Piedmont Friends 2023 Retreat & Annual Sessions June 2 – 4, 2023

Fellowship, News, Quaker Relations

From Pandemic Isolation into Joyful Community Exploring spiritual deepening through community engagement and healing. Open to all. Fri. June 2 – 7- 8:30 pm – Online gathering Sat. June 3 – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm – In-person gathering at Guilford College, includes plenary, activities, exploration of campus, afternoon business Sun. June 4 – 9:00 am- 9:45 am – Online unprogrammed workshop Please see the full itinerary for our Yearly Meeting & Fellowship Retreat included…

Notes from Pastor Ashley / May 16, 2023

News

Dear Friends, As you may have noticed, I have been having some difficulty walking lately. I haven’t talked about it much, in part because there is not much to tell. My doctors are doing tests to narrow down what might be causing this and to find a course of treatment. I wanted to let you know because my doctor has prescribed a cane for me, and I don’t want it to come as a surprise…

Transition Team Updates / May 16, 2023

News

Thank you to all of the New Gardeners who have participated in surveys, forums, focus groups, intergenerational meals, and recorded conversations with Carry-In Meals! Needless to say, we now have a plethora of information and input as we attempt to get a “sense of the Meeting.” We are grateful to Troy Winfrey, Ashley’s partner, who is a professional qualitative research analyst and is not daunted by the task of making sense out of lots of…

Religious People Speak Against Senate Bill 20 / May 16, 2023

Community, News, Social Concerns

The North Carolina Council of Churches invites you to join people from diverse religious traditions across North Carolina, in opposing Senate Bill 20, Care for Women, Children, and Families Act. The hasty passage of this bill demonstrates a lack of careful consideration and seeks to stigmatize those involved in reproductive healthcare. As religious people, we believe that the decision to continue or end a pregnancy is a deeply personal and moral choice, one that should…

Communications Committee Followup / May 2023

Community, News, Social Concerns

June’s Monthly Meeting for Business will have several options to consider as new messages for the streetside sign on New Garden Road. The Communications Committee met May 15 to generate suggestions for future messages for the sign. The meeting, held in response to a request from Monthly Meeting for Business, was publicized beforehand and open to all New Gardeners. More than a dozen persons attended. Considering new messages for the sign, which currently reads “Black…

Religious Education / May 17, 2023

Adult Forum, News, Religious Education

Dear Friends, Please join us next First Day, May 21st, during semi-programmed Meeting for Worship for Recognition Sunday! This is an opportunity for us to recognize some of our dedicated community volunteers, rising second graders, rising fourth graders, and graduating high school Seniors. If you know a child or young Friend who fits one of those descriptions, please email me by May 18th. And don’t forget to register for Summer Program in June! More information…

First Day at New Garden Friends Meeting / May 21, 2023

First Day, Worship

Unprogrammed Meeting for Worship / 9:00 a.m. Semi-Programmed Meeting for Worship / 11:00 a.m.* • Worshipful Music: Andy Mock • Welcome: Ashley Wilcox • Announcements: Karen Garraputa • Congregational Hymn • Reading: An Excerpt from Parker J. Palmer • Special Music • Message: Recognition Sunday, Karin Heller • Silent Worship • Holding in the Light * Friends are also welcome to join the service online either through Facebook Live (view only) https://www.facebook.com/NewGardenFriendsMeeting or on Zoom.

Right Sharing of World Resources Releases Three New Videos / May 10, 2023

Community, Environment, News, Social Concerns

Dear Friend, We are excited to release three videos in our series on the work of Right Sharing. The first video features Sallian Sankoh, Program Coordinator for Sierra Leone. Watch here to learn about her passion for working to amplify the voices of women in her country.The next video features Sathya, a mother in Tamil Nadu, India. “I wish all women who are suffering could be supported to develop their own businesses and livelihood” Every…

All Are Welcome at Committee Meeting to Consider Future Messages for Street Side Sign / May 15, 2023

Community, News, Social Concerns

The Communications Committee will meet at 2 p.m. Monday, May 15, in the Brotherhood Room to consider messages that may one day be mounted on the sign facing New Garden Road. The sign’s Black Lives Matter message has been in place since the sign was erected in 2020. All members and attenders are welcome at this meeting to offer suggestions for future wording. The sign was designed so that the two-sided message board could be…

Notes from Pastor Ashley / May 10, 2023

News

Dear Friends, One of the joys of being the interim pastor of New Garden Friends Meeting is getting to work with our incredible, hardworking staff. Did you know that we currently have nine people on staff? The meeting employs three people full time and six other part time. A few weeks ago, I highlighted the work of our visitation pastor, Deborah Suess, and today I want to lift up the work of others on the…