🤫 SSSHHH! Visitor's Look at a Quaker Meeting

Quaker worship services are initially paradise for introverts. You open a door with a sign that basically says, 'Be Quiet.' You find a seat, plump your rump... and bunker down for the next hour to be soulfully silent.

There's no music. No sermon. No distracti...oh wait, there's plenty of distractions. Every creak of a door, the squeaks of footsteps on the floor, even when someone adjusts in their seat. One lady told me she called that, "Quaker jazz." Still, the point is to be still.

This was called an "unprogrammed" service. The room is designed to not draw attention to itself, though you can't help but notice the blue-orange-blue-orange chair arrangement. After approximately 40 minutes of silent unity, a lady stood up and articulated some poetic thoughts. Then sat down. Everyone went back to stillness for another ten minutes. And that was "worship."

After the muted meeting, there is where my desire for introversion backfired. There was a LOT of discussion, especially with this community committed to committees, especially with a communications (yup, there was a lot of words starting with "comm-" here). To wrap-up, they asked everyone to form two circles in the room and hold hands together (one circle in the middle with about eight people, the second circle of about 50). Everyone would state their name, and if new, give a little introduction. When it was my turn, I mentioned my weekly spiritual project, to which one Quaker asked, "Did we pass?" Another lady chimed in, "A D-minus is still passing" LOL. These people were a hoot.

Despite going here to avoid conversations, I found this meeting of Friends to be incredibly warm!

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⛪ Seven years after completing 52 Churches in 52 Weeks, this video series chronicles the spiritual experiment for a second time. If you'd like to see what happens next, SUBSCRIBE and hit NOTIFICATIONS to see what happens each week.

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▶️ Timestamps:
0:00 Land Preserve
0:29 Week 45: Quaker Request
2:41 Inside a Quaker Service
3:53 Four S's
4:30 Before
5:07 During
10:05 After
11:30 Streams and Sayonara

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🎵 Music:
Track: Buzzer Beater · Jobii

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📚 Read "52 Churches in 52 Weeks" by David Boice on Amazon:

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#quakers #52in52 #52churchesin52weeks

[churchesinweeks]

Thanks for watching! If you have future church visit recommendations, feel free to share.

[orangetreevintagewaresotvw]

Oh I love this. I want to visit a Quaker church now. Silence is my favorite thing....always searching for silence in my busy life. I am devoted to my church, but if I had a Quaker church nearby, I would often visit. Thanks for the information. ; )

[paulblack]

Wow. You have done so much to increase cultural literacy and religious awareness in our society. I learn every week. Thank you.

[micahisanerd]

I've heard Quakers are some of the most accepting and inclusive congregations. I didn't know about the silent meeting. In LDS temples we experience something like this in celestial rooms.

[littleredhairedgirlsteph]

Aww they seem like very sweet, lovely people.

[AngelaSealana]

The service reminds me of the Catholic practice of adoring Jesus in the Eucharist. Most Adoration Chapel time is dedicated to silent prayer. I've learned a lot about being present to God and dealing with distractions, from the saints who practiced contemplative prayer in Adoration.

[malcolmturner]

Thank you for sharing this with us all

[RelevanceForTodayMinistry]

Definitely enjoyed as always, I feel like you are taking us on the journey with you, like a mini field trip!

[Savoringherstory]

People between 55 and 65 tend to be quite technically savvy, they grew up with personal computers. I go to Quaker meetings, we are semi-programmed and self-pastored. But there are so many different kinds of Quaker meetings from evangelical to 100% silent and many variations in between. Some are very christ focused and some are not. There is controversy. I thought about going to a liturgical church, but honestly, it felt like being part of a musical. I strongly prefer the silence.

[englishwithmiranda]

Another amazing fact about Quakers is that decisions are made through consensus. I attended a Quaker boarding school and locks on doors were not allowed. Trust, pacifism and social integrity are very important!

[bethelstairwaytoheaven]

Thank you brother for sharing another amazing video, seems like a very good church where they help each other. That's what body of Christ do.

[coolcolin]

This channel and series is such a hidden gem. Insightful content!

[johny]

It's very exciting and insightful about activities of some churches in the last pray that the Good Lord will restore them God bless you

[BramptonAnglican]

A great video. Definitely loved learning about the Quakers.

[fredberg]

I did sort of a going away tour of like 10 churches before I decided to fully label myself as an athiest. I can't imagine doing 52! This one looks cool, kind of like a quiet Unitarian Universalist vibe?

I went to an LDS service a couple weeks ago here in Northern MN, just to see what religion looked like to my athiest eyes after 10 years - it was nothing like my evangelical upbringing but the people were surprisingly very welcoming.

I think that community fellowship vibe is what I miss most from religion. I'm loving your videos! I hope they take off!

[Hymmalapeak]

thank you, fascinating. always wondered about Quakers. For myself yeah want the 'full monty'

[yummyspicykitchen]

Very nice my friend have a wonderful day

[Pencelia]

Interesting! I'm not sure I would be comfortable in the silence. I have noticed that some of my ancestors were Quakers in RI so maybe I should visit a meeting house. If they don't really preach about their beliefs how do people come to know what they believe?

[thepulse]

It’s so interesting to see how Many others conduct themselves in their individual gatherings.. obviously the ‘Christian’ reality is missing, but I can appreciate simply being still, even silent in His presence and moments of reflection and listening are crucial

[Rl]

I am a member of a programmed Quaker meeting (we have music and preaching but also silence). It takes practice to really center into the quiet and feel the tangible presence of the Spirit. It is collective listening, not really individual meditation or prayer.