Meeting for Worship Sundays 10 AM Children
Welcome First
Day School 10:15-11 AM Cooper House 305 Washington Street Blacksburg, VA 24060 (Enter from the back of the building on Clay Street)
Steve Hulburt, Clerk (540) 552-0200
Who Are We? We are Quakers, members of the Religious Society of Friends. We gather to worship in silence, believing that God's spirit can touch each of us directly, without the need for rituals or intermediaries. In the silence we try to settle into a deep place of stillness at the center of our being, where we can discern what God means in our lives. There we find healing and renewal, new understanding of what we ought to do or say, and the strength to do what we must. Sometimes someone will rise and speak out of the silence, sharing the insights or questions that come out of the spiritual search. We listen to each other with love, hearing not only the words --- which may, if we listen carefully, speak directly to our own needs --- but the spirit behind the words. We are a community, and we need each other. At the close of meeting we shake hands with our neighbors, affirming the communal experience we have shared. Quakerism
began in England in the seventeenth century out of a desire to
return to the basics of Christianity. But we have no formal creed.
Most Quakers consider themselves Christians, and we
commonly turn to the teachings of Christ to guide our spiritual
journeys, but we believe that God is equally present to
everyone, everywhere, of whatever religion.
In this meeting, we joyfully acknowledge a wide diversity
of religious backgrounds, and believe that such variety enriches
our community. We
welcome ministry from many different perspectives, as long as it
arises from a heartfelt seeking for truth. The
fundamental teaching of Quakerism is that God is available to
all of us; that every person is gifted with a holy seed, an
inner light, a direct connection to the divine.
This is the basis for the social testimonies for which
Quakers are best known. We
feel that every life is precious in God’s eyes, that we are
called to try to nurture the good in people, to break down the
barriers of injustice and prejudice which stifle human
potential, and to work for peace and healing in the world.
We seek to witness for honesty and simplicity in our
daily lives, for example by renouncing gambling, immoderate uses
of alcohol, and other distractions, because we do not want to
lose sight of that which is truly important.
We do not expect everyone to take on all of these
concerns. Each of us is called to his or her own particular task. What we do as individuals may seem a very humble contribution to increasing the good in the world. We Quakers, are after all, very much like everyone else in our troubles and inadequacies. But we believe that the spirit of God is at work within us, prodding and prompting and helping us to be more faithful and loving. We believe that when we follow the gentle promptings of the spirit, more leadings will follow. As a community, we can accomplish more than any one of us alone. Perhaps you would like to join us on this journey. If you have found our meeting for worship refreshing or helpful to you, please come again. (Reprinted
with permission from Swarthmore Friend’s Meeting) Blacksburg Monthly Meeting is part of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting. Their introductory statement also provides an introduction to the Religious Society of Friends. Meeting for Worship and First Day School
Visitors are welcome! We meet for unprogrammed worship at 10am on First Day (Sunday) for an hour. Children are welcome. Children are expected to take part in the first 15 minutes of worship, after which they retire for religious education (First Day School) and nursery care. Events and Announcements Events
Announcements Women's Group meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm. Call 552-6911 for more information. Youth group meets monthly on Wednesday evening. Contact Akke Hulburt at 552-0200 for more information. The Men's Group is embryonic. Contact Steve Hulburt (552-0200) to indicate your interest. Newsletter Michelle Wilkins, Editor The newsletter is typically posted during the week following Monthly Meeting. Ministry and Oversight
Steve Hulburt, Clerk Akke Hulburt Carole McNamee Liz Tuchler Jay Wilkins
Ministry and Oversight meets quarterly and as needed. The Queries (from Baltimore Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice) The Queries are a device used within the Society of Friends for prompting both corporate and individual self-examination. They have varied through time and from Yearly Meeting to Yearly Meeting, reflecting current regional insights as to the best way for Meetings and individual Friends to live their spiritual and temporal lives. It is the practice in most Monthly Meetings to read and consider a query at each meeting for business. We urge consideration of these queries by all Friends. Following each Query, one or more references relevant to that Query are given. Friends may wish to use selections from these passages, or others, to read as Advices with the Queries. Blacksburg Meeting addresses queries at the Meeting for Worship on the first Sunday of each month.
Blacksburg Friends Directory Project --- To help us maintain contact with our community of friends, Polly Archer is compiling a Blacksburg Meeting Directory. Please e-mail Polly Archer to update your information.
Blacksburg Friends Biographies Project --- Meet Blacksburg Friends. The compilation of brief biographies can be found in the bookcase in our Cooper House meeting space. To add or update your bio email Carole McNamee.
Stewardship and Finance
Allen Briggs, Clerk Phoebe Crofts Mark McNamee
Peace and Social Concerns
Starflower O'Sullivan Jim Shotts Alwyn Moss Josie Shotts
Activities
Letter writing activities are scheduled for the second Sunday of the month when needed.
Alternative to the draft initiative --- Dustin Potter, Allen Briggs, Steve Hulburt, Jim Shotts, and Jay Wilkins are working on a draft alternative proposal.
Hat project --- Debbie Warren reports the delivery of hats to American Friends Service Committee and to the Montgomery County Christmas Store.
Hospitality and Outreach
Debbie Warren , Clerk Elizabeth Pandolfo Briggs Laurel Kassoff Michelle Wilkins Polly Archer ( directory and e-mail contact) Carole McNamee (website and biographies)
Activities Religious Education
Elizabeth Pandolfo Briggs, Clerk Steve Hulburt Thuja Jameson Starflower O'Sullivan Liz Tuchler Michelle Wilkins
Adult Education
Akke Hulburt , Co-clerk Jay Wilkins, Co-clerk
A range of adult education opportunities are provided at the rise of meeting on the third Sunday of each month. Meeting House
Blacksburg Friends Meeting is purchasing of 2.4 acres of land on Mt Tabor Road. This is a first step in the realization of the dream to have our own Meeting House.
Nominating Committee
Steve Hulburt, Clerk Carole McNamee Mark McNamee Jim Shotts
Fundraising Committee
Elizabeth pandolfo Briggs, Co-clerk Laurel Kassoff
Contact Information
Links
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