Witnessing Listening worship sharing on the situation in Israel Gaza 3/24 12:30-2:30

The March 24 listening/worship-sharing gathering was held to surface our Meeting’s  responses to the situation in Gaza. Thirteen people attended, although two needed to leave before  we were done. We began with silence, and then we each selected a rock from a basket that we  held onto until we were moved to respond to the queries. Then we read the worship-sharing  guidelines and the quote and queries. They were: 

Douglas Steere: “To listen another’s soul into a condition of disclosure and discovery may be  almost the greatest service one human being ever performs for another.” 

Queries: What is arising for you as you contemplate the situation in the Middle East? What does our Quaker faith offer during these times? 

The sharing was open, rich, varied and emotional. The distress of the situation brings up a lot of  sadness for people. All responses, direct or indirect, were valuable.  We sang “Finlandia” at the end, which was an uplifting conclusion.  All in all, the gathering helped us understand one another better, and we hope that the sharing  continues in one form or another.