"E" is for Education . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

In whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV

"E" is for Education. One thing I read when I did my "A" is for Academy post was that education was very important to the early Friends in Indiana. I still see education, specifically Quaker/religious education, as being important today. Not just within my local Meeting (Mooresville Friends) but also within my Yearly Meeting (Western), other Meetings, Yearly Meetings as well as other Quaker/Friends organizations, including so many Quaker missions.

I'll begin locally with Mooresville Friends Meeting. We have Sunday School classes for all ages - youth through adults, often offering more than one option on Sunday morning for the adults to choose from. We have, off and on, offered Bible study times for adults - sometimes as one of the Sunday School options and at other times Tuesday, Wednesday or Sunday evenings. During the summer we have worked with other local Friends Meetings, OR ventured off on our own, to offer Vacation Bible School, several times with options for the parents to take a class as well. We began a 'Kid's Club' program back in the summer of 2005, but more on that perhaps when I reach the letter 'K.' As a Meeting we also support the Morgan County Schools of Weekday Religious Education program with a representative to the Board, financially and hosting the classes in our sanctuary on Fridays.

Western Yearly Meeting hosts different programs for our Young Friends during Yearly Meeting sessions in July - from the Wee Friends through our Young Friends in High School. Sometimes there are a lot of youth and other times not so many. Some of our High School students are elected to the 'Youth Cabinet' and they meet throughout the year traveling to various Meetings within our Yearly Meeting presenting their 'Road Show' - a message that they feel needs to be shared with the members of the Yearly Meeting. Both of my daughters have been part of the Youth Cabinet and the Road Shows. There's also other programs throughout the year that are educational which are sponsored by the Yearly Meeting or individual/groups of Meetings within the Yearly Meeting.

Quaker/Religious Education is also seen up at Quaker Haven Camp, more about that when I get to 'Q' in my alphabet postings, perhaps. But for now, the most obvious is the summer camping programs and not so obvious other youth and adult programing that goes on throughout the year.

And how's about all the Quaker schools - from the pre-schools up through the University/Colleges around the world. Including three that I hear about all the time -  the Friends School in Belize, the Ramallah Friends School in Palestine and Friends Theological College in Kenya.

The Indian missions here in the United States including the Mesquakie Friends Center (Iowa), the Kickapoo Center (Oklahoma) and the MOWA Choctaw Friends Center (Alabama).

I've not attended any of these schools or visited any of these missions, maybe someday, but I will be spending the first weekend in April over at Sandy Spring Friends School in Sandy Spring, Maryland. I'm looking forward to that experience, OK, most of it . . . not looking forward to the long drive over and back or the sleeping on wrestling mats on the floor! But, as a Scouting Friend has commented "We are Scouts, and that's what Scouts do!"

The other thing that I've noticed is that there seems to be a lot of Friends that are teachers and librarians - wondering if is just within the circle of Friends that I have/know or if that is the case. I suppose this is why I feel at home in Meeting - my major in college was Elementary Education with a minor in School Library and Audio Visual Services.

So, yes, education is important to Friends,

education for Friends of all ages . . .

and it's not just the spiritual education that's important.

 

There's been one reoccurring comment, from a lot of Friends around the world, that I've heard the last three years or so - we need or need more good quality Quaker education material! Mostly for our Young Friends, but also for our Young Adult and Adult Friends. And then when I get to talking with Friends within my wider circle of Friends I hear that there's lots of good Quaker educational material out there. I don't know the answer(s) . . .

But, I'll ask the questions . . .

What are you doing, personally, to help support Quaker education? Within your Monthly Meeting? Within your Yearly Meeting? Among the wider circle of Friends?

What is your Monthly Meeting doing to support Quaker education? Locally? Within your Yearly Meeting? Among the wider circle of Friends?

What is your Yearly Meeting doing to support Quaker education? Within the Yearly Meeting? Within the Monthly Meetings? Among the wider circle of Friends?

What more can Friends do?

OK, so while you ponder all the questions I've given you . . . a couple of recipes - that begins with the letter 'E,' from my childhood:

E-Z Chicken Tetrazzini

(makes about 4 cups)

 

1 can (15-15 1/2 ounce) cream of chicken soup (or cream of ______)

½ cup water

½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1 ½ cup chicken, cooked & diced

2 cup spaghetti, cooked

2 ounce can mushrooms, sliced & drained

2 Tablespoons parsley, chopped

In saucepan, blend soup, water and cheese. Heat slowly until cheese melts; stir often. Blend in remaining ingredients. Heat; stirring often.

 

(Auntie) Elsie Ann’s Brownies

(makes 48 bars)

2/3 cup margarine

2 eggs

2 cups light brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon baking soda

2 cups flour

1 cup milk chocolate chips

1 cup nuts, chopped - optional

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Greased 11"x15" jelly roll pan.

 

Mix all together and spread in pan.

 

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool and cut into bars (1"x1 1/2"). They will be chewy.

'Auntie Elsie Ann' was a really good friend of my parents - they graduated from High School together and were in each others weddings.