Southern Illinois Society of Friends (Quakers)

To quote our favorite T-Shirt: Quakers are way cooler than you think!

The Religious Society of Friends is a group that practices a form of spirituality which emphasizes the personal experience of God in one’s life over any specific doctrine or belief. While it has its roots in Christianity, it is open to the Light where it may be found. Quakers understand the necessity of first listening to God before working in the world. They affirm the equality of all people before God, regardless of race, station in life, or gender, and this belief leads them into a range of social concerns.

What to expect? Friends believe that if they wait silently upon God there will be times when God will speak to them in the heart. The silent Meeting of Friends is therefore the communion with God during which Friends lay themselves open to the leading of the Spirit. Sometimes Friends feel led to share a message with fellow worshippers, speaking out of the silence; but for an unprogrammed meeting like ours, there is no pastor or sermon. You will experience the peculiar energy of a group gathered in silent worship.

Mailing lists: Call, send e-mail, or write us with your name and address to receive (approximately quarterly) our paper Newsletter. To join in infrequent (but not silent) electronic discussions among all our Members, Attenders and Other Friends, send e-mail to listserv@siu.edu with the content of the message saying only (supplying your name):
subscribe quaker-L Firstname Lastname

Meeting documents and events:

• Meeting for worship and business is scheduled for 4th Sundays at 11:00 AM (subject to change).
• Applying for membership
• Handout about Friends presented at the Quaker Meeting for Worship period of the 9/11/2002 Interfaith Center memorial service
• Scripts for First Day School plays and skits

Additional Links:

• For finding a meeting close to you, check QuakerFinder.org
• Illinois Yearly Meeting, our parent affiliation (this group includes Chicago and St. Louis meetings)
• Friends General Conference, our national affiliation, plus our FGC neighbors
• Other neighbors, Iowa Yearly Meeting and Indiana Yearly Meeting
• The Quaker Web Ring, QuakerInfo.com, and the Quaker Resources Index
• Quaker books: Pendle Hill, Quakerbooks of FGC, the Quaker.org list, Quakers Uniting in Publications, and specifically Jessamyn West, ed. Quaker Reader, Douglas Steere, ed. Quaker Spirituality

(Paraphrases are from Ted Hoare's introductory pamphlet on the RSOF)