For reasons that were not always clear, then or since, in the summer of 1969, a group of close friends, formerly involved in the Students for Black Awareness and Action, (SBAA) would communally gather together around a burning candle, discussing, "fellowshipping" frolicking, after work, into the night.
Nothing discernible ever came of our weekly, Wednesday night, assemblies, as it was more like a "washing of spears" type-ritual of spiritual release and rejuvenation, rather than anything else, since we were all about to abandon home for college, leaving our friendly circle.
Today, our post-Webster Groves, Missouri, High School, long-ago gatherings were called again to mind, as I read REMINISCENCES OF LEVI COFFIN, as abridged and edited by Ben Richmond, (1991, 2006), where I saw the following :
"The core of Quakerism is its insistence that Christ is a living presence, able to teach and empower those who are willing to attend to him. Jesus said:
"'If you love me, you will keep my commandments . And I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever , even the Spirit of Truth...; you know him for he dwells in you, and will be in you. (John 14:15-17, RSV).'
"Friends gather for worship in the expectation that the Counselor will be present, as promised. In traditional Quaker worship, perhaps one or two Friends will rise out of silent worship to pray or to preach as he or she feels the inward guidance of the Spirit. This is no ordinary preaching , but is understood to be the immediate word of God addressed to the gathered community. Whether or not a word was spoken audibly, it is an experience of gathering together for spiritual communion with God."
P. xviii-xix, "Foreword"
Sunday, August 21, 2016
MY NEGUS
For reasons that were not always clear, then or since, in the summer of 1969, a group of close friends, formerly involved in the Students for Black Awareness and Action, (SBAA) would communally gather together around a burning candle, discussing, "fellowshipping" frolicking, after work, into the night.
Nothing discernible ever came of our weekly, Wednesday night, assemblies, as it was more like a "washing of spears" type-ritual of spiritual release and rejuvenation, rather than anything else, since we were all about to abandon home for college, leaving our friendly circle.
Today, our post-Webster Groves, Missouri, High School, long-ago gatherings were called again to mind, as I read REMINISCENCES OF LEVI COFFIN, as abridged and edited by Ben Richmond, (1991, 2006), where I saw the following :
"The core of Quakerism is its insistence that Christ is a living presence, able to teach and empower those who are willing to attend to him. Jesus said:
"'If you love me, you will keep my commandments . And I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever , even the Spirit of Truth...; you know him for he dwells in you, and will be in you. (John 14:15-17, RSV).'
"Friends gather for worship in the expectation that the Counselor will be present, as promised. In traditional Quaker worship, perhaps one or two Friends will rise out of silent worship to pray or to preach as he or she feels the inward guidance of the Spirit. This is no ordinary preaching , but is understood to be the immediate word of God addressed to the gathered community. Whether or not a word was spoken audibly, it is an experience of gathering together for spiritual communion with God."
P. xviii-xix, "Foreword"