Topic: Quaker Roots

Quakers have a wide range of beliefs.  We use a variety of religious languages to describe our shared experience

Worship is central to our faith. We meet together in expectant silence to experience the Divine Presence. We believe the Divine surrounds us and is within us at the same time. We do not create the encounter, but rather open ourselves to it.

Friends experience of that of God within has led them to realize that the potential to experience God’s presence inwardly is universal. It is available to all people. Anyone, anywhere, at any time can experience God’s presence directly.

The ‘I’ in us begins to feel like ‘we’.

A Quaker meeting is a local worshipping community. Quaker meetings follow the guidance of the Spirit in business as well as in worship.

In every situation requiring decisions in meeting for business, Friends are confident that there is a direction that approaches the Truth.

Because God is among us collectively as well as within us individually, our communities help us experience that of God more fully.

Ideally, spoken messages in meeting for worship come from one’s experience and are prompted by the Spirit.

“Testimonies” are what Quakers call the ways we have found to live and act based on our beliefs.

In Quakerism, the individual needs the community as much as the community needs the individual.

You become a Quaker by joining a meeting.

Children and families are welcome in Quaker meetings.  The religious education programming at many meetings is called "First Day School"