We do not own the world, and its riches are not ours to dispose of
at will. Show a loving consideration for all creatures, and seek to
maintain the beauty and variety of the world. Work to ensure that
our increasing power over nature is used responsibly, with reverence
for life. Rejoice in the splendour of God's continuing creation. MEETINGS FOR WORSHIP, MARRIAGE & FUNERALS
Meetings for Worship
Worship is the response of the human spirit to the presence of the divine and eternal, to the God who first seeks us. The sense of wonder and awe of the finite before the infinite leads naturally to thanksgiving and adoration. Silent worship and the spoken word are both parts of Quaker ministry. The ministry of silence demands the faithful activity of every member in the meeting. As, together, we enter the depths of a living silence, the stillness of God, we find one another in 'the things that are eternal', upholding and strengthening one another.
Meetings for Marriage
The basis of a Friends' marriage remains the same as in the early days of the Society. The simple Quaker wedding where the couple, together with their friends, gather in worship is for Friends the most natural setting for the two concerned to make a commitment to each other in the presence of God. With their declaration they take each other freely and equally as life-long partners, committing themselves to joining their lives together in loving companionship, asking God's blessing on their union. They believe that, whatever stresses and strains may arise in the relationship, these can be resolved if both partners are able and willing to accept and trust each other in a generous spirit. With God's help their love for each other can deepen and change in a lifetime of marriage together.
Meetings for Funerals & Memorial Services
Friends should come to a funeral with both heart and mind prepared. We want to experience a deep sense of communion with God and with one another, which we hope will comfort and strengthen those who mourn. There are at least two aims in our worship: to give thanks to God for the life that has been lived, and to help the mourners to feel a deep sense of God's presence. The funerals of Friends should be held in a spirit of quiet peace and trust. Natural sorrow there will be, especially for Friends taken away in youth and in the strength of their days, but often our thought will be one of a great thankfulness for lives which have borne witness to the upholding power of Christ.
The above are extracts from the booklet "Quaker Faith & Practice"