Frequently Asked Questions

 

What if I’m in the LGBTQIA+ community?

It’s cool. So are lots of us. You’ll fit right in.

What do I wear?

Whatever you like. You’ll see a lot of t-shirts and jeans and maybe a “World’s Best Grandma” shirt. You probably won’t see anyone else in a suit, but if that’s your style? You do you.

What about my kids?

The larger meetings have specific programs for kids and other kids for yours to socialize with. Smaller meetings may not have many other kids on a regular basis, but they should be ready to welcome yours.

I’m not a morning person. Which starts latest?

These ones start between 11am and noon: Alexandria, Bethesda, Sandy Spring, and Takoma Park

I work on Sunday mornings. Any evening options?

Friends Meeting of Washington, near Dupont Circle, has a 6pm Sunday meeting time.

Why the name “Friends Meeting”?

Two parts:

  1. Officially, we’re the Religious Society of Friends. Jesus said he doesn’t call his followers servants, but rather friends. “Quaker” is just a nickname.
  2. The Church is worldwide. Anything smaller is a group of people, meeting together.

How many people will there be?

On the smaller side are the worship group and preparative meeting. Those may be fewer than 10 people. Next up is the 20–50 range. Finally, “large” in our context tends to max out aroung 100 people in the room.

What meeting is earliest on Sunday?

Sandy Spring and Friends Meeting of Washington (Dupont Circle) both have 9am meeting times available.

What should I expect?

Is there disabled access?

Each location has its own accessibility information on its page. Generally, getting to the worship space shouldn’t be a problem. After-worship activities may pose more obstacles. Several locations are renovating to correct this.

Do you use the Bible?

While any given message on a Sunday may or may not include a quote from the Bible, it is an important book in our tradition. Some larger meetings may host monthly or weekly Bible studies.

We are not Biblical literalists. A deeper, more spiritual reading has been prized since the early days of the Church, and we continue to value that over a shallow, surface reading.