Our meeting for worship is unprogrammed, which means that we gather in prayerful silence with neither clergy nor liturgy. The faith of Friends rests in the belief that each of us has the capacity to receive the word of God, to do the work of God, and to be ministers to each other. Stillness is an integral part of the meeting for worship as all of us try to “center down” in the gathering silence and to be open to the living word of God. Listening together, we experience ourselves and each other as spirit-filled and spirit-led.
Any who feel moved by spirit to share the “Light” given to them may speak. The form of vocal ministry in meeting for worship may vary: a prayer, a spoken message, a song, a spoken passage from the Bible or other source of inspiration. Afterwards the silence resumes while we absorb the message given. Speaking in meeting is not an occasion for dialogue or debate, and, normally, a person does not speak more than once during the meeting. We try to enter each meeting for worship resolving neither to speak nor not to speak, but to await the inspiration that grows out of the silence.
Meeting is closed when a designated Friend welcomes all to our Meeting. We introduce ourselves, greet visitors, and ask them to share a bit about themselves. Then we share joys and concerns and make announcements. This is usually followed by light refreshment.
For children’s activities, please see the webpage regarding First Day School.
As Quakers, we attempt to live by our testimonies: integrity, simplicity, peace, justice, equality. We try to demonstrate these testimonies in our daily lives. Much of our ministry is carried out within our families, places of work and through our community involvements. Sometimes we succeed in advancing our testimonies. But many times we feel we have a long way to go to bring our beliefs and our daily practices together.
Not all members and attenders of Albany Friends Meeting are social activists but many are. The Meeting as a whole supports members and attenders efforts to work for peace and social justice.
Members of our meeting are active in local organizations working for peace, women’s equality, an end to systemic racism, a peaceful solution to the Palestinian crisis, prison reform, an end to the death penalty.
If you want peace, work for justice. If you want justice, work for equality. That is the truth and it is that simple.
