What do we do in our Meetings for Worship?
Quakers meet together in worship to hear more clearly God’s “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12).
We base our worship entirely on expectant waiting, taking the Psalmist’s advice: “Be still and know
That I am God”.(Psalm 46:10)
We meet in plain, unadorned rooms because we have found that in such places we are less distracted
from hearing that still small voice. There are no pulpits in our meeting rooms because we minister to
each other. Our benches or chairs face each other because we are all equal before God. We have no
pre-arranged prayers, readings, sermons, hymns or musical orchestrations because we wait for God’s
leadings (guidance and direction) and power in our lives.
During worship a message may come to us. Friends have found that messages may be for our personal reflection or for sharing on another occasion, or they may be a leading to stand and speak. We value spoken messages (ministry) that come from the heart and are prompted by the Spirit, and we also value the silence we share together. Following a spoken message, we return to the silence to examine ourselves in the Light of that message.
Meeting for Worship normally lasts for about an hour and ends when a Friend, designated in advance, shakes hands with his or her neighbours. Then everyone shakes hands. No two meetings are ever the same - some may be completely silent throughout while others may have various ministries.
Quaker business meetings are also held in the same principle of silent waiting for God’s leading. Decisions are not based on any democratic vote but instead we seek God’s guidance in deciding the right course of action. This is then recorded by our Clerk as the “sense of the meeting”. Our decisions are the result of a process of discernment of God’s will rather than debate or argument.
Quakers meet together in worship to hear more clearly God’s “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12).
We base our worship entirely on expectant waiting, taking the Psalmist’s advice: “Be still and know
That I am God”.(Psalm 46:10)
We meet in plain, unadorned rooms because we have found that in such places we are less distracted
from hearing that still small voice. There are no pulpits in our meeting rooms because we minister to
each other. Our benches or chairs face each other because we are all equal before God. We have no
pre-arranged prayers, readings, sermons, hymns or musical orchestrations because we wait for God’s
leadings (guidance and direction) and power in our lives.
During worship a message may come to us. Friends have found that messages may be for our personal reflection or for sharing on another occasion, or they may be a leading to stand and speak. We value spoken messages (ministry) that come from the heart and are prompted by the Spirit, and we also value the silence we share together. Following a spoken message, we return to the silence to examine ourselves in the Light of that message.
Meeting for Worship normally lasts for about an hour and ends when a Friend, designated in advance, shakes hands with his or her neighbours. Then everyone shakes hands. No two meetings are ever the same - some may be completely silent throughout while others may have various ministries.
Quaker business meetings are also held in the same principle of silent waiting for God’s leading. Decisions are not based on any democratic vote but instead we seek God’s guidance in deciding the right course of action. This is then recorded by our Clerk as the “sense of the meeting”. Our decisions are the result of a process of discernment of God’s will rather than debate or argument.
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