Our Sacred Place, the Meeting for Worship
By Maurine Pyle
As if it were only yesterday, I remember the first time I entered into a Quaker meeting for worship. The pristine whitewashed interior filtered a pure white light. All around I could hear harmony like water tumbling musically over rocks. A hush fell over the gathering signaling something much deeper than the mere absence of sound. We were being guided into holy ground. Ever since that first time I have approached this sacred meeting place with deepest awe. It is God’s gift to us, our precious meeting for worship.
How rare it is in our hurried world to find people who are willing to sit and to listen. I am sure we have caused many a shrug and a questioning glance. “What are these Quakers waiting for?” It is a good question, although I would rephrase it this way: “Who are we waiting for in the silence?” I believe we could collectively answer that we are waiting to be moved by the Spirit.
The Quaker meeting is one of the last places where mystics can find a home. When I ask newcomers why they choose the silence, I often discover that they have had similar experiences. I once posed this question to a group of newcomers — “What was a favorite ritual of yours when you were a child? Either formal or informal.” Here were some of their responses: talking to the trees; lighting votive candles for people and sensing that his prayers went way beyond; praying to the waves on the lake as each came to shore; experiencing the wonder of stepping from midnight mass into the cold snowy night. As a child each of them had experienced the mystical wonder of the Divine. Now they had come to find it once more in the meeting for worship.
How do we create a sacred space where we can touch the hem of the Divine? Here are a few other mystical voices to guide us…
Up, then, noble soul. Put on thy jumping shoes which are love and intuition. Overleap the worship of thy mental powers and leap into the heart of God!
Meister Eckert
The treasure we possess in earthen vessels makes clear that its unsurpassing power comes from God and not from us.
2Corinthians5:7
And as many candles lighted, and put in one place, do greatly augment the light and make it more to shine forth; so when many people are gathered together in the same life, there is more of the glory of god and his power, to the refreshment of each individual, for that he partakes not only of the light and life raised in himself, but in all the rest.
Robert Barclay
And so, dear Friends, wherever you may come from, and wherever you may be going, we welcome you to this our sacred place.
The Hidden Ritual in the Meeting for Worship
Quaker tradition and practice provides some concrete guidance to help us work together in harmony in the meeting for worship. Here are just a few ground rules that have been found helpful in centering into sacred space.
- Try to arrive early or at least on time. When we begin together at the appointed hour, we can enter into silence without interruption.
- Allow a long period of silence at the beginning of worship so that people can center down. We all carry worries and need time to lay them down before we enter into the deep.
- Before speaking, ask yourself if the message is from the Spirit. Also, is it meant for the whole group or for yourself alone? Spend a moment in discernment to determine if it is time to share it.
- If it is clear that the Spirit is moving you, then rise to speak. This allows your voice to be heard. We have many people among us who have difficulty with their hearing. Rising also symbolizes your commitment to be identified as someone speaking on behalf of the Spirit.
- Speak only once. Your moved speech is valued, and equally so is your listening. Speaking once allows for another voice to be heard.
- Let your message come from the mystical experience of feeling God in your heart. The term Quaker refers to the quaking that some people experience before speaking. Some people feel overtaken by joy before sharing vocal ministry or a song. You may just find yourself on your feet without knowing how you got there. But have no fear — somehow you will know when it is your time to share a message and what message is to be shared.
- Prepared messages or readings will be taken as coming from your own need to instruct the group rather than from the leadings* of group worship. An exception is the reading of the monthly query.
- Be brief, if you can. A long and rambling message may affect the meditation of those around you.
- Allow time between vocal offerings. Deep listening allows the message to resonate within us so that we can find our personal application
- Be conscious of the gifts of ministry being offered by the children. Listen to them, observe them, and love them.
Your gifts of vocal ministry, of silence, and of listening are equally vital to the life of the meeting for worship. As the old Quaker motto says, “Come to meeting neither prepared to speak nor not prepared to speak.” In other words, come and bring a welcoming heart to the leadings of the Spirit.
* A “leading” in Quaker terminology, refers to direct guidance from the Divine.
