tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post1203595984167008943..comments2023-06-26T02:22:06.758-07:00Comments on Ganeida's Knots: Quaker Worship.Ganeidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17176246964466185315noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-20586533552582375852011-05-20T05:12:26.417-07:002011-05-20T05:12:26.417-07:00Beautiful posts and good conversation. I am so ama...Beautiful posts and good conversation. I am so amazed at all that out "here" on the web. Thank you all for your faithfulness and love of God.Rene Lapehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07687298416304574910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-62410774112388168122011-01-19T20:23:53.350-08:002011-01-19T20:23:53.350-08:00Gayle: I love it when these posts touch seekers &...Gayle: I love it when these posts touch seekers & are helpful. It can be so unnerving your first time in a Quajker Meeting because it is just soo different. I still remember my first time ~ I was about 18 & clueless. It wasn't right for me then though I kept harking back to the *idea* of silent worship. Now I have matured in my faith it is a very good fit for me.Ganeidahttp://ganeidasknots.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-22663879894621651592011-01-19T18:56:17.911-08:002011-01-19T18:56:17.911-08:00I enjoyed reading this post. After looking for ye...I enjoyed reading this post. After looking for years for a Quaker meeting, I found one close to me and plan on attending my first one this Sunday. It is nice to get an idea of what to expect!<br />Blessings,<br />GayleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-4301378104513514592010-09-11T12:53:37.425-07:002010-09-11T12:53:37.425-07:00hugen:I am pleased this was helpful. It is very d...hugen:I am pleased this was helpful. It is very different if you are not used to this way of worship & much misunderstood. And, yes, it requires lots of <i>practice!</i>Ganeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176246964466185315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-54303204686450097202010-09-11T06:47:54.252-07:002010-09-11T06:47:54.252-07:00Thanks for your moving and instructive "repor...Thanks for your moving and instructive "report from the silence"! To me it was quite important to learn how the silent session will need time to focus - and then the comforting and encouraging word "practice"! - Most friendly and grateful Norwegian regards from Enok KippersundAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-38843703145236163012010-08-01T16:03:12.631-07:002010-08-01T16:03:12.631-07:00Jan Lyn: Thank you, my friend for commenting. It...Jan Lyn: Thank you, my friend for commenting. It is so good to get other Quaker's perspectives. I particularly thank you for alerting me to QQ. I'd missed it. I was so chuffed. Not something I ever expected one of my posts to achieve. My Dearest was delighted beyond words for me! lol ☺Ganeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176246964466185315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-5865885350059221482010-07-30T19:49:52.358-07:002010-07-30T19:49:52.358-07:00How pleased I was to find this on the front of QQ....How pleased I was to find this on the front of QQ. I almost missed it and at that, had to return for a time to comment. I think the blogosphere needed a basic, but thorough description like this one. Great job, Ganeida and I find mostly similarities in your meeting experience as mine here in the East Coast states. <br /><br />We also have only have unprogrammed meetings here. I like to think of them as waiting worship or expectant silent time. Like you, I get all sorts of things coming to me from God during these times, but sort through what I think is for myself only or for the group. We have about 100 on membership here, but on any given Firstday about 10-25 will show up. Some weeks we have one person with vocal ministry and other weeks, such as last week I believe we had 3 people speak forward a message from God. That is about typical for ours.<br /><br />Two differences we do have here which is even VERY unusual for the area, is 15 min. hymn sign prior to MfW and also once we have the handshake signaling meeting is over, it is LOUD. :)<br /><br />I appreciate your sharing with the community!<br />Peace and Love to your heart,<br />Jan LynJan Lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642571561383445699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-44849538897381537482010-07-26T22:59:25.612-07:002010-07-26T22:59:25.612-07:00naturalmom: Thank you so much for taking the time...naturalmom: Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. The Quaker community in Queensland is very small & my local Meeting smaller yet. Many of us are quite isolated so on~line contacts are highly valued. I am so pleased you chose to contribute to everyone's greater understanding.Ganeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176246964466185315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-18934428154921472242010-07-26T21:26:22.968-07:002010-07-26T21:26:22.968-07:00Amanda asked, "Do you notice a dove-tailing e...Amanda asked, "Do you notice a dove-tailing effect? By that I mean, each person's message seams to flow in a connected way?" <br /><br />I attend a larger unprogrammed meeting than Ganeida's, and while there are worship hours that pass completely in silence or with only one message, it's not uncommon for us to have several messages in one worship time. The answer, in my experience, is YES, there is often a theme that runs through the vocal ministry. Sometimes the reason is not very mysterious -- events, either in our own meeting or the wider community might influence our focus, for example. But often, it seems to be simply that Spirit has a message for us corporately and gives pieces of it to various ones of us to speak. It sends a little chill to hear someone speak a message on a topic that has been playing about in your own head/heart in worship, and even more so to hear others remark afterward that they had the same experience! It doesn't happen every week, nor even most weeks, but it happens often enough to keep our sense of awe aroused. :o)<br /><br />Our meeting has a less predictable flow than yours, Ganeida, probably due to our larger size, but when we feel most "gathered", your description fits what happens pretty well. We are also a little more chatty before worship -- at least those of us with kids are. We have many children in our meeting, so getting all of them settled into their First Day School classes is a bit of a social time. The parents eventually take a moment to settle inwardly and then enter the room where worship is beginning. The children join us for the last few minutes of worship, and it's amazing how quiet even the toddlers and preschoolers can be. The deep silence has a power that even small children sense and are (usually) reluctant to disturb. They look around the room wide-eyed, with a look somewhere between bemusement and amazement on their sweet little faces. (Babies are another story -- it seems to be at about age 2 that they "notice" the silence and begin to go along with it. Infants do what they will, and one-year-olds seem to delight in making random noises and having everyone look at them, lol.)naturalmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15594383847916759287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-75513128137464326462010-07-25T19:56:13.708-07:002010-07-25T19:56:13.708-07:00Ron: Thank you for taking the time to share. Yes...Ron: Thank you for taking the time to share. Yes, tears & laughter both, occur regularly for me. I have written more about that here: http://ganeidasknots.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-silence.html<br /><br />Thank you for the links. I will certainly be making time to visit & read your thoughts.Ganeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176246964466185315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-89818315227939387872010-07-25T18:43:57.016-07:002010-07-25T18:43:57.016-07:00For me, the silence is very tangible. It is the gr...For me, the silence is very tangible. It is the greatest unifier that I've ever experienced. As I settle into the silence, there is an opening up of the heart and soul. And for me, with this opening up often comes tears as I sit in the Presence; of each other, heart to heart, and of God, with a broken open heart. I've written a few reflections about my experience inspired by Meeting and its impact on my life:<br />http://ronirvine.wordpress.com/2010/07/11/openness/<br />http://ronirvine.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/crashing-through-the-woods/<br />http://ronirvine.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/silence/<br />http://ronirvine.wordpress.com/2010/07/03/living-in-peace/Ron Irvinehttp://ronirvine.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-34664714309838551602010-07-24T18:40:23.363-07:002010-07-24T18:40:23.363-07:00oops I meant to say, you don't get to "se...oops I meant to say, you don't get to "see that side to me" not "show that side to me":) I better go now...:)Joyfulmumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01888086629467112175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-67300096209171805432010-07-24T18:39:19.325-07:002010-07-24T18:39:19.325-07:00Ganeida, yes Quakers Hill was what I was referring...Ganeida, yes Quakers Hill was what I was referring to...wonder if there were a lot of Quakers that lived here in a bygone time?<br /><br />ooooooh! both you and Amanda have only seen one side to my personality and you got that right - I am a very quiet type - except when I get praying, lol! I am a good old charismatic type in prayer meetings, if you know what I mean:) fortunately or unfortunately you don't get to show that side to me on my blog:)Joyfulmumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01888086629467112175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-3210519660780859782010-07-23T12:50:59.123-07:002010-07-23T12:50:59.123-07:00parise: you are welcome though I would ask that yo...parise: you are welcome though I would ask that you acknowledge your sources, especially the link which is part of a wider Quaker resource & therefore not mine to give away.Ganeidahttp://ganeidasknots.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-82262919149807331532010-07-23T10:49:15.377-07:002010-07-23T10:49:15.377-07:00thank you for your post. i do believe it will be ...thank you for your post. i do believe it will be most beneficial for me to share it,and the other link you so kindly included, with my monthly meeting.parisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14376733738129668217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-5202432908256848002010-07-23T04:42:16.484-07:002010-07-23T04:42:16.484-07:00Joyfulmum: Quaker's Hill? I'm an old Syd...Joyfulmum: Quaker's Hill? I'm an old Sydney girl. ;) I attended the Sydney Meeting for a while.<br /><br />Amanda: Yeah, I thought she was the quiet type! ☺<br /><br />MamaO: I see I have finally corrupted you. ;P I think everyone who really desires to know God ends up with a *listening heart*. <br /><br />Jo: Thanks love. I left a comment on your blog.<br /><br />Seeking: I know you know. lol No wonder God threw us together. There's unlikely to be too many of us around. ☺ And you are so right about worship...but that is a different post.Ganeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176246964466185315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-88890407861866366252010-07-23T04:07:45.959-07:002010-07-23T04:07:45.959-07:00Ganieda, I am not a Quaker technically when it com...Ganieda, I am not a Quaker technically when it comes to joining my fellow Christians in a worship service, but I think in practice, when I am alone, that would describe my approach (most of the time) in my special time to commune with God without distractions. I love to be quiet and wait on Him, once I have cleared my mind...not always an easy thing to do, but necessary to really hear Him, at least for me.<br /><br />I guess I don't consider services or meetings to be "worship" either. I think the Jews view attending synagogue as an extension of their worship and I agree with this. Worship should be in everything we do and at all times. We may do certain rituals at home, or we may set a times for devotions, but I believe we should try to keep in mind that we are meant to be a living worship of Him. Of course, we all fall short of that, but I believe we should attempt to keep it in our minds and hearts always.seekingmyLordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03242380845994448311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-45722006653211147752010-07-23T03:08:26.185-07:002010-07-23T03:08:26.185-07:00I find this very interesting - if you read (you ma...I find this very interesting - if you read (you may not have) a story I wrote last week (Part 1) about my childhood I describe the Brethren meeting my family and I attended (it was a meeting on for family members) which has some similarities in it - in particular the silences - it wasn't completely unstructured but very unlike any church. For a young child the silence was expected and sitting still was something we learnt from toddlerhood - I knew not to muck around. I have attached the link if you are interested. Most people don't understand. In case you are wondering, I don't attend a Brethren meeting any more.<br /><br />http://jo-stophaveachat.blogspot.com/2010/07/part-1.htmlFinding Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09882774610725490491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-67389785008840381782010-07-23T02:30:09.507-07:002010-07-23T02:30:09.507-07:00Sorry I don't have time to read the whole thin...Sorry I don't have time to read the whole thing right now, but I think you'll be delighted to know that my closet Quaker is coming out. :-D I've recently rediscovered my inner light (He tells me not to pig out on junk food, of all things!), and last time I was "at church" there was some song about God needs to hear me. And I stopped singing and thought, why would He need to hear me? Isn't it I that need to hear Him? And I thought of the verse in James that says we should be swift to hear and slow to speak, and wondered if it wouldn't be better to listen to God first and then to sing or pray back to him. Hmmm, seems like Bob said something about that once, too. When we start a church we'll do it upside down. ;-)MamaOlivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12917138266127672566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-51789110763222497762010-07-22T23:26:54.909-07:002010-07-22T23:26:54.909-07:00I can't ever imagine Joyfulmum ever being LOUD...I can't ever imagine Joyfulmum ever being LOUD! LOL!! How wonderful though... we can be loud or silent and in both, He hears us. :DAmandahttp://www.amandassecretgarden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-38911239592933448382010-07-22T22:01:51.250-07:002010-07-22T22:01:51.250-07:00Thank you so much Ganeida for this very educationa...Thank you so much Ganeida for this very educational post for me:) I have been meaning to google "Quakers" to see what it brings up as there is a suburb in Sydney named after them and I was curious:)<br />I love silence too though we don't often worship in silence in our church, lol! but when I am alone I love to just sit in silence before God and meditate on Him, on scriptures, and just talk to Him quietly. Though I do have a LOUD side to me esp in our prayer meetings!<br />It's just beautiful to see the varied spectrum in the body of Christ, like the colours of a rainbow I reckon! I enjoyed reading your post and learning more about you:)Joyfulmumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01888086629467112175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-2264354031735692252010-07-22T17:28:47.421-07:002010-07-22T17:28:47.421-07:00Amanda: You know I've never had more than one ...Amanda: You know I've never had more than one person speak ~ but as I said my experience is limited. What I do know is the same message will go to several different people & the one least able to withstand the promptings of the Holy Spirit will be the one who speaks. Even in this setting many people dislike *public speaking* & resist the inner urgings. If more than one were to speak I imagine it would work like any regular prayer meeting following the promptings of the Holy Spirit where only one person at a time feels it necessary to speak.Ganeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176246964466185315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2044945947832003194.post-28734739180140513802010-07-22T17:01:14.257-07:002010-07-22T17:01:14.257-07:00This was interesting to learn about Ganeida, thank...This was interesting to learn about Ganeida, thank you! So, when people get something from the Lord to share, do they take turns to share it? Do you notice a dove-tailing effect? By that I mean, each person's message seams to flow in a connected way? I can imagine it would.<br /><br />My husband often remarks to me, that he wishes the music would just stop, and that we would all just worship Him in silence. I have agreed with Him. Not that I personally want to have that happen all the time, but I am sure God would like to remove the prop of music. Anything we depend upon ALL the time, is surely not good. <br /><br />Thanks again for sharing!Amandahttp://www.amandassecretgarden.comnoreply@blogger.com