Challenging Racism / December 15, 2021

African American “T.J. Marshall is credited with improving the design of the fire extinguisher, with a patent issued on March 26, 1872. He invented a system in which water is pumped through pipes in buildings to individual sprinkler heads. The system can be activated by manually turning a valve in the building. Marshall’s fire-extinguishing sprinkler system has been in use in the United States since 1874. It was commonly used in large factories as an…

What is Important to You? / December 14, 2021

The Peace & Social Concerns Committee is extending the deadline for submitting one-page-proposals on how the committee should spend grant money in the “Broader Concerns” portion of our budget. We are awarding $250-$500 grants to projects and organizations that normally do not receive much financial support, and that reflect Quaker values, including our commitment to becoming an antiracist community. If you have questions or wish to submit a proposal, please contact  Patricia Gutzwiller or Janet Inmon by…

Called Meeting for Worship / December 12, 2021

There will be a called meeting for worship with attention to business on Sunday, December 12 at 1 p.m, to hold worshipful discussion and discernment around a path forward for indoor, in-person worship. This meeting will be held in the meeting room, capacity of 70, with simultaneous Zoom access. COVID guidance for building use will be observed. Friends are asked to read the attached Queries and Agenda, and sit with these queries in your prayer,…

News from the Anti-Racism Group / December 10, 2021

We have been meeting every other week as we try to discern how to move New Garden toward an Anti-Racist faith community. Some things have already been undertaken (hiring black-owned and run companies), and we have several things in the pipeline, including discussion in upcoming Forums. If anyone would like to join this small group, we could use a few more ideas and thoughts. BTW, we are meeting virtually. Interested? Contact Tim Lindeman. Antiracism Query…

Honor Cards at New Garden Friends Meeting / December 2021

Honor cards are a different way for you to give a present to your friends or loved ones: Instead of a physical object, you give a card that reflects a gift to a charity. The gift to the charity is in the name of your friend or loved one, so they know that a local organization has been supported in their honor. At New Garden Friends Meeting, we have selected a few local organizations to…

Challenging Racism / November 30, 2021

A personal survey for Quakers offered by CH Holcombe: Anti-racism Survey Question for Quakers. What are you doing in your daily life that addresses/shows awareness of antiracism? ____ learn by reading books and articles ____ learn by watching movies or other media ____ learn by taking classes ____ shop at businesses owned by People of Color ____ volunteer with organizations helping People of Color ____ contribute money to organizations to help people of color (ex.…

Caring Friends Needs You / November 30, 2021

Do you knit? Do you crochet? Caring Friends Needs You! Caring Friends is looking for folks willing to make afghans. We have been blessed with an abundance of afghan supplied from our generous community in the past, but now supplies are running low. Afghans are offered by Caring Friends volunteers to those people in our community in need of New Garden Friends Meeting’s warm embrace. The afghans are offered to members of our community who…

Challenging Racism / November 23, 2021

Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative spoke virtually to an A&T University audience on Wednesday, November 17. He noted the practice in Germany of ensuring that their people learn about the parts their ancestors played in allowing the atrocities of the Holocaust, in hopes that such things will never be repeated. One way is the memorialization of its victims on 10 x 10 centimeter “stumbling stones” placed in front of…