Quaker Meetings
 A
Quaker meeting is based on silence, but it is a silence of waiting
in expectancy. For many minutes, perhaps for half an hour, there
may be silence. But that does not mean that nothing is happening.
All of us are trying to come nearer to each other and to God as
we are caught up in the still spirit of the meeting.
We come to meeting because we want to, and because we find it
worth while. We do not recite creeds, sing hymns or repeat set
prayers. We want to worship simply There is no ceremony, no priest,
no prearranged service at all.
Go in as soon as you are ready. It is a good thing if a meeting
can settle down a few minutes before the appointed time. Sit anywhere
you like, but it is helpful to leave seats near the back and at
the end of rows for latecomers
You may find it easy to relax in the silence and thus to enter
into the life of the meeting, or you may be disturbed by the strangeness
of the silence, by distractions outside or by your own roving
thoughts. Do not worry about this but return again and again to
the still centre of your being where you can know the presence
of God. Try, if only for an instant, to be quiet in body, mind
and spirit
|
Meeting for Worship at
School Assembly, Friends' School Saffron Walden |
Nearly everyone at some time in their lives seems to want to
find God for themselves - even those who find it difficult or
impossible to believe that God exists. This may be because of
some moving experience or because of some particular problem.
No matter what is on your mind at the moment, bring it with you
into the silent room.
The silence may be broken if someone present feels called to
say something which will deepen and enrich the worship. Anyone
is free to speak, pray or read, provided that it is done in response
to a prompting of the spirit which comes in the course of the
meeting. The silence is broken for the moment but it is not interrupted.
Receive what is said in an accepting, charitable spirit. Each
contribution rightly given may help somebody, but our needs are
different and can be met only in differing ways. If something
is said that does not speak to your condition, try nevertheless
to reach the spirit behind the words. The speaker wants to help
the meeting: take care not to reject the offering by negative
criticism.
 One
of the unique features of a Quaker meeting is the variety of experience
it can embrace. Some people will have a profound sense of awe
and wonder because they know that God is present. Others will
be far less certain, and may only he able to hold onto a dim awareness
that the values they experience in life point beyond themselves
to a greater whole.
Some will thankfully accept God's inexhaustible love shown in
Jesus, the promise of forgiveness and the wiping out of past failure.
Others will know that seeking to be open to people in a spirit
of love and trust is the direction in which they want to move.
In the quietness of a Quaker meeting those present can become
aware of a deep and powerful spirit of love and truth that transcends
their ordinary experience. United in love, and strengthened by
truth, the worshippers enter upon a new level of living, despite
the different ways in which they may account for this life-expanding
experience.
The meeting will close after the Elders have shaken hands. Afterwards,
feel free to speak to anyone. If you wish to know more about Quakers,
please introduce yourself to any member. You may borrow books
from the library, and other literature is available.
Whilst sitting in meeting for the first time, you may find it
helpful to re-read this leaflet.
Reproduced from the leaflet
"Your First Time in a Quaker Meeting ?"
© Quaker Life Outreach 1987
Reprinted October 1994
Printed copies of this leaflet and further information
about the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in
Britain may be obtained from Quaker Life Outreach,
Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ
T: 020 7663 1000 F: 020 7663 1001
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