The unprogrammed Worship of Friends is unique among religious practices. We gather in silence, in what we call expectant waiting, to still our minds and open ourselves to that unknowable mysterious Presence that is in us and all around us. Unlike meditation, Friends' Worship is an individual and a corporate experience. Come to Worship with few expectations and a mind open to embrace the community and receive the inner teacher. Every Meeting for Worship is different and there is no wrong way to experience it.
Corporate worship is not merely individual worship or meditation at the same place and time as others worshiping or meditating, but a truly corporate experience where we enter into a communion with other worshiping souls that enables all of us to enter into the divine presence more fully, and hear the divine Word more clearly, than we could alone.
Lloyd Lee Wilson
Each person settles into the silence in their own way. There is no right way, just the desire to be present, open to and in communion with Spirit within oneself and others.
It is common to need some time to settle after taking a seat. After some minutes, it is possible that your thoughts and emotions may come and go, and you may hold them lightly. This may be followed by various thoughts, feelings, or sensations, which may be of calm awareness, increased sensitivity to the shared energy in the room, or new insights. Or something of importance may remain and require worshipful attention. All or none of these may happen during Worship, and any combination of them is typical.
It is as if we had stepped into a living stream full of renewing, healing energy, a stream which reaches back and forward across time…
William Taber
We Worship in person every Sunday at 9:30 AM and in-person and on Zoom at 11:00 AM. Please feel free to join us online for any reason, be it inability to travel, physical disability, time constraints, or any other.
Joining Meeting for Worship online can present its own difficulties for the worshipper. It can be helpful to put your computer in a place away from distractions, recreating in your own space the calm environment of the Meetinghouse. If you join us online, we ask that you use the following guidelines:
- We welcome you to be comfortable, and while we would love to see you, you may have your camera on or off. If you are moving (walking, driving, etc.), please turn your video off to eliminate distractions for those who could see your movement.
- Please check your audio settings, checking the volume on your device in case you are led to vocal ministry. Remain muted unless you are giving a message, as this helps eliminate background noise for all.
- Your name should be the name you want to be known by in the Meeting. Please make sure the name displayed is appropriate for this context.
- If you are led to share a message, unmute and give your name, adding "worshipping online". Please speak clearly and loudly. Once you are done sharing, please mute your audio again.
- Once Worship has begun, the chat is not being monitored. If you experience any technical difficulties during the Meeting for Worship, please reach out to the office or a member of the staff or leadership.
God is always available to us, regardless of where we are. We can connect with the Divine when we tune in and actually quiet ourselves to be able to listen to God and to the other people around us. Like in-person Worship, online attendance can foster a connection to Spirit. These new tools for worship give us the opportunity to connect with one another and with God.
In Worship, we sometimes come into new understanding or see in a new way. At times, our insight is meant to be shared. When someone stands and speaks during Meeting for Worship, it is called vocal ministry, or giving a message. We don’t do this lightly, but rather take the advice of George Fox, early Quaker leader, to “take heed of forming words, but mind the Power.” Here are guidelines that describe settling into Worship, feeling led to vocal ministry, and receiving the vocal ministry of others.
What Happens on Sunday?
As you come in the front door of the Meetinghouse, you may be greeted by an usher who will be wearing a name tag and is available to welcome you and answer any questions. There may be people talking to each other in the hallway and in the Library.
We do not evangelize or try to convert people. Some Quakers at Stony Run consider themselves Christian, others are non-theists, and there are people who represent everything in between. All are welcome.
Here is an overview of a typical Sunday at Stony Run Meeting.
- Our unprogrammed Meeting for Worship begins with people gathering in silence in the Meeting room. Sit wherever you want. There are no assigned seats.
- Juice between meetings is served in the Library (across the hall from the Meeting room).
- There is child care in our Nursery, just past the Meeting room (up a small set of stairs to the right) from 9:00 AM – 12:15 PM for children 5 years and younger. There is no cost.
- First Day School (religious education for children) is at 11:20 AM. Children and teens are invited to attend the Meeting for Worship at 11:00. At 11:20, the doors to the Meeting room open and an adult leads children 5 -18 years old to classrooms. Assemblies are all ages gatherings for youth that take place around holiday weekends and in the summer from mid-June through August.
- A Simple Lunch is served in the Dining room on the lower level after the rise (conclusion) of the second Meeting for Worship, from September to early June, around 12:15. Please join us.
- Please sign our guest book on the hall table if you would like to receive announcements and newsletters. This is a good way to learn about community-supported events.
- On the first Sunday of the month at 1:00 PM (except July and August), we have a hybrid Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business (aka Monthly Business Meeting).
- We occasionally have adult forums on Sundays. Check the calendar or silent announcements to view dates and topics.