When will it be safe to resume holding Meeting-related activities in person?
The answer, according to New Garden’s COVID-19 medical advisors, is not yet. And it remains unclear when it will be safe to do so.
After signs that North Carolina’s cases of COVID-19 were leveling off, the state experienced a surge of new cases last week. Governor Cooper’s decision to proceed with Phase 3 reopening, the arrival of cooler temperatures, and the return of children to school classrooms likely will have adverse effects on containing the disease. More worrisome is one study that suggests that the virus is undergoing genetic mutation that makes it even easier to transmit from person to person.
For this reason, our COVID-19 medical advisors recommend that New Garden Friends Meeting not sponsor any in-person activities until state and local statistics indicate that the risk of viral transmission in Guilford County is significantly lower.
Until such time as we can resume more normal activities, the Meeting on Ministry & Counsel urges members and attenders to take part in virtual meetings for worship, committee meetings and Religious Education activities. Consider taking part in Friend to Friend, a program that encourages weekly conversations, by phone or other electronic means, between two households over a 4- to 5-week period. The next series will begin in mid to late October. See the October 13 newsletter for more information.
All New Gardeners must consider for themselves the risks and benefits of in-person contact with non-household members.
To assist our community in making these decisions, our COVID-19 medical advisors have put together a range of fact-based precautionary recommendations. These recommendations represent the most current scientific and medical thinking on coping with the pandemic and limiting its spread. Those recommendations are available here.
October 6, 2020
New Garden Friends Meeting is an inclusive, welcoming faith community in the tradition of the Religious Society of Friends. Our members and attenders represent a wide range of religious backgrounds and traditions. Grounded in more than 250 years of Quaker heritage, New Garden remains a vital Meeting for those who seek that of God in every person.
As many of you know, Guilford College is in serious financial trouble. To learn more, here are four News and Record articles about the situation. https://tinyurl.com/y5l7p9wl https://tinyurl.com/y67e5n5s https://tinyurl.com/y66ef7cs https://tinyurl.com/yytdco27 There is also a FaceBook group page, “Save Guilford College,” from which you may glean some information. More information can be found at the Guilford College…
Do you have foam you want to recycle? Bring it on! The nonprofit Greensboro Foam Recycling Drop-off site is now open at 1310 West Gate City Boulevard, Greensboro, NC. If foam trays, clamshells, cups and packaging materials are taking over your garage and trash-bins, you can drop them off in the large bins outside Tiny…
The Peace and Social Concerns Committee is working to help New Garden Friends Meeting incorporate more immediate social and economic justice actions into our everyday lives. Thus, every weekly newsletter will include one Anti-Racist Action suggestion and one website whereby members can find minority-owned business to support, if they so choose. The Meeting is not endorsing…
Friendship Community Partnership will sponsor a Gazing Prayer Bus Tour of Greensboro on Saturday, December 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Meet at the downtown Bus Depot with masks on, and (retired) Rev. McCoy will lead us onward. More info? Contact CH Holcombe 336-250-4348 or (holcombecatherine@yahoo.com). The same Rev. McCoy is working on an…
Every year NGFM anonymously pays off several families’ Christmas gift layaways. This year with so many people unemployed the need is greater than ever to help our neighbors buy Christmas gifts. Pastor Margaret will use whatever money is remaining in her discretionary funds to pay off layaways but please consider contributing so we can have…
If you would like to be in a group of 5-6 New Gardeners who will receive a prompt for a conversation and optional (COVID-safe) activity once a week for the first three weeks in December, look for a sign-up form in a separate email this week. Optional activities might include a cookie exchange and a…
Advent season is right around the corner and New Garden Friends Meeting is preparing to celebrate the Christmas season in new ways in light of the restriction brought by Covid-19. We will be lighting advent candles each Sunday in advent from home during Zoom/Facebook Live worship. If you do not have an advent wreath at…
Please consider signing as individuals the online petition to the Greensboro City Council, “Settle the Marcus Smith Case”. Go to: https://tinyurl.com/y45r8uht This is sponsored by the Greensboro Justice Coalition. If you support the above online petition, please consider taking a further step and sending the petition letter to each of the City Council members by…
This vigil to honor the homeless young man killed by police is held every Monday, 12 to 1 p.m. on Washington Street, in front of city council and police depts. We stand silently in masks, holding signs, which are there to use, if you have none of your own. Call CH Holcombe for more info.…
Friends, Friends Committee on NC Legislation (FCNCL) functions to advocate on matters of North Carolina legislation and policies. However, at a meeting of the FCNCL Executive Committee on November 21, 2020, we approved sending out an Action Alert regarding the presidential election of 2020. If the current administration has not acknowledged that Joe Biden and…
Quaker Voluntary Service is currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 fellowship year! This is a year-long Fellowship program in which young adults (age 21-30) build intentional community, work full time at social service and social change agencies, and explore themes of spiritual and personal growth with local Quakers. The program year runs from late August,…
Dear New Gardeners, As you are likely aware, the CDC is strongly recommending that we all stay home for Thanksgiving. Out of our deep love and respect for you all, we urge you to consider this advice. If you decide to get together with people outside your household, wherever that might be, we urge you…
The Peace and Social Concerns Committee is working to help New Garden Friends Meeting incorporate more immediate social and economic justice actions into our everyday lives. Thus, every weekly newsletter will include one Anti-Racist Action suggestion and one website whereby members can find minority-owned business to support, if they so choose. The Meeting is not endorsing…
9:45 a.m. / What if people all over the city read ONE book? What if related discussions and films and theatrics inspired more community building? Greensboro Public Library wants our suggestions on titles for the One City, One Book Community Read 2021 by Dec. 1, 2020. Let’s put our heads together to discuss what books…
Local author, Dr. Linda Beatrice Brown will join us to share about her recent project, “Poems for Peace”. She will give background as to how these poems came to be and read several of the poems in the same way she might at a formal poetry reading. Linda will also explain her intention with each…
Year to date, we have raised 67% of our budgeted contribution revenue. Nobody likes to come up short at the end of a budget cycle. To move NGFM to stop relying on money from the Sampson bequest, which has an end date, we set a goal of increasing our contribution income by 10% in 2020.…
We will have a Called Meeting on First Day (Sunday) November 15 at 2 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the different Quaker organizations (PFYM, PFF, Quaker House, etc.) that New Garden is associated with. We are looking to discern how we best can support and take part in these groups. More…
The Peace and Social Concerns Committee is working to help New Garden Friends Meeting incorporate more immediate social and economic justice actions into our everyday lives. Thus, every weekly newsletter will include one Anti-Racist Action suggestion and one website whereby members can find minority-owned business to support, if they so choose. The Meeting is not endorsing…
My name is Milena Tyler von Wrangel and I am a PhD student in clinical psychology at the California School for Professional Psychology in Los Angeles, CA. I’m currently organizing research into the impact of an Alternatives to Violence Project basic workshop on measures of social connectedness and emotional intelligence. three online community workshops 12-16…
Wood from the tree that fell on our worship room recently is lying on the east side of the building and is available for free pick up. Contact Roger Seel with questions. 336-681-6499.
Sunday, November 29 Worship at New Garden Friends Meeting will be unprogrammed Worship on ZOOM.…
Advent season is right around the corner and New Garden Friends Meeting is preparing to…
9:45 a.m. / “What if one city read one book together and talked about it?…
Sunday 11 a.m. Meeting for Worship livestream: Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/NewGardenFriendsMeeting/ Prepared messages are posted at: www.ngfm.org/media Order…
9:45 a.m. / What if people all over the city read ONE book? What if…
Local author, Dr. Linda Beatrice Brown will join us to share about her recent project,…
We will have a Called Meeting on First Day (Sunday) November 15 at 2 p.m.…
Sunday 11 a.m. Meeting for Worship livestream: Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/NewGardenFriendsMeeting/ Prepared messages are posted at:…
