Weekly Announcements as of 10.01.2023

Weekly Announcements

Question & Update for WAE:

The Weekly Announcements Email (WAE) survey about if the WAE is helpful and what feedback Friends can offer went out last week and is again being sent. If you already responded, THANK YOU! There is no need to answer twice. If you have not responded, please read on and send your thoughts.  

The question is: Should Annapolis Friends Meeting continue to send the Weekly Announcements Email (WAE)?  

To answer that question, it would be useful if Friends could provide feedback letting us know if they find the Weekly Announcements Email helpful. If the email is not helpful, we might consider laying it down. Please provide your feedback by sending an email to the Communications Committee at  communications@annapolisfriends.org. 

So far, nine (9) Friends have responded to this question with very positive feedback about maintaining the WAE, keeping it going, and to keep sending it out to our community. Friends find it helpful and useful, that it is a handy place to refer, a “huge service to the community”. A Friend said that it helped to feel more connected to the overall meeting, especially since this friend only attends via Zoom. There was a question about how much time it takes to put the WAE together. Friends asked if the WAE could be simplified, shortened or reduced.  One suggestion was to eliminate some of the parts. For instance, keep the calendar part and eliminate some of the descriptive paragraph parts.  There were some responses that indicated that Friends were familiar enough with the AFM website that they did not feel the WAE was necessary and could do without. 

Commentary from Ellen M.: As to the time it takes … typically, it takes a couple of hours each week. As to shortening the WAE … Certainly, there could be improvements or changes that would reduce both the time it takes to develop the WAE and the amount of information assembled.

It would be good to receive additional feedback from the community to help gauge the desire to continue the WAE. 

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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 information down below for  greater detail and the word Zoom contains the link to the online meeting. 

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What’s News, Joys and Life Happenings

Friends are invited to share their News, Joys and Life 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 news, joys and life happenings section. It should be noted that inaccuracies may exist in the information given that sound quality or receiving is not always precise. The recent joys we’ve learned of are:

  • Greetings from the Saranac Lake Friends Meeting brought to us by Leo P. who was visiting and happy to report that he and Valerie were very active members at Annapolis Friends Meeting at one time and transplanted themselves to upstate New York. They bring us their love and their regard.
  • Friends were joy-filled to see Leo and welcomed him back with lots of love.
  • Stephen P. had two joys to share. First, he was excited to share that he went to the National Zoo on Thursday (09.28) to say goodbye to the pandas who will be leaving soon and the pandas put on an amazing show, being quite animated. The two-year old was climbing up the hill, grabbing his ball and rolling down the hill with it.  Second, he was very happy for his daughter’s happiness in sharing that she reconnected with two friends and will be in the wedding of one of them. 
  • Tom W. had a joy of developing deep relationships when working together with friends on committees.
  • Jo Anna S. happily reported that she has had a handyman complete work that makes her place feel more like a home, instead of a project. 
  • Connie’s family member who is 7-years old had brain cancer, surgery, rehabilitation, radiation, and is now home to build up for chemo treatments. The joy is that this is the first time in a very long time that she and her parents are at home together.
  • Linda P. was at the Spiritual Formation this past weekend and it was a wonderful and beautiful place.
  • Francis W. is getting used to being in Kenya after two years and yesterday he had a joyful moment when he was riding his bicycle through the streets and had to suddenly stop because there was a young child about 4-years old who stepped in the way. The mother pulled the little girl out of the way and the girl ran around to the other side of her mom only to trip and fall over a rock. She went over to Francis’ bicycle and hugged his leg. Then, Francis spoke in the little girl’s language to say “I’m sorry for what happened to you.” He then asked her if she was okay. She stopped crying and when Francis looked up to the mother and the other women, they were smiling as big as they could smile. He was too and felt that it was a wonderful moment for him.
  • Barb T. shared the joy that she gets to be a rental agent (Building Use Coordinator) and she showed the building to a couple whose 39-year old son had died. They wanted to have a memorial service in our meetinghouse, but were not religious and did not know what to do. Barb shared some ideas about how Quakers meet for memorials. Their other son was with them and the three thought that the meetinghouse would be just what James, their deceased son, would want and how they could display his artwork and photos.
  • Friends expressed joy that Lindsay H. joined us in person at the meetinghouse!
  • Gratitude for all of the contributions to the 13-bean soup mix and for the joy felt by those who assembled and decorated the jars. Having Lindsay join in this activity was a joy for us.

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Worship in North County

On October 3 at 7 pm and each First Tuesday of the month, an in-person worship opportunity is held on a Friend’s back porch in northern Anne Arundel County (Glen Burnie). Masks are required. All are welcome! Come sit with us!

For more information, contact Diane E. at info@annapolisfriends.org.

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Welcome Light Wednesday

Starting at 7 pm every Wednesday, the Welcome Light Wednesday group will meet on Zoom with 20 minutes of silence to start followed by spiritual readings and then listening to our spiritual journeys. Time will be given to hold friends in healing Light. In the past, this group was called the Wednesday Meditation Group.

Contact Patty R. at info@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.

Friends are invited to share their request for a person or situations to be held in the Light by contacting the Pastoral Care Committee.

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

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First Day School

For AFM First Day School (FDS) there will be themes each month based on curriculum and teaching materials developed by Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW). The October theme will be Water. There will be two teachers for each session, learning and activities.

Volunteers are encouraged to sign up using the online sign-up sheet. Helpers (Secondary teachers) and Primary Teachers are welcome!

First Day School Volunteer Sign-up Sheet

For nursery care, please bring your pre-school children. Advance notice is appreciated for nursery care, but not required. 

For more information, contact Martha L. at children@annapolisfriends.org.

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Meet and Greet Gathering Opportunity 

On October 8 at 9:15 am, there will be a social gathering to provide an opportunity to bring more awareness about the value of committee work in building and enriching our community. Friends, attenders, seekers and visitors are welcome to this fellowship where we will have some lite breakfast treats, and will hear some brief highlights about committees. Bring your questions and curiosities about Annapolis Friends Meeting, Quakers and more!

For more information, contact Martha B. at nominating@annapolisfriends.org.

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Indigenous Peoples Day 

On this National Indigenous Peoples Day, faith communities and organizations affirm our on-going support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.  

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Spiritual Friends Group

On October 12 (Thursday) at 4 pm, the Spiritual Friends Group, under the umbrella of Pastoral Care, will meet via Zoom. The group meets online on the 2nd Thurs. of each month to nurture our spiritual lives and, if requested, to ask the group to hold us accountable to our individual intentions. Everyone is welcome. Quakers and non-Quakers!

Contact Barb T. at pastoral-care@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

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Ministry & Worship Committee Meeting

On October 13 (Friday) at 7:30 pm, the Ministry & Worship Committee will be meeting via Zoom.

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

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Pumpkin Patch – Volunteers Needed

On October 18 (Wednesday) from 2 pm to 6 pm, Annapolis Friends will be volunteering, as they have done for many years, to sell pumpkins in support of The Light House, a homeless prevention center. All proceeds raised from the Pumpkin Patch go directly to The Light House. Saint Martin’s Lutheran Church annually holds the Pumpkin Patch on their front lawn at 120 Spa Road, Annapolis, MD 21403. 

Signup now available, email Marcia O. with your desired time slots! Marcia O. at info@annapolisfriends.org.

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RESCHEDULED: Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival

On October 28 (Saturday) from 10 am to 6:30 pm, Annapolis Friends will participate in the rescheduled Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival. AFM is one of the sponsors for the festival and all are invited to come to Susan Campbell Park at Annapolis City Dock to participate and help out. This is the 33rd annual celebration.

Contact Outreach at outreach-team@annapolisfriends.org to volunteer to staff the booth or for more information.

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New Books!!! 

The Library Committee is very excited to announce that there are new books in the AFM library as of October 1, 2023! Look for them on the rack on the counter. There are two books on racism suggested at our September 12th  meeting

  1. From Here to Equality  – Primarily about economic decline between blacks and whites. How it came to be and how it can be eliminated.  The last chapter suggests a path to reparations. Some of the most interesting  parts are the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. DO NOT let the size scare  you.  The notes take up-a large  part of the pages.
  2. Freedom Dreams – Not an answer, but an invitation. Freedom Dreams was a blast of fresh air in the days of 2002 AND its reissue will have more effect when it is needed more.

For more information, contact Nan E. and the Library Committee at library@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. Also at 8:00 am, Friends can worship in communion with the friends at the Meetinghouse from wherever they are and without technology. This option to gather in spirit only while being physically apart was created to link Friends in worship in the early days of the pandemic, and often Friends are at their own homes.

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 during the school year (September through May). In the summer (June through August), AFM offers supervision and reading/drawing supplies for school age children.

There is an opportunity to worship on the First Tuesday each month at 7 pm in person that is held on a Friend’s porch in northern Anne Arundel County (Glen Burnie). Please see North County 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. There is a Committee Schedule for Care of Meeting indicating when the committee takes a turn to be responsible for cleaning up the meetinghouse and they may ask for help from others, as needed. The Care of Meeting Checklist helps to ensure that everyone knows what needs to be done. For the Month of October, the Peace and Social Concerns (P&SC) Committee has responsibility for the care of the meetinghouse. All are welcome to help out at any time!

  • The Peace & Social Concerns Committee (P&SC) focuses on the principle that as Friends, we are called to live and act on our values.  Our social actions are not grafted onto our spiritual lives, they are the fruit of our spiritual lives. Action for peace and social justice arises from Friends’ faith that there is “that of God” in everyone, regardless of color, sex and origin. We seek a world in harmony with that spirit.

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

Photo by Dotty D. Copyright © 2020 Clandestine Wren Photography, All rights reserved.