Dear <<First Name>>,
Chesapeake Quarterly Meeting (CQM) will meet again on Sunday, 2/12/2023 hosted by Gunpowder Friends Meeting. We plan to meet both in person and online (hybrid) but will go online-only if necessary due to public health or weather conditions.
Our program will focus on Maryland legislation as the General Assembly then will be in session. We will hear from Quaker Voice of Maryland (QVM) and the Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform (MAJR).
You can find a recap of QVM’s efforts for 2022 at this link.
The Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform (MAJR) is also preparing for 2023. Its top priority will focus on reform of Maryland prisons including establishment of an independent correctional ombudsman and a renovated education program. Other issues it seeks to address are included in this written flier. More information at www.ma4jr.org.
Children are welcome! In order to provide them proper care, we will need to know if you will be bringing children by Friday, February 10. (Please include ages of children in your RSVP.)
Those attending in person can also enjoy lunch. We’ll put out a basket for pay-as-led contributions to cover the cost. Weather permitting, Friends may eat outside on the porch. Alternately, we can scatter throughout the meeting house. RSVPs are strongly encouraged by 2/5 to help with food planning and children’s program, but come!
Here is the schedule for the day. We hope you’ll be able to join us for the full day but if you can’t, please do come for any portion!
9:30 Coffee, snacks, and welcome
10:00 Meeting for Worship
11:30 Simple meal
12:15 Quaker Voice of MD & Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform
on 2023 Maryland General Assembly session priorities
2:00 Visioning/Worship-Sharing: “Where Do Maryland Friends Go from Here?”
3:30 Conclusion & Farewell
Possible queries for visioning session:
How can we better support Quaker Voice of MD and MAJR?
How are Maryland Friends led to respond to the fundamental racial and political divides in our communities and the Quaker Call to Action?
What is our future as Quakers?
For health and safety reasons regarding Covid and other respiratory infections, Gunpowder Meeting encourages Friends to exercise courtesy and prudence in deciding whether to attend in person or participate from home, especially those who consider themselves or their close contacts to be at elevated risk for severe disease or who personally have ongoing or very recent upper respiratory symptoms. In gatherings, proper masking is encouraged at most times, especially when indoors, out of respect for the many who do choose to mask.
