We will continue to use Zoom for Religious Education programming. Please contact Karin Heller if you would like to receive links to our Zoom Forums.

Adult Forum: Discussion continues on “The 1619 Project,” an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.” You can learn more about the 1619 project using the link below.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/20/magazine/1619-intro.html

Each week we will cover a different episode. Friends may choose to read the transcript or listen to the podcast, and do not need to attend all of the forums to participate fully in discussions. The link to the podcasts and transcripts are provided below.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/23/podcasts/1619-slavery-anniversary.html

  • March 14: Episode 5: “The Land of Our Fathers, Part 1”
  • March 21: “The Land of Our Fathers, Part 2”

Adult Forum / March 28: Peace & Social Concerns is leading a book study of How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi. To quote from Mr. Kendi’s website: “In his memoir, Kendi weaves together an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science–including the story of his own awakening to antiracism– bringing it all together in a cogent, accessible form. He begins by helping us rethink our most deeply held, if implicit, beliefs and our most intimate personal relationships (including beliefs about race and IQ and interracial social relations) and reexamines the policies and larger social arrangements we support.”

How to Be an Antiracist promises to become an essential book for anyone who wants to go beyond an awareness of racism to the next step of contributing to the formation of a truly just and equitable society.

At the first session March 28, we will discuss the introduction, “My Racist Introduction” and Chapter 1, “Definitions”. We will have a second First Day Forum session (TBA). If there is enough interest, we will arrange further sessions at mutually agreeable times other than the First Day Forum times. The book can be purchased through Mr. Kendi’s website, https://tinyurl.com/ta52w5cv as well as other book retailers.

NC Council of Churches will host a virtual screening of the film Braided Prayer, featuring former Council staff member, David LaMotte! The new short documentary from John Kennedy and David Saich tells the story of Abraham Jam, an interfaith folk/world music trio making the case that harmony can be even stronger than unity — that we don’t have to sing the same notes in order to create something beautiful together. Use the link below to register.

https://www.crowdcast.io/e/85zwflze/register

Young Friends “Chaperones” Needed!
Are you interested in spending some time with our Young Friends? We are looking for some volunteers to virtually chaperone some of our Young Friends meetings. Meetings run each Sunday afternoon 12:30-1:30 p.m. Please contact Karin Heller if for more information.

A Little Love for College Students
The Religious Education Committee wants to send a little love to our college students. If you know a college student who could use a little NGFM love, please send their name and address to Karin Heller at: ([email protected]).