Young Friends gather
Friends gathered for Junior Yearly Meeting
Some 300 young Friends aged between fifteen and eighteen gathered at the Frontier Centre in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire last week for Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM). The theme was ‘Inner Light: opening and inspiring us?’
JYM was the setting for the launch of Living our beliefs, a book exploring the faith and practice of Quakers. Young Friends wanted a book that tackles similar topics to Quaker faith & practice but that is shorter, more accessible and more concise. The book is their response.
Living our beliefs is available as an ebook, and features video clips and playlists. Several chapters include links to web-based music and videos created at JYM 2015 and at Britain Yearly Meeting’s Young People’s Programme in 2015. Living our beliefs was developed and edited by young Quakers with Graham Ralph, and illustrated by Rob Pepper.
A young Friend said: ‘This book may intrigue, challenge or comfort you; however it makes you feel, may it inspire you to go out into the world and breathe life into your beliefs.’
It is hoped that the book will be revised over time as Quaker communities reflect on their lives and beliefs.
Young Friends at JYM also created a time capsule that they will bury in the Friends House garden during Yearly Meeting next month.
Correction 19 April 2016: ‘Last week’s news report on Junior Yearly Meeting should have said that there were some ninety attendees. 300 Friends were involved in writing Living our beliefs.’
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