Downers
Grove
Friends Meeting |
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To Those Attending Our
Meeting for the First Time. WELCOME Go in as soon as you are ready. Sit anywhere you like. Meeting begins when the first worshipper takes his or her place. It continues until the designated person breaks the silence by a handshake. Our Meeting is based on silent worship. It is possible that no one will speak during the entire meeting. Anyone is free to speak if he or she feels moved to it by a leading from the Light within. Each message will help someone, but our needs differ. If the message does not "speak to your condition," try to reach the spirit behind the words. We maintain silence for at least a few minutes after vocal ministry to give time for a message to reach a quiet center. If new to the silence, you may find it disturbing and yourself distracted by roving thoughts. Our practice is not to worry about such distractions, but to return again and again to the still center of our being. We try, if only for an instant, to be quiet in body, mind and spirit. After Meeting visitors will be invited to introduce themselves and sign our guest book. After announcements, refreshments are served or we share a common meal. You are WELCOME to stay for these or any other activities. Our Meeting - and most Friends groups - is not "pushy" with visitors. If you want to learn more about us, please feel free to ask. CHILDREN Our Meeting is very loving with children. We do not consider the "talk" of infants or their feeding a distraction. If you choose, your infant or older pre-school child may go to our nursery. School-age children are welcome to visit our First Day School classes. During the school year the children go directly to their classes. They join Meeting for the last few minutes. During the summer they come into Meeting for a few minutes, then go to class, on nature walks, or other activities. |
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