Category Archives: News

Ministry & Care, Patapsco, Spiritual State

Spiritual State of the Meeting Report – 2014

BYM queries for 2014:

  • What supports the life of the Spirit in your Meeting community? What challenges and troubles are you facing? In what ways is the Meeting less than you would wish it to be?
  • How does your Meeting nurture the spiritual life of members and attenders? How does your Meeting help Friends live into right relationship, “a state of harmony and balance with ourselves and our families, our communities, our government, and the world that sustains us all.”
  • Is your Meeting as diverse as you would like it to be? How do you prepare newcomers for full participation in the life of the Meeting? What do you do to actively encourage and support the ministry and community participation of Friends of all ages—from Young Adult Friends, to families and young children, to elder Friends?
  • How do you reach beyond the boundaries of your Meeting to strengthen Meeting practices and share the wisdom your Meeting has to offer? Do you have relationships with other Monthly Meetings? A Quarterly Meeting? Do you reach out to BYM or other Monthly Meetings when facing a challenging situation?

Patapsco Meeting of the Society of Friends

Spiritual State of the Meeting, 2014:
Draft for Review Prior to Presentation at Meeting for Business

Supporting the Life of the Spirit Continue reading Spiritual State of the Meeting Report – 2014 →

News, Peace and Social Concerns

Emma & Tom Byrne Peace Award

The Emma & Tom Byrne Peace Award is established to recognize Howard County students working to promote peace and peaceful resolution of conflict. The Byrnes, originally from Scotland, members of Sandy Spring Friends and Patapsco Friends Meetings, were enthusiastically involved in Peace and Conflict Resolution programs in Howard County. Of particular note is Emma Byrne’s “Peace Rap” which she performed for the youth of Howard County in schools and community events.

Many have been attracted to Quakers because of the Peace Testimony. The enthusiasm with which Friends follow their leadings to “speak truth to power” in the pursuit of peace has garnered the admiration of many. Instead of joining in actions that may lead to destruction and death, Friends urge all to cooperate to save life and strengthen the bonds of unity among all people. All are urged to create the conditions of peace, such as freedom, justice, cooperation, and the right sharing of the world’s resources, seeking not only peace with one another, but also peace with the earth.

For more information see the full description.

News

June 2014 – Friends Journal Archive

Please check out the new Friends Journal archive at http://fjarchive.info
Friends-Journal-WebsiteLogo3-1.gif

This is an index of over 8000 articles by over 4000 authors on 200 topics for articles written between 1955 and 2011.

To access the archive, Friends Journal subscribers can sign up for an account online [click here] using your customer number (found on the mailing label of your Friends Journal.)

Our very own Jim Rose has been working with Friends Journal for three years to develop and share this archive.

Take a look and let Jim know what your think!

Ministry & Care, Patapsco, Spiritual State

Spiritual State of the Meeting Report – 2013

“What is Quaker faith?  It is not a tidy package of words which you can capture at any given time and then repeat weekly at a worship service.  It is an experience of discovery which starts the discoverer on a journey which is life-long.”

—Elise Boulding

During the past year, we have felt guided and supported in discovery, sharing our individual journeys and discerning our path as a community. Friends sense that we are being spiritually drawn together to build an inclusive, welcoming, and safe faith community.  One Friend described what has taken place in PFM this past year as a “coming together”—an intangible synergy among our many expressions of community life.

What supports the life of the Spirit in our meeting community?  How is the presence of Spirit apparent?

Our spiritual community was nurtured in many ways throughout the year. Our sense of fellowship deepened through an overnight Spring Retreat in the woods at a Quaker camp. Several Friends offered workshops, but the highlight was Continue reading Spiritual State of the Meeting Report – 2013 →