Bethesda Friends Meeting



WELCOME VISITORS     events calendar    

Bethesda Friends worship together on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. via two venues 

  1. Indoors in the Meetinghouse at the Sidwell Friends Lower School, 
  2. Online via Zoom.  Please click here for the schedule and to ask for the Zoom link. 


Welcome to Bethesda Friends Meeting

We're Quakers who meet every Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Our meetinghouse is on the Sidwell Friends Lower School campus.
We are worshiping in person and also via Zoom.  

We strive for:

SIMPLICITY - Learning to discern the essential from the non-essential.

PEACE - Living in a spirit that takes away the occasion for all war.

INTEGRITY - Being who we truly are and truly meaning what we say.

COMMUNITY - Knowing that we need one another in order to be whole.

EQUALITY - Knowing that everyone, everywhere is equally precious to God. This includes people of all ages, abilities, sexual orientation, races, ethnicities, levels of resources, and theological perspectives.

STEWARDSHIP - Caring for the environment and using time and resources wisely, not wastefully.

We are a welcoming community. 

We believe there is that of the Divine 

in every person.

BFM's Social Concern for May is for

Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR)

This Quaker program Right Sharing of World Resources was established in 1967 with the notion that well-off people had much to learn from poorer people.

  • With our donations, RSWR can award grants to groups of marginalized women in Kenya, Sierra Leone, and India to fund individual micro-enterprise projects. 
  • The start-up money provided by RSWR promotes self-sufficiency such as the purchase of seeds, well-digging, or the purchase of animals. RSWR provides Friends the means by which we can examine our life of plenty, offer a practical outlet to assist and empower some of the poorest people in the planet (some of whom are Quakers), and come to a deeper understanding of economic discipleship as part of our individual and corporate life as a faith community.Seed program in Kenya
  • The RSWR web site also has educational resources for youth and adults. 

RECURRING EVENTS

Experiment with Light

At 7:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, people at BFM use a meditative and centering practice based upon Rex Ambler’s book, Light to Live By. 

This method describes early Quaker meditative habits and translates them into a highly accessible process of clearness and understanding. We use prompts at home that can be listened to online, followed by a worship-share via Zoom. 

Comparative Religions:

Exploring the Roots of Religion--

Buddhism

A BFM group hosts a class on Buddhism each week on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. via a half hour virtual video lecture (using Zoom) from The Great Courses: exploring the roots of world religions, followed by a half hour discussion. 

  • Use our Contact Us form to get the Zoom link, or see your email bulletin. Each session is self-contained, so anyone can attend any session.

BFM Book Group

This vibrant group meets via Zoom, discussing a variety of books on both Quaker and non-Quaker topics.

1:30 - 3:15 PM, 2nd Saturday of each month

Please click here for more information

using our Contact Us form.

Peace and Social Justice Committee

Webpage

An Urgent Call to Protect Human Life and Bring a Just Peace to Palestine and Israel

At the January 7, 2024 Bethesda Friends Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business, a Minute about the violence in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel was approved by BFM.

  • Please click here to read this Minute. 
  • This page will give more information about the mearing of a Quaker "minute" and past Bethesda Friends and Baltimore Yearly Meeting minutes. 

Every Thursday: AFSC Meeting for Worship re: Peace in Israel and Palestine 

  • The violence in Palestine and Israel has impacted the AFSC (American Friends Service Committee) community in many ways.  Please join us every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. for a Meeting for Worship via Zoom, gathering in solidarity and holding those most impacted in the Light. All are invited. Register at this link. 
Every Friday: AFSC Action Hour for a Ceasefire in Gaza 
Join American Friends Service Committee (AFSa child is holding two precious eggsC) staff every Friday at 12:00 p.m. to hear updates from Gaza. Then, take action with us as we contact our elected officials and call for an immediate cease-fire and humanitarian access to Gaza. Our elected officials need to keep hearing from us.  To attend, please register at this link. 

    Upcoming events

    See more events...

    DC Quakers at DC Pride Festival, June 11, 2023

    Sunday Meeting for Worship

    (Please click here to see BFM's worship schedule

    11:00 AM Every Sunday 


    Visitors are welcome.

    Wednesday Mid-Week Worship

    A group holds an at-home Worship

    on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m.

    If you wish to join, please read the weekly announcement here. After the virtual Meeting there is a sharing time via email. 

    8:00-8:30 PM
    Every Wednesday

    COVID-19 AND END OF LIFE ISSUES
    • BFM has formed an End of Life Group to provide legal, spiritual, and practical resources to help our community cope with the uncertainties and fears surrounding the end of life. 
    • The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly elevated concerns about the health of family and friends, and the possibility that they could become gravely ill and die. 
    • Although conversations with our loved ones about such a possibility are difficult, it’s important to prepare.
    • Please click here to see more details and resources. 

    Bethesda Friends Meeting

    Mailing Address:
    P.O. Box 30152, Bethesda MD 20824

    Our Meetinghouse is on the campus of the Sidwell Friends Lower School at the intersection of Edgemoor Lane and Beverly Road in Bethesda, Maryland

    We are a member of the Religious Society of Friends

    www.bethesdafriends.org
    301-986-8681
    info@bethesdafriends.org

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