Details
With joyful anticipation, Friends are invited to join us—in person or on Zoom—for a full day of worship this fall. Friends Michael Wajda and Jean Rosenberg have shared their gift of Extended Meetings throughout NEYM since 2022. Inspired by their faithfulness, we are offering the first of what we hope will be ongoing opportunities for longer periods of expectant waiting at meetinghouses in the Connecticut Valley. The Extended Meeting will take place at the Northampton Friends Meetinghouse on October 25, 2025.
The practice of hours-long worship among Friends dates to the start of Quaker faith and is associated with convincement, personal transformation, and prophetic challenges to the prevailing culture. Michael and Jean have modeled their Extended Meetings on those of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, which has been offering such opportunities for more than 25 years. During longer periods of expectant waiting, transformative experiences can occur, as the Living Presence has adequate time to remove spiritual cobwebs and shine a light on deep calls for awakening.
Friends who are attending in person will gather at the Northampton Friends Meetinghouse at 9:30 a.m. for three hours (or so) of worship. Friends who are attending by Zoom will use a link provided upon request (see details below). Though three hours may sound long, Friends who have participated have often found the time goes quickly. During this time, Friends are free to move as needed—to stretch, walk outside, use the bathroom, or rest on the benches.
Following the worship, Friends will gather to share lunch (please bring your own; beverages and light snacks will be provided for those attending in person). After lunch, we will share about our experiences of worship that morning. Friends are welcome to come for the morning only or to stay for lunch and/or worship sharing as well.
Schedule
9:00 Friends arrive and share tea, coffee, light snacks, and conversation
9:30 Worship begins
12:30 Brown bag lunch, conversation, and relaxation
1:15 Reflections and worship sharing
2:30 Closing
Logistical Notes:
- Remote Attendance: Friends may join remotely by Zoom for both the Extended Worship and the Reflections/Worship Sharing. Zoom participants are be invited to hold their own fellowship during the lunch break. For the Zoom link, please email Joanna Dalin.
- Parking Information: While there is paid street parking near the Meetinghouse in Northampton, it may prove difficult to find street parking there on Saturday morning. Parking is also available in the Northampton parking garage, at 44 Kirkland Avenue.
- Accessibility: The Meetinghouse is located on the second floor of the building. There is an elevator on the first floor which can be used to reach the Meetinghouse.
- COVID: Friends experiencing symptoms of COVID or flu are asked not to attend in person.