Newcomers

Friends welcome newcomers to Quaker Meetings. We pray that you will consider worshipping with us either in-person or online.

A first-visit to any faith group can sometimes cause anxiety. The following may help reduce stress and enhance your first experience.

Waiting Worship in Quiet

Many other Christian denominations have worship events that are planned in advance with scripted sermons, a program of hymns or worship music, sacraments, recited creeds and prayers, etc. All these things are “made with human hands”, intended to communicate to God.

Conservative Quakers worship in waiting silence. Other than agreeing on the time and place to gather in Christ’s name, we relinquish control to His priensthood ,”… for we know not what we hould pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).

We wait for and upon Christ Himself, the Word of God in silence of our own voices and thoughts. Within each of us, He speaks as the “still small voice” of God (1Kings 19:12). Sometimes He will also raise up one who is present to outwardly utter what Christ has to say. These are not human comments to be verbally responded to, but to be taken within for “edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” (1 Corinthians 14:3)

Worship typically starts with a designated Friend announcing opening of worship. All grow quiet and sink down into the silence. If you attend online, please turn off video/camera feeds during worship.

A Friend designated to sense when it is to end will announce the closing of worship. All those who are there in-person commonly shake hands after worship closes. For those online, there are usually a brief greetings, an opportunity to share incites from worship, and time for prayer requests, personal news, and fellowship.

Inside a Meetinghouse

A meeting house is just that – a functional place for Friends to meet together to worship, to conduct business, or for some other purpose. The building is designed to suit this purpose, not to have any beauty, adornment, or symbolism of its own.

Typically there are benches or chairs to sit on. There is no pulpit. Conservative meeting houses usually have most seating oriented toward one end of the building where there are “facing benches” where one or more Friends with particular spiritual gifts are charged to begin and end worship.

Quaker meetings vary in size but are usually small. Some may have two or three attending; some may have a dozen or more in person with that many or more online. Regardless, you will be welcomed to join in the waiting.

Arrive Early

Arriving early avoids disruption to the silence of worship and gives time to quiet oneself in preparation for worship.

For in-person worship, plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the designated worship time.

For online worship, plan to login ten minutes before worship. (Most people turn cameras/video on upon logging-in but off during worship.)

Friendly But Reserved

Quakers will welcome you and are glad that you are visiting. Someone may ask your name and where you are from, either before or after meeting.

However, Friends meetings do not have “greeters” or similar roles so do not expect intensive “engagement.” Expect a friendly and sincere welcome–but reserved.

Also note that Friends typically start worship punctually. Worship is taken seriously among Friends including preparation for worship by avoiding worldly news and concerns before you arrive.

Friends typically do not “pester” people so if you do not hear an immediate”follow-up,” that is normal. Friends believe, and practice, that God Himself leads people. Friends trust that God will guide you. So follow His leading as He reveals it to you (thee). Please come back as God leads.

Suggestion: Contact the Meeting Ahead of Time

While certainly not required, contacting the Meeting ahead of time may be helpful. Just send a simple introduction and ask if there is anything special about the specific Meeting that you plan to attend. Conservative Friends do not have clergy or other “staff” so a volunteer Friend may take a few days to respond.

17th Century Language?

Conservative Meetings maintain some traditional Friend’s practices and language. See the Terminology Page for some insights on Friend’s language. Note, you are certainly not expected to try to use these language conventions if they are not familiar to you. However, knowing of some of these distinctive language elements may help you to relax or at least know that these conventions might be used.

For example, some Conservative Friends use the traditional singular forms of the second-person (thee, thou, thine), as was proper grammar at the time of our founding. (Shakespeare and the King James Bible). The nobility and elites of that day began to expect special recognition by being address in the second person plural (ye, you, yours). Scrupulously honest, Friends refused to do this – to speak to one person as if he or she were more than one. Some of us continue to use this distinction, which is present in many other languages.

Final Thoughts

Friends try diligently to make you feel welcome. Just be you. Follow as God leads you.