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Sessions 2024
We are Called to Healing — healing ourselves, our local communities, and our world. Annual Sessions: Saturday, July 6th to Sunday, July 7th at Haverford College.
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What is Sessions?
Annual Sessions is one of the oldest Quaker traditions! Today, all over the world, yearly meetings gather once a year to bring together members and attenders from their local meetings. We call them “Sessions” because meeting for worship with attention to the business of the Yearly Meeting is central to these times together. Continuing Sessions are our one-day events on the second Saturday of November and March, where we attend to the continuing business of the Yearly Meeting and enjoy fellowship across generations. During all these times we ask: What is God’s big idea for PYM Friends?
Annual Sessions 2024 Schedule of Events
Come one, come all! It’s summer, and time for Annual Sessions!
Take note: There are events in the week leading up to our time together in July. These “Runway to Annual Sessions” events take place on Zoom, and include a mix of Business, learning and spiritual connection. See you there!
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June 5, 12, 18 & 26: Bible Study
7:00 – 8:00pm
Join us for the series for an exploration of Bible passages on our Sessions theme, “Called to Healing.”
June 25: Meeting for Business
7:00 – 8:15pm
- Epistle Committee presented (for decision) I
- 2025 Budget preview with Q&A (for discussion)
- Climate Stewards Report
June 29: George Fox’s 400th Birthday event at Arch Street Meeting House
- Panel discussion with Quaker leaders on the current witness of Friends and future
- vision of Quakerism
- Food trucks and treats
- Historical re-enactors, games (including a dunk tank!), storytime and more!
See the website for a full schedule of the event. All ages welcome! Free!
July 6: Annual Sessions at Haverford College
Events listed with an asterisk (*) are hybrid. All others are onsite only.
9:00 – 10:00AM | FGC Gathering closing worship
PYM attendees welcome even if not registered for the Gathering
10:00AM – 12:30PM | Lunch
1:00 – 5:30PM | PYM meeting for worship with attention to business*
- We will set the table for Annual Sessions with four snack-sized explorations on
- The practice of worship
- Discernment in the manner of Friends
- Addressing racism as we gather
- Addressing climate change at Sessions
- Nominations to PYM positions (for decision)
- 2025 Yearly Meeting budget (for decision)
- Spiritual State of the Yearly Meeting Report
- Consideration of Israel and Palestine (for discussion)
- Update on the lobbying policy (for discussion)
- Implementing our 5 strategic directions (for discussion)
1:00 – 5:30PM | Youth programs and childcare
Games, crafts, water play and Quaker fun
5:30 – 6:30PM | Dinner
7:00 – 8:30PM | Evening intergenerational program choices
- Song circle – with George Schaefer
- Walk the Haverford Arboretum trail
- All ages story time on the lawn
- Discussion: George Fox’s Book of Miracles*
9:00PM | Evening fellowship
July 7th: Annual Sessions at Haverford College
8:00AM | Breakfast
9:00AM | Walk or shuttle to Haverford Friends Meeting (HFM) from campus
9:15AM | Refreshments, fellowship and playground time at HFM 9:45AM | Announcements*
10:00AM | All Together Worship*
10:45AM | Walk or shuttle back to Haverford Campus
11:30AM – 1:00PM | Meeting for business*
- What is the essence of a monthly meeting?
- The practices of PYM community: General Secretary report
- Epistle reading and approval (for decision)
11:30AM – 1:00PM | Youth programs and childcare
1:00PM | Boxed lunch and head home
The Quaker Tradition of Home Hospitality
Are you a Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Friend living within a 40 minute drive to Haverford? Do you have a spare room to share for 1-2 nights on July 5th to 6th? Then please consider opening your arms and your home as we re-awaken the practice of home hospitality for traveling Friends!
PYM Friends who attend the FGC Gathering will have the option to extend their stay on campus for an extra night on campus for Annual Sessions. Haverford College will not have time to turn over enough rooms in time for new arrivals of PYM members who need a place to stay. That’s where you come in!
On this form, you’ll be able to share about yourself, your home, and how many Friends you can accommodate. We’ll match you up with someone seeking housing and connect you in the weeks before early July. This is a great way to meet new Friends!
Looking forward:
Fall Continuing Sessions: Friday, November 8th – Sunday, November 10th, 2024 at Arch Street Meeting House.
Memorial Meeting for Worship
Keep your eye on the PYM calendar for Sessions events throughout 2024. We will continue to explore our Sessions theme “Called to Healing” with events for all ages. See below for a message from Jean-Marie Prestwidge Barch, Clerk of the Ministry & Care committee, about when and where you’ll find Memorial Meeting for Worship.
“It has been our custom each year when we gather for annual sessions to set aside time to memorialize those who have shed their earthly form during the year past. We set aside the time needed so that we may celebrate and share our memories of these Friends and the impact their lives have had on our lives. We need ample time to accomplish our Meeting for Memorial with care. The change in our schedule for sessions this year offers the opportunity to hold our meeting for memorial at Fall continuing sessions rather than during our shorter summer session. Ministry and Care Committee also invites Friends to consider if an additional recognition (for example a planting of some sort) for those in the meeting community who have died during the past year speaks to your meeting’s needs. We will gather during fall continuing sessions to share our memories as is our custom.“