On March 19 (Sunday) during Worship at 8 am, 11 am and during the First Day School session, we will engage in worship sharing on the Spiritual State of the Meeting (SSoM). This is an annual tradition that began in the beginnings of Quakerism where Monthly Meetings reported on how they were doing with regards to what is going well to enrich our spirits, what is not going so well and any other inspirations. The format is “worship sharing” where we listen deeply to what Spirit (a.k.a., the Light, God, Love, the Divine, etc.) is providing us based on specific queries, sharing our sense of Spirit’s leadings aloud.
Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM), the larger Quaker group that AFM is a part of, provides queries each year that are meant to be read thoughtfully in the Light without any self-criticism or judgment, but to answer from within based on an open heart and with integrity. This practice helps us recognize the movement of Spirit within us and our Monthly Meeting.
THE QUERIES for reflecting on 2022 in your Meeting:
- How has your meeting addressed the issue of racism as a spiritual concern?
- How does your meeting strengthen the sense of worship during your Meeting for Business?
- What tests the unity of your meeting community? How does it fare? What’s building the community up and what is stressing it?
- If you could put a sign out in the front of your Meeting House, what would it say?
Friends will take notes on March 19, so that a draft report can be developed. After AFM approves the 2023 SSoM, the final 2023 AFM SSoM Report will be sent to BYM where the AFM report will be included with all the other Monthly Meetings within BYM, as well as a collective report for BYM. To view past SSoM reports from AFM and other Monthly Meetings, The Spiritual State of the Yearly Meeting.
For more information, please contact Ann R. at ministry@annapolisfriends.org.