Religious Expression

The essential purpose of religious organization is to foster and encourage the spiritual life and to bring the human spirit into intimate relation with the Divine Spirit. Our spiritual life may and should be developed through works of righteousness and loving kindness. It is also necessary to provide definite organized opportunity for the development of our spiritual natures and for the constant renewal of our strength at the Divine Source.

Silent Worship

The Meeting for Worship is set apart for corporate aspiration. Its basis is silent and direct communion with God. It affords opportunity for a resolute fixing of the heart and mind upon that which is unchangeable and eternal, making it a time of expectant waiting for the leading of the Divine Spirit.

Gathering in an outward silence is not enough. Each individual must consciously and earnestly seek in humble reverence for a renewed sense of the inward power of the Spirit. From the depths of that stillness comes the consciousness of the presence of God. In this experience individuals will not only find direction for their lives and strength for their needs, but will also feel an urge to share with others the thoughts and aspirations that have come to them. As the worshipers seek to be led to larger visions and pray to become more obedient to the Christ within, their united effort will release to all in the Meeting the riches of the Spirit.

True worship, whether vocal or silent, is offering ourselves, body, mind, and soul, for the doing of God's will. During the silent waiting, the flow of the Divine Spirit from heart to heart is often felt. "One is your teacher, and all ye are brethren."6 Worshipers should gather in a spirit of silent prayer with a willingness to give, as well as receive, so that the full possibilities of the Meeting hour can be reached and its influence extended throughout the community from week to week.

Vocal Ministry

The Society of Friends believes that vocal ministry in the Meeting for Worship should arise out of a personal call to service. Such a call may be a divinely inspired revelation of truth, or the sense of a need in the Meeting which a member feels. Our conviction is that the Spirit of God is in all, and that vocal utterance comes when this Spirit works within us. As we listen for God's counsel we become willing messengers; as we receive the insurging power of Divine Love we are consecrated to the service of God. Therefore we do not set anyone apart whose special duty it is to supply the spoken word in our Meetings. The varying needs of a Meeting can best be supplied by different personalities, and a Meeting is enriched by the sharing of any living experience of God. The responsibility rests upon every member to be ready and willing to take part in the vocal service under a due sense of Divine prompting.

The call to speak is a normal experience. It will come at times to all earnest seekers for Divine help, and is recognized by a persistent inner urge to share religious experience or aspiration. Those who are timid or unaccustomed to speak should have faith that God will strengthen them to give their messages. Experienced speakers should be watchful not to speak at undue length. It is helpful to have a period of silence between vocal expressions.

Preparation for Worship and Ministry

Frequent periods of private retirement, meditation, enlightened study of the Bible, thoughtful general reading and prayer for insight into human need will be found the best preparation for the Meeting hour. To awaken and sustain the spirit of worship, a vocal ministry, both teaching and prophetic, is valuable. For this ministry spiritual sensitivity must always be the first requirement though the equipment of a well informed mind will make spoken messages more effective. Constant effort to be guided by Christ within and to lead an upright, useful life is in itself preparation for ministry, as is also thoughtful meditation on the importance of this opportunity and a sincere dedication of the individual's abilities to the purposes of God.

Members should feel that children are in reality a spiritual part of the Meeting and there should be no lack of communication suited to their understanding and needs.

Prayer

Prayer is the aspiration of the soul. It is our communion with God and is essential to religious life. The result of prayer becomes apparent in the nobler lives of those who are constant in its exercise. We should cultivate, individually, the habit of turning to God at all times, and of seeking Divine guidance in all things that we may, in truth, be led by the Light. Vocal prayer, when prompted by a deep concern and a sense of human need, is a vital part of worship and often helps those assembled to come into the consciousness of God's presence.

Scriptures and Other Spiritual Writings

God has spoken to all generations. Prophets and teachers to whom the message has come with more convincing power than to others have recorded these revelations of truth. The hopes and fears, the aspirations and trust of a devout people whose quest was to find God and obey God's teaching, are recorded in the Bible.

The progressive development which it records leads us from the primitive conceptions of an early religion to the culminating gospel of forgiveness, love and fellowship as taught and lived by Jesus.

Many of the various literary forms of the Bible are characterized by dignity, sublimity and beauty. Its spirit transcends the medium of expression. Through the ages people have turned to the Bible for consolation, for strength, and for hope. Our prayers are uttered in its speech and our ideals of social justice are found in its pages.

We earnestly recommend for the enrichment of the spiritual life the reverent, habitual and intelligent reading of the Bible as well as other spiritual writings. We would ground our children solidly in the Judeo-Christian faith while yet remembering the words of John Woolman: "There is a principle which is pure, placed in the human mind, which in different places and ages hath had different names. It is, however, pure and proceeds from God. It is deep and inward, confined to no forms of religion nor excluded from any, where the heart stands in perfect sincerity."1

1 Matthew 23.8, American Standard Version, 1901, 1929