Sharing in One Another’s Joys and Sorrows

“The spiritual welfare of the meeting is greatly helped if its social life is vigorous and its members take a warm personal interest in one another’s welfare. The pastoral work of the Society is especially committed to [the Ministry and Counsel Committee], but our members generally should not allow themselves to feel that they are relieved of the responsibility. In the greater events of life, such as marriage, the birth of a child, illness or death, it is our duty and our privilege to share in one another’s joys and sorrows; and sympathy thus shown is a potent means of binding us in a closer fellowship.”

— London Yearly Meeting, 1925

 

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Today’s Invitation

Think about someone in your community experiencing a milestone in their life, either joyful or sorrowful. Consider a way to give them the gift of your friendship.

Query of the Week

Who belongs in Quaker community?

How does the intentional lack of a creed make belonging easier? Harder?

Author

  • Maeve Sutherland

    Maeve Sutherland is a communications professional who never recovered from her wonderful childhood at a Quaker elementary school. She has spent her career helping nonprofits share their stories, from schools and universities, to museums, to radio stations. As a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, Maeve spent a year living in “Peaceable Kingdoms,” pacifist intentional communities around the world, where she learned that everyone has a role to play in shaping a better world. She worked as a freelance social media manager before joining Thee Quaker Project. After returning to Quakerism as a young adult, Maeve now attends Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting in Philadelphia.

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