About Friends & Our Meeting

Every community of Friends has its own story, yet all are connected by a common spiritual practice rooted in silence, listening, and the guidance of the Inner Light. For many people, the first encounter with Quakers is surprising: no pulpit, no prepared sermon, and no rigid script. Instead, we gather in stillness, waiting expectantly to see what truth might arise in the hearts of those present. This approach, called unprogrammed worship, shapes not only how we pray but also how we live, make decisions, and support one another.

At Grass Valley Friends Meeting, our doors are open to seekers from every background. We are a local expression of a centuries-old tradition that values simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship. We do not require creeds or membership pledges before participation. What matters most is the willingness to sit together in worship, listen deeply, and practice faith through daily life.

This page introduces who Friends (Quakers) are, how unprogrammed worship unfolds, how our decision-making works, our own meeting’s story, and how newcomers can get involved.

Who Are Friends (Quakers)?

Friends, often called Quakers, are members of a faith community that began in 17th-century England and has since spread across the world. From the beginning, Friends emphasized direct experience of the Divine over ritual or hierarchy. The name “Quaker” was once a nickname, but over time it became widely used. Most Friends today use both terms—“Friends” in formal contexts and “Quakers” in everyday conversation.

Core Values (SPICES)

Friends often describe their shared values through the acronym SPICES:

Simplicity: Choosing lives uncluttered by excess, focusing on what truly matters.
Peace: Refusing violence and working actively for reconciliation in families, communities, and nations.
Integrity: Speaking the truth plainly, letting one’s “yes” mean yes and one’s “no” mean no.
Community: Supporting one another in times of joy and difficulty, recognizing that we grow stronger together.
Equality: Affirming that every person carries the Light, regardless of status, gender, race, or background.
Stewardship: Caring responsibly for creation, resources, and the generations that follow.

These testimonies are not rules but living commitments. Friends continually ask how each testimony applies in today’s context. For example, simplicity may mean limiting technology use, while stewardship may mean engaging in sustainable practices.

Diversity Among Friends

It is important to note that Friends are not uniform. Some meetings are “programmed,” with pastors and prepared sermons, while others (like ours) are “unprogrammed,” centered on silence and open ministry. Despite these differences, the emphasis on inward guidance and communal discernment unites Friends across traditions.

Unprogrammed Worship

Unprogrammed worship is the heart of our meeting. For visitors, it may look like a group of people sitting quietly together. For participants, it feels like shared attentiveness, an atmosphere charged with expectancy.

The Practice of Listening

We gather without prearranged order, trusting that God—or the Inner Light—may speak through anyone. Each Friend takes responsibility for listening: to the Spirit, to their own conscience, and to the needs of the gathered community. The silence is active, not passive.

Discernment in Silence

Sometimes worship passes without a single spoken word. At other times, several brief messages are offered. Discernment matters: Friends wait until they feel inwardly compelled to speak. This is different from casual conversation. Ministry should rise from a place deeper than personal opinion.

Spoken Ministry Guidelines

Speak only if you are truly moved. Friends often test this by waiting—if the urge to speak strengthens rather than fades, it may be a sign.
Keep it brief. Spoken ministry is usually short, leaving room for reflection.
Do not debate. Friends do not respond directly to one another as in a discussion. Instead, each message stands on its own, contributing to the whole.
Return to silence. After any message, the community settles again into quiet, holding the words prayerfully.

The Closing

Worship typically ends after about an hour with a Friend shaking hands, and others following. This small gesture signals the transition from silence to fellowship. Visitors may be invited to share names, though it is always voluntary.

Unprogrammed worship may seem unusual at first, but many discover it provides deep rest, clarity, and connection.

How We Make Decisions

Quaker life is not only about worship but also about how communities conduct their business. Friends believe that the same Spirit that guides worship can also guide decisions.

Meeting for Business

What many churches call a “board meeting,” Friends call a meeting for worship with attention to business. This emphasizes that decision-making is also a spiritual act. Friends sit in silence, listen to reports or proposals, and then wait for unity to emerge.

The Process

Clerks and committees prepare items for consideration.
Silence and listening frame the discussion. Friends speak briefly, seeking to discern not personal preference but collective guidance.
Minutes are drafted in real time, capturing the sense of the meeting. These are read aloud and approved immediately so all know what has been decided.

Unity vs. Voting

Friends rarely vote. Instead, we wait until unity is found. Unity does not mean unanimity but a shared sense that the community is ready to move forward. Sometimes this takes patience; at other times, clarity comes quickly.

Spirit of the Process

Even when disagreements occur, Friends strive to remain respectful, listening for truth in each other’s words. The process itself embodies our testimonies of equality, integrity, and peace.

Our Local Story

Grass Valley Friends Meeting is part of this larger tradition but also has its own character.

Roots

Our meeting began when a small group of seekers gathered informally to share silent worship. Over time, the circle grew. We formalized our identity as a meeting, creating a stable space for worship, fellowship, and witness.

What We Value

Hospitality: Visitors are welcomed without pressure.
Community Care: We provide support in times of illness, loss, or transition.
Engagement: Members are active in local service projects, peace efforts, and ecological stewardship.
Learning Together: We hold study groups and discussions, exploring both Quaker tradition and contemporary issues.

Today

We are a multi-generational community. Some attend every week; others join occasionally. Some have deep Quaker roots; others are new. All contribute to the meeting’s ongoing story.

Our life together extends beyond the meetinghouse. Potlucks, book groups, community service, and mutual aid projects are part of how we embody faith. More about these can be found on our Community Life page.

How to Get Involved

For newcomers, involvement begins with showing up. There is no initiation ritual. Participation is the doorway.

Simple Steps

Attend Worship
Begin by experiencing unprogrammed worship. You do not need to speak. Simply join the silence. See our Plan Your Visit page for practical guidance.
Stay for Fellowship
After worship, many linger for conversation. Introduce yourself, ask questions, or simply listen. Fellowship is how relationships form.
Explore Queries
Friends use “queries”—open-ended reflective questions—to deepen spiritual life. Our Queries Library provides examples you can use privately or with a group.
Join Community Activities
Potlucks, study groups, and service projects offer informal ways to connect.
Offer Your Gifts
Every Friend, new or long-standing, has gifts. Some contribute by speaking in worship, others by helping with hospitality, music, or organizing.
Reach Out
If you have questions or want to learn more, you can use the Contact page. Friends are glad to talk.

No Pressure

There is no expectation to become a member quickly, or at all. Many participate for years as attenders. The path is individual, and the community welcomes each stage.