Weekly Announcements from 07.16.2023

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

*********************

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. On July 16, we heard:

  • There was a joy that was inadvertently left off from last week from Jo Anna S. who was nominated for and awarded the “Best Human/Social Services Program Planning & Development Enterprise 2023 – Mid-Atlantic ” from the Acquisition International Awards Programmes. Congratulations, Jo Anna!!!
  • Kim F. expressed joy that the new roof will be installed this week. If the weather holds, on Wednesday (07.19) and Thursday (07.20) the workers will be taking off the old, thirty-year roof and installing the new roof. A sample of the new shingles are in the foyer. Joy was expressed by many others with Kim’s announcement!!! Yay!
  • Joy was expressed by Martha B. who shared that the Meeting for Learning that Jean C. led us on July 9 about the seed and the stream of Spirit that helps us navigate and keep centered on our path was similar to the theme at Chautauqua last week. Martha said she was grateful for how the Universe brings all that together.
  • Stephen P. was filled with joy because he got to watch on TV the new documentary about the wonderful Hazel Dickens and her music called “Don’t Put Her Down” and that it is really worth finding.
  • Alison B. said that her joy was watching a movie last night on Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch lady, who hid about 800 Jewish people, helping them escape during the Holocaust and her deep faith was very moving. Alison said that she related Corrie’s faith directly to the Quaker faith.
  • Diane S. said that her joy was spending an hour with all of us during worship and that she was headed to spend three hours with Buddhists doing art.
  • MJ M. shared that her joy was being here at AFM for worship and that one of her roommates from the past will be visiting soon.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

Friendly Bible Studies

The Adult Religious Education Committee provided another series of Bible studies using the Friendly Bible Study model (https://www.read-the-bible.org/friendlybiblestudy.htm).  There were two groups and their last sessions will be July 18 and 19. The morning group meets on Tuesdays at 11 am and is led by Francis W. (evening in Kenya where he lives). The study is focused on the Old Testament stories and relating the stories to present time realities. The evening group meets on Wednesday at 7:30 pm and is led by Nancy Jo S. This was a six session series and will be finished by July 18 and 19, respectively.

Contact Pat S. at info@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee will hold their monthly meeting on July 18 (Tuesday) at 5:30 pm on Zoom. 

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

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

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.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

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.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

Summer Break for First Day School

AFM First Day School is on Summer Break through the summer; however, nursery care is offered. Advance notice if possible is much appreciated for nursery care. For school age children, AFM is offering supervision and reading/drawing supplies during the summer. First Day School will resume on September 10.

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

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

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

On July 21 (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.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

The Adult Religious Education Committee

On July 21 (Friday) at 7:30 pm, the Adult Religious Education (ARE) Committee will be meeting via Zoom. The ARE is a sub-committee of Ministry and Worship and they focus on planning Meetings for Learning (MfL) and other spiritual enrichment events for AFM.

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

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

Committee Clerks’ Meeting

On July 23 (Sunday) at 9:15 am (light refreshments) with a 9:30 start, the clerks of all of the AFM committees and others who are interested will meet at a blended meeting (in person and on Zoom). Committee clerk meetings are an opportunity to discuss issues and concerns with more than one committee. Suggestions for agenda items are welcome. Karen C. will send out an agenda prior to the meeting.

Contact Karen C. at clerk@annapolisfriends.org.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

Friends Writing Together

On July 23 (Sunday) at 12:30 pm, the Friends Writing Together group will meet. Friends write from prompts for 8-minutes and then share (or not). Comments include encouragement and impressions. Only if a writer asks for critique is that offered. This is fresh new writing and is treated as gently as a delicate flower. Everyone is a writer and has a deep well of experiences to dip into. Come join us for the fun and exhilaration of expression and enjoyable conversations. All are invited. 

Contact Mary B. info@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

Worship Sharing on “Living Your Truth – Part Two”

On July 30 (Sunday) at 9:30 am, there will be a Worship Sharing on “Living Your Truth – Part Two” presented by Fran P. via Zoom and in person. The focus will be on defining our mission. Everyone is invited. It is not necessary to have participated in Part One. 

For more information, contact Fran P. at info@annapolisfriends.org.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

2023 Annual Session, BYM

The Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM), of which AFM is a member, will hold its Annual Session starting on Monday, July 31, until Sunday, August 6. There will be in-person sessions, as well as Zoom options. Please click on this link to learn more and on the link below to register.

 Annual Session 2023 Registration Form

For additional information, contact Barb T. at info@annapolisfriends.org.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

North County Meeting for Worship

On August 8 at 7 pm, the North County Meeting for Worship group will meet out of doors wearing masks at a friend’s porch in Glen Burnie. This group meets monthly on the 1st Tuesday.

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

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

Meeting for Spiritual Enrichment

On August 9 from 4 pm to 5 pm, there will be an opportunity for Spiritual Enrichment on the theme of “The Awe and Wonder of Creation” provided by Sylvia O. in person and via Zoom. It begins with a 20-minute reflection by Dr. Wayne Schwandt along with a few readings, including one which is sung, called “Anna’s Song.” This song is about the Gospel story of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple when he was a young child, but it’s a contemporary version coming from the Outback of Australia. We’ll enter into the silence then, followed by a few queries which invite us to share how we might experience and treasure the natural world more deeply

For more information, contact Sylvia O. at info@annapolisfriends.org.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

Meeting for Learning: The Sense of the Meeting

On August 13 (Sunday) at 9:30 am, Marcia O. will be presenting a Meeting for Learning called Sense of the Meeting: Beyond Consensus, which will be based on the Pendle Hill pamphlet: Beyond consensus: Salvaging Sense of the Meeting by Barry Morley. Copies of the pamphlet are available in the library or can be purchased online. The pamphlet is available for Kindle, also.

 For more information, contact Marcia O. at info@annapolisfriends.org.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

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.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

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.

Another in-person Meeting for Worship is held on a Friend’s porch in North County (Glen Burnie) at 7 pm on the First Tuesday of each month. Please see North County Meeting for Worship on the calendar. 

Contact info@annapolisfriends.org for more information.

↪Scroll Down for More ↩

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 July, the Ministry & Worship Committee has responsibility for the care of the meeting. All are welcome to help out at any time!

  • The Ministry & Worship Committee (M&W) oversees Meeting for Worship (MfW) by counseling and supporting those who are led to speak from the silence, giving encouragement and advice to inexperienced speakers and eldering individuals in a positive manner. It organizes members to greet worshipers, break Meeting for Worship, and welcome new attenders. It also arranges worship opportunities for mid-week and shut-ins. In addition, M&W coordinates Adult Religious Education activities and provides orientation for members, attenders, and interested persons to Quaker faith and practice. It provides clearness committees for attenders considering membership, considers requests for travel minutes, prepares an annual Spiritual State of the Meeting Report, and appoints a correspondent to submit information on Meeting activities, new members, transfers, and deaths to the Baltimore Yearly Meeting office for publication in the Interchange.

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

 

Photo credit: Ellen M.
Gardening credits: Cain K. & Sylvia O. (possibly others, too)