Newcomers

Quaker worship

Worship is central to our faith. We meet together in expectant silence to experience the Divine Presence. We believe the Divine surrounds us and is within us at the same time. We do not create the encounter, but rather open ourselves to it

We begin by becoming inwardly still, allowing thoughts that usually fill our attention to recede. We can help quiet our thoughts by reciting a prayer, reflecting on a sacred text, focusing on breathing, or other means. As the group settles into stillness, we increase our awareness to include the whole group and movement of the Spirit within it.

In holy silence, we can go beyond words to experience the Inward Light or Spirit. When we worship with others, the awareness is amplified, just as many candles increase the light in a room.

Some of the things we may sense during worship are love, healing and renewal. Sometimes, we feel as one in the Spirit, with a sense of timelessness and peace. We may receive guidance about a problem or a decision. The experience is different for each of us. 

Worship ends after about an hour when an assigned person shakes hands with a neighbor. Others then do the same.

Worship can happen at any time and in any circumstance—at home, at work, outside in nature. We carry the experience with us into our daily lives. We hope you will join us and experience the Light.

Speaking and Listening in Meeting for Worship

  • The aim of our meetings for worship is communion with the Divine. As we experience the Divine Presence, messages from a deep place may arise out of the silence.
  • Anyone may receive a message from the Spirit and speak it into the silence. Messages are not prepared in advance. If one is unclear about sharing a message, it is probably best to wait with it.
  • It is customary for a person to speak no more than once during a meeting for worship. A period of silence follows each message so that listeners can absorb it. 
  • We receive each message with openness. It may strike a chord within us, though not all messages will speak to everyone. We do not respond to an earlier message in affirmation, conversation, or rebuttal.
  • Meetings for worship may have spoken messages or not. Both messages and silence can nourish, guide and comfort us. What we seek in worship is stillness that can open to the deep place where the loving Spirit dwells.

 

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46: 10

What do Quakers believe?

Quakers have a wide range of beliefs. We use a variety of religious languages to describe our shared experiences. We do not have a creed, but in general we agree that:

  • Everyone is equal and precious before God.
  • All people can have a direct experience of the Divine, individually and in shared worship. We have many ways of naming our experience. Some of them are God, Christ, Spirit, Inward Teacher, Inward Light, and Seed, among others.
  • By whatever name, this experience of the Divine is universal, ongoing, and available to everyone.
  • The life and teachings of Jesus are an example of faithfulness to God.
  • Paying attention to and following the Divine changes us. We try to live out our convictions every day in our actions.
  • We look for the Divine in every person we meet.
  • Our guiding principle is love.

Quaker Testimonies

Friends do not have a creed or a stated set of beliefs. Rather, our lives are guided by agreed upon "testimonies." These are:

Integrity—living as whole people who act on what we believe, tell the truth, and do what we say we will do.

Simplicity—focusing on what is truly important and letting other things fall away.

Equality—treating everyone, everywhere, as equally precious to God: recognizing that everyone has gifts to share.

Community—supporting one another in our faith journeys and in times of joy and sorrow; sharing with and caring for each other.

Peace—seeking justice and healing for all people; taking away the causes of war in the ways we live.

Care for the earth—valuing and respecting all of God’s creation; using only our fair share of the earth’s resources; working for policies that protect the planet.