This lesson plan is made for Holy Silence: A Gift of Quaker Spirituality, by Brent Bill. It focuses on meeting for worship as time of thanksgiving for the work of the Spirit. For more lessons from books, see Book Reviews and Lesson Plans.

The pamphlet is a transcript of a collaborative lecture by Ernestine and Vincent Buscemi, with each voice identified. It consists of stories of their attempts to respond faithfully to the leadings of the Spirit.

Overview

These lesson plans are for high school students, teens, and adults. Each chapter can be read in advance or portions may be read out loud in First Day School or in First or Second hour discussion. The six chapters are interspersed with “Quietude Queries.” The lesson plan below is an example of how a lesson might be developed around a chapter, or portion of a chapter, in this case several sentences from chapter five.

Book Summary

Bill explores meeting for worship as a Quaker sacramental experience. (A sacrament is frequently understood to be an outward sign of a spiritual reality, and is a means of grace.)   

Opening

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6, KJV

Quotation to help focus the lesson

Post this quote on a flip chart or poster in the space where the group will meet for the lesson.

“In silence, without rite or symbol, we have known the Spirit of Christ so convincingly present in our quiet meetings that his grace dispels our faithlessness, our unwillingness, our fears, and sets our hearts aflame with the joy of adoration. We have thus felt the power of the Spirit renewing and recreating our love and friendship for all our fellows. This is our Eucharist and our Communion.”

— London Yearly Meeting, 1928, in Quaker Faith & Practice

Passage addressed in this lesson:

“Silence, when worshiping with others, becomes a means of grace. That’s because it brings us into God’s presence. Worship becomes Eucharistic when we sense God present with our group.” — Gathering: Practicing Communal Silence, chapter 5, page 91.

Suggestions

Either post the quote above from chapter five or distribute the words to each person on slips of paper. Explain that the word “Eucharist” comes from the Greek, and literally means “to give thanks.” Briefly review the traditional understanding of “sacrament” as a means of grace.

Activity

Invite Friends into a worshipful space to center and reflect in silence on the word Eucharist (thanksgiving) using the following queries.

• How do I experience meeting for worship as a time of thanksgiving?
• What does it look like / feel like when I experience Holy Silence?
• Where are the places in my life in which I am thankful? Allow 15 minutes for this time of reflection. Have paper and art media available for Friends to journal or work with if they wish. Include such things as colored pencils, markers, solid colored paper, and materials for collage. After the 15 minutes for reflection, invite people back into a large circle to share as they feel led, following worship sharing guidelines provided.

Optional Closing Song

“Sing and Rejoice,” #234, in Worship in Song: A Friends Hymnal, by QuakerPress

Credits

Lesson plan by Gail Thomas, Bethesda Friends Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting