About Quakers
Stony Run Friends Meeting belongs to a branch of Quakers that holds an unprogrammed meeting for worship, which means that we have no set prayers, sermons, altars, scripture readings, or hymns. All who are present silently join in prayer and medi- tation and, if moved by the Divine Spirit, give expression to
The history of the Religious Society of Friends, whose members are called Friends or Quakers, goes back 350 years. History of the Quakers The Quaker movement began in England during a time of great unrest, much of which was rooted in religious conflict. George Fox (1624-1691), the founder of the Quaker movement, had become disenchanted with organized religion. He became a seeker of religious enlightenment and a way to gain direct access to God. He traveled through England and other coun- tries sharing his brand of religion, asking people to live by the Inner Light, and demonstrate their faith by doing good deeds. What do Quakers Believe? To Quakers, the ultimate source of all truth, and therefore of all authority, is the Inner Light. Truth is found by looking within, where one can always find “that of God.” Quakers observe no dogma, creed, or ritual. However, we are committed to certain beliefs and practices, including respect for one another and all peoples; hope that the search for truth will lead to right action; and trust in the divine element in each person to resist evil and to do good. We understand that one’s outward life needs to bear witness to truth discerned inwardly. We commit to live simply so that others can simply live. We believe the Inner Light is the manifestation of the Divine. The Inner Light is not one’s conscience but that which enlightens one’s conscience. We discern the Inner Light by silently and patiently waiting for the Divine to speak to us during what we call meeting for worship .
prayer or speak in the spirit of worship. It is through the weekly meeting for worship that we seek spiritual nourishment and inspiration to go back into, and provide service to, the broader society. Commitment to Peace, Equality, and Social Justice
We believe that faith must be expressed through action and service to society – to serve society is to serve the Divine. Friends have engaged in social action including the abolition- ist movement, World War II relief work, refugee work, and the civil rights movement. We strive to achieve peace, racial equal- ity, gender equality, prison reform, the abolition of capital punishment, and a living wage for all. We condemn war, but not a specific group of people, as we seek to establish a frame- work for reconciliation. We believe that those who are called enemies are, in fact, friends separated by misunderstanding. The Religious Society of Friends historically belongs to a group of churches advocating for pacifism or nonresistance. Peace churches also include the Church of the Brethren and Mennonites, including the Amish. Meeting for Worship at Stony Run Friends Meeting All are invited to join us for our meeting for worship, which is held twice on Sundays, at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Please visit www.stonyrunfriends.org or call the office at 443-703-2590.
32
33
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease