WELCOME, FRIENDS!

Welcome to the Religious Society of Friends Blue Mountains Local Meeting!

We like the traditional name of our faith community - particularly the idea that we are Friends of the Light or Friends of the Truth. But we also know that most people like to call us by our shorter name, 'Quakers'. And that's fine by us.

So, welcome to Blue Mountains Quakers!

Whether you come to our Meeting House at Woodford by train or road, from the east or west, you will travel along a high ridge where the countries of two great Australian nations meet. The land of the Gundungurra people, on which our Meeting House stands, stretches as far south as Weereewa/ Lake George near Canberra, where people go to study or pursue a retreat at our peaceful Australian Quaker Centre. And the land of the Darug people extends as far north as the Hawkesbury River.

We feel privileged to meet in one of the most beautiful parts of Australia and walk lightly on Gundungurra country.

For non-Indigenous Australians, the Blue Mountains is a vast national park, with a series of villages spread out along its main transport routes. It has been for two hundred years a place of learning and contemplation, which has nurtured artists and scientists, and leaders in many fields; a place of excape from the summer heat down on the plains; a place of adventure and rest, challenge and healing.

But for the traditional custodians of the land it has been for many thousands of years home and family. We hear some of their wonderful stories of upheaval in the way its dramatic mountains and valleys were formed. We hear stories of generosity and welcome to people from countries far away, which were not reciprocated. We hear stories about the healing waters of its creeks and caves.

Anyone who has spent even an hour or two in the Blue Mountains experiences the many ways this unique country offers the body and the spirit restoration. So it is with gratitude and respect that Friends acknowledge the opportunity to meet here for worship.

The Meeting House is at 4 Oakura Avenue, Woodford, one of the mid-mountains villages, a five-minute walk from Woodford railway station. If you are coming from Sydney, the train trip takes about 95 minutes, but it's important to plan your trip, using the Cityrail trip planner, because trains generally run an hour apart. The trip by road is slightly quicker.

We'd love to see you anytime and we meet for worship at 10 every Sunday.