SCYMF Annual Sessions — July 10–12, 2026
Reedwood Friends Church • 2901 SE Steele St, Portland, OR 97202
The theme for Sierra-Cascades 2026 Annual Sessions is “A Life Infused with Hope” with keynote speaker Christy Randazzo (they/them). On Saturday, we are encouraging everyone to wear their favorite t-shirt expressing something they feel passionate about—an issue, cause, protest, peace, whatever is important to them. We will meet at Reedwood Friends Church in Portland, Oregon, from Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12, 2026.
In addition to insightful messages from our speaker, our time will be filled with workshops, business, reports from our churches, music and worship, plus fun activities like karaoke, a trail walk, and enjoying fellowship over lunches and dinners together. If you are unable to join us in person, most of the sessions will be available on Zoom.
Programs for children and youth are being planned. Kids’ activities will include outdoor water play, a science lesson (skulls and skeletons), a Quaker history story (chocolate will be involved!), and other fun events.
During the weekend, Barclay Press will have book tables and will feature a book signing with Shelley Warner, author of the new book "Recognizing Wolves."
Online registration will be open until Friday, June 26. An email with more complete information will go out on Monday, June 8. If you don’t receive the email, please contact Rachel Hampton at registrar@scymf.org to request it.
Friends from out of town can either rent an Airbnb or a hotel room for the weekend. Portland-area Friends have also volunteered to host those who would prefer a home stay. If you would like to host an out-of-town Friend, please contact Rachel Hampton at registrar@scymf.org. Friends who wish to have a home stay should send in their request as soon as possible via the online registration form. Meals will be catered at Reedwood for the weekend as follows: lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday, and lunch on Sunday. Friends should expect to provide their own breakfast.
Here is the schedule for Annual Sessions:
(* indicates available on Zoom)
Friday July 10 Childcare: 10:15-12:30, 3:00-5:30
9:30-10:30 Check-in opens, visiting, catch up with Friends
10:30-11:30 Worship *
11:30-12:30 Business *
12:30-2:00 Lunch
2:00-3:00 Trail walk led by Mark Condo (Reedwood) and free time for visiting
3:00-4:30 Business *
4:00-4:30 Church reports *
4:30-5:30 Speaker Christy Randazzo *
5:30-7:00 Dinner
7:00-8:30 Evening activity – Karaoke
Saturday July 11 Childcare: 8:15-12:30, 2:00-5:30, 6:45-8:00
8:30-9:30 Time for in-person/Zoom committee meetings
9:30-10:30 Worship *
10:30-12:30 Business *
12:30-2:00 Lunch and book signing by Shelley Warner (Camas)
2:00-4:00 Business *
3:30-4:00 Church reports *
4:00-5:30 Workshops * (4 options)
5:30-7:00 Dinner
7:00-8:00 Speaker Christy Randazzo *
Sunday July 12 Childcare: 9:15-12:30, 2:00-4:00
9:30-10:30 Worship service * (joint with Reedwood/any other local SCYMF churches)
10:30-11:00 Overflow (if service runs long) and snacks
11:00-12:30 Workshops * (4 options)
12:30-2:00 Lunch
2:00-3:00 Business * (if needed)
3:00 or earlier Epistle reading and approval * (and Youth Epistle)
Workshops
Saturday, July 11, 4:00-5:30 PM
Clerking and Being Clerked (also offered on Zoom)
Clerking and being clerked is a Quaker process of reaching inspired unity, which is more than secular consensus. We will explore how this can happen, with some suggestions and techniques.
Jane Snyder has clerked North Pacific Yearly Meeting 5 times and was clerk of Friends World Committee for Consultation Section of the Americas 2011-2015. She is a member of Multnomah Monthly Meeting and attends Bridge City Friends in Portland.
Quaker Action for a Just World: The work of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) (also offered on zoom)
Come learn about the American Friends Service Committee and the many ways that Friends can get involved in its work to promote a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world. This workshop will spotlight AFSC’s Palestinian activism work, immigration justice programs, climate justice work, and more! Attendees will hear about AFSC’s resources and opportunities to partner with AFSC to be effective Quaker changemakers.
Ainsley Bruton (they/them) is the Quaker Engagement Coordinator at AFSC. In their role, Ainsley works to build and maintain relationships with Friends, Meetings & Churches, and Quaker organizations. Prior to joining AFSC, Ainsley served as an Assistant Director of Admission at Haverford College, their alma mater. Ainsley is also an alum of Westtown School, a Quaker boarding and day school in West Chester, PA.
Bonsai: an introduction to an Ancient Art Form (in-person only)
Participants (limit of 8) will bring a tree, no more than 1 gallon size of a woody plant, a "training pot" with good drainage such as a nursery pot, old scissors or pruning shears and newspaper to work on. Due to the season, we will work on the beginnings of shaping the trees, maintenance and the future work of keeping it small.
Jim Miller, a member of Camas Friends Church took a class for seniors for 5 years through Portland Continuing Education by a local Master who was taught by his Chinese grandmother. He has continued for 18 years and developed 40 Bonsai plants.
Telling Our Stories (in-person only)
Come to a lighthearted gathering to listen to and share our life stories - in two minutes or less! We will share our stories of favorite gifts, trying something hard, embarrassing moments, fabulous failures, wonderful surprises, best meals ever, worst meals ever, and more. Come prepared to share or pass on whatever subjects come up.
Leann Williams is a recorded minister of SCYMF and loves to create opportunities for building community.
Sunday, July 12, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Equipping Young Adults with Quaker Tools (also offered on Zoom)
Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) operates in 4 cities: Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and Portland, OR. We invite you to learn more about this relatively young Quaker organization, what we've learned about working with young adults, and how you can support our work.
Mike Huber (West Hills Friends) has been the program director of QVS since 2018.
The Practice of Neighboring (also offered on Zoom)
What does it look like to be a good neighbor? We’ll explore who our neighbors are and our own histories of being a neighbor: seeing and being seen by one another, and how we respond out of our shared witness.
Since 1967, Right Sharing of World Resources has embodied Quaker concern for global inequity. Megan Fair is a Quaker from Ohio who has served as RSWR's Director of Advancement for three years.
An Introduction to the Quaker journey with Godly Play and the development of Faith & Play (in-person only)
The workshop will introduce Friends to Faith & Play and the foundation of its storytelling approach. Friends will experience a story, explore the development of Faith & Play, and explore the various ways and venues Faith & Play has been used. A dedicated time will be set aside for questions and discussion.
David Wakeley, clerk and trustee of Faith & Play and Stories and attender at Olympia Friends Meeting, is a trained storyteller and hospital chaplain.
Praying with SoulCollage® (in-person only)
This intuitive collage process opens you to self-discovery, meditation, and wordless prayer. Through a simple guided process, we will create one or more prayer cards to use as windows into our own deeper communion with God. Scissors, glue, mat boards, and a variety of images are provided, though you are welcome to bring your own images and photos to use.
Ruba Byrd is the pastor of Eugene Friends Church and a spiritual director, who for many years has used music and the visual arts as transformative spiritual practices.
Volunteer Opportunities
Since our annual sessions are not being held on conference grounds, and Reedwood does not have maintenance staff, we have many volunteer opportunities. Please consider how you can help make Annual Sessions successful. The following volunteer jobs need to be filled:
Hosting guests in your home
Driving Friends from their homestays back and forth to Reedwood each morning and evening
Greeting Friends when they arrive and directing traffic
Cleaning up after meals (wiping tables and taking out trash)
Setting up chairs and tables in the dining area and tables in the foyer on Friday morning at 9:00 AM
Making coffee and setting up the snack area each morning
Putting chairs and tables away Sunday afternoon before leaving
Picking up trash and leftover materials in the sanctuary, the lounge, the foyer, and other rooms at the end of the day on Sunday
Please register online and pay by Friday, June 26, 2026.
To register for in-person attendance, use this link:
https://forms.gle/qeMMkAbHbHiacQtk8
Everyone who registers to attend in person will also receive the Zoom information, in case their plans change or they want to attend part of the time via zoom.
To register to attend only on Zoom, use this link:
https://forms.gle/Di5xYbytN8w9ZJ9X9
Attendance by Zoom also requires advance online registration, and Zoom attendance is free.
Christy Randazzo will also being giving the message during the Sunday morning worship service (9:03 am). Friends just joining us for Sunday worship and the Sunday workshop do not have to pay anything or register, but to join us for lunch after worship, please do register and pay $25 each ($15 for kids 3-12). Checks or cash can be given to the registrar at Yearly Meeting that Sunday morning or there will be a container at lunch for fees and donations.
Reedwood Friends is located at 2901 SE Steele St, Portland, OR 97202, across the street from the Reed College Campus.
Any questions? Contact Rachel Hampton at registrar@scymf.org or Meg Rice at gathering@scymf.org.