OUT OF THE NEST AND INTO THE WORLD

• An adult mentor who is a member of the meeting (who is not the young person's parent!) selected by the young person but subject to the approval of Ministry & Oversight.
• A meeting with a clearness committee to explore two areas: the young person's current relationship to the Religious Society of Friends, and how the meeting can support the young person's interests / hopes / ambitions for the next few years. During the clearness committee process, the young person will be invited to apply for full membership in the meeting, but this is not required.
• A service project lasting at least one week which involves some type of direct service and which is outside of Ithaca. The meeting commits itself to providing the funds or other resources needed to support the young person's travel to and involvement in the project.
• A report by the young person back to the meeting about the project.
• The young person breaking Meeting for Worship on the first convenient Firstday after completion of the "Out of the Nest" program, as a symbol of becoming an adult participant in the Meeting. To be followed by a celebration!
• Encouragement that Nominating Committee consider the "Out of the Nest" young person for membership on a committee, and a commitment by older Friends to help provide transportation to and from committee meetings.

This program rose from the needs of the Power Quakers, Ithaca Monthly Meeting's teenage Firstday group. Power Quakers is run by Janis Kelly, and presently has about six members. One young person is in line to start the "Out of the Nest" program this fall and she hopes to perform her service project in Africa next summer. You can reach Janis at jckelly@lightlink.com.

INSTITUTE FOR PEACE & JUSTICE PEACE PAPERS

I would like to share with other Meetings a resource that was very helpful at Albany Meeting last year. We ordered from the Institute for Peace and Justice a set of "Peace Papers," one for each Sunday of the year. Each piece is a folded 8-1/2" x 11" sheet with puzzles, quizzes, illustrations, questions, etc., that can serve as a lesson plan for a First Day school class. Some are suitable for children that haven't learned to read, but most are better for readers in elementary school. You simply make enough copies of the pages for the children you expect to attend. The cost was about $80 for the year.

The address for the Institute for Peace and Justice is 4144 Lindell Boulevard #408, St. Louis, MO 63108. Phone is (314)533-4445, e-mail: PPJN@aol.com.

They also have for sale a Christian Education & School Kit on Creating Circles of Peace, which includes the Family Pledge of Nonviolence, a booklet, Families Creating a Circle of Peace, and other resources. Their Families against Violence Advocacy Network (FAVAN) states their goal as: "to break the cycle of violence by offering families and schools practical tools for living and acting nonviolently and ways of working as part of a national advocacy network to counter media violence, gun violence, violence in schools, the violence of poverty and domestic and hate violence."

   

The Family Pledge of Nonviolence: Making peace must start within ourselves and in our family. Each of us, members of the __________ family, commit outselves as best we can to become nonviolent and peaceable people: To Respect Self and Others: To respect myself, to affirm others and to avoid uncaring criticism, hateful words, physical attacks and self-destructive behavior. To Communicate Better: To share my feelings honestly, to look for safe ways to express my anger, and to work at solving problems peacefully. To Listen: To listen carefully to one another, especially those who disagree with me, and to consider others' feelings and needs rather than insist on having my own way. To Forgive: To apologize and make amends when I have hurt another, to forgive others, and to keep from holding grudges. To Respect Nature: To treat the environment and all living things, including our pets, with respect and care. To Play Creatively: To select entertainment and toys that support our family's values and to avoid entertainment that makes violence look exciting, funny or acceptable. To be Courageous: To challenge violence in all its forms whenever I encounter it, whether at home, at school, at work, or in the community, and to stand with others who are treated unfairly. This is our pledge. These are our goals. We will check ourselves on what we have pledged once a month on __________ (date) for the next twelve months so that we can help each other become more peaceable people. "Eliminating violence, one family at a time, starting with our own."

Margallen Fichter, margallen@juno.com

RACHEL CADBURY'S THE CHOICE BEFORE US

At Peconic Bay Meeting we have been successfully using Rachel Cadbury's The Choice before Us for adult religious ed/discussion. I borrowed it from the YM Religious Ed Committee. It is out of print. When I called the publisher I received verbal permission to photocopy it for our use. I scanned it into my computer for easier distribution and neater copies.

The chapters are short and are circulated ahead of time for home reading. We read it again, aloud, at the session. While we have not always agreed with, or liked, various chapters they have certainly engendered lively discussion.

After we finish with this book, we will most likely use Twenty Questions about Jesus for our next series of discussions.

Peace,

John Carle

PROJECTS FOR YOUTH

Youth Service Opportunities Project

YSOP is in its 16th year of doing real meaningful work within the underserved people of NYC - soupkitchens, crisis centers, on the streets. Participants for one night programs stay at Friends Seminary, but for week long programs they stay at the International Youth Hostel. There is a nominal, inexpensive fee for participation. This program combines work and meditation to learn what "...that of God in all people" means. Interested people should contact Jean Sommerfield at ysopnyc@aol.com or (212) 598-0973.

William Penn House

The William Penn House in Washington, D.C., is an inexpensive place to stay in the nation's capital. Daily Worship, attend seminars uniquely designed for your group, then in conjunction with FCNL visit your congressperson, and see how your government works. Contact Errol Hess at: dirpennhouse@pennsnet.net or (202) 543-5560.

Submitted by Phil Gilbert, plgilbert@aol.com

WEB SITE ADDRESSES FOR QUAKERS

Dear Friends:

A quick search by yours truly for "Quaker education" in Lycos turned up these interesting sites:

http://www.web.net/~peaceweb/: "Peaceweb spotlights Quaker work in disarmament, conflict resolution and other social issues of interest to many others besides Quakers."

http://cpcug.org/user/wsamuel/quaker.html: "Quaker Resources on the Web."

http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/quakerism: "Welcome to the Quakerism topic - information and links on the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Bill Samuel, Contributing Editor."

http://www.qis.net/~daruma/: "Welcome to George Amoss's Quaker Electronic Archive & Meeting Place."

http://www.afsc.org/: "The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization which includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service."

http://www.georgefox.edu/nonfox/FAHE/Support/qideals.htm: "Quaker Ideals: Share ideas and support. Bring Friends into your classroom. Resources for Friends in Higher Education."

http://www.bym-rsf.org/quaker/yf/yf.html: "Welcome to the BYM Young Friends home page! Thanks for visiting. We are excited to communicate and share our community with you."

http://www.quaker.org/: A listing of resources on the Quaker faith, including meetinghouses, history, writings, and links to other sites.

The Net is now edited by myself, Melanie-Claire Mallison, Ithaca Monthly Meeting. I'd be glad to hear your comments, and include your letters and articles on Religious Education. Contact me at: mallison@cnf.cornell.edu. I have started of list of those to e-mail The Net to; e-mail me to be included!