Weekly Announcements for March 12, 2026
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Spring Spiritual Formation Retreat Registration Now Open! |
Join Friends from across Baltimore Yearly Meeting for the next Spiritual Formation Retreat, May 1-3, at the beautiful Shepherd's Spring Camp & Retreat Center near Sharpsburg, Maryland, on the C&O Canal. Now with lower-cost cabin and camping options! We will gather under the theme: What About Prayer? What does it mean to pray? To hold in the Light? In these times we know, most of all, that we need to connect to the source of presence and love that guides and grounds us. There are many forms of prayer – come share and learn from other Friends as we seek to "sink down to the seed."
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BYM Peace & Social Concerns Networking Day - Tomorrow! |
The 2026 BYM Networking Day will be Saturday, March 14, 9:30am - 3pm at Friends Meeting School, 3232 Green Valley Road, Ijamsville, MD (near Frederick). We invite local meetings to come share their ideas and experiences for meeting this moment. 2026 focus topics will include: immigrant support, just peace for Palestine/Israel, anti-militarism, and Shepherdstown MM “harms” minute. The day will start at 9:30am and end at 3pm. Questions or requests (e.g., literature table space?), please e-mail: Dougevaughn@aol.com
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| Memorial Meeting for Byron Sandford, March 14 |
Byron Sandford (FMW/Friends House) died in January after a long journey with Parkinson's Disease. A Memorial Meeting will be held tomorrow, Sat, March 14 at 11:00am at the Miller Community Center, Friends House Retirement Community in Sandy Spring, MD. Friends attending in-person should consult the parking map. Overflow parking is at the BYM office. Friends wishing to attend from home by Zoom can do so at this link. We continue to hold Byron's wife, Susan Griffin; his children; and all who loved him in the Light.
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BYM Welcomes Andrei Israel as New Finance Director |
BYM is delighted to welcome Andrei Israel (Adelphi) as our new Finance Director. Andrei grew up in the BYM Camping Program, spending 13 years as camper, counselor, and trip leader at Catoctin Quaker Camp and Teen Adventure. He has been active in BYM and the world of Friends for many years, serving on several BYM committees. Friends may know him from his service at William Penn House (now Friends Place on Capitol Hill) from 2016-2019. Most recently, he served for five years as finance director for Temple Sinai, a reform Jewish congregation in Washington, DC. He also serves on the Board of Pendle Hill and clerks Pendle Hill's finance committee. Andrei can be reached at AndreiIsrael@bym-rsf.org or Finance@bym-rsf.org.
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| BYM Family Friendly Retreat, May 2 |
Join the BYM Religious Education Committee for a Family Friendly Retreat, May 2nd at Alexandria Meeting! We will enjoy good food, connection, intergenerational games, Faith & Play storytelling, interest groups, and discussion! Bring your enthusiasm for connection, a BYO picnic lunch, comfortable clothes for movement, walking shoes, games to share - and your dear self. Interest groups will include RE curriculum options and resources, more about Faith & Play, Q&A about Annual Session, and a historical hike to Woodlawn Plantation. Childcare and dinner will be provided.
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Homewood Seeks Operations Coordinator |
Homewood Friends (Quaker) Meeting is in search of a qualified individual to fill the position of Operations Coordinator. The primary function of this part-time position is to facilitate the effective daily operation of the Meeting office and to coordinate building maintenance and use. The successful candidate will demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills, a strong work ethic, a history of working effectively with a diverse group of people, the ability to juggle tasks and to work independently in a solitary environment, and be comfortable with exploring and adapting to new technologies. Familiarity with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) is a plus.
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| BYM Friends Supporting Friends |
BYM Friends Supporting Friends, a working group of the Yearly Meeting, can assist Monthly Meetings and BYM Friends upon request. We provide support, education, facilitation, mediation, coaching, and deep listening for BYM Friends experiencing unresolved conflict, differences, and tension interfering with the spiritual health of the community. To find out more or to request assistance, contact one of the two co-clerks: Ramona Buck; ramonabuck@gmail.com; 443 418 0392; Richard Thayer; richardevanthayer@gmail.com; 443 845 5717
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Save the Date: Budget and Apportionment Meeting, April 18, Online |
The annual Budget & Apportionment Meeting will take place Saturday, April 18th at 11:00am. This meeting will take place online, and all Monthly Meeting Treasurers and Clerks are encouraged to attend. During this meeting we discuss apportionment - including how apportionment is spent. Registration will open next week.
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| Christ-Centered Worship Sharing, March 15 |
The next Jesus' Friends Worship Sharing will take place Sunday, March 25th at 3:00pm. Each month, Jesus' Friends - a project of BYM Advancement & Outreach - sponsors worship sharing using a short text from scripture. If you would like more information, including a Zoom link and the scripture reading for the month, email jesusfriends@bym-rsf.org.
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Scholars and Others File Friend of the Court Briefs in BYM Case |
Several organizations have filed four friend of the court briefs supporting the plaintiffs in our case against the Department of Homeland Security. One of the groups that submitted a brief was Quaker Scholars, which includes professors Isaac Barnes May (Yale) ; Stephen Angell (Earlham); Jane Calvert (University of Kentucky); Thomas D. Hamm (Earlham); Julie Holcomb (Baylor University); Andrew Taylor (St. Scholastica); and David Watt (Haverford).
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| BYM Receives Mail from White House |
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Pastoral Care for Trans Friends: A Note from the Desk of the General Secretary |
During the years I served as a civil rights lobbyist in the North Carolina legislature, I grew close to my friend Simon*, a fellow lobbyist. Simon recently relocated to Baltimore, but at the time we met he was the only out transgender person in the NC capital building. We often laughed together about how people - from the security guards to the Democratic leadership - confused us for each other, even though we look nothing alike other than being short and masculine. And we shared long days of joy and of heartbreak as we worked together to defend the dignity of all people. This week, as I read about Kansas lawmakers revoking the driving licenses and birth certificates of trans people and courts and federal lawmakers working to strip trans adults of healthcare and even the ability to vote, I reached out to my friend Simon. "How do we even keep breathing?" I despaired. Simon responded with his characteristic grounding, sharing an artwork from his recent visit to the Baltimore Museum of Art. "This painting keeps me breathing. The sign on the coffee shop next door saying 'ICE not welcome here' keeps me breathing. The warmth and sun today keep me breathing. We remind each other to breathe."
These are unprecedented times for our transgender Friends, family, neighbors, and loved ones. The fear (and fury) feel bottomless. And still, we can remind each other to breathe with every "I love you." Below are a few timely resources for loving the trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming people in our lives and Meetings.
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To submit your items for the BYM Weekly Announcements,
please email Admin@bym-rsf.org.
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Baltimore Yearly Meeting
17100 Quaker Lane | Sandy Spring, MD | 20860 USA
www.bym-rsf.org
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