One of the things I am privileged to do is visit a number of different worship communities. Sometimes I get to attend Catholic Mass and other times it is a much more free form Protestant denomination. I appreciate the variety of liturgical styles. The Catholic Mass is quite predictable. Because of my experience and my work in the history of the Christian Church, I know very well what will happen when I go to Mass. I like the various readings from the Bible. I love it that a Psalm will be shared. Since Quakers don’t do the outward sacraments, it took a while for me to learn to understand and appreciate the eucharist or communion. Going to a Methodist Church or others like it is also very familiar.
That said, I also very much like going back into my familiar Quaker context. Some Quakers have a worship service that is much like a Methodist or Baptist. I know we will sing some hymns, hear a sermon and maybe a choir. I always hope there is some time of silence and, perhaps, others in the group will “speak out of the silence,” as Quakers say. However, I am often disappointed, since pastoral Quakers have shortened or, sadly, sometimes eliminated the quiet, open time of worship.
I admit I still really enjoy going to an “unprogrammed” worship service with Quakers. Many Quakers in this country still gather as a group and sit in silence. Here Quakers are not passive people waiting for something to happen. Rather it is the expectation of all gathered that they begin in silence in order to make some “space” for the Word of God to be given and spoken. The theory here is when humans are talking, it is difficult for God to speak. Our job in worship is to be attentive---expectant waiting, we like to say. It is an active listening. We feel confident that God will “speak” and somehow one or even all of us will come to know it as a divine message for the day.
Recently I was in just such a Quaker meeting. Nearly forty minutes passed with a fairly large gathering of folks sitting together in silence. Of course, there were the usual noises of human beings. Some breathe a little audibly. Occasionally, there is a cough or the quiet voice of a child who may not be as much into the silence as the rest of us. But over all, there is a quietness that I find both comforting and inspiring. Because I am practiced in this form of worship, I was ok if no one spoke in the whole hour. We simply shake hands and it is over.
But someone did speak that morning. Typically, the person who speaks stands where he or she is and shares the words that they think God has given them to share with the group. However, the speaker of the morning did not stand; he actually was in wheelchair right next to me. I did not know him---but that didn’t matter.
He began talking about his understanding of human beings. I listened because the Quaker assumption is somehow the speaker is speaking on behalf of God. He shared that his understanding of humans is that we each are a colonial organism. That was a new one for me! Fairly quickly, it became evident the guy must be a scientist or, at least, someone who has read a great deal. I was fascinated. Hmmm…I am a colonial organism.
Before writing this, I did a little poking around. I found a dictionary definition of a colonial organism. It is an organism “composed of many physically connected, interdependent individuals.” I read on and learned that this step in the evolution of the universe was quite a big jump. Colonial organisms are the result of single cell organisms bonded with others to increase their capacity to survive.
It was easy to understand what the speaker of the morning was getting at. Individually, each of us is a single organism composed of a trillion cells or more. Clearly, there are sub-colonial organizations within our single body. But each of us bonds with others to form community. This was the case for my worshipping Quaker community that morning. Together we are one---one body of Christ, the Apostle Paul calls it. I also live in other communities---colonial organisms.
I was fascinated that the Quaker speaker used this image to talk about how the various worshipping Quaker communities could be colonial organisms in the world to spread peace and justice. We could be joined by other colonial organisms, like Catholics and Buddhists and Muslims---and all the rest. Our job is to enlighten, not cause darkness. We are to make peace, not war.
Our job is to gather and to be together. We increase the global chance for survival if we do. This helps me understand in a fresh way the ideas of egotism and selfishness. Colonial organisms have nothing to do with egotists. We don’t want to put up with selfishness. That will detract from our chances together. If one hurts, surely all hurt. If one prospers, then we are in for a good deal.
For years I knew that community was important to me. Now I have a more scientific way of articulating it. That is new language for good news today.
That said, I also very much like going back into my familiar Quaker context. Some Quakers have a worship service that is much like a Methodist or Baptist. I know we will sing some hymns, hear a sermon and maybe a choir. I always hope there is some time of silence and, perhaps, others in the group will “speak out of the silence,” as Quakers say. However, I am often disappointed, since pastoral Quakers have shortened or, sadly, sometimes eliminated the quiet, open time of worship.
I admit I still really enjoy going to an “unprogrammed” worship service with Quakers. Many Quakers in this country still gather as a group and sit in silence. Here Quakers are not passive people waiting for something to happen. Rather it is the expectation of all gathered that they begin in silence in order to make some “space” for the Word of God to be given and spoken. The theory here is when humans are talking, it is difficult for God to speak. Our job in worship is to be attentive---expectant waiting, we like to say. It is an active listening. We feel confident that God will “speak” and somehow one or even all of us will come to know it as a divine message for the day.
Recently I was in just such a Quaker meeting. Nearly forty minutes passed with a fairly large gathering of folks sitting together in silence. Of course, there were the usual noises of human beings. Some breathe a little audibly. Occasionally, there is a cough or the quiet voice of a child who may not be as much into the silence as the rest of us. But over all, there is a quietness that I find both comforting and inspiring. Because I am practiced in this form of worship, I was ok if no one spoke in the whole hour. We simply shake hands and it is over.
But someone did speak that morning. Typically, the person who speaks stands where he or she is and shares the words that they think God has given them to share with the group. However, the speaker of the morning did not stand; he actually was in wheelchair right next to me. I did not know him---but that didn’t matter.
He began talking about his understanding of human beings. I listened because the Quaker assumption is somehow the speaker is speaking on behalf of God. He shared that his understanding of humans is that we each are a colonial organism. That was a new one for me! Fairly quickly, it became evident the guy must be a scientist or, at least, someone who has read a great deal. I was fascinated. Hmmm…I am a colonial organism.
Before writing this, I did a little poking around. I found a dictionary definition of a colonial organism. It is an organism “composed of many physically connected, interdependent individuals.” I read on and learned that this step in the evolution of the universe was quite a big jump. Colonial organisms are the result of single cell organisms bonded with others to increase their capacity to survive.
It was easy to understand what the speaker of the morning was getting at. Individually, each of us is a single organism composed of a trillion cells or more. Clearly, there are sub-colonial organizations within our single body. But each of us bonds with others to form community. This was the case for my worshipping Quaker community that morning. Together we are one---one body of Christ, the Apostle Paul calls it. I also live in other communities---colonial organisms.
I was fascinated that the Quaker speaker used this image to talk about how the various worshipping Quaker communities could be colonial organisms in the world to spread peace and justice. We could be joined by other colonial organisms, like Catholics and Buddhists and Muslims---and all the rest. Our job is to enlighten, not cause darkness. We are to make peace, not war.
Our job is to gather and to be together. We increase the global chance for survival if we do. This helps me understand in a fresh way the ideas of egotism and selfishness. Colonial organisms have nothing to do with egotists. We don’t want to put up with selfishness. That will detract from our chances together. If one hurts, surely all hurt. If one prospers, then we are in for a good deal.
For years I knew that community was important to me. Now I have a more scientific way of articulating it. That is new language for good news today.
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