Gathering in Silence
A Quaker Meeting for Worship is a time of silence, to sit in expectant waiting for Divine guidance, and to build unity by seeking Truth together.
Sitting in silence together is a discipline that takes time to cultivate. It’s okay if you are distracted when you first join us. Here are a few tips to help you feel centered.
“For me, Quaker silence is a way to still my mind, body, and heart so that there is room for that which is larger.”
-P, Holland Quaker Member
Quiet Your Breath
Sometimes all we need is a quiet breath. Sit comfortably, hands at rest. Gently close your eyes and breathe. If it feels helpful, you may hold these words in the silence: as you breathe in, “Spirit, fill me,” and as you breathe out, “Spirit, cleanse me.” Let the stillness meet you where you are.
Settle Your Mind
If your mind feels busy, it can help to gently give it something simple to rest on. Some Friends repeat a phrase such as, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Others hold the wisdom of early Friends, like William Penn’s reminder that the “still small voice” is not heard in the noise and hurry of the mind. Let these words settle you into quiet.
Reflect on a Query
Quakers often speak of our core values using the acronym SPICES: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship. You might choose one of these to center on in the silence. Ask yourself, “How am I attending to this in my life?” or “What might I need to release in order to live more fully in this testimony?” Let the question rest with you as a way opens. We refer to these questions a queries.
Focus on a Color
Sometimes it helps to enter the silence without words. As you close your eyes and settle into center, you might focus on a single color. Let it come gently into view. As it deepens, you may find yourself resting more freely in the quiet, without the pull of thoughts or noise.
About Us
The Holland Quakers are a worshipping community who are faithful to honoring the Light within each person, seeking unity in Spirit, and believing that Love is Divine and abundant.
Our Values
Although Quakers have no official doctrine, we do have shared testimonies or values which are unifying across communities—Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.