Racial Diversity Task Force Starting Early February

Following approval by Monthly Meeting, a task force is being created to study racial diversity at New Garden Friends Meeting and eventually make recommendations on how to increase diversity in worship, religious education programs, and other activities. The Diversity Task Force will begin in early February and conclude its work by December. If you are interested in exploring how to make our Meeting a truly welcoming place, please contact Cathie Holcombe or Bill McNeil.

National Park Service recognizes New Garden’s role in Underground Railroad

Underground Railroad Lecture / Saturday, February 9th

1:30 p.m. / New Garden Friends Meeting. 2019 is the 200th anniversary of the first known activity in North Carolina on what came to be known as the Underground Railroad. Two Guilford College historians, Adrienne Israel and James Shields, will share about that history. Following their presentation on the significance of the Underground Railroad for both the African-American and Quaker communities, there will be guided tours of the Underground Railroad woods on the Guilford College…

“Alternatives to Violence” Workshop – February 9 and 10

9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. / Guilford College – King Hall, 026 (ground floor). The “Alternatives to Violence” Workshop will be held on Saturday and Sunday, February 9 and 10. Participants should be sure they can commit to both days. The facilitators are Deborah Bromiley and John Shuford. Contact: Zulfiya Tursunova, PhD. Peace and Conflict Studies, or call 336 316 2416 for more information.

Friendship Community Partnership Annual Collaborative Service / February 10th

3:00 pm / Raleigh’s Crossroads United Methodist Church, 715 Guilford College Road, Greensboro, NC 27419. You are invited to the Annual Collaborative Service of the Friendship Community Partnership of churches. A simple meal of soup and bread will be served with desserts and drinks after the worship. For more info, contact C. H. Holcombe, Cheryl Buehler, Rick Tunkel or New Garden Friends Meeting office.

Seeker’s Classes Starting February 17th

3:00 – 5:00 p.m. / New Garden Friends Meeting. This year’s Seekers Classes are set to start February 17th and will run for four Sundays from February 17 – March 10 from 3 to 5 p.m. These sessions are wonderful for newcomers and also long-time members where we will cover the basics of Quaker history, the testimonies, and Quaker faith, Quaker community practices and business practices and variations among different branches of Quakers. Registration will…

Social Concerns Report on the December “Wailing Wall Query on Peace”

Responses to December Wailing Wall Query on Peace, “How do you work actively to prevent war and other conflicts?” 1. Befriend someone with a different opinion and find common ground. 2. Not enough. 3. Standing and marching in anti-violence/ anti-gun/antiwar protests. 4. Give money to Quaker House. 5. Teach. 6. Peace bumper sticker on my car. 7. When urged by FCNL, I make phone calls to Congress about U.S. arms sales. 8. Open my mind…

Memorial Service Honoring Ed Roach / Saturday, February 2nd

4:00 p.m. / Shady Hill Baptist Church, 1500 Old Durham Road, Roxboro. There will be a memorial service honoring the only documented victim of lynching in Roxboro. The service is expected to last about one hour. Ed Roach from Reidsville, NC, was employed at the construction company of Nello Teer, a prominent Durham businessman, who wrote a letter stating that Mr. Roach was working on his construction site near Roxboro at the time of the alleged assault…

Friendship Community Partnership Annual Collaborative Service / February 10th

3:00 pm / Raleigh’s Crossroads United Methodist Church, 715 Guilford College Road, Greensboro, NC 27419. You are invited to the Annual Collaborative Service of the Friendship Community Partnership of churches. A simple meal of soup and bread will be served with desserts and drinks after the worship. For more info, contact C. H. Holcombe, Cheryl Buehler, Rick Tunkel or New Garden Friends Meeting office.

News From Friends Committee on National Legislation

Some good things happened in the 115th Congress (which adjourned in December). Several pieces of legislation that Friends Committee on National Legislation staff and Friends/ friends lobbying from across the country worked hard on: 1. The First Step Act which is a major overhaul of Federal criminal justice and sentencing laws. We started pushing on this one early in 2017. 2. The Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act was passed by both Houses and…