Quakers

Today I did something for the first time. I went to a Quaker meeting [The Society of Friends].

I had walked past the Quaker meeting house earlier in the week and - as I knew I did not have a musical engagement this Sunday - I decided to give it a try. When I got home on Thursday I set about researching the Quakers online and found out what takes place at a meeting. I also looked into what they believe: it is quite embracing.

For me, some churches have become too noisy, too informal and totally lacking in reverence. What I like about the Quakers (so far) can be listed:

• No Creed
• No ritual
• Meetings last exactly an hour
• No sermon!
  
• No priests - nobody is in charge (= everyone is equally in charge)
• No chit-chat
• No passing the peace
• No distractions
• Sustained focus on one thing
• Peace (in the service)

There were only 5 of us present although there were chairs for 8. They have about 20 members. Like many churches they were hit by the pandemic and I think older people have never really got back into the habit of going out.

 

I can next go again in a fortnight. Let's see how it goes.

 

PS I just found this