Children and young people at Meeting for Sufferings day
Children and young people came together as part of Meeting for Sufferings in London on Saturday 2 December 2023. They gathered as young Quakers to experience community together, and value having opportunities to connect between Yearly Meeting sessions. The day gave the children a flavour of being at Friends House, and spending time with Quakers of all ages.
The day allowed parents and carers to attend either Meeting for Sufferings or a Climate Fresk workshop held in Friends House on that day, but mostly the teenagers brought themselves because they fancied a day with Quaker friends!
Meeting for Sufferings was receiving a report from the Quaker World Relations Committee (QWRC) so the children and young people followed the theme of Quakers around the world in stage appropriate ways. The teenagers learnt about all the different strands and practices of Quakers while the children focused on more personal stories. All the under 18's joined together for worship and for some impromptu games hosted by Quaker Life staff and volunteers.
In the afternoon the teens focused their thinking on roles and service, playing a game of Unwilling Unable, a card game around the challenges of nominations, before joining the main blended Meeting for Sufferings session to hear the QWRC report and hear about the plans for Yearly Meeting from the YM clerk.
If children and families from your Quaker community would appreciate a chance to meet with others, let them know about the Giant Online Children's meeting. This happens on the first Sunday of each month for worship, stories, craft and fun. Please contact cypadmin@quaker.org.uk for more details and to receive the zoom link.