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At 9:35am on October 13, 2008, Rory Short said…: I started attending Quaker Meeting at Hunter Street Liverpool in Aug/Sept 1963. Then I moved to London where I became a regular member of Westminster Meeting until I returned to South Africa at the beginning of 1967. At that point I felt I was well established enough in Quaker ways to return to what I was told was a very small Quaker Meeting in Johannesburg.

What makes a worthwhile spiritual community is the real, rather than lip service, spiritual committments of the members of that community and in that Quakers are no different to any other spiritual community. A Quaker Meeting is alive and well to the degree that the members of that Meeting are committed to walking their own spiritual journeys. The Quaker difference perhaps is that because there are no structures or hierarchies to hide behind, poor spiritual practice of the individual members is immediately obvious in the quality of the Meeting

At 4:27am on October 13, 2008, Ulrich a contemplative said…: Thanks Rory. Very interesting and thanks for sharing with me. Myself 64. Where are you now? There really is nothing like the 'ambiance' and more of British Quaker meetings. Ulrich

At 10:29pm on October 12, 2008, Elspeth said…: Thanks very much for your detailed answer - it is exactly what I was looking for and gives me a much clearer picture on what is meant by spiritural journey etc. It has helped clarify where I would fit in if I attend a group.

At 8:25am on October 12, 2008, Ulrich a contemplative said…: I used to be an academic (philosophy, world faiths and theology) thus studied (personal experience) Christianity (RC, anglican and other western derivatives), Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy (was an Orthodox monk and bishop), buddhism (different schools), vedanta, Judaism (from the very orthodox to the very Liberal).
For public worship I prefer Quaker British-type silent (or unprogrammed worship), but in private use apart from silent sitting, Reconstructionist Siddur/prayer service books - 5 times daily.
I know xtian monastic Liturgy of the Hours RC, Anglican and Orthodox in a few languages well - and have a number of monastic in their homes and communities associated with me. I also still have a few Orthodox parishes and a hispanic seminary by correspondance under me. And two Yahoo lists (one for interfaith, the other about 415 members, interdenominational, to provide info on monasticism, contemplative and meditative practices, traditional and newer communities , assist people with vocations: creating or finding communities). I live as a solitary or hermit and have a number of hermits - different traditions, associated with me.
I suppose I'm interfaith (with the USA Quaker Universalists), accept people from any or no faith; but to me "God" is beyond human concepts and images - why Quaker Silent Worship and Quaker 'spirit' expresses what I found I am at heart. I'm in my sixties.
Hope I did not sound to egocentric in providing the above.
Thanks for the contact, as never see anyone Quaker here in SA, being so far away from the few existing groups.
Ulrich

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Rory Short's Blog

Location of Johannesburg Meeting

Crispian Robin Wood your nearest Meeting will be found at Quaker House, 3 Gordon Terrace, Yeoville. QH is actually right on the border with Doornfontein and right in the vicinity of Ellis Park so so there is some disruption to traffic flow when there are major sporting events scheduled for Sundays. Meeting for Worship takes place every Sunday from 09h30 until 10h30.

Posted on June 24, 2009 at 10:37pm —

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