Giant Children’s Meeting is a new religious education and community event hosted on fourth Sundays by the Youth Religious Life Coordinator, Melinda Wenner Bradley, and a planning committee of Friends holding care for children and families in the yearly meeting: Guinevere Janes (Media Meeting), Abigaile Brace-Higgins (Mickleton Meeting), and Crystal Hershey (Mount Holly Meeting) who also serves the Children & Families program.
The intention is twofold: First, to provide families with younger children the opportunity to join a monthly First Day program that also connects them with our wider PYM family. The other hope is to support Friends who plan and lead children’s programs in their meeting; particularly with online programs; putting this on the meeting calendar may be a welcome “break” for those devoted Friends once a month. The 9:00 AM start is intended to make it possible for everyone also to attend worship with their own meeting later that morning.
It’s “giant” because everyone is invited! It’s “children’s meeting” because we’re making a space to nurture the spiritual lives and Quaker identity of young people. Each 30-45 minute program is for preschool and elementary-age children and their families. Each time will feature a theme and seasoned facilitators leading us through grounding, exploring, wondering, and creating.
On Sunday, September 27 we began by celebrating new beginnings. Around 20 children and their parents (and sometimes pets!) joined from more than a dozen meetings. We explored and wondered about the story, The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and sang “This Little Light of Mine.” Click here to see the verses we sang together.
It was a joyous occasion!
Coming up next:
- October 25: Friends and Neighbors – Friends are invited to bring a colorful leaf from outside, or something you create with these coloring sheets to show everyone! Fall Leaves & Trees and Fall Mazes
- November 22: Gratitude and Gathering
- December 27: The Light in Winter
