Donate here |
Bethesda Friends Meetinghouse is closed during the Covid pandemic,
but our spiritual connection and activities are continuing
Friends can meet on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. via a Zoom worship connection
Welcome to Bethesda Friends Meeting
| Summer Camping ProgramEnrollment for the BYM camping programs (at Catoctin, Opequon, Shiloh, and Teen Adventure) began on January 15. The camps are residential for children ages 9 to 17. Anyone may apply on-line (please do!). Spaces are available first-come, first-served, so please register as s To register, go to: www.bymcamps.org Why consider a sleep-away Quaker camp for your children (9 years and older)? For many children, Quakerism and Meeting for Worship are seen as a “grownup” religion and experience. At camp, however, children experience the Inner Light in a natural setting, in outdoor silent worship, and in community with their peers and well-trained, talented counselors, many of whom were once campers themselves. Campers detach from electronics and social media to have fun playing and participating in camp activities; they gain the confidence that comes from learning practical life skills through daily camp chores; they make lasting friendships with children from other parts of the area or country. The Quaker camp setting and program afford opportunities for experiential, multi-sensory learning that weekly FDS and traditional school cannot provide. | All Quaker camps are open to children whether they come to BFM or not, so please share this information with others who might be interested. For details about the camps, visit www. bymcamps.org or contact Camp Program Manager, Brian Massey: 301-774-7663,
Bethesda Friends Meeting offers financial support for these valuable camp experiences, so we invite you to inquire about how to apply. For those who might want financial assistance for their children, our Meeting would like support our children going to camp to the extent of $500 assistance each on a first come, first served basis. If you are interested, please contact the co-clerk of Pastoral Care: David W. (see Directory or use "Contact us.") |
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 and learn more about Quakers at quakerspeak.com |
Toy Drive for A Wider Circle's Holiday Program BFM's youth sponsored a toy drive for A Wider Circle's Holiday Program in December 2020.
| Annual Walk-a-thon for Interfaith Works homeless program In November 2020, our Religious Education program raised money for the Interfaith Works Help the Homeless program. Sixteen people representing eight families walked in Bethesda on a lovely fall day, holding signs and banners high while staying physically distant. Generous donations from those who walked and those who joined in spirit totaled $635 giving Bethesda Friends Meeting second place in overall donations! |
Bible Study, every Thursday 7:00 p.m. on Zoom BFM Bible Study meets every Thursday in January at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom using the Great Courses series, Understanding the Old Testament. Click here for details. |
Food drive for Manna Foods in Gaithersburg, MD. Students from BFM's First Day School organized a food drive. |
In early July 2020, the children and their families visited Manna Food Center and dropped off about 660 pounds of donations that they collected from BFM friends and families. |
Upcoming events
UPCOMING EVENT DETAILS | RECURRING EVENTSSunday Meeting for Worship (Please click here to see BFM's worship schedule while the Meeting House is closed) 11:00 AM Every Sunday Visitors are welcome. Monthly Spiritual Formation Program 3rd Saturday of each month October 2020-June 2021 1:30 p.m. via Zoom Do you want to journey together in a community of like-hearted souls? If so, join us for the nine-month BYM spiritual formation program.
For detailed information and registration/contact information, please click here. 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 announcement here. After the virtual Meeting there is a sharing time afterwards. 8:00-8:30 PM Please see our events calendar for more information. BFM Book Group (This group is meeting via Zoom while BFM is closed. Please contact Leslie S. [see Directory] for an update.) 1:30 - 3:15 PM Please see information in the most recent newsletter or click here to find the event on our calendar. Resource: How to Calculate your Carbon Footprint To follow up on this past event Use our Carbon Footprint Resources (pdf) |