Sierra Cascades Yearly Fall Gathering
Sponsor(s):
Join your Friends from Sierra-Cascades Yearly Meeting of Friends (SCYMF) at the Fall Quarterly Gathering on Saturday, October 17, 2026. We will meet in person at Eugene Friends Church in Eugene, Oregon, and also on Zoom. SCYMF is the broader community of Friends meetings we call home. SCYMF gatherings are an opportunity to meet with and get to know Friends from like-minded meetings in Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho. Hear how Quakers in places like Camas, Silverton and Klamath Falls live out their commitments to inclusion, justice, and peace.
There will be a program for children during the day (except for lunchtime) with crafts and fun activities.
The youth committee needs two adults to help with the youth program. The adults will need to be background checked by SCYMF. A small stipend is available. Please contact April Vanderwal through the registrar ([email protected]) for more information as soon as possible.
Schedule for Saturday, October 17th:
9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Workshops (three workshops to choose from)
10:30 to 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 to 11:30 a.m. Worship and music
11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Business session
12:30 to 2:00 p.m. Lunch (Yum Bowls)
2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Business session
The gathering is free to attend, but we will accept donations for lunch, which is provided by Eugene Friends. We will also take an offering during the business meeting for the general fund. Barclay Press will have tables of books available for sale.
Pre-registration is required. Please send the following information to [email protected] by October 11th.
- Name(s) of those attending
- Church or meeting affiliation
- Age(s) if under 18
- Email addresses of those attending
- Pronouns
- Are you attending in-person or on Zoom
- Which workshop you will be attending. (Only the workshop on transgender individuals is available for those attending via zoom. The other workshops are in-person only.)
Workshop Descriptions
- Process and presence -- why using our SPICES during business is important.
The Quaker SPICES stands for Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship. These values guide Quakers in our beliefs and actions, emphasizing a way of living that reflects our spiritual principles. We as Quakers like to pride ourselves on our dependence on process. But if we are not using our SPICES, frequently no business gets done in a business meeting or unbalanced power choices are made. For us to function as Quakers, we must be aware of our SPICES during business and in our discussions outside of meeting for business, and make sure our SPICES are being followed.
Leigh Tolton has been a Quaker pastor for fourteen years and at Klamath Falls Friends Church for the last three years. She was one of the original organizers for the New Association of Friends in Indiana. She has a Masters in conflict resolution from Antioch College and a Master of Theology from Earlham School of Religion.
The session will be available in person only.
- Always Been Here and Always Will Be: A short history of transgender people and their rights
The history of trans people is deep and wide, so let's gather and celebrate these awesome folx! If you think transness is a recent phenomenon, we invite you to come absorb these stories and personalities. If you know a lot about trans history already, we invite you to come and share your knowledge with us.
Christine Harms (she/her) is an author and freshly formed Quaker, living with her family in Eugene and attending Eugene Friends Church.
The session will be available in person and on Zoom.
- Contemplative Song Circle
Gather for a participatory song circle to sing prayer-songs guided by Promise Partner. This group experience will support your grounding, reflection, and connection to self, others, and the Divine. No singing experience needed. All ages and backgrounds welcome.
Promise Partner is a public minister recorded by Sierra-Cascades Yearly Meeting of Friends, a co-facilitator of Bremerton Friends Worship Group under the care of North Seattle Friends Church, a community organizer and activist, and in formation as a spiritual director and companion.
The session will be available in person only.
Eugene Friends is located at 3495 W. 18th Avenue, Eugene OR 97402. 541-484-9998
Questions? Contact Rachel Hampton, SCYMF Registrar at [email protected] or Meg Rice at [email protected].