A lively group of Young Friends gathered at Woodstown Meeting in Woodstown, NJ for their annual Christmas Gathering, December 27th-30th. Two Young Friends led workshops for the community: an interactive performance about bravery and self-expression, and an exploration of gender identity that included decorating “genderbread” cookies. Young Friends participated in productive meetings for worship with a concern for business, shared deeply in worship sharing groups, and played a couple rowdy games of Wink. With an ice skating trip and a dance party celebration of two Young Friends’ birthdays, it was a busy and joyful gathering full of singing, laughter, and kazoos.
– Olivia Chalkley, Young Friends Program Facilitator
Gratitude to Woodstown Meeting for hosting, and to the adults who support the Young Friends community in joyful collaboration! At the Christmas Gathering this included program staff Olivia Chalkley, Facilitator, and Aeryn Luminkith, Assistant, and adult Friendly Presences: Karen Gallagher, Emma Leibman, Steve Thompson, and Kurt Weins.
Next up for the Young Friends program is a trip to New York to participate in the Youth Service Opportunities Project, a Quaker service organization, February 14-16. Our overnight hosts are Fifteenth Street Meeting and Brooklyn Meeting. For more information, see the event page for the YSOP trip.
