The Austin Christian Friends worship group meets
on an occasional basis. To verify schedule and location, call Marty
Calliham at (512) 689-7522 or email Info@austinchristianfriends.org
.
You are invited to worship with us.
We gather for waiting worship in the tradition of Friends (Quakers). We silently wait upon the Lord Jesus Christ to minister to us and through us. The following sections may help orient you to this manner of worship.
An Introduction
We gather in silence, in a practice centuries old, to wait upon our Lord. The meeting has no clergy. Individuals who feel led by the Holy Spirit may rise and speak or sing (or kneel and pray). Such ministry is usually brief, plainly spoken so all may hear, and grounded in the speaker’s sense that the Lord provided the message and desired it to be spoken to the meeting. The usual practice is that Friends speak only once during the course of meeting. This helps increase the spiritual depth and clarity of the message, while also providing ample time for others to speak. Ideally, a spoken message is preceded and followed by significant periods of silence. Messages are never given in response to one another. As worship concludes, an appointed Friend reads a traditional Quaker advice for living followed by a short period of silence and then an invitation to share reflections on what was experienced during worship. We conclude the meeting by shaking hands.
Early Quaker Description of Meeting for Worship (Robert Barclay, 1678)
Our worship consists neither in words nor in silence as such, but in a holy dependence of the mind upon God. For such dependence, it is necessary to begin with silence until the words can be brought forth that arise from God’s Spirit.
When assembled, it should be the common task of one and all to wait upon God. It should be a time of turning away from one’s own thoughts and for suspending the imagination in order to feel the Presence of the Lord in the midst and to know a true gathering in his name and according to his promise. Then, when everyone is thus gathered, and all meet together inwardly in their spirits, as well as outwardly in their persons, the secret power and virtue of life are known to refresh the soul. It is there that the pure motions and breathings of God’s Spirit are felt to arise.
As words of declarations, prayers, or praises arise from these promptings of the Spirit, the acceptable worship is known which edifies the church and is pleasing to God. No one limits the Spirit of God in such worship or brings forth his own laboriously assembled ideas. But everyone will state whatever the Lord has placed in his heart. And it will not be uttered from man’s own will or wisdom, but in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
Some Scriptural Images
Be still, and know that I am God. Ps. 46:10
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Is. 40:31
God has chosen to make known. . .the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col. 1:27
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. Jn. 15:4
For where two or three have gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Mt. 18:20
His sheep follow him because they know his voice. Jn. 10:3-4
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Mt. 3:11
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Rom. 8:26
Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. Heb. 12:28-29
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth. Jn. 4:24
I will pour out my Holy Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Ac. 2:17
Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 1 Cor. 14:1
What, then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. . .Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 1 Cor. 14:26, 29-33
Whoever speaks, let him do it as one who utters oracles of God. . . 1 Pet. 4:11
I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Cor. 2:3-5
Note for Parents:
We encourage children of all ages to be brought into worship. Sometimes they are even given messages to share. Of course, it is not always practical for children to remain in the meeting room for the whole period. Books suitable for children may be provided to them outside of the meeting room.
Links
For more information, contact Info@AustinChristianFriends.org