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Welcome
Welcome to Centre Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. Now that you have found us online we hope you will visit us in-person very soon. Meeting for Worship is held on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. First Day (Sunday) school is provided at the same time for children. All are welcome.
How to Find Us
Centre Friends Meeting is located on Centre Meeting Road, at Adams Dam Road, 9/10ths of a mile east of DE 52, near Centreville, Delaware. The street address is: Centre Meeting Road and Adams Dam Road, Greenville, DE 19807. Parking is available at either end of the Meetinghouse or in front of the Schoolhouse across the street.
About Us
Centre Friends Meeting is a diverse, spiritually reflective, and socially conscious community. We are young and old, single and coupled, conservative and liberal, seasoned and new to the Quaker tradition, white and people of color, gay and heterosexual. We find inspiration in our over 300 year history, historic Meetinghouse and beautiful countryside setting.
What We Offer
In addition to unprogrammed, silent worship every Sunday we also offer a variety of educational and social activities for children and adults:
- After Meeting for Worship Socializing
- Light refreshments at the rise of Meeting
- Potlucks
- Fourth Sundays, after rise of Meeting, Schoolhouse
- Children’s First Day School
- Sundays, 11:00 a.m. in the Schoolhouse
- Adult Forums
- Sundays, September-May, 9:30 in the Schoolhouse
- Meeting for Worship for Business
- Third Sundays of the month, Meetinghouse
- Meeting Retreat
- Fall
- Foundations of Quakerism
- Spring
What We Believe
Quakerism is a non-creedal faith. It isn’t so much what you believe that makes you a Quaker but your desire to be in community with other Friends. Nevertheless, there are certain ideas that have and continue to be important to many Quakers:
- That of God in Everyone
- Everyone contains something of the sprit
- The Inner Light
- Everyone is capable of an unmediated experience of the spirit
- Continuing Revelation
- The spirit continues to reveal itself
- Letting Your Life Speak
- Contemplation and action in the world go hand in hand
- Sense of the Meeting
- We seek unity in decision-making
- Values of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship of the Earth
- Our historic Quaker testimonies
How We Worship
We enter the Meetinghouse quietly and sit wherever we like. We then try to quiet our minds and bodies while sitting in silence waiting for a sense of the spirit. Should anyone feel moved to speak, he or she stands and gives a short message. We don’t comment on the message but simply listen to it in a receptive state. It is customary to leave a period of silence between messages. After approximately an hour a Friend will close the worship by shaking hands with those nearby. Everyone then does the same. Afterwards, there will be a sharing of afterthoughts, announcements and introductions followed by light refreshments and socializing.
Children’s First Day School
We provide age appropriate and stimulating religious education to school age children, kindergarten through middle school. Our First Day School is a spiritual community of children within the larger spiritual community of our Meeting. Through story, games, song, and prayer, we hope to awaken in our children the ability to hear that “still small voice” within. While some children may be ready to attend First Day School at age 4, all children should make the transition by the time they begin kindergarten. Childcare is provided for pre-school children in the nursery.
Your First Visit
We like to acknowledge newcomers during introductions. Please feel free to say a few words about yourself, if you desire. You are encouraged to stay for refreshments following Meeting so other Friends can greet you and answer any questions you may have. We would be most appreciative if you would sign our guest book before leaving.
How to Contact Us
If you have any questions before or after your visit, please contact Freeman Miller, Meeting Clerk, at Freeman.miller@gmail.com.
