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Minute in Support of a Truth and Healing Commission for Native Peoples
The Baltimore Yearly Meeting wholeheartedly supports the establishment of a national commission to seek truthand a measure of justice for those still suffering the residual effects of public policies that created and maintainedhundreds of boarding schools for...
RFM Use of the Clearing
The Clearing is now open for outside users as well as member and attenders. Michael Joslin is our Scheduler. Michael can be contacted directly at MichaelDJoslin@outlook.com.Clearing Usage and Promotions wants to remind everyone to schedule meetings at the Clearing...
Memorial Meeting for Worship for Bette Gilchrist
A memorial Meeting for Worship commemorating the life of Bette Gilchrist will be held Friday, June 10, at 7 p.m. at the Meetinghouse. A longtime member of Richmond Friends Meeting, Bette died May 5 due to complications arising from a fall.
Bette Gilchrist
Our dear friend Bette Gilchrist died last night at Westminster Canterbury. Bette’s daughter-in-law, Julie, and her grandson, Charlie, were holding her hands when she left us. Bette had fallen earlier in the week and sustained a brain injury. We will miss her sweet...
From Peace and Social Concerns – Organizations to Help Ukraine
From Peace and Social Concerns – Organizations to Help UkraineThe War in Ukraine weights heavy on our hearts. There are different ways to attend to the issues and needs.You may also wish to attend an International Meeting for Worship for Ukraine, Monday through...
Involuntary Boarding Schools for Indigenous Children
Quaker’s involvement in the Boarding Schools for Indigenous Children was extensive. Now is the time to look at this history honestly, then decide how we can best make reparations for the negative impact we had. In preparation for consideration of the Minute on these...
Celebration of Life for Lee Owings
A Celebration of Life for Martha Leland Walker Owings (Lee Owings) will be held at Westminster Canterbury Retirement Community on May 6 at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary. Those wishing to attend should inquire about parking with the guard at the front gate. Lee Owings was...
COVID Working Group Update
In December 2021 Business Meeting, we decided to look to the Virginia Department of Health framework when considering our own COVID precautions. In recent weeks, VDH has changed the way they talk about COVID risk and precautions in ways that my allow loosening...
Death of Lee Owings
With sadness, we record the death of Martha Leland Walker Owings on Friday, April 8, at Westminster Canterbury in Richmond. Lee Owings was raised in the Quaker faith and attended Richmond Friends Meeting after she and her husband relocated to the area a dozen or so...
Memorial service for Karen Kain
Thank you for joining us to celebrate the life of Karen Kain, whose time was tragically cut short in a fatal road accident on 4th March, 2022. Karen lived an eclectic life - filled with art and music and friendship. She lived her life mindfully and selflessly with...
Friends Association for Children 150th Anniversary
Friends Association for Children is celebrating their 150th anniversary with a number of events this year. Because Richmond Quakers had a role in their founding just after the Civil War, they hope we can join in celebrating with them.Information about upcoming 150th...
Current assessment from the COVID Working Group (March 2022)
In recent weeks, many have become more relaxed about COVID, partly because many more of us have some degree of immunologic protection from the virus, both from vaccination, and the recent omicron surge, which seems to decrease risk of severe disease, hospitalization,...
We’re Back!
The Meeting House is open to in person worship beginning March 6th. 9:30 Meeting for Worship, 11am Blended Meeting for Worship, and monthly Meeting for Worship at the Clearing. Masks recommended and social distancing required.
Worship at The Clearing
Worship at The Clearing will take a break over the winter and resume in the spring, in either March or April. Watch for forthcoming announcements.
Worship for the next three Sundays, December 26, January 2, and January 9
Dear Friends,Ministry and Worship Committee has decided that, for the next three Sundays (December 26, January 2, and January 9), worship on Sunday mornings will be on Zoom only. This is an interim policy until the 2022 Ministry and Worship Committee...
Update: Online Christmas Eve Worship, Friday, December 24, 5pm – 6pm
Ministry and Worship needs once again to change the format for Christmas Eve worship. In only the last few days, several Friends have had close contact exposures and some are awaiting the results of tests.Accordingly, Christmas Eve worship will be entirely on Zoom...
The Gathering
The GatheringThe annual Quaker weeklong retreat, The Gathering, will finally happen in person at Radford University. This Friends General Conference (FGC) event will take place July 3 - 9. Plans for the workshops and other events are coming together. More information...
What is the Care and Counsel Committee?
A longtime Friend remembers that when she first arrived at Richmond Friends Meeting, she heard lots of announcements about Karen Counsel. She thought, Who is this person? She certainly is busy!Yes, the Care and Counsel committee is busy, but there are lots of hands to...
Book Drive for Children’s Books
From now through Jan. 16, 2022, RE classes are collecting new and gently used children's books. Books for infants through 3 years old will be donated to Little Hands Virginia, a non-profit organization that provides essentials to babies (0-3yrs) and families in need...
The Care and Counsel Grant Program for Internet Access
Jim Thoroman and Allen Lee are teaming up to work with RFM members and attenders who may wish to apply for Comcast’s publicly available program, Internet Essentials. It provides internet service to qualified individuals at $9.95/month (plus tax) or about $120/year...
FGC Conference 2022
The annual Quaker weeklong retreat, The Gathering, will finally happen in person at Radford College. This Friends General Conference (FGC) event will take place July 3 - 9. Plans for the workshops and other events are coming together. More information will...
The Care and Counsel Grant Program for Internet Access
Jim Thoroman and Allen Lee are teaming up to work with RFM members and attenders who may wish to apply for Comcast’s publicly available program, Internet Essentials. It provides internet service to qualified individuals at $9.95/month (plus tax) or about $120/year...
Remembering Our Beloved Community at Meeting for Remembrance, Nov. 7 at The Clearing
We will hold a Meeting for Remembrance at The Clearing on the first Sunday of November, November 7, at 11:00 am. This special worship session, sponsored by Care & Counsel and Ministry & Worship, will differ from a typical Meeting for Worship because we expect...
RACE TO PEACE
From the Peace & Social Concerns Committee RACE TO PEACE and support Quaker House Quaker House provides counseling and support to service members who are questioning their role in the military; educates them, their families, and the public about military issues;...
Spiritual Formations
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...
Earthcare Program Series Announcement – this Friday
Please join us for our first in a series of six programs focussed on Earthcare and the Climate Crisis, hosted by the Earthcare Working Group and the Climate Change Friendly 8s. All programs will be held via ZOOM (until safe otherwise), the second Fridays of the month...
BYM FALL SPIRITUAL FORMATION RETREAT via Zoom
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020Register 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...
Spiritual Formation Program 2021-2022
Spiritual Formation Program 2021-2022 “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...
RE Classes and Nursery Starting September 19, 2021 in Meetinghouse
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...
Blended Meetings for Worship Start Soon
Ministry and Worship Committee and the COVID-19 Working Group have decided that blended meetings forworship 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...
NEW TIME: Bible Workbench on September 5
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...
New Series from Adult Spiritual Education This Fall: strong Books that Feed My Spirit
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...
What are Friendly Eights?
Among Friends Imagine biking sections of the Capital Trail, or taking short walks in the James River Park system, or reading and discussing books that increase your understanding of critical race theory. What about learning a new craft, or visiting local museums and...
Approved Proposal on Returning to Worship in the Meetinghouse
Approved Proposal on Returning to Worship in the Meetinghouse With concern for the well-being of the community, Meeting requests that all who can be vaccinated do so. (See minutes of 7th month meeting for business at the end of this newsletter.) The following schedule...
Richmond Immigrant Transit Assistance (RITA) Needs Your Help
As you may know, the national effort is called "National Immigrant Transit Assistance" (NITA) and the local Richmond volunteers that meet asylum seekers at the Greyhound terminal are called "Richmond Immigrant Transit Assistance (RITA). Richmond is one of the most...
Good News! Quaker House Needs You!
Volunteer Opportunity Quaker House of Fayetteville (QuakerHouse.org) is in a good position, spiritually and fiscally, to consider expanding programs, which is provident, because the needs of military personnel and their families continues to grow. We need a bit of...
Volunteers Needed to be Circles RVA Allies
Circles RVA inspires and equips individuals to permanently move out of poverty and thrive. We create intentional relationships that expand support communities and engage the wider community to reduce or eliminate the systemic barriers that hinder people from rising...
Sacred Heart Center food pantry in need of donations
The food pantry at Sacred Heart Center is in dire need of donations. They have served 200-800 families every week. In addition to receiving food from FeedMore, they purchase food every week with their own funds. How to make a food...
From the Working Group on Reopening the Meetinghouse
The Working Group confirms that it is safe for fully vaccinated people to gather in the meetinghouse. The Working Group also now requests approval to now open the Meetinghouse to outside groups of up to 25 people who are fully vaccinated. We see value in equipping the...
Coming Attractions from Religious Education Committee
The children’s religious education program (RE) is taking a break for the summer. We’ll be back this fall. And when we can return to the building, RE will offer an exciting new expanded curriculum which will more fully integrate our children into our...
Quaker House-Conscientious Objectors in Today’s Military
Conscientious Objectors in Today's MilitaryPanel Discussion Photo credit: Michelle Downey Every month, Quaker House takes approximately 300 calls on the GI Rights Hotline from people having issues with military membership. These callers want help and information. Some...
Spiritual Formation Program Seeking New Leadership
The Spiritual Formation Program will resume in September with monthly large group meetings and monthly small group meetings. For years this program has nurtured the spiritual lives of many in our community. During that time, we have shared the leadership of this...
Knicely Bequest Implementation Committee (ad hoc) – announcement:
The second round of project applications is open. There is $5295.00 remaining to be allocated. The submission deadline is June 21, 2021. The completion deadline will be October 31, 2022. To review the application please go to...
UPDATE from RE ( children’s religious education program)
Since the meetinghouse closed down due to the pandemic, we've been offering virtual classes for our children over Zoom. Kelly Kennedy has led sing-alongs for all ages every second Sunday. Every fourth Sunday of the month, religious...
Correction: Date for Senior Recognition
ALERT!! In the current newsletter RE said that our Graduating Senior Recognition will be June 27 at rise of Meeting at the Clearing. We have changed to Sunday, May 23 at the rise of meeting. During meeting on May 23 the children will participate in a scavenger hunt....
Help Open BYM Camps
Sign up for a work day! Invite friends and family!Let’s be clear. It is OUR job to do the physical work to open camp. Tasks are available for all abilities and skill levels. Sign up and invite others! Announcements will go out in newsletters, but personal invitations...
Request From Religious Education Committee
When we return to the building, some RE classes will be making collages. The teachers are asking all of you tokeep magazines with pictures of people, nature, multi-cultural images, food, etc. Please put the magazines asidenow and we'll pick them up later or you'll be...
Quaker House Update
Quaker House UpdateQuaker House (https://quakerhouse.org/) is in a time of a strategic planning. We hope to continue to nurture current programs and grow into new opportunities for programs that serve the organization's missionPossibilities include: working with...
New Policy for using the Meetinghouse
At Fourth Month business meeting, the ad hoc COVID-19 Committee brought a new policy for use of the meetinghouse which was accepted.Consistent with the latest CDC guidelines: Rooms in the Meetinghouse will be open for meeting-related gatherings of small groups (25...
2021 (Mostly) Virtual Spring Retreat for Memorial Day Weekend
Richmond Friends Meeting’s Spring Retreat Committee is pleased to announce we will be having an intergenerational retreat over Memorial Day weekend! Most of the retreat will be held virtually via Zoom, but we will have an in-person, safely distanced component as...