by WebPost | Jul 23, 2026 | Activity, Children and Religious Education, RE, Young Friends
Summer Committee-Led Lessons
The RE Committee would like to extend a very sincere “Thank you!” to the RFM committees taking over RE classes this summer. Each week, the children are learning from a different committee or working group. Not only do children have the opportunity to learn about the life of the Meeting, but they are also building intergenerational connections. Thank you, committees!
Community Submissions Requested by the WWG
The Willow Working Group (ages 9-17) and RE Committees are working on two special projects, and we need your help! Each person’s contribution will make these projects richer.
First, we want you to share your favorite memories of The Clearing with us. Did a special connection with humans or nature impact your life in some way? These are the treasures we are seeking! We are also accepting a limited number of special photos.
Second, Zoe Garrett will be attending Westtown High School in West Chester, PA this fall. We are asking everyone, maybe even if you don’t know her very well, to write a letter to Zoe and place it in a sealed envelope. We welcome you to share anything that may bring joy, comfort, or encouragement to a young person living far away from family and friends for a season.
The deadline for both projects is August 9.
How can you turn in your submissions? You have options!
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Drop them in the Religious Education mailbox at RFM.
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Give your paper(s) directly to Elizabeth Price.
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Call, Text, Mail or Email Elizabeth Price
Wayne Taylor Reflection, Coffee Day & Global Forgiveness Day
After learning about Sadako & her 1000 cranes, some of our children have continued to fold paper cranes. We would like to extend this experience to all of RFM. In honor of Global Forgiveness Day and the Wayne Taylor Reflection, Danni Kong & the RE Committee invite anyone interested to fold origami peace cranes. Bring your cranes on August 2nd to exchange with or pass out to those in attendance.
Link to How-To Video: https://youtu.be/RdMNeee3Re8?si=5-WlGuSEOH19ld2H
Introduction to Neurodiversity, a presentation by the Autism Society of Central Virginia will be held in the community room on Saturday, August 29th from 10 am to Noon. This is RE’s annual workshop and Teacher Planning Day. Register by adding your name to one of the sign-up sheets on the bulletin board or letting Elizabeth Price know you plan to attend.
The morning session, Introduction to Neurodiversity, will be a presentation by the Autism Society of Central Virginia beginning at 10AM. It is for anyone who is interested in learning more about neurodivergence and how to better interact with children who see the world differently than we.
The session will include:
- Understand neurodiversity and ASD and how it impacts children.
- Learn how to set up classrooms that support all learners.
- Explore the functions of behavior and the ABC model.
- Practice proactive and de-escalation strategies.
- Apply skills through real-life scenarios.
The afternoon will be a time for teachers to prepare for fall classes. If you plan to teach or assist in an age-related classroom, please plan to meet with your co-volunteers to begin planning for classes beginning September 13!
by WebPost | Jul 23, 2026 | Activity, Coffee, Social justice, Wayne Taylor Ad Hoc Committee
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: August 2, 12:30-1:30 pm
Coffee Hour, Community Room
Hosted by the Wayne Taylor Bequest ad hoc committee
Were you there–on Zoom December 20, 2020–when our community was in unity to accept a bequest from the late Carl Wayne Taylor, someone no one among us knew personally? Mr. Taylor’s direction in his last will and testament was complex in its simplicity: RFM agreed to distribute his residual estate “for the direct benefit of needy people residing in the Richmond metropolitan area.”
Now that our task has been completed, with nearly $500,000 distributed by RFM over the past two years to 11 Richmond organizations, it’s time to reflect on and celebrate the Wayne Taylor bequest and the impact of Mr. Taylor’s philanthropy.
On First Day/Sunday August 2 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm the entire RFM community is invited to come together for coffee hour with Wayne’s circle of friends and representatives of the eleven organizations that have benefitted from his generosity.
Enjoy this time to visit with our guests from outside organizations and Wayne’s friends. The updated PowerPoint presentation about Wayne Taylor’s estate distribution process will be on view and special coffee hour refreshments will be available.
by WebPost | Jul 23, 2026 | Activity, AFSC, Immigration, Social justice
Diane Bowden, RFM’s liaison to the American Friends Service Committee, will inform the community on recent actions of the AFSC during a program at 9:30 am on August 16 in the community room. Among the questions to be addressed: What is AFSC doing regarding the immigration crisis? How might we as a community be helpful? All are welcome to attend. The Race and Racial Justice Team, sponsors of the event, will provide coffee and muffins.
by WebPost | Jul 23, 2026 | Activity, Food Insecurity, Immigration, VICPP Working Group
Care is Resistance
Food Boxes for Our Neighbors: Health Brigade is collecting culturally appropriate food boxes for Latine and Afghan immigrant patients and families. Many families are experiencing a new level of food insecurity as they are avoiding grocery stores and public spaces out of concern for increased ICE presence. These boxes can offer relief and a reminder that people care.
Lists of items requested for each culture are on each box. Please bring any thing you can to Meeting and place it in the boxes outside the Meeting room. Name brands or generic products are welcome. Rhonda Ligon will collect your donations and develop the boxes for each family to be delivered to Health Brigade.
Items may be purchased in many grocery stores. It is extremely helpful to the immigrant community to support a local business, such as Arco Iris Latino Market or Mis Pais Mart for Latin items, or Mantu Market and Watan Market for Afghan products. There are Latin and Afghan wishlists to be found on Amazon and Walmart online sites.
by WebPost | Jul 23, 2026 | Activity, Adult Spiritual Education, Bible Study, Reading between the Lines
The Adult Spiritual Education committee will host a one hour Reading Between the Lines (formerly Bible Workbench) on First Day, August 2, from 9-10 am on Zoom. We’ll discuss the endings of two stories—Matthew 14:1-12 (the murder of Jesus’s cousin John the Baptist: “His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus”) and Matthew 14: 13-21: potential scarcity ending in overflow: “And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full”). The facilitator will send the zoom link through the Newslist a few days before the session.