tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33598850.post115817788778052165..comments2023-04-24T02:57:34.415-07:00Comments on A Friend in Need: Reaching out to YouthHeather Madronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14822864657970530172noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33598850.post-1158537015332886642006-09-17T16:50:00.000-07:002006-09-17T16:50:00.000-07:00For me being a child of a meeting it is very scary...For me being a child of a meeting it is very scary to suddenly feel like I sould be giving ministry. It felt a lot like I was graduating from Junior High by myself. I was now going to look like an adult and be asked about my experiences.<BR/><BR/>For me it is easier to give ministry at yearly meeting than in my home meeting. I have only given ministry during after thoughts and during business meeting. <BR/><BR/>I wish there was a better way but I can not think of it. <BR/><BR/>peace<BR/>rebeccaRebecca Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00607546429073118462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33598850.post-1158429614947885812006-09-16T11:00:00.000-07:002006-09-16T11:00:00.000-07:00Thanks for opening the door to such an important t...Thanks for opening the door to such an important topic, Heather. I agree that there's a hesitancy in sharing our faith with young Friends, out of concern that we not unduly influence their own discovery of Quakerism and what it means to them.<BR/><BR/>My guess is that most meetings will make their own choice about whether or how to invite young people to serve on committees. One meeting I know in my area had worked to do so, only to have the participating teens or young adults feel tokenized. (There's been a bit more success when two or more young people have been able to serve on a committee simultaneously.)<BR/><BR/>As for me, I used to be child-phobic. I feared interacting with pre-verbal kids because I so seldom understood what they were wanting to say--I felt inadequate, so of course I avoided children. (I had no younger siblings when I was growing up; could that account for my child-aversion...?)<BR/><BR/>So what I am most amazed by, personally, is how engaged I am with the children of the worship group I attend, because <I>we have grown up together.</I> <BR/><BR/>Well, what I mean is, I've been around <I><B>them</B></I> as they've grown up, and they've been around <I><B>me</B></I> as I've gotten more comfortable with them, and that has made all the difference.<BR/><BR/>I'm hoping it will come more naturally, then, for us to talk about Quakerism as they get older and as time goes on. <BR/><BR/>We have to look for the openings that are presented to us, though, like in your case when a young person stood and made his needs known to the wider body. <BR/><BR/>I interpret that to mean that the meeting was a safe enough place where that Friend was able to ask for what he wanted. Cool!<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>Liz Opp, <A HREF="http://thegoodraisedup.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">The Good Raised Up</A>Liz Opphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802348848085930901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33598850.post-1158352990026479312006-09-15T13:43:00.000-07:002006-09-15T13:43:00.000-07:00Heather,This is great. I like your exploration of ...Heather,<BR/><BR/>This is great. I like your exploration of the tensions between "wanting more involvement" and "not wanting to push too hard."<BR/><BR/>-- Chris M.<BR/><A HREF="http://chrismsf.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Tables, Chairs & Oaken Chests</A>Chris M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05125825966802002625noreply@blogger.com