Welcome


Welcome to the Web site of the Rochester Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers. Our worship community has developed this Web site for those seeking information about Quaker faith and practice, for those who need information about where and when we hold meetings for worship, and for those who find this Web site a convenient way of keeping up with Meeting news and activities.

About Quaker Worship


Quaker worship follows the form established by the earliest members of the Religious Society of Friends. Since the 17th century, Friends have gathered together in silence and tried to still our bodies, our minds, and our hearts so that we may be better able to listen to the Holy Spirit in our midst.

Our discipline takes the form of suspending our own wishes and expectations, our own knowledge and opinions, in order to be open to the living word of God. We come without prepared messages or written prayers, without arguments or agendas, and we wait together for what may arise out of our prayerful silence.

Settling into silence, it quickly becomes evident that the most relentless, demanding noise comes from inside ourselves. Since we believe that God may speak to all of us through any one of us, anyone may offer a song, a prayer, or a spoken message during this time.

Our guidelines for such offerings are very simple:

• If another person starts to speak at the same time, keep listening.
• If it is hard to understand what the speaker means, keep listening.
• If you disagree with what is said, keep listening.

Before speaking out of the silence, we try to examine our readiness by asking ourselves:

• Is this message meant only for me, or must I share it?
• Does it have to be in these words?
• Does it have to be given right now?
• Am I the one to speak it?
• Have I already spoken in this meeting?
• Has enough time passed since the last message for everyone to consider what was said?
• Am I merely answering someone, as in a debate, or am I speaking from a fresh direction in my soul?
• Am I being moved or tempted to speak?

If a message should depart from the tradition of Quaker worship, elders may rise as a reminder to the speaker that we are in worship.

Meeting is over when a designated person shakes hands with those next to her or him, a signal for all to greet those sitting near them.

Meeting Times for Worship

During the fall, winter, and spring months, Sunday meetings for worship are scheduled for 11:00 AM to noon.

During the summer months—from the Sunday after Memorial Day through the Sunday before Labor Day—Sunday meetings for worship are scheduled for 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. We do not have planned religious education for children or adults during the summer meetings for worship.

We also hold a midweek meeting for worship on Tuesdays from 12:15 PM to 12:45 PM.

The Attica Quaker Worship Group meets at the Attica Correctional Facility each Friday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Those wishing to attend an Attica Quaker Worship Group meeting are asked to contact Fred or Judy Halley by the Sunday evening before.

Visitors Are Welcome


We welcome to our meetings for worship, religious education, and First Day school all people who feel moved to visit and worship with us. We would like to encourage first-time visitors to introduce themselves upon their arrival to someone in our worship community so that we can answer any questions they may have about our meeting for worship or other Meeting activities.

How to Find Us


Our meetinghouse is in downtown Rochester at the corner of Scio and Charlotte Streets. We are a block south of Main Street on Scio Street and a block north of East Avenue. There is a municipal parking garage across the street on Scio.

From 490 East, take the Downtown-Clinton Avenue Exit and go north on Clinton. At Main Street, turn right and go to Scio Street. Turn right. You will see the meetinghouse to your left. It is a red brick building.

From 490 West, take the Inner Loop exit going east. Take the Scio Street exit and turn right on Scio. The meetinghouse is on on your left at Charlotte Street after two traffic signals.

Contacting Us


If you need further information, please feel free either to call us at (585) 325-7260 and leave a message or to use our on-line contact form.