About Quakers

WHAT DO WE DO AT WOOLDALE QUAKER MEETING

In Wooldale, we are fortunate to have a beautiful, historical Meeting House, Every Sunday from 10.30am-11.30am we hold Meetings for Worship, during which Friends worship together in silence. These are open to anyone who wishes to share them.

We don't have set hymns, prayers or sermons. After gathering together in silence to quieten our minds, many people gain new insights and guidance in stillness. Sometimes these are shared during the silence with those present. This is called "ministry". Anyone can give ministry, including visitors.

Quakerism is sensitive to the thoughts, ideas and feelings of other people. Meetings can be enriched by the involvement of newcomers. At the same time we ask for a similar openness  and respect for Quaker convictions and experience.

Quakers are guided in their daily lives by the following values which are known as Testimonies- simplicity, truth and integrity, equality and community, peace, stewardship/sustainability. As well as trying to embrace these in their own lives, Quakers also value and promote them in public life.

Quakerism [Religious Society of Friends] although having its origins in Christianity,  is not limited to that. Quakers often have a much wider spectrum of beliefs with a great diversity within the Quaker concept of God.  We use different kinds of language to describe the religious experience. Quaker faith is built on experience and Quakers would hold that it is the spiritual experience which is central to Quaker worship. Our unity is based on a shared understanding and a shared practice of worship, however this does not always lead to total unity of belief. Unlike most other religious groups we do not have a paid minister and no formal creeds.

Quakers cherish individual experience and integrity in spiritual belief. Out of this, over time, have grown corporate 'testimonies', recognizing the importance of simplicity, truth, equality, peace and sustainability. These are recurring themes that influence our daily lives, more detail being found in our Advices and Queries.

'Take heed dear friends to the promptings love and truth in your hearts. Trust them as the leadings of God whose Light shows us our darkness and brings us to new light"               [Advices & Queries No1]