“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” —Matthew 7:7-8
Friends are also known as Seekers, so by seeking us out, you have already started your journey as a Friend.
Here are some next steps:
- Introduce yourself after meeting
- Write your contact information in our guest book
- Go to Afterthoughts
- Join us at Fellowship Hour
- Come to a Newcomer Meal
- Attend a Adult Forum
- Sign up to receive email updates of publications and join the Meeting Listserv
- Fill out a Newcomers Form
- Attend Meeting for Worship again
Ready for some further steps?
- Attend Meeting for Business in Worship
- Help with Refreshments for Fellowship Hour
- Attend Sunday Simple Meals and Potlucks
- Join the Young Adult Friends Group
- Participate in witness activities on Climate, Peace and Justice, and Racial Justice.
- Attend Meeting Retreats and Other Events
- Visit some committees and groups that interest you.
- Keep attending Meeting for Worship
Afterthoughts (11:45am Sundays)
Afterthoughts is a small group gathering that meets in the parlor immediately following meeting for worship which offers the opportunity for anyone to ask questions or discuss their experiences in meeting for worship. It meets most Sundays at 11:45am, with somewhere between 5 to 20 people attending this half-hour gathering, and it is generally a mix of new and seasoned Friends.
Afterthoughts has a myriad of purposes. For attenders, it can be helpful to attend if you’re new and have questions, have lingering thoughts from worship that you want to share or explore, or are interested in joining this meeting and want to know about the process. For members and those steeped in Quakerism, it can be helpful to attend when challenging questions arise for you in Meeting or when you have a deeply moving experience in Meeting and want to explore this further with others. Afterthoughts is led by members of the Membership Committee.
Fellowship Hour (Sunday Mornings After Worship)
All are invited to join our informal gathering for refreshments and light snacks in the Friends Room immediately following the rise of Meeting on Sunday mornings. This is a time when Friends mingle and meet others new to FMC or who are visiting.
Newcomer Meal
We are a large Quaker community, and it can be challenging to figure out how to navigate or discover all the wonderful opportunities available at FMC. These meals are designed to welcome newcomers to our community and provide a smaller, informal setting for getting to know one another. They also provide an opportunity to ask questions and the chance to find out more about FMC and Quakerism in general. Newcomer Meals are held 3 times per year — one in fall, winter, and spring. If you would like to be added to our Email List to receive a reminder about the next upcoming Newcomer Meal, send an email to fellowship@fmcquaker.org and request to be added.
Adult Forum (9:30am Sundays)
Forums are informal devotional discussions, usually with a leader and about a particular topic. They meet in the parlor and are designed to help those who attend prepare for meeting for worship. All are welcome. Forums provide good opportunities for new members, attenders, and visitors to learn more about our Meeting and what issues are of concern to the Meeting, and to get to know other individuals in the Meeting. Childcare is provided beginning at 9:15.
Meeting Calendar, Publications, and Listserv
- Calendar: A calendar of events at Friends Meeting at Cambridge, including worship opportunities, community events, committee and group meetings, and children and youth events is posted in a monthly view on the calendar page (news > calendar), and on the front page in a weekly format. You can adjust the view to list or to weekly view in the dropdown menu on the upper right hand side of the calendar pages.
- Weekly Announcements: To receive an email version of the weekly announcement sheet, send request to: FMC Office
- Monthly Newsletter: Our monthly Newsletter aims to capture the spirit and life of our community, and lists details for the events and happenings occurring during the month. It is designed to reflect the concerns and perspectives of our community and welcomes contributions of prose, poetry, or art. Submissions should be sent to fmcbulletin@hotmail.com by the middle of the month. To receive an email version, send request to: FMC Office
- Meeting Listserv: The Listserv provides an avenue for community members to be able to quickly communicate announcements, requests, or information to other community members through an email group list. Participation in this group is voluntary and it serves as a way to foster networking, connection, and support among the FMC community. To join the FMC Email Listserv, read the Guidelines for Google List carefully. Then send an email to FMC Office indicating that you agree to the guidelines and would like to join the List. You will receive a separate email from Google Groups with an invitation and instructions on how to be added to the List.
Fellowship Hour Set Up
Sunday Simple Lunch and Potlucks
Simple Lunches
On most Sundays throughout the year a group of volunteers prepares a simple lunch of soup, salad, and bread. A suggested contribution of $5 is requested but not at all required.
Holiday Potlucks
Potlucks are held on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Business Meeting Potlucks
On the second Sunday of each month from September through June, a potluck is held following Fellowship Hour so that those attending Meeting for Business will have the opportunity to eat before beginning the meeting at 1:15. All are welcome to attend both.
Meeting Retreats and other Events
Fellowship & Outreach Retreats
Each March, the Fellowship & Outreach Committee hosts an all Meeting weekend retreat. The main purpose of these retreats is to foster fellowship, deepen our spiritual and personal connections to one another, and to have fun and hopefully experience relaxation too. Each year, a theme is selected and workshops are offered based on those themes. In recent years, the themes have included: Simplicity, Compassionate Communication, and Environmental Stewardship. For information about the next retreat, look in upcoming Newsletters or send an email to fellowship@fmcquaker.org
Ministry and Counsel Retreats
Periodically throughout the year, the Ministry & Counsel Committee will host day-long and sometimes weekend long retreats. Themes in past years have been “Exploring Our Individual & Shared Identity as FMC Quakers” and “An Exploration of Forgiveness”. For more information about any upcoming retreats send an email to office@fmcquaker.org
Women’s Silent Retreats
Twice a year, in the fall and spring, a group of FMC women participate in a Quaker silent retreat weekend. In the silence that begins on Friday evening and ends on Sunday morning after meeting for worship, all are held with a loving presence and in silent interaction. Some fellowship time occurs at the beginning and end of the retreat. Collective worship times are available in the morning and the evening and are held in the usual FMC manner, open to messages. For more information, send an email to office@fmcquaker.org.
Welcome Newcomers to FMC
We are delighted that you are connecting with us on our website today! If you would like to know more about Friends Meeting at Cambridge, please fill out the form below.
For more immediate information about attending Meeting, go to the “First time visiting Friends Meeting at Cambridge?” section on the front page of the website.
Worship times are on Sunday mornings at 10:30am, on Sunday evenings at 5pm, and on Wednesday mornings from 8:30am to 10am.