Ministries & Connections
A place for the whole family
At New Garden, we welcome families of all kinds, all backgrounds, all ethnicities…in other words, families like yours.
We realize that all families’ needs are not the same, so we strive to be flexible in meeting the needs of everyone, children as well as adults.
Even the youngest friends are welcome at the 11 a.m. semi-programmed worship service. Quilts and blankets for toddlers and preschoolers are spread in a quiet corner of the Meeting Room, supervised by adult caregivers. Children usually remain there until the beginning of open (silent) worship. At that time, they may join their families on the benches or exit with the caregivers.
Childcare is provided for the entire service if families prefer.
Do you have a middle grade or high school student? Contact us to learn more about those programs.
Village Cooperative Playgroup
This playgroup for home-schooled children provides support for parents who have taken on the responsibility of educating their children at home. The Village Cooperative Playgroup is for families of all faiths and backgrounds and is coordinated by our director of youth and family ministry.
Philosophy
We seek to provide a community and program wherein each person is loved and held as unique and sacred. We believe that communities must work cooperatively to nourish children’s emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual growth. We respect each child as a whole person, not just as a child getting ready for adulthood.
Our program is guided by the Quaker principles of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship.
This program is designed to meet the needs of homeschool families by providing a safe space to build community. We aspire to cultivate lifelong skills that include nonviolent conflict resolution, interactions across generations, and care for the natural world.
We offer a large indoor and outdoor space and cooperative activities including, but not limited to, art, music, forest free play, community service projects, gardening, physical fitness, and nature exploration.
