The major activity of most Orange Grove Friends is to gather on Sunday at 11 a.m. for an hour of shared silence and inspiration. Afterwards, many of us talk and enjoy refreshments or a potluck lunch. But as a community, we also join together to pursue interests and activities, many of which involve outreach into our surrounding society.

MEETING FOR WORSHIP

On Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon we gather at the Orange Grove Friends Meeting House to sit together in silence. This is our Meeting for Worship. The key Quaker idea is that each of us is guided by an Inner Light, and so we sit companionably awaiting what it may reveal. Individual Friends may give a different name to the Inner Light — that of God in every person, Christ Within, Divine Presence, the Light Within…. We accept each message and, if so led, stand and relay it to the others as a vocal ministry The Orange Grove Friends Meeting is a part of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and the format for Meeting for Worship that we follow is called “unprogrammed.” All are welcome to join us. Read more…

FIRST DAY SCHOOL (SUNDAY SCHOOL)

Children are welcome to attend Meeting for Worship if they can sit quietly. But most young children prefer to attend Sunday school and join Meeting for Worship only for the first few minutes. After 10 minutes, most leave for Sunday school. In the Quaker tradition, Sunday school is called “First Day School.” During First Day School, the children do activities around a variety of topics: fundamental Quaker beliefs such as integrity and peace, the teachings of other world religions, special holidays, and so on. They often create drawings and crafts and sometimes play games and create skits. In the summer, the children do a lot of free play. After Meeting for Worship, the children come back in to give a short presentation of their First Day School activity. Often, of course, these presentations are a delight.

SOCIALIZING AND POTLUCK

After the Sunday Meeting for Worship, a little after noon, Quakers and newcomers can enjoy conversation and refreshments during the “Fellowship” hour. It’s an opportunity to see old friends but also to seek out those less familiar. Both old friends and new ones can deepen community, a deeply-held Quaker value. Read more…

ADULT EDUCATION

On most Sundays, a group of Friends gather at the Meeting House for Adult Education at 10 a.m. In this hour before the Meeting for Worship, we participate in workshops on a variety of topics. Sometimes we have a guest speaker on subjects such as immigration, our projects in Mexico and Pakistan, Quaker authors, etc. Sometimes, we hold sharing sessions on various spiritual or social issues that the group wishes to delve into. Sometimes, a Friend tells us of their spiritual/life journey.