New to Abington Friends Meeting?
All are welcome here!
We invite newcomers to attend Meeting for Worship and other activities at Abington Friends Meeting! Please come for a visit!
At the heart of Quaker spiritual experience is the understanding that there is something sacred and holy within each of us—a power that connects us all and transcends our individual selves. Friends use many names to describe this “greater something”: Universal Love, The Divine, The Seed, God, the Spirit, the Inward Light, the Christ Within, among others . Whatever name we use, we believe this presence is accessible to everyone, and that each person can listen for Divine or Universal Truth in their own heart.
Our worship and decision-making practices are rooted in this belief—that together, we can listen for and be guided by Universal or Divine Truth. Our Guiding Principles, or Testimonies—of Integrity, Equality, Peace, Simplicity, Community , and Stewardship—flow from this living and immediate experience of the Spirit.
Affirming the sacredness and equality of every individual, we warmly welcome people of all faiths, spiritual journeys, ages, nationalities, races and ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Because we recognize this inherent sacredness and equality in everyone, we do not have a single minister or pastor; instead, we believe that all who gather with us in worship are potential ministers.
Our worship begins with a period of silent prayer or quiet centering, allowing each of us to become still and attentive. After a period of time, if anyone feels moved by the Spirit to speak, they are welcome to stand and share a brief message. We ask that each person speak only once during worship, and that a period of silence follows each message, so that every message can be fully heard and received.
Toward the close of our worship, there will be an opportunity to share joys, sorrows, and prayer requests. We conclude worship by shaking hands, followed by time for visitors’ introductions and brief announcements. Afterwards, on most Sundays, we invite everyone to join us for a coffee break and fellowship across the hall in our John Barnes Room. Sometimes we also offer educational programming or other special activities.
We are grateful for your presence with us and hope you will feel at home in this community of seeking, listening, and shared spiritual experience.
This testimony from eighteenth century Friend, John Woolman sums this up well:
“There is a principle which is pure, placed in the human mind, which in different places and ages hath different names; it is, however, pure and proceeds from God. It is deep and inward, confined to no forms of religion nor excluded from any where the heart stands in perfect sincerity. In whomsoever this takes root and grows, of what nation soever, they become brethren.”
Here is some helpful information:
Our official name is: Abington Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. We are called "monthly" because we meet once a month to attend to business, but we have meeting for worship every Sunday.
Indoor Meeting for Worship
10:00 AM until 11:00 AM
Year-round
Outdoor Meeting for Worship
Every Sunday, mid-June - early September (weather permitting)
10:00 AM until 11:00 AM (happening at the same time as indoor Meeting for Worship)
In addition to our normal indoor Meeting for Worship, we hold optional outdoor Meetings behind the Meeting House during the summer.
Programming for Children and Youth (also called First Day School)
Youth Programming (grades k - 8)
Every Sunday, September - May
10:00 - 11:00 am
Childcare (all children younger than kindergarten)
Every Sunday, year-round
9:45 - 11:15, with additional times to support adult class and Meeting for Business, September - May
Click Here for more information on Programming for Children and Youth
Adult Classes
Occasional Sundays, September – May
11:15 AM. All ages welcome.
First Day School for Adults consists of talks and activities that provide a Quaker perspective on the issues and challenges of everyday life.
Parking
Members and attenders park on the right side of the driveway leading up to the Meeting House (accessible from our entrance on Greenwood Avenue) or in the parking lot on the west side of the Meeting House. Please note that our meetinghouse driveways are one-way, so vehicles must enter from Greenwood Avenue and exit onto Meetinghouse Road.
Orientation
As you enter the Meetinghouse, which is what we call our place of worship, the room where the Meeting gathers will be the first door on your right. The John Barnes Room, which is where we meet for adult classes and special events will be the first door on your left.
Meeting Etiquette
Because Quakers worship in silence, please lower your voice when approaching the Meeting House before Meeting for Worship. Likewise, please silence your cellphone.
There is no pastor or minister. Instead, attenders rise and speak when the Spirit moves them, generally keep their comments brief and of a spiritual, heartfelt nature, and allow ample time for others to reflect on what has been said before rising to speak. Statements often have a common thread; however, this is not a requirement.
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