We’re counting down to Annual Sessions! Here are 12 great reasons to join, July 26-30. [Read more…] about 12 Days to Annual Sessions … 12 Reasons to Join!
Youth
Newtown Quaker Meeting Kids Raise $4,008 at Lasagna Dinner for MicroLending
NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The Quaker Kids at Newtown Meeting served its annual lasagna dinner for charity at the historic Quaker Meetinghouse and raised a whopping $4,008 for their designated charity, Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR)!
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Quaker ‘Must See’ for Summer Family Fun
As summer approaches, families looking for enriching summer activities to enjoy together don’t have to search very far. Fun is right in our own backyard throughout the Delaware Valley area. Enjoyable excursions for the whole family connect Quaker history and our Friends community. We’ve gathered a list of “Must See” local Quaker Family Fun sites to visit this summer. [Read more…] about Quaker ‘Must See’ for Summer Family Fun
PYM Youth Programs Welcomed Spring with a Series of Weekend Events
PYM Youth Programs welcomed Spring with a series of weekend events that included young people of all ages! We’re excited for our upcoming Annual Sessions July 26-30th. Be sure to stay connected for news about Fall programs for children, youth, and families!
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Youth Visit to FCNL Lobby Weekend
Westtown School’s Quaker Leadership Program (QLP) plays a significant role in nurturing Quaker identity and providing experience with faith and practice for students and adults in the school community. QLP students were part of the PYM Young Friends group who volunteered at the Bucks Peace Fair in September and a group from the school attended Fall Continuing Sessions. Over their spring break in March, three QLP students and two faculty members participated in the Friends Committee on National Legislation’s 2023 Spring Lobby Weekend.
Part 2: Where are we going? Supporting Families and Religious Education
Queries from PYM Faith and Practice are read at the beginning of worship each month at my meeting; one of the youth in our Young People’s Group is the reader. In May, they were the ones about religious education: Nurturing Our Community: Religious Education in the Home and Meeting. As we think about returning to weekly programs for our children and youth, what guidance do these queries offer? This summer is a moment to pause and consider the experiences and lessons of these past months and how they might shape our programs and support for young Friends and families in our meetings. The PYM queries ask us is place in the center of our religious education programs preparation, formation, and belonging.
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Young Friends Welcome Program Assistant
Following an extensive search process and interviews with several finalist candidates, PYM Youth Programs are delighted to welcome Aeryn Luminkith as the new Assistant in the Young Friends program. She will begin her work with Young Friends at their Christmas Gathering, December 27-30. We’re really pleased to welcome her to the staff team. Aeryn brings experience with teens and younger youth, has worked as a teaching assistant, art teacher, tutor, and photographer. During the interview process, Aeryn impressed us with her warmth and concern for inclusive youth community, and her interest in creating a balance in programming between playful and grounded energy.
From Aeryn: While working at Greene Street Friends School over the past year, as an after school program assistant and substitute TA, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for Quaker beliefs and values.The Quaker commitment to social justice and equality, where the voices of all community members carry the same weight, resonates very deeply with me. During my time at Greene Street, it has greatly influenced the ways that I interact with students, peers, and colleagues. I have multiple years of experience working with children and youth including two years working with high school students as a photography teacher and tutor in a non-profit youth center. I have also done LGBTQ advocacy work with non-profit organizations in this city. I strongly believe in supporting youth leadership and emotional development through fostering environments of mutual respect, understanding, and equal opportunities. Guiding youth to help them understand and dismantle systems of oppression is something that feels especially important to me, particularly when working with teens and young adults.
Young Friends program Facilitator Lori Sinitzky shared: “I’m excited to work with Aeryn as we plan and facilitate upcoming Young Friends gatherings together. Aeryn brings many gifts to our community, including experience with photography and a commitment to working with youth. I know we have fun times ahead!”
Upper Susquehanna Quarterly Gathering: Joy in Community
Friends in the Upper Susquehanna Quarterly Meeting (USQM) met for the Fall Family Gathering at Crystal Lake on September 21-23, 2018. To our joy, we welcomed in 28 children, a wonderful bounty of young energy and activity. Workshops included:
- Personal reflections on the spiritual journey through prison, by Mujedded Muhammad of Columbus, OH
- Centering Prayer, with Lynne Graham of Wellsboro
- Hidden Bias, by Becky Misangyi of State College
- And a presentation on political action and lobbying given by Christine Ashley, from FCNL.
For the second year in a row, the Upper Susquehanna Quarter joyfully supported the life of the Quarter with financial subsidies. The actual cost per person this year was $95. However, we asked for only $30 for each individual, and a small amount more for families. We’ve received many young families at Quarterly Meeting, which we find heartening. Many of the families in attendance have been coming to Quaker Meeting for less than five years! Though we cannot continue the financial subsidies forever, they have breathed new life into the Quarter.
Throughout the weekend, we found ourselves enriched by the size of our group. What energy! More than 80 of us attended, 1/3 of whom were children. Every child had other playmates in their age group. 11-13 year olds called the weekend the “best time” and celebrated the sheer number of kids. Parents called the weekend both “immersive” and “exploratory.”
In the youth program, Johanna Jackson coordinated youth activities for the fifth year. Dorothy Habecker organized activities for our youngest children, ages 3-4. Youth activities were vibrant, active, and had a variety of crafts and options. The 14-16 year olds, joined the adults for part of a workshop, and agreed to lead a game for younger children. Everyone enjoyed the Climbing Wall, which was supported with a gift from Martin Melville. Martin said, smiling, “It was worth every penny.”
Starting this year, we invited all of our youth ages 5+ to attend Meeting for Worship with the adults. Many of the young people remained for 30 minutes of silence, and they rose to the occasion of extended worship. Adults commented on the calm, collected feeling of gathering. We offered tools to the young people for sitting in Worship, including fidgets to hold, play-doh to shape, and thoughtful drawing.Also new this year, we supported the teens with a coming-of-age ceremony on Saturday night. Adults from around the Quarter wrote blessings and affirmations for the teens. Representing the wider community of their Quaker Meeting, parents read these notes aloud and shared the love of the wider community. Families felt touched to receive this support and love from the Quarter. In our teens, we celebrated: their humor, their gentleness, their wonderful joy and talents. What beautiful people they are becoming.
In all, the weekend was fruitful, boisterous, joyful, and creative. Our time together sparked new ideas for next year’s Fall Family Gathering. We crave a more centered time for different ages and generations together, and we are uplifted by the energy and higher numbers here in attendance.The next Fall Family Gathering will be held on September 27-29, 2019 at Camp Crystal Lake. Jill Lashmett is our paid Coordinator for 2019, organizing logistics and scheduling. Johanna Jackson plans to continue as Youth Programs Coordinator, and Dorothy Habecker is interested in working again with our youngest group.
Written by Johanna Jackson, Upper Susquehanna Quarter
