Sadsbury Friends Meeting, a Quaker house of worship that is observing its 300th anniversary this year, is planning a Peace Tea fundraiser on Saturday, May 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. The event, which will offer attendees an assortment of teas and traditional high tea fare, will take place in the downstairs community room at the Meeting, 1089 Simmontown Road, Gap, located one half-mile east of Route 41.

Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), a non-governmental organization that represents the Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends, at the United Nations. With offices in Geneva and New York City, QUNO aims to represent Friends' concerns for international justice and peace.

"Because we are raising money to donate to QUNO, an organization that works for world peace, we named the (event) Peace Tea," explained Meeting member Connie Webster, noting that information about QUNO will be displayed at the event.

Meetinghouse members will provide traditional tea cups and saucers and individual teapots. Both tea bags and loose tea made using an infuser will be provided. "We will have sandwiches and scones and there will be other sweets like cookies. We have different people making shortbread cookies and scones," noted Webster. "We will have different varieties of hot tea, like regular black tea and herbal teas."

Gluten-free and vegetarian options will be offered, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches will be available for children.

Webster noted that this is the first tea that the Meeting has been held in several years because of the pandemic.

"We recommend reservations in advance," she said. "People can call ahead to reserve a spot, and payment will be accepted at the door. We are taking reservations for every 15 minutes from 2 to 4 p.m. People have to pick a time at 15-minute intervals."

To reserve a ticket, call 484-985-0454. There will be separate prices for adults and for children age 12 and under.

Walk-ins will be welcome as space permits.

In addition, dark blue coffee mugs featuring an image of the meetinghouse will be for sale as part of the anniversary celebration.

According to http://www.sadsburyfriendsmeeting.org, the meetinghouse is one of the oldest houses of worship in Lancaster County. Sadsbury Friends Meeting was founded in 1724, and the original meetinghouse was built in 1725. In 1747, a larger meetinghouse, the present stone building, was constructed. Friends members took part in anti-slavery activities using their homes as stations of the Underground Railroad. They were also active in the Christiana Resistance of 1851 and during the time of the Civil War.

Currently, silent gatherings of worship are held on Sundays at 10:15 a.m. with a child-friendly area, and an adult forum is held at 11 a.m.

For more information about the tea and the meetinghouse, visit the aforementioned website or search for "Sadsbury Friends Meeting" on Facebook.