Throughout Spring Continuing Sessions, Friends from across the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting region gathered in person and over Zoom to worship, conduct business, and share meals before engaging in afternoon programs focused on welcome, belonging, and Quaker process. Friends of all ages participated, some attending for PYM business for the first time, while others joined from long-standing roles in their meetings. The afternoons offered space for reflection, creativity, and connection, with common themes emerging across locations: the importance of listening deeply, meeting people where they are, and intentionally creating spaces of belonging.
Arch Street
At Arch Street Meeting House, PYM’s Young Friends (grades 8 to 12) facilitated an intergenerational workshop on navigating disagreements and polarizing conversations. The session was highly interactive, beginning with participants choosing a topic and developing opposing viewpoints—one serious and one playful. Friends then enacted a physical representation of an argument using a stretchy workout band, pulling it farther and farther as voices grew louder, illustrating how tension builds. Afterward, Young Friends led small-group reflections, offering queries such as: “What was the point of this workshop?” and “How can we work through differences and have respectful disagreements?” Their leadership encouraged deep listening and self-reflection, creating a space where Friends could engage with an issue relevant to both Quaker process and everyday life.
Online On Zoom
Friends on Zoom reflected on worship sharing, lifting up favorite events like sharing gifts of music, poetry, and art across all ages, including children. Some spoke about how a shared meal changes the dynamic, making conversation feel more natural and connections more meaningful. Others shared experiences of listening circles, where Friends could share without interruption and return to meeting with a deeper sense of spirit. Friends also named challenges—some having difficulty connecting in monthly meetings, others working to expand advocacy and awareness around race and disability. There was reflection on how online participation creates access while also making some aspects of gathering harder to experience. Friends designed a poster and named essential ingredients for community: curiosity without assumption, listening for the spirit, and creating spaces where all ages and abilities feel included.
London Grove
At London Grove Meetinghouse, Friends gathered from across Chester County, Delaware, and beyond for an afternoon of reflection and creative engagement. The session opened with worship and a query inviting Friends to reflect on times they had arrived in a new place and experienced a true sense of welcome. Through personal stories—visiting different meetings, traveling abroad, or settling into unfamiliar communities—Friends explored how hospitality and intentional inclusion create belonging.
In small groups, participants considered the strengths of their meetings, the values that shape belonging, and experiences that have shaped their sense of connection. This led to an interactive exercise where Friends created “recipes” for a welcoming and spiritually grounded Quaker community. Through words and illustrations, they identified essential elements—open circles, deep listening, shared meals, patience, enthusiasm, and a commitment to inclusion. Each recipe reflected the collective wisdom of the gathering, emphasizing the role of intention and care in creating spaces where all are valued and able to participate fully.
State College
Friends from State College and Harrisburg Meetings gathered in the afternoon to reflect on what makes a spiritually grounded and welcoming meeting. The session began with stretching, introductions, and a check-in where Friends shared one word to describe how they were feeling. While older Friends engaged with queries about community life, younger Friends created their own recipe for a welcoming meeting.
Common themes emerged as the groups came together to discuss their reflections. Many Friends highlighted the joy of large gatherings with good food, the importance of centering Quaker values of equality and integrity, and the need for meetings to meet people where they are. When it came to the “ingredients” of a strong business meeting, Friends named trust, worshipful attending, patience, and active listening as key elements. Friends emphasized that there were more ingredients than could fit in a single recipe—community-building is an ongoing process. The day ended with 15 minutes of worship and a departing song, leaving Friends feeling grateful for the shared time together.
Mount Holly
At Mount Holly Meeting, adults and children from more than 15 meetings came together for a full day of worship, business, and fellowship. While adults participated in Meeting for Business—both in person and via Zoom—the youth had a day full of programming, including activities designed to build community and explore Quaker values. Afterward, everyone came together to enjoy a potluck feast.
The afternoon focused on sharing personal stories about belonging—times Friends had felt truly embraced and times when they had felt excluded. Interestingly, some places, like “church” and “camp,” appeared on both lists, highlighting the complexities of inclusion. Instead of ending the day with a structured report-back, the adults chose to embody the practice of belonging by joining the children outside, letting the day’s final moments unfold in shared play rather than formal discussion.
Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley Friends Meeting, the first to host Spring Sessions twice, welcomed about 25 Friends for Yearly Meeting business, apotluck lunch, and an afternoon of reflection. Many attendees were experiencing Yearly Meeting business for the first time and appreciated the opportunity to do so in a familiar space.
In the afternoon, Friends engaged in a creative exercise, developing “recipes” for Meeting for Business and for Joy and Belonging. Their reflections emphasized listening with love, releasing attachment to personal outcomes, and fostering caring connections. A special focus was placed on appreciating differences and ensuring that all people, including children and older adults, felt included in the life of the meeting. Friends’ recipes underscored the importance of presence, patience, and shared responsibility in nurturing both Quaker process and community life.
Meeting for Business Recipe by Lehigh Valley Friends
1/2 Cup – Letting go of ownership; presenting and releasing
1 Cup – Listening with love and letting the Spirit lead
1/4 Cup – Time, with a commitment to take the time needed
1/4 Cup – Being fully present in the space
1/2 Cup – Allowing issues to be seasoned by a committee before Meeting for Business
Instructions: Put all ingredients together in a bowl and stir with a spoon made of Trust and Spirit!
Recipe for Joy and Belonging by Lehigh Valley Friends
As much as you can give – Appreciation of differences
A generous portion – Emphasis on children and all people in vulnerable situations
Several cups – Caring connection and invitations to community events
A weekly opportunity – Sharing joys and sorrows
Endless supply – Listening and learning from all
If there are any additional questions about Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Sessions, please contact Tara Rubinstein, at trubinstein@pym.org or at (215) 241-7228.
PYM Friends are encouraged to contribute their thoughts and visions to the future of Sessions, you are encouraged to complete this survey to share your perspective. By sharing, you’ll help shape the ways we gather as a community of faith. Providing your ideas will guide how we connect our spiritual journey, and support each other in living our testimonies.
