BHFH Digest—October 9, 2026

Photo: A glimpse of some of the items in resident storage in the House basement. 

Dear Friends,

I am a member of Wellesley Friends meeting and active among Friends in New England. I first encountered the Friends House as a representative to the corporation from Salem Quarter about a dozen years ago. I was immediately drawn to the beauty of the community and the building, and have been serving on committees and as a member of the board ever since. 

I recently moved out of the house I had lived in for 30 years. As I opened boxes and delved into drawers and dusty nooks I was amazed by what I had held on to when I moved in: college papers and notebooks; dictionaries, anthologies, and textbooks; performance appraisals from my earliest post-college jobs. When I moved in, the possibilities of what might come were myriad—grad school, career changes, expanding our family. At that moment in my life I had no time or space to reflect on what I was holding on to and why. When in doubt, I hung on, just in case. I had not yet come to Friends and had no habit of holding space for quiet reflection and discernment.

As a new cohort of residents move into the House this fall each considers the practicalities of what will make it up the stairs and fit into their room, and what it means to be a part of an intentional community based on Quaker principles. Residents learn Quaker tools and processes—reflection, discernment, testing leadings—and that asking the right questions is more valuable than getting a “correct answer.” 

Moving was an opportunity for me to reflect on how I want to live my life and what to hold space for—literally and figuratively. The House offers residents the opportunity to explore those same questions in the manner of Friends, supported by staff and fellow residents. 

It has been a joy to walk alongside residents as they ask important questions and I look forward to continuing the journey this fall and beyond.

In Light and community,

Regina McCarthy
BHFH Board Member

Upcoming BHFH programs and events

Whether you're in Boston or across the world, there are opportunities to connect in community through BHFH. 

Hybrid event

Sunday, November 15, 1:30pm

Ernest and Ester Weed Memorial Lecture with
Christy Randazzo

"Apprentice Weavers: Queer Family, Quaker Community, and the Work of Peacemaking” asks what it means to make family in a world that so often seeks to prescribe who belongs to whom. Weaving personal narrative with queer and Quaker theology, scripture, and the practices of chosen family, Christy Randazzo explores the families we inherit and the families we choose—and the ways we weave lives of interdependence across difference.

​Online event

Saturday, November 21, 1:00–4:30pm

Interpersonal Peace-Making: Practicing Peace with One Another workshop

As Quakers we believe there is that of God in each of us. Yet that is only a starting point. Each of us is capable of behavior that harms others. Holding another person accountable for their behavior is a gift. God calls us to notice harms and respond, to speak Truth with love.

​​The workshop will begin with worship and grounding practices to be present in our bodies and connected to Spirit as we may explore tender topics. We will learn together how we hold difficult Truths, how to listen and speak with love while holding each other accountable. There will be time for reflections on what was shared, and opportunity for gathered Friends to share responses to queries.

Disability and Belonging in Quaker Communities: A Survey

This short survey is part of a grant-funded project seeking to better understand the experiences and needs of disabled Quakers/Quakers with disabilities. We invite responses from Friends who identify as disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent, Deaf and/or hard of hearing, or as having access needs not frequently met by default, whether or not you use the word "disabled" to describe yourself.

What helps you participate fully in Quaker communities? What barriers do you encounter? What could Quaker meetings and organizations do differently?

Your responses will help identify priorities for further conversation and action.

Do You Have a Spiritual Practice to Share?