Children’s and Young People’s work update February 2011

News:

‘Quaker meeting and me’ is a beautifully illustrated booklet (see right) to help children find a way into meeting for worship – ‘As we can’t see what goes on in other people’s minds during meeting, we have used images from a garden to illustrate its different aspects.’ It can be a starting point for conversation between children and adults, or a focus to help children settle and centre during meeting for worship. This free resource has been promoted through the February clerks mailing, if you would like to be sent copies contact the Quaker Life Outreach Team on 020 7663 1017.

Yearly Meeting Gathering takes place in Canterbury from July 30 to August 6. Bookings are currently being taken for the children’s programmes (0 to11 year olds) and the young people’s programme (11 to15 year olds). Information and booking forms can be found at www.quaker.org.uk/ymgcyp. Junior Yearly Meeting (for 15 – 18 year olds) takes place at the same time, nominations can come from area meetings or individuals; information and booking forms are available at www.quaker.org.uk/junior-yearly-meeting-2011.

Bookings should be returned by March 31.

Things to do:

A workshop at Forest of Dean meeting on Storytelling and Theological Reflection has been arranged for Saturday March 5 10.30am – 4.30pm. The workshop offers an opportunity to explore the storytelling approach known as Godly Play. For more information and booking forms about this workshop go to www.quaker.org.uk/training-opportunities or phone 020 7663 1013 and ask to be sent details and a booking form.

Godly Play: accredited enrichment module Saturday 19 March near Solihull, for those with experience of Godly play with children, cost £35, contact Claire Wesley on 0121 426 0432 email claire@birmingham.anglican.org Going further a retreat March 25 – 26 in Birmingham to develop skills and understanding, cost £150 residential, www.godlyplay.org.uk/3daycourses.html
Being a Quaker Parent: joys and dilemmas. A weekend at Woodbrooke 10 – 12 June offering time and space for parents of under 18s to reflect on being a Quaker and a parent. There will be a mix of group discussion and creative activities to celebrate the joys and explore the dilemmas of supporting our children in walking cheerfully through the 21st Century. A free carers place is available for parents bringing children. For details or to book contact Woodbrooke on 0121 472 5171, email enquiries@woodbrooke.org.uk website www.woodbrooke.org.uk.

Things to use:

Barnabas resources for those working with children in churches can be viewed at www.barnabasinchurches.org.uk This includes all age resources, holiday club ideas, resources for under 5s, activity ideas such as drama, arts and crafts.

Healthy Books is a website that recommends books on particular issues for children and young people www.healthybooks.org.uk/. It looks really good, is easy to use and best of all is also linked to Amazon so you can buy the books easily too.

Things to tell children:

A weekend for 8 to 12 year olds – Exploring Worship: being a spiritual warrior with a separate programme run by Woodbrooke especially designed for parents and carers. Leaflets and booking forms are available on www.quaker.org.uk/cyp or by phoning Bevelie Shember on 020 7663 1013. The closing date is the end of February. Area meetings have been asked to encourage people to go by funding places for a family. If finance is a problem then Woodbrooke is able to offer bursaries.

Things useful to know:

A Quaker Life Exploration at Lewes: On the 16th of October 39 adults, 5 young people and 9 children from Lewes Meeting in Sussex East AM came together for an Exploration event. They wanted this event to build a stronger worshipping community through strengthening the inter-connections between people of different ages. Lewes Meeting has many strengths and is well attended by adults, young people and children. However, the event revealed that the sum is definitely greater than its parts. By the end of the event there were many practical ideas for bringing people together again in the future, such as all age worship, breakfast and family days.

To find out about having an Exploration at your meeting visit www.quaker.org.uk/explorations
Journeys in the Spirit children’s work edition writers’ day: The day in 2010 led to the current series on Advices and Queries and ‘More Quaker stories’. On June 11 there is a writers meeting in Friends House to develop 2012 themes. If you would like to come to the day to be part of this ongoing project contact Chris - 0207 663 1014 or chrisn@quaker.org.uk for an initial conversation.

Journeys in the Spirit resource:

The Journeys in the Spirit: children’s work edition was launched in 2007; you can find out more about this by viewing the Journeys in the Spirit: children’s edition web pages that are within Resources on this site. This includes details of how to subscribe to receive this each month.

If you work with young people within a Quaker setting then the Journeys in the Spirit: youth work edition is for you. Full information about this, including subscription details, can be found on the Journeys in the Spirit: youth work edition web pages that are also within CYP resources on this site.