Spiritual Formation Registration Deadline is First Day September 26! You can email the form below to Jim Thoroman at jothoro1917@gmail.com, or call him at 804-349-8231. Spiritual Formation is available on Zoom or in person.
If you have not yet registered, consider how you may be called to "Spirit and Earth: Journeying towards Right Relationships." Between climate crisis problems and action solutions is the crucial spiritual work of discerning how the proposed solutions do or do not fit with your values and beliefs.This discernment process is the focus of spiritual formation this year..
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Please complete this registration form and submit electronicallyto jothoro1917@gmail.com.
What is your name?
Phone Number
Email Address
What is your first choice for monthly small group meeting time? *
( ) Weekday daytime
( ) Weekday evening
( ) Saturday
What is your second choice for monthly small group meeting time? *
( ) Weekday daytime
( ) Weekday evening
( ) Saturday
Friends are encouraged to attend both large and small group meetings – but we know sometimes scheduling for 8 months can be a challenge. Let us know at this time if you are able to attend:
The large group meetings monthly yes no ___________________________
The small friendship group monthly yes no _____________________________
If you have additional questions or concerns about the program, or scheduling is a challenge for you, please ask or describe below, and Mary Fran or Katy from Spiritual Formation Committee will get back with you:
“Spirit and Earth: Journeying toward Right Relationships”
Program Description and Registration Form
The Baltimore Yearly Meeting Spiritual Formation Program invites its participants into a deeper spiritual experience through BYM Spiritual Formation retreats, and local monthly meeting programs. BYM Zoom retreat on September 17-18 meets Friday evening from 6:30 - 8:30; Saturday morning 9:00 - 11:00 and Saturday
afternoon 1:00 - 3:00 for times of learning and sharing in small groups.
If you would like to learn more about the overall Spiritual Formation Program, visit the Baltimore Yearly Meeting website:
http://quakerspiritualformation.org/
The Spiritual Formation Program at the local level includes a monthly large-group meeting that includes everyone and meets first Sundays each month from 5 to 6:30 pm. In addition to the large group meeting, most people join a small friendship group of 5 to 6 members who meet once a month to share spiritual journeys (perhaps on an earth
care theme such as indigenous wisdom, environmental justice, or other) and to commit to a daily spiritual practice. You are invited to participate in the Spiritual Formation program at Richmond Friends Meeting for 2021- 2022,
October through May. RFM registration is open through September 26
Our first large group meeting will be held on Sunday, October 3 from 5-6:30 pm, probably as a blended in person and Zoom experience. If we can safely meet at the meetinghouse, we will share a pot luck supper from 6:30 to 7 pm.
We will focus this year’s program around spirit and earth care, listening for Spirit revealed through earth, and to the call of earth to act faithfully with environmental justice in response to our climate crisis.
From October through May, the monthly large group Spiritual Formation meetings will be on the 1st Sunday of
the each month from 5-6:30 pm, ending with a shared potluck dinner 6:30 to 7pm if at the meetinghouse.
If you wish to explore the possibility of joining Spiritual Formation at Richmond Friends Meeting, you are encouraged to contact Mary Fran Hughes-McIntyre or Katy Rugg.
Spiritual Formation Registration Form
Please complete this form and submit electronically (jothoro1917@gmail.com), or print out your form and return to Jim Thoroman by September 26, 2016. In addition, paper copies are available at the meetinghouse and can be given to Jim or Mary Fran.What is your name?
Phone Number Email Address
What is your first choice for monthly small group meeting time? *
o ( ) Weekday daytime o ( ) Weekday evening o ( ) Saturday
What is your second choice for monthly small group meeting time? *
o ( ) Weekday daytime o ( ) Weekday evening o ( ) Saturday
Friends are encouraged to attend both large and small group meetings – but we know sometimes scheduling for 8 months can be a challenge. Let us know at this time if you are able to attend:The large group meetings monthly yes no ___________________________ The small friendship group monthly yes no _____________________________
If you have additional questions or concerns about the program, or scheduling is a challenge for you, please ask or describe below, and Mary Fran or Katy from Spiritual Formation Committee will get back with you.
The Adult Spiritual Education Committee will hold a one-hour Bible Workbench (“Reading Between the Lines”) via Zoom starting at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 5. Please note the CHANGE OF TIME; we’d like to meet an hour-and-a-half earlier so that people can still, if they’d like, take a little break and then attend the 9:30 Zoom Meeting for Worship, or attend an in- person meeting at either the Meetinghouse (every Sunday) or the Clearing (1st and 4th Sundays).
On September 5th, we’ll discuss Psalm 125: a song/poem for a person taking a journey to a holy place. The facilitator will open the Zoom space early at 7:45 am—for those who’d like to check in or socialize first—and then our discussion will start at 8 am. Facilitator will send out the zoom link and text a few days before the meeting. She’ll also screen-share the text.
In this series, four members of our community will engage in a dialogue with a member of ASE about a book that has been important in their spiritual journey. Participants are not expected to read the books prior to the sessions, but may wish to do so. All programs are presented virtually at 9:30 am. • September 18 with Beth Morrison. Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson (facilitated by Allen Lee). *Note that this is a change from the book listed in the August newsletter. • October 2 with Pearl Ball. Medicine for the Earth by Sandra Ingerman (facilitated by Ellen Arginteanu). *Note that this is a change from the book listed in the July newsletter.
• October 16 with Mason Mairead. The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners, by Jack Hawley (facilitated by Diane Bowden).
• October 30 with Cal Pringle. The Horse and His Boy, by C. S. Lewis, with additional material from Mere Christianity, also by Lewis (facilitated by Barbara Hulburt).
The following are the guidelines established by the Adult Spiritual Education Committee for funding scholarships to Quaker programs.
Adult Spiritual Education Committee Guidelines for Funding Scholarships
The Scholarship Fund intends to facilitate RFM’s adult spiritual education by sponsoring involvement within the wider Quaker community (BYM, FGC, FUM, Pendle Hill, School of the Spirit and other Quaker-based programs).
Expenditures that benefit Meeting as a whole are prioritized, such as support for visiting retreat leaders or education of individuals in ways that support larger meeting concerns.
Written requests (letters) with a proposal can come from either committees or individuals (members or active attenders).
Funds are awarded on the basis of financial need, determined by a simple committee / personal statement. Use of other available funds is also encouraged.
Recipients are expected to write a note for ASE archives documenting completion of the proposed experience or project. Sharing what was learned with the larger meeting community will be welcomed (e.g. Newsletter article, ASE program, committee work, etc.).
Availability of funds will be announced in conjunction with the advertisement of specific programs (such as the BYM Spiritual Formation retreat). Periodically, ASE will inform the Meeting of educational opportunities and resources in the wider Quaker community.
