1. You'll find the opening exercises
schedule posted on the Oversight Committee's bulletin board. Please
sign up when you want to share with us. Each month has a coordinator
for opening exercises whose name is on the schedule. Please speak with
that person as soon as you can after signing up.
2. Please start promptly at 10:00 A.M. This helps us to finish at
10:20-10:25, our goal. We all need time to get over to the Meeting
House by 10:30 and First-day school begins at 10:30, too.
3. Singing: you don't have to. You can choose as many or as few
hymns as you wish. If you don't want to choose them, ask your Worship
& Ministry coordinator or Keitha.
4. This time is for the entire community—as much as possible
include the children, include the adults, include the teens.
5. Try to limit announcements (this can be difficult). You can say
something like: "We have five (or three or seven) minutes for
announcements. Please be brief and refer Friends to the
newsletter."
6. Opening exercises is preparation for Meeting for Worship. Topics
can be diverse, humor is appropriate, but please encourage
worshipfulness. The goal is to encourage love of the Divine and love
of each other.
7. Close with a short period of silence at about 10:20. Meeting for
Worship begins when the first Friend enters and settles. We respect
that by entering quietly at the appointed time.
8. Thank you so much for giving your time and talents to the
meeting.
Suggested Format for
Opening Exercises
| 10:00
A.M. |
Welcome
Friends
Hymn (your choice — if any) |
| 10:05
-10:15 A.M |
Present
your topic or idea |
| 10:15
— 10:25 A.M. |
Announcements
(remind Friends that we only have 5 minutes or so for these, so
please don't use more time than you need)
Ask if there are any guests?
Hymn (your choice — if there's time) |
| 10:25
A.M. |
Moment
of Silence |
| 10:26
A.M. |
Quietly
Adjourn to Meeting for Worship |
Schedule of
upcoming Opening Exercises:
| Date |
Topic |
|
Feb. 13 |
No Opening Exercises (YMCA
Day) |
|
20 |
Meeting Time Capsule |
|
27 |
Life in Occupied
Palestine |
|
Mar. |
To be announced |
|
Apr. 17 |
Where Do Our Tax Dollars Go |
Summaries of some
interesting Opening Exercises:
Leadings
of the Spirit
Spirituality
and Politics
< Back to Spiritual Life
Before
Meeting for Worship each Sunday, someone from Meeting conducts Opening
Exercises, a half hour of inspirational messages, presentations, and
hymn singing, along with pertinent announcements beginning at 10 A.M.
Anyone may volunteer to conduct Opening