Bethesda Friends Meeting



WELCOME VISITORS     events    

COVID-19 Meeting Information

Bethesda Friends are worshiping together

on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. via two venues 

  1. Indoors in the Meetinghouse at the Sidwell Friends Lower School, 
  2. Online via Zoom. 


    Welcome to Bethesda Friends Meeting

    We're Quakers who meet every Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
    Our meetinghouse is on the Sidwell Friends Lower School campus.
    We are now worshiping via Zoom as well as indoors.  

    We strive for:

    SIMPLICITY - Learning to discern the essential from the non-essential.

    PEACE - Living in a spirit that takes away the occasion for all war.

    INTEGRITY - Being who we truly are and truly meaning what we say.

    COMMUNITY - Knowing that we need one another in order to be whole.

    EQUALITY - Knowing that everyone, everywhere is equally precious to God. This includes people of all ages, abilities, sexual orientation, races, ethnicities, levels of resources, and theological perspectives.

    STEWARDSHIP - Caring for the environment and using time and resources wisely, not wastefully.

    We are a welcoming community.
    We believe there is that of the Divine
    in every person.

    See more videos & learn more about Quakers at quakerspeak.com

    BFM's Social Concern for February is

    Bethesda Help  

    The Social Concern for March is Bethesda Help. Hunger in our community comes in many forms and is probably more widespread than most of us realize. Approximately 63,000 of our neighbors in Montgomery County are not always sure where their next meal is coming from. Bethesda Help offers immediate short-term food, financial assistance for rent (to prevent eviction), utility bills (to prevent service interruption), and prescription medicines (as needed) to residents in southern Montgomery County.

    To donate to this Social Concern, please go to https://www.bethesdafriends.org/Donate-&-Support-the-Meeting.  Be sure to designate that your contribution is for the social concern. 

    FCNL Policy Note on Reproductive Health Care 

    The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) has asked local Friends Meetings for discernment on FCNL's Policy Note on Reproductive Health Care.  This request arises from concern from Friends around the country on the lack of a clear policy position on reproductive health issues following the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022.  Input from Meetings is requested by May 1, 2023.

    • BFM is holding a series of opportunities for Dialogue and Discernment on the multiple aspects of this issue.  All are encouraged to participate. Click here for more information. 

    Queries and structure to support discernment 

    • What does reproductive health care look like in the world that you and your community seek?

    • How are Quaker values and testimonies relevant to the issue of reproductive health and abortion?

    • Should the FCNL Policy Statement be revised on the issues of reproductive health and abortion?

    • If so, what should the Policy Statement say?

    Upcoming activities on this topic are being organized by Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM), Bethesda Friends Meeting (BFM), Friends Meeting of Washington (FMW), and Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL).


    CALLING FOR VOLUNTEERS

    If you are a BFM member or attender,

    can you help with our children on any 2nd, 4th, or 5th SUNDAY?

    Families with children are an important part of Bethesda Friends Meeting (BFM).  They are the future of our Meeting and indeed of Quakerism.
    • Families with children need child care in order to participate in Meeting for Worship and other BFM activities.  Currently, we provide care for preschool children every Sunday using paid professional childcare helpers, and offer First Day School (FDS) for older children on the first and third Sundays of the month. 
    • We are looking for two volunteers on the second, fourth, and fifth Sundays when there is no First Day School. 
    • The volunteers would be paired with the paid professionals to play in the pre-K room or to play in the playground outdoors.  
    • Please click here for more information. Or email youthsafety@bethesdafriends.org so that we can direct you to the Sign-Up Genius form to choose a Sunday that fits your schedule.   
    BFM friends take the icy plunge: For the work of CCAN, for our Earth, and for our children and creatures

    BFM Friends Travis G. and Dan W. both took the CCAN 'Keep Winter Cold' plunge on February 11, 2023.  
    Travis biked to a local creek and immersed himself in the icy water. He was part of a plunge team called the Ice-Nine.

    Dan took his plunge as part of Team Crab at the National Harbor. where CCAN organizes the mass plunge with speeches and music.

    All went smoothly, and between them they raised more than $2,400, mostly from BFM donations.

    Would you like to add to the donations? Please click here.  




    baltimore yearly meeting (BYM) summer camp enrollment opens

    One of the most popular programs of Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) is the camping program at Catoctin, Opequon, Shiloh, and Teen Adventure Quaker Camps. Kids have a wonderful time in the natural world and getting to know one another. The camps are residential for children ages 9 to 14, with a trips-based program for 15- to 17-year-olds. Enrollment for BYM camping programs begins Sunday, January 15, at 12:00 p.m. For details and to register, please visit this link. Our Meeting would like to support our children going to camp to the extent of $500 each, on a first-come first-served basis. If you'd like more information, please use our Contact Us form.

    Pandemic Silver Linings

    As we came to the end of 2022, we've been asking whether the pandemic led to any surprising, helpful, delightful, or important personal discoveries.

      Sunlight shines on a glass of water next to a pad of paper and a pen. (iStock photo)

      Does this question speak to you? If so, please consider sharing what you learned. 

      • An outline might be: What did you discover? How did you discover it? What difference did it make? 
      • Writers of all ages are welcome. Brevity, too. Anonymity is fine; photos and artwork are very welcome.  
      • Please email contributions to both Peggy E. and Frank G. (see your print directory). 
      • To visit the current submissions, please click here.  
      COVID-19 AND END OF LIFE ISSUES
      • BFM has formed an End of Life Group to provide legal, spiritual, and practical resources to help our community cope with the uncertainties and fears surrounding the end of life. 
      • The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly elevated concerns about the health of family and friends, and the possibility that they could become gravely ill and die. 
      • Although conversations with our loved ones about such a possibility are difficult, it’s important to prepare.
      • Please click here to see more details and resources. 


      COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS

      • All are invited to the comparative religions study group, which began a year-long course in October: "Exploring the Roots of Religion. " It is a lecture series from Great Courses, and you can drop in anytime. We meet weekly on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for a half hour lecture and a half hour discussion. 

      • A group of 8 to 10 has been meeting, and we greatly enjoy the fellowship as much as the lessons. You are welcome to join anytime.  For more information on the weekly topic, please click here

      • Use our Contact Us form to get the Zoom link, or see your email bulletin. Each session is self-contained, so you can attend any session.

      Upcoming events

      Black Lives Matter walk in Bethesda, MD

      Resource: How to Calculate your Carbon Footprint

      To follow up on this past event

      Use our Carbon Footprint Resources (pdf)

      RECURRING EVENTS

      Sunday Meeting for Worship

      (Please click here to see BFM's worship schedule

      11:00 AM Every Sunday 


      Visitors are welcome.

      BFM Book Group

      This vibrant group is now meeting via Zoom, discussing a variety of books on both Quaker and non-Quaker topics.

      Please contact Leslie S. [see Directory] for an update.

      1:30 - 3:15 PM
      2nd Saturday of each month

      Please click here to find the event on our calendar.

      Wednesday Mid-Week Worship

      While the Meeting House is closed, our mid-week Worship on Wednesdays is meeting virtually.

      If you wish to join the  group, please read the weekly announcement here. After the virtual Meeting there is a sharing time afterwards. 

      8:00-8:30 PM
      Every Wednesday


      Bethesda Friends Meeting

      Mailing Address:
      P.O. Box 30152, Bethesda MD 20824

      Our Meetinghouse is on the campus of the Sidwell Friends Lower School at the intersection of Edgemoor Lane and Beverly Road in Bethesda, Maryland

      We are a member of the Religious Society of Friends

      www.bethesdafriends.org
      301-986-8681
      info@bethesdafriends.org

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