About Quakers

Worship at Orchard Park Friends Meeting

If you have never before attended an unprogrammed Friends (Quaker) meeting for worship, your first meeting may surprise you . . . while all Quakers meet in worship to hear more clearly God’s “still small voice,” Friends in the unprogrammed Quaker tradition base our worship entirely on expectant waiting. We meet in plain, unadorned rooms where we are less distracted. There are no pulpits in our meeting rooms because we minister to each other. We have no prearranged prayers, readings, or sermons because we wait for God’s leadings and power in our lives. When you enter the meetinghouse and take your seat on a bench, you will find that those gathered around you are sitting in silence, settling into a period of quiet reflection, prayer and expectant waiting on the Spirit.

During worship, a message may come to us. Messages may be for our personal reflection or for sharing with others. They may be a leading to stand and speak. Friends value spoken messages that come from the heart and are prompted by the Spirit as well as the silence we share together. Following a spoken message, we return to the silence to reflect in the Light of that message. Meeting for worship ends when one Friend, designated in advance, ends the meeting with a greeting. No two meetings are ever the same.

Friends feel that there must be a vital and sustained connection between worship and daily life. When our ideal is attained, our meeting is merely the community search for that guidance which we covet for every important act of our lives.

During the time of Covid-19, all safety protocols are followed for in-person meetings that take place at the meetinghouse.

When do we meet?

Meeting for worship takes place every Sunday at 11:00 am and lasts about an hour. Worship is followed by afterthoughts in the spirit of meeting for worship, introductions, and announcements. This is an appropriate time to ask questions about Quakers in general and our meeting in particular. On occasion there are discussions before Meeting for worship or potlucks afterwards. Visitors are welcome to join in these events.

What do Quakers believe?

In a nutshell, our branch of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) believe that everyone can have direct communication with the Spirit / God. We also believe that there is something of God in everyone, sometimes called the Light within. We do not have a pastor/minister/priest. All of our members can minister. Over time, we have come to adopt a series of testimonies that not only reflect our beliefs but act as guideposts for how we live. They are:

Simplicity: Focusing on what is truly important and letting other things fall away
Peace: Seeking Justice and healing for all people; taking away the causes of war in the way we live
Integrity: Living as whole people who act on what we believe, tell the truth and do what we say we will do
Community: Supporting one another in our faith journeys and in times of joy and sorrow; supporting our neighbors in the wider community
Equality: Treating everyone, everywhere is equally precious to God; recognizing that everyone has gifts to share
Stewardship of the Earth: Valuing and respecting all of God’s creation; using only our fair share of the earth’s resources; working for policies that protect the planet

What about our children?

Child care could be available during worship. Speak to a member about it.

Children are always welcome in worship. Spending some time in silent worship is a good way to get used to the expectant waiting. If there is interest, after the first 15 minutes children can go to First Day School (Sunday School) with the teacher.

How to contact us for more information

There is no meeting representative available to take calls during the week. Should you have questions you can contact us at opfmclerk@gmail.com You can also leave a message at 716-662-5749 and we will reply within a week.

If you are wondering what God may be, looking for purpose in life, craving company, or seeking solitude, come to our Meeting for Worship.

We shall not ask you to speak or sing; we shall not ask you what you believe; we shall simply offer you our friendship and a chance to sit quietly.

And perhaps someone will speak, and perhaps someone will read, and perhaps someone will pray, and perhaps you will find here that which you are seeking.

We are not saints; we are not cranks; we are not different … Except that we believe that God’s light is in everyone, waiting to be discovered.

Videos

QuakerSpeak

QuakerSpeak is a weekly video series. It is a video project created by Friends Journal. They release a new video every Thursday. You can access all of their videos by visiting the QuakerSpeak website.

Advices & Queries

Advices and Queries have been important to the Religious Society of Friends since the beginning of Friends in the 17th century. Though they have been changed since that time they still are an important part of a statement of who we are. New York Yearly Meeting, by directing us to question our understanding of how we express ourselves verbally or in our actions, prepares us to hold our spiritual beliefs in the Light through statements in our Advices and Queries.

Advices and Queries provide counsel and guidance on spiritual formation of one’s life by directing the attention of Friends to specific aspects of beliefs and behaviors. They invite open, vulnerable, personal consideration of one’s understanding of one’s own self. Advices and Queries are intended as a challenge and as an inspiration to us, as Friends, in our personal lives and in our life as a religious community. They encourage meditation to ascertain if the truths are our truths with the hope we may be more faithful and find deeper joy in God’s service.

Orchard Park Monthly Meeting has accepted the process of reading a selected Advice and Query once a month.”

March – Advice

In the contemplation of marriage, Friends should seek divine guidance. Marriage is a life-long union of spiritual as well as temporal concerns and presents considerations of vital importance. When two persons are united in their religious faith, they are likely to find not only a firmer bond of union but also greater strength in fulfilling all of life’s undertakings. Therefore, Friends contemplating marriage should acquaint their families and meetings with their intentions, seeking their approval, that they may avoid the far-reaching consequences of hasty ill-considered action. It is tenderly recommended that Friends keep to the simple and solemn form of our marriage ceremony.

March – Query

Do we foster reverence for life? Do we strive to find understanding, and to remove causes of misery and sufferings? Do we, in loving concern, extend assistance to those who require it?

April – Advice

The attention of Friends is called to the propriety of conducting funerals and memorial services in sincere spirit of worship. They are advised to avoid the display of floral decorations and the wearing of mourning and to adhere to our simple ceremony.

April – Query

Do we acknowledge the oneness of humanity and foster a loving spirit toward all people? Do we honor Friends’ traditional testimony that men and women are equal? How do we work to make these ideals a reality?

May – Advice

It is recommended that Friends take the opportunity, on occasions when special statements or oaths are required, to advance the cause of truth by simple affirmation, thus emphasizing that their statement is only a part of their usual integrity of speech.

May- Query

Do we maintain Friends’ testimony against war? Do we “live in the virtue of that life and power which takes away the occasion of all wars”? Are we exerting our influence in favor of settlement of all differences by truly nonviolent methods? Do we strive to transmit to everyone an understanding of the basis of our peace testimony?

How to become a Quaker

After attending Meeting for Worship for some time, an individual might be interested in becoming a Member of the Religious Society of Friends, Orchard Park Friends Meeting. The process is a fairly straightforward one, and it often comes after a time of seeking. Quaker Meeting and Quaker Worship may feel like home.

The process involves:

Writing a letter requesting membership and telling why you would like to join, addressed to the Clerk of the Meeting (Chuck Zelasko). The letter doesn’t need to be long; just a few sentences with the request and why are sufficient. The letter can be emailed to chuckzelasko@gmail.com or mailed to Orchard Park Friends Meeting, 6924 East Quaker St., Orchard Park NY 14127
You will then meet with a group of Orchard Park Friends that you have chosen (called a “clearness committee”) to discuss the possibility and see if you have any questions. If you have any questions now, please reach out to anyone who attends Orchard Park Friends Meeting.