Silent Night? Not always...
There was more noise than you might expect at Lancaster Quaker Meeting this week when the children and young people led an intergenerational offering of the Nativity story.
Some clamorous camels had a habit of shouting "Baaaaabbbyy" every time anyone mentioned the Baby Jesus – and then all the Quakers went "Shhhhhhhhhh!"
Lancaster is not the only place to include a nativity, or other Christmas traditions, as a way of celebrating and enjoying one another's company as a community. Some meetings hold carol singing events and others host Christmas gatherings or winter parties.
And there's no shortage of talent when it comes to performances other than the nativity.
Reading Meeting have been known to enjoy a Quaker version of A Christmas Carol, and Sleeping Beauty (oh yes, they have…..). Sorry. Had to be done.
At Milford Haven, The Smartest Giant in Town gave an opportunity for messages about generosity and wearing your clothes as long as you can.
Games that have been adapted and enjoyed by Quaker meetings include:
- bring a baby photo and try to identify members of the community
- a treasure hunt around the meeting house
- the chocolate game (with contemporary adaptations)
- the dreidel Game, a common Hannukah game from the Jewish tradition
- Writing limericks about the community and other Friends
Events like these are a really important part of growing our Quaker communities as places where people know one another well. Our faith in the future reminds us that "Fellowship and fun strengthen the bonds between us, enhancing a loving community".
Quaker communities are often bursting with ideas and talent about ways to have fun together – we can be brave about what those might be. Through the Radical Hearts, Open Minds consultations, Quakers in Britain has found out about a whole range of activities which Friends do together. This has included film clubs, reading groups, walking groups and wild swimming groups, including the 'Quackers' in Yorkshire. Young people's groups are especially good about thinking broadly, and including lots of pizza in their worship and community events.
Of course, Quakers haven't traditionally celebrated Christmas as a distinct faith festival – do read the recent Quakers in Britain blog Is your Christmas simple, radical, spiritual? to think about other aspects of how we approach Christmas as a worshipping faith community
If you'd like to share your thoughts on how support from Quakers in Britain can help your Quaker community to grow and thrive, you still can – fill in the Radical Hearts, Open Minds survey before 5 January.