Spiritual Life
Meeting for Worship
Pendle Hill offers many ways to deepen your spiritual life and refresh your spirit. Daily life at Pendle Hill is centered in our morning meeting for worship in the manner of Friends. This half-hour silent gathering may be enriched by spoken ministry as the Spirit moves those present. In this expectant listening for God, people of different faiths often find that Divine Presence which weaves all life together. Worship takes place at other times too - before meals, at classes, at evening epilogue and other gatherings – so that worship supports all of community life. We see every part of life at Pendle Hill – classes, kitchen work, gardening, yoga sessions, community gatherings and more – as a way to grow spiritually and find inner refreshment and peace.
Spiritual Nurture
To encourage and strengthen the life of the Spirit and the programmatic experience of students, every student is paired with a member of staff who serves as spiritual nurturer. Spiritual nurturers are not counselors; rather, they are supportive companions to the student’s program experience. The spiritual nurturer and the student meet for one hour each week. This is a time of deep listening which may include worship, Spirit-led dialogue, journaling (or other creative process), or simply conversation related to the student’s progress through the term. These meetings help in reviewing experiences and in making progress toward the student’s personal goals.
Friends in Residence
Each year Pendle Hill hosts Friends in Residence who are present throughout the term and provide support and guidance founded on their long experience in the Religious Society of Friends. The company of these seasoned Friends adds a special dimension to the community's understanding of what it means to be a Quaker.
