What's the Difference Between “Programmed” and “Unprogrammed” Quaker Worship?

When Quakers say that their worship service is “programmed” or “unprogrammed”, what do they mean?
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Transcript:
Nancy Wallace
I’ve worshiped with conservative Friends. I’ve worshipped in Central America. I’ve gone to Pastoral Meetings in the United States. I’ve gone to an Evangelical Meeting in the United States. They’re all different. What I would say is that the Meetings go from - you can find a Meeting that’s non-programmed, non-pastoral to a Meeting that’s totally programmed, totally pastoral, and you have every possible permutation in the middle.
What’s the Difference Between “Programmed” and “Unprogrammed” Quaker Worship?
Gloria Thompson
A Programmed Meeting means that we have a pastor, and we believe in reading the Bible, singing hymns - we have a piano that someone plays. And we have vocal ministry, really. Programmed means also we do enjoy the silence, there’s a period of silent meditation there, and we read from the scriptures.
Jim Anderson
There are about 20 of us that gather for an hour in a period of waiting worship, and I think I would describe that as a group of people with different understandings of what they’re doing. Different understandings of Quakerism. Some newcomers, some who have been there for decades. And they’re all in their own way settling into a period of quiet waiting in communion and connection with one another.
Karen Gregario de Calderon
Es un programa que construye mi vida espiritual. Amo la parte de cantar porque alabo al Señor y agradezco. Amo la parte de escuchar la persona quien me va a ensenar porque Dios tiene algo preparado para mí. Amo la parte de leer la Biblia porque también Dios me habla allí. Amo la parte de orar porque recibo bendición y escucho la voz de Dios. Todo el conjunto me beneficia espiritualmente. Amo el conjunto de cosas que hacemos en, en nuestra forma de adorar.
Eduardo Diaz
For some people the silence is uncomfortable. I know for me, initially it was, with my first unprogrammed Meeting, but then I learned to love it. Because I was given the opportunity to go deep inside, and to listen to that internal antennae that I could turn on and hear God’s voice, and search for guidance.
Nancy Wallace
The goal is not silence. The goal is creating the space in our very loud world so that we can hear God’s voice.
Kelly Kellum
In my experience, the core of even pastoral Friends worship is that centering, open worship time which we call the silent, unprogrammed time of our worship, in which we truly do seek to heed the presence of Christ that is in our midst.
Kristin Olson-Kennedy
I don’t have to believe a certain thing. I don’t have to profess a certain creed. I get to sit there and listen and be and experience and go through all of those things that are necessary for me to be closer to God, and I find that to be invaluable. I find that to be the only way I know how to become that person that God has created me to be.
Ministry in the Different Traditions
Kristin Olson-Kennedy
We don’t have any paid staff for our Meeting, we don’t have a paid pastor or any other support staff. We gather together in silence, so we have nothing programmed in our Meeting. So we come in and we sit down, we sit in expectant waiting.
Read More: quakerspeak.com/difference-bet...
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The views expressed in this video are of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Friends Journal or its collaborators.

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[@julirensch]

such a pure spirituality....350 years of devotion, peace and inspiration...

[@johanpdx]

Wonderful! It’s like the high points of my ten years’ service with Friends World Committee somehow made to fit into seven minutes. Thank you!

[@aldousu]

do you have Quakers in the philippines?

[@fortunecookie409]

facebook.com/QuakersInThePhilippines/

[@terencesilva4499]

I wish 💞

[@terencesilva4499]

Hi I just found out there's one in bohol

[@lisakimchris]

I was not instructing you.

[@myvictorianow]

clones

[@surrenderradio2064]

Jesus is the only way, and the Bible was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit for the purpose to teaching and correcting, and edifying us. Jesus is the Word, and without him as the core of the belief, any religious practice quickly becomes an apostasy.

[@lisakimchris]

Rooted _ You might want to do some more exploring. There’s a whole history and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are included in this religion. They are not spoken of at every turn like in other religions. It doesn’t mean they are not there.

[@surrenderradio2064]

Cross My Quilt
interesting that you would attack me for stating a viewpoint that you supposedly agree with...

[@lisakimchris]

Rooted _ my comment is a suggestion, not an attack. And, I never said I agreed nor disagreed with you.

[@surrenderradio2064]

Cross My Quilt
So what was the point of your comment..to instruct me on truth? What I stated was Gospel truth. Your either for it or against it.

[@DrGoodHeart]

Those who are curious may want to explore the difference between Particularism and Universalism. www.agreenroadjournal.com/2019/05/universalism-principles-compared-to.html