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Our morning session opened with meeting for worship with all ages present where our focus was centered by singing, then drawn into prayers of petition.
Alternate Clerk Dudley Heath (Moorestown Meeting) welcomed Friends and explained that at the latter part of this session Alternate Clerk Richard Bernard (Hockessin Meeting) would take responsibility since he and many others would leave early for field trips. He introduced Suzanne Day (Westfield Meeting) as Recording Clerk. Others at the clerk's table were introduced and would be further introduced as they participated in the panel: Helen Fields, John Kelly, Michael Cooper, Tom Hoopes.
- Minute 13: Visitors from Bolivia
Jorge Arauz (Chestnut Hill Meeting) read, first in Spanish and then in English translation, a letter of introduction by the Board of Directors in La Paz, Bolivia, from the National Friends Evangelical Church (Iglesia de los Amigos Inela) recommending their visiting member to our care. Cecelia Paco shared with us her appreciation for the assistance we have given. She is a teacher of English at Friends schools. Loida Cutipa of Santidad Yearly Meeting (Bolivia), also a teacher, shared her observations and prayers for both our and her students' deeper acquaintance with Jesus.
- Minute 14: Epistle
Mario Cavallini (Mickleton Meeting) read excerpts from the Epistle 2000 of South Central Yearly Meeting. He invited Friends to read the book of incoming Epistles in the Library.
- Minute 15: Living Our Faith in the Raising of Our Children and Young People
Helen Fields (Coordinator for Brandywine Region) introduced the topic with personal experience, original song, and appreciation for all the caring for younger ones which takes place within our community of faith. As we nurture the spiritual lives of youth, we are enriched in our spiritual depth. Helen highly recommended as "homework":
- The FGC publication (both the book and the accompanying notebook) "Fostering Vital Friends Meetings" by Jan Greene and Marty Walton
- The PYM book "Companions Along the Way," edited by Florence Ruth Kline and Marty Grundy.
Michael Cooper (Birmingham Meeting) learned in childhood Deuteronomy 6:5and 6: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise."
Michael emphasized that parents as spiritual nurturers aren't following a system or formula. Opportunities come moment by moment. His son Andrew has had to endure numerous surgical operations; prayer and faith, Bible stories and the Meeting community provide background for interpreting world events and immediate encounters.
Eileen Flanagan's (Chestnut Hill Meeting) explanation of a parenting group she has appreciated at her Meeting was read by Helen Fields. In conclusion, Eileen recommends: live in the present; trust God; preach less and role model more; remember to breathe.
John Kelly (Princeton Meeting) has for four years been developing the Young Young Friends Program for those 7 to 14 and their families. Each Mothers Day weekend allows a relaxed camping weekend at Blairstown Center of Princeton University for families from around the Yearly Meeting. They experience challenges and become strengthened in Quaker identity. A Steering Committee involves the regional staff, adults and children.
Helen recommended this and the several other camping opportunities within our Yearly Meeting.
Tom Hoopes, Coordinator of Education Programs for PYM, appreciated the work of George Price, who nurtures greater understanding of Quaker values and models sensitive masculinity in his calling to share the Native American sweat lodge, a sauna-like experience.
Helen concluded by reminding us that asking young people what they think is a significant gift an older Friend can offer a young person.
Our morning open worship sharing brought forth many helpful suggestions, hopes, reflections. Examples include:
The gift of a copy of "Faith and Practice" to our young people could be enhanced by a curriculum to accompany it.
At the Meeting picnic, families were given a Bible story or person to enact, and then during the following year took responsibility for the First Day School intergenerational presentation of that story.
A strong, interdependent Meeting community can become the foundation upon which young, emerging Quakers can build themselves into persons of faith.
Listening to our children is a valuable gift. Listening to our First Day School teachers can be both supportive and instructive.
Each person emerges in a unique environment. Not all our children will remain within Quaker Meetings. But we can do our best to frame and model what it means to be good adults.
Our youth become grounded by attending meeting for worship. By talking about the meeting for worship experience within the family, each member can interpret and enlarge the meaning.
Osmosis is less effective than role modeling and actual interaction in transmitting our values that are central to our lives.
The minutes were read, corrected and approved.
Following announcements, and after a brief period of open worship the Meeting adjourned, to reconvene at 7:00 p.m.
Suzanne Day, recording clerk
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM