As you visit us - Annapolis Friends Meeting

Annapolis Friends Meeting has several worship meetings on different days and at different times. Whenever Quakers meet, it is a Meeting for Worship (what may be called a “church service”) because we are centering and listening to the voice of Spirit. There are formal times that we gather with specific attention to worship, mostly Sundays. See the schedule below.

As you participate at a Meeting for Worship, please introduce yourself. Friends (a.k.a., Quakers) are welcoming and happy to answer questions or provide guidance. Information about Quakers and our worship is available in the lobby of the meetinghouse. Feel free to take what interests you. In addition, online Quaker resources are available. Click here to check out online Quaker Resources.

Here at Annapolis Friends Meeting, we have no designated minister, no pre-arranged prayers, no sermons, or hymns. Our worship is based on faith that human beings can communicate directly with God. Worshiping together in silence is a way for a community to be brought together in love and faithfulness. We all undertake the responsibilities of ministry. Anyone may feel inspired to give what we call “vocal ministry” (to stand and briefly speak out of the silence). This would be a message they feel they received not just for themselves, but for others in the community as well. After they speak their message, they sit and the silence resumes. Such messages may be offered several times by different people during a Meeting for Worship, or, the whole period of worship may be silent.

Annapolis Friends Meeting has a Children's Religious Education program called First Day School that is held concurrently with the 11:00 am Meeting for Worship during the school year. At about 15 minutes before noon, the caregivers and teachers bring the children into the worship room to sit with their family members and join in the rest of the silent worship.

During the last 5 minutes of worship, a Friend will ask for us to say aloud or silently, the names of people or issues for which they would like us to pray. Instead of the word “pray,” we generally use the term “hold in the Light,” God’s Light.

When the worship time is over, an appointed Friend will break the meeting by standing and shaking hands with a neighbor. Everyone responds by similarly welcoming those seated nearby.

We then gather in a circle where we all introduce ourselves, simply stating our names and sharing any joys we may have. We ask visitors to introduce themselves as newcomers and invite them to share whatever they wish. Announcements follow, and the circle breaks for time to socialize and get to know one another.

If you have any questions, please let us know. During our end-of-worship circle some Friends will introduce themselves as those who will be available to meet with you. In the meetinghouse, we also have a library located in the meetinghouse across from the kitchen. You may browse and borrow books of interest that will help you to become more familiar with Quakers.

We hope you will join us!

Sunday Worship:

8:00 am. at (only on the 2nd, 4th & 5th Sundays). Attend in-person outdoors in good weather.

11:00 am. Attend either in-person or remotely on Zoom (see AFM Calendar for access info).

Children's Religious Education (Sunday school or First Day School) is held each Sunday during the school year at 11:00 am (currently mostly on Zoom). Contact children@annapolisfriends.org with questions or for more information.

*Safety Guidance: Masks and physical distancing are optional inside the meetinghouse.

North County: Held on the 1st Tuesday of each month, at 7:00 pm (see North County Meeting information on the calendar)

Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business is held on the 1st Sunday each month at 9:00 to 10:45 am

Potluck Lunch 1st Sunday following Meeting for Worship using Zoom at about 12:30 pm

See the calendar for additional information.