The NYYM JYM group of 5th and 6th graders began the week with a list of activities in mind and a name whip in which we savored the simple moments in our daily lives. We brain stormed ideas for the week and decided to nurture ourselves, our group, and the wider community with our actions! We have strived to do our best at this goal.
Running games made Monday fly by. A group of us joined community worship feeling unwelcome because we felt a tension in the air!
On Tuesday we tumbled the day away with Original play! We learned that we can play a game where everyone wins and can be exhilarated while being treated tenderly. We walked to the lake and discussed sitting in the very front of the auditorium for worship, then we did and we felt warm and moved. On our walk we collected our thoughts and feathers. During snacks we listened to stories of the people of the long house. We loved listing about the celebration of the strawberry harvest and the wisdom of the grandmothers. Susan taught us how to make rain sticks that made the gentle sounds of rain.
On Wednesday we thought about how times of war can limit us and do, as in our story. Then Bill Galvin came and taught us that Quakers in the past worked hard to be recognized for their contentious objections to participating in war as well as supporting war. We thought of things we could add to our very own belief folders like letters we can write to our meetings and photos of peace protests. As our friends from the 9–10 group joined us we went to the beach hoping the rain would not accompany us and instead God’s sun sprinkled us with light. The sun remained our friend through the fun fair where we painted peoples faces, and tossed sponges to raise money for the sharing fund and Powell house!
Our activity of choice was archery where we learned to walk together and we hit the mark with the fun of the bow and arrow. Rubén came to teach us about his language, music, and clothing made from alpaca wool. We really felt the spirit flow from the sounds in is beautiful, passionate and generously open musical performances. Ruben taught us the song “Jesús me pastorea” Looking ahead we were excited to sing with all of JYM and with the idea of uniting as an entire NYYM community in a truly all inclusive community worship. We look forward to the presence of all in worship and singing!
Approved by the 5th and 6th grade JYM group.