Worship & Ministry
Our Committee
Queries for the Journey
Intervisitation
State of the Meeting Queries
The Worship & Ministry Committee
The purpose of the Worship and Ministry Committee is to enrich the spiritual life of the Monthly Meetings, Preparative Meetings, and Worship Groups that make up Southeastern Yearly Meeting. the committee encourages loving sharing and acceptance of the wide variety of direct spiritual experiences Friends have, and the many ways in which they describe the source of their faith.
The Committee also sponsors workshops at the Gathering and during the year, offers weekly ‘Queries for the Journey,’ provides queries for Spiritual State of the Meeting reports, and encourages intervisitation.
We meet in person and online at Yearly Meeting, Fall and Winter Interim Business Meetings, and online on Zoom.
If you would like to learn more about the Worship & Ministry Committee and its work, e-mail one of the clerks: Jan Dahm, Lisa Erazmus, and Richelle Ogle.
Queries for the Journey
The Worship and Ministry Committee offers “Queries for the Journey,” weekly queries to help Friends center in their daily journey through quiet, contemplative reflection.
New queries will be posted monthly. You can see all “Queries for the Journey” posted to date here.
Queries are meant to be read thoughtfully in the Light without indulging in self-criticism or judgment. This practice gives us a way to help recognize the movement of the spirit within us, and follow spirit more faithfully.
Queries for the Journey – 9th Month (September) 2024
1st week:
When have I allowed my own agenda to get in the way of really listening to others? When have I been able to put aside my own agenda to engage fully with another?
2nd week:
In what ways have I exemplified the teachings of Jesus in my interactions with others? What are things that keep me from doing so?
3rd week:
How do those who have gone before me – the cloud of witnesses – give me encouragement to do what I am called to do?
4th week:
What is my present leading, whether large or small, in which I am following the promptings of the Spirit? Am I able to discern work that is spiritually authentic and grounded in God?
5th week:
How do I see my Meeting naming and supporting the spiritual gifts of its members and attenders? What gifts do I recognize in myself, and how do I stay faithful regarding this?
Intervisitation
The fifth Sundays of a month are Intervisitation Sundays in SEYM. The Worship & Ministry committee encourages Friends to visit other Meetings or Worship Groups in your region on fifth Sundays, to bridge the geographic distance between Friends. Sharing worship, fellowship, ideas, spiritual gifts and support strengthens our SEYM community and understanding of our faith.
To visit another Meeting in person, see our Find Quakers page.
To visit virtually, please see the Online Worship page.
When you participate in Intervisitation Sunday, tell us about your visit! E-mail one or all three of our Worship & Ministry Committee Clerks: Jan Dahm, Lisa Erazmus, and Richelle Ogle.
Spiritual State of the Meeting Queries
Spiritual State of the Meeting Reports provide us not only with news of other Meetings, but a deeper understanding and appreciation for our Yearly Meeting community. George Fox started this tradition of writing annual State of the Meeting reports. He asked those first Quaker Monthly Meetings to encourage each other by sharing their news of ‘how the Spirit has been moving among you.’
Monthly Meetings and Worship Groups are asked to write annual State of the Meeting Reports to be shared within SEYM. These provide us not only with news from other Meetings, but a deeper understanding and appreciation for our community. In the process of writing these reports, Friends have the opportunity to pause and reflect, and gather a sense of the ‘Life of the Meeting.’ In the process of writing these reports, Friends have the opportunity to pause and reflect, and gather a sense of the ‘Life of the Meeting.’ The result is truly deep and inspiring!
These Spiritual State of the Meeting Queries are offered as starting points for the writing process. It is suggested that Friends choose only four or five queries to work from.