QuakerInfo.com Forum

[Shay]

At our MH we have a fellowship breakfast once a month, and it's a big pot-luck thing. Very nice, huge variety of foods, and about half or more of the folks stay. After everyone's eaten, we usually have a program of some sort- a presentation about Godly Play was the last one, I believe. But many times, it's a fellowship activity- something to help find connections within the metting itself, like secret friends for the children or recognising those who have nurtured us with a flower. (That last was my own take on the traditional Lutheran Mother's Day brunch and flower-giving ceremony.) I think it has really helped a lot of folks get to know each other on a more personal and friendly level.

But as nice as it is, it's a little static in time and place- the Worship and Ministry committee is looking for more ideas- we're about to expand our Meetinghouse and would like to expand our feeling of fellowship at the same time.

Does your meeting hold anything you really like in this vein? I know my old meeting had a dinner once a month that traveled from house to house for the various courses that was also a lot of fun. I'm not talking about strictly social concerns either, if your MH has a great program that brings folks together based around education or good works I'd love to hear it too. I'm just curious how your meeting encourages it's members to think of the meetinghouse with sort of a sense of home and family.

[TheoTulley]

In our meeting in Hull we used to have "At homes" most months, especially in the summer, which were on Sundays about 4 to 6 p.m. We brought food contributions which were shared. Sometimes there would be a short talk or sharing of experience.

That was many years ago. Now the meeting is much smaller and there are few couples so that it is much more difficult. We do sometimes have similar events in the meeting house, and occasionally at the home of a Quaker couple.

The diminution of such events I see as one of the consequences of the "SQIF" (Single Quaker In Family) problem.

Our Advices urge us to share our faith: so many fail to do that even with partners or spouses (my preferred plural for "spouse" is "spice"!).
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In Peace,
Theo Tulley.
Hull Quaker Meeting,
Pickering and Hull Area Quaker Meeting,
Britain Yearly Meeting.

I protest against the convention of anonymity and use of nick-names in a Quaker discussion medium.

[orPowers]

We have had Wednesday evening classes for a long time, however last year we started having a "simple meal" before the classes in which volunteers would fix spaghetti, or stew or whatever imagination came up with (and we have some vivid imaginations). A collection basket is available to defray the costs. There is something about sharing ameal that SHOULD be a part regular fellowship.
We have what we call a "share fair" a couple of times a year in which people donate what they no longer need but still good "stuff" and open the hall to people in the neighborhood who have need of such things (sort of a free yard sale). It is good to open the hall to the neighborhood and I would like to see more effort to extend our facilities and services to people in the neighborhood, to make it not only more "home" for members, but for the neighborhood. Any ideas along these lines would also be appreciated.
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Romans 8:38-39

my blog: http://mild-side.blogspot.com/

[Laurence17]

we have a shared lunch a speaker at 12.30 on the 5th First day of the month --works out about 4 times a year. An elderly Hindu attender is going to speak on his quest for God, at the end of this month.
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Abwoon : divine progenitor, breathing mindfulness through poor in spirit and the resonating realm of ruach

[SteveT]

We have a wide range of shared activities ranging from walks, theatre visits, sailing etc as well as activities based in the meeting house. Some of which are "educational" (talks on a wide range of issues, talks from members of other faith communities (Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism as well as other Christian denominations), musical concerts, cooking ........

I would suggest you ask the members of the meeting to suggest what activity they could offer. We tend to look upon ourselves as a large extended family and try to organise activities in the same way.