FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
Register Here!In our Fall retreat, we'll go "back to the basics" and explore some of the practices that might help us
(re)discover the Ground of our Being and sustain our joyful attention there. Whatever language we use to describe the connection we seek - Spirit, Light, Truth - how can our lives become deeply attuned to it so that we can be faithful, alive, and active in our own times?
During the retreat, Friends will be invited to quiet, personal reflection, sharing in spiritual friendship in small groups, and fellowship with the whole group. Activities will be assigned during the off-line time. In addition, Zoom space will be kept open during meal time for virtual "table fellowship." Therefore, we ask that participants hold Saturday open just as if we were meeting on-site.
Friday's session will begin at 7pm. Saturday sessions will run: 9-11am, 1-3pm, and 7-9pm.We are also happy to announce that the Spiritual Formation Working Group will support a year-long program of monthly gatherings via Zoom for Friends who live remotely or whose Meeting cannot sustain a local group. More information about this opportunity will be shared at the retreat.To register, visit https://www.bym-rsf.org/events/spiritform/. We will follow the "pay as lead" model utilized at Annual Session. The suggested contribution is $50/person, which will cover the costs of participation.
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2021 Theme: Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world
Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.
In 2021, as we heal from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are inspired to think creatively and collectively about how to help everyone recover better, how to build resilience, and
how to transform our world into one that is more equal, more just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and healthier.
The pandemic is known for hitting the underprivileged and marginalized groups the hardest. By April 2021, over 687 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered globally, but over 100 countries have not received a single dose. People caught in conflict are especially vulnerable in
terms of lack of access to healthcare.
In line with the Secretary-General’s appeal for a global ceasefire last March, in February 2021 the Security Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for Member States to support a “sustained humanitarian pause” to localconflicts. The global ceasefire must continue to be honoured, to ensure people caught in conflict have access to lifesaving vaccinations and treatments.
The pandemic has been accompanied by a surge in stigma, discrimination, and hatred, which only cost more lives instead of saving them: the virus attacks all without caring about where we are from or what we believe in. Confronting this common enemy of humankind, we must be reminded that we are not each other’s enemy. To be able to recover from the
devastation of the pandemic, we must make peace with one another.
And we must make peace with nature. Despite the travel restrictions and economic shutdowns, climate change is not on pause. What we need is a green and sustainable global economy that produces jobs, reduces emissions, and builds
resilience to climate impacts.
The 2021 theme for the International Day of Peace is “Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world”. Weinvite you to join the efforts of the United Nations family as we focus on recovering better for a more equitable and peaceful world. Celebrate peace by standing up against acts of hate online and offline, and by spreading compassion,kindness, and hope in the face of the pandemic.
“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 ([email protected]), 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.
RE is now making plans for an exciting children's program for the fall and winter, including outdoor music, singing, cooperative games, playground monitoring and the new mini-grant supported "Faith and Play" curriculum(indoors). Seequakerfaithandplay.org
If you are interested in being part of this as a leader or aide (once or as many times as you wish), please contact Monica Shaw, clerk of RE.
If you're not sure and want to know more, also contact Monica. Please volunteer to make a difference in the formative years of our children. We have something good to pass on to future generations.
Ministry and Worship Committee and the COVID-19 Working Group have decided that blended meetings for
worship will begin for 11 am worship on August 29. In a blended meeting, Friends worship together, either in the meetinghouse or via Zoom. Those online can see and hear the worship room and in turn can be seen and heard in the worship room on a computer and monitor. This timing will allow us all to experience blended worship for three
Sundays prior to an opportunity for assessment at September business meeting. More information will be forthcoming on the Newslist.
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.