and times. (This is not considered Session 1)
If you are interested, please email ellenandjules@protonmail.com. If you cannot attend the organizational meeting, let me know what days and times of week are best for future meetings.
Suggested themes for the four weeks are:
Session 1: Early Quaker writings-
Session 2: Contemporary writings (20th and 21st century
Session 3: What do we do with “evil.”
Session 4: What does it mean to “live in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars?"
by WebPost | Apr 27, 2023 | Current
The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, the Poverty Law Center, and the Community Foundation are cosponsoring a book talk with Matthew Desmond, author of Poverty by America. The event will be at the Richmond Public Library on Franklin St at 7pm on May 4.
You May attend either in person or virtually. You must register to be present at either event at Virginia interfaithcenter.org
by WebPost | Apr 19, 2023 | Care and Counsel, Current
There is a Prayer for Healing Group at RFM, and its purpose is to support our community with intentional prayers, especially in times of need and loss. We are about fifteen members sending out prayers every two weeks to those who have requested them. The prayer group meets twice a month on Thursdays at 9:00 am on zoom.
If you are in need of prayer or would like to make a prayer request for someone please contact Pearl or Rita Willett.
If you’d like to come to a prayer for healing meeting, we can send you the zoom link. Pearl Satarawala and Rita Willett
by WebPost | Apr 19, 2023 | Current
Roni Kingsley will offer Sun Style Tai Chi for Beginners starting May 22nd at the Meeting House. This is a set of movements put together that are safe and modifiable for people with arthritis. Therefore, Dr Paul Lam, who designed these movements, gave it the name Tai Chi for Arthritis, but Roni’s class is suitable for anyone interested in learning Tai Chi. Classes begin at 10:30 am on 5/22.
All are welcome.
