The following resources and information were shared at the Religious Education Thread Gathering of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
Morning Program: Intergenerational Worship Experiences
How do we learn to worship? How do we make sure that Friends of all ages and levels of experience are having opportunities to explore ways of entering into worship? These activities are great for meetings who want to add an accessible Religious Education experience to the start of meeting for worship.
Worship Bowl
Silent Squares
Conversation Circle Topics
The Thread Gathering included three “conversation circles” that explored Religious Education themes. You can replicate the conversation circles at your Meeting or with a group of Friends. Each circle starts by watching a short video together, then responding with the queries below. Some conversation circles have additional written resources that can support further learning.
Key Quaker Roles in the Spiritual Life of the Meeting
- Key Quaker Roles: Minister, Steward, Witness (video)
- Walking in the World as a Friend: Essential Quaker Practices (PDF)
Going Deeper with Worship
Incorporating teens into the life of the meeting through middle school, high school and beyond
- Incorporating Teens into the Life of the Meeting (Video)
- In the Middle of the Light
- Quaker Affirmation: A Course of Study for Young Friends
Queries for conversation circles:
- What speaks to you as an individual or to your meeting?
- What questions rise for you about this topic?
- What actions do you feel called to take in this area?
- How does this topic connect with the ways your meeting is nurturing religious formation, and how people across ages “learn” (experientially) about Quaker faith and practice.
Creating Your Own Religious Education Curriculum Plan
What learning are you longing for? There are so many resources out there that it can feel overwhelming knowing where to start. We chose two excellent resource guides as the basis for designing your own curriculum plan for further learning. Use the worksheet to guide you through creating a plan that you can use for yourself, your meeting, or any group of Friends who are excited to learn together!
- PYM Worksheet on Creating Your Own Religious Education Curriculum
- The Quaker Way Across the Year (Resource Guide)
- In the Middle of the Light (Resource Guide)
Faith & Play Stories
Faith & Play is a set of stories for Friends to use as a vehicle for learning about Quaker faith and practice, and to explore our identity as Friends. Because the format is experiential, listeners can find meaning in the story drawing on their own life experience. Stories provide an opportunity to explore faith both as an individual and as part of a spiritual community.
We closed our Thread Gathering with a Faith and Play story based on William Taber’s pamphlet, The Four Doors to Meeting for Worship.
Friends who have a leading to learn more about Faith & Play can find out more here: Faith & Play Stories | Spiritual formation through storytelling
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