Linda Pastor is a member of Centre Meeting, and, when asked, had this to say, about her experience of worship.
How did I even know about Quakers on a personal level? My uncle was a convinced Quaker and his testimony was profound to me: he was a CO during WW 2 and during that period was familiar with Pendle Hill. Even more dramatically to me, he married my mother’s very high strung older sister and lived in domestic peace and harmony till the end of their lives. You would need to have known my Aunt Lillie (who was very good to me and always stashed a craft project for me in a living room end table in her tiny 14th street NYC apartment) to be fully impressed.
So I knew about the Quakers by seeing my uncle Sid on his home front. How many times did I hear a screeching, “S-I-D-N-E-Y,” always answered by a very gentle, “yes, dear, yes Lillie.”
On to Delaware: I passed by Centre meeting how many times on my way to Winterthur or Longwood Gardens where in retirement I spend every afternoon and some late mornings (when temps are between 40-90 degrees) doing watercolors in the gardens. One Sunday as I began to approach Adams Dam Road and Centre Meeting Road, I felt a tugging at my sleeve which I followed as I drove and parked at Centre Meeting. Not even questioning the leading I entered, sat, and experienced as the worship began and progressed a profound peace as if I had entered a warm, golden stream of light. I came to learn in Quaker language that I had experienced a covered and gathered meeting. I was home!
I was very familiar with quiet expectant waiting in prayer so no adjustment was needed. As I read the works of George Fox, Isaac Penington, John Woolman and Ben Pink Dandelion, a contemporary Quaker, I experienced confirmation to my spiritual journey.
Every Sunday has been a wonderful experience and I have found a truth, which is that you never dip your foot in the same river twice, but each week I have experienced a peace which passes all understanding.
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