Friends General Conference

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A Quaker meeting in the northern suburbs of Chicago

Message from the Clerks - September

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Message from the Clerks - September with image of staghorn sumac grove

Sounds About Right

I’ve often heard folks joke that the Quaker theme song should be “The Sounds of Silence.” But, hey, have you
ever really read the lyrics? Probably not a Quaker theme song. Quakers celebrate silence, we don’t lament it.
Sound is an interesting thing, especially when coupled with silence.

There’s a Friends meeting that worships on Zoom and keeps one attendee open microphoned so people can
hear the usual ambient meeting sounds, like sirens, movement, throat clearing, snoring, errant cell phones
(rare, but...) While each of us has ambient sounds at home, they are not the same sounds we hear at meeting
for worship. At home, we tend to “tune out” our own outside noises while being keenly aware of the sounds of
other people we are sitting with when meeting in person for worship.

I’m personally partial to the sounds of birds twittering in the summer when we have the meeting house
windows open and the sounds from the ceiling fans. In the winter there’s the crackling in the fireplace, a dish
clanking here or there in the kitchen and once there was even the smoke alarm that went off spontaneously
for no real reason (and certainly no fire). When the children come into the meeting, I can hear them whispering
(sometimes it’s a “stage whisper”) as they seek out one or more parents. Then climbing up and down and
under the benches or running to and fro. Such precious sounds.

It’s different to sit at home with just my own A/C kicking in from time to time. I miss the sounds of silence that
are such an integral part of our in-person Meeting for Worship.

What we are to learn from this time of listening to our own “Sounds of Zoom Silence?” In what ways are we
each allowing ourselves to be transformed by this new manner of gathering together in silent waiting
worship?

Blessings,
Suzanne Siverling on behalf of The Clerking Team

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