Welcome
Goose Creek is a warm and welcoming community where we support each other in our shared journeys of the Spirit. We believe, in the words of the Quaker writer Thomas Kelly, that “deep within us all there is an amazing inner sanctuary of the soul, a holy place, a Divine Center, a speaking Voice, to which we may continuously return.” In our worship and in our daily lives we seek to remain always with our hearts turned toward that Divine Center.
Quakerism is not defined by creeds or doctrine. Rather it is a lived spiritual practice where we seek God in our experiences and live out our faith in our shared world. We believe that there is that of God within each and every human being – adults and children – regardless of faith, race, nationality, sexual orientation, or life experiences. We are called to answer that Divine spark, that Light Within, both in ourselves and in others.
We welcome all seekers, find deep kinship in our shared humanity, and value our differences.
Minute affirming Friends’ concern for immigrants and refugees in the United States:
“The Goose Creek Religious Society of Friends Meeting is concerned for the physical safety and humanitarian needs of undocumented immigrants and refugees in this country, especially in light of changing political priorities. We are aware of our interdependence with immigrants, documented and undocumented alike, as well as the contributions these persons make to our community.
“Consistent with our testimonies, we affirm that all persons are entitled to liberty and the opportunity to work and pursue their goals. We abhor the dehumanization of persons by policies that separate families and round up,detain, or deport individuals as though they were less than human.
“We believe it is essential to establish responsible, fair, and reasonable criteria for future immigration and amnesty policies and processes. We believe current undocumented immigrants should be provided a path to permanent residency and citizenship. We advocate the expansion of guest registry for foreign workers, which would enable them to temporarily work in this country with legal status. Our immigration laws should be tightly enforced throughout the system but with consistency, fairness, and basic respect for human needs.
“We intend to participate with other Meetings, Quaker organizations, faith communities, and groups to address this concern.”
Adopted by Goose Creek Friends Sixth Month 2025
Queries: Second Month
Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business
- Are Meetings for Business held in a spirit of worship, understanding, and forbearance?
- When direction seems lacking, is this seen as a challenge to a. more prayerful search for truth?
- Do we humbly set aside our own preconceived notions as to proper action, seeking instead Divine guidance as to the right course?
- Is the Meeting aware that it speaks not only through its actions but also through its failure to act?
From Baltimore Yearly Meeting “Advices.”
Participation in the Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business is the responsibility of all. Come with open minds, seeking the Spirit, listening carefully, discerning the truth in what others have to offer. Proceed with forbearance and warm affection for each other.
We do not seek a majority decision nor even consensus. As we wait patiently for God’s guidance, our experience is that way will open and we shall be led into unity.
Voices
“The meeting for the transaction for church business is as distinctly a religious exercise as the meeting for worship, but is has a different objective. The meeting for worship is focused upon the divine-human relationship and the meeting for business is mainly concerned with inter-human cooperation, the two being interdependent. From another point of view, the meeting for worship concerns being while the meeting for business concerns doing. What is implicit in worship becomes explicit in action.”
— Howard H. Brinton, 1952
“Friends have traditionally so valued the fruit of group discernment that they have been willing to labor hard and to wait long to come into unity with one another before proceeding in a matter of substance.”
— Patricia Loring, 1992
“Consensus — a secular method, involving a rational process and producing general agreement. The authority of the group.
Sense of the meeting — a religious method involving a spiritual process and producing a spirit-led decision. The authority of God as discerned by the group in worship.”
— Arthur Larrabee, 2002
Calendar
Friends and visitors are also invited to join us for our hybrid Meeting for Worship at 9:45 a.m. each Sunday. If you would like to participate online, please use the link below.
Link for Meeting for Worship:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83350737205?pwd=Z0pNM2xZRTBpSDQwa2ZaMmRiRHM0UT09
Meeting ID: 833 5073 7205
Passcode: 061785
Sign up to provide refreshments following Meeting for Worship.
Sunday, February 1
9:45 a.m. Meeting for Worship
11:15 a.m. Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business
Wednesday, February 4
7:00 p.m. Worship gathering/discussion
Sunday, February 8
9:45 a.m. Meeting for Worship
11:15 a.m. Second Hour: Antiracism Committee book discussion. Soup & bread lunch to follow.
Wednesday, February 11
7:00 p.m. Worship gathering/discussion
Friday, February 13
10:00 a.m. Coffee & Quakerism
Sunday, February 15
9:45 a.m. Meeting for Worship
Wednesday, February 18
7:00 p.m. Worship gathering/discussion
Thursday, February 19
7:30 p.m. Online guided nature meditation
Wednesday, February 4
7:00 p.m. Worship gathering/discussion
Saturday, February 21
10:30 a.m. Reading group
Sunday, February 22
9:45 a.m. Meeting for Worship
11:15 a.m. Ministry & Worship Committee meeting
Wednesday, February 25
7:00 p.m. Worship gathering/discussion
Sunday, March 1
9:45 a.m. Meeting for Worship
11:15 a.m. Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business
Wednesday, March 4
7:00 p.m. Worship gathering/discussion
Sunday, March 8
9:45 a.m. Meeting for Worship
11:15 a.m. Second Hour: American Friends Service Committee presentation
Wednesday, March 11
7:00 p.m. Worship gathering/discussion
Sunday, March 15
9:45 a.m. Meeting for Worship
Wednesday, March 18
7:00 p.m. Worship gathering/discussion
Thursday, March 19
7:30 p.m. Online guided nature meditation
Sunday, March 22
9:45 a.m. Meeting for Worship
Wednesday, March 25
7:00 p.m. Worship gathering/discussion
Sunday, March 29
Regional gathering at Goose Creek!
9:45 a.m. Meeting for Worship
11:15 a.m. Coffee & music
Noon. Potluck lunch and inter-meeting group discussions
To request an email announcement or addition to the calendar, please contact us at goosecreeknews@gmail.com. Please read our Goose Creek Email Protocol for further guidance.
Street Address:
18204 Lincoln Road
Purcellville, VA 20132
Postal Address:
PO Box 105
Lincoln, VA 20160
