Friends General Conference

Together we nurture the spiritual vitality of Friends

Spiritual Deepening Library: Content

Photo by Marta Rusek
Religious Education

The Spiritual Deepening Library materials are designed for participants of all ages and stages in their spiritual journey.  Participants engage in activities, discussions, role-plays, spiritual practices, art and music exercises, and worship sharing.  The content has been compiled and developed by Friends throughout the U.S. and Canada and includes materials drawn from high quality existing curricula and resources, as well as newly developed activities.

The library content focuses around foundational readings, activities for sharing spiritual stories, and exploring spiritual practices in order to strengthen and deepen both individual and communal experiences of spiritual connection.  Grounding exercises help participants explore the roots of Quaker faith and give context to Quaker practices and beliefs. Practicing exercises offer new ways of connecting to Spirit.  Sharing exercises invite participants to share their spiritual stories and listen deeply to each other’s truth.
 
Activities, readings, and facilitation guides are now available in six topic areas:
 
 

Silence and Expectant Waiting

The Quaker experience of worship, silent waiting, and vocal ministry

The Light, Seed, Christ Working in Us

The experience of being led by the Inner Guide

Friendly Practices

The practices of Friends, including discernment, meeting for worship with attention to business, worship sharing, and more

Becoming Patterns and Examples

"Be patterns, be examples," advised George Fox. This topic explores how Quakers put faith into practice.

Living into Wholeness

Many of us know that the Beloved Community is “not yet,” because we see the trauma of white supremacy and free-market colonialism playing itself out across the globe. But can we co-create and Live Into Wholeness together?

Aging, Death, and Dying

Growing old, even when that means facing physical or other changes, can help us focus on what is essential.

 

In addition to exploring the Spiritual Deepening activities and exercises, we recommend that small groups incorporate worship and personal check-ins into their time together, in order to enrich the experience of spiritual connection.