302.652.4491
Welcoming everyone always.
Since 1738 • Sunday Worship 10:00 AM
Meeting at Wilmington Friends School beginning February 4th for renovations. See below for more info.
Join us
Beginning Sunday, February 4, 2024 and until completion of its interior painting project, Wilmington Friends Meeting will hold worship and First Day School at Wilmington Friends School (101 School Road). Use the school’s parking lot on Alapocas Drive and enter the school through doors at the arches that face this parking lot.
Wilmington Monthly Meeting of Friends (WMM) welcomes everyone (members, attenders, and visitors) to join us in weekly worship on Sunday mornings. We also welcome everyone to participate and become involved in the life and business of Wilmington Meeting.
Meeting for Worship at WMM begins at 10:00 a.m. every First Day (Sunday). Children and young Friends are invited to join First Day School (Sunday School) in the annex at 10:00 a.m. Young Friends join their families in worship at 10:45. Parents of the very young are invited to use the Nursery adjacent to the annex.
Meeting for Worship is usually followed by a social period with coffee and light refreshments.
Meeting for Worship with a concern for Business is held the second First Day of each month (except August) and begins at 10:45 a.m. Young Friends in First Day School join Meeting for Worship for the first 15 minutes on the second First Days.
Meeting for worship
In our meeting for worship, we gather together in expectant silence with neither clergy nor
liturgy. We settle into stillness, shedding the outside world and seeking to open our hearts to the
divine spirit which is within us and available to all. As the worship progresses and deepens in the
silence, a participant may feel moved to rise and share a message. Afterwards, the silence
resumes so that the words may be absorbed and reflected upon. This vocal ministry is
spontaneous, as we enter meeting for worship resolving neither to speak nor not to speak, but to
await spiritual prompting. We believe that there is that of God in everyone and everything, which
we experience as light. We seek to share the light with others. Near the end of worship, as a
community we raise up the names of people and concerns to hold in the light. Worship usually
lasts for about an hour and ends when a designated friend greets a neighbor and invites others to
do the same.
Following worship there are announcements, introductions, and the opportunity to share joys or
concerns. We hope you will consider worshiping with us and staying afterward to enjoy
refreshments and meet members of our faith community.
First Day School
& Young Friends
Children are invited to join First Day School (Sunday School) in the annex at 10:00 a.m. Young Friends join their families in worship at 10:45. Parents of the very young are invited to use the Nursery adjacent to the annex. First Day School students gather with other children of similar ages and engage in a wide variety of activities, such as Quaker studies, Bible study, environmental study, community outreach, singing, creative projects or group discussion.
Using a traditional Quaker term, Friends call the children's activities "First Day School."
Parents are welcome to bring the youngest children (Pre-K and younger) to the pre-school room at 10:00 a.m. Songs, circle games, reading books, and related arts and crafts take place from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. In nice weather, a period of play and exploration outside is encouraged.
Parents or guardians are asked to pick up their children no later than 11:15 a.m.
Become involved
with Quakerism
Visitors and attenders may learn about Quakerism and the way of Friends by attending Meeting for Worship and Meeting for Business, through discussion with members, through publications, and the links provided elsewhere on this web site. Although Friends are reluctant to proselytize, they want others to feel welcome in Meeting activities and are pleased to discuss all aspects of Quakerism. Quakerism has been characterized as a do-it-yourself religion, and this may cause visitors and attenders to find it difficult to comprehend.
Copies of Faith and Practice, other books and a variety of pamphlets are available in the foyer of the 5th Street entrance (next to the parking lot). There is also a Meeting Library on the balcony level of the Meeting House.
More information concerning what to expect at Meeting may be found at: QuakerSpeak.
When attenders feel comfortable with Quakerism and the Meeting from experience and reading and feel drawn to joint the Society of Friends, they write to the Monthly Meeting, stating why they feel unity with the Friends’ principles and testimonies. The Committee on Care of Members then communicate with the applicants and report to the Meeting for Business. Full guidelines for membership may be found in Faith and Practice.
Wilmington Friends School
For more information WIlmington Friends School please visit the School's Website
Wilmington Monthly Meeting – Part of a Larger Connection
Wilmington Friends Meeting is a "Monthly Meeting" even though we generally hold weekly Meetings for Worship. Local congregations are referred to as "Monthly Meetings" because they usually meet at least once a month to make decisions about issues and concerns that affect the local group. There are usually committees in these groups that bring forward recommendations and take care of work that the Meeting is undertaking. This is our monthly Business Meeting held on the second Sunday of each month.
Quarterly Meetings gather several times a year (most four times thus the name "Quarter") of members and attenders of local Meetings in a designated region. Some Quarters are more organized than others, having committees like local Meetings. Others gather simply for fellowship. Some have paid staff, some do not. Wilmington Friends Meeting is a member of the Concord Quarter, along with Appoquinimink Preparative Meeting, Birmingham Monthly Meeting, Chichester Meeting, Concord Monthly Meeting, Goshen Monthly Meeting, Middletown Monthly Meeting, West Chester Monthly Meeting, Westtown Monthly Meeting and Willistown Monthly Meeting.
Wilmington and all the other members of the Concord Quarter are members of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Yearly Meeting is an annual gathering of people from all the Quarters with in its region as well as visitors from other Yearly Meetings. This includes a year round organization of volunteers and paid staff. Standing Committees and working groups of volunteers work with the staff to implement programs through out the year.
Appoquinimink Preparative Meeting
Appoquinimink Preparative Meeting in Odessa, Delaware, which is under the care of Wilmington Monthly Meeting, holds Meeting for Worship every First and Third Sundays at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome!
Appoquinimink's current meeting house was built in 1785 by David Wilson and is said to be the smallest brick house of worship in the United States. It was a station on the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman is quoted as saying she hid in the Meeting House at times.
Location:
624 West Main Street
Odessa, Delaware
Contact us
401 North West Street (at the corner of Fourth and West)
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
302.652.4491