What to Expect
Meeting for Worship is held every Sunday morning at 10am. We gather in silence, taking time to center ourselves and quiet our thoughts. After we settle into the silence, if someone is moved to speak, they will stand and share their message, which is followed by more silence, as we let the message sink into our shared worship. Not every message will speak to everyone present, so we try to listen beyond the words to the spirit that inspired the message. We don’t offer direct responses to each other’s messages, however at times a message will spark a theme in people’s spoken ministry. In some meetings for worship, no one will speak, and we sit in worshipful silence. After about an hour, the meeting will end with a handshake.
In our community, we view everyone as a minister and our leadership operates on a rotating, volunteer basis, rather than having a paid pastor. Letting our lives speak is more important to us than agreement on a particular set of beliefs; we are theologically very diverse. We seek together for a closer connection to our sense of the Divine and for a way to live according to how we are led. The heart of our community is the shared meeting for worship.
After Meeting for Worship and announcements, we have fellowship, which is time for coffee, snacks and conversation. Questions? Email ffmquakerquestions@gmail.com
History
Framingham Friends Meeting began in 1959 with an informal gathering at the home of Margaret Welch. In 1961, the Framingham Worship Group, as it was known, was formalized under the care of Friends Meeting at Cambridge and met monthly in the homes of members. Following the usual Quaker process, it became a preparative meeting in 1964, and in 1979, became an independent monthly meeting, as it is today. The meetinghouse is the former #7 schoolhouse, which was originally built in 1839 and moved to its present location in 1964. An addition, to provide space for first day school and other activities, was built in 1974 and the building was made wheelchair accessible in 1994. A new kitchen was completed in time for thanksgiving dinner in 2008.
Covid Guidelines
Covid Guidelines for Framingham Friends Meeting:
- Attendees must be fully vaccinated.
- Masks are not required but are not discouraged.
- Attendees should not attend if they have any symptoms or have recently been exposed to anyone with Covid.
We no longer require masking at Meeting for Worship or other events at the meeting house. We do not discourage masking, as believing that masks protect the user. This allows individuals to make their own choices about risk in deciding whether to mask as they feel appropriate.