We see our primary responsibility as one of holding our meeting in the Light. We do this in a variety of ways. Among the more visible:
We close the meeting for worship at 10:30 each Sunday, after which we provide a Friend in the Alcove to answer questions those present might have. We seek to be present at our 9:30 meeting for worship and at the Westside worship meeting at least once each season. We are mindful of the various worship groups and meetings under the meeting's care, and look for opportunities to help the meeting community with spiritual needs or concerns that might arise. We meet regularly on the third Monday of each month and have a committee retreat twice a year to address and deepen our work together.
Our other efforts may be less visible. For example:
- We work with the clerk of the meeting, supporting her and her work.
- In meeting for worship with an attention to business, we have sought to help Friends remember that our task is to seek divine guidance as we make our decisions. To support this, we have designated one of our members to focus solely on holding the meeting in the Light. This person initially sat in the background but now sits in view of the clerk and those gathered. Friends have expressed appreciation for this holding.
- During our meetings for worship, we hold our community in the Light and listen carefully to the ministry given. On occasion, we have worked with Friends regarding their ministry, or that of others.
- When requested, we respond to individuals seeking help along their spiritual path.
- Two of our members have attended the 4th Wednesday conservative Quaker worship group. To better understand the impetus and intention of those who gather, we met with a member of our meeting who's involved with this small group. The result was mutually useful and gratifying.
- To facilitate more give and take about our questioning and our experience of the spirit, we have had a monthly second Saturday discussion group.
- Early each year, we've begun using a worship-sharing format during a meeting for worship to have the meeting respond to key queries, using this as a basis for our annual State of the Meeting report.
- At the request of a prisoner in the Denver County Jail, we have asked permission of the Program Coordinator to hold a meeting for worship there.
- After the meeting for business approved having a Quaker Quest workshop, we agreed to cover the budget for it, and have two committee members on the Quaker Quest ad hoc committee.
- We often collaborate with the meeting‘s various committees. We worked with the CALM committee, for example, in drafting a statement regarding safety of our children. And shared information on topics of interest and available resources with the School of the Spirit Committee.
- Finally, we hold a committee retreat twice a year to deepen our understanding of each other's experience of the spirit, and to address issues and foster skills that would help us better serve the meeting
We are aware that Friends seek more opportunities for meaningful worship, and times to meet together to explore and strengthen their spiritual seeking - and finding. We are looking for ways to enhance worship, vocal ministry, eldering in its most constructive form, and learning experiences in our meeting. We invite Friends to let us know how we can better serve them and our meeting community.
