Tom Lassiter, Author at New Garden Friends Meeting

Coping With Covid / January 25, 2022

Covid-19, NewsBy Tom Lassiter January 26, 2022

Case positively (the number of positive tests of all the test results reported not including in-home tests) is still 37.8%, an alarming percentage, and the number of COVID hospitalizations remains extremely high. Although the omicron variant is seemingly less severe, particularly in fully vaccinated individuals, the astounding number of cases recently diagnosed (with a small percentage still getting very ill) has filled up the hospitals and a high percentage of all ICU beds. We learned…

Challenging Racism / Black Quaker Lives Matter Film Festival / February 12 – April 9, 2022

Community, News, Social ConcernsBy Tom Lassiter January 26, 2022

This comes from the Black Quaker Project: We are thrilled to announce the Black Quaker Lives Matter Film Festival, a first-of-its-kind film festival that endeavors to educate all about the importance of Quakers of Color who for too long have remained within the margins of the Society of Friends and the wider world. From 12 February 2022, during Black History Month, until Paul Robeson’s birthday on 9 April 2022 we will screen a film centered…

Seekers Classes / February 2022

Community, NewsBy Tom Lassiter January 25, 2022

Seekers classes will happen on Zoom on Sundays, February 6, 13, 20, and 27 from 4-6 p.m. These classes are a wonderful opportunity for newcomers and long-time members to learn more about Quakerism and New Garden Friends Meeting. We will cover the basics of Quaker history, Quaker faith, Quaker community practices and business practices and variations among different branches of Quakers. If you are interested in participating in Seekers classes please email Margaret Webb at…

Refugee Support Update / January 25, 2022

Community, News, Social Concerns, VolunteerBy Tom Lassiter January 25, 2022

New Garden’s donation collection and distribution area for the Afghan resettlement effort continues to help establish households for our new Afghan friends. Here is our updated list of donations–items we are and aren’t accepting as well as our hours for the rest of January. The basement is at capacity for storage so our donations list has changed (temporarily) to include only items in high demand: mattresses and box springs, irons, ironing boards, juicers and blenders,…

Mondays for Marcus Vigil

Community, News, Social ConcernsBy Tom Lassiter January 25, 2022

The vigil continues for the tragic killing of a homeless unarmed mentally ill man named Marcus Smith at the hands of Greensboro police September 8th, 2018. The public is invited to join as we ask for justice and truth in law enforcement. We will continue every Monday from 12-1 p.m. on Washington St. downtown until the City Council settles his family’s lawsuit, accountability is acknowledged, even a possible apology. Several from NGFM are there weekly;…

Challenging Racism / January 20, 2022

Community, News, Social ConcernsBy Tom Lassiter January 21, 2022

On Sunday, Pastor Margaret read an excerpt from Martin Luther King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” and I felt convicted as a “white moderate,” in whom Dr. King was deeply disappointed. He stated that “the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens “Councilor” or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the…

Coping with COVID / January 20, 2022

Covid-19, NewsBy Tom Lassiter January 21, 2022

North Carolina has seen a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks and, increasingly, in the more highly contagious omicron variant. Hospitals and the healthcare workforce are strained. As weary as we all are of the restrictions and inconvenience COVID has caused us, we hope you will not let down your guard. Case rates have not been updated on the NC Health Department site due to the holiday weekend but continue to be at…

Piedmont Friends Fellowship and Piedmont Friends Yearly Meeting News / January 20, 2022

News, VolunteerBy Tom Lassiter January 21, 2022

Piedmont Friends Fellowship and Piedmont Friends Yearly Meeting have become aware of various challenges maintaining our separate organizational structure, including difficulties finding members able to serve in leadership roles on committees, clerkships and as representatives. In response to this challenging situation, the clerks of PFF and PFYM, have met to consider the best way forward. We feel that the current situation cannot continue and that we should adopt a new approach to how PFF and…

Friends Committee on North Carolina Legislation Workshop / January 20, 2022

FCNL, NewsBy Tom Lassiter January 21, 2022

The zoom workshop will be held January 20, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Join Friends Committee on North Carolina Legislation for an evening of learning and lobby planning which will include: basics of the legislative process; state of the N.C. General Assembly; and how we can continue advocating for legislation we have engaged with over the past year. Register for this free workshop at (www.fcncl.org) in order to receive the Zoom link.

Un-Programmed Meeting for Worship / January 23, 2022

First Day, WorshipBy Tom Lassiter January 20, 2022

9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. / Those attending unprogrammed meetings for worship on Sundays are welcome to use Friendship Hall. Please follow the guidance below; Stay home if you have any symptoms of illness. Meet outdoors, if feasible, regardless of group size; please bring your own chairs. Reserve meeting room(s) in advance by calling the NGFM office at (336) 292-5487 or emailing [email protected] ; note the capacity of room(s) you will be using and do not exceed maximum…

Author Archives: Tom Lassiter