Six-Week Course on Quaker Classics / January 6 – February 10

Fellowship, News, Social Concerns

Sundays from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. There is no “Quaker canon” (It would be tough for a pacifist group to have one!), but there are cherished texts that have inspired, informed, and guided Friends through the centuries and help define the core of Quaker belief, practice, and spirituality. Margaret Webb and Max Carter will lead this discussion-oriented course, encouraging participants to explore the literature that has not only stood the test of time among…

Racial Diversity Task Force Starting Early February

Community, Fellowship, News, Social Concerns, Volunteer, Youth

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

Community, News, Social Concerns

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

Community, News, Social Concerns

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.

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

Community, Fellowship, News, Social Concerns

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

Community, News, Social Concerns

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…

News From Friends Committee on National Legislation

Community, News, Social Concerns

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…

Underground Railroad Lecture / Saturday, February 9th

Community, Families, Fellowship, News, Social Concerns

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 UGRR for both the African-American and Quaker communities, there will be guided tours of the UGRR woods on the Guilford College campus and…

Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. / Monday, January 21st

Community, News, Social Concerns

New Gardeners are encouraged to go downtown together to view or march in the Martin Luther King Parade at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 21. We owe it to our friends of color to stand on our Testimony of Equality as white allies to respect the heroic Martin Luther King. Raleigh’s Crossroads UMC has invited us again to march with them on the parade route from Benbow Professional Center down MLK drive. We can meet…