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Radnor Friends Meeting welcomes members of other religions, friends and relatives of members and attenders, visitors from other meetings, neighbors, and those who may simply be curious about Quakerism. Most of our current members came first to our meeting as visitors; we have always found that the presence of visitors enriches our meeting. We hope that this information helps you understand more about us.

Our Meeting for Worship takes place at 10:00 every First Day (Sunday) morning. Ours is an unprogrammed meeting, meaning that the worship service centers on an expectant silence. The basis for this is the Quaker belief that each person has the capacity to know directly the will of God, without the interpretation of an intermediary. The goal of our corporate worship is to enter the divine presence. The silence may be broken when a worshipper feels moved to rise and speak out of spiritual experience. Silence follows messages as Friends reflect on what has been said. Often other messages follow the first. It is possible; and quite acceptable; for a meeting to pass entirely in silence, but messages from the Spirit, through Friends, are the most tangible part of our worship together.

The meeting ends at approximately 10:50 when a designated person on the facing bench shakes the hand of a neighbor; all present then shake hands with their neighbors. It is our custom for the person breaking meeting to ask first-time visitors, or those who have been away from the meeting for a long time, to rise and introduce themselves, or be introduced. After announcements, Meeting for Worship is over and Friends are invited to stay for refreshments and socializing.

Children who are old enough to sit quietly join their parents for the first 15 minutes of Meeting for Worship, after which they are supervised by experienced babysitters, many of whom are young Friends from Radnor Meeting, as well as a few adults. At 11:00, children join age-grouped First Day School classes. These classes are held from September through June, and cover a curriculum on the Bible, and Quaker beliefs and values, under the care of the Religious Education Committee. During the summer months. there are no First Day School classes, although child care during Meeting for Worship continues. On average, there are about 35 children each Sunday participating in the First Day School program.

Pre-school children are under the care of a paid childcare worker; a parent may stay to help if the number of toddlers is large. When very young children are upset at the departure of a parent, the parent is welcome to stay in the child care room with the child.

We keep name tags for members and regular attenders on pegs in the Forum Room; we find that they make getting to know others in the meeting much easier. You can request a name tag by asking one of the greeters.

We ask our visitors to sign the guest book; we enjoy having a record of where our visitors come from. In the guest book you can indicate that you wish to receive the monthly newsletter of the meeting; this is a good way to get a sense of the activities of the meeting beyond Meeting for Worship.

After Meeting for Worship, a member of the Worship and Ministry Committee is available to answer questions you may have about Meeting for Worship, the Society of Friends or Radnor Friends Meeting.

On the second First Day of each month we meet to conduct the business of the meeting. The search to know the will of God also guides our business meetings where we make decisions by seeking the "Sense of the Meeting" on agenda items including, among other things, finances, membership requests, committee activities, and our participation in the wider Quaker community and our neighborhood. Visitors are always welcome; attending business meeting is a good way to learn more about issues of concern, and what happens to keep our meeting going.

On the first and fourth First Days of every month, a Forum follows Meeting for Worship at about 11:15. Topics cover a broad range and include formal presentations as well as informal discussions, each one led by meeting members and attenders, or by invited speakers.

Visitors are often puzzled because our worship service does not include a formal collection. The meeting encourages members and attenders to covenant an annual amount; these contributions comprise the primary source of funds for our operating expenses. Visitors who would like to make a contribution may do so by leaving it in the box marked "Contributions" located by front door.

On the third Sunday of each month, the Fellowship Committee hosts a simple lunch after Meeting for Worship. All members and attenders are warmly invited to take this opportunity to gather together for fellowship.

You will find our library holdings in bookcases in the Forum Room. If you want to borrow a book, please record the information requested in the black loose-leaf binder on top of the bookcase.

From time to time, Radnor Friends meet together for Worship Sharing. A Worship Sharing gathering, less formal than Meeting for Worship, allows Friends to worship together in a smaller group. Currently, there are Worship Sharing groups which meet on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, and on the fourth Monday of the month, in the evening. The specific times and places are announced after Meeting for Worship.

We are hopeful that visitors who begin to attend regularly and find a spiritual home at Radnor Meeting consider applying for membership in the Society of Friends. Everyone is invited to apply who is comfortable with Friends' religious practices and beliefs, and who are ready to make a committment to the meeting community. For more information about the process, read the section on membership in Faith and Practice, or speak to the Corner Friend after Meeting for Worship.

Radnor Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends is a monthly meeting of Haverford Quarterly Meeting and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM); members of Radnor Meeting are by definition members of those two bodies as well. Faith and Practice, a book that serves as the handbook and spiritual guide for Friends in the Greater Philadelphia area, is published by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Copies are available at the meetinghouse on request.