Welcome!
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Response to the Israel-Gaza Conflict:
Quakers from around the world are in anguish and deeply concerned with the violence in Gaza and Israel. As a historic peace church, we join in the call for peace in the world.
We sincerely invite you to attend a Meeting for Worship with us any Sunday morning at 10:00 AM or Wednesday evening at 5:30 PM! (Childcare available on Sundays.)
Our Faith:
We, who have been called Seekers of the Truth, Quakers, and Friends, are members of the Religious Society of Friends. We are a close-knit religious community, but we do not separate ourselves from the world about us.
We believe God is present in every person and that peace is preferable to war. We gather in silent communal worship to wait on the Spirit of God.
We have no formal creed, no ritual, dogma, nor liturgy. Instead, to help us follow Divine guidance we pose, both individually and corporately, searching queries; we strive in love, rather than react to fear; we work towards peace because we believe it is the only way; we are led to implement our concerns for the equal rights of all. Many of us have been drawn to this religion—Quakerism—because of its dual commitment to Spiritual awareness and social action.
These beliefs are not always easy to hold nor honor with action, but our search has led us to commit ourselves to them.
Perhaps this approach of Friends could be helpful and meaningful to you. We invite you to accept our invitation to search with us at this and any other meeting house or place. If you wish, please come to join with us for worship 10:00 AM on Sundays and 5:30 PM on Wednesday evenings. Your children are also welcome either at Meeting for Worship or First Day School.
Meeting for Worship:
Quakers have worshiped in the silent or "un-programmed" manner for over 350 years. Third Haven, like many other Quaker meetings, worships in silence—waiting silently and expectantly for the leadings of the Spirit. The silence is used and valued as an opportunity for Spiritual reflection, discernment, insight and understanding. The meeting for worship has been called a "meeting for relationship with God." Friends honor the enormous continuity and the enduring tradition of silent worship. However, Third Haven Friends strive to make the meeting for worship and Quaker Faith and Practice contemporary and relevant.
We listen in silence to hear leadings of the Spirit inwardly. During the meeting for worship, individuals discern leadings from the Spirit and are sometimes led to offer these messages as vocal ministry. Some leadings are for the individual alone, some for the meeting for worship.
This spiritual discernment of vocal ministry in the meeting for worship is an essential Quaker practice. Listening for leadings collectively in worship is a powerful way to invite such leadings. Spirit has spoken in all times and ages, not just Biblical times, and continues to speak to us today—as continuing revelation. For more information about how we worship, please click here, or see Faith and Practice pp 17-21, 100-128.
Third Haven Monthly Meeting Burial Grounds and Memorial Wall:
Oversight of the burial grounds and memorial wall at Third Haven is provided by a joint committee composed of the Clerk of the Meeting, and the Clerks of the Property and Grounds and the Pastoral Care (Overseers) Committees. For information, please contact Molly Brian at 410-310-1827, Priscilla Bond Sener at 443-496-4007, or Dona Sorce at 412-334-8185.