Open Worship of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

The Christian and Christian-derived Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) was a contributor to the 1893 World Parliament of Religions and has consistently participated in the reestablished Parliament of the World’s Religions. Friends in different parts of the world worship in differing ways, but the silence-based worship form inherited from early Friends in England (1652) is the most distinctive. We offer an experience of this traditional “unprogrammed” or “open” worship, led by members of Illinois Yearly Meeting, a local jurisdiction, followed by discussion and a question and answer opportunity to process the spiritual experience shared by participants.