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. Each yearly meeting does Sessions with a slightly different flavor; there’s no one right way to conduct this important event.
Here in PYM, we’ve experimented over the years with when, where and how our sessions should unfold. We’ve added days in the spring and fall, called “Continuing Sessions” so that a whole year doesn’t go by without an opportunity for Friends to participate.
In 2019, out of necessity, we moved to an entirely online gathering. Since then we’ve learned that for many Friends, having the ability to join from home made it possible for them to attend when they would not have otherwise. We have invested in developing a hybrid model of Sessions and will continue to grow in our use of this format.
By sharing your thoughts, you’ll help shape the future of Annual Sessions and the ways we gather as a community of faith. Your contributions will guide how we foster connection, deepen our shared spiritual journey, and support each other in living our testimonies. This is also an opportunity to give back to your community and play a role in strengthening the spiritual life of PYM.