We’ve scrambled our plans for Annual Sessions and made something new! Register here for all programs described below!
Community Event: Sunday, July 25
As meetings and families begin to shift into more in-person activities, we added an in-person Community Visit to Historic Fair Hill on Sunday, July 25 to kick off Annual Sessions and our Youth Programs year! This Quaker burial ground is a hub of community activity today, with a gardening program and focus on learning and literacy. We’re excited to partner with them for the first time and look forward to seeing all ages children and youth together there, for a morning of fellowship, worship, and service!
Historic Fair Hill is accessible by public transportation and there is street parking. Families can also bring a blanket and picnic lunch for after our program. Friends are asked to consider bringing a book, one you’ve read and liked, to donate to their Little Free Library for neighborhood children. More information will be shared to registered participants.
Sessions Week: July 28 – August 1
The online programs for Children and Youth are focused on fun and learning. They are not scheduled alongside other Sessions programming, to allow for easier access with shared home electronic devices and to free parents to ensure appropriate oversight of their children’s activities.
Other opportunities for all ages of Friends to gather together during the week:
- All ages are encouraged to come to worship in the mornings, between 9-10am. Come for all or part of the time. For families who attend online — children can settle in with you for waiting worship, and you can have books, coloring and snacks ready. Because we are on “mute”unless sharing vocal ministry, you can do what works best for your family and be in community at the same time.
- The evening plenary sessions have amazing Friends sharing keynotes, speaking on topics relevant for Friends today. Many of these programs will be of interest to middle and high school Friends, and we hope families will watch together. Perhaps organize a community viewing at your meetinghouse?
Children’s Sessions Led by Crystal Hershey and Mars Hohenstein
Children’s Sessions is like a combination of children’s meeting and summer camp! Children who register will receive a “spiritual care package” in the mail before Sessions starts, with materials to use during two afternoon online program times.
- Thursday, July 29, 4-5pm: Drag Queen Story Hour with Pam
- Friday, July 30, 4-5pm: Art project exploring the theme “Uprooting Injustice, Rooting Justice”
Middle School Friends Led by Elizabeth Croce, Kristin Simmons, Alix Vallery
We’re excited to welcome rising 6th Graders to the MSF community! The MSF program is growing in new ways in the coming year, becoming a “Quaker Coming of Age” program that will focus on spiritual growth, service, and identity. Youth who register will receive a “spiritual care package” with materials for the online programs in the afternoons.
- Thursday, July 29, 4-5pm: Introductions and Games to get to know each other
- Friday, July 30, 4-5pm: Collage Activity and Worship Sharing
- Saturday, July 31, 4-5pm: Cooking with Alix!
Young Friends Led by Olivia Chalkley and Aeryn Luminkith
Young Friends provides a spiritual home for high school aged Quaker and Quaker-friendly youth, and Annual Sessions is when we welcome rising 9th Graders to the community. This year, we are excited to work with one of the Sessions keynote speaker, mediator, social worker, rapper, singer/songwriter, music producer, and published poet Mai Spann-Wilson, who will lead Young Friends in a multi-part workshop on Social Justice.
- Thursday, July 29, 4-5pm: Social Justice Workshop with Mai-Spann Wilson (part 1)
- Friday, July 30, 4-5pm: Social Justice Workshop with Mai-Spann Wilson (part 2)
- Saturday, July 31, 10am-1pm: Social Justice Workshop with Mai-Spann Wilson (part 3 with adult mentors*)
- ALSO: Times for committee work, affinity groups, meeting for business, and worship together
*Adults who are family members, meeting friends, or mentors to Young Friends should please sign up to do the July 6 workshop with Mai as preparation for the multigenerational session on Saturday!
Worship Sharing for Parents
Annual Sessions is also a time for Families to be in community and while we can’t be in the residential Family Neighborhood together this summer, we’ll offer a space for parents, primary caregivers (including grandparents), foster parents, and guardians of infants to teens to gather for support and fellowship on Saturday evening with worship sharing from 9-10 pm. We will gather for a time of grounded listening, spiritual care, and joy together. People who are parenting children ages 0-18 are invited to join! Register on either your own Registration or on a Youth Registration page for a young person in your family.
Questions? Please reach out to Youth Religious Life Coordinator Melinda Wenner Bradley, mwennerbradley@pym.org
