 January/February 2000 (XXXVIII 1) |
s we attempt to embrace diversity we often forget to be unprejudiced towards the one being that is most sacred to us: God. We demand that God come to us on our terms; messages from God must be in the form of silence or spirituality. We turn our heads away from a shining light and wince because someone called it Jesus. YouthQuake taught me that it's okay to sing, or laugh, or celebrate God in many different forms. I pray that as we continue to grow as a community we are able to open our hearts to all of God's messages."
These words are from Stephanie White, a Young Friend who attended the YouthQuake '97 gathering in North Carolina. Her words are a challenge to us in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to encourage Friends of all ages to open ourselves to the movement of the Spirit, and to articulate what we have found.
YouthQuake is a wonderful week-long event where Quaker youth (ages 14-20) accept the challenge to explore the Quaker experiences of Christianity. As Friends come together — liberal and evangelical, programmed and unprogrammed — this exploration is not always comfortable, but it is often moving, and for some it has been life-changing. YouthQuake 2000 will take place December 27, 2000, to January 1, 2001, near Seattle, Washington.
The hope of the PYM YouthQuake Oversight Group is that Monthly Meetings will see the time leading up to YouthQuake 2000 as a year-long preparation for themselves and the young people who will attend.
Beyond help with financing, young Friends will need personal and spiritual support as they delve into the questions of their faith and its expression in the world. The YouthQuake Oversight Group is planning a number of experiences for PYM youth (including those not going to YouthQuake 2000) to explore religious beliefs and spiritual identity throughout the year 2000. YouthQuake promotional information will be ready for Young Friends early this year. Questions may be directed to Marty Smith, PYM director of religious education, at (215) 241-7008 or Jonathan Snipes.
Jonathan Snipes
Falls Meeting (PA)
PYM representative
to YouthQuake 2000 Planning Committee
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM