A Special Place

Welcome to Quaker Meeting for Worship

What does "Meeting" mean?

Quakers go to Meeting like other people go to church on Sunday morning.  We go to Meeting to worship God and His Son, Jesus.  We give thanks to God for His love and guidance in our lives.  In our hearts, we can talk to Him about anything.

Who can come to Meeting?

Everyone who wants to worship the Lord!

What do we do in Meeting?

We sit down in silence, quietly waiting for the Lord to speak to our own hearts or someone else sharing thoughts from the Lord out loud.  We try to get quiet enough in our minds and bodies to hear what God's Spirit wants to tell us.  God is a spirit and we want His Spirit to cover our spirit with love.  "Be still and know that I am God."

What is "Waiting on the Lord" - What does it mean?

Sitting together quietly in one place, we listen with our hearts, souls and minds, waiting for God's Spirit to speak to us.  This may come as a quiet thought in our minds, from Scripture (Bible) readings or by someone sharing spoken words.  We are taking time to hear God and to let His Spirit cover our spirits with love.

Does our conscience help us to know God?

Our conscience can tell us whether our actions are right or wrong.  Listening to our conscience, which tells us what is right, is a lot  like listening for God's Spirit to speak to ours.

Who are the people who sit on the facing bench?

Usually, people on the facing bench are members who have had a lot of experience listening to God's voice and following His leadings.  These Friends are asked to sit there as examples to the rest of the meetong and we can learn how to behave in meeting by watching them.

Can children sit there?

Children have sometimes sat on the facing bench.  Usually, they would not, unless they were asked or invited to sit there.

Why do babies and little children stay in the Meeting with everyone else?

Babies and little children are a part of the meeting family and can also feel and share God's presence.  "Raise up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Do we seek to be obedient?

The Lord tells us, "Children, obey your parents."  It is important that we try to obey our heavenly Father, too, so that by living for Him we bring glory to His name.

When Christ Jesus said, "You are my friends if you do what I command you," was He speaking to us?

We believe Jesus was speaking to all people everywhere.  He invites everyone to come to Him.  He loves everyone and wants us to do the same.

What is worship?

Worship is coming to God, our loving heavenly Father.  We open our hearts to Him with thanksgiving and praise.  God can touch our hearts in the stillness.  He may give us feelings of joy.  He may help us to understand things we've done wrong.  He can help us to see how He wants us to live.

What kind of speaking happens in Meeting?

When we turn our thoughts toward God to hear what His spirit is saying to us, sometimes we h ave a leading, a strong feeling, to speak out loud by praying, telling a story that shows how the Lord had helped us, by singing or quoting verses from the Bible.

Can anyone speak?

Anyone mazy feel the Lord leading them to speak.  This isn't always easy but it shows that you are willing to obey God's prompting.

Wherever we meet, we meet some place and God is there.

Approved by Representative Meeting of Ohio Yearly Meeting, 11-18-2006.