1.8.2021

Happy New Year! The first week of 2021 has been marred with sadness and anger by the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Yet, we seek joy and inspiration where they can be found. Below is a poem that speaks to the promise of the new year.
 
A Blessing for Presence
 
May you awaken to the mystery of being here 
And enter the quiet immensity of your own presence. 
May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses. 
May you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon. 
May you respond to the call of your gift 
And find the courage to follow its path. 
May the flame of anger free you from falsity. 
May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame 
And anxiety never linger about you. 
May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul. 
May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention. 
May you be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul. 
May you experience each day as a sacred gift 
Woven around the heart of wonder. 
 
~John O'Donohue (1998). Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong 
 
In Peace and Partnership,
 
Angela
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Located in College Park, MD, Friends Community School is a progressive Quaker K-8 day school, founded on the belief that every child is a valued member of our community. We offer a challenging curriculum imbued with strong values of equality, integrity, community, environmental stewardship, simplicity and peaceful conflict resolution, rooted in our Quaker heritage.
Friends Community School
5901 Westchester Park Drive
College Park, Maryland 20740
301-441-2100