There are nearly 380,000 Quakers worldwide. Half are in Africa. 

Quakers do not practice baptism nor celebrate the eucharist. For Quakers, no particular ritual is necessary to be in touch with God.  All interactions with the Spirit are equally sacred.

For a body that worships mostly in silence, this is a central question and a divine mystery. Let us start then with the basics and see if we can approach an answer – but understand that the true answer is best experienced at meeting, and not overanalyzed before or after.

Quakers begin worship in meeting with stilling the mind and body, letting go of tensions and everyday worries, feeling the encompassing presence of others, and opening oneself to the Spirit. It may include meditation, reflection on a remembered passage from the Bible or other devotional literature, silent prayer, thanksgiving, and consideration of one’s actions and regrets. All the while, we wait and listen expectantly for the light and the divine from within — and from others, following the inspired guidance of George Fox that there is “that of God in everyone.”

Into this living stillness of the meeting may come leadings and fresh insights that are purely personal, not meant to be shared. At other times they are meant for the meeting at large to hear.

When a leading is to be shared, the worshiper feels a spontaneous and compelling inward call to vocal ministry, sometimes even a trembling, a quickening of the pulse, a power greater than ourselves. Vocal ministry may take many forms, as prayer, praise of God or nature, song, teaching, witnessing, or sharing. These messages are usually brief and are not planned before the meeting – the speaker acts as a conduit of something inspired at the meeting and beyond herself. The messages may center upon a single, vital theme; often apparently unrelated messages are later discovered to have an underlying unity. Such ministry and prayer may answer the unrecognized or unvoiced needs of other seekers.

When someone accepts the call of the Spirit to speak, fellow worshipers are likewise called to listen with an openness of mind and heart. Hesitant and tender spirits should feel the meeting’s loving encouragement to give voice, even if haltingly, to the message that may be struggling to be born within. Friends whose thought has been long developing and whose learning and experience are profound serve the meeting best when they, like all others, wait patiently for the prompting of the Inward Teacher. Anyone moved to speak following another should first allow others to absorb and respond inwardly to what has already been said. *

*Taken largely from the PYM website regarding Quaker worship.

Most Quaker faith communities hold monthly meetings where we make decisions on both business matters and actions of a more spiritual nature. We use the collective discernment of members as well as tradition to help us. These business meetings are facilitated by the meeting clerk and at Radnor Monthly Meeting usually occur on the second Sunday of the month, shortly after meeting for worship.

All members are expected to participate in these business meetings, and all attenders (a word we use for non-members who have made it a practice to attend meeting for worship) are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

It has been said that there are four pillars undergirding Quaker business meetings:

• that the meeting is rooted in worship;
• that the meeting is clerked;
• that there is enough time, a sense of spaciousness; and
• that decisions are made by sense of the meeting.

Following the first pillar, our business meetings start with a brief period of silent worship. This helps us all to approach the business decisions with a spirit of peace, unity and Quaker values.

The clerk of the meeting – who acts as a “servant leader” — moves us through the agenda, usually based on items previously discussed and reviewed by committees of the meeting. These committees include care for the quality of worship, finances, peace and social concerns, hospitality and fellowship, religious education, nurturing members, outreach, and care of the building and grounds. These committees perform the bulk of the work of Quaker meetings, but some decisions and issues must percolate up to be considered and determined by the meeting as a whole.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of Quaker meetings for business is the fourth and final pillar, that decisions are made by determining the “sense of the meeting.” Inward yielding, patience and waiting for a sense of unity to grow among all present are characteristics of the way Friends conduct their business. This is not decision by majority vote or under strict deadlines, but rather a striving toward a spiritual unity on an issue, with those present listening for something more than what each person thinks. It is not a negotiated settlement or compromise. Rather, it is a moving toward a unified decision, guided by the Spirit, which goes beyond logical agreement. Oftentimes this sense of meeting is readily discerned. At other times, a decision may have to wait many months, or the issue simply set aside because a lack of unity. For Quakers, this is not a failure. It is listening to the Spirit.

SPICES is an acronym for the historical and primary values/beliefs of the Quakers. SPICES stands for Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship.

Simplicity

The early Quakers believed that personal ornamentation or elaborate belongings detracted from their ability worship God and do God’s bidding. They believed in making their daily work and interactions with others to be a type of worship of God. Elaborate clothing, possessions, politics, etc. therefore took time and thought away from worshipping God in their daily life. Currently simplicity is still seen as a means to keeping “things” and our lifestyles from distracting ourselves from living our beliefs and maintaining a continuous relationship with God.

Peace

Quakers believe God is the “light within” every human and therefore violence against another human or self is violence against God. Peace does not mean the absence of conflict but finding a non-violent resolution for conflict.

Integrity

Integrity is aligning one’s behavior with one’s belief. This is probably the most fundamental of our beliefs. Basing our everyday behavior, activities, and relationships on what we have come to understand through Quaker teachings, reading and studying the Bible, and insights gathered during worship.

Community

Community focuses on the members and attenders of our Quaker Meeting. We believe in sharing our insights during Worship and gathering around and helping those in our Meeting community who are in need (physical, emotional, etc.). Our journey through life is shared with other members of the Meeting and support is frequently offered. We also believe that we should help others in groups and individuals outside our Meeting such those in our physical community as we are able. 

Equality

Because Quakers believe there is that of God in each individual, we believe that all people are equal and should be treated as such. This also includes our duty to point out and change laws, customs, and any actions that deny equality to anyone. This is the basis for our history of challenging laws holding people of color, those of different ethnicities and religions and those of different gender identities and sexual orientation. Friends have been at the forefront of abolition, gender equality and racial equality movements for centuries. 

Stewardship

Stewardship tells us that we must take care of what has been given to us in our world so that it will exist for future generations. We need to take care of the earth, of our friends, our families, and of groups (formal & informal) that exist for the good of all. We use our talents and financial resources to take care of our planet and those in need.

The work of the Meeting is carried out in committees which meet regularly and include both members and attenders. Committees open to everyone are: Outreach, Fellowship, Religious Education (for children and youth), Peace and Social Concerns, Landscape and Grounds, Library, Adult Education, and Property. A few committees require meeting membership (Care and Counsel, Worship and Ministry, Nominating and Finance).

Here are some examples of activities:

• Women’s and men’s groups
• Book Club
• Quakerism courses

We also have Forums which are typically held after worship services on topics from religious education to putting our faith into action. Examples include:

• Quaker values
• Actions against gun violence
• Support for local food banks
• Concerns about Climate Change

10-11am: Meeting for Worship and First Day (Sunday) School

11-12:30pm: Fellowship followed by Adult Education or business meeting

Radnor welcomes children! As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children.” A basket of toys and coloring activities is available in the Fellowship room so that parents have the option to keep children with them, let them occupy themselves quietly in the Fellowship room, or go to class in the lower building.

During Meeting for Worship, First Day (Sunday) School classes are held from 10-11am in the building adjacent to the Meeting House. Classes might focus on Quaker practices, values or history; Bible stories or social justice/climate change. Parents are welcome to stay in the First Day School with their children.

At 10:45am, First Day students join the adult Meeting for Worship and can sit with their parents or their class, as they are comfortable.