Honoring World Quaker Day

 

World Quaker Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of October — Sunday, October 6. This year’s theme, developed by Friends World Committee on Consultation during the August Plenary in Johannesburg, South Africa, was ‘Living the Spirit of Ubuntu: Responding with Hope to God’s Call to Cherish Creation and One Another’. Ubuntu is a term from the Nguni and Bantu languages of Africa which mean the “interconnectedness of humanity” or “human generosity.” Ubuntu is most commonly translated as, “I am because you are.”

Practicing Friends, Dot Cates, Grade 4 Teacher, and Calliope George, Assistant to the Head of LS, led a Meeting for Worship with the Lower School, centering their message around Peace. They read excerpts from What Does Peace Feel Like by Vladimir Radunsky after sharing a brief overview of Quaker history, World Quaker Day, and their Quaker connection.

In the Middle School, Adrienne Almeida, Director of Middle School & Upper School Library Services, delivered a presentation on the history of this year’s theme. Adrienne explained how Ubuntu and the Quaker SPICES are not only spiritual but also practical guides for living an ethical life, and she encouraged students to consider how these values could be applied in their own daily lives. 

Ben Frisch, another long-time Quaker faculty member at Friends, presented statistics on the Quaker community, shedding light on its current scope and diversity. Ben’s review of data emphasized the global nature of Quakerism, highlighting how its membership and impact span continents. His presentation provided a contemporary perspective on how Quakers continue to be a force for social justice.

Calliope also led a semi-programed Meeting for Worship for the Upper School. Inspired by her own upbringing in a semi-programed Meeting in North Carolina, she introduced World Quaker Day through a lens of another way to worship. Her prepared message was grounded in her experience attending Friends School and following Quakerism around the world to New Zealand. 

Celebrating World Quaker Day was a wonderful opportunity to reflect together on the Quaker values that guide our School, to honor our rich history and to understand and learn about the global community of Quakers of which we are part.

The School Library is currently featuring a display from our special Quaker collection. It offers an educational journey through the life and legacy of George Fox, founder of the Religious Society of Friends, during the 400th anniversary year of his birth.