There are many ways to get to know people at Bethesda Friends Meeting and, in the process, learn more about Quaker faith and practice. Here are some:
1. Please send a message to info@bethesdafriends.org so we can make you a name tag and send you our newsletters.
2. Please join us for After-Meeting Refreshments and Potlucks. At the rise of the 11:00 a.m. Meeting for Worship we have refreshments in the library and would be delighted to have you join us. On the second Sunday of each month (except July and August), we have potluck. Follow us across the courtyard to the Groome Building; help yourself to some food and introduce yourself by joining a table. Feel welcome to contribute a dish to the potluck, but if you did not bring a dish, come anyway. Your contribution is your presence.
3. Attend Sessions on Quakerism. These are usually held at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings, arranged by the Adult Religious Education Committee. Learn about many aspects of Quaker history, spiritual beliefs, and practice. Participate in discussions coming from suggested readings or about current issues in society. Some recent group topics included "It's Hard to be a Quaker These Days," "The Journey of Job," spiritual journeys in the Bible and of people in our community, and "Four Doors to Meeting for Worship." Come and introduce yourself to those sitting near. Watch Sunday bulletins and the monthly Newsletter for offerings. See our Calendar for details. www.bethesdafriends.org
4. First Day Sing! On the first Sunday of each month (October to June) is First Day Sing with the children of the Meeting. When they get up to leave at 11:20 a.m., simply get up and go with them. They will be delighted to have you.
5. Sign Up for Friendly Eights. One of the best ways to meet F(f)riends and be involved in interesting discussions is to join Friendly Eights. Groups of eight from the Meeting get together once a month, at a participant's home for simple meals and relaxed conversation. We have two "sets" of Friendly Eights groups: one for families with children; another for adults. Sign-ups are in August and September, but they are often looking for substitutes.
7. Pick Up Our Newcomer's Packet and A Copy of Our Directory and Faith & Practice. Three very helpful items are our Newcomer's Packet (on the hall table at Meeting), our most recent directory (listing names and addresses of people you will meet, as well as committees, important dates, and Quaker organizations), and Faith & Practice, which describes a lot about the Society of Friends and how we do things. Please pick up copies at the literature table or from the Head of Meeting in the front hall. Faith & Practice and many other resources are available on the linked web sites.
8. Please Attend Meetings for Business.
Meetings for Business are special Meetings for Worship for the conduct of the Meeting's business. These are held at 9:15 a.m. in the meeting room on the first Sunday of each month (except July and August; depending on when Labor Day falls, some Septembers we meet the second Sunday). Meetings for Business are open to all who attend Meeting for Worship and are an excellent opportunity to meet people and to learn about the many issues and concerns with which Bethesda Friends Meeting is involved.
9. Join Us at Spring Fling, Camp Catoctin Weekend, and other special events.
Spring Fling is a special event in May when we enjoy Middle Eastern cuisine and have a White Camel sale to raise money for scholarships for students at Ramallah Friends Schools on the West Bank. Camp Catoctin Weekend is when we go camping at the Quaker Camp in the Catoctin mountains with opportunities for hiking, birding, boating, and relaxation. There will be sign-up sheets in the library a few weeks before the events.
10. Frequently Asked Questions About Bethesda Friends Meeting. FAQS
