Archives for April 14, 2017

Tonight was a special night.  The congregations of St. Patrick Church and First Baptist Church of Kennett Square came together to remember and celebrate Good Friday.

The congregation of St. Patrick helped introduce us to the Stations of the Cross.  We shared a special time of worship in song with them.  The mood among the entire group was positive and reverent as we walked the stations stopping for prayer along the way.

Our evening began at St. Patrick and ended at First Baptist.  Along the journey between the two churches we marked and celebrated the stations.  Members of each church, leaders in our community, providers of care, and ministry leaders led our times of prayer.  As we arrived at First Baptist we ended our time together in worship.

It was a great night.  Two congregations that live and breathe within sight of each other coming together to share a common celebration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We have much to learn from each other.

 

Earlier this week I attended a funeral service.  It was not anyone I was close to.  We probably only met once or twice during the past three years.  I went to be with some of his extended family.  During our time together I was struck by two things.

First this was a service unlike any I have ever attended.  I knew it was going to be different.  I had never attended a service of the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, before.  What has surprised me is how much time I have spent thinking about this service over the past week.

We gathered together in a small wooden church complete with hard wooden pews and the kind of air conditioning that comes only through open windows.  There was no pastor, no leader, simply a gathering of friends come together to celebrate and honor the memory of a life well lived.  As we entered those who were obviously guests (new to the Quaker way of worship) were quietly handed a pamphlet which explained what was about to happen.  In part it reads,

“We reflect on the value of that life as it relates to the lives of all of us.  All present share in this process.  We sit quietly; at times an individual may be moved to speak, to offer a prayer or a message that has come out of the silence.  All are welcome to do this.  The responsibility for the spiritual depth of the meeting rests with each attender.  Those who keep silent as well as those who give a vocal message do their part when they yield their minds and hearts to the guidance of the Spirit.”

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