Weekly Announcements as of 05.07.2023

Weekly Announcements

Reminder:

If you know of an event or a joy that you would like to see in the Weekly Announcements, please send the information to communications@annapolisfriends.org.

Coming Up:

The list of events below can also be viewed on the AFM website’s homepage or on the AFM Calendar.

Note: Titles link to the AFM Calendar for greater detail and the word Zoom contains the link to the online meeting. 

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What’s “News” and Life Happenings

Friends are invited to share their Joys and Life’s Happenings with each other during Meeting for Worship, through the Weekly Announcements email, and on the AFM-Discuss. If you have joys to share, please contact Ellen M. at communications@annapolisfriends.org and the sharings will be added to our joys and life’s happenings section. On May 7, we heard:

  • Expressions of joy that so many of us were together in person and were able to share face to face.
  • Tremendous gratitude was spoken by many about what a joyous time was had by all at the Quaker Spring Market with the food, music and fun shopping.
  • Gratitude was shared for Cairn K. and all of her efforts to provide an educational, Quaker Testimony-rich experience with the Quaker Spring Market.
  • Joy was expressed by Friends who are in support of AFM joining in on the Gay Pride Day march that will take place on Saturday, June 3.
  • Fran P. shared that Friends receive such a rich return when we minister to one another.
  • Francis W. expressed gratitude and joy that he will be able to participate in the prison reform efforts in Nairobi at the Citizens for Prison Reform Program and that there were about 100 people from many areas participating in the panel discussions.
  • Ann R. let Francis W.  and all know that she will be in Kenya on June 26 representing the Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) Executive Meeting which has been working for 9 years to retrieve effective leadership.
  • Suzanne S. expressed how happy she was to be back at Annapolis Friends Meeting where she feels at home and where her children grew up.
  • Phil C. expressed his hope about the 3 pm meeting for the Restorative and Retrospective Justice on Sunday, May 7. 
  • Joe M. expressed much gratitude for AFM and other Quaker groups who have helped fund the Turkish Relief group because the funds will go directly to a rehabilitation group in Turkey to fund prosthetics for children. Joe said that the amount raised was almost $5,000.

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Wednesday Meditation Group

Starting at 7 pm every Wednesday, the Meditation Group will meet on Zoom and we will sit silently for the first 40 minutes followed by a book discussion based on a selected book. 

Contact Patty R. at info@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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QSM Debriefing Meeting

On May 10 (Wednesday) at 7:30 pm, there will be a debriefing meeting of the Quaker Spring Market kitchen crew. 

Contact Cairn K. at market@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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Monthly Queries and the AFM Library

The AFM library is a great place to find some interesting books. The May query topic, queries and available books on the topic are available in your library. There are many books and pamphlets on the subject. A selection of just a few books focused on the monthly query are located on the left side of the rack on the counter. Also, check out the Pendle Hill pamphlets on the rack on the table under the sign indicating monthly pamphlets. Please come in to find books that are not available in the public library.

Contact library@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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Communications Committee 

On May 16 (Tuesday) at 5:30 pm, the Communications Committee will meet on Zoom to discuss how to improve the website, any challenges with the Owl, and any Zoom hosting issues.

Contact Ellen M. at communications@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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The Friendlies (a.k.a., Friendly 8s Group)

On May 19 (Friday) at 6 pm, The Friendlies will be meeting on Zoom. Quakers get together for a variety of reasons and getting to know each other a little better is the purpose of Friendly 8s Groups. Typically, there are 8 people who share a meal, stories and have a relaxed, informal opportunity to socialize. It is great fun and there have been stimulating conversations. The Friendlies are a larger group of more than 10 and we meet on Zoom. If you are interested, we are an open group and invite you to join us.

Contact Ellen M. at info@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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Adult Religious Education Committee 

On May 19 (Friday) at 7:30 pm on Zoom, the AFM Adult Religious Education Committee will be meeting to discuss possible topics for Meetings for Learning (MfL).

Contact Ann R. at ministry@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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Spiritual Friends Group

The Spiritual Friends Group is canceled for May 11 (Thursday). The next meeting will be June 8.

Contact Barb T. at info@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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Meetinghouse & Land Workday & News

Monthly Workdays: Each month on the 2nd Saturday, Friends are invited to work around the meetinghouse to get chores done, including washing windows, gardening, mulching, and more. The next sprucing-up will take place on May 13 starting at 9 am. All are invited to share in sprucing up the property and the building. Snacks will be provided!

Contact Kim F. at meetinghouse@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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5th Night Light – Every Thursday evening

From 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm every Thursday, the AFM community engages in a spiritual practice that acknowledges the Light of God within each person and that to be in community is to actively care for one another. During that time, Friends hold people and situations who need additional spiritual support in the Light. Friends will pause wherever they may be, read the list of names, and hold each person or situation in our hearts and in the Light. On Wednesday, the list of names or situations are sent out to the AFM-Announce list.

Contact Pastoral Care at pastoral-care@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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BYM Invitation a Gathering 

On June 22, BYM will host a session to discuss how hybrid (a.k.a., blended) meetings are progressing. As we move from peak pandemic to a new normal, many Monthly Meetings are beginning to re-examine their hybrid meeting technologies and practices. What AV setups are worth a longer-term investment? How are Friends balancing differing practical and spiritual needs? On June 22nd we’ll gather from 6:30pm to 8:30pm by Zoom and split into breakout rooms to share skills, information, and joys & concerns. More details will be available in the BYM Weekly Announcements on Friday, May 19th – but please put out the word and save the date!

Contact info@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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Dayspring Silent Retreat

Register today! There will be a Daysprings Silent Retreat on June 23 to 25. Be one of the eighteen (18) registrants who will enjoy Dayspring’s natural beauty, God’s creation, precious solitude, spiritual companionship, reading, walking, resting, finding our own rhythms, and listening for the Still Small Voice. Registrations will be accepted up until June 16. Please mail your registration information and check to Jean C. See Registration Form for details.

Contact Jean C. at info@annapolisfriends.org..

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Uphold Ukraine Daily Meeting for Worship

  • Daily Meeting for Worship: EVERY DAY, Friends House Moscow supporters in the U.S.A. host a daily international online Meeting for Worship while joining other Friends who are holding in the Light all the people affected by the current crisis in Ukraine. For Eastern Standard Time, the meeting starts at 12:00 pm. Click on this Zoom link, which is the Friends House Moscow Cloud Meeting. Or use Meeting ID: 416 500 5614; Passcode: 182805
  • Sunday MfW: The Quakers in Kyiv meet on Sundays at 1:00 pm EDT in silence. For Zoom information, go to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/QuakersKyivUkraine/.  On Zoom: Meeting ID: 852 8396 7313; Passcode: 2022.

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AFM Meetings for Worship

There are two options for Sunday worship with Annapolis Friends Meeting:

8:00 am weekly: This Meeting for Worship is in person (no technology) and, in good weather, is held outdoors, but will be indoors when the weather is not as kind. Masks and social distancing are optional inside the meetinghouse.

11:00 am weekly: This Meeting for Worship can be attended in person at the meetinghouse, or remotely on Zoom (Phone: 301-715-8592, Meeting ID: 650 269 455, Passcode: 241727). Nursery care is available; please email us at children@annapolisfriends.org if you would like to bring your child/children to our nursery. First Day School (a.k.a., Sunday School) is available for school age children in person.

Other Meeting for Worship options include:

1) 8:00 am Sunday, in communion with friends at the Meeting House and without technology friends gather in spirit only while being physically apart. This option was created to link Friends in worship in the early days of the pandemic, and often Friends are at their own homes.  

2) In North County, at 7 pm on the First Tuesday of each month in person. Please see North County Meeting for Worship on the calendar. 

Contact info@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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Care of Meeting 

The AFM meetinghouse is a precious place and the AFM Community cares for the building and property in many ways, including weekly care of the meeting that includes accomplishing certain tasks. Each committee takes a turn to be responsible and will ask for help from others, as needed. The Care of Meeting Checklist helps to ensure that everyone knows what needs to be done. The Committee Schedule for Care of Meeting provides the annual committee assignments. For the Month of May, the Stewardship and Finance Committee has responsibility for the care of the meeting. All are welcome to help out at any time!

  • The Stewardship and Finance (S&F) Committee prepares AFM’s annual budget for consideration of the Business Meeting, reports the Meeting’s financial needs, and reminds members and attenders of their financial responsibility to support the Meeting. S&F reviews the Treasurer’s books and records, and those of any other group or individual having charge of expenditure of funds. S&F plans fund-raising programs and works closely with the Meeting House and Land (MHL) committee in making decisions with financial implications. If you have an interest in joining the S&F efforts, please contact the clerk of S&F, Wes J., at stewardship@annapolisfriends.org. Please note that there is no need to be an expert because other Friends will guide and help you learn what the community does. Everyone is invited to test the waters. Also, it is not necessary, in most cases, for committee members or those helping out on committees to be members of AFM.

For additional information about Annapolis Friends Meeting go to the homepage or for events click here for the calendar. 

 

Photo credit: Ellen M.