Warm Greetings, Friend! This time of year, t he words of a story always speak to my heart : " Sometimes people can walk right through a mystery and not even know it is there. This time of year you will see people hurrying in the shops buying things and doing this and that, but they will miss the mystery. They don’t know how to get ready or maybe they just forgot."* How can we slow down the Christmas season, get ready, and shift some focus from anticipation of receiving to giving? In the REsource Sharing section below, you'll find a " Reverse Advent " idea for meetings and families that connects the journeys in the Nativity story with giving to others in the weeks leading to Christmas. At the center of the mystery Christmas is a baby born in a barn who would be the Prince of Peace. An opportunity to learn about, celebrate, and support peacemaking this year is to host a Friendly Holiday Gift Fair -- a joint project of Friends Peace Teams and the Quaker RE Collaborative. Gifts honor friends or loved ones and connect wishes for Peace on Earth with practical, on-the-ground, peace work in the world. In service and joy, Melinda Wenner Bradley Youth Religious Life Coordinator [email protected] Recipients are subscribed to the PYM Religious Education Thread List and the Youth Programs Thread List. *From "Advent I" in the Complete Guide to Godly Play Volume 3, Jerome Berryman

There's still time to register and attend the Saturday, December 7 Religious Education and Youth Work Thread Gathering ! We will gather from 10am-4pm at Wilmington Meeting with our Community of Practice to explore the ways in which our meetings can support children, youth, and families, and we can support one another in this ministry. More information about the free event here . Child care is provided.

PYM Programs for Youth & Families Please share in your meeting! Registration for ALL events is open on the pages linked below. Next up . . . December 14, 3:00-5:30pm Winter Quaker Family Meetup at Birmingham Meeting . An afternoon of fellowship with other PYM Families! At the Winter event, we’ll share experiences and support of the parenting journey during the holidays. Child care and program for young people; attend with or without the kids! Registration for this free event on the event page . December 27-30: Young Friends Christmas Gathering at Woodstown Meeting Young Friends will explore “Change Within Ourselves” with workshops relating to identity and exploring the ways in which we are all superheroes. Plans are also in the works for an ice skating trip at a local rink. January 11-12: Winter Family Overnight! The Children and Families program (K-5th Grade) will continue exploring our theme: “Using Your Voice!” We encourage all families to bring a friend or neighbor!  January 31-February 2: Middle School Friends Winter Gathering. A winter weekend of games, fellowship, worship sharing, MSF business, and lots of laughter. Tara Rubinstein will be back to share Part II of her workshop on gender and identity. February 14-16: Young Friends Service Trip to YSOP in NYC Young Friends will travel together with staff and adult Friendly Presence volunteers to New York City to participate in a service program with the Quaker organization Youth Service Opportunities Project . They will have hospitality with 15th Street Meeting and Brooklyn Meeting, too!

Click here to print the full PYM Youth Programs Calendar for Fall/Winter 2019!

REsource Sharing: (Left) That Baby in the Manger by Anne Neuberger As the children of a small church struggle with the portrayal of the family in the Nativity scene as European--not Middle Eastern and not necessarily like them--they learn and live a message of inclusion of cultural differences. LOTS to explore below for the holiday season! (click on each for the link to the resource) Christmas Light: Seeking the Spirit of the Season "Reverse Advent" giving in the season of expectant waiting Advent with Friends: A Story Journey to Christmas 12 Multicultural Books about the Nativity, from The Color of Us A Multicultural Representation of the Baby Jesus -- lesson and children's book resources​ A Quaker Christmas Story: Candles in the Window by Chuck Fager "Nativity for the Modern Age" by Kennett Meeting (2016) Christmas Programs with a Twist -- a collection of plays by Elinor Briggs (PhYM)

Playing in the Light: Godly Play/ Faith & Play Training for Quakers A three-Saturday "commuter" program at Pendle Hill Conference Center: January 11 February 8 March 21 Includes a copy of "Faith & Play: Quaker Stories for Friends Trained in the Godly Play Method," lunch, and refreshments for all three Saturday sessions (9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Printable Flyer Information and Registration on the Pendle Hill website

Upcoming Conversation Circles hosted by the Quaker RE Collaborative: Conversation Circles are 1 to 1.5 hour online discussions hosted on Zoom. The same conversation happens twice in a week at different times, and is minuted and audio recorded. More information, and online Resource Library, at www.Quakers4RE.org December "Spiritual Deepening with Children"  The FGC Spiritual Deepening program offers resources and tools to help Quaker meetings and individuals grow and deepen. Each section of the online Spiritual Deepening Library includes resources for working with children including books, exercises and multigenerational activities. Join this conversation to learn what the program offers to nurture children in the Spirit.   Tuesday, 12/10, 1:00 PM US Eastern Register  HERE Thursday, 12/12, 8:00 PM US Eastern Register  HERE January "Quaker RE in the Home and Small Meeting" Children's religious education is vital to the growth of monthly meetings, yet maintaining an RE program can be challenging in small communities. How can small meetings offer a deep Quaker experience to children when few children attend? What resources can families use to teach Quaker faith and practice at home? Learn creative ideas, ask questions and share your experience.    Tuesday, 1/21, 1:00 PM US Eastern Register  HERE Thursday, 1/23, 8:00 PM US Eastern Register  HERE

Join the Youth Programs Team! We're seeking a Middle School Friends Program Assistant. The Youth Programs team centers five areas in our work with youth and their families: Quaker Community Creative Spirituality Building Relationships Play and Joy Stretch and Surrender (how we learn!) Does this resonate with you? Are you interested in a part-time position with a collaborative, supportive group of colleagues and wonderful young people? Learn more on the PYM website where the job description and application information are posted!

"I still have a question about resources, programs . . . or a great idea to share!"

Click here to email the Youth Religious Life Coordinator

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends 1515 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

‌