Let's talk Quakers (aka: The Religious Society of Friends). First images that may come to mind: oatmeal boxes with that friendly looking guy in a suit, horse and buggies, interesting hats that tie at the chin...
But it turns out that WE are seriously out-of-date. Today, the Live Oaks Meeting House (1318 West 26th St.) hosts a variety of events for an even larger variety of people. They rock out everything from breakdance competitions to drum circles to architectural exhibitions to social issue meetups. In fact, you've probably already run into them at a charitable event or march and perhaps not even known it!
This Friday from 1-4pm the Houston Simplicity Network is hosting a 'Buy Nothing Barter Fair' (and Thanksgiving leftover potluck) at the Meeting House to help our fellow Houston materialists find an alternative to Walmart bargain battles and other forms of blatant consumerism on the biggest shopping day of the year.
Read on for an interview with Live Oaks member JJ Lassberg, as she attempts to explain to our little ignorant minds just what being a Quaker girl in a modern world really means.
Sooo... tell us about being a Quaker!
The Religious Society of Friends is a complex cookie and still makes my head spin sometimes… Okay, so first the oatmeal guy - I always have to say, no not the guy on the Oatmeal,although I do love me some oatmeal!!!
First I have to preface with… The Religious Society of Friends, Friends, or Quakers – are as diverse a group of spiritual seekers as there ever was. Quakerism focuses on an individual’s relationship with God and therefore each Friend’s answers to these questions will be different. I would imagine there would be a unifying theme or feel – but again, every Quaker’s answer will be unique…and for me being a Quaker is best described by George Fox’s famous saying, “Walk lightly through the world looking for that of God in everyone".
I know, I know… I used the word God… and that, for me, means what ever relationship you have with that Supreme Creative Source that is bigger than we are… many Friends, including myself are Universalist and believe all religions have something of value and worth. Quakerism is about making a conscious connection with the Light in me and acting in the world from that place. It’s about looking for the Light in everyone… that everyone has God in them somewhere is a pretty powerful thing. Also, being a Quaker is also about making a commitment to silence on regular basis, for listening for God’s voice in me and in the world.
From this place of looking for that of God in everyone there are a few "“Testimonies" - I actually love the job they have done on Wikipedia around the Testimonies.
“The Testimonies are not a formal, static set of words, but rather a shared view of how Quakers relate to God and the world.” Peace, Equality, Integrity, and Simplicity are the most common of these.
What is the Quaker community like in Houston?
There are 2 meetings in the Houston area. Live Oak Friends Meeting (LOFM) has an Un-Programmed Meeting for Worship, meaning there is no paid clergy, no organized service. We sit in silence together and if anyone in attendance is “moved by the Spirit” to speak they do so.
Friendswood Friends Meeting is a Programmed meeting – so they have minister and a more structured service. Quakers on a whole are very involved in advocating for, and participating in social change – you know… making the world a better place… and we here in Houston are very involved… that’s what the Peace Festival (an event back in October) is about.
Helping us as Houstonians connect and enjoy being together – to carrying that heart connection out into Houston and into the world. That’s one of the cool things about break-dancing. Quakers and Break-dancing – seems a bit odd… but it makes perfect sense! Youth in Houston are getting involved in break dancing groups – rather than gangs… so dancing, music, inspiration and non-violence… sounds pretty Quakerly and fun to me.
What kind of work does the Quaker community participate in? Social causes? Special local group affiliations?
Wow the list will go on and on! You know when we look for the God in everyone and focus on Peace, Equality, Integrity and Simplicity… we tend to get pretty involved. The American Friends Service Committee is great place to see what we are focused on at a national level.
LOFM is very involved in ending Executions here in Texas, Prison Ministry, Execution Vigils, Hurricane Katrina/Rita Relief Activities, Services for Homeless Children, Mentoring at Waltrip High School, a number of environmental concerns, supporting our deployed troops and at the same time asking and praying to end The War in Iraq, we are the local hosts for The Eyes Wide Open Exhibit plus community service in general.
(In the last couple of months) we focused on the Peace Festival. It’s an event that falls under the Peace & Social Action Committee of LOFM and the whole meeting is getting involved. It started up a few years ago and is really growing and taking off… lots of great music and activities for kids – also the drumming circle under the James Turrell Skyspace and of course break dancing! I am excited about it. A big shout out to Lidney Molnari and his team for putting it all together.
The Official word on the Festival is at: http://www.friendshouston.org/peacefest/
The best thing about being a Quaker is...
...the amount of Love and Hope I feel in and for the world… and that brief bit of time during the week when I experience true pure quiet peace – how often can you find that in the world today?
There is a great bumper sticker out there that says, “God bless the whole world, no exceptions” – I think that pretty much sums is up.
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Photo thanks to Flickr user Transguyjay
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