GROUNDED IN SPIRIT – NOURISHED IN COMMUNITY – PREPARED FOR ACTION
Friday, May 30, 7:00pm-8:30pm — Virtual Gathering
Saturday, May 31, 9:00am-5:00pm — Guilford College (Hybrid option)
Sunday, June 1. 9:00am — Meeting for Worship, Virtual
Over 70 people participated in the 2025 Retreat & Annual Sessions
COMING SOON: The 2025 Piedmont Friends Epistle
Find additional resources for being GROUNDED IN SPIRIT-NOURISHED IN COMMUNITY-PREPARED FOR ACTION
The Saturday morning plenary challenged Friends to consider deeply preparing for action in two areas of weighty concern, drawing on the words and legacy of John Woolman.
J. Mark Davidson (Raleigh Friends Meeting) spoke about the genocide in Gaza and the Israeli occupation of Palestinians in the West Bank.
Michelle Downey (Fayettevillle Friends Meeting) shared reflections about the concerns for at-risk immigrants and the experience of Fayetteville Friends Meeting being lead by Spirit into the Minute of Intent to Protect.
Their remarks are available here:
Additional Resources for Preparing for Action in Palestine:
Mark encouraged Friends to discern how to support and participate in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality, applying non-violent pressure on Israel to comply with international law. Learn more about the BDS Movement: https://bdsmovement.net/
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is also deeply involved in Gaza; their website has a list of companies profiting from the Gaza genocide: https://afsc.org/gaza-genocide-companies
The Piedmont Friends website contains resources from the 2024 Panel Presentation on the Palestine-Israel Crisis: https://www.piedmontfriends.org/palestine-israel/
Plus: Voices for Justice in Palestine
Mark’s email: jmarkdavidson53@gmail.com
Additional Resources for Preparing for Action with at-risk Immigrants:
Michelle suggests Friends learn more about the risks immigrants are facing by exploring SIEMBRA-NC: https://www.siembranc.org/; the NC Justice Center’s Immigrant Family Preparedness Toolkit: https://www.ncjustice.org/publications/emergency-preparedness/ and the El Pueblo’s Safe Families Emergency Guide: https://elpueblo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SAFE-FAMILIES.pdf
The Fayetteville Friends Meeting’s Minute on Intent to Protect is available on the PF website: https://www.piedmontfriends.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Fayetteville-Minute-of-Intent-to-Protect.pdf
Michelle’s email: fayncfriendsclerk@gmail.com
The Acting President of Guilford College, Jean Bordewich, sent a video welcoming Piedmont Friends to campus: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ea4yLtR2nM1lK0QQkuIetuJRF8FYMQ_-/view
Queries for an Authoritarian Takeover.
During the gathering, some Friends shared their intent to use these queries with friends during walks and thoughtful time together to help ground themselves in Spirit.
LOOKING FORWARD to the 2026 RETREAT!
At HAW RIVER STATE PARK
June 5, 6, 7
Planning is underway for the 2026 Piedmont Friends Retreat, with a Saturday overnight option at Haw River State Park,
See preliminary information: 2026 PF Retreat – Haw River
Toward Zero Waste. As part of Friends’ concern for earth-care, the Saturday gathering encourageD attendees to attempt a “zero waste” day, with nothing left to go into the landfill. Resources were available to make the Saturday gathering zero waste, including composting and recycling containers, washable silverware, drinking cups, and cloth napkins. Everyone was asked to bring their own coffee/tea mug and water bottle.
ADVANCE DOCUMENTS:
ORGANIZATIONAL REPORTS
MEETINGS SPIRITUAL CONDITION REPORTS