by WebPost | Oct 21, 2015 | Peace and Social Concerns, Topics
Last year Peace and Social Concerns conducted a blood drive at the Meetinghouse during June. Twenty three donations were collected. However, a close evaluation of the donor list suggested RFM may not be large enough to sustain such in-house collections. Twenty five percent of the 2014 donors were from outside our Meeting. As a result, P&SC is now encouraging Friends who are able to donate to do so during the month of October by going to the Virginia Blood Services donation Center. The Center address is 2825 Emerywood Parkway, which is located about one quarter mile west of the Glenside-Broad Street intersection on the south side of Broad Street.
When donating, Friends should submit the code 3149 which will allow P&SC to track how many donations are given during our October drive and we will learn whether future blood drives could be, once again, conducted at the Meetinghouse. For additional information about donor eligibility and appointments [walk-ins are allowed], Call 359-5100 or 213-4105.
by WebPost | May 1, 2015 | Adult Spiritual Education, Topics, Worship
May 18 at 7:30-8:30 PM in the Meetinghouse
Chanting is a way of centering into awareness of Spirit. We sing short songs out of the silence, and repeat them until the sense of the group ends the chant. Friends will gather into silence in the mode of worship sharing–much like we do at BYM Women’s Retreat. Have some chants in mind, and anyone may start a chant. This is the first time we’ve done this. If it goes well, we’ll do it again–perhaps regularly.
by WebPost | Apr 24, 2015 | Topics
- The applicant submits a letter of intent to the Clerk of Meeting. It is suggested that the applicant become familiar with BYM Faith and Practice and Friends for 300 Years if they have not already done so.
- The Clerk then submits the letter to Care and Counsel and a clearness committee to meet with the applicant.
- The applicant then meets with the clearness committee at a mutually acceptable time to discuss the application and readiness for membership.
- The clearness committee reports its recommendation at the next Care and Counsel meeting. The committee may recommend membership or make suggestions as to what the applicant needs to be ready for membership.
- If approved for membership the recommendation is taken to the next business meeting for final approval.
- The decision is held over for one month so that people can get acquainted with the prospective member.
Applicants may also request Junior Associate Membership for their minor children at the meeting with the clearness committee. If so, the applicant states that desire on the membership form. No other action is required.
by WebPost | Apr 24, 2015 | Peace and Social Concerns, Topics, Writings - Quaker Bibliography
“The Hero’s Fight: African-Americans in West Baltimore and the Shadow of the State,” by Patricia Fernández-Kelly, was published Feb. 1, 2014, by Princeton University Press. See http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10328.html#.VPHv1BBwbLw.gmail. If you click on the link, you may be struck by the unconscious bias in one sentence in the summary: “While ordinary Americans are treated as citizens and consumers, deprived and racially segregated populations are seen as objects of surveillance, containment, and punishment.” It is easy to infer that, by “ordinary Americans” the writer means “white Americans,” since “racially segregated populations” clearly means populations of color. We (whites) still tend to think of ourselves as the “ordinary” Americans. Even this blurb writer has fallen into that trap. One can only wonder what Fernández-Kelly thinks of that description of her book, if she has noticed it. One can also wonder how often any of us fall into that same trap.
This column is prepared by the BYM Working Group on Racism (WGR) and sent to the designated liaisons at each Monthly and Preparative Meeting for publication in their newsletter or other means of dissemination. The WGR meets most months on the third Saturday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, usually at Bethesda Friends Meeting or Friends Meeting of Washington. If you would like to attend, on a regular or a drop-in basis, contact clerk David Etheridge, david.etheridge@verizon.net.
by WebPost | Apr 24, 2015 | Meeting House, Topics
Please Park as a Good Neighbor. The Meeting recently has been reminded that we are located in a residential community, and that our activities can disturb our neighbors. Parking is one of the primary issues. Please do not park in front of any neighbors’ homes. If there are no spaces on Commonwealth Avenue, go over one block to Woodlawn Avenue, which runs parallel to Commonwealth, and park there.
The Meeting is a busy and vibrant place, even on many nights during the week. We can disrupt family life if we are not always careful about where we choose to leave our cars.
by WebPost | Apr 19, 2015 | Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Topics
Richmond Friends gathered for a half-day on 21st day, 2nd month, 2015 to consider the spiritual state of our meeting in a worship sharing format, centered around queries provided by Baltimore Yearly Meeting. Approximately twenty Friends participated.
Richmond Friends Meeting is a thriving community. Reflecting on 2014, we notice that much of the work we have done in prior years has come to fruition. This is especially seen in our meeting’s unity on marriage equality, our prison ministry, and our child safety policy. These are the results of our patience, love, and peaceful presence. We are grateful for the way our meeting trusts Spirit-led Quaker process.
We cherish our integration of spirituality and action. It’s “how,” not “what,” we do. This Light shines most brightly in our social justice work. We nurture personal leadings, some of which have grown into educational programs and actions supported across several committees. Our meeting sustains the work that Friends do in the world.
We note our strong willingness to join and contribute to committees, as well as just lend a hand whenever needed. Inter-committee cooperation and collaboration is strong. This has led to creatively exploring topics such as privilege and the environment. Our meeting was inspired to consider these topics deeply and to commit to action within the larger community.
We value inclusivity in Meeting for Worship. We have a growing awareness of the challenges around hearing and mobility and we have been identifying ways to better accommodate these needs. We recognize the gifts that shine through our different expressions of the Light.
Although there are fewer children and young adults in our meeting, we value the gifts they bring to the life of the meeting. We see that, from young to old, Friends are encouraged to expand their involvement in the wider Quaker Community, through FGC, BYM, and BYM camps.
Smaller groups within our meeting flourish. Spiritual Formation, Spring Retreat, Men’s Retreat, Work Camp, and Friendly 8’s are eagerly attended, providing opportunities for Friends to get to know one another and deepen spiritually. Our new website supports both a reaching in and a reaching out for our meeting.
2014 has felt like a good solid year for Richmond Friends Meeting. We seek to maintain balance individually and as a meeting between outreach, nurturing our measure of light, and caring for one another. We remind ourselves to be humble and listen deeply. We trust Spirit-led Quaker process as we face emerging issues in the coming year.
Approved at Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business, 19th day, 4th month, 2015
