Alex

Alex

Alex

The silent meeting for worship at Radnor Meeting offers me a peaceful sanctuary in which I have the chance to reflect on God’s presence in my life. Growing up as a frequent attendee of the meeting for worship and first day school, I learned that there is that of God in everyone, which has allowed me to honor the value of equality and to live a life of peace and simplicity. These values have been reinforced by a loving Quaker community that has always been there to support me and make me feel at home in the meeting house. The peace and love that I have gained from my experience as part of the global Quaker community has given me the opportunity to infuse my life with spirituality and acceptance of all types of people.

Steve

Steve

Steve

I came to Radnor Meeting looking for a new spiritual home. The first time I set foot in the Meetinghouse, it felt like there was a nurturing spiritual presence there. It turned out to be just what I was looking for. I didn’t know much about Quakers at the time. The more I learned, the more I knew I had found my spiritual home. Some of what I learned included: a belief that there is ‘that of God’ in every human that leads to a life promoting peace, love and understanding with all people; a belief that our earth is a shared resource for all life and we are ‘stewards’ of the resources it provides; a style of worship where we gather to wait in silence for the ‘still small voice of God’ to actively speak to us; and an acknowledgement that we are all in different places on our spiritual journey and we need to support each other in that journey.

Leslie

Leslie

Leslie

At Radnor Monthly Meeting I have found a true spiritual family. I feel accepted and appreciated among this wonderful group of Friends. Our Radnor Meeting family has all the interesting characteristics of an extended family, with members of all ages. Together we celebrate important milestones, like births, graduations, weddings, birthdays, sorrows and joys. In this era when so many have blood relatives who live far away, Radnor Monthly Meeting helps me to feel connected with a loving and spiritual family. We are a welcoming group who are looking to expand our family!

Patsy

Patsy

Patsy

When I was seeking a spiritual home, I was immediately drawn to the sense of community that was strongly present at the very first meeting I went to. The peaceful stillness refreshed my soul from the very beginning. I was also deeply impressed by the first day school where my 5 year old son was welcomed and encouraged to share his ideas, and where both my children grew into young people who formed their own ideas about life, developed their own spiritual lives and moved to adulthood as thoughtful, accepting, grounded adults. The community of Quakers has continued to be a strong support in my life, and meeting for worship is a place where I can renew my spiritual connections and listen for guidance.

Doug

Doug

Doug

Early in our marriage my wife, Jerilynn Radcliffe, and I followed up on a recommendation of a college friend and attended Meeting for Worship at Radnor. After an extended period of silent worship punctuated by personal messages of spiritual discovery, several Friends warmly welcomed us. They were clearly pleased to be visited by a young couple. It was apparent that these veteran seekers found benefit and satisfaction by faithfully carving out precious time each week (and often each day) from outward business in order to discern their deepest calling. Before long, we attended Meeting regularly. We found nourishment in this worship community that supported one other to discover Divine calling, described as “The Light.” We also found models of integrity by attempting to live in the Light from moment to moment. The community within Radnor Friends Meeting became our spiritual home.

I came to treasure this time of “emptying”, of letting go, and  consequently experienced a subtly growing sense of connectedness within myself. I experienced this at first as a knitting together of my own scattered attention, then a greater connection with my fellow worshippers (especially as I began to know more of texture of their lives, their gifts and challenges, as well). Ultimately I became more aware of the deep connection I have with my global brothers and sisters, and of the existential web that holds all living beings on this planet, both past and present. While worshipping along with the many great souls at Radnor, each devoted to a deep search for truth, I became convinced that in this space, I had access to the ground of my being. Over the more than four decades of participating in the evolving community of Radnor Friends Meeting, in being served and serving, whether listening or speaking, following or leading, I have become more likely to adopt Quaker practice instead of acting, speaking or thinking impulsively, my usual pattern. Douglas Steere, a Radnor Meeting leader who passed away several years ago, occasionally reminded us, quoting a seventeenth century Quaker, Isaac Pennington, “There is that near you which will guide you. Wait for it. Be sure ye keep to it.” I have found this to be wise and challenging counsel. It is easy to be distracted from one’s deepest purpose, but Quaker practice, its testimonies, and the beloved community -past and present- help me remember the words of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin:  “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”  I often fail at living from a spiritual grounding, but practicing with my spiritual sisters and brothers has enriched my life immeasurably!