<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[West Richmond Friends Meeting]]></title><description><![CDATA[WestRichmond Friends]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 20:54:23 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Bulletin]]></title><description><![CDATA[Download this Sunday's bulletin for worship at West Richmond Friends.]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/sunday-bulletin</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5f071850848aef00177826f4</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bulletin]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2024 14:36:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3448ff_d8bbcb8e6b8b42dea7d008a47dce74c3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Arc of Creation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship on 24th day of the fifth month in 2026 by Matthew Ciske Scripture: Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Good Morning Friends, 	Many denominations mark the Feast of Pentecost today. The Lectionary offers several scripture texts for this year’s services — far too many to read today. A few weeks ago, Dinora Uvalle preached on Acts Chapter 2, a Pentecost account. Pentecost is the closing of Eastertide, the fifty days after Easter. Easter, Eastertide, and Pentecost tell a single story: the...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/the-arc-of-creation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a15a0ef3834ba6543d7162a</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Matthew Ciske]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 13:37:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_918f2a1e1b7a41ce849a5947859b7af4~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Healing River]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship on the 19th day of the Fourth Month, 2026 given by Ben Richmond Psalm 46:4-11     (NRS) Selah   4  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.   5  God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.   6  The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice † , the earth melts.   7  The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah   8  Come,...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/healing-river</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e78bbd26bcdbcbc3d29d50</guid><category><![CDATA[Ben Richmond]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:43:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_227963b6eb634fdca7cc76bc1c506e86~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mary Magdalene]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship on the 12th day of the fourth month, 2026 given by Elizabeth Terney. Matthew 27:55-61; 28:1-10 28  There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 In a couple ways, I wish I was coming to you this week with a celebratory message about Jesus’ triumph over death. After all, it has been a tough week, a scary week, one marked by military threats against an entire...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/mary-magdalene</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69de502566c8cbf1f4c12ae1</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Elizabeth Terney]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:38:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_203d6338aa6b4a58ac83005c7be81f83~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_633,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What do we sense, but not recognize?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship by Matthew Ciske on the fifth day of the fourth month, 2026. Scripture: John 20:1-18 “We go to the tomb with Mary Magdeline, early, while it is still dark. The stone is rolled away. We stoop with Peter to look on at abandoned linen cloth, and we don’t know what you do, O God. Now we stand with Mary weeping outside the grave. It is not an angel but your Son we seek, O God; send him to us. Let us turn and see Jesus standing there. Make him no stranger to our eyes; let us see...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/what-do-we-sense-but-not-recognize</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d54089fc74251ed3c37dae</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Matthew Ciske]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:40:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_ca00bb5d37fe4bbd9fb1ca42f4cf55b3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mary and Martha of Bethany]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship on the 22nd day of the Third Month, 2026 given by Elizabeth Terney Ilyas Basim Kjuri Bazzi Rahib, Mary Anoints Christ's Feet These two Bible stories feature two women: Martha and Mary of Bethany. They are the sisters of Lazarus. They are friends and loved ones of Jesus. We can see from the scripture that they have a trusting and honest relationship with him. The first story read today is often called the raising of Lazarus. However, it’s mostly about Jesus’s relationship...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/mary-and-martha-of-bethany</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c292bdb7f9bf752403b008</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Elizabeth Terney]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:38:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_6e78f38456be4069ba8aba9ec1e30d3a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_479,h_467,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Living Water]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship on the 8th day of the Third Month, 2026 given by Nathan Sheets Scripture:  John 4:5-42 There are so many ways to reflect upon today’s Gospel. I was reading various perspectives on it this week, because just as I have heard and read various takes on what meaning to draw from this vivid dialogue in the Gospel of John – the longest continual dialogue of Jesus and anyone, I will add – it is likely you have heard many reflections on this reading as well. Personally, and for...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/living-water</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b1a2b84a59a799637723d1</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nathan Sheets]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:17:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_3c99fe3f74ec4b63a61ee6e6af07942a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Not Everyone Got to Go]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship on the 1st day of the third month at West Richmond Friends Meeting given by Matthew Ciske Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9 Friends, good morning, In our Scripture today, we went up to the mountains, where Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus transfigured – that is, changed into another form. An account of this appears in the three synoptic Gospels and the second letter of Peter. The synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke share many of the same stories, often in a similar...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/not-everyone-got-to-go</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a6f6f2e7d36e779612dbe7</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Matthew Ciske]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:03:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_8c4fab535f9d4d9eae70702f5aca9b33~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_928,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Avoiding the Temptation to Despair]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sermon for worship on the 22nd day of the Second month at West Richmond Friends Meeting, given by Elizabeth Terney. Psalm 22: 1-10 While Quakers aren’t very liturgical, I find the liturgical calendar helpful for reminding us of the various parts of the story of Christ. It’s the first Sunday of Lent today. Lent is a 40-day exploration. Lent is a time to reorient ourselves, to clarify our minds, to slow down, recover from distraction, and to focus on the values of God’s kingdom and on the value...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/avoiding-the-temptation-to-despair</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a065b59d34acb7c431baa6</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Elizabeth Terney]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:28:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_3af796983649428a958cc0fa105fbe65~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_800,h_706,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[An Endless Love]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship at West Richmond Friends Meeting on the 8th day of the Second Month by Elizabeth Terney Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-3 Today’s sermon is based on the poem in your bulletin, “Despised and Rejected” by Christina Rosetti, a Victorian poet known for her romantic, devotional, and children’s poems. Her poetry is the basis of several hymns, including “In the Bleak Midwinter”, on which the song David just sang was based. This poem is about a person deep in despair and isolation. She...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/an-endless-love</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698b59005412b49a8b5ab285</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Elizabeth Terney]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:17:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_45b3b8c2bf6d46728e0a3eca0b940b3d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_940,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[We Are Moved to Act]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sermon for worship on the 1st day of the Second Month, 2026 by Matthew Ciske Scripture:  Isaiah 58:6-11 Friends, good morning, I am grateful to be joined this chilly Sunday on the facing bench by members of the Witness and Service Committee. I am mindful that the Gifts and Leadings Committee met last Sunday to discuss your survey responses. When I began preparing this sermon two weeks ago, I had planned to follow the lectionary and talk about what happened in the Temple the day that Jesus was...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/we-are-moved-to-act</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698b4684e2bc92e835dd5655</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Matthew Ciske]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:00:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_36f6d139d898482280f50d3f13bc6ade~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_952,h_679,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Paradox Tolerance]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship on the 25th day of the 1st month, 2026 given by Elizabeth Terney. Scripture: Exodus 3:12-15 "The Burning Bush" photo by Earsaregood Hope sometimes feels lost. I believe hope can be rediscovered in connection with God. I pray this sermon today provides us with an experience of centering down to find that hope in God’s faithfulness. Once, I was attending the Friends General Conference Annual Gathering, and I met a woman who proclaimed to be a nontheist. She said to me, “I...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/paradox-tolerance</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697d0630b3cf8ba2384bc64b</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Elizabeth Terney]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:33:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_ebb69346fc7e4d26bfc4ee72faa6d953~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can there be Quaker Prophets?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship on the 21st of the twelfth month, 2025 by Elizabeth Terney Scripture: Luke 1:39-45 During Advent, most of the stories we read come from the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel of Luke contains and refers to a lot of prophesying. I think you’ll find that that’s of great interest to us as Quakers. You’ll see why in a moment. First, what makes a statement or action prophetic? And what makes someone a prophet? A message with a divine source is prophetic. It requires discernment to...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/can-there-be-quaker-prophets</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697cff5fafd4a3da350d351b</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Elizabeth Terney]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 19:10:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_a42379417143435592cd1a91b8d4d7e7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_709,h_767,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Anger as part of Lament]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship by Elizabeth Terney on the 19th day of the 10th month at West Richmond Friends Meeting Scripture: Numbers 11:10-17 Anger! What a messy, yet entirely normal, emotion! We all have different relationships with our anger. Some of us avoid it; some of us are ashamed of it; some of us channel it into productive activity. How healthy is your relationship with anger? My relationship with anger has matured through the years. As a child, I would storm and holler to the skies or my...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/anger-as-part-of-lament</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697cfa41b3cf8ba2384bae05</guid><category><![CDATA[Elizabeth Terney]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:42:25 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Uncle Bazel]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message shared at West Richmond Friends Meeting, 18th day of the First Month, 2026 Given by Tom Hamm Based on Matthew 8:25-13 Many of you know that I am very interested in family history and genealogy. In fact that is how Mary Louise and I met—we’re fifth cousins twice removed. Because I became interested when I was a teenager, I was able to talk with older relatives and hear their memories. One of my favorite stories came from an elderly cousin in southwestern Virginia about my...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/uncle-bazel</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697a5bc1d8141148d4022218</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:56:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_73405375980d4e669507d1242f5b1364~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_367,h_450,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Linus (and the shepherds) Showed Up]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship on the 3rd day of the Twelfth Month, 2025 Given by Matthew Ciske Psalm 130:5-8  and Luke 2:8-20 Good morning, Friends, how truly wonderful it is to be with you on this chilly December Sunday. I am Matthew Ciske, a candidate for a half-time position on the West Richmond Friends ministry team. I reside in Richmond&#38;#39;s Depot District and am enrolled in the Master of Divinity Program at ESR. I studied philosophy at Ohio University and worked for the federal government before...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/linus-and-the-shepards-showed-up</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69384e37122b31d338b45593</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Matthew Ciske]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:32:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_1d25380533d34bed8131b932559b3e2e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_293,h_358,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Roots]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship at West Richmond Friends, 16th day of the Eleventh Month, 2025 Given by Nathan Sheets Luke 21:1-19 It’s a joy to be with you all again this Sunday. It’s been a few months since I stood here in this capacity, at that time just weeks after my dad (Michael) had passed away. I can say my family and I are managing well, and I remain convinced the divine has been extremely present through all the transitions our family has undergone these past two years. As a reminder, and...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/roots</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69384b56122b31d338b44d97</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nathan Sheets]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:20:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_f885992981e54d15978902c5cba65495~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_667,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stewarding Attention in an Age of Algorithms]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship at West Richmond Friends Meeting, 2nd day of the Eleventh Month, 2025 Given by Julianna Smith Scripture: 1 Kings 19:11-13 He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, 12  and after the earthquake a fire,...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/stewarding-attention-in-an-age-of-algorithms</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690a461d96a2942ab2767dd4</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2025 18:36:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_2a1b3802ea0e4010889d30a24c0d7912~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_291,h_276,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Desolation and Consolation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship at West Richmond Friends Meeting, 21st of Ninth Month, 2025 Scripture: Jeremiah 8:18-9-1, Romans 8:35-39 Good...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/desolation-and-consolation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68d2d5761c265b8b2f0937ad</guid><category><![CDATA[Brian Young]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:21:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_5b65df2aa93849f4b563a22c8cfaef8b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_536,h_559,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Speak, Your Servants Are Listening]]></title><description><![CDATA[Message for worship at West Richmond Friends Meeting, 13th of Seventh Month, 2025 Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-15 1 Samuel 3:1–15, NRSVUE : 1...]]></description><link>https://www.westrichmondfriends.org/post/speak-your-servants-are-listening</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6876571d97051c95031f396b</guid><category><![CDATA[Sermons]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brian Young]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:33:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f74bb5_cfa710be0f2d4ea8bc6b51a9fd304c8d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>West Richmond Friends</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>