What happens at a Quakers Sunday service?

Answer 1

Answer 1: There are two primary methods of worship for Quakers (also known as "The Friends Church" or "The Religious Society of Friends"). Only one of those methods looks very much like worship, as most of the Abrahamic religions (of which Quakers, by virtue of that they're mostly considered part of Chrisitianity, which is an Abrahamic religion) would recognize it.

The absolutely first thing to understand about Quakers is that they consider "the priesthood of all believers," as expressed in 1 Peter 2:9; but as restated to more accurately reflect what they mean as the basic notion of "that of God in every person."

This most basic Quaker tenet has two facets.

First, on one hand, it refers, for Quakers, to the notion that there is something of God in all people, and that each human being is of unique worth. This, in turn, leads Quakers to value all people, and to oppose anything that harms or threatens them. From there, then, it's easy to see how Quakers would want to live-out that tenet through interests in peace, justice, human rights, world development, education, prison reform; and challenging prejudice in all forms, human rights, slavery, homelessness, racism, etc.

Secondly, on the other hand, it also refers, for Quakers, to the notion that every person, because there is that of God within him/her, is potentially capable of understanding the will of God, and helping others to reach God...

...all without the help of clergy, if need be.

Hence, one of the two forms of Quaker worship -- the one that most Abrahamic religions wouldn't easily recognize -- is called "waiting worship," which is based on the methods of George Fox, and the early Friends movement; and which tends to be practiced, today, by the more conservative Friends churches. In "waiting worship," Quakers gather in the meeting house (which looks at least a little like a church, but is actually more like a secular meeting room), and they basically just sit there, together, in more or less silence. There's no plan, other than everyone just sits there, and quietly contemplates and prays. Sometimes it lasts hours, sometimes just an hour or even less. Sometimes it stays quiet the whole time, and other times someone speaks something out loud, with no warning... a thought, a vision, or various phrases which are part of what Quakers call the inner light, or inward light of Christ, or the Holy Spirit. Called "vocal ministry," everyone in the room believes it's God speaking through the person. The service concludes with one of the elders standing and offering the sign of peace and a handshake, which is, in turn, passed around to all in the room; and then they all leave.

The other kind of Quaker worship is called "programmed worship," and it's a lot more like the way most other churches worship... with a pseudo-clergyperson of some kind: someone who isn't an official minister, but who has theological training and serves, loosely, in that role. There's a Biblical message, prayer, hymns, a sermon... but there's usually not the Eucharist. There's often also an extended period of silent prayer -- sort of a mini "waiting worship" -- somewhere in the service; and during which there could be unplanned vocalizations, just like with the full "waiting worship" service of the conservatives. The vast majority of Quakers worship this way, with "programmed worship" services of one kind or another. Those who worship this way also tend to do it in buildings and rooms that look a bit more like a regular church, and less like a secular meeting room of the type where "waiting worship" services usually occur.

Whether it's a full "waiting worship" service, or the mini-"waiting worship" type period of a "programmed worship" service, the "God in everyone" central tenet is what facilitates the direct communication of the worshiper with God, and his speaking through the worshiper, if that's what happens to occur: the very embodiment of the priesthood of all believers.

There are several other kinds of Quakers, including the controversial non-theist Friends. Consisting of agnostics, atheists and secular humanists, there is obviously no belief in God among them; and so their worship, if one can even call it that, really is more like just a secular meeting.

There are also Evanglical, Liberal, Universalist, Holiness and Gurneyite Quakers or Friends; each of which groups has slightly different ways of conducting worship. All of them, though, incorporate some form of "waiting worship," for however long during said worship services; and during which the "God in everyone" is concentrated on, and listened for, as part of the Quaker religious belief that truth is continuously revealed directly to individuals from God pursuant to what Quakers call "continuous revelation."