
July is a big month for the Programs and Religious Life Team! Why you may ask? It’s because we’re gearing up for Annual Sessions, which will be taking place from Wednesday, July 23, through Sunday, July 27, at Cheyney University. Sessions will offer a space for Friends to worship in community and practice our faith. The theme of sessions, Members One of Another, reminds us that our faith is not just about the places we meet, but the relationships we build, nourish, and support. If you haven’t already, be sure to register!
We will have two incredible keynote addresses by Dr. Ayesha Imani of Ujima Friends Peace Center, Unity Monthly Meeting, and Friends General Conference; and Joyce Ajlouny, General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee. During Annual Sessions, we will pack in time for fun and fellowship with crafts led by Friend Meg Barney of Providence Monthly Meeting and a Drum Circle led by Tim Simmons of Old Haverford Friends Meeting. Friends will also have time to gather together in Affinity Group spaces, which include affinity groups for Friends of African Descent, Friends with Disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ Friends. In addition, affinity groups for both parents and grandparents will meet during dinner on Friday evening. We hope that this time together will provide the opportunity for people to meet and share about the experience of Quaker parenting/grandparenting.
All youth and families are invited to join us for worship and worship sharing, conversations and relationship-building, games and art, water play, outdoor activities, and more! Youth will have the opportunity to get to know others in their age group, and there will be time for families to gather together to build community.
You will not want to miss the special online program on Thursday, July 24, online at 7:00 pm, focusing on “Communities of Practice: Building Our Connections Around Five PYM Thread Topics.” There will be five breakout rooms that will correspond to each of the Five PYM Threads, and there will be unique queries for Friends to discuss in each breakout room:
- Ministry & Care: How does our meeting nurture members in all stages of life?
- Peace & Social Justice: Are you encountering polarization within your Meeting? How are you engaging in conversations with those who have different beliefs/values?
- Governance & Stewardship: Does our meeting encourage its members to support with their time, energy and finances the quarterly and yearly meetings and other Quaker organizations?
- Religious Education: What opportunities do we provide for all in the meeting to learn about Friends’ history, practices and testimonies, and other religious traditions?
- Outreach & Communication: What opportunities have I taken to worship with people from other religious and cultural backgrounds and work with them on common concerns?
Additionally, there are a lot of events happening in the runway leading up to Annual Sessions. For example, on July 16, at 7:00 pm, there will be a Budget Q&A with PYM Treasurer Tom Zemaitis, who will be joined by PYM Chief Financial Officer David Park, for a conversation about the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. Make sure to register for this event, especially if you’d like to learn more about the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting budget.
In continuing our query about building safe spaces for our communities, PYM is hosting a three-part series titled, “Cultivating Safe Spaces.” The first part of this Series will be on Monday, July 7, and will be a Listening Session that explores what it means to hold space within our local and Quarterly meetings around safety and belonging. The second part will be on Wednesday, July 9, and will be a Knowing Your Rights Workshop hosted by New Sanctuary Movement. The third and final part will be held on Tuesday, August 19, and will focus on Spirit-Led Action on the pathway forward.
We cannot wait to be in gathered community with each of you!