Bethesda Friends Meeting



Bethesda Friends worship 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.  Please click here for the schedule and to ask for the Zoom link. 


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 worshiping in person and also via Zoom.  

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.

BFM's Social Concern for March is 

a special support of local youth to attend BYM summer camp

The Social Concern for March is Supporting Two Youngsters from the Friendly Gardens Community to attend Baltimore Yearly Meeting summer camps through the Strengthening Transformative Relationships in Diverse Environments (STRIDE) program.

  • We are raising funds for their camping equipment and supplies. The Meeting budget will cover the camp fees.
  • Has your family attended camp? We'd like to have friendly outreach to these new families to help them become familiar with and welcome at camp.
  • For details and opportunities to participate, please visit this link.

 BYM Interim Session is at BFM!

Sat, March 23, 11:00-3:30

Join friends from the MD, DC, PA, VA, and WV regions who are coming to BFM for Baltimore Yearly Meeting's quarterly business meeting. 

  • Help BFM be a great host! 
  • Volunteer to welcome Friends at 10:30 a.m. 
  • Join us for potluck lunch (11:30). 
  • Stay for some or all of the afternoon meetings (ends at 3:30).  Child care available with advance registration.
  • More information at this link

 Welcome buttons made by BFM children


Peace and Social Justice Committee

Webpage

An Urgent Call to Protect Human Life and Bring a Just Peace to Palestine and Israel

At the January 7, 2024 Bethesda Friends Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business, a Minute about the violence in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel was approved by BFM.

  • Please click here to read this Minute. 
  • This page will give more information about the mearing of a Quaker "minute" and past Bethesda Friends and Baltimore Yearly Meeting minutes. 

Every Thursday: AFSC Meeting for Worship re: Peace in Israel and Palestine 

  • The violence in Palestine and Israel has impacted the AFSC (American Friends Service Committee) community in many ways.  Please join us every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. for a Meeting for Worship via Zoom, gathering in solidarity and holding those most impacted in the Light. All are invited. Register at this link
Every Friday: AFSC Action Hour for a Ceasefire in Gaza 
Join American Friends Service Committee (AFSa child is holding two precious eggsC) staff every Friday at 12:00 p.m. to hear updates from Gaza. Then, take action with us as we contact our elected officials and call for an immediate cease-fire and humanitarian access to Gaza. Our elected officials need to keep hearing from us.  To attend, please register at this link. 

    Introductory classes on Quaker

    Faith & Practice 

    A 6-session series for all who are relatively new or wish a refresher on Quakerism. 


    Meeting at 9:00 a.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of January, February, and March.

    • In-person AND on Zoom.
    • All are welcome, for one or more sessions. See the session list here.  
    • Please register using our Contact Us form..
    • Childcare will be available with advance notice.

    DC Quakers at DC Pride Festival, June 11, 2023

    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. 

    RECURRING EVENTS

    Experiment with Light

    At 7:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, people at BFM use a meditative and centering practice based upon Rex Ambler’s book Light to Live By. 

    This method describes early Quaker meditative habits and translates them into a highly accessible process of clearness and understanding. We use prompts at home that can be listened to onlinefollowed by a worship-share via Zoom. For more information and the Zoom link, use our Contact Us form.

    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 meets via Zoom, discussing a variety of books on both Quaker and non-Quaker topics.

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

    Please click here for more information

    using our Contact Us form.

    Wednesday Mid-Week Worship

    A group holds an at-home Worship

    on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m.

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

    8:00-8:30 PM
    Every Wednesday

    Comparative Religions:

    Exploring the Roots of Religion--

    Buddhism

    A BFM group attends a class  on Buddhism each week on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. for a half hour video lecture from The Great Courses exploring the roots of world religions, followed by a half hour discussion. 

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

    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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