Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Meeting for Worship begin?

Friends meet in the Worship Room upstairs for silent Worship at 10:00 am every Sunday. Worship begins when the first person enters the room.

How long is Meeting for Worship?

The full Meeting for Worship lasts about one hour, ending at 11:00 am. At Lehigh Valley Meeting, children join us for the first 20 minutes of silent Worship before attending their own programs.

Is the building accessible?

Yes, the building has an elevator and equipped bathrooms, and hearing assistance.

Is there childcare available during Meeting for Worship?

Infant and pre-K childcare is available downstairs.

Any school age children are invited to take part in worship and then Religious Ed. class or program which begins after 20 minutes. The teachers and care givers have protection clearances on file.

What should I expect at my first Lehigh Valley Friends Meeting?

Guests are greeted at the door and given a brief welcome. Quiet Worship lasts for one hour followed by announcements and introductions. We ask for phones to be quieted.

Is there a pastor?

Quakers believe that everyone has the Light of God within themselves, and everyone can communicate with the Living Spirit. Lehigh Valley Friends is an unprogrammed Meeting, and Worship is led by God (all those present) instead of one individual. We do nominate a member to serve as clerk to facilitate the business of the Meeting.

I notice that during Worship, some people stand and speak. Is that something I should do?

Quakers believe that during Worship, quiet reflection may lead to the sense of a Spirit led message that would be appropriate to share with the community. It is not expected that there would be a response.

What is a Query?

A Query is a question designed to bring forth reflection and discernment in order to help discussion and decision making.

How are Quakers organized?

There about 10,000 Friends in the Greater Philadelphia Area organized into the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. The Bucks Quarterly Meeting is a smaller regional group of that body and the Lehigh Valley Monthly Meeting is one of 14 Monthly Meetings in that Quarter. As the names suggest, these groups meeting accordingly (once and four times) to conduct Business Meetings to make decisions. At LVMM, the business meeting follows Meeting for Worship on the second Sunday of each month. Decisions are made by agreement and not by voting.

As LVMM has no pastor, the work of the Meeting is done by volunteers through various committees.

How does one become a member of the Meeting?

Guests and attenders are welcome at any stage of their spiritual journeys. Membership comes after an appropriate amount of experience, reflection, discernment and commitment.

Is there a requirement to be a member of the Meeting?

Prospective members are asked to test their readiness for membership through discernment and discussion with a committee of members of the Meeting. Friends are asked to make a commitment to the care of the Meeting community.