Our Meeting for Worship, grounded in the silence, will last about an hour. We follow the original form of Quaker worship by gathering in silence and expectant waiting, without prearranged singing, Bible reading, prayers, or sermon. We have no minister, as we believe the Light is directly available to all, and all may minister.
We wait and listen together in silence, seeking divine guidance or inspiration from a source known among us by many names: the Divine, the Spirit, the Light; the Truth; God; the Inward Christ; the Seed; the Word; Jesus; the Lord; the Universe; Wisdom. During worship, Friends focus on the Divine and may meditate, pray silently, inwardly offer praise, thanksgiving, or confession to the Spirit, or reflect on a passage from the Bible or other spiritual reading. Out of a deeper silence, some may be led to speak, feeling deeply moved by their experience of the Spirit within. Sometimes, however, the hour will pass without any vocal ministry. We allow silence between messages, to permit time for the message to deepen our worship.
We are advised by our Testimonies to live life in the spirit of our shared beliefs regarding simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and unity with nature. We are guided by Pacific Yearly Meeting’s Faith and Practice linked below:
http://www.pacificyearlymeeting.org/faith-and-practice/
Meeting for Worship ends when an appointed Friend shakes hands and greets those nearby. This greeting passes among all present. Then it is time for “Afterwords”, when people can share thoughts or messages that came during Worship but were not prepared to break the silence or may not have been clearly Spirit-led. This is followed by announcements, which exemplify Friend’s concerns and activities, and then social fellowship, including light refreshments at Brinton House, next door.
For more information regarding traditional Quaker Worship:
http://www.quakerinfo.org/quakerism/worship
Quaker Humor regarding Meeting for Worship:
What Does George Fox Say?
http://benguaraldi.com/filmmaking/georgefox.php
Videos from Quaker Speak:
What’s the Difference Between “Programmed” and “Unprogrammed” Quaker Worship?