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COVID-19 Meeting Information

Bethesda Friends are worshiping together

on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. via two venues

Indoors in the Meetinghouse at the Sidwell Friends Lower School,
Online via Zoom.

Bethesda Friends worship together each Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Please click here for details and to ask for the Zoom link. An after-Meeting chat on Zoom will be held weekly at 12:15. If Covid restrictions allow, there is a coffee hour after the in-person Meeting.
Click here for more details about BFM Covid restrictions and information about our weekly activities and worship .
Click on these links for more information on BFM child care for ages 6 months-pre-K and our First Day School for children in grades K-8.
Our current schedule is always listed in the weekly bulletin.

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 now worshiping via Zoom as well as indoors.

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.

See more videos & learn more about Quakers at quakerspeak.com

BFM's Social Concern for January is

Chesapeake Climate Action Network

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is the first grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to fighting global warming in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Their mission is to build and mobilize a powerful grassroots movement in this unique region that surrounds our nation’s capital and to call for state, national and international policies that will put us on a path to climate stability. Some BFM members join in CCAN's annual Polar Bear Plunge fundraiser, and a Quaker team often tops the donation chart.

To donate to this Social Concern, please go to https://www.bethesdafriends.org/Donate-&-Support-the-Meeting. Be sure to designate that your contribution is for the social concern.

baltimore yearly meeting (BYM) summer camp enrollment opens

One of the most popular programs of Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) is the camping program at Catoctin, Opequon, Shiloh, and Teen Adventure Quaker Camps. Kids have a wonderful time in the natural world and getting to know one another. The camps are residential for children ages 9 to 14, with a trips-based program for 15- to 17-year-olds. Enrollment for BYM camping programs begins Sunday, January 15, at 12:00 p.m. For details and to register, please visit this link. Our Meeting would like to support our children going to camp to the extent of $500 each, on a first-come first-served basis. If you'd like more information, please use our Contact Us form.

Pandemic Silver Linings

We are nearing the end of 2022, and we've been asking whether the pandemic led to any surprising, helpful, delightful, or important personal discoveries.

Sunlight shines on a glass of water next to a pad of paper and a pen. (iStock photo)

Does this question speak to you? If so, please consider sharing what you learned.

An outline might be: What did you discover? How did you discover it? What difference did it make?
Writers of all ages are welcome. Brevity, too. Anonymity is fine; photos and artwork are very welcome.
Please email contributions to both Peggy E. and Frank G. (see your print directory).
To visit the current submissions, please click here.

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.

COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS

All are invited as the comparative religions study group begins a year-long course in October: "Exploring the Roots of Religion," a lecture series from Great Courses. We meet weekly on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for a half hour lecture and a half hour discussion.
A group of 8 to 10 has been meeting, and we greatly enjoy the fellowship as much as the lessons. You are welcome to join anytime. For more information on the weekly topic, please click here.
Use our Contact Us form to get the Zoom link, or see your email bulletin. Each session is self-contained, so you can attend any session.