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Wednesday, May 20, 2020

When Zoom Zoned Out

Most of us don't know what really happened. But it's nice to think that it was all the religious services that overloaded -- and broke -- Zoom on Sunday morning. All those people trying to connect to one another -- reminding themselves (while they waited) of their easy and direct connection with the Spirit. Without a password. Without a participant ID. Because the Spirit is already reaching out to us all.

Persistence paid off for those who were able to hang in and wait for Zoom to catch up. We gathered in our virtual meeting room at about 11:30 for Afterwords, Joys and Concerns, and Announcements. We then returned for meeting for business, which included an excellent update from the Building Committee, and some enticing ideas from the Ad Hoc Strawberry Festival Committee.

Events

STRIDE Movie Night

Thursday, May 28, 6:30 pm via Zoom

STRIDE is hosting a screening of Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975. The screening will be followed by a discussion. The movie is not rated and runs 1 hr and 40 minutes. Facebook event here.

Join in on Thursday May 28th, 2020 at 6:30 pm using this Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85793956891. Donations for this event are graciously accepted, though not required! Donations can be made through BYM's website.

This event is offered by the Baltimore group of Baltimore Yearly Meeting's STRIDE program. STRIDE groups in Baltimore, Philly and DC work to create genuine diversity at BYM summer camps. Learn more about STRIDE here.

Spiritual Formation Mini-Retreat

Sunday, May 31, 1:00-4:30 pm via Zoom

The Baltimore Yearly Meeting Spiritual Formation Program is moving its twice yearly mini-retreats to a virtual environment. On May 31, Friends are invited to participate in a retreat on “Courage as a Spiritual Practice.” Find out more and register for the event here. Chloe Schwenke is our local coordinator for the Spiritual Formation program.

Continuing Revolution 2020 Online:
Transformative Conflict and Justice

June 5-9, 2020

Pendle Hill continues its annual conference for young adults, ages 18-35, focusing on the intersection of conflict and justice - on line.

"The Peace Testimony has ... had a distinct impact on Quaker culture, with some interpretations of it encouraging an anger-averse culture of conflict-avoidance among individuals and communities, which itself can allow the patterns of white supremacy, sexism, or abuse to continue," conference organizers write. "With these many influences, it is important to look at and practice conflict in a different way."

Find out more and register here. Financial assistance available through Adelphi Meeting and Pendle Hill.

Community News

Our Virtual Strawberry Festival

Catherine Vanderwaart reported for the Ad Hoc Strawberry Festival Committee. The committee has collected quite an impressive array of ideas from the community, and is now looking for people to volunteer to contribute to or coordinate some of the virtual events. The committee invites Friends to look over the notes (here) and write comments and offers of participation.

Poetry Reading Encore

Wednesday, June 3, 8 pm Eastern time.

Paul Jolly will join Joann Boswell again for a poetry reading (all the way from the other coast.) Find details and Zoom connection here.

Learn about Quakers Confronting White Privilege

Any time

In a new Quaker Speak video, Friends talk about how Quakers have benefitted from and sustained white privilege throughout our history. Tom Hoopes, one of the interviewees, acknowledges "For Quakers in the early 21st century, to take on this challenge is unbelievably difficult, heartbreaking on a daily basis, and exactly what we need to be doing."

Support for Women who are Returning Citizens

Ruby Steigerwald is collecting the following items to donate to Who Speaks For Me, a nonprofit that works with female returning citizens (women returning from incarceration) and other women in very difficult circumstances. Ruby is collecting gently used towels and washcloths, shoes especially size 10 and 11 (they don't have to be women's shoes per se), and socks, plus size clothing. If you have anything to donate, call Ruby.

Update: On Sunday the 17th, The Washington Post ran a feature article on the importance and effectiveness of the "Who Speaks for Me" program. Check it out.

Keep in Mind...

Helping Goes Both Ways

The meeting can help you through this pandemic. Friends are prepared to offer spiritual, practical, and financial support. Find out how, here in WHIRLS.

To Submit an Item for Silent Announcements

Send a message to the editor via an on-line form. The form prompts you to provide essential information (date, time, etc.) The editor will very likely edit your description for length, clarity, etc. So feel free to add any informal notes to the editor in the description box.

During the pandemic, Silent Announcements are sent out on Tuesdays and Fridays at about noon (except when the editor forgets what day it is.) Please submit items before 10 a.m. on those two days.

To Schedule a Virtual Committee Meeting

Send the info below to: Zoom2@adelphifriends.org

Your e-mail should include at least the following information:
(1) the title of the meeting (e.g. Finance Committee meeting),
(2) the date and time,
(3) recurring or one time only – if it is recurring, what is the schedule (2nd Tuesday of the month), including beginning and ending dates,
(4) contact person, and
(5) any special considerations (e.g., you need a technical person to help out or to host, you need someone to control breakout rooms).

Note that the specific Zoom invitation info for these committee meetings should NOT be put in Silent Announcements. Instead put in the Silent Announcement a contact person who will forward the zoom invitation to the committee members. You can also just send the zoom info directly to the committee members without a Silent Announcement.

WHIRLS

Relevant and still current information is being saved in a place where you can always find it -- a page called "WHIRLS." The links below will take you to sections of these announcements. Scroll down in each section to find your particular item.

WHIRLS stands for
Ways to Connect, which includes

After meeting gatherings
Friendly eights
Virtual worship for People of Color
Library Committee delivers
Adelphi Teens' Friday night hangouts

Helping in the Community, which includes

Couch Potato Activists
St. Camillus Food Pantry
St. Matthew's Food Program
Share food from your over-abundant garden
Mask-making for non-medical personnel
Helping with unemployment benefit applications
Advocacy: New military draft bill to include women

Inspiration, which includes

Messages, music, interviews and resources to help us get through this

Resources, which includes
- for kids and families

At home Activities and Art Events
Annie Patterson and Peter Blood web page for cooped up families
Book on explaining the pandemic to children

- for all of us

Guardian's list of home-based cultural activities
Community resource guide from Local 23
Richard Renner blogs on protections for workers who raise health and safety issues

Love and Support, which includes