When you enter the Meeting House, there will be someone at the door to greet you. We enter the big meeting room quietly and take our seats in silence. We call this "settling."
A Quaker meeting for worship is mostly silent, and normally lasts for an hour. The silence serves a vital spiritual function. We don’t have songs, set prayers, or prepared sermons that you might find in other places of worship. We believe that in silence and stillness we are better able to listen to our own hearts, to each other, and to the divine.
During the Meeting anyone (including visitors) may feel moved to speak. We call this ministry. Sometimes no one ministers at all, and that is also perfectly normal for us, so don't be worried.
The end of the Meeting for Worship is signalled by the person or persons sitting on the bench in the front of the room (called the "facing bench"). This is followed by notices, and then we gather in the Atrium for tea and coffee, catching up with each other, and discussion.
All are welcome, and please do stay for tea and coffee!
Here are two pamphlets which might be helpful for first-time attenders: