Midlothian

Midlothian Friends Meeting’s thrift store, The Thrifty Quaker, continues to thrive in these poor economic times. The store raises funds for charities each month that are chosen to be recipients by the meeting’s Peace and Social Action Committee (PSAC). The store, which is in its 14th year of operation, also donates many goods to organizations who support persons in need. Midlothain Friends Meeting also sponsors a fund called FriendShare that is advertised at the thrift store. This fund provides one-time monetary assistance to persons not associated with Quakers who are in need of paying a housing, medical, transportation, or utility bill. The Thrifty Quaker employees over Thanksgiving sponsored a Brunswick Stew and pie sale, raising over $2000 for FriendShare. The meeting is fortunate to have 6 dedicated and long-time employees at the store - most of whom are not Quakers.

Christmas Eve Worship had to be canceled for the first time in our 22 year history due to 18 inches of snow in the parking lot. Our gravel lot can not be plowed without damage to it. Quite a disappointment to Friends, but a reminder that Quakers of old needed no special Christmas Eve worship because they considered every day a holy day.

The month of January has seen transitions for the Meeting. Our committees and positions transitioned from the 2009 members to the 2010 members. After losing some very active Friends due to life events and moving away, we are grateful to have the active participation of newcomers on our committees. Our Meeting House has been undergoing extensive inside renovations and remodeling, as well as re-organization, in preparation for its rental to help pay off the mortgage and as a method of outreach. The Kitchen and Committee meeting room are complete. The renovations of the library will be complete in February. Once that occurs, we will begin advertising the Meeting House rental at our thrift store and via a new website. However, further renovations are still planned. The meetinghouse is nestled on 9 wooded acres next to a stream in a quiet, remote setting. Yet it is also only 2 miles from a suburban shopping and financial area, as well as easy access via local freeways. We are hopeful that corporations, clubs, and other organizations will find it the perfect spot to hold workshops and retreats.

Midlothian Friends Meeting is a small but strong community of Quakers, dealing with the same issues as other meetings. We continue to welcome and encourage those on their spiritual journey. Yet we also recognize that there are some concerns which need to be addressed – our unprogrammed format may be difficult for some to accept, we have some difficulty in keeping young friends, and we need to publicize information regarding our Meeting and Quakers as a whole. However, we provide a warm environment for those who come, we have strong committees without which there would be no Midlothian Friends, and we continue to seek ways to support our testimonies of Peace, Equality, Simplicity and Truth.

Our Meeting still has the spark of Inner light with which we started, nurturing both members and attenders. We accept people for who they are, as they are. Some are amazed at the depth of the worship found at Midlothian Friends Meeting (MFM) – it has touched their lives and their personal spiritual journey. MFM continues to offer a safe haven for those on their spiritual journey, providing a community in which spirituality is encouraged. We have a welcoming environment for participants. We embrace those who are newly attending, regular members/attenders, and those returning from an extended absence. A relocating attender stated that, “I’ll never find another community like Midlothian Friends Meeting.” Newer attenders express appreciation for being recognized, introduced, and welcomed. However, it has been expressed that our strength may also be out weakness. There may be a sense of no direction without structure, resulting in a need for doctrine or dogma. It’s difficult to have to travel on a spiritual journey on your own as opposed to having a pastor or written rules as a guide. Also, we have difficulty keeping young friends. As one member put it, we don’t have that sense of adventure young friends seem to crave.

It has been said that our Meeting House has an aura of worship. Members are impressed at the depth and seriousness of our worship; without an instruction manual, we seem to know when it’s appropriate to speak and when it is best to simply bask in the silence. The spoken worship is always spiritual and meaningful. Members have expressed that they have felt that a message was delivered, personally for them, only to find that it touched many or all in attendance.

Over the past year, two major issues have been addressed at the Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business (MFB) – same sex marriage and improvements to the Meeting House. We reaffirmed out support for same sex marriage. With respect to the Meeting House improvements, we are blessed with a sense of unity allowing us to make decisions without laboring over them. The various committees work well, presenting their work, concerns and thoughts at MFB. While attendance to MFB is small, we do continue to see a diversity in the members attending, which contributes to the richness and authenticity of those meetings. Due to this diversity, we have a strong sense of the Meeting in our discussions.

As indicated above, the committees have worked very well, nominating committee ensuring that all were adequately staffed. The committees provide members and attenders opportunities to participate and to contribute his/her own gifts for the benefit of the Meeting. It is because of these committees and their members that there is a MFM. Members express their appreciation for the work done behind the scenes that make Meeting happen. Those who have attended MFM for several years know of the various committees and their functions; however, it seems that this information – as well as who actually serves on the various committees - may not be as well publicized as it should be. We have added an interactive calendar on which the various committees may post their meeting dates; the calendar may help in this endeavor, but it is an area which could use improvement.

Because we do not proselytize, it is difficult for Quakers to raise awareness of who we are and what our testimonies are. This is also true within our own Quaker community. A few years back, a speaker presented some of the projects in which Quakers are involved and many who have been members for years were surprised by the variety of these projects, one example being that Quakers have provided security (body guard) services as needed. These services are provided regardless as to the person’s political or religious affiliation. They are rendered without weapons, using only bodies as shields. There has never been an assassination in these situations. To improve awareness, members’ suggestions include more adult RE in the form of studies – possibly Bible study - and movie nights. It was suggested that as we live our Quaker testimony in the community at large, we may wish to promote our values more by talking about them – or, as George Fox said, “walk cheerfully over the Earth, answering that of God in everyone.” That having been said, there are examples as to how we actually do reach the community at large. Our Peace and Social Action Committee keeps us well informed, concentrating on the Peace Tax but keeping us abreast of other developments, seminars and meetings. The Thrifty Quaker provides an excellent outreach to the community, selling gently used and new items at low prices (the proceeds of which are donated to various charities) and also making outright donations of these items. Bumper stickers related to the Peace testimony were discussed. While the Peace testimony is the most noted of the Quaker testimony, Simplicity is another favorite. In today’s world, this is one of the more difficult testimonies to practice, requiring us to slow down, be creative and encourage simplicity in our daily lives.

Midlothian Friends Meeting continues to offer members, attenders and guests a safe, nurturing community in which to pursue their spiritual journey. It is because of our strong committees and sense of community that we are able to do this. We do have concerns and we continue to address those concerns in a loving and thoughtful manner.

Interchange hasn't heard from Midlothian Friends in several years. Here's an update. Some recent changes have occurred regarding our meetinghouse that we purchased three years ago. A developer has granted us two additional wooded acres surrounding our existing two acres and agreed to also double the size of our parking lot at no cost. Additionally, he agreed to place five more acres of his wooded land surrounding the meetinghouse property under the care of the meeting so that it would never be developed. These measures have ensured that there will be a quiet setting for worship for future generations of Midlothian Friends in spite of the new neighborhood that will surround us. We have also completed our RE building that accommodates three classrooms and handicap access.

The Peace and Social Action Committee (PSAC) has begun to publish a newsletter with advices and news related to peace and social awareness. Additionally, they are now hosting a quarterly Quaker Forum where Friends explore peace and social issues. The committee has begun to sponsor letter-writing campaigns to government officials at our monthly potlucks. Donations by the committee to a different charity each month have dramatically increased this past year to several thousand dollars for each donation. These large donations are funded by our thriving thrift store, The Thrifty Quaker. The store, now 10 years old and self­sustaining with 7 employees, is undergoing major renovations.

The Care and Counsel Committee has concluded a 3 year process of discernment with the meeting, exploring the meaning and process of membership. There have long been ambivalent feelings within the meeting regarding membership and its place within a spiritual society. The meeting concluded that it views membership as a personal vehicle for spiritual growth if an individual Friend finds it helpful on his or her journey. Regarding meeting committees and positions, no distinction or preference is to be made between members and attenders. Youth membership has been eliminated. Accordingly, we've contacted all of our formerly designated youth members (most of whom have become adults), and revived their connection with the meeting as full members. Many other subtle changes in our membership process have been enacted to bring our process in line with our understanding and conception of membership within a spiritual society. An outgrowth of this whole discernment process has been an audit of our Meeting for Business minutes to ensure we have accurate membership records. As a result, 4 "missing" Friends were added to our records, and their relationship with meeting has been revived. This whole discernment process has strengthened our already strong bonds with each other, increased our understanding of the importance of inclusiveness, and surprisingly increased requests for membership significantly. The meeting now has 67 members and many more attenders - all of whom are able to participate equally, with no visible distinction, in the life of our meeting.

A charitable organization under the care of Midlothian Meeting established to foster the acquisition of Quaker facilities such as meetinghouses has been revived. The organization, called The Quaker Facilities Foundation, just established the web site www.QuakerFacilitiesFoundation.org and began advertising it in Friends Journal. Take a look!

Many of the young couples who once comprised the bulk of our meeting are now finding themselves on the upper end of middle age with many life challenges. Yet, the meeting still maintains its youthful vitality and energy as it welcomes a new younger generation of seekers.

This report grew out of a worship sharing at our annual Gathering for Clearness, held on April 23, 2005, in reflection of our growth and development during 2004.

On enjoying the depth of our community: Searching together in spiritual and emotional safety

Meeting is a deeply spiritual and positive experience. This spiritual power manifests itself in committee experiences, business meeting, and small groups. A baby blessing and welcoming to new members this year have felt deeply spiritual, and the growth of the young Friends as a group coming back into its own has been wonderful.

Our vocal ministry in Meeting for Worship is deeply respectful of the silence and comes from many different Friends of diverse roots, which makes the whole group more powerful. The love we have for one another comes through in our vocal ministry and is very affirming.

We nurture Meeting as a safe place for people to share differences. We are blessed in that Meeting is a safe place to both agree and disagree, as we are given the light to speak. Quaker Meeting answers our spiritual needs, known and unknown, and provides for social outlets like the women's group.

The burden of owning our own meetinghouse has been outweighed by the positives it brings. Potlucks are much easier to have now and space is sufficient for groups to meet, enhancing our sense of community.

Activities during 2004

Several speakers from Africa addressed our meeting at the rise of meeting for worship in February. Two Friends also shared with us their spiritual journey in Peru that month. Meeting for Nurture in March was on "Zen and the Art of Quaker Worship". In June, Meeting for Nurture hosted two guests representing the Virginia Muslim Coalition spoke of their Muslim faith.

The Midlothian Friends Newsletter is archived on our web site. The Midlothian Friends Meeting Book Group started a new season in September meeting at the cafe at a local bookstore.

A 'Paint the Meetinghouse' day was held in April at the MFM meetinghouse and we later received our Certificate of Occupancy from Powhatan County for the meetinghouse! We are now free to pursue several things: an out-building for R.E., a formal sign in front, announcements in local papers of our new location, minor modifications to the meetinghouse, etc.

We held a "Sign Raising" at the meetinghouse in September, putting up our new sign and doing some landscaping work

Also in September we held a potluck after meeting for worship dedicated to welcoming our newest baby girl.

Meeting for Nurture that month discussed the topic of "Celebrating a simple Christmas"

Building and Grounds committee held a workday in November at the meetinghouse.

Midlothian Friends Meeting at its Meeting for Business in November approved a method by which Friends can limit the amount of email they receive from the Quaker Town Crier if they desire to do so.

On meeting the needs of our personal spiritual life: Reaching toward our divinely given potential

Meeting engenders feelings of connection, belonging, and love. Resolving our search for the "right" religion, we discover that we each may be "meant to be Quaker". Meeting grows with us as a place to practice and explore change. In a great partnership, Meeting is on a journey with us.

Meeting is almost therapeutic in its healing acceptance. We grow to love and accept ourselves more; deepening our emotional connections in peace, quiet, trust, and faith It is our home in the deepest sense, where we belong and, in kindness, we learn the spiritual lesson of receiving.

The question of membership was taken up by Care and Counsel this year, inspiring us to see it not as a destination, but rather as a process and means to help support individuals with their spiritual journeys.

Meeting's embrace makes for a difference in our spirit. It is a unifying experience that removes tension in our families and raises cheers from the spirit in our children.

Activities during 2004

Our annual Gathering for Clearness was held on April 24th at the Clearing in Amelia County, starting at 11:30 a.m. with a potluck lunch. "Envisioning Our Future - Where are we going as individuals and as a community?" was the theme for this year's Gathering.

In October we held a "Threshing Session right after PotLuck to discuss "Membership at Midlothian Meeting".

Quakerism 101 began at the home of two facilitators in October and a Friend later shared her personal spiritual journey at the rise of Meeting for Adult RE.

On providing religious education to our children: Friends' history and Quaker practices

Our Young Friends group has really come alive with a new vitality this year. There was a period, when the group was so small, it would go to Richmond Meeting to meet their need for Religious Education (RE). Now we have a strong group here again. There often are 10 participants, and they are very insightful and eager to learn. It makes us hopeful for the future to see that Quaker values are growing in our young people.

Our need for an RE building has been pressing, but in the interim, Young Friends have enjoyed the adventure of sitting around the campfire each first day this winter for RE classes. They have discussed major queries and Quaker history. Future RE lessons might include use of the Bible, Quaker history, and why Quakers chose the path they did. They have started programs for social activism such as amnesty international chapter.

Our previous Young Friends are young adults now. It is so enriching to watch them grow up with Quaker backgrounds, seeing them at college, working at jobs, and getting married. We are blessed to witness their independent commitment to Quaker worship and values.

There is a depth and breadth of commitment throughout our meeting. It has been a wonderful and rewarding experience to be involved in joint committees with Richmond Meeting and the Clearing Retreat Center.

We have a whole new generation of toddlers coming to meeting but only a handful of dedicated people who take care of RE. This is worrisome and they are missed in worship. We need to share more responsibility for the RE program and hope that the new RE building will help make people feel more willing to volunteer in the new space. We are thankful for the RE volunteers and appreciate what they are doing with the children.

Our kids are good and it is the fact that we have such good parents here that make a difference. We learn so much as parents from the other parents here. We should consider a Quakerism-101 course for children so they can better understand what is going on and benefit from messages spoken in worship after they leave for RE classes.

Activities during 2004

On the 4th First Day in October we held a Fall Fun Fest!

Later our elementary kids held a craft fair at the rise of meeting to raise funds to buy a flock of chickens for a family in a developing country. Meeting also put together Christmas stockings for the Chesterfield Youth Group Home.

On promoting social justice: Making the peace testimony a reality beyond our own community

Our young Friends have impressed us with their strength and independent good works. They inspire us to rediscover our roots, rekindle our spirits, and become more socially active as adults.

The Thrifty Quaker continues its good works, supporting needy causes without focusing solely on money.

Last year the Peace and Social Concerns Committee changed its name to the Peace and Social Action Committee to better reflect its mission to promote dialogue about social justice in and outside of our meeting. Practicing our Quaker beliefs and living the peace testimony, we will make a difference in the world.

Activities during 2004

A discussion on racism queries was held in February at the rise of meeting during potluck. In September at the rise of Meeting there was a Quaker Forum on "Racial Preference/ Privilege".

Information about some Legislative items was shared during the year as well as ways to get our messages, concerns, and support to our Senators and Representatives by using the GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENT HOT LINE. In October we held a forum on " Vote 2004".

Frank Massey, General Secretary of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, visited in May. He worshiped with Friends and spoke to us at the rise of meeting during Meeting for Nurture about "Baltimore Yearly Meeting: Its programs and services". We later sent a minute from Midlothian Friends Meeting to Baltimore Yearly Meeting regarding financial support of FUM by BYM.

We received a rent increase for the Thrifty Quaker Thrift Shop of $300 a month, making our monthly rent just over $2000. But our plea and prayers were later answered and our landlord agreed to increase our rent only $67 a month for the entire 3 year renewed lease. This is by far the most favorable rent increase arrangement we have negotiated since the store opened.

MFM was a co-sponsor and participant in the First Annual "Family Peace Festival" with the theme "Peace Begins at Home", which was held at the Bon Air Methodist Church

With the recent concern within BYM on association with FUM, I am writing on behalf of Midlothian Meeting to verify that your records do indicate that Midlothian Monthly Meeting is NOT a member of FUM. At one time your records were incorrect, indicating that we were a member. I called the Yearly Meeting office when I was clerk of our Ministry and Worship committee a few years ago to correct your records. Upon becoming a monthly meeting some years ago we chose NOT to be part of FUM for the very reasons now being discussed among Friends within BYM. Please check your records at BYM and reply to those copied on this email. Midlothian Meeting should ONLY be listed as a member of FGC.

Spiritual State of the Meeting Report - 2003

This report on the spiritual state of Midlothian Friends Meeting draws from our vision statement that was drafted nearly a decade ago. At this time we looked at our ideal in the following areas: spirituality, community, religious education, peace and social concerns and commitment to Meeting. This report revisits these areas.

SPIRITUALITY:

Although our Meeting is our oasis from the world, we are also aware of our responsibility to the world, especially in light of the war in Iraq. Meeting is a place we can go for a sense of peace, belonging, and spiritual nourishment. It is a sanctuary from the challenges of the secular world.

The process of securing our Meeting House and the secular concerns surrounding that process have been challenging to our spiritual process as Quakers. As a community, we have learned lessons on the importance of adhering to Quaker process. Although these lessons have at times been difficult, we have ultimately grown as a community. Now that we have settled in, we are finding ourselves unwinding from the exhaustion of purchasing a new home, and settling into the depth and richness of worship. We continue to work on the quality of worship, which has been challenged occasionally as newcomers learn to seek their inner light. The silence of meeting for worship is meaningful to Friends, and continues to draw new people into our spiritual community.

COMMUNITY:

Although we have spent enormous amounts of time and energy in securing a new meetinghouse, we recognize that we are more than a building. Our community continues to be a place where we can feel secure in exploring our spiritual journeys.

We are excited about providing a spiritual home for the next generation. With a place to call home, we look forward to growing as a community, and offering a place for others to discover. A monthly newsletter, monthly potlucks, and programs offered by our Spiritual Nurture committee help facilitate a vital sense of community. The unconditional acceptance of one another is strong in our community, and provides a strong base from which we can individually and collectively grow in our spiritual lives.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:

Some young adults who have been raised at Midlothian Friends Meeting report that they grew up aware of the abundance love that was there for them and that the teachings of Quakerism have impacted their lives. Meeting provides an anchor for them in their adult lives. We need to be attentive that our current young ones are afforded the same opportunities.

With only one small room in our new facility to house nursery through Young Friends, our physical challenges are enormous. In addition, our teachers are tired because the task of administering Religious Education to our young Friends is not evenly distributed. Attendance at First Day School has significantly lessened.

Despite the significant challenges, the quality of Religious education has been good, and we remain committed to providing our children with a strong sense of community and a safe place where they can learn about their spirituality. Acquiring an outbuilding to house Religious Education will be one of our biggest challenges, and an ad-hoc committee has been established to rejuvenate this vital program.

PEACE AND SOCIAL CONCERNS:

The Peace and Social Concerns Committee has increased its activity level, and has been exploring ways to make even more contributions to the community. The Thrifty Quaker, a thrift store operated by Midlothian Friends meeting, continues to be an important vehicle for community outreach, and has made a significant impact in the community as it continues to share its proceeds with the private non-profit sector.

The volatile situation in the Middle East has given us reason to look at how we appreciate differences of opinion. As Quakers, how can we be tolerant of Friends who have difficulty embracing the Peace testimony? This dialogue has just begun and our hope is that we will grow from this issue, as well.

COMMITMENT TO MEETING:

Although we have experienced a collective fatigue with the purchase of our Meetinghouse, our committees are paradoxically stronger and more active than ever before. Having a permanent home has brought a renewed commitment and vitality. At the same time, we are needing to be aware of our individual and collective energy levels, and be attentive if we need to pause and rest from Meeting commitments.

With the purchase of a new meetinghouse have come increased financial obligations. (How is this going?)