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oston is one of those magical cities with the whole “bright lights, big city” thing. This October it was even more magical, because just outside the city was a gathering called Young Quakes. Being my first experience, I waited with anticipation. I was not disappointed. It was perhaps one of the most warming and welcoming experiences I’ve ever had. We broke into small “family groups” that continued to meet over the course of the weekend. Then we had the chance to sign up for two out of three workshops. One about a man (whose name I don’t recall) [Elias Hicks] who tried to reform Quakerism; another about how Jesus was portrayed in the movies; and finally, one about how god/Jesus had come into your life. I forgot to mention all those little skits we did portraying Jesus in interviews and such. Also, there was a cabaret. It had plays ranging from the musically entertaining, to the humorously conventional, to the humorously bizarre. Did I mention the grub was good? In short, anyone who misses out on this small grouping while it’s in the area will be doing him or herself a disservice. I leave you with peace. Not world peace, but the peace that comes from knowing you have been moved.

— Jerry Hrechka

Jerry Hrechka . . . does not exist. Not really. He is a teenager who practices the Quaker faith and feels kind of weird about this third person thing. When he’s not chained to his desk, trying to complete his French homework, he’s playing soccer, reading novels or blaming something on the government. He is a strong believer in the power of God, the press and science fiction novels.

 

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he first word that comes to mind when I think of Young Quakes is love. I have made and strengthened several friendships through the three conferences I have been at. It was fitting that my last year at Young Quakes was Circles of Love.

Being in a midwestern monthly meeting, where I am the only high school age Friend, I cherish any moment I get to spend with other Quaker youth. During the last meeting for worship of the last Young Quakes, I was sitting on a three-person couch with probably ten people piled on. It wasn’t at all comfortable, but I would have given anything to be able to stay there forever with everybody in the room, because I felt loved by everyone in the room, which doesn’t happen often. When I close my eyes, the whole memory comes back.

The goal of Young Quakes is to prepare FGC youth for the Bible-intensive evangelical conference called Youth Quake that is held every three years. But I think the most important thing the conference has done besides introducing FGC youth to the Bible is to give youth from all over FGC another chance to be in a loving Quaker community outside their yearly meeting.

My first Young Quakes was at the Illinois Yearly Meetinghouse in McNabb, IL. McNabb is very dear to my heart, because that is where I have been attending yearly meeting since I was five. It was the main reason I went that weekend since it was so close. I walked into the room at the conference and immediately I got a feeling that I shouldn’t be here. I felt awkward like I was intruding on something. I felt like I didn’t know anybody. Over the weekend, my thoughts changed and, by the end of the weekend, I knew everybody and I wanted to go to Youth Quake that winter. Now two and half years later, I am serving on the Young Quakes subcommittee [of the FGC Religious Education Committee] planning the next conference. I hope to continue on the committee and be an adult at Young Quakes in a few years.

Young Quakes is one of the several events that have started me on my path of spiritual growth. Also, it has been a factor in deciding to go to a Quaker college, so I can be with Quakers I have met over the last few years from going to Young Quakes and other Quaker events.

I encourage FGC to continue its support of this wonderful conference and also encourage high schoolers to go to Young Quakes because of all the love that is shared there.

— Greg Woods

Greg Woods is a member of Columbia (MO) Monthly Meeting. In the fall, he plans to either attend a Quaker college or do an internship with a Quaker organization on the East Coast.

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