Weekly Announcements for June 13, 2025
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Annual Session Spotlight: All Ages Celebration
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Back in 2025 by popular demand, Thursday evening of Annual Sessions will be our All Ages Carnival. Each year, our high-school aged Young Friends help plan an evening of play and joy for all ages. Last year, Young Friends planned a wildly popular Carnival, which will return in 2025! On Thursday, July 31 from 7:00pm - 9:00pm, we'll gather on the quad of Hood College in Frederick MD to enjoy frosty treats, lawn games, a bouncy castle, and a variety of table-top crafts and games. Come kick back and enjoy a lazy summer evening of fellowship and Friendship. Did you know you can come for a single Annual Session event for just $25 - and kids are free! Annual Sessions will take place July 28 - August 3. Registration ends July 11 - register today.
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BYM Workshops on Peace in the Middle East, June 21
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The new BYM Palestinian-Israeli Peace & Justice Working Group (approved at the March Interim Meeting) invite you to a special workshop after Interim Meeting on Sat, June 21 from 4:30pm - 6:00pm in the Miller Center at Friends House in Sandy Spring, MD (the same room where Interim Meeting is happening!) Friends will hear from Allison Tanner, National Organizer for the Apartheid-free Community Movement affiliated with AFSC. Allison will update Friends on the work of the Movement and help BYM Friends and Meeting learn their own way into the work of building a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis. Can't make it on June 21? The new Working Group is also hosting 2 workshops at Annual Sessions!
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| Interest Survey: Workshop on Meeting Tax & Business Status
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As BYM staff have been traveling this spring, they've heard from several Meetings about their difficulty, as a church that has not filed for 501(c)3 status, in accessing some financial tools and vehicles, such as Venmo, PayPal, and Donor Advised Funds. The BYM Trustees are putting together a workshop to help Meetings navigate the different options available to them and to learn from other Meetings. Complete the quick survey below to help craft the workshop!
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Multifaith Dialogue & Action Event in Williamsburg, June 29
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Williamsburg Friends invited you to join them in attending a Historic Area Religions Together (HART) event on June 29 for an afternoon of sharing, connection, and commitment to making a braver, kinder world. Participants will hear from local African-American, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ neighbors about the religious values that inspire them, followed by table conversation and networking. Please join!
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| Hopewell Centre to Host Interfaith Spirituality Retreat, June 28
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Hopewell Centre Friends Meeting invites all to a Summer Spirituality Retreat, June 28 from 8:30am - Noon. Join for a Meet and Greet continental vegetarian/vegan breakfast, after which we will center ourselves with body prayer, chanting, and song. Two 50 minute workshop sessions will follow, with 6 workshops to choose among. Information on workshop options and how to register can be found in the flyer linked below.
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Oxford Friends Meeting Flea Market, June 21
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Oxford Friends Meeting will hold its annual flea market on Sat, June 21 from 8:30am - 2:00pm. This year is shaping up to be the biggest Oxford Friends Flea Market yet! Come browse the goods, grab a snack, and learn about Friends in this special area of our Yearly Meeting. Proceeds from the flea market will go toward the East Nottingham Restoration Fund to support repairs at the historic Brick Meeting House.
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| BYM Friends Attend Gaza Walk
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Earlier this month, Friends Meeting of Washington joined the UNRWA-USA annual DC Gaza 5K Run and Walk to raise funds to support Gaza's one million children. FMW Quakers were among the top ten fundraising groups, raising over $12,500 for Gaza's children. Thank you to every member of the team and everyone who donated to this important Quaker ministry of promoting peace and justice in Israel/Palestine.
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Quaker House Responds to Activation of Troops Under Insurrection Act |
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“Quaker House is a manifestation of the Friends’ Peace Testimony.” This first sentence of our Mission Statement establishes the fact that we are opposed to all war, all militarism, and all senseless act of violence. Quaker House is opposed to the use of military personnel and resources in reaction to an imagined insurrection in California and other regions. We understand the use of these resources to be in violation of federal laws, the Constitution, and the basic human right to protest unlawful actions by a government. We are working with partner institutions to identify options and resources for military participants and civilians to oppose these actions and any potentially illegal orders given to the activated troops.
It is not clear what orders have been, or might be given, to military participants, which means that it is not possible for anyone to know what is or isn’t an illegal order. Quaker House and our allies are prepared to give the best advice and counsel that we can to anyone who has questions about any aspect of their participation, including any actual orders that have been received. No information provided by Quaker House or the GI Rights Hotline is intended to be legal advice and we are not qualified to give legal opinions.
Any current military participant looking for information and counseling should contact the GI Rights Hotline at 877-447-4487 or girightshotline.org.
The Military Lawyers Task Force has issued a statement that can be accessed here. The lawyers of MLTF are working to develop some kind of guidelines based on the available law for what may or may not constitute illegal orders.
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| Friends to Hold in the Light
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- Family of Bob Heaton (Gunpowder), d. 06/12/2025
- 140+ BYM Camps Seasonal Staff, as they arrive to camp this weekend
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To add Friends from your Meeting to our weekly list of Friends to Hold in the Light, please email LucyAzenga@bym-rsf.org.
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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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