What to Expect at 2025 Sessions
Sessions can be overwhelming. We encourage you to pick and choose what you do; to sit under a tree and visit with friends both old and new, to go for a walk into town, or to take a nap.
Schedule
This is the draft schedule, subject to change. A PDF for downloading and printing is posted at the bottom of this page.
Posted May 30, 2025
Our Speakers
Kirenia Criado Pérez of Havana Friends Church, Cuba Yearly Meeting, will give the Bible Half Hours.
Gretchen Baker-Smith (Westport, MA, Friends Meeting) will be our Sunday afternoon plenary speaker.
Kim Moberg will offer us an all-ages musical plenary event on Monday night with audience participation and dancing.
Choices: Workshops and Reflection Groups
Our 90-minute workshop and Reflection Group offerings provide an opportunity for Friends to explore their Quaker faith and make meaningful connections.
Reflection Groups are facilitated worship sharing opportunities gathering Friends around a shared theme, topic, or experience (e.g. "Parents of younger children").
The format for these opportunities varies. Some are on-campus at UMass and some will be offered online via Zoom.
Meeting for Worship for the Conduct of Business
We will meet for the conduct of business Saturday through Wednesday. The Advance Documents (to be posted below in mid-July) contain the agenda and business materials as well as annual reports from staff and committees and other useful information. Please familiarize yourself with the business materials to prepare for business meeting.
Photos wanted!
As part of our opening celebration, we will be sharing a short slideshow of images of Friends from across our Yearly Meeting so that we will be able to "see" each other more clearly as we gather, including the faces of New England Friends who may not be able to participate in Sessions this summer. We invite you to contribute a recent image of yourself, your family, or your Meeting that brings you joy. Email photos to [email protected] by July 27. If the photo includes other people, please make sure you have their permission to share.
Bookstore
Again this year, we will have bookstores at Sessions. All proceeds benefit independent publishers, bookstores, artists, nonprofits, and our Yearly Meeting!
The bookstores will be open Saturday to Tuesday. The General Bookstore stocks lots of books by Quakers and other interesting people. You’ll also find buttons, bookmarks, t-shirts—and plenty of hanging out. The Child and Family Bookstore will offer books and more for children, parents, grandparents and families. Have a free hour or two? Volunteer to work at checkout, tidy up, or recommend your favorite books to curious shoppers. No experience is necessary. Just check the box on the registration form and we’ll contact you.
For Authors:
If you have a new book out, we would love to set up a reading or signing! Email [email protected].