by Diane Bowden | Aug 17, 2026 | Children and Religious Education, Current, RE
Upcoming Dates
- August 30th – Nominating Committee
- September 6th – First Sunday All Ages Class
- September 6th – (12:15-1 PM) Willow Working Group Meeting
- September 13th – First Day of Age-Grouped Classes for 2026-2027
Supply Closet – Do not drop off donations
RE closet is full of supplies ready for our teachers to use this fall. If you have supplies you think might be useful for RE, please talk to a member of the RE committee before bringing them to the meeting house. If we are unable to use the supplies, we encourage people to recycle or donate to ScrapRVa or local art teachers/schools.
Getting Ready for 2026-2027 RE Classes
Elementary Class (Ages 5-8) Our elementary class is fully staffed!
Junior Young Friends Class (Ages 9-12): We are looking for 2 teachers for our JYF class. This age group is so much fun. It is also a vital age for making long-term connections with our community. Do you remember what middle school or junior high school was like? Kids in this class are both gaining confidence in their growing independence and self-consciousness around peers all at once. They are experiencing cool stuff all the time and have intense interests. They have learned about S.P.I.C.E.S. for years. They want to learn about Quaker history and key figures, act, make videos, and generally just have fun together.
Young Friends Class (Ages 13-17): We are also looking for an additional teacher and assistant for the Young Friends class. We have a great teacher in place who could use a co-teacher to fill in when they are not available. Commitment should not be more than once/month. Let me tell you about this class. They are exploring Quakerism and current events in relation to their personal spiritual journeys. These discussions can serve to guide them into adulthood. Each student travels that journey in a way unique to them. One kid might be an attentive student. Another will talk about anime. One kid will just observe but hear every word. Then there are a few who visit when they can, bringing wisdom only a teen can on the spur of the moment.
Background checks filed with RFM are required to volunteer with our children. If you’d like to walk alongside our amazing children for a school year, contact Elizabeth Price.
by Diane Bowden | Jul 26, 2026 | Activity, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Faith & Practice, Ministry and Worship
On Sunday August 30, at 12:30 PM (rise of meeting), there will be a Listening Circle to consider the topic of “prejudice and discrimination” as it is discussed in Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Faith and Practice. Sections of Faith and Practice covering that topic will be revised soon. Each meeting has been asked to offer suggestions about the revision. While our specific purpose is to help shape the revision, we anticipate a rich time of sharing among Richmond Friends.
This document has relevant text from both the 1988 BYM Faith and Practice (2025 version) and the 2013 BYM Resource on Faith and Practice. You may want to review these texts, or bring this topic to your committee or working group in advance of the August 30 Listening Circle. Ministry and Worship welcomes input from individuals and committees in addition to our Listening Circle.
by Diane Bowden | Jul 24, 2026 | Activity, Care and Counsel, Coffee, Current
Care and Counsel Committee will host the annual New Baby / New Member Welcome coffee on September 13, 2026 at rise of Meeting. We will welcome Elliot Tuggle who was born to Anna Best and Brad Tuggle on March 24,2026. Come and greet Elliot and parents. Although a special time to welcome our new members, this is also an opportunity to get to know those who have joined us as attenders.
by Diane Bowden | 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 Diane Bowden | 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.