by WebPost | Mar 10, 2023 | Announcement
Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Oregon
July 2-8, 2023
What is the Gathering of Friends? Around 1000 Quakers on a college campus! A week of deepening relationships. A week of renewed spirituality. A week of play. A week of focused exploration. Some call it Quaker Summer Camp for all ages. Some say it’s like a family reunion.
Richmond Friends Meeting can help with expenses, especially for first time attenders. Adult Spiritual Education has funds and encourages people to attend.
The Gathering warmly invites all Friends to come. Seasoned Friends. Brand new Friends. Not quite yet Friends. Young Friends. Older Friends. Friends coming with family. Friends coming with children and youth. Friends coming alone.
If you’ve been to the Gathering before, plan to come. Plan toencourage Friends in your community to join you.
If you have never been to the Gathering before, know that you are especially welcome. Come give it a try!
Find more information at FGCgathering.org
You can ask questions of
Christy Wooddy, christywooddy@richmondfriendsmeeting.org
Or Ada Hammer, hammer.a@gmail.com
by WebPost | Mar 4, 2023 | Announcement
Since the transmission level for Richmond and the surrounding area is now at low levels, per CDC guidelines, mask wearing is now optional. We will still crack the windows to allow for proper ventilation and the air purifiers will be running.
by WebPost | Oct 23, 2022 | Announcement
This month the BYM Working Group on Racism shares with you a portion of the “Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World.” We encourage you to read the entire document here:https://americanindian.si.edu/environment/pdf/01_02_Thanksgiving_Address.pdf
This Thanksgiving Address includes a paragraph of greetings to each of 17 aspects of the natural world. Each one ends with the words “Now our minds are one.” The 17 are The People, The Earth Mother, The Water, The Fish, The Plants, The Food Plants, The Medicine Herbs, The Animals, The Trees, The Birds, The Four Winds, The Thunderers, The Sun, The Grandmother Moon, The Stars, The Enlightened Teachers, The Creator.
Following the 17 greetings are these words:
Closing Words
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.
Now our minds are one.
This translation of the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address was developed, published in 1993, and provided, courtesy of: Six Nations Indian Museum and the Tracking Project. All rights reserved.
Thanksgiving Address: Greetings to the Natural World English version: John Stokes and Kanawahienton (David Benedict, Turtle Clan/Mohawk) Mohawk version: Rokwaho (Dan Thompson, Wolf Clan/Mohawk) Original inspiration: Tekaronianekon (Jake Swamp, Wolf Clan/Mohawk)
This column is prepared by the BYM Working Group on Racism (WGR) and sent to the designated liaison at each local Meeting. The BYM WGR meets most months on the first Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, currently via Zoom. If you would like to attend, contact the clerk at david.etheridge@verizon.net.
by WebPost | Oct 17, 2022 | Announcement
Clearing Buildings & Grounds invites all members and attenders to join us for a work day out at The Clearing on Saturday, November 5 from 9am -3pm. We would very much love to have other Friends join in on our work on a number of projects:
- Completing the interior sheathing of the Large Sleeping Cabin.
- Replacing a number of showerheads in the Lodge.
- Repairing/Replacing the privy that got smashed by a dead tree.
- Replacing vinyl table coverings at the Pavilion.
As always, all skill levels are welcomed and encouraged to come!
Stuff you should consider bringing:
- A mask for when we have to be indoors
- Your lunch! And maybe some snacks and/or any beverage you want beyond the water that is available at The Clearing
- Clothes that you don't mind getting dirty; wear layers that you can put on or take off depending on the temperature.
- Sturdy shoes or boots
- A hat
- Work gloves
- Bug repellant (ticks may still be active)
- Sunscreen
- Tools, if you have them, although the Clearing Buildings & Grounds Committee members will bring our extra tools to share.
Anyone with questions is welcome to email or call me, Ted Heck (Co-Clerk of the Clearing Buildings & Grounds Committee), at ted.heck@vdh.virginia.gov or 804-726-1056. Since three of the major projects are indoors or in covered areas, we won't plan a rain date.
The Clearing is in Amelia County, at 14006 Genito Road, Amelia CH, VA 23002, about a 40 minute drive southwest of the Meetinghouse. We look forward to seeing you there!
by WebPost | Oct 8, 2022 | Announcement
On Wednesday, a federal court ruled against the continuation of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Since 2012, the program has provided protection from deportation to nearly 800,000 people who came to the U.S. as children. Read AFSC’s statement.
Only legislation, not litigation, will ensure permanent protections for DACA recipients. Tell Congress: Support a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and all immigrants!
Here are this week's picks to inform and support your activism:
Watch: What you need to know about DACA: In this video, AFSC policy and program staff break down what the DACA decision means. Learn what’s next for the program and current recipients, and what you can do to advocate for a pathway to citizenships for all immigrants. Restoring the right to vote for all: As we approach the November elections, nearly 5.2 million Americans are barred from exercising their right to vote because they have felony convictions. Disproportionately, those who are disenfranchised are Black and living in poverty. Felony disenfranchisement remains the longest-standing form of voter suppression in the U.S.—and it’s past time for us to end it once and for all, writes AFSC’s Lewis Webb Jr. AFSC celebrates Biden's pardons, calls on governors to take the next step: The Biden administration's decision to pardon people with federal convictions for simple marijuana possession should be commended. Now governors must take similar steps. And the president must do more to address racially biased incarceration in the federal system. “As we work to abolish the criminal punishment system in the United States in favor of approaches that center healing and accountability, we must also address the policies that drive incarceration today,” says AFSC’s Tori Bateman. Register for No Way to Treat a Child campaign webinar (Oct. 11, 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT): Join our monthly webinar from AFSC and Defense for Children International - Palestine on advocacy for Palestinian rights. This webinar will focus on U.S. military assistance to Israel and how we can advocate to stop taxpayer dollars from funding human rights violations. Long Beach, CA police department publicly discloses information on militarized equipment: Last year, California passed a law that requires more transparency from local police departments on their use of militarized equipment, such as armored vehicles and tear gas. The law also gives community members and elected officials opportunity to change those policies. Long Beach police department is among the most recent to disclose such information. More accountability will come next year when police departments must start filing annual reports on how they’ve deployed this equipment, says AFSC’s Jennifer Tu. (Long Beach Post) See AFSC’s advocacy toolkit on the new law. Advocates speak out as court rules against California's ban on for-profit prisons: The law would have phased out the use of private prisons and migrant detention centers in California by 2028. The decision “is overturning what California wants,” says AFSC’s Pedro Rios. “Private prisons should not be in the business of locking people up for profit. [But] this is a roadblock. We will continue to advocate.” (Fox 2) Last chance to register: Quaker Call to Action on Oct. 13 (7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT): How can we work to stop voter suppression, protect the integrity of our elections, and oppose violence in all its forms? Learn how we can all stand up for democracy by joining our national call, hosted by AFSC and other Quaker groups. Sign up today.
