Bethesda Friends Meeting


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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.  


*On JUNE 14, 2026, Bethesda Friends will be worshipping at the UPPER CAMPUS of Sidwell Friends School,

and the lower campus will be closed.  More details on childcare and parking can be found here.  

Come join us for meeting for worshipand a tour of the Upper School!


Please note our schedules for BFM child care (ages 6 months-pre-K) and our school-age children (grades K-8). 
Click here for more information about our weekly activities and worship . 

OUR TESTIMONIES: As members of the Religious Society of Friends, 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.

      Queries this month reflect on Outreach: 

As the way opens, how do I share Friends’ principles with others? In what ways do I make everyone, including newcomers, feel welcome in meetings for worship? How can I find ways to encourage a sense of community within the Meeting?

  The Social Concerns Box for MAY IS "STRIDE" 

This month’s social concern is the Strengthening Transformative Relationships in Diverse         Environments (STRIDE) program. STRIDE works to ensure that the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Summer Camps remain accessible and inclusive for all youth.

By contributing to STRIDE, our community helps sustain the program’s ability to provide scholarships and support for campers from various communities, including Friendly Gardens. Last year, our collective support helped two youngsters from Friendly Gardens experience the joy of summer camp.  STRIDE is also looking for volunteers to transport both gear and campers to and from the camps. If you are interested, you can contact Rai Carter (STRIDE Coordinator) at raicarter@bym-rsf.org.

Thank you for your contributions to this important organization. To donate to the Social Concerns Box, please use this link and clearly designate that your contribution is for "STRIDE".  If you prefer, you may send your check, payable to Bethesda Friends Meeting, to our Assistant Treasurer, David M. (See your Directory), noting "STRIDE" in the memo.

Plan Your Schedule Now for Scotland Festival in June


Founded in 1880 by Wiliam Dove, a formerly enslaved farmworker and first African American property owner in Potomac,  the Scotland neighborhood of Montgomery County, MD was at one time an enclave of more than 500 acres along Seven Locks Road. Today, the Scotland community consists of 100 townhouses on 10 acres on Scotland Drive, just off Seven Locks Road. Twenty-five of these homes are still owned by descendants of the original founders of the community.


ALT TEXT:  photo of Scotland African Methodist Episcopal Zion church, renovated after a catastrophic flood in 2019


BFM supports the Scotland community and their Annual Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival, which focuses on the celebration of the historic Black communities of Montgomery County. The 2026 Festival will have events across the County from June 13-19th: 


● Opening night on Saturday June 13, 7-9 p.m., includes a performance by Grammy Award winning gospel singer Hezekiah Walker along with his Love Fellowship Choir at the Bethesda Theater.

● Worship with Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church on Sunday, June 14, 12:45 p.m. 

● Experience the Interfaith Comedy Show on Monday, June 15, 6-8:30 p.m. at the Blackrock Center for the Arts.

● Youth clinics in football, cheer, and basketball are available June 16 - 18th.


The festival wraps up Friday, June 19, with an all-day celebration, mostly in Cabin John Village or Park. Activities include a 5K run, a community wellness and social action expo, a children’s carnival, a journey through history at the renovated Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church, food, a baseball classic, and evening fireworks. For more details and ticket registration, go to https://www.juneteenthscotland.org/schedule-of-events 
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      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 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. 

      RECURRING EVENTS

      Experiment with Light

      Monthly, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, 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 offer this in-person and Zoom, using prompts at home that can be listened to online, followed by a worship-sharing of your experience. 

      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 use our Contact Us form for more information

      and the Zoom link.



      Comparative Religions:

      Sacred Texts of the World

      A BFM group hosts this class each Tuesday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. via Zoom.  The format is a half hour Great Courses video lecture followed by a half hour discussion. 

      • For more details on the 36 topics (Sept-May), go to our online calendar.
      • Use our Contact Us form to get the Zoom link or see your email weekly bulletin. Each session is self-contained, so anyone can attend any session.

      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. 


      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 (location recording only)
      info@bethesdafriends.org

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