All are welcome to attend. Quaker meetings are organized into “monthly meetings” which meet once a month to conduct the business of the meeting; they meet more often for worship. The New York Monthly Meeting groups include: 15th Street, Brooklyn. Flushing, Staten Island, Downtown, Penington, Morningside, and Manhattan meeting (pastoral).
There are different kinds of worship services at different Quaker Meetings. There is “unprogramed worship” or “waiting worship”. Its premise is that God’s own Spirit will guide us in how best to give God the worship God is due. Therefore, we do not plan any ceremonies or rituals or prepare any hymns, sermons or prayers of our own devising. We come together in silence and wait for the moving of the Holy Spirit.
We try to quiet our minds, open our hearts and listen to the Spirit. There is no prescribed way to do this. The key is an attitude of expectant waiting and a willingness to obey whatever inner promptings God may inspire. We are also alert to hear the messages that may come to us through our fellow worshippers.