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Herndon Friends Meeting
660 Spring Street Herndon, VA

by Isabelle Showell

The Herndon Friends program read, "An Invitation to Worship." It was an invitation to worship and focus on the, "Inner Light." Prior to the service I imagined the congregation to consist of Quakers that would perhaps be dressed differently and have a worship service in a colonial setting. Instead, I observed a congregation dressed business casual while worshiping God in a colonial style Meetinghouse. The Herndon Friends Meeting consisted of the history of their organization (through a program handout), hymnal signing, focusing on the Inner Light, and speaking out of silence. 

The history of Quakerism plays an important part of the worship ceremonies. George Fox of England founded Quakerism. He was lead to witness what he called the Inner Light through spiritual experience. The Inner Light is the God that dwells within others and us. I found it very interesting that the word Quaker was first used by a judged in a derogatory manner to address Fox. A Quaker or Friends is a member of the Religious Society of Friends. The Friends are especially known to reject war, stress peace education, removing barriers to racial equality, prison reform, and the humane treatment of mental patients. As I entered the meeting I was given a program welcoming and educating all new visitors. The Friends Meeting continues to focus on the Inner Light just as in the times of George Fox. 

The meeting began meeting began with hymns. The Friends sat in chairs facing each other in a circular manner. As I began observing people and things around me I realized there was no focal points (a pulpit, a pastor, or a speaker). I believe this unique way of worship allows a person to focus on the inner light with out distractions. I was quite surprised when we began to sing familiar hymns such as 'This Little Light of Mine.' Singing familiar hymns made me feel comfortable in a setting of strangers.

The meeting mostly consisted of a forty-five minute to an hour sitting in silence. During the silence of the meeting Friends focus on the Inner Light and waited for the Lord to exercise His power upon there lives. While experiencing the inner light the Friends are also waiting for the Lord to lay on "the burden of the worlds' suffering." During this portion of the service I became extremely uncomfortable. I was unsure if I should close my eyes, bow my head, or look forward. Many Friends closed there eyes or look forward in deep concentration. The hour of silence for me seemed like three hours or more. 

While the Friends are focusing on the Inner Light they may also speak out of silence. During the silence there were a few people who spoke out of silence about God's grace and mercy. However, listed below are a few queries on speaking and listening out of silence:

1. To be open to the Light one must prepare themselves before entering the meetinghouse. 

2. Make sure your "call" to speak comes from a prepared heart than from the previous message. 

3. One must be careful to temper sudden urge to critique or rebut another message.

The list continues with several other important facts to know before coming to the light. Although the silence seems to be long I believe it actually gives you a chance to meditate and focus on God.

Therefore, Herndon Friends Meeting gave us variety of education on Quaker history, meetings, and worship. The Meeting was interesting for me and quite different from any other encounter I have experienced thus far. Learning more about the Inner Light would be very interesting. Over all my experience at the Meetinghouse went fairly well, and I would return for another visit. 

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