Be Like Yeast! (online training)
NEYM youth ministers Maggie Fiori and Gretchen Baker-Smith are looking to train some Quakers in the art of fostering intergenerational connection through baking bread! The folks who participate will come away with a better sense of how to (1) create meaningful spiritual experiences in their meetings that work for all ages; (2) teach people how to bake bread; and (3) offer their unique spiritual gifts in community. You might call these people "Bread Starters." Those looking to participate online may do so on Monday, February 7th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For the online version of this training, baking bread is entirely optional (and encouraged) and will happen off Zoom whenever you're able, with the time spent online together being focused on learning and sharing about building intergenerational community and reflecting on our experience of baking.
There will be another training hosted in person on Saturday, February 5th from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m., the details for which can be found here.
Why bread? Because then, on March 5th, we'll all host BREAD DAY, when Friends of all ages across New England will gather in person at their meetings to discover God in yeast and each other, with support and leadership from the Bread Starters. A key piece of Gretchen's ministry is sharing how mixing, kneading, and listening to dough can be a spiritual practice. Bread Day will be a day when Friends young and old are invited into this ministry, in a space where the wisdom of youth is centered and celebrated and we all get our hands dirty.
Who is this training for? This is for Friends of any age with the gift of helping yeast to raise the dough, whether literally, spiritually, or both. Maybe you have the gift of baking bread, or you have come to a Bread Retreat and can share wisdom from that experience, or you are able to find the metaphorical "yeast" in a group or in a person and help it to grow into something beautiful. We're looking for people who are wondering how to build a Quaker community that connects people of all generations, and not just older adults—this is the yeast we need to grow!
It's ok if you want to come to one of these trainings but you're not sure if you can commit to Bread Day. Registration will open soon, but for now, save the date and contact Maggie with your questions, concerns, and affirmations. And tell other Friends who you think might want to be Bread Starters—share this event.
This event is free for all. If you'd like to donate to support more work like this, you can choose to donate any amount upon registration. Otherwise, leave it as "$0".