If you are curious about Quakerism, please come visit and ask a Quaker!
We are a diverse group that welcomes people from all backgrounds. Quakers do not adhere to a particular creed or require confirmation of a certain set of beliefs. Rather, we believe that everyone has that of God within them and can therefore have a direct relationship with God and experience God's love in their lives. By tuning our hearts to this Inner Light through silent worship, we can discern the Truth and receive guidance on how to live rightly in the world.
We value the principles of peace, simplicity, integrity, community, and equality of all people.
Religious Society of Friends - the formal name for Quakers
Friend - Quaker
Meeting House - the building in which Friends meet for worship
Meeting for Worship - Quaker worship services
First Day - Sunday
Testimonies - guiding principles
Queries - questions to encourage self-examination
Testimonies, the fundamental principles and practices that guide the actions and decisions of Quakers, include simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship (SPICES for a memorable acronym). These testimonies are not imposed dogmas, but rather principles that Quakers strive to embody in their daily lives. These testimonies have evolved somewhat over the course of Quaker history.
Simplicity: Quakers aim for simplicity in all aspects of life, eschewing unnecessary complication, extravagance, or clutter. This applies not just to physical possessions, but also to one's speech, behavior, and overall lifestyle. The goal is to clear away distractions and focus on what's truly important.
Peace: This is perhaps the most well-known Quaker testimony. Quakers are known for their pacifism and active work towards peace, including helping soldiers register as conscientious objectors. We believe in resolving conflicts non-violently and working towards a world without war.
Integrity: Quakers strive for honesty, consistency, and accountability in all their actions. We believe that one's outward actions should reflect one's inner beliefs and values.
Community: Quakers place a high value on community and believe in supporting, caring for, and challenging each other in their faith journey. We meet regularly for worship and decision-making in a process we call "Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business." See more information about Quaker community below.
Equality: Quakers believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God and therefore deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. We have been involved in various social justice movements throughout history, including abolitionism, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Stewardship: This involves taking care of the Earth and its resources, as well as being responsible for one's own actions and their impacts on the world. It is closely linked with Quaker beliefs about simplicity and integrity.
Basics of what to expect:
We gather every Sunday to worship together. Our time of worship is unique, because we do not have clergy and do not have any prearranged programming (such as music or a sermon). Instead, we gather in expectant silence. When you arrive, a greeter will meet you at the door, and you can quietly enter and sit anywhere in the room. During the course of the time of worship, individuals may feel led to speak. A period of silence is typically observed following any spoken messages to allow time for reflection. Towards the end of the hour, a designated Friend will invite those gathered to share the names of those in need of support, offer a chance for visitors to introduce themselves, and make announcements. A final brief period of silent worship is then typically observed. The meeting concludes when the designated Friend shakes hands with their neighbor. You are welcome to join for refreshments and fellowship in the foyer afterwards. Children are welcome to attend worship, although most school-age children attend First Day School in the school building and join the Meeting for Worship for the last fifteen minutes. Child care is also available for younger children for the whole hour.
A deeper dive:
Because Quakers believe that God (also commonly referred to by Quakers as Spirit, Christ Within, Divine Presence, or the Light) is accessible to everyone, we gather in silence in order to open ourselves to what God may reveal to us. This expectant waiting is the essence of Quaker worship. If you find yourself bothered by distractions or thoughts, do not worry; simply return your attention inward to the still center. Some find it helpful to focus on their breath or visualize handing their concerns over to God as ways to help them "center down." In the silence of a Quaker Meeting, those present may become aware of a powerful spirit of love that transcends their ordinary experience.
While waiting in the silence, a person may be moved by the Spirit to offer spoken ministry. After someone speaks, a period of silence is observed to allow sufficient time for each of us to listen deeply to the meaning and spirit behind the words. Regardless of the name that is used for God, we receive each message in an accepting way as coming from the Source. A message that does not seem meaningful to one person may bring light and insight to others. If you are moved by the Light to speak, please stand and speak clearly, allowing the Spirit to use your voice. Messages are usually brief and offered only once, without preparation or elaboration. Worshipful ministry arises from the Spirit and not from a personal need to discuss, debate, or instruct.
Because we do not have an appointed leader or hired staff, all members are responsible for the operations of the Meeting. Committees fulfill the various functions needed to maintain our community. For example, Ministry and Counsel helps to provide pastoral and ministerial care, Finance handles financial matters, and the Clerk manages many administrative duties. Typically the Nominating Committee recommends individuals for these roles, and people are appointed with approval of the Meeting as a whole.
Although committees handle many ongoing matters, many decisions require the input of the full Meeting. Every second Sunday of the month, we gather for Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business to address such matters. All are welcome to attend. This meeting is a worshipful experience through which we make decisions by seeking unity among those present. Unity is different from consensus or a majority vote and is rather a collective decision-making led by the Spirit. The process requires an ability to truly listen and change. This unique way of conducting business is rooted in the Quaker belief that everyone can experience that of God within, and therefore deep discernment by all involved can enable realization of a shared truth.
Palo Alto Friends Meeting (PAFM) is a "monthly meeting" (we meet for business monthly), which is part of the larger family of the Religious Society of Friends. The monthly meeting is the base unit of the Society of Friends. Individual membership resides in the monthly meeting. PAFM also encompasses the San Mateo worship group. Our monthly meeting is one of 24 meetings in the region that are part of the College Park Quarterly Meeting (which meets for business quarterly). That meeting is in turn part of the Pacific Yearly Meeting (PacYM), which meets every summer. You can learn more about PacYM and its history here.
Yearly meetings are often affiliated with larger Quaker organizations. PacYM is affiliated with Friends General Conference (FGC), which is an association of mostly unprogrammed yearly meetings. Other organizations include Conservative Friends, which use unprogrammed worship with a more universally Christian theme; Evangelical Friends International, which has pastors, programmed worship, and an evangelical outlook; Friends United Meeting, which predominately includes yearly meetings that use programmed worship; and Friends World Committee for Consultation includes Quakers from around the world.
You don't have to be a formal member to start getting involved!
Want to get to know others in the Meeting better?
Stick around after Worship for light refreshments and fellowship
Stay for lunch after Worship on the fourth Sunday of each month
Attend other events hosted by the Meeting Life Committee, such as the "Mystery Quaker" series. See the calendar for a full listing of upcoming events.
Want to serve the community?
Join a working group. These are short-term commitments focused on a particular task, such as the Harvest Festival or Hotel de Zink.
Join a committee. These are longer-term appointments that are approved by the Meeting.
Want to learn more about how the Meeting functions?
Attend a Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business, typically held after Meeting for Worship on the second Sunday of each month.
Quakers are active in the world, working to build peace and equality for everyone.
Some examples of the types of work that Quakers do in our broader community include:
Our meeting supports projects in El Salvador.
We have members and attenders who are volunteering with Friends House Moscow, in Haiti, and at Hidden Villa.
Our meeting provides meals for the local Hotel de Zink homeless shelter one month each year.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation lobbies for Quaker values at the federal level, while the FCLCA works here in California. Our meeting holds an annual Quaker Harvest Festival fundraiser every September to support the work of FCLCA.
The American Friends Service Committee organizes Quaker projects in the US and across the world.
Quakers have a rich history of acting boldly on our principles when peace, equality, and human dignity are threatened. Some notable examples from American history include:
Quakers were some of the earliest proponents of abolition in North America and participated in the Underground Railroad, helping slaves escape to freedom.
Prominent leaders of the women's suffrage movement, including Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott, were Quakers.
The Religious Society of Friends was one of the few groups to publicly support Japanese Americans during their internment during World War II.
During the Vietnam War, many Quakers were conscientious objectors, led protests, and provided aid.
There are many ways to learn more about Quakers. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started on your journey:
Come visit and talk with a Quaker.
Each Yearly Meeting publishes a "Faith & Practice" book that provides Testimonies, Queries, and information about how Meetings operate. You can ask a member for a printed copy or download a pdf version from the Pacific Yearly Meeting website.
Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter.
Read our Newcomer's Packet, which contains more background information about this Meeting and Quakerism in general. Please note that a new edition of this packet is in the works, so some of the information (including contact information) is out of date in this version. In the meantime the contact information on this website and in our monthly newsletter is more reliable.
Check out a book from our library. You can view the catalog here.
Learn more at these websites: