Mullica Hill Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
Care and Counsel Committee
February 2, 2024
Response to PYM re Spiritual State of the Meeting
Six committee members met to respond to a request about the spiritual state of our Meeting from Ministry and Care Committee of Quaker Life Council, PYM.
Friends were freely forthcoming, sincere and reflective of our Meeting for Worship experience. Thoughts flowed as follows:
How is Spirit moving in your Meeting?
Vocal ministry is a strength and we are very comfortable with silence. People don’t need to talk. About one time a month we experience a really deep wait, and stay in that place. At these times, worship time extends itself until Friends are ready to close. Yes, there’s a lot of silence. Usually toward the end of worship, someone speaks. We always ask the question, is there anything more to be shared that did not seem to quite fit during the worship hour?
The whole of our worship experience brings about the learning we need, whether we know it or not. The Spirit IS moving. Friends have a knowing of when NOT to speak, as well as when to speak.
Descriptive words shared: patience, respect, welcoming, open, no pressure, not exclusive
It’s a framework that invites participation. We bring our gifts to the Meeting family.
We experience being loved, cared for, trusted, and respected. To be there is to know it.
Neighbors and in relationship with other communities
Yes, it can be difficult. One Friend is deepening the understanding that we are all part of the same humanity; “I need to change my thinking” as I look into differences.
We interface with our physical neighbors in town with planned interdenominational activities, opening the meetinghouse to the public during the holidays and listening to the thinking and truths expressed by our visitors. We also continue to process, monitor, and be patience with groups with whom we have both same and different points of view and who pray and demonstrate on the sidewalk in front of our property, a central place of public visibility.
One Friend understands the importance to switch up the teaching: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you into the positive” instead:
DO for others and as you would have them do for you.
The answer to “How do we invite others to participate, bring new people in?”, continues to perplex. The real spiritual conversion is within them; Quakerism helps you find your path, but it’s a hard sell with no scripts, creeds, and weekly sermons. Present new energy is leading us to different possibilities of invitation as we look at the topic of Buddhism for four sessions in our Meeting for Learning format on Sundays.
Care and Counsel Committee, Peggy Warner, Convener
