There are lots of amazing Quakers in the world today and many who have come before. Do you have a favourite Quaker from the past?
Who are some Quakers you know? This might be people in your meeting, or people you have meet at Yearly Meeting?
Do you know how do they let their lives speak? What kind of questions could you ask them to find out more about what it means to them to be a Quaker?
We are currently (Spring 2020) developing sessions about Quakers of today who are letting their light shine and their lives speak in many different ways. These are being developed to share online, but could be adapted to share in person.
Our first session is about Elizabeth Fry.
Our second session is about George Fox.
You can download the plan for this session at the bottom of this page.
The key idea for this Children’s Meeting is: See that of God in others, even those who are very different from you.
Materials to gather/prepare:
Simple costumes (caps and shawls) to dress up like an 18th century convict and Elizabeth Fry.
Bag of “gifts” (see Adventures in the Spirit)
Paper and pencils or markers (or calico)
Worship opening: Silence with candle showing on screen.
Game/opening activity: One leader explains to the children that we’re going to pretend we’re going back in time to meet some special people - a Quaker woman, and one of the people she helped. Ask children if they’re ready to pretend.
Sharing: Dramatic role play
Leaders put on costume items that match the late 18th century. One is Elizabeth Fry, the other, a convict woman. They set the scene - the imaginary setting is a ship docked in the Thames, full of convict women. Each leader introduces herself and explains who she is, then they talk about how they met and what their relationship is. “Elizabeth” explains that she wanted to help women and children who had had a very difficult life. She talks about the practical gifts she has given the women on the ship. The convict woman, Jane, says that no one has ever given her anything before and that Elizabeth’s gifts have given her hope. (*script)
Craft:
Show a photo of the Rajah Quilt and explain how it was made by women on the convict ship, the Rajah, for the women in England who had given them “useful gifts”.
Introduce today’s activity: making our own “patchwork quilts” using fabric, paper or paint. Demonstrate different ways to draw the outline of a quilt, then encourage children to chat while they draw their quilts.
Closing: Show one another our quilt drawings.
Possible questions:
Introduce another well-known Quaker that the leader is familiar with, and show something that symbolises them. Eg, for George Backhouse, show the group some lemon myrtle leaves (and flowers, if in season) and pass them around to be held, crushed between fingers, and sniffed!
For older children with good general knowledge about Quaker history: Match the Quaker to their picture/famous quote/historical event.
Show this short video about an 18th century gentleman getting dressed, as a starting point for a discussion about Quaker simplicity and what it meant at that time.
Refer back to the person you’ve been learning about and recap something they said (eg, for George Fox, “Be patterns, be examples…”; for Isaac Penington, “Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness..” Ask how the children (and adults) in the room can apply the saying to their lives and their community.
What's your favourite source of light?
Make your own lantern using a glass jar. Decorate the glass jar and put a tea light candle inside and watch the light shine through.
Faith & Play Story 'George Fox's Big Discovery'
What did you like about this story?
What does it mean to walk in the light?
You can learn to play the George Fox song or read the lyrics and sheet music.