An Introduction to the History, Practices, Beliefs, and Experiences of Quakers

At the request of several new Meeting members and attenders, the Co-Clerks of the Worship and Ministry committee and meeting member and elder Kevin Gallagher will be offering 4 Sunday sessions (Feb. 3, Feb. 24, Mar. 10, Mar 31) from 12:00pm - 1:30pm to look at and discuss things you may and may not know about Quakerism.

We have chosen Geoffrey Durham's book Being a Quaker: A Guide For Newcomers to guide us in our learning and thinking about what it means to be a Quaker and the many questions that people have about this religion: Where did Quakers come from and when? What do they believe? What do certain words they use mean? How is Quakerism practiced? Is there a leadership and/or an organizational structure? How does one become a member and what is expected with membership?

Durham's book leads the reader through his own mid-40s experience of discovering Hampstead Meeting and the Quaker religion in England, his early impressions, misunderstandings, and questions, and his eventual membership to North West London Area Meeting in London, England. 

These 4 sessions (or whichever sessions your schedule allows you to attend) are open to all attenders and members. While the reading is not required in order to join the gathering, it may be helpful to read (or at least try to skim through) the section being discusssed that particular Sunday. Geoffrey Durham's Being a Quaker: A Guide For Newcomers is available in a Kindle edition through Amazon for $5-$6. Click HERE to purchase the book on Amazon and to also download the FREE Kindle Reader. (Kindle is FREE Application Reader that can be downloaded from Amazon to a phone, tablet or a computer.)

The corresponding section of Durham's book and general format we will be following the 4 Sundays are,

Feb. 3    - Being a Quaker: A Guide For Newcomers (Prologue)
Feb. 24  - Being a Quaker: A Guide For Newcomers (Part I)
Mar. 10  - Being a Quaker: A Guide For Newcomers (Part II)
Mar. 31  - Being a Quaker: A Guide For Newcomers (Part III)

General Format

• Silent worship and sharing of a QuakerSpeak video
• Facilitator may wish to share an Advice/Query/Extract/specific part of text being discussed and personal experience
• Discussion around section of Geoffrey Durham's Being a Quaker: A Guide For Newcomers shown above
• Participants are encouraged to bring a couple questions around the reading for discussion (or can be general questions around Quaker history, faith, or practice)