Middleton Friends Meeting: February 2018

A poem written by John Greenleaf Whittier, 1897-1892 A Quaker poet

Middleton Friends Meeting

Welcome to Friends

Meeting for Worship

Only God knows the inward states and spiritual need of each individual. When all sit as one body, and look to Jesus Christ, His Power is intensified. It usually takes a little while to get your mind still and to set aside your own thoughts so that God’s Spirit can do it’s work in you.We invite you to participate in our worship of God together silently, to prayerfully wait upon the Lord. “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. With the help of the Holy Spirit, who directs the worship, our minds are withdrawn from all outward and distracting things, and we are enabled to maintain a solemn, waiting attitude of spirit.

God is able to direct the worship, by which we receive guidance and direction for our lives. As we come to know God’s will God also gives us strength to do His will, consolation, comfort, conviction of sin, forgiveness and a reordering of our lives according to His priorities.

In John 4:13 & 14 Jesus spoke to the woman at the well saying, "whosoever drinketh of the water that I give him shall never thirst again." In that same chapter verse 23 He told her, "The hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth."

Someone may be led by God to stand and communicate a spiritual message, usually brief, or to kneel and pray vocally.

1st Peter 4:11 directs, "If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God; If any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever, amen."

God may call anyone to this ministry. “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” Matthew 10:20. And none go beyond the measure of the spirit of God, nor quench it; for where it is quenched, it cannot try things. So if you have anything upon them to speak, in the life, that you may answer that of God in every man upon the earth. (George Fox)"

So as we sit in silence with our hearts resting in Him. Anyone may be given some words of Wisdom from God to speak aloud, or learn silently for one's own edification

We extend a cordial welcome to all present at our Meeting for Worship.

The Meeting for Worship closes with the shaking of hands.

Middleton Friends Meeting

2.10.2018

Drop Thy Still Dews of Quietness

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