Query for April
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and
the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” What are the voids, solid ground, and light in your life today?
Events in April 2021
-
South Central Yearly Meeting Events (all day)
South Central Yearly Meeting Events (all day)
All day
April 2, 2021Details available at SCYM.org
These include two workshop session:
10:30-11:45 Workshop Session:
• Val Liveoak - LARA: Using Nonviolence for Transformative Dialogue
• Paula Palmer - Toward Right Relationship with Native Peoples3:15-4:30 Workshop Session
• Lon Burnam - FCNL and the Ban on Nuclear Weapons
• Bobby Trice and Hannah Sievers - Centering and Supporting Young Adult Advocacy with FCNLFriday Morning Worship on ZoomFriday Morning Worship on Zoom
–
April 2, 2021To join by Zoom: Click HERE Opens in new tab
ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID#
-
South Central Yearly Meeting Events (all day)
South Central Yearly Meeting Events (all day)
All day
April 3, 2021Details at SCYM.org
Includes:
10:30-11:45 Keynote Speech (by Eileen Flanagan)
1:30-2:45 Workshop Session
• AFSC - Community Safety Beyond Policing
• Rex Friend - Loving in the Light Those Who May Disdain Us7:30-8:45 Variety Show
-
South Central Yearly Meeting Events (7am-1:30pm)
South Central Yearly Meeting Events (7am-1:30pm)
–
April 4, 2021Meeting for Worship on ZoomMeeting for Worship on Zoom
–
April 4, 202110-11am Unprogrammed Worship
____________________________________________________________
To join by computer: Click HERE
Zoom ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077
Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID# -
SCYM Online Midweek Meeting For Worship
SCYM Online Midweek Meeting For Worship
–
April 7, 2021Join South Central Yearly Meeting Friends for weekly online mid-week worship. All Friends are welcome to join.
To join by phone, dial 1-346-248-7799 and enter the Meeting ID followed by the pound sign (#).
Meeting ID 835 8653 6172
Password 263 479Need help with Zoom? David Schoen, Little Rock Friends Meeting, will clerk this meeting and will be available at 7:15 on Zoom to answer questions about using Zoom. Worship will begin at 7:30pm and go until about 8:30. Sharing until 9pm.
-
Friday Morning Worship on Zoom
Friday Morning Worship on Zoom
–
April 9, 2021To join by Zoom: Click HERE Opens in new tab
ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID#
-
Meeting for Worship on Zoom
Meeting for Worship on Zoom
–
April 11, 202110-11am Unprogrammed Worship
____________________________________________________________
To join by computer: Click HERE
Zoom ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077
Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID# -
Worship Sharing on the Query: "What does it mean for thine eye to be single?"
Worship Sharing on the Query: "What does it mean for thine eye to be single?"
–
April 14, 2021Led by Gary Whiting.
To join by Zoom: Click HERE Opens in new tab Opens in new tab
ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID#
The Quaker tradition of forming a "query" and then letting Friends ponder a response, in silence, is often a rich source of worship sharing. Worship sharing is both similar to our Meeting for Worship and yet distinctly different: similar in that we wait in silence and learn from our own souls what our deeper feelings and thoughts are regarding the question. Yet different in that we gather with the intent to hear and learn from each other, and therefore we are encouraged to more readily step into the silence and share what we have been given.
It is also the case that specific quotes add to the richness of the subsequent query. Here is a piece of Scripture which seems very suitable to the Quaker task of discerning the spirit:
"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matthew 6: 22-23)
No doubt we want our "whole body to be full of light"! But what does it mean for thine eye to be "single"? Research into the translation of this word gives other connotations, such as "clear", "sound" ," perfect", or "generous". It is interesting that the focal point of being in light or darkness is attributed to the eye, and it must be "single" despite the anatomical reality of our having two eyes. There seems to be a mysterious meaning behind these words. There is a passage from an early Greek Orthodox monk which seems to help us discern what this act of "singleness" involves:
"Some of the Fathers have called this practice stillness of the heart, others attentiveness, others the guarding of the heart, others watchfulness and rebuttal, and still others the investigation of thoughts and the guarding of the intellect. But all of them alike worked the earth of their own heart, and in this way they were fed on the divine manna (Exodus 16:15)."
----- St. Simeon The New Theologian, "The Three Methods of Prayer"
Query: What does it mean for "thine eye to be single"?
SCYM Online Midweek Meeting For WorshipSCYM Online Midweek Meeting For Worship
–
April 14, 2021Join South Central Yearly Meeting Friends for weekly online mid-week worship. All Friends are welcome to join.
To join by phone, dial 1-346-248-7799 and enter the Meeting ID followed by the pound sign (#).
Meeting ID 835 8653 6172
Password 263 479Need help with Zoom? David Schoen, Little Rock Friends Meeting, will clerk this meeting and will be available at 7:15 on Zoom to answer questions about using Zoom. Worship will begin at 7:30pm and go until about 8:30. Sharing until 9pm.
-
Friday Morning Worship on Zoom
Friday Morning Worship on Zoom
–
April 16, 2021To join by Zoom: Click HERE Opens in new tab
ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID#
-
Meeting for Worship on Zoom
Meeting for Worship on Zoom
–
April 18, 202110-11am Unprogrammed Worship
____________________________________________________________
To join by computer: Click HERE
Zoom ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077
Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID#Threshing Session on Reopening the MeetinghouseThreshing Session on Reopening the Meetinghouse
–
April 18, 2021To join by Zoom: Click HERE Opens in new tab Opens in new tab
ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID#
This threshing session is designed to identify the issues we will need to address before we reopen the Meetinghouse to Meetings for Worship and other events. Some of these are technical; others are aesthetic; others are matters of inclusion. This meeting will not make any decisions. It will, however, give Friends a chance to hear each other's concerns in a worshipful setting. Threshing sessions are opportunities for deep listening. They give all Friends a chance to raise their concerns in an accepting environment. The let us identify the issues before we can move forward.
We have reserved two hours for this event, though we may not need all of that time. Please join us!
-
Monthly Business Meeting
Monthly Business Meeting
–
April 21, 2021Agenda & Draft Minutes will be posted HERE a week before the Meeting
To join by Zoom: Click HERE Opens in new tab
ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID#
SCYM Online Midweek Meeting For WorshipSCYM Online Midweek Meeting For Worship
–
April 21, 2021Join South Central Yearly Meeting Friends for weekly online mid-week worship. All Friends are welcome to join.
To join by phone, dial 1-346-248-7799 and enter the Meeting ID followed by the pound sign (#).
Meeting ID 835 8653 6172
Password 263 479Need help with Zoom? David Schoen, Little Rock Friends Meeting, will clerk this meeting and will be available at 7:15 on Zoom to answer questions about using Zoom. Worship will begin at 7:30pm and go until about 8:30. Sharing until 9pm.
-
Friday Morning Worship on Zoom
Friday Morning Worship on Zoom
–
April 23, 2021To join by Zoom: Click HERE Opens in new tab
ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID#
-
Meeting for Worship on Zoom
Meeting for Worship on Zoom
–
April 25, 202110-11am Unprogrammed Worship
____________________________________________________________
To join by computer: Click HERE
Zoom ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077
Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID# -
Forum on Immigration
Forum on Immigration
–
April 28, 2021What's Happening with Immigration after Biden's First 100 Days?
Please join us for an interactive conversation on where we stand with immigration policy 100 days into the Biden-Harris Administration. We will have opportunities for letter signing and other advocacy suggestions, as well as plenty of time for Q and A.
Led by Sara Ramey of the Migrant Center for Human Rights
Co-Sponsored by the Friends Meeting of San Antonio and Friends Meeting of Fort WorthID #976 0522 6497To join by Zoom: Click HERE
passcode: 194077
Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID#NOTE THE EARLIER THAN USUAL TIME SCYM Online Midweek Meeting For WorshipSCYM Online Midweek Meeting For Worship
–
April 28, 2021Join South Central Yearly Meeting Friends for weekly online mid-week worship. All Friends are welcome to join.
To join by phone, dial 1-346-248-7799 and enter the Meeting ID followed by the pound sign (#).
Meeting ID 835 8653 6172
Password 263 479Need help with Zoom? David Schoen, Little Rock Friends Meeting, will clerk this meeting and will be available at 7:15 on Zoom to answer questions about using Zoom. Worship will begin at 7:30pm and go until about 8:30. Sharing until 9pm.
-
Friday Morning Worship on Zoom
Friday Morning Worship on Zoom
–
April 30, 2021To join by Zoom: Click HERE Opens in new tab
ID #976 0522 6497
passcode: 194077Phone: +1 346 248 7799, then enter ID#