THE FRIDAY BEE                                                         February 21, 2025

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23

10:20am

Greeter

Lisa Holgash and Dudley Burdge

10:30am

Child Care

Starts in kindergarten building across the driveway from Meetinghouse

10:30am

Meeting for Worship

(Hybrid: In-person & on Zoom)

10:50am

First Day School

Older children attend Meeting for Worship with their families until 10:50 am, when their teachers will lead them to the Committee Room. Questions? Please contact Carla Childs. Note: Children of any age are always welcome to join their families in Meeting for Worship.

11:30am

Introductions & Announcements

Jeff Powers

11:40am

Refreshments

Sarah Kaufman and Duncan Holby & family

PROTOCOL FOR MEETING FOR WORSHIP (Zoom, hybrid, in-person)

Please maintain silence as you enter the Zoom meeting or the meetinghouse so Friends can center and settle into worship.

Our current COVID-19 safety measures for the meetinghouse are as follows:

• Masks are optional. Feel free to wear one if you wish. We have a supply if you’ve forgotten yours.
• If you have a fever or are feeling unwell, please stay home and join our worship on Zoom.

MEETING NEWS

QUAKERISM 101 – LEARN MORE ABOUT QUAKERS THIS SUNDAY! – Hybrid

Topic:   Quaker Perspectives on Truth, Simplicity and Conscience (led by Michael Moulton)

When?  This Sunday, February 23, 9:00am

Where? Germantown Meeting Social Room & on Zoom. Child care will be available. All are welcome!

NEXT Quakerism 101 Session: March 23, Discernment: Individuals Within a Community (led by Dorothy Cary)

CHILI LUNCH AT GMM – NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 2! – ALL ARE WELCOME

When & Where? Sunday, March 2, 11:45am … in GMM Committee & Social Rooms

Nothing like a warm bowl of chili and fellowship to fight the winter chill!

Interested in contributing something to the lunch spread (salad, cornbread…)? Contact Anne Stassen (anne.stassen@yahoo.com)

CHILDCARE POSITION OPEN – AT GERMANTOWN MEETING

If you know of any responsible, caring person(s) who are available to join our Child Care team to care for our members’ and attenders’ children during weekly Meeting for Worship and monthly Meeting for Business, please contact our member Lois Volta: loisvolta@gmail.com for details. Coverage required weekly for Meeting for Worship. Periodic coverage required for Meeting for Business. Child care clearances required.

LAST CHANCE for FEBRUARY ASSISTANCE DRIVE at GMM!

Please bring critical, basic supplies to Meeting to support the Germantown Community!

When?  Throughout February… bring something to share whenever you come to Meeting!

This is an easy ask – please bring soap, shampoo, TP, etc. (see list below) to Meeting during February.

We are supporting the work of Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry - to support neighbors in need. Show some love!

Items most needed: 

• Unopened soap, toothpaste & toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, body lotion, shaving cream, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, laundry detergent, dish detergent, band-aids, vitamins, gloves, new socks, scarves, hats and shopping bags.

Where to bring items?  Marked boxes in the Meeting Social/Committee Rooms

HELP NEEDED FOR REFRESHMENTS - Particularly on MARCH 23 & MARCH 30! ☕🍪🍎

We need folks to help with Refreshments in late-March (3/23 & 30), when many folks are away for Spring Break (school vacation).

To sign up, please contact Becky Johnson. Many thanks!

Also consider these available dates:

•  April 13 - April 20 - April 27

2025 MOTTO CALENDARS ARE HERE! – $1

These handy, inspirational calendars are available while supplies last. Cost: $1

They will be in a box on the back counter of the Committee Room during Refreshments on Sundays. Please put $1 in the small wooden donation box on the wall leading to the Social Room. Enjoy!

From January: The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light if only we're brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it. - Amanda Gorman

QUAKER NEWS & EVENTS

FRIENDS & THE CLIMATE CRISIS

Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) is hosting a State Advocacy Panel to explore how Friends are engaging to address the Climate Crisis at the state level all across the country! Come learn how we can be more effective in our own states. These experienced Friends will share valuable lessons learned!

When? Saturday, February 22nd, 4:00 pm

REGISTER HERE for QEW's State Advocacy Panel.

GUIDANCE FROM GMM’s ANTI-RACISM DISCUSSION GROUP

For Friends who feel that their ministry calls for them to be more actively involved in responding to the current political situation, The Anti-Racism Discussion Group has a couple of possible ways to do so:

Nationwide  24 Hour Economic Boycott - February 27th-28th:

To protest corporate support for administration policies

Organized by The People's Union (https://theonecalledjai.com)

Supporting and taking action with some organizations devoted to social justice issues and concerns:

• FGC Anti-Racism Worship Sharing, this Tuesday, February 25, 8:00pm 

• The Quaker Coalition for Uprooting Racism (QCUR)’s Catalyzing Communities Committee invites you to join Friends for a time for worship sharing with attention to antiracism.

• Friends Committee on National Legislation: https://www.fcnl.org
• Southern Poverty Law Center: https://www.splcenter.org
• Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society: https://hias.org
• American Civil Liberties Union: https://www.aclu.org
• 5 Calls   https://5calls.org (from their site): “5 Calls makes it easy for you to reach your members of Congress and make your voice heard. We research issues, write scripts that clearly articulate a progressive position, figure out the most influential decision-makers, and collect phone numbers for their offices. All you have to do is call.”

PYM FOLLOW-UP ABOUT IMMIGRATION –  What to do if…

On Thursday, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) updated its webpage with information about the lawsuit filed against the Department of Homeland Security.

The webpage includes a link about "What To Do If ICE Shows Up at Your Quaker Meeting." 

• A pdf of the ICE information is here.

AUTHOR EVENT: PETER BEINART DISCUSSES HIS NEW BOOK -

Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza - A Reckoning

When?  Monday March 17, 7 - 9:00pm - SAVE THE DATE - Register now; space is limited

Where?  Mishkan Shalom, 4101 Freeland Avenue & on Zoom

Mishkan Shalom, our neighboring Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, invites us members of our three area Friends Meetings to attend this interesting talk by Peter Beinert, an American liberal columnist, journalist and political commentator, about his new book. You can attend either in person at Mishkan Shalom or virtually.

• Registration is required – click here

REGISTER FOR PYM SPRING CONTINUING SESSIONS - HAPPENING MARCH 8-9

This gathering invites us to come together as a body, recognizing the vital role each Friend plays in our shared spiritual life. Join in from home or at one of five monthly meetings hosting in person! Together, Friends will explore the new 2025 Sessions theme: Members One of Another.

• More information 
• Register Here

PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)

• PYM Weekly News & Events – Highlights for each week! 
• PYM Events Calendar: Check out upcoming and ongoing programs promoted by PYM

GERMANTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL (GFS) NEWS & EVENTS

GMM MEMBER & GFS ALUM JOAN COUNTRYMAN: SPECIAL GUEST AT ASSEMBLY!

As part of GFS Black History Month celebration, Members of the Black Student Union moderated a Q&A with Joan at an Upper School Assembly, onstage in the Taulane Auditorium in the Loeb Performing Arts Center. Joan was GFS' first Black graduate, and was a longtime math teacher and administrator at GFS; she also currently serves on the GFS School Committee.

MEET THE PRESS KRISTEN WELKER ‘94 ON CAMPUS

On Thursday (2/20), GFS Alum Kristen Welker, and the host of NBC’s “Meet the Press” was the featured guest for the 2nd Annual Christopher Allen ‘09 Lecture, interviewed by former NBC New executive, Chris Blackman. They discussed the importance of journalism, covering politics, presidents, and Welker’s career path.

Welker has noted the influence GFS had on her – "My passion for politics and journalism is in many ways rooted in my upbringing in Philadelphia and in my education at GFS. At GFS, I learned the importance of caring about your neighbors, giving back, and trying to make the world a better place. I try to bring those lessons to my career as a journalist and am excited to pass them on to my daughter.”

ATTEND GFS MEETING FOR WORSHIP DURING THE WEEK

GFS welcomes GMM to attend Meeting for Worship during the school year. Schedule for upcoming week:                

• Middle School Worship: Monday, 2/24, 10:20 - 11:00am
• Upper School Worship: Thursday, 2/27, 10:10 - 11:00am

TAKE ACTION!

ANGRY AT WHAT’S GOING ON IN DC: WRITE OR CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS!

“An old-fashioned printed or hand-written letter, stamped and mailed to the Senator or Congressperson’s office is the most effective way to express your opinion,” as member Bill Cozzens reminds us.

Bill compiled a handy list with contact information for our US Senators & Representatives – Click here, or see attached.

Related, a site & app that facilitates communicating with our members of congress – check out “5 Calls” here

They provide contact information, as well as sample scripts on a variety of current event issues.

POWER INTERFAITH - NORTHWEST CLUSTER MEETINGS, IN FEBRUARY!

Gather with members of POWER’s NW Philly congregations for prayer, lament, and to share the resources and needs of our respective congregations. We will hear updates on POWER’s emerging Affordable Housing Campaign as well as POWER’s ongoing campaigns for Full Fair Funding in Education and others.

When & Where? Saturday, February 22, 12 - 2:00pm – Zoom link here

POWER HOUSING JUSTICE ASSEMBLY - FOLLOW UP

City Council testimony training:  POWER Interfaith is inviting each of you to share your story about how housing affordability has impacted you or your community at City Council Hearings. Talk to people in your congregation/neighborhood and gather 5 stories about how housing affordability is affecting them. Then show up powerfully in front of City Council!

City Council testimony training dates and info are below. You only need to attend one. Please register ahead of time:

Monday, February 24th, 6-8 PM on zoom – Click here to register for Zoom link 

      OR

Thursday, February 27th, 6-8 PM on zoom – Click here to register for Zoom link 

ANTI-RACIST COMMUNITY NETWORK

An online anti-racist, multiracial community of members who are involved in learning, activism and organizing to achieve racial justice and to end white supremacy.

Who is it for?

• People who are working to achieve racial justice and end white supremacy through activism and organizing.
• People who want to learn about what it means to be active and organizing against racism and white supremacy.
• People who want to support others who are active and organizing against racism white supremacy.

Upcoming events include:

February 27:  "What Now? Building Cultural capacity to Mitigate racism and survive the new administration"

• Interested in the work they do? Learn more about joining here.

TECHNOLOGY DISCUSSION GROUP

When?   Monthly – next meeting is Saturday, March 15 at 3 pm

Where?  Seth Dunoff’s apartment on Greene St in Germantown.

What?    GMM attender Seth Dunoff will host the March meeting of a monthly reading / discussion group on the subject of technology.

The purpose of the discussion group meetings is to begin to formalize an anti-technology political movement.

The reading for this meeting is pages 35 to 52 (parts of chapters 2 and 3) of science journalist Moises Velasquez-Manoff’s 2012 book An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases. This passage presents a brief history of the relationship between hygiene and public health in modern times, and investigates the connection between malaria eradication and multiple sclerosis on the Italian island of Sardinia.

Please email Seth at seth.dunoff@gmail.com if you would like a copy of the passage, are interested in participating, or have any questions about the project.

JOIN THE VIGIL with FRIDAYS AT FETTERMAN’S

When?  Every Friday from 11:15 – 12:15pm

Where?  In front of Senator Fetterman’s office (230 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia)

What?    Join together with people committed to a Middle East peace solution to urge Senator Fetterman to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Fridays @ Fetterman’s is supported by the AFSC, Brandywine Peace Community, Granny Peace Brigade, IfNotNowPhilly, Prayers for Peace Alliance, the Simple Way and The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Phila. Branch.

GERMANTOWN & NEARBY

WEAVERS WAY COOP FREE EVENT (on Zoom): Top tips and tricks for sleep health

When?  Monday, February 24, 6:30 - 7:30pm

An informative session with clinical herbalist Kara Jo to learn practical and easy tips and tricks to get better sleep!

This is part of her 4-part series this winter to discuss everyday yet important topics that affect our health.

• See more information about Kara Jo & the session here
• Register here (free) and receive the Zoom link