Louisville Friends Meeting (Quaker)

Quaker Worship

Quaker worship is very different in that it doesn't follow a set liturgy or code of rules - the smeeting for worship has no structure as people sit in silence for about one hour. 

Everyone waits until someone is moved by the Spirit (i.e. has a strong religious feeling) to do something as part of their worship.

A person will only speak if they are convinced that they have something that must be shared, and it is rare for a person to speak more than once.

The words spoken are usually brief and may include readings (from the Bible or other books), praying, or speaking from personal experience. Each speaking is followed by a period of silence.

Quakers believe that God speaks through the contributions made at the meeting. Some people say that there is often a feeling that a divine presence has settled over the group.

The words come from the soul - from the inner light. Quakers know that even if the words they feel moved to speak have no particular meaning for themselves, they may carry a message from God to other people.

There may be no outward response to the contribution from other people, but if there is, it will be something that builds positively on the previous contribution. Discussion and argument are not part of the meeting.

The meeting ends when the attendees shake hands.