Welcome to Vancouver Monthly Meeting
of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
We are an inclusive spiritual community of seekers after truth. We believe that there is “that of God”, or an Inner Light, in everyone. In this community we strive to accept each other, regardless of race, spiritual background, gender identity, or sexual orientation. In our meetings for worship and worship sharing
groups, we seek to create a safe place for us to connect deeply with our truth, our experience, and with one another. Purpose
We seek to live the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship in our everyday lives. Quakers base our spiritual practice on silent worship, and our faith on our personal experiences of the Divine. We seek to become united in love and strengthened in truth. Practice
In the stillness of a Quaker meeting we may become aware of a deep and powerful spirit of love and truth that transcends ordinary experience. It can be a time of insight, revelation, healing, and calm. In our meetings for worship, we seek in the silence to open ourselves by returning again and again to the still centre of our being. We do this not in isolation, but while holding an awareness of all those gathered with us, uniting in common purpose, so that the waiting and the listening becomes an act of sharing. How We Worship
Meetings for worship start as soon as the first person enters the room and sits in silence. A Meeting for Worship engages all who attend in silent waiting and a search for spiritual communion. We have no pastor or spiritual director. The silence may last the full hour, or someone present may feel led to speak out of the silence in a way that will deepen and enrich the meeting. Prepared statements and long messages may detract from the spirit of Meeting for Worship. We do not recite creeds, sing hymns, or repeat set prayers. There is no ceremony, no priest, no prearranged service. We make practical decisions and decisions that affect the life of the meeting collectively in special meetings for worship with attention to business. Everyone may contribute and decisions are sought with divine guidance, resulting in a unified “sense of the meeting”. Visitors
We warmly welcome newcomers and inquirers to our meetings for worship on Sundays at 10:30 am. A newcomer’s group is held every 3rd Sunday of the month after Meeting for Worship, from about 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., at the Vancouver Meeting House. This informal meeting is a great opportunity to ask questions about Quakers or the Vancouver Friends Meeting. Sometimes there is a particular theme for discussion. Long-time members and attenders also participate. Vancouver Meeting House:
1090 W. 70th Ave., Vancouver
(one block west of Oak St.) For more information, visit us at
http://vancouver.quaker.ca
Quaker Faith
The Quaker faith began during a period of religious upheaval in England during the mid-1600s, as people questioned the established church and sought new ways to understand the basic messages of the Christian faith. The emerging community gathered around the leadership of George Fox and others who encouraged people to be guided by a direct, firsthand inner encounter with our personal truth. Our Society grew out of the conviction of George Fox that “there is that of God in every person,” that everyone has direct access to personal truth and that truth continues to be revealed to us from a variety of sources. Are Quakers Christian? The Quaker way has deep Christian roots that have led to our understanding of God, our faith, and our practices. Many Quakers consider themselves Christian, and many do not. Where to find Quakers:
Vancouver Meeting House:
1090 W. 70th Ave. (just west of Oak St.) Meeting for Worship is every Sunday at 10:30 AM, with childcare provided. 604-263-5015. North Burnaby Worship Group:
4272 Albert St., Burnaby. Fourth Sundays (except July and August) at 10:30 AM. Contact Ruth: 604-298-9220. Fraser Valley Worship Group:
2nd & 4th Sundays at 10:30 am. Contact Meredith: 604-832-0954
or [email protected]
