Meeting for worship, 10:30 a.m. Sundays – unprogrammed worship
121 South Maple Avenue, Ames, Iowa
Everyone is welcome to join us via Zoom:
passcode: 059916
Ames Friends Meeting is an open, welcoming faith community rooted in the principles of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). We meet together in unprogrammed (silent) and expectant worship seeking direct communion with God, the Divine Spirit, Consciousness or whatever name one may use to identify the transcendent essence of energy that infuses all life. From time to time someone attending may stand and share their spirit-led experience briefly.
The Quaker Community
Worldwide, members of the Quaker community share a singular faith in spiritual equality. Each of us is called to see that of God in every person.* This leads us to seek simplicity in our lives and to engage in society on behalf of equality, peace and non-violence, social justice and stewardship of the earth.
For much of the 300 years of the Religious Society of Friends, Quakers were found mostly in England and America and were from Christian backgrounds. Today, members are from spiritual traditions worldwide, with over half of the membership in Africa.
What the visitor doesn’t see
The visitor at a meeting for worship will notice the absence of clergy, symbols, and rituals that are commonly found in houses of worship. The visitor may not discern that the silence and occasional vocal ministry take place within a framework of faith.
Vocal Ministry
In our tradition, we begin worship in silence. Out of this silence, a member of the community may be moved to stand and voice a message inspired by Spirit for the needs of all. We listen and absorb vocal ministries without comment or reply.
Quaker traditions
Historically, the Quaker community worldwide has drawn on two parallel sources: Biblical scripture and continuing revelation. We believe that God’s guidance to humanity is continuous, from Biblical times to the present and that we have ongoing access to new wisdom.
Continuing revelation comes through the wordless expectation that the heart and mind may be guided by Spirit to new understandings.
Quakers use the term worship to suggest a state of quiet attention in which we may be a channel through which Truth, or Spirit, may speak.
Quakers speak of discernment as a spiritual discipline by which truth may be revealed to an individual and community.
Quaker worship
Quaker worship is an act of spiritual openness and alertness. It is a state of attentiveness that seeks clarity and truth in myself and in others.
All meetings of Quakers are considered meetings for worship, and they begin and end with a period of silent worship.
Quaker process
Quakers may take a long time to come to a decision about seemingly small matters. We call it Quaker process.
When seeking a decision on any topic, the goal is to achieve unity in Spirit. As there is no voting or show of hands, the role of the moderator (known as clerk) is to discern the sense of the meeting.
Practical, spiritual and financial matters are the responsibility of the Quaker community. In the monthly Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business, or Business Meetings, for short, there are committee reports, discussion and recommendations.
Committees attend to each major aspect of community life, from pastoral care and hospitality to the maintenance of buildings and grounds.
There are also committees in regional Quaker bodies (known as Yearly Meetings) as well as national organizations such as Friends General Conference.
Common to these gatherings are the challenges of community building and attending to local, national and global social issues. Participation in these meetings reminds us of the power and reach of Quaker values and traditions.
Listening culture
The Quaker community is a listening culture. We listen for the meaning underneath the words, and avoid getting distracted by appearance, gender, age, or manner of speech. This quality of listening to one another opens deeper understanding and connection.
The meeting of a committee is an opportunity for discernment and attention to the insights and concerns of other members. The contentiousness of debate is absent.
121 South Maple Ave. Ames, IA
Ames Friends Meeting 