Silent worship is very individual, and different people do different things. Simply put, we sit and do something similar to meditation. Quakers often talk about "centering down." The idea is to try to get in touch with that of God within you. If, from this, you get a message, you break silence and share it with the Meeting. Sometimes we are seeking a message from God, but most times we are just trying to be in communion with God; sometimes a message comes from that, but sometimes none comes. After each message during worship, we leave a period of silence before the next message, for people to contemplate what has just been said. During the last fifteen minutes of worship, the Clerk breaks from Silent Worship and asks that we “hold in the Light” those for whom we have joys or concerns, either aloud or in our hearts. At the close of worship, in Athens Meeting, the clerk usually asks if anyone had any thoughts during worship “that didn't rise to the level of a message." That way, even if you didn't feel compelled to speak, you can share what you were led to think about during worship (sharing unspoken thoughts often provokes a short discussion during our break between First and Second Hour).

We have no stated theme for silent worship. However, Quakers do have various sets of what we call "queries," which are questions with no right or wrong answers, for people to ponder either during Meeting or during the rest of the week. [One example from our book of Faith and Practice is: Do you practice the art of listening to one another in your families, even beyond words? Do you show respect and understanding for one another? Do you plan activities that will give the family time to grow together? Do you share your deepest beliefs and skills with all members of the family?] Some Meetings state a query at the start of each worship hour or print a query in their weekly bulletin or monthly newsletter. In the past, we have had a query or a quotation in our monthly newsletter to meditate on, and from time to time have had someone read a query at the start of silent worship.

Although speaking during Meeting is not conversational (no discussing, arguing the right or wrong, or saying whether you agree with the speaker), words spoken often speak directly to what someone else has been thinking about. Other messages may deal with the same theme, or they may not. Sometimes it turns out that, all unplanned, there was a theme to our worship. When everyone at Meeting seems to be concentrating together on a single issue, or feeling, or struggle, you can feel the presence of God quite strongly, and we call it a "gathered Meeting."

Quaker worship is not easy, in the sense that there is nobody telling you how to interpret spiritual readings or what to believe. Quakers often prepare for Sunday worship by reading and thinking about things during the week and then contemplating those things in a worshipful manner during Sunday worship. When we gather, we grow spiritually by sharing our paths and journeys with one another. Many people find this worship format comforting and nourishing to their spiritual growth. Individuals who want to hear a sermon or to have rigorous guidance for their spiritual growth tend to find Quakerism does not match their needs.