A Loving Community for Your Spiritual Journey
All are always welcome
We meet in silent worship every Sunday at 10:30am, followed by Simple Meal.
We have programs to nurture the spiritual growth of our children.
For more information on our silent worship, our spiritual community, and the Quaker way, check out our Newcomer Packet.
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How does the Spirit prosper among us?
Patapsco Friends Meeting has changed since its birth in 1996. What was once a small, fledgling group is now 13 years old and maturing in many ways. In the eyes of Baltimore Yearly Meeting we are no longer considered small but “medium-sized.” In 2009 we have consistently filled our meeting space with about 30 people each First Day. Individuals who attend our Meetings for Worship on a regular basis have sensed the spiritual depth of the Patapsco Friends community. The messages shared have been thoughtful, heartfelt, and spiritually uplifting. Continue reading Spiritual State of the Meeting Report – 2009
From the minutes of the meeting for worship with a concern for business, 3/7/2010, this minute supersedes the minute on a Personal Assistance Fund from 9/2000:
If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; not withstanding ye give them not those things which are useful to the body; what doeth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:15-17
A Personal Assistance Fund is established as part of the General Budget.
The Personal Assistance Committee is appointed to oversee disbursements from this fund to members and regular attenders as requested.
The committee that oversees this fund shall be available in a timely way to those asking for assistance who have bodily needs: food, clothing, shelter or medical needs which if not met quickly are likely to become urgent. Requests for aid should be made to the clerk of the committee.
Any two members of the Personal Assistance Committee have the authority to disperse up to 50% of the amount remaining in the Personal Assistance Fund at the time of the request. If more funds are needed, the requestor must meet with the Personal Assistance Committee.
Members of the committee should seek to discern the nature of the help being requested, the level of help being requested, the likely duration of the problem and the ability of the committee to give the requested aid, and the rightness of the request.
The committee should help the person requesting aid to develop a plan to address his/her needs.
Committee members should be prepared to follow up with the person requesting aid and to provide spiritual support.
The business of the committee shall be conducted in strict confidence. If, however, the committee and person requesting aid are clear the problem is not a bodily need, or goes beyond bodily need or that the need exceeds the resources of the Personal Assistance Fund, then, with the agreement of the person requesting aid, the committee may refer the problem to another committee or to the Meeting as a whole.
Disbursements made from the fund shall be considered non-interest bearing loans. After a disbursement has been made, it shall be the responsibility of the committee and the person requesting aid to establish a plan for repayment, as appropriate. If it is appropriate to have a repayment plan, the plan should be one that the person requesting aid can in good faith agree to. Aid should not be dependent on the likelihood of repayment.
The committee shall have 3 members, all of whom are regular attenders at Patapsco Friends Meeting. One member shall be appointed from and by the Ministry & Care Committee, one shall be the Treasurer of the Meeting and one shall be appointed by the Meeting through its nominating process. The term shall be for 2 years.
After approval by the Meeting of the members of the committee, it will meet to select a clerk, review its purpose and determine any other necessary business. All other meetings will be called.
The Committee shall report the amount of aid given and the number of people who have received aid to the Business Meeting at least once a year.
Approved on March 7, 2010
Exploring Quakerism sessions happily occupied us at PFM from September through December. We gathered on 2nd and 4th Sundays to read and reflect on topics ranging from simplicity and integrity to Meeting for Worship and the spiritual work of a Business Meeting. Our sessions culminated with a lively “alphabet soup” simple lunch where Friends reviewed Quaker organizations and lingo.
Adult Religious Education continues on with Third Sunday Spiritual Enrichment Sessions. We have plans for a session on clearness committees and the re-scheduling of our “snowed out” session on the writings of John Woolman. Sunday January 17 the film Minds on the Edge will be shown by the recently created Mental Health Ministry. Continue reading Interchange – Winter 2010