If you have never been to a Quaker Meeting before, this page may be helpful.
On entering the Meeting Room, feel free to sit anywhere. It is helpful to
leave seats near the doors for latecomers.
What do Quakers believe?
Quakers have no dogmas or creeds and no paid ministers. Each participant
seeks to experience and learn about the religious life for her or himself.
We have the conviction that each person can have direct experience of the
Spirit of God and that there is something of God in everyone.
What happens in Meeting for Worship?
A Quaker Meeting is a way of worship based on silence, a silence of expectancy
in which we seek to come nearer to God and each other as we share the stillness
of the Meeting. Participants are not expected to say or do anything other
than join in this seeking. Do not be concerned if the silence seems strange
at first. We rarely experience silence in everyday life so it is not unusual
to be distracted by outside noise or roving thoughts.
There is no fixed structure to the Meeting. There are no creeds, hymns or
set prayers. There is no minister in charge and no formal service. After
about an hour, two of the Elders will shake hands, signalling the end of
worship.
Occasionally a Meeting will pass with no words spoken. If someone feels
compelled by the Spirit to speak, pray or read, the silence will be broken.
Such ministry, which has not been planned before worship begins, seeks to
enrich the gathered worship. If something is said that does not seem to make
sense try to reach behind the words to the Spirit which inspired them or
allow them to be absorbed into the silence. Meeting for Worship is not a
debate so it is inappropriate to respond directly to spoken ministry although
it is not unusual for other ministry to build on what has been said before.
In worship we have our neighbours to right and left, before
and behind, yet the Eternal Presence is over all and beneath all. Worship
does not consist
in achieving a mental state of concentrated isolation from one's fellows.
But in the depth of common worship it is as if we found our separate lives
were all one life, within whom we live and move and have our being.
Thomas R. Kelly (1938); from Quaker Faith and Practice, para 2.36, published
by Britain Yearly Meeting
No two Quaker Meetings are the same. A Meeting can embrace a wide range
of experience. Some people may experience a profound sense of awe or an awareness
of the presence of God. Others may have a less certain sense of an indefinable
spiritual dimension.
What happens at the end of Meeting?
After Meeting ends visitors are welcomed and visitors from other Meetings
may bring greetings. Then the notices will be read and often there is tea
or coffee.
You are very welcome to join in but this is entirely up to you.
How can I find out more about Quakers?
If you would like more information about Quakers or their worship, any Friend
will be happy to try to help you. Most Meetings have a selection of pamphlets
to give out. Check our directory for location of a Meeting near you.
What's a Quaker?
Want to know more? 1-866-233-5933
Pour des renseignements en français,
1-866-233-5933
