Worship on the Train

My sister and I took the Coast Starlight Amtrak train to FGC Gathering. I knew there were close to 40 other Quakers on the train and I thought it would be wonderful to all meet in one spot so we could see who else was on the train.

So on Friday June 30th I talked to some other Quakers about having Meeting for Worship in the empty room down stairs on the last car. A small group of us went down to look at the compartment and the conductor was down there and over heard our conversation. He was interested and agreed that it would be nice and possible to do it in the empty room. Then we asked him if we could make an announcement since we were spread out through out the train. He had to think about it because they are not allowed to make religious announcements. He agreed on "At 3:45 Friends are going to have a Meeting in the last car down stairs and everyone is invited." this way if you are a Quaker you would know what we meant.

Through out the day we make three different announcements/ reminders. We had to move meeting back a little from the first announcement because of lunch reservations.

The car had no windows and the lights did not turn on so we had to put a bag in the door so that light could get in. The car had been the smoking car when smoking was allowed a few years back. About 35 people showed up. We sat on the floor and almost all had back supports. About 5 people sat in the middle of the car and 5 or so people stood in the hall because they had little/ young kids who need to be moving.

Because we were in a small room not totally comfortable but making the chose to sit there, a lot of the messages were about use being willing to take some time away from the comfort of the train and sitting down where we could not see where we were and even if we were really moving until the train jerks around.

For me it was another reminder of how much choice I have on when I want to step out of my comfort zone. Sitting in a car where I am not sure where I am but I know I will end up in Tacoma Washington was a metaphor of my life at the moment; I know I am going to be at Pendle Hill in August but I am not sure about the time between now and then and how it will all play out but I do not really care because I know it will happen. I did not really care that I was sitting on the floor in a little stuffy room because I was sitting in the spirit and everything was going to work out. The conditions were a distraction at first but then it dissipated because everyone was there because they wanted to be.

After about 45 minutes of worship I closed it and thanked friends for coming and joining. We went around the room and introduced ourselves and what meeting we are from. There was on Friend from New Mexico and then the rest of us were from California. We had two non-Quakers join us and leave halfway through.

It was wonderful to know how many of us were on the train (plus more that could not join because of age or mobility) and know we would be on the train for as long as it took us and that we did not really care how long it would take, until we arrived in the middle of the night.

More on Gathering to come soon.