Callid Keefe-Perry shares how Quakers used to worship wherever and whenever they felt the Spirit moving, and how exciting it can be to do that today.
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Discussion Questions:
- Have you ever experienced the kind of “opportunity” that Callid is talking about, where worship came to you unplanned?
- What do you think of the distinction that Callid makes between being ordered under the world or ordered under God? What is a time when you felt ordered under God?
Transcript:
I think that when we say yes to God in our conviction, we are saying no to Caesar. And most of us, including myself, still live by Caesar’s clock, which is our work day, our soccer practices, our meetings with therapists, all of which are good things. We should be in therapy if we need to be in therapy. We should bring the kids to soccer practice if the kids are supposed to be in soccer practice. But the question continues to resound: what are we ordered under? Are we ordered under the world, or are we ordered under God?
Why Our Worship Shouldn’t Be Limited to Sunday Morning
My understanding is that part of the original openings that became our monthly meetings was this impulse – this impetus – to step away from the steeple houses (the churches) and away from a special Sunday morning time with the family to an opening into the constant practice of living into that kingdom of God.
And so that meant that we had these things traditionally called opportunities, so when we met by the well, if it was time to have some worship because we saw in each other’s eyes it was time for worship, well then we worshiped at the well. Where two or more are gathered, right?
If the baker was a Friend and I was going to buy some bread in the bakery and we got into a time to worship, then it was time to worship.
Now, is that romanticized? Of course. People are people; we’ve been clay-footed. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Quaker or not. But I do think that that mentality – which is that at any moment in time we could be caught up in this moment of realization that it’s time to worship – has largely been lost, and I think it’s too bad. I love worshiping in public. I love having long extended graces in restaurants. I’ve worshiped in lots of different places and it’s beautiful because it carves out our lives in a way that makes us remember whose we are and what we’re for.
Does that mean that I’ve turned my life over and have come up through the flaming sword and have no sin? Hell no, it doesn’t mean that. But I do think that we can practice having the world’s idea of worship being on Sunday go away so that worship happens when worship is supposed to happen.
We don’t initiate worship. God initiates worship and we respond. To say that it only happens at a certain time on Sunday I think misses the idea and the impetus of the power of our worship, which is that we are, in our human-ness, responding to this divine invitation, which is always at work. Not just when the bell hits ten on Sunday morning.
The views expressed in this video are of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Friends Journal or its collaborators.
Thanks Jon and Callid,
I agree. Worship should not be limited to a day of the week. I have had the blessed experience of extend worship, where the time constraint is also released. (we worship for three hours or more). I hope that way opens to explore extended worship with others. The next extended worship will be held at Lancaster meeting on June 6th (perfect for friends within philadelphia yearly meeting or baltimore yearly meeting). Perhaps friends might like to join us. http://www.pym.org/calendar/events/2015-extended-worship-at-lancaster-meeting/
Thanks, Lola
The influence of the Religious Society of Friends began to wane when our worship became secret, weekly and quaint. Can our worship once again become a daily awakening into the Light that guides and orders us? When that becomes our Truth we won’t need to concern ourselves with visibility or viability. The “Lamp” is already burning on the lamp stand. It always has been. We are simply challenged to point toward and be guided by that Light in every moment that we are able. We become better able when we regularly pause in gratitude for the miracles of Love that surround us. Thank you again Callid.
If we follow this argument–that we are under God and not Caesar– shouldn’t we support the bakers in Indiana who follow their leadings not to serve people whose life choices they feel are out of alignment with God’s will? They are essentially carrying their worship outside their routine church services. Should Quaker bakers cater a gathering of military weapons contractors? Just asking.
It seem to me that taking our worship outside of the meetinghouse has nothing to do with a public and commercial venture that functions under Caesar and pays that coin to Caesar. Every dollar we pay in taxes also pays for war so purity is not an option when it comes to money. I cannot judge one’s faith leading as it interacts with the world but I would sell cake to military weapons contractors out of my love for them as God’s children and as a possible opportunity to offer ministry.
My understanding is the early Christians , who were mostly Jewish, chose the 1st day of the week (Sunday) to celebrate the resurrection, which reportedly occurred on a Sunday. The Sabarth (Saturday) was no longer relevant and as they were Jewish the Synagogue was no longer an appropriate place to worship so they gathered at each others homes.
Having said this, we can worship every day, through our work, relationships, and moments of stillness in service to one another. Cesar didn’t determine the day, we did.
I agree with worshiping when worshiping calls…and I like the idea of it being outside of the first day of the week – totally agree. I’m struck by the comment that “We don’t initiate worship – God initiates worship.” I’m not so sure about that. It is my experienceTarrytown that God is usually always in communication with me – it is constant and not something that has to be initiated – but is simply there. In this manner, it is up to me to “initiate” the worship, during which time I “listen” to God.