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