08/16/2021
Visiting Quaker Attends Tahlequah Friends Fellowship
A member of Central Oklahoma Friends Meeting (formerly Oklahoma City Friends Meeting) drove from Cushing to worship with Tahlequah Friends Thursday evening, 8/12.
Phil Newberry was warmly welcomed by all present. He shared highlights of his spiritual journey since his discovery of Quakers in 2013. He initially approached Stillwater Friends seeking support for his ministry to those swept up by the criminal justice system with little knowledge of how things work and fewer resources. He felt well-received by them and began worshipping in Stillwater on a regular basis.
Newberry eventually made contact with Oklahoma City Friends Meeting where he felt even more at home. He has increasingly come to appreciate the traditional quiet, waiting worship of Friends. This approach to worship in which people gather and wait upon promptings of the Holy Spirit before speaking out of the silence can be a challenge for those not used to sitting still for an hour, he intimated.
Newberry recently learned of Tahlequah Friends Fellowship from a Lubbock, TX, Quaker woman who has also been to Tahlequah to worship with and encourage Tahlequah Friends. He shared that he felt a concern to make the trip from Cushing in an effort to encourage those active in this local Quaker worship group.
Another guest also participated. This person just moved to Ft. Gibson and was delighted to discover that there is a Quaker group in Tahlequah. Having previously experienced Quaker worship at Fayetteville Friends Meeting, this individual hopes to be able to worship here on a regular basis.
Tahlequah Friends meet each Thursday evening from 7:00–8:00 at 536 Summit Avenue, Tahlequah. The hour is divided into 15-25 minutes of sharing concerns before settling into open worship. “Some attenders are active in other churches, yet find Quaker worship a valuable complement,” explained Beth Green-Nagle. She and her husband, David Nagle, co-host the weekly gathering in their living room. For more information, call 918-885-2714.
