Prayer

Immersed in Prayer
edited by Michael Resman
reviewed by Margaret Kelso

Surrendering into Silence: Quaker Prayer Cycles
by David Johnson
reviewed by Jean Hand Triol

I began my spiritual journey toward “the gathered meeting” when my wife and I visited her youngest son in Durham, North Carolina, in January, 2018. While there, we attended Durham Friends Meeting one Sunday when maybe a hundred adults and thirty-five children were present. The meeting felt settled and centered.

Whether they are cheerfully sort-of-deist or in-fact, stone-cold, out-and-out Jesus Freaks, Quakers of a certain generation, across the spectrum, agree that the movie Groundhog Day is scripture. Today, with all of us living Groundhog Day all the time during COVID, Friends are advised to share this scripture with newcomers.

God came to visit today.
Took his skin off,
       changed his skeleton into a galaxy.
Dressed himself in mists
       adorned himself with finches and stars,
              and joined me for a latte.
Neither of us spoke much.
What we shared was simple:
       A longing, a joy, a vulnerability

Reflections with God while Waiting to Be Healed
          Written by Linda Seger
The Alphabet Prayer
          Written by Linda Seger and Peter Le Var
Reviewed by Anthony Manousos

Dear Editor: We just received the March-April issue of Western Friend, “On Beginnings.” Thanks for including my “recipe” for peanut butter cookies! One clarification: Multnomah Meeting does not “support” Amigas del Señor in any financial or legal way. Rather, we “spiritually share in a Covenant of Caring.” It is a promise to stay in touch and hold one another in the Light.

The purpose of meeting on Sunday morning is corporate worship. Worship transcends meditation, yet meditation can be excellent preparation for worship. Meditation is inwardly focused, as one plumbs oneself and frees oneself from worldly thoughts. Worship seeks a shared communication with God, through prayer, praise, thanksgiving, petition, humble penitence, or opening to God’s leadings.

A Quaker Prayer Life

by David Johnson

Review by Helen Gould