The Adult Spiritual Education committee will hold a one-hour Reading Between the Lines (formerly known as Bible Workbench) on Sunday, September 7, through Zoom, from 9-10 am. We will discuss Philemon 1-21: the power of a personal letter clearing the way for a person to be accepted into a beloved community. The facilitator will send the Zoom link through the Newslist several days before our session.
Please join the RFM garden team for our August 9 Meeting for Weeding from 8 am - 10 am. We can use your help to keep our grounds looking lovely! Come for as little or as long as you like. We promise good company and the satisfaction of seeing your work achieve immediate results.
Please contact any member of Nominating Committee for information or interest in these positions: Margaret Edds, Anna Marie Bolin, Diane Bowden, Don Miller, Carolyn Moul, and Catherine Roseberry.
Religious Education Needs
Religious Education’s (RE) greatest need right now is for teachers and assistants in classrooms. This is not a request for new members of the RE Committee. The RE year begins in September, so please volunteer now.
They anticipate needing 4 classes beginning in September: PreK/K, Elementary, Middle, & Upper Grades. We have found that having 2 teachers and 2 assistants per classroom reduces the requirement to only once or twice per month. We have curriculum and resources available for teachers to use if they find that helpful when planning lessons.
We are looking to confirm:
- 2 teachers and 2 assistants for PreK/K
- 1 teacher for Elementary
- 2 teachers and 2 assistants for the Middle School group
- 1 or 2 assistants/subs for the 7th+ class (The current 2 teachers would like someone to fill in when one of them is unavailable on a class day, but these teachers work great together and did very well last year.)
Peace & Social Concerns Needs
Peace and Social Concerns (P&SC)fosters greater personal understanding of peace in the lives of members and attenders; focuses on activities that promote understanding of wider (local, national, and international) peace and justice concerns. It embodies and reflects the social conscience of the Meeting through direct action; proposes RFM budgetary contributions to like-minded organizations; and informs the Meeting of current issues and events.
Recently, P&SC has given us awareness of local nonprofit organizations which have lost funding and opportunities to protest peacefully, to speak truth to power, and to advocate for a more just and inclusive democracy.
P&SC needs people to help with this important work.
(The following policy was approved in Seventh Month meeting for business.)
Our Richmond Friends Meeting banners are approved for display at demonstrations and marches, with the following stipulations:
1. Our banners are used in gatherings that support our values and testimonies.
2. Our banners are displayed only at events that are planned to be non-violent and not aligned with any political party.
3. For use of the banner saying “Quakers” and for use of the banner saying “Richmond Friends Meeting” without the web address, approval can be given by Business Meeting, OR a group consisting of the clerk or assistant clerk, one Visibility Coordinator, and one Trustee.
4. For use of the banner that includes the web address, at marches and rallies the web address must be concealed. For use of this banner at events meant to publicize Richmond area organizations, the web address can be displayed.
5. Gatherings receiving legal permits are preferred. However, the banners may be used in a march without a permit, as long as the gathering is planned to be peaceful and has been approved by one of the options indicated above.
6. The wider meeting community is encouraged to join by identifying transportation options and a shared meeting place.
7. Members and attenders standing with the banner refrain from all forms of violence and inflammatory behavior, no matter the source or the target.
8. Those marching under the banner accept individual responsibility for any consequences that may occur. If members/attenders incur medical and/or legal costs, Richmond Friends Meeting may offer financial and other forms of support, but is not obligated to do so.
The EarthCare Working Group is hosting three Quaker Community Hikes this fall, hoping to continue them in the Spring and beyond.
Saturday, October 11, Yike! Hike 8:30 pm (after dark) at Larus Park- Looking for luminescent fungi and critters w/fluorescent lights
November Date TBD Endurance (6 mile) Hike Buttermilk Trail (N) (Giving thanks when the hike is over!)