Junior Yearly Meeting
held at the Pioneer Centre, Cleobury Mortimer
10th – 13th April 2010


To all Friends everywhere

JYM 2010 was held in the Pioneer Centre near Kidderminster and for 4 days was home to over 160 Quakers from across the UK and from overseas. Our theme for the event was:

Living as a Quaker: Who we are and where we are going

We chose this theme to continue the momentum that was built up at last year’s JYM where the feeling was that we had returned to our radical roots. This year we started by looking at influential Quakers from the past and examined how they have shaped our views and beliefs as Friends. We went on to look at these beliefs through the medium of chatrooms in the Session entitled ‘Quakers and…’ This allowed us to hear a multitude of different Quaker views on a wide range of topics including God, Christianity and Leadership. Many people enjoyed sharing their views and having them challenged, giving people a wider understanding of what modern Quakers believe.

We looked at how we can put faith into action in the thought-provoking session ‘Expressions of Quakerism’. We were then inspired and moved by the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in America, a powerful example of someone standing up for human rights, equality and what they believe in.

The theme was explored further in Base Groups which provided a small, safe space to share ideas as well as an opportunity to have fun and meet new people. Everyone valued the chance to spend time in a smaller group away from the backdrop of a very busy and possibly overwhelming event. On the first night the Socials ran the Base Group Challenge which pitted base group against base group in an exciting opportunity to bond with each other and have fun.

The Socials were responsible for the fun and games at the event, including the wonderful Quiz Night followed by the hard-earned Trash Fashion Show. The Disco and Chill-Out Night carefully balanced relaxation and raving in a children’s TV themed fancy dress evening.

The Elders facilitated the worship at JYM, beginning the day with experimental Early-Morning Epilogue and concluding the day with evening Epilogue. This provided a special place to reflect and to worship, giving people the opportunity to think and be moved; sometimes even to minister, possibly for the first time.

Participants also valued the free time and activities, both timetabled and optional, as they gave people an opportunity to socialise and build the community at JYM. They enjoyed such delights as knitting, the zip wire and the ‘world’s largest’ game of sardines. The community spirit was strengthened by everyone’s smiles and their openness to new ideas. People met old friends and made new ones creating a whole new community which was stronger than you would believe possible in the short time we had at JYM.

We leave here inspired and ready to take our faith into the future



Jethro Jeorrett, Martin Rolph
Clerks

‘It has really changed me’
I was born in to a Quaker family and I’ve been to loads of events, but I have had some of the most profoundly spiritual moments at this Junior Yearly Meeting. Moments when I’ve been completely overwhelmed by fear, excitement – everything!
It has really changed me.
Peter

As with everything you do for the first time, nerves and thoughts of wondering what to expect overwhelmed me in days before Junior Yearly Meeting. But within a few minutes of silence at the event and with the ease that came with the conversations I felt able to have with everyone I felt at once totally comfortable.
Lottie