True silence is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. Return to contents list How We Learn Without Sermons Teaching in a Quaker meeting may be different from what you might expect, because we do not have priests or sermons. It may come through spoken ministry in Meeting for Worship, through insights gained in the gathered silence of Meeting, through discussions in study groups and meetings for enquirers or through informal conversations with other Friends. The spiritual journey for each one of us is individual and we travel it at varying speeds. We support each other as we go, but each individual takes some responsibility for their own learning on the way.
Books can help.
There is a good meeting house library downstairs, with a selection of books on display in the lobby. One rich source of inspiration and guidance is Quaker Faith and Practice, which is rather like a handbook for Friends. It offers extracts from well-loved Quaker writing and reflections from individuals about acting out their faith in the face of the challenges of life. There is a copy on the table in the middle of the meeting room during Meeting for Worship. The Meeting as a Community Heswall Meeting is a small community.