Whether or not you've participated before in a Friends Meeting, we welcome you to our Meeting and to Friends worship. We invite you to partake of the spiritual nourishment and community that we enjoy.

Quaker worship is characterized by silence as we gather in expectant waiting, active in an inner search for God's guidance. At first, the silence may seem strange. Do not worry about this, but return again and again to the still center of your being, where God's presence may be experienced. This silent waiting is also an outward sharing. We join together as a community in our unspoken search and experience. Persons who feel led to do so voice their prayers, thoughts and beliefs. These messages are received as expressions of God's presence among us.

Feel free to speak, as briefly and clearly as possible, if you are so led. One normally speaks only once during the hour; we seek to build upon each other's messages, not to have a discussion. Leave ample time after the previous speaker before you speak so that Friends may reflect upon what has been said.

Minneapolis Friends Meeting has two meetings for worship each Sunday morning:

The 9 a.m. worship (9:30 during the summer) is unprogrammed. By this we mean that no one is asked in advance to speak or not to speak, and there are no prearranged plans for music or other liturgical forms. People worship God in silence and speak out of the silence as they are led. The worship lasts about one hour; one member will have been asked in advance to close the meeting with a handshake all around.

The 11:15 a.m. worship (11:00 during the summer) is semi-programmed, which means that it combines elements of a prearranged service and of an unprogrammed meeting. Someone has been asked to share a message with us, and worship is opened and closed with hymns. Meeting ends with the shaking of hands and an opportunity for introductions. One's experience of worship is enhanced by learning to know the friends with whom one is worshipping.

(On the second Sunday of each month, following Unprogrammed Meeting, the Meeting for Business is held at 10:00 [10:15 during the summer]; there is no Semi-Programmed Meeting on these Sundays.)

Children in the Meeting: First Day (Sunday) School classes are at 11:15 a.m. during the school year. Children ages 3 to 10 attend the 11:15 meeting until the end of the first hymn, then leave for classes. Nursery care is provided all morning.

More about Quaker worship 

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