Regular gatherings
Complete Schedule
All gatherings are open to everyone unless otherwise noted. There is no membership requirement to attend any of these.
Sunday Gatherings
- Every Sunday Meeting for Worship — 10:00 AM Unprogrammed silent worship, approximately 50 minutes. Followed by fellowship at 11:00 AM in the West Room. In-person and Zoom.
- 2nd Sunday Opening Sessions — 9:30 AM A 30-minute gathering before worship to explore Quaker practice or thought. Open to newcomers and long-time Friends alike. In-person and Zoom.
- 3rd Sunday Monthly Meeting for Business — 11:30 AM A meeting for worship in which community matters are considered. All Friends are welcome to attend. Hybrid.
Joining us on Zoom
We offer hybrid worship every Sunday. To receive a Zoom link, email our clerk and you will hear back within a day or two.
Email the clerk →Fellowship after Worship
Every Sunday after meeting closes, everyone is welcome in the West Room for coffee, tea, light refreshments, and conversation. This is a wonderful time to meet members of the community, ask questions, and get a feel for what Goshen Friends is like beyond the meeting room.
First-time visitors are especially encouraged to stay. There is no obligation -- you are welcome simply to sit with a cup of coffee and observe.
Understanding worship
What is Meeting for Worship?
Meeting for Worship is the heart of Quaker community life. It is a gathered, expectant silence -- not a meditation session or a moment of quiet before the real program begins, but worship itself.
Friends sit together without a leader, without an agenda, and without a predetermined outcome. The silence is not empty. It is held collectively by the people in the room, each bringing their own attention and openness to whatever may arise.
If someone feels moved to speak, they stand and offer what is called vocal ministry -- a brief message, a scripture, a poem, a reflection. When they finish they sit down and the silence resumes. There is no response or discussion. What is shared is offered to the whole meeting, not directed at any individual.
What if I cannot sit in silence for 50 minutes?
Most people find it easier than they expected. It is common for newcomers to feel restless at first and then to settle into it. You are welcome to leave quietly at any time if you need to.
What do people think about during worship?
This varies widely and is entirely personal. Some people pray in a traditional sense, some meditate, some simply rest in stillness. There is no instruction or expectation. The silence holds whatever each person brings to it.
Can I speak during worship?
Yes, any person present may speak if they feel genuinely moved to do so. Visitors are welcome to offer vocal ministry. The tradition asks that messages be brief and that there be a settling period of silence between messages.
How does meeting end?
A rotating volunteer welcomes everyone, invites announcements from the group, and then closes worship for fellowship.