Congratulations if you have plucked up the courage, and decided to attend your first Meeting for Worship.
You may have some questions & concerns about what to expect. We hope this page with more practical information will help you feel at ease.
First, you don't need to tell us you are coming, just turn up. Meeting for Worship (or just "Meeting" as we tend to call it) is at the heart of the Quaker way and is open to all.
The information here relates to Horsham Meeting specifically, though you will find a Meeting for Worship at any Meeting House in this country to be very similar.
Taking the first step is often the hardest, and turning up for any new event, especially a religious service may seem a little daunting.
The advertised time of Meeting on Sunday morning is 10.30 am, but in practice it will begin a bit earlier. Actually it starts as soon as the first person sits down.
The front doors to our meeting house lead directly into the meeting room, so you will probably step straight into a quietening atmosphere.
There will be someone to welcome you at the door and ask if you would like any appropriate reading matter to introduce you to our way of worship.
Our meeting space doesn't look much like a regular church! Firstly you will notice the chairs are in a circle round a central table. As we have no service leaders, all chairs are equal. There is no "right" place to sit, just wherever you fancy. No need to hide at the back. We don't dress up for worship - not sure that the spirit has any objection to our jeans! What we are more interested in is the coming together as equals whoever we are - newcomers and seasoned Quakers.
It might be tempting to say anything and nothing, but that certainly isn't the case! Sunday Meeting lasts about an hour and nothing is planned in that time. We sit and wait, basically in silence.
You will already have gathered there is no priest or minister to lead so in effect we all the ministers! There are no hymns or planned bible readings but someone may spontaneously speak in the meeting. We call this ministry - more about this below. If there is a children's meeting present, they will sit with the main meeting for about 15 mins before leaving for their own activity.
After about an hour, two appointed elders will shake hands to signal the end of worship. Generally there will be notices but there is no direct discussion on what is shared.
Coffee, tea & fellowship then follow. All are invited to stay.