QUAKER WORSHIP PRACTICES
In silence, we are gathered into the Light
At Matinecock Quaker Meeting, we enter into the divine which is always there for us. The center of our worship is the experience of direct and unmediated communion with God.
For nearly three centuries, seekers have found in our historic meeting house a space where they can discover what early Quakers called "the still, small voice within." Whether you're curious about Quaker practice or seeking a spiritual home, we invite you to join us for worship.
WAITING WORSHIP
The center of Quaker practice.
When you enter our historic Meeting House on Sunday morning, you'll find no altar, pulpit, or order of service, just Friends gathered on simple benches, sitting in shared silence. This practice creates space for an inward journey.
We begin simply by settling into the silence together. Some Friends close their eyes, others gaze softly ahead. You might notice the gentle sounds of birds, rain on the roof, or the wind moving through the trees. There's no "right way" to participate—some focus on their breath, others hold up loved ones in the Light, while some might reflect on scripture or simply rest in the presence of community. Ultimately, we come to an inward place where the group settles into a ‘gathered’ unity beyond thought and feeling.
SILENCE AND WAITING IN QUAKER WORSHIP
The winds of the spirit move through our stillness.
"Meeting for worship has to do with waiting," explains a member of our community. "Waiting for the spirit to talk to us. And the spirit is always there, just like the air—but sometimes it moves like the wind." In our gathering, we create conditions where that movement can be felt—not through ritual or liturgy, but through the simple, profound act of becoming collectively quiet enough to notice what has been present all along.
This waiting isn't passive but alive with expectancy.
The silence deepens to a stillness, and as you wait in fellowship with others, you enter a state not only of peace, but of inspiration." Many newcomers are surprised to find that even those who typically find meditation challenging often experience a sense of being "held" in the collective silence.
It is from these depths that spoken ministry arises.
VOCAL MINISTRY
In true ministry, it is not we who speak, but the Light through us.
During worship, anyone may feel moved to stand and speak briefly, sharing what we call "vocal ministry." This isn't planned or arranged in advance but springs from the silence when someone feels a message rising within them that seems meant not just for themselves but for the gathered community.
Vocal ministry at Matinecock might take many forms: a brief reflection, a personal insight, a passage from scripture or other inspiring text, or occasionally a spoken prayer. These messages typically last only a minute or two before the speaker returns to silence, allowing space for the words to settle in our hearts and for other messages that might arise.
How do Friends discern whether to speak? Many describe a physical sensation—a quickening of the heart, trembling, or sense of clarity—that signals a genuine leading rather than just an interesting thought. We ask ourselves: "Is this message for me alone, or for the meeting? Is it ripe? Is it timely?" We're encouraged to speak only once, if at all, and to allow generous silence between messages.
Not every meeting includes vocal ministry—sometimes the silence itself is ministry enough. As early Friend Isaac Penington observed, the purpose of words in meeting is "to bring people to the knowledge of things beyond what words can utter."
