Weekly Announcements for October 23, 2026

Across the country, non-partisan vigils for peace and justice during our federal elections are being organized by faith communities. In nations all over the world, citizen witnesses for peace and justice during fraught elections are a proven tactic to lower election violence and election interference. In addition, faith leaders, including Quakers, have trained to serve as poll chaplains. Faith communities have a special role to place in this urgent American peace work next month. BYM encourages Monthly Meetings to be in touch with their congregational neighbors or local interfaith organizations to participate in or to organize vigils in your local communities. BYM is aware of the current vigils but knows many more are in the works!

• Richmond, VA - Sun, Nov 1 1 @ 3:30pm at The Early Center at Union Seminary
• Washington, DC/Surrounding Suburbs - Mon, Nov 2 @ 5:30pm at locations throughout the city, organized by All Souls UU and 16th Street Congregations
• Arlington/Alexandria, VA - Mon, Nov 2 @ 7:00pm at Mt Olive Baptist Church
• Shepherdstown, WV - Tue, Nov 3 @ 7pm at Shepherdstown Presbyterian, co-sponsored by Shepherdstown Friends Meeting

You are invited to join in witness on Saturday October 24 at 11 am, showing Love as Action to Farragut Square in Washington DC. We will join together in one hour of silent witness. Bring water, weather appropriate clothes, a portable chair (if needed) and anything else you need to be safe and comfortable. Bring signs showing our opposition to the Iran War, ICE lawlessness, and messages of love and support for communities that are suffering.

Langley Hill Friends Meeting will host a Halloween party on Sat, Oct 24 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. All ages are welcome. Come in costume or come as you are. (Just try to be sure we can tell the difference…😊) 

Guests are especially welcome. 

The BYM Faith and Practice Committee invites worshipping communities of Baltimore Yearly Meeting to join for upcoming info sessions on the next revisions to BYM's Faith and Practice. The committee is currently seeking input from the Yearly Meeting for revision of subsection I.B.18 under Life of the Spirit 18. Prejudice and Discrimination. As its work proceeds and input from the Yearly Meeting is sought, additional information will be available here on this page. In June 2026, the committee sent out an invitation to all of our worshiping communities to engage in this process together. By “worshiping communities,” we mean not only our local Meetings, but also our committees and working groups, our youth groups and camps, and other groups who gather in worship regularly together. The next info sessions will be held Saturday, October 31 at 10:00am. 

Join BYM's Working Group on Right Relationships with Animals for a Zoom on Oct 25 at 4pm asking, "Can we have our meat and our consciences, too?" John Sanbonmatsu, Professor of Philosophy at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and author of The Omnivore's Deception: What We Get Wrong about Meat, Animals, and Ourselves: The Omnivore's Deception shatters the conventional wisdom around the meat economy by reframing the question of animal agriculture from one of "sustainability" to one of existential and moral purpose. Can our exploitation of other animals for food and other purposes be reconciled with truth-telling, nonviolence, justice, and peace? 

It's time to tuck our camp properties in and make sure they are ready to weather the long winter.  Fall is a beautiful season at the camps and you are invited to come and enjoy the changing seasons with us! Come and show a little love to the places that mean so much to so many. If you have any questions, please reach out to David Hunter, BYM’s Camping Property Manager: davidhunter@bym-rsf.org. 

Oct 24 @ Opequon

Oct 31 @ Catoctin

Langley Hill Friends Meeting will host a Halloween party on Sat, Oct 24 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. All ages are welcome. Come in costume or come as you are. (Just try to be sure we can tell the difference…😊) 

Guests are especially welcome. 

Interim Meeting will be held November 14th at Opequon Quaker Camp at the Rolling Ridge Conservancy in Harper's Ferry, WV. Overnight hospitality in the Opequon Lodge is available on a first-come, first-served basis. A nature walk will be offered at 10am, luncheon and hospitality will begin at 11am, and business meeting will begin (in person and via Zoom) at 12:30pm. The General Secretary is seeking 4 volunteers to arrive at 9:00am to prepare the chili and cornbread luncheon. 

To submit your items for the BYM Weekly Announcements,
please email Admin@bym-rsf.org. 

Baltimore Yearly Meeting
17100 Quaker Lane | Sandy Spring, MD | 20860 USA
www.bym-rsf.org

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17100 Quaker Lane | Sandy Spring, MD 20860 US