One of the richest resources for First Day School teachers is the accumulated faith experience of seasoned Friends. People’s stories of God’s comfort, guidance, and leadings can help children through many of life’s transitions. Consider making a Gifts of Faith booklet.

Gifts of Faith Booklet

Creating a “Gifts of Faith” booklet is one way to share the Quaker faith across generations. Adults can prepare a Gifts of Faith booklet as a meeting-wide project. Ask each adult Friends for the two or three prayers, passages of Scripture, or lines from hymns or poems that they call to mind when they need spiritual support. Distribute these among Friends, perhaps as a coming-of-age ritual.

This kind of gift offers children a look at the inside view into the practices of the Quaker faith. There are knots and connections that produce the beautiful pattern on the other side. The booklet may be specific to each child, or may be replicas of what other children have received. Either way, collections like these can help children understand the dynamic relationship between the inner life of faith and the outer life of action and witness.

Inspiration for Writers

If it’s difficult to get started, you can also practice body doubling: sometimes tasks are easier when other people around you are doing them, too! Ask several community members to gather around a table while you work on submissions for your booklet.

Some people find that it’s helpful to reflect on the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit for inspiration. The Prayer of St. Francis may also nudge some ideas along for some Friends:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow your love.

-St. Francis of Assisi

When you put the booklet together, leave blank spaces for additional entries. Have families make each book unique by adding words of spiritual support from grandparents, parents, and other F/friends. The book can be a powerful gift for the children of the meeting.

Grandad’s Prayers of the Earth, by Douglas Wood with illustrations by P. J. Lynch (Candlewick Press, 1999), is one way to introduce this project. In this story, a grandfather lovingly guides his grandson on seeing prayers and looking for Spirit in all of nature. At the end, he talks about the prayers of people. The grandfather adds,”. . . we pray because we are here—not to change the world, but to change ourselves. Because it is when we change ourselves . . . that the world is changed.” It is a lovely introduction to prayer and can illustrate the treasure seasoned Friends possess. 

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Adapted from an essay by Beth Collea. Page last updated December 18, 2025.

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