The Bible:
Friends’ appreciation of the Bible and other scriptures springs for our faith that there is in everyone the capacity to be open and responsive to the experience of the Divine. Â Friends since George Fox have found the Bible to be the record of direct experiences of the Holy Spirit serving as an important touchstone against which to test our leadings.
We do not, however, consider scriptures, whether Hebrew or Christian or those of other faiths, to be the final revelation of God’s nature and will. Â Rather we continue to believe that revelation is an ongoing process. Â We have an open and ongoing communion with the Living God, by expanding our relationships with one another and by our growing knowledge of the universe.
Prayer:
As Friends, we continue to open ourselves to the Divine which we consider essential for deepening worship and rightly ordered lives. Â Friends have no prescribed method of prayer and so we are free to choose those practices or words that will meet our individual needs.
Prayer can be sung, thought, spoken, or expressed through movement. Â Prayer can be as simple as gratitude for another day, or it can be experienced through silence.
Prayer shared with others during attentive listening in Meeting may become the seeds for leadings to service. Â Action that arises out of a life of prayer, fulfills our desire to be faithful to the leadings of the Light.
Sacraments:
Friends experience true and direct communion with God and fellowship with one another. Â These experiences make outward rites seem unnecessary and, to some Friends, are considered to be a hindrance to full attainment of the spiritual experiences that are symbolized.
Friends appreciate others expression of sacraments, but for us, the very lack of symbols symbolize the inward nature of our sacraments.