Message from the Pastoral Care and Eldership Team (PaCET) for Sunday Meeting 27th September 2026

Dear Friends,

A Quaker gathered meeting is a meeting for worship in which the worshippers experience a particularly deep sense of being gathered into a shared stillness and awareness of God.

There is:

• A profound stillness ­ the silence seems unusually deep and alive.
• A sense of unity ­ individuals may feel that the meeting has become a single worshipping community.
• Awareness of the Presence ­ Quakers may describe this as being gathered into the presence of God, the Spirit, or the Light.
• Ministry that arises from the silence ­ if someone speaks, it may feel as though the words belong to the worship of the whole meeting rather than being simply someone’s contribution.
• A loss of self-consciousness ­ people may cease to be concerned about how the meeting is proceeding or whether anyone will speak.
• A sense of completion ­ sometimes the meeting seems to reach a natural point at which the worship can be brought to an end.

The important point is that a gathered meeting does not necessarily mean that nobody speaks. There can be several pieces of vocal ministry, but they may seem remarkably connected, as though they arise from the same source.

There is also a useful distinction between silence and gatheredness. A meeting can be completely silent yet feel rather scattered ­ people’s minds occupied with their own thoughts. Conversely, a meeting in which several people speak can be deeply gathered.

David Hitchin (from various Internet sources)

Quakers value diversity. We share this Friend’s message in the hope it will speak to others.

Pastoral Care and Eldership Team: Bob Harwood, David Hitchin, Sharon Krummel, Tim Pitt-Payne, Helen Thomas, Jenny Wistreich