The Online Gathering offers a wide variety of programs and events throughout the week, including workshops, worship, speakers, Bible Half Hour and more.
Online Gathering Schedule
Downloadable schedules in multiple time zones coming soon!
Anti-Racism Events
In 2017, FGC made a commitment to transform into an actively antiracist faith community. The Gathering unites with this commitment by offering a variety of anti-racism events for Friends to participate in. There are standalone afternoon events, multi-session workshops with a focus on anti-racism, and plenary sessions chosen to deepen the community’s commitment to anti-racism. There are also events focused on the healing and safety of Friends of Color.
Worship
Throughout the Gathering there will be many opportunities for worship. Many of these will be open waiting worship, and we will also have some opportunities for semi-programmed worship or other invitations to help Friends center. Some Friends report having a more difficult time feeling grounded in online worship, and at this Gathering we hope to support you in feeling connected to Spirit while joining on zoom. Some of these offerings may speak to you while others won’t. We appreciate you coming in with openness and curiosity as we engage in this experiment with how to hold a spiritually nourishing Online Gathering.
Evenings from Monday-Friday will be a time to gather together for Spiritual Sharing Groups. You will have the option to select from worship sharing, Bible study, Godly Play/Faith and Play storytime, or music.
Bible Half-Hour with Ashley Wilcox
Monday – Friday 12pm EST / 9am PST
Bible Half Hour draws adult and teen Friends with many different beliefs, practices, and experiences with the Bible.
This year’s Bible Half Hour will be facilitated by Ashley M. Wilcox, a Quaker minister and the bestselling author of The Women’s Lectionary: Preaching the Women of the Bible throughout the Year (Westminster John Knox Press). She currently serves as the Executive Director of Public Friends, a new nonprofit founded to support Quaker ministry. Ashley preaches, speaks, and teaches across the U.S. and internationally. Her writing has been featured in Geez, Working Preacher, Friends Journal, Fidelia, and numerous Quaker anthologies. You can learn more about Ashley on her website, www.ashleymwilcox.com.
All Ages Faith & Play Story
Saturday 2/1 6pm EST / 3pm PST
Melinda Wenner Bradley is an acclaimed storyteller and co-author of Faith & Play: Quaker Stories for Friends Trained in the Godly Play Method. We are delighted to get to hear a story she has written in the manner of Faith & Play and Godly Play, a retelling of the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42). Melinda will tell the story with visual materials, followed by opportunities for Friends of all ages to wonder together and reflect on how this story speaks to us today and connects to the Gathering theme of “A Spring Whose Waters Never Fail.” This story experience is for Friends of all ages, and you’re invited to bring materials for art or journaling to your space when we gather.
Monthly Meeting Committee Sharing Time
Sunday 2/2 6pm EST / 3pm PST
Have you ever wondered how other monthly meetings around the world organize their children’s program, fill their nominating slate, engage in activism in their communities, or support couples married under their care? Join Friends from other monthly meetings to share your joys and struggles and find inspiration to bring back to your home meeting.
When you enter the zoom room, there will be breakout rooms for different standard monthly meeting committees (Nominating, Children’s Program, Finance, Ministry & Counsel, Earthcare, monthly meeting clerks, etc.). If there is a committee you don’t see represented, you are also welcome to start your own breakout room and get the conversation rolling! The goal is to have open, collaborative conversations to nourish our local meetings through connection with Friends throughout North America and beyond.
Workshops
Attenders may sign up for a multi-session workshop when you register for the Gathering. There will be options to take a week-long workshop as well as options for workshops on the weekends.
- 100 series workshops: one 4-hour session on Saturday 2/1
- 200 series workshops: two 4-hour sessions on Saturday 2/1 & Sunday 2/2
- 300 series workshops: five 2-hour sessions on Monday 2/3 – Sunday 2/7
- 400 series workshops: one 4-hour session on Saturday 2/8
- 500 series workshops: two 4-hour sessions on Saturday 2/8 & Sunday 2/9
Plenary Programs
Hear from engaging speakers from across the Quaker community – at the Online Gathering there will be different speakers each weekend.
Daquanna Harrison
Saturday 2/1
8pm Eastern / 5pm Pacific
Lynn Finnegan
Sunday 2/2
11am Eastern / 8am Pacific
Carl Magruder
Sunday 2/2
11am Eastern / 8am Pacific
Eileen Flanagan
Saturday 2/8
8pm Eastern / 5pm Pacific
David Bucura
Sunday 2/9
11am Eastern / 8am Pacific
Afternoon Activities
Monday – Friday 6pm EST / 3pm PST
Afternoon Activity time each weekday has range of topics & activities you can choose from. The kinds of events you might see during this time include: taking action for environmental justice; racial justice work in our meetings; meeting for worship for healing, outreach skillshare, and much more. There will be different options each day!
Open Hang Out Time
Monday – Friday 12:30pm EST / 9:30am PST
Join Friends for open ended fellowship, discussion, and more! When you show up to the zoom room, you will have the opportunity to join a pre-existing breakout room, or get support to create your own – on any topic you’re excited about. This could include continuing conversations from earlier sessions, playing music or games together, catching up with old friends, or getting to know Quakers from across the continent. Think of this as an opportunity for a cozy conversation with a cup of tea by the fire, but online.
You can join the Open Hang Out Time zoom meeting at any point while it’s open.
Affinity Activities and Spaces
Families
There will be some Online Gathering events where elementary-aged children are welcome to join with their parents or caregivers. There will be a Faith & Play story time on Saturday February 1 as well as a storytime option during evening Vespers.
There will not be age-specific programming for youth at the 2025 Online Gathering and youth will not need to register (their parent or caregiver does need to be registered.) There will be age-specific programs for children and youth at the Young Adult & Youth (YAY) Gathering in Michigan held July 2-6, 2025.
Teens
High Schoolers are welcome to attend the Online Gathering, but won’t have age-specific programming. There will be programming for high schoolers at the Young Adult & Youth (YAY) Gathering in Michigan held July 2-6, 2025.
Adult Young Friends
The Adult Young Friends (AYF) program is a self-led intentional community of Friends age 18–35 who come together at the Gathering to inspire, create strong bonds of Friendship, and support the growth of Quaker leadership.
Friends of Color
At Gathering, there are times when Friends of Color assemble by themselves for mutual support around common interests, and other times where Friends of Color welcome the wider community to experience events at the People of Color Center.
Afternoon Events
During the Gathering, the People of Color Center hosts programs each afternoon, some of which are open only to People of Color. Our intention for this time together is to create a space for People of Color to share their experiences in an environment where they can begin to heal as a community.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Friends
The Gathering offers many opportunities for Friends in the LGBTQ community to assemble in fellowship and in worship.
Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns (FLGBTQC) is a Quaker faith community within the Religious Society of Friends that deeply honors, affirms, and upholds that of God in all people. At the Gathering, FLGBTQC hosts worship that is open to all, as well as social events.
Contact FLGBTQC at their website for further information about their events.