Religious Education

Religious Education is for Friends and friends of all ages! Our First Day School is for young people 18 and under but our lessons are for everyone! We also have programs geared to older Friends. Like our Quaker forebears, we believe that God’s Light shines particularly brightly in children and we are careful to nurture that Light with tenderness and care. 

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June 2023 Calendar

• 06/03 MUD CLUB 10:00 – 12:00. All ages welcome! Adults may enjoy the weaving frame and rock cairns as well as the natural beauty of the space. For more information, click here.
• 06/04
  • (Grades 6-12): Discussion Group – kids will be presented with a series of “What would you do” questions, which always leads to interesting discussions.
  • (Grades K-5): SPICES – students continue creating their scrolling story while finding out what simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship mean and how to incorporate them in our daily lives.
  • OAKDALE NURSERY: Each week there are games, stories, crafts, and play.
• 06/11
  • (Grades K-12): Game Day
  • OAKDALE NURSERY: Games, stories, crafts, and play.
• 06/18
  • (Grades 6-12): Father’s Day Lesson
  • (Grades K-5): SPICES
  • OAKDALE NURSERY: Games, stories, crafts, and play.
  • MUD CLUB 11:00 – 1:00, click here for more information
• 06/25
  • (Grades 6-12): Quaker Committees, No. 4 – Learn about the very important work of Meeting committees via interactive activities.
  • (Grades K-5): SPICES
  • OAKDALE NURSERY: Games, stories, crafts, and play.

Click here to email us for more information. Click here to visit our First Day School page!

Sign up to volunteer in First Day School, the Nursery, or for our 2nd hour programs, it’s fun!

Being a Friendly Adult Volunteer (FAV) is a really positive and fun experience – a great way to get to know our younger Friends! Click the button below to sign up to be a Friendly Adult Volunteer for the First Day School and/or the Nursery. Thank you!

If you want to help but do not wish to use the Signup Genius application, email Maria and she’ll be happy to add you to the calendar.

Check out Goose Creek Friends Story-time – Anytime!

Click here to watch stories read by Erin at your convenience!

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Each First Day we have a nursery for children from birth to kindergarten and First Day School for kindergartners to 12th graders. Babies, children, and young Friends begin worship with the adults at 9:45 in the meeting room. At 10 a.m., led by the teachers, they leave Meeting for Worship and move to the gathering room for the nursery and First Day School.

Lessons cover everything from Quaker history and testimonies, to the Bible and Christianity, other faith practices, and spiritual paths.

In the lessons, the adults not only seek to impart knowledge but also to listen to each child with a whole heart and to allow them space and respect to find that of God within him or herself.

At the end of the school year, Goose Creek holds Book Sunday where every child who participated in First Day School over the previous year is presented with a book. This is followed by an ice cream social to celebrate the start of the summer vacation.

We also encourage our young people to participate in Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Camping Program, where they can experience wholesome fun outdoors and learn how to “live” the Quaker Way of peace and mutual respect and love in community with other young people. During the school year, middle and high schoolers can also participate in BYM’s Young Friends and Junior Young Friends weekends.