Clerking
From First Friends Church of Second Life
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Clerking a Meeting for Worship
The Clerk at a Meeting for Worship (MfW) has several things he or she is responsible for. This wiki is to help define and explain the roles
- Notice for meeting: Sometime during the week, before the meeting is scheduled, the Clerk should send out a notice indicating the time and place of the meeting. Optionally is on the day of the service as well. Past notices are in the SL Notice file (for 30 days), and sample notices can be obtained from the resources section below.
- Set up the music: The land can stream music through it - and the Clerk should set up a file stream before the service begins and reset it back to the original stream afterwords (a number of them are available ready to go) see Bromo Ivory or Otenth Paderborn for more information.
- Notecard: There are a number of old notecards that can be recycled with a little editing (dates, names, etc.) available below, or the Clerk can create his or her own notecard. But this should be given to the Greeter to distribute to the meeting members and attenders before the meeting start.
- Meeting Start: The Clerk should assume his or her seat, and if there are any quotes for centering prepared the Clerk should IM them. Also
- During Meeting: Worship as normal, though the Clerk's role in SL is partially to be alert for griefers and disruptive influences. If things get disruptive, gentle IM's have been known to work - and try to keep anything in a meeting not Spirit led to IM channels. M&C members have the ability to eject people - and thankfully we have not had to do it yet, but that is one option available to the Clerk.
- Closing meeting: The Clerk will signal the end of worship in a number of ways - asking the congregation if 'hearts are clear' is one way of starting the closing process, but no advance notification is required. The Clerk ends the meeting by indicating shaking hands in some manner (IMing "Shakes Hands" or "/me shakes hands" for example).
- Post Meeting: This is a more open ended and informal discussion and really seems to bond everyone to one another in the light of the Spirit. A few things need to be handled in the time: Asking for volunteers for Clerking, Greeting and any announcements, joys or sorrows from the members.
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Clerking a Meeting for Business
A Meeting for Business is much like a meeting for Worship, but it has some key elements that are different. There is an agenda, and the Clerk also has to try to guage the sense of the meeting - meaning what is or isn't of the Spirit (even if it is not the opinion of the Clerk! This can be difficult!).
[watch this space .....]
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Resources
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Example announcements
Something along these lines to be added to the group announcments a few days in advance of meeting by the Clerk for that MfW. (The date and time should be included in the heading insofar as it is omitted by the text).
- All are welcome to join SL Friends (Quakers) for worship on Saturday at 10AM SLT/PDT.
- Worship, consisting of opening and a time for silent worship, prayer, and reflection will last approximately 45 minutes. Closing will be signaled when the clerk shakes hands with all and will be followed by discussion and fellowship.
- This is a great opportunity to worship with Friends from around the world.
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Example of MfW Introduction card for Greeters
This example was taken from 2nd June MfW; Clerks, please select a new quotation for each meeting, and, of course, change the date.
- The Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) Meeting for Worship
- June 2, 2007
- WELCOME!
- Welcome to our meeting for worship. We have gathered together in fellowship to seek after the Eternal.
- If this is your first Quaker meeting, we extend a special welcome. Our practice in this gathering is to center in an inward and outward stillness, seeking our individual and collective connection to the Divine.
- Some Friends find meditating on a passage to be helpful in centering. If this is so for you, you are invited to consider these words from William Penn:
- Let us be careful to use just ways to reach just ends so their benefits to us may last.
- William Penn. Some Fruits of Solitude: Wise Sayings on the Conduct of Human Life. Edited into today’s English by Eric K. Taylor. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press. c2003. No. 319. p. 90.
- Out of the silence you may receive a message (prayer, praise, reflection) that you believe should be shared with the group. (Sometimes messages are just for you.) If you are moved to share with the worshiping group, there is no need to stand. Simply type your message into chat. Please leave sufficient time between messages for each to be reflected on by your worshipers.
- Be sure to move your mouse occasionally so you don't get logged out.
- Worship will conclude with the shaking of hands after approximately 45 minutes, followed by discussion and fellowship. Please stay as you are able for this discussion following open worship.
- If you must leave early, please do so quietly to preserve the spirit of our worship.
- Peace be.
