QuakerInfo.com Forum

[Jan-Lyn]

Hi All

I'd like to introduce myself. I have attended several nondenominational christian churches throughout my life. I'm so grateful that we have choice and freedom of where to attend here. While the christian services are wonderful for many, I have increasingly felt like I am interrupted in my worship with all the many contemporary formats, like loud bands, drama and long corporate prayers. I will always have my christian beliefs.

I have read about Friends for years now and consider myself quite Quaker at heart, if there is such a thing. I am finding the Meetings a very healing experience for me. It is refreshing to me that Friends don't critisize others, and that all are equal. I leave Meeting feeling that I have truly worshipped and conected with God and am very relaxed, rather than feeling stressed out as my other church. I am thankful for my christian churches as I know they are meeting a need and attracting new people, but I'm feeling the need for quiet and stillness.

My husband really enjoys the christian contemporary services. I do not want to divide our family on Sunday mornings. I am also recovering fron laryngeal gerd and it is so painful to talk, so the Meeting feels so good to me without pressure to sing and talk, etc. I am allergic to all the meds that I need to heal myself also. Somehow the sermons I hear don't feel uplifting or relate to me in this very ill state. I have a lot of work to do in healing physically and emotionally/spiritually. It was hard to feel loved by my creator when I was given a disease for which I couldn't treat and then to have to risk and take the meds anyways. I'm experiencing positive changes after attending Meeting. I may try to go to my family's church, but attend the Meeting once a month for a while. It is important for me to worship with my husband and he has visited Friends and does not like the hour long silence. Interestingly enough, I took 2 of my daughters yesterday and they were able to sit and said they enjoyed it! I know if there were an evangelical Meeting here, my husband would probably be quite happy in it. However, we are in NJ and on the border of PA where there are tons of Meeting Houses, but all unprogrammed.

Anyways, I thank you for allowing me to be on this forum. I think I will be encouraged in my walk. I have been already...thankyou.

Blessings,
Jan

[Pulpculture]

Welcome Jan. Kick your shoes off and feel at home here.

[orPowers]

Welcome. Sounds like you really should attend the unprogrammed Meeting when you can. I would not feel bad about not having an Evangelical Meeting near you, as it would probably not be enough different from your current church meeting. Yes, the ideas and attitudes are somewhat different, but the practice is not all that much.

In His Love,
orPowers
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Romans 8:38-39

my blog: http://mild-side.blogspot.com/

[Laurence17]

a warm welcome, and every blessing on your journey, Friend ....
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Abwoon : divine progenitor, breathing mindfulness through poor in spirit and the resonating realm of ruach