In the month of February, Lauren and I will be writing a letter to the membership Committee of the Friends Meeting of Washington (FMW) requesting membership. Instead of gushing here and now about all of the reasons why I am excited to join the Religious Society of Friends, I will post the letter once it has been submitted. In the next few weeks, as we post about various aspects of wedding ceremony, a dozen or so of the million and one big and little things that I love will become clear.
I can start telling you about why I like the Quakers, though, by showing you the photos we took of the Meeting House this morning before Meeting. Hung on the fence, surrounding the gardens out front, are three signs. The one pictured above and another with a query that asks,"How does your life help remove the causes of war?" Instead of commandments or creeds, the Quakers use queries and advices to prompt self-examination, as well as that of the entire Meeting. The green sign to left represents a religious coaltion addressing the crisis in Darfur to the which the Quakers belong.The Meeting House itself was built in 1930, to accomodate Presentident Hoover, the first and only Quaker President. It's made of Foxcroft stone, according to the Meeting's website, and there are some beams originally used in the rebuilding of the White House after the British burned Washington. They were used in the construction of the meeting house during the 1920's after being relieved of their presidential duties during a subsequent renovation. The building is old and simple and beautiful and filled with art, books and antiques. We are still exploring and enjoying all of the nooks and crannies it has to offer.
Inside, there are long wooden benches with brown woolen cushions. The floor is made of something like looks like cork. When you come in for worship the benches are dotted with announcements, pledge envelopes and a smaller leaflet on the nature of a Meeting for Worship. There is also a rack of pamphlets on everything from visiting a prison to creating a spiritual life at home.
The best part of your tour, though, is down below. There you will find a video taken by Lauren before Meeting this morning. It captures the fabulous morning light, as well as the simultaneous austerity and beauty of the interior. Not to mention the fabulousness and beauty of Lauren and myself.
One last thing: I really have to apologize for the layout of the blog. This program is super wonky. I refuse to claim responsibility for anything other than the typos!
1 comments:
You guys are brilliant. I am so proud and full with gratitude to be a witness to all the wisdom, compassion and support that the love within and between you inspires. I do think it is tremendously important to document every aspect of this process as a form of political resistance to the forces which stand in opposition to who you are, what you are doing, how you love. There is a freedom that we have in this country that is so often taken for granted. We often are paralyzed by the multitudes of choices and decisions that our enivornment presents to us and many times allow our experience and our own personal power to be muted in the shuffle of the mundane. This blog also serves as an archive;a living library; testimony and teaching for those that come after you; those that will survive you, and will need to know that true love, friendship, courage, joy and strength of purpose, still exist in the world, and have been tirelessly sought after, celebrated, preserved and and sustained by authentic Spirits. I am one of many,seen and unseen, that stand in awe and profound respect for both of you and the paths you are trailblazing for yourselves and the world we live in. Love and abundant blessings to you both.
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