with Nico Wright and others
An online program
on Wednesdays in April 2025
April 2, 9, 16 and 23
7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Register here
Members of the Religious Society of Friends (also known as Friends or Quakers) are known for their religious practice based in silence. After 350 years, the mystery and miracle of ‘silent Worship in the manner of Friends’ is still the beating heart of Quakerism. What are Quakers doing during Meeting for Worship? Is it like meditation? Is a silent Meeting better than a Meeting with messages? What actually happens during Quaker Meeting for Worship?
Not by strength of arguments or by a particular…doctrine and convincement of my understanding thereby, came I to receive and bear witness of the Truth, but (rather) by being secretly reached by the Life. For when I came into the silent assemblies of God’s people, I felt a secret power among them, which touched my heart; and as I gave way unto it I found the evil weakening in me and the good raised up… -Robert Barclay, Apology, 1676
Many Quakers will tell you that what occurs during a Quaker Meeting is beyond words, and that only by experiencing one for yourself can you personally understand it. At the same time, Quakers have written countless books, pamphlets and articles attempting to describe Quaker Meeting and their own experience of it. They rarely go around speaking informally about it, but lots of people who participate in Quaker Meetings – both newcomers and lifelong Friends – are happy to talk, share and listen about what may happen during Meeting for Worship.
This online series will explore the wonderful world of Quaker Meeting for Worship. To learn more about it together, we’ll use small-group discussion, worship sharing, weekly readings, brief presentations, music, video, poetry, and of course, worship itself.
All are welcome – this program is for those brand new to Friends, those who have spent decades in Quaker Meetings, and anyone in between.
Program costs. Quaker Center programs are Pay-As-Led. We hope that you will reflect upon and determine an amount that you can comfortably contribute. Here are three tiers of suggested amounts:
Supporter rate: $300
Standard rate: $200
Reduced rate: $75
No one will be turned away for lack of funds. You can read more about Quaker Center’s program costs here.
Questions? Send an email to mail@quakercenter.org or give us a call at (831) 336-8333.