From Oct. 5-13, the Medford Friends Society is hosting an array of events to celebrate World Quaker Day, and the entire community is invited.
In celebration of World Quaker Day, Oct. 6, the Friends Society is expanding its festivities to an entire week to bring the community together, for free.
“We’re not actively asking for people to come out to find out about Quakers,” said Harry Forrest, a member of the Medford Friends. “If they happen to ask questions, then we’re more than happy to answer them. This is a gift to the community and these are all free activities that will bring people in.”
On Oct. 5, the group starts with a walking tour of historic sites on Medford’s Main Street at 1:30 p.m. On World Quaker Day, an observance and worship will be held at 10 a.m. and a movie screening at 6:30 p.m. complete with refreshments at the meeting house (14 Union Street).
Forrest added the tour will stop by many of the buildings that have a blue “historic site” sign out front, and, coincidentally, many of the structures were homes of Quakers. The tour, he said, will also stop by a former meeting house at the intersection of Main and South streets, which is now owned by the township.
Visitors will be taught about the meeting house on Oct. 8 and the “crowd favorite” disappearing walls at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Oct. 9 will have an informational worship session for those who want to learn about how the organization worships.
The week closes out with a local band, Raising River Band, playing on Oct. 11 around 7 p.m., and another Sunday worship, followed by a picnic on the property’s “gathering space.”
“We do find among people who attend [the worship] are of different religious backgrounds,” Carol Suplee of the Medford Friends said. “I can’t speak for them, but they find a peaceful atmosphere and we do not demand anything of them except to share it in the community as friends.”
Families are welcome to bring sandwiches and a light refreshment as the outdoor picnic will feature desserts and various beverages. In the event of rain, the picnic will be moved indoors.
Suplee added the building and the religious organization are an “untold story” in Medford and many people will learn about them throughout the week. She pointed to their 200th anniversary celebration from five years ago as a building block for what events they’ll have for World Quaker Day.
Forrest added the organization will have displays of its social work during the meeting house tour to visually tell visitors the type of work they do with such issues as climate change, immigrants and assisting those less fortunate.
“This celebration was a way for us to let our hair down,” Forrest said. “We decided from the beginning that we weren’t going to do anything that will save the world. No activities. If people were interested in what we’re doing, they’d catch on with us and ask questions.”
To learn more about the Medford Friends Society and the World Quaker Day celebrations, visit www.MedfordFriendsMeeting.org.
