York Friends Meeting | Quakers | York, Pennsylvania

First Day (Sunday) School

Children are welcome at our Meeting. We encourage parents to help their children understand the special nature of a Quaker Meeting for Worship so that the children can participate in Meeting, experiencing and eventually becoming comfortable with the silence.

During the first part of Meeting for Worship, all Friends are gathered together, including the children, who bring a special presence to Worship. You will notice that the children try to sit still and quietly, but their natural energy and curiosity sometimes fills the silence. Parents of young children are encouraged not to be upset by these minor disruptions, being reminded by all gathered how precious the children are to the Meeting and how much we enjoy their presence.

Children sit with parents or adults for about 15 minutes before the teachers lead them to First Day School classes. Two teachers walk with the children about ½ a block to neighboring St. John’s Episcopal Church, which has generously offered classrooms until we build our First Day School. Currently we have First Day School classes for two age groups, toddler and elementary/middle school.

We are in the planning stages of building a First Day School on the Meeting House grounds.