Imagine a church sanctuary without a pulpit, communion table, choir loft or organ. The worship space is simple and functional in design. Wooden benches face each other, the back pews slightly elevated to improve sight lines.
Douglas Steere (1901-1995) describes a worship service in an article he wrote on worship Quaker-style: “I enter in silence and sit down. The first thing I do is close my eyes and still my body. Then I open my mind to God in silent prayer. I thank God inwardly, for this occasion, this week’s happenings for what I have learned, for my family, for the work there is to do and for the presence of God. I often pray to enjoy God’s presence. I ask God for forgiveness. I hold persons before God in intercession…”
In the Quaker tradition, everyone gathers in silent worship until worshippers sense the divine prompting to say something. Perhaps no service of worship is left to the responsibility of congregants as a Friend’s meeting. It’s expected that all who come to the meeting will have something to share. They are expected to bring a Scripture passage or prayer that has shaped them over the previous week. If the Spirit prompts them to speak, they are urged to say it as briefly as they know how and “avoid all vain and distracting ornamentation.”
Douglas Steere is a widely read and respected twentieth century Quaker leader. He taught philosophy at a Quaker-related school, Haverford College, from 1928-1964. He devoted his life to two primary objectives: the nurture of people’s spiritual lives and translating this spiritual life into concrete social action. He wrote several books on teaching people about prayer. He describes prayer as learning how to be present to God’s presence in daily life. One of Steere’s prayers follows here: