Challenging Racism / December 27, 2022

Friends, I have some other important advocacy work to tackle in 2023, and it is probably time for a different voice. This is my final CHALLENGING RACISM column for now. It is clearly the responsibility of white people to educate ourselves about ways to dismantle racism and then to take appropriate action. How do we do that effectively? Some ideas: • Read books and watch movies, documentaries, etc. about the experiences of people of color…

Winter Solstice Celebration / December 21, 2022

Somewhere around 30 people gathered for the Solstice Bonfire on December 21st. This is an annual tradition to celebrate the shortest day and longest night of the year. The gathering began with drumming, followed by a welcome and readings. Out of the silence, people added sticks to the fire in honor or memory of those lost during the last year. Others burned sticks to let go of concerns from the past year. Fortunately the bonfire…

Donations Needed for the Refugee Parsonage Project / December 26, 2022

The parsonage will soon be used to temporarily house newly arrived refugee families. In order to make the parsonage ready, we are requesting your assistance in collecting a large amount of furniture and housewares. See list below. For large furniture donations, please contact Roger Seel at [email protected] to arrange drop off or, if you’ll need pick up, to let him know. We will plan a day in early January to pick up all donated furniture…

Keep Up the Pressure for Congress to Act on Yemen! Help to End the Devastating War / December 21, 2022

Our legislators need to hear from us this week. Urge Sen. Tillis and Burr, and Rep. Manning to support the Yemen War Powers Resolution (S.J. Res. 56/H.J Res 87). For nearly eight years, unauthorized U.S. military support and weapons sales have enabled the Saudi-led coalition’s participation in a horrific civil war in Yemen. In Feb. of 2021, President Biden announced the U.S. would end its support for the Saudi-led coalition, but important aspects of U.S.…

All Hands on Deck / December 21, 2022

From the introduction of DO the WORK! An Antiracist Activity Book (2022) By W. Kamau Bell (African American man) and Kate Schatz (European American woman): “One, we can’t leave things up to someone else. It’s life or death right now, and that’s really not a joke. Democracy is crumbling before our eyes, the planet is on fire, our communities don’t have what we need to live well, and the gap between those who have and…

Meditate with Friends Tuesdays 3-3:30 p.m.

Please arrive a few minutes before 3:00 p.m. at Friends Homes, Guilford Campus, Whittier (either the Conference Room near the entrance, or the living room). The address is 925 New Garden Road, Greensboro, NC 27410 This group was started many years ago by Jean Gordon, and then Ted Benfey began facilitating for the past decade — until COVID. The group is starting up again with familiar and also some new faces. We hope you can…

Notes from Pastor Ashley / December 21, 2022

Dear Friends, Each week I say in worship that we wait on the Spirit to lead us—in worship and in our daily lives. This week is no exception! Though we make plans, sometimes we have to adjust, and we do our best to listen to how Spirit is guiding us. We had really hoped to have an outdoor Christmas Eve service this year. But the forecast is for a very cold night, currently around 25…