Each week in the Older Group we discuss a topic related to religion, Quaker history or current affairs.
We often talk about ways in which being a Quaker and having Christian faith help us in our daily lives and in understanding
the world around us. Both groups meet from 11-00 to 11-45. One of the adults from the Meeting facilitates each group. At
11-45 the young people and the children join older Friends in silent worship for 15 minutes. Afterwards we all have coffee,
tea, fruit drinks—and biscuits. Some younger Friends say the biscuits are one of the main attractions of coming to Meeting!
Here
are details of our rota for the autumn term 2010 -last updated 18 October 2010
This term our over-arching theme is Exploring
God’s world. This topic could be focused in the beauty of colours, trees, birds, nature, friendship, story-telling
– whatever the wonder of God’s presence in the world conjures for you. Instead of outlining each individual
week’s plans, we decided to leave it to volunteer facilitators to divine for themselves how to address the theme in
their own way for the week. What this means is that volunteers MUST show up prepared, but they are free to interpret
and plan.
Alison is interested in exploring colour and crafts (possibly with felt); Scottie has a lot of ideas,
and there are materials in the library, if anyone would like assistance or guidance.
Most importantly we need
volunteers for each week who will take responsibility for their week, and to allow all of us to alternate going into meeting
for worship or facilitating meeting.
Please email charles drcp@btinternet.com if you would like to volunteer.
Date
Themes Younger
Older
Oct 24 half term Alice to do a combined session - nb few
olders expected?
Oct 31
Ellen and Ruth to do a combined session?
Nov 7
Scottie John Marshall
Nov 14
London Link in Muswell Hill
Nov
21 Harvest Lunch
cooking for Harvest Lunch
Nov 28
Simon Risley
Dec 5,
12 & 19 Christmas activities
Here are some comments from Hammersmith Young Quakers and
their friends and visitors.
Why do I come to Quaker Meeting?
To see my friends
Because
you’ll always be accepted
Because Quakers always help you
Because everyone’s lovely
Because
there are no age boundaries when you get talking to older people in the Meeting
Because
you learn cool stuff
It is different every week
For the tea and biscuits!
The best thing about
being a Quaker is:
You have a sense of belonging without having to conform
Quakers have a history we can be proud of
There is no creed or enforced beliefs
In Quaker worship
people sit in silence and speak if they are moved to do so. What is silence for?
In silence
you can concentrate on your connection to God
In silence you can appreciate the people you
are with and your own life
You can think over the week - and sort things out
It is a time to relax - a moment of peace in the busy world
It allows you to feel
at peace with yourself
It is for worship
It is to think
about things that are important to you
What is good about silence?
Sitting in silence with other people makes you feel connected to them
In silence
language is not a barrier - there are no misconceptions
In silence you connect to others
on a different level
Silence relaxes you.
