Annapolis

• Interchange, Summer 2007
• Spiritual State of Our Meeting - 2006
• Interchange, Spring 2007
   
• Interchange, Fall 2006
• Interchange, Summer 2006
• Spiritual State of Our Meeting - 2005
• Minute for Tom Fox
• Interchange, Fall 2005
   
• Spiritual State of Our Meeting - 2004
• Interchange, May 2004
• Spiritual State of Our Meeting - 2003

Quaker Events In and Around Annapolis:

• America’s Quaker Roots: 350th Year Celebration
• Lecture on early Quaker history on the Chesapeake Bay,

Two events celebrating the 350th year of Quakerism in America and on the Chesapeake Bay will be held at the Old Quaker Burying Grounds in Galesville, MD this fall, in coordination with South County Fall Heritage Days. Galesville is the site of the original West River Meeting, founded in 1672, which evolved into Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.

The events, titled “America’s Quaker Roots: 350th Year Celebration” will feature historical impersonators as Elizabeth Harris, the first Quaker “messenger of truth” to Maryland, who reached the Chesapeake Bay in 1656; and George Fox, the founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) who visited Galesville in 1672. The Burying Grounds will be open to the public for tours, and information will be provided about the history of the grounds and of Quakers in Anne Arundel County. These free events will be held on Sunday, September 17, and repeated on Saturday, October 7, from 1 pm to 5 pm. An interactive presentation by George Fox and Elizabeth Harris will take place at 3:00. Parking is available. Information on these events is available at www.annapolis.quaker.org. The October 7 event will coincide with the Java Marsh Hike and Scavenger Hunt at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, located three miles north of the Quaker Burying Grounds on Muddy Creek Road, from 10 am to 2 pm. Admission is free. Details at www.serc.si.edu.

Annapolis Friends Meeting will also sponsor a lecture on early Quaker history on the Chesapeake Bay, featuring Dr. Kenneth Carroll, president of the Friends Historical Society, at 7:30 pm on Friday, October 27. The lecture will be held at the Pavilion at Historic Londontown and Gardens, located on the South River in Edgewater, MD. A reception will follow. Additional information will be available at www.annapolis.quaker.org or www.fourriversheritage.org.

Annapolis Friends Meeting is excited to be organizing a celebration of the 350th anniversary of Friends in North America. In 1656, Elizabeth Harris traveled from England to America to convince people to worship in the manner of Friends, and she landed and began her work in Anne Arundel County, Maryland (then part of Virginia). We are seeking grants to support a large celebration that may include a pageant of her arrival, a visit by George Fox, a float at the Fourth of July parade and speakers. We are seeing it as a wonderful outreach opportunity as well as a chance to learn more about our history.

We have continued to have Saturday night potlucks with a program to which the community is invited: in January, Mike Boehm of Madison Wisconsin, a Vietnam veteran who has started several peace projects in Vietnam; in February a showing of the movie “The Friendly Persuasion;” and in April, a showing of the movie “Crash” with discussion.

Margery Larrabee will be spending a weekend with us in April to lead a workshop on “Spirit-Led Eldering.”

In seeking to answer the question "Who are we and where do we stand before the presence of God," we posed and spoke to three queries during a worship sharing on 19th Day of the Second Month to help us assess our meeting and ourselves during the previous year.

Do we strive, during our meetings for worship and the rest of the week, to be open to the presence and guidance of the Inner Light?
Are our minds and hearts open to all in love and understanding so we build trust and honesty with each other?
Do we, individually and collectively, strive to make a difference - to make our world a better place?

From the silence of Meeting for Worship, we moved into worship sharing. As we rose to speak, many of us found that the queries intertwined, each one helping to support the other. Our meeting continues to grow. In celebrating our rich diversity, we struggle with the need to be more faithful in our listening and more caring in our responses. The common threads that ran throughout our witness spoke to both seeking and listening as co-important with action in practicing out Quaker path.

For many of us here, we rejoice in the strength of our Quaker heritage, seeking to embody what William Penn suggests: that we should strive for "Well done, not well professed, thou good and faithful one." Sharing the light is what we're doing in community. Quaker's strive to make the world a better place. "Peace and social justice are values that should characterize our actions. Our tradition is more then just taking part in rituals; it is a more continuous process of life." We spoke of Tom Fox, looking at his witness for inspiration, as we hold him and his companions in the Light

Yet for many of us, this joy of doing is also tempered with the hard realities of everyday life. Many Friends reflected that Living in the Light seems easy during our worship, but we find it hard to listen to the inner light - the other six days of the week. Seeing that of God in everyone is often a struggle in the midst of the everyday workweek. Seeing the Light in work colleagues is often difficult. We need to better cultivate the gift of silence, to embrace the use of silence elsewhere as a need for worship, to better nurture our worship. Our vocal ministry, our messages during Meeting, is often not always from the deepest spiritual state. But our meeting provides the opportunity to be open to God's presence and our own growth. This opportunity opens to the rest of our life, to let us make the effort to change the world.

One Friend reflected "My answer to these queries is `not as much as I want to ....' We as Friends need to recognize and accept that we are growing and becoming in different places. To be true to the Light, we must accept and understand that we can not demand we all be at the same place at the same time." "The Spirit of the meeting is integrated into my spirit. As an adult, this experience is even more enriching - an unbelievable gift. I am not `guilted', but given a wonderful sense of "doing the right thing" because I want to live in this manner."

One Friend reflected that she/he was "...not always sure Quakers are making a better place, or that people trying to make the world a better place become Quakers. I know that many at Meeting are trying to make the world a better place. We're not there yet but we're moving," adding that "...the still small voice of the divine is hard to hear in the secular world. My mind serves as a gate keeper to my heart, and learning to trust has helped me to hear that still small voice that often comes from listening to others in meeting. But it remains a challenge, how to hear that still small voice." Our tradition is one of life-long practice. "I inherited from my father a profound sense of compassion, one of binding things to community. But how do you practice during the week? Everyone has compassion, but how do you steer back into it." Another Friend was grateful for the leadings of members, which provide structure to enable us to grow in love and seek presence of God, noting the importance of silent retreats and workshops on deconstructing racism in letting us take an inventory of the self, living in a way that sees light within each of us no matter similarities or differences.

Many Friends reflected on the importance of the community extending beyond merely Firstday mornings that we gather for worship. "If I came only for the 60 minutes, I might never get the chance to know people, and this would be sad." We struggle with welcoming and getting to know new members, but not to appear pushy or out to capture them. "How can we make all feel welcome, and begin to know each other on different levels? Our Friendly Eights is a start, but we need to develop other suggestions. We're glad you're here."

One Friend noted, that often the best way to make a difference, "...is simply tiny acts of everyday kindness, and we can not lose sight of that." "Friends tend to be sincere; in a world that is often cynical, meeting becomes a haven -wonderful place to join in." One Friend gave grateful thanks for meeting during a recent family surgery. "Hardest for me was to learn to accept help. In the weeks following the surgery, friends have been my hands and feet. Does our meeting practice genuine caring and affection for others - oh yes!"

Many Friends reflected they were grateful to the meeting community, "... always a chance to listen and learn." Others noted that in striving to make the world a better place, we need to "accept wherever we are and what we can do, as the guide to where we should be acting. We need to do our best, need to recognize, to accept and do what we can." Another Friend noted that, "We need to see the beloved in one another and others outside of the group, know that our purpose is to serve." "Friends Meeting brings an awareness of what is going on in the world, I am very grateful. I pray for the highest good of all concerned and thank you for the welcome to this group."

One Friend finished with a collective thought that seemed to embody much of our meditation: "For the tasks of making the right decisions, for doing what is proper, `to walk the talk,' it helps to think , to be aware, to give thought ... to the little voice that asks, `What would a good Quaker do? What would a person of Good Will do?' I thank the meeting for being a guide on how to live."

Pastoral Care Committee We begin each PC committee meeting with a Community Building exercise which reaffirms our own sense of spiritual connection as we address the care and concern for those who have been identified in need. Every six months we follow up with friendly calls to members/attenders who have been noted as absent from Meeting for Worship to give a friendly greeting and encourage them to address any concerns which they may have. We have arranged several Clearness Committees for marriage and for other personal issues. A need was indicated for the use of the Suffering Fund and this was granted and funds are being reimbursed to Meeting on a regular basis. We sponsored a farewell social for long term members who moved out of the area. We initiated the formation of five Friendly 8's groups. We have discussed some possible ways to increase spiritual connection among members/attenders. One of our members has been very active in creating Healing Circle gatherings. The BYM Spiritual Formation Program has been implemented with one larger group each month meeting to discuss a reading and two smaller groups in which individuals share their spiritual journeys.

Individually PC members remain involved on the Annapolis Human Relations Commission; helped put together Reconciliation Study Circles with the Kunte Kinte Foundation; raised money for Afghan Widows and Children, and remained involved with Peace Action in community activities.

The Children's Religious Education Committee has worked hard during the past year to build trust and bridges based on love and understanding, within its committee, with Young Friends, and with the larger meeting. We have asked the meeting for help providing nursery care for our youngest Friends, a Family Play Area for our Young Friends, personnel for our committee, funds for remediating the Catoctin Quaker Camp Lagoon, school supplies and scarves for our partner class at an inner-city school in Philadelphia, and festive dinner foods for our holiday families. The meeting has answered those calls, and through our combined efforts this year we have made a difference in the world, letting our actions speak of our love for the meeting's parents and children, the BYM camping Program, second-graders in a run-down section of Philadelphia, and local families in need. The Children's Religious Education Committee once again organized the meeting camping trip in the fall, providing an opportunity for all segments of the meeting community to come together for a time of relaxation and fellowship.

Our Young Friends continue to amaze, with the energies and talents they bring to our committee and the larger meeting community. Whether it is making beautiful origami cranes to send to the Peace Park in Hiroshima, participating in the CROP walk, decorating Christmas cookies, singing and playing the violin for residents of a local rehabilitation center, organizing and delivering food and presents for our holiday families, or planning and pulling off a beautifully simple Peace Program at Christmas, our Young Friends are there, with heart.

The Library Committee is now an official committee standing on its own. We have 5 members plus the children's librarian when she is available. We will have had an open house to encourage usage of the facility. We now have someone present in the library after worship each First Day. We have asked that this room not be used for meetings to allow time for friends to peruse the shelves. We are planning to have a review in each month's newsletter either a book or pamphlet. One friend has offered to donate a computer that might be adapted for library use. He will investigate the cost of library software that could be used.

Outreach Committee has attempted to let the larger community know of the meeting's existence and to welcome visitors. We also have held a series of Saturday night potluck suppers with a program or video, sometimes alone, sometimes in cooperation with another committee. Unfortunately, we often have been too rushed in our meetings to adequately listen for the still small voice. Specific activities have included updating our webpage, selling Quaker t-shirts, welcoming visitors, hosting a Visitor's Sunday and a reception for new attenders, and establishing a social e-mail list for the Meeting. Specific programs for the Saturday night potluck series have included: democracy building in Palestine and Russia by two of our attenders, a family game night, a dinner theater with a local mostly African American Episcopal church, a program on a Vietnam peace project, and showing the video The Friendly Persuasion.

Ministry and Worship committee membership changed in the past year with the loss of a coclerk to a family move, the transfer of a member to another committee, and the addition of four new members. Currently, we total ten Friends. We have formed clearness committees for membership. We conducted a written survey about adult education and obtained 25 responses from AFM members and attenders to guide us in designing and conducting meetings for learning. As in years past, we organized meetings for learning in Quakerism 101 and other subjects, and led the "spiritual state of the meeting" process and production of a report. We hosted, on fifth first days, informal discussions about membership in the Religious Society of Friends. In April, we will host Margery Larrabee, who will lead a workshop on Spirit-led Eldering. We are working with Peace and Social Concerns Committee to design a combination meeting for learning and worship sharing about the Peace Testimony. Our hope is to develop a model for additional educational events around other Quaker Testimonies.

Stewardship and Finance Committee has been blessed with two new members this year. We have concentrated much of our attention on reviewing the Meeting's dedicated Funds and the Meeting's one-, five-, and ten- year leadings. Starting with silent worship, we review the day's agenda to ensure that the more urgent matters are addressed first. When so guided we reach unity in recommending that Meeting for Business start by considering two or more options, where both have merit but both cannot be pursued. We are conscious that our task is to make recommendations to, not decisions for, Meeting for Business. Currently we are seeking clearness from Meeting on its dedication of the 2005 budget surplus as recent demands on the Suffering Fund and Young Friends Education have placed sizable challenges on the Meeting.

Peace and Social Concerns Committee continues to feel Spirit moving among us. We have the sense of being led and energized. We see out committee works as acts of Quaker witness. We are concerned that we can not accomplish all of our goals, as we have begun to take on more financial decision making decisions. We feel that the challenges of our committee and Meeting this past year reflect the challenges of the world at large. Our acts of Quaker witness this year include: raising awareness of the genocide in Sudan through wristbands from Save Darfur, supporting FCNL's STEP resolution, raising awareness of the opt-out provision in No Child Left Behind to counter military recruitment, support for the Healthy Air Act, support for Tom Fox with weekly vigils, cosponsored My Lai presentation, raised money for AFSC Iraq Reconstruction, gave money to AFSC for Katrina relief.

Meetinghouse and Land Committee strives to carry out its responsibilities for caring for the material assets of Annapolis Friends Meeting in a manner that is mindful of the environment, solicits the views of Friends on how to meet the physical needs of the Meeting on controversial issues (e.g. expansion of parking) in ways that can lead to consensus, and insures that due consideration is given to Quaker principles when awarding contracts and doing other business of the Meeting.

The Annapolis Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends offers our prayers and support for Tom Fox and his colleagues on the Christian Peacemaker Team who are being held in Iraq. We hold them in the Light, as well as their families and all who are suffering because of the war in Iraq.

Pat Schenck, Clerk

Annapolis Friends Meeting is a busy place. Our young Friends are participating in the upcoming CROP walk to raise money for hunger. They are sponsoring an all Meeting weekend at Catoctin Quaker Camp. We have a new family play area complete with a bench made of recycled plastic. The young people have collected school supplies for an inner city school in Philadelphia again this year. During the year the children correspond with some of the Philadelphia students. We now have reliable child care for infants and toddlers so parents can go to worship, as well as an active First Day School program.

Each year the meeting includes in its annual budget funds to pay for members to attend the clerking workshop at Pendle Hill. Our committees and business meeting have reaped the benefits.

The Outreach Committee is sponsoring a once-a-month Saturday night potluck, many of which are open to the public. Chris Foley and Jennifer Collins-Foley spoke at one potluck about their democracy building experience in Palestine and Russia. Another evening we had a family game night. Yet another time we invited our member Don Lamb-Minor and his musical group to entertain us. We invited members of the mostly African-American St. Phillips Episcopal Church, church of several of the musicians, to join us. We had a lovely dinner theater.

Outreach also sponsors a Friday night dinner once a month at a local restaurant for Friends to socialize. In October we will have our second annual potluck reception for new attenders. Clerks of committees will explain their work, and newcomers will be introduced to the intricacies of the acronym organizations.

We are corporate members of Churches Without boundaries, an interfaith group working to solve problems of local poverty. We also support the Lighthouse Shelter and the county Conflict Resolution Center.