THE FRIDAY BEE                                                                         April 11, 2025

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 13

9:00am

Meeting for Business

Hybrid –

In the Committee Room, and use the same Zoom link as for worship.

10:20am

Greeter

Phyllis Taylor

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

Jonathan Busser

11:4am

Refreshments

Sara McElroy and Rebecca Claypool

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 FOR WORSHIP WITH A CONCERN FOR BUSINESS

Germantown Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends

April 13, 2025, 9:00 - 10:15am

Hybrid: On Zoom & in-person. Please use the Meeting for Worship zoom link.

AGENDA

  • Query –         Faye Steacy
  • Opening worship
  • Review of agenda – Karen Lightner
  • Approval the March 2025 Minutes
  • Clerk’s Report -- Karen Lightner
  • Care and Visiting – Peter Samuel
  • Standing Nominating -- David Mettler
  • Child Care Committee – Lois Volta
  • FY ’26 Proposed Budget – Jim Pifer
  • Spiritual State of the Meeting Report – Dorothy Cary
  • Ad Hoc Committee on Immigration and Quaker Walk in May – Jessica Hobbs Pifer
  • Announcements
  • Closing Worship

(Attenders are welcome to attend business meeting. Please notify the clerk in advance if you wish to attend.)

MEETING NEWS

ANTI-RACISM DISCUSSION GROUP MEETING THIS TUESDAY

When? Tuesday, April 15, at 7:00pm – on Zoom

We will continue our discussion on Trump administration actions and ways people are responding to them. We will also discuss the TV series, "Eye on The Prize" 

Questions & for Zoom link – Please contact John Colgan-Davis.

SAVE THE DATE: GERMANTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL COMES TO OUR MEETINGHOUSE

The Opening Day Concert of this weekend-long festival will take place at Germantown Meetinghouse

When?  Friday, April 25, 5:00pm

Performers: Alfie Pollitt Trio, Jim Holton Trio, The Mike Boone Group, Robert Landham Quartet, Germantown Jazz Youth Ensemble

The full Germantown Jazz Festival will take place through the weekend of April 25-27, across several venues

SAVE THE DATE:  GERMANTOWN MEETING WORK DAY & LUNCH!

When?   Saturday, April 26th, Time TBD

Where?  Inside & around our Meetinghouse!

What?    A few limited projects to give some loving care to our Meetinghouse! 

May include – some gardening/landscaping, minor painting and/or staining projects, some simple repairs.

  • Lunch & refreshments will be provided! No experience required! All are welcome! ♥️
PLEASE SIGN UP FOR REFRESHMENTS in APRIL & MAY! ☕🍪🍎

Thank you to those who have been providing refreshments in recent months. You provide the fuel for social hour! We need others to sign up for this rewarding job.

Please consider these available dates:

  • April 27  -  May 4  -  May 11  -  May 18  -  May 25

To sign up, please contact Becky Johnson. THANK YOU!!

Note: Refreshment expenses are reimbursable or can be credited as in-kind donations to GMM.

QUAKER NEWS & EVENTS

QUAKER CALL TO ACTION NATIONAL ZOOM CALL

When?  Sunday, April 13, 7:00 - 8:30pm

What is Quaker Call to Action? An invitation to a national dialogue on the urgent threats to our democracy and what’s at stake.

PENDLE HILL READING GROUP IN APRIL – on Zoom

When?  Monday, April 14, 7:00 - 8:30pm, on Zoom

Register here

This month, they will read Rhiannon Grant’s recent Pendle Hill pamphlet on outreach and welcoming, Deep Hospitality: Reflections on Welcome to the Quaker Community (PHP #487). What does a more radical form of welcome look like?

You can purchase copies of this popular publication at the following links:

NOTE: May Reading Group (May 20) – More information here

MEETING FOR WORSHIP WITH ATTENTION TO THE U.N. FORUM ON PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT

When?  Tuesday, April 15 at 8:30 am - on Zoom

The fourth meeting of the United Nations’ Forum on People of African Descent from April 14-17 in New York.

Please join a hybrid Meeting for Worship with Quakers around the world on Tuesday, April 15 to hold this UN meeting and those doing this important work in the Light. This will be an opportunity to gather in prayer and expectant listening in the manner of Friends.

Together, the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) and the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) work together to create lasting positive impacts on the lives of people of African descent, advocating for justice, equality, and full inclusion in society. In its second decade, this effort within the UN system hopes to work towards transformative change for racial justice and equality that drives concrete actions, and presents an opportunity to break the cycle of historical injustices.

This meeting for worship is taking place under the care of the Quaker UN Office (QUNO) – a Quaker presence at the United Nations, representing Friends’ concerns for global peace and justice to the international community.

JOIN PLANNING COMMITTEE – DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS

Central Philadelphia Friends Meeting is forming a working group to plan for an annual Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools (to take place on or near September 30, 2025). Per the organizers –

We envision this as a collaborative effort including the monthly meetings of Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting (PQM) and possibly reaching broadly to all PYM meetings; the First Contact Reconciliation Collaborative of PYM; Friends Select School students, teachers, parents and counselors; Friends Counseling Service; possibly representatives from Friends Center, PYM and AFSC; and others.

Quakers played a significant role in one of the first boarding schools that received Indigenous children from near and far, most of them distant from their homes, at Carlisle, PA. Quakers had central administrative roles in about 30 of the boarding schools, altogether.  Children were removed from their families for months or years at a time, and many died at the schools. The U.S. is well behind Canada in acknowledging the federal government's role, and not all Christian denominations have acknowledged their roles in this chapter of our national history. There is a growing movement to support acknowledgment, repair and reconciliation.

Interested in helping to organize the event? Contact:

AUTHOR EVENT – FIERCE VULNERABILITY: HEALING FROM TRAUMA, EMERGING THROUGH COLLAPSE
Conversation with author, Kazu Haga
"In Fierce Vulnerability, Haga invites us to understand that there is no freedom or resiliency in a changing world without telling the truth that our freedom actually means healing. This book is good medicine for those of us on the front lines of liberation work who long to root our work in an ethic of care and healing." Lama Rod Owens 

When?  Wednesday, April 23 @ 7:00pm ET

Where? In-Person: Homewood Friends Meeting, (3107 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218) AND via Zoom

REGISTER NOW FOR PHILADELPHIA QUARTERLY MEETING

When? Sunday, April 27

Where? Central Philadelphia Friends Meeting (1500 Cherry Street, Philadelphia) & on Zoom

In addition to the Business Meeting, there will be a program with the Head of Brumana Friends School in Lebanon, who will speak about managing a Quaker School in the Middle East in these troubling and challenging times.

NEW QUAKER CHECKLIST TIP #2

Following the effort of Friends General Conference (FGC), supporting newcomers as well as offering a refresher for oldtimers, each week there will be a tip from FGC’s New Quaker Checklist – “steps to take to deepen your faith and connect to other Friends in North America.” Try one, or try them all!

PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)

GERMANTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL (GFS) NEWS & EVENTS

ATTEND GFS MEETING FOR WORSHIP DURING THE WEEK

GFS welcomes GMM to attend Meeting for Worship during the school year.

  • Middle School: Monday, 4/14, 10:20 - 11:00am
  • Lower School: Thursday, 4/17, 9:00 - 9:30am                
  • Upper School: Thursday, 4/17, 10:10 - 11:00am
DAY OF SILENCE & NIGHT OF NOISE – Today, Friday, April 11 🏳️‍🌈

The Day of Silence, which takes place this year on Friday, April 11, was originally started by a couple of college students to silently protest the actual silencing, bias and harassment of queer people around the world. It has since grown into an annual, national protest with thousands of people participating, in colleges, schools, and workplaces. At GFS, students may take a vow of silence throughout the day, signified by wearing rainbow ribbon pins. On Friday morning, students gather in the Meetinghouse to go into silence together, and then meet back up at the end of the day for Breaking the Silence – known as The Night of Noise.

The Night of Noise is a celebration and opportunity for the community to break the silence, make some noise, with music, fun, and empowering and affirming activities. This year there will be performances from Jam Sesh and GFS A Cappella, drag queen bingo (with prizes!), a parade, a photo booth, free books, friends from community organizations, and so much more!

TAKE ACTION!

NEW PRISON OVERSIGHT BOARD  

The Philadelphia City Council has passed a resolution for the creation of a Prison Oversight Board. This will be a nine-member board; four selected by the Mayor and five selected by the City Council.

At the May 20th, 2025, city election, Philadelphians will have the opportunity to vote for a request for a charter amendment to establish the board. The board will have authority to investigate charges of inhumane conditions existing in the city’s five county jails. These conditions include medical negligence, unsanitary conditions, use/overuse of solitary confinement, and denial of required out-of-cell time for incarcerated persons. These conditions have resulted in over 50 deaths in recent years.

FREE ESTATE PLANNING CLINIC FOR BLACK RESIDENTS OF GERMANTOWN

Save the date & spread the word …

When?  Saturday, April 26, 10:00am - 12:00pm

Where?  Green Street Friends Meeting, 45 W. School House Lane

Inviting Black residents of Germantown (zip codes 19138 & 19144) to a free estate planning educational presentation by Community Legal Services (CLS) & Philadelphia VIP (volunteer lawyers).

Why Estate Planning?

  • Make sure your assets go to the people you want
  • Expedite Probate
  • Wills, Power of Attorney, Advance Health Directives
  • Protect your assets & your family

Following the presentation –

  • Light lunch
  • Residents will have an opportunity to sign up for one-on-one legal representation by CLS and VIP that will be provided in the weeks following the event.
  • Qualifying residents who cannot be served by CLS and VIP will otherwise be matched with an attorney, free of charge.

Register (requested but not required) here – greenstreetreparations@gmail.com; contact with questions

Visit on Facebook at Green Street Friends Reparations

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

HISTORIC GERMANTOWN – SECOND SATURDAYS RETURNS!
CLAY CHARMS & BEAD MAKING WORKSHOP, Part 1 – @ HISTORIC FAIR HILL

When?   Saturday, April 12, 1:00 - 2:30pm

Where?  Historic Fair Hill Burial Ground (2901 Germantown Avenue)

No registration necessary. Good for all ages.

Save the Date - Part 2 of the workshop – Pit firing the clay beads & charms at Fair Hill

SAVE THE DATE: EARTH DAY PROGRAMS

When?  Next Saturday, April 19 

The Farm at Awbury Arboretum, 12:00 - 4:00pm

  • Come out for a fun day of volunteering, fun with The Philly Goat Project, live demos, and much more!

Bells Mill Road Clean-Up with Friends of the Wissahickon, 9:00am - 12:00noon

  • Showing some extra love to one of the main roads through our park with a litter clean-up. Register here.

QUAKER RESOURCES

OTHER (VIRTUAL) WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
  • Pendle Hill – Daily Zoom meeting for worship online from 8:30-9:10 am.
  • Friends Council for National Legislation (FCNL) Witness Wednesdays: Weekly worship at 5:15pm (ET)
  • Friends General Conference’s (FGC) has many options for worship & discussion, including Newcomers & Seekers, Friends of Color Monthly worship, BIPOC Womxn’s space, White Friends Confronting Racism, Gen X Friends (new), Neurodivergent Friends (new). The offerings keep growing! Click here for the calendar

FOR QUAKER NEWCOMERS: Friends General Conference New Quaker Hub

QUAKER ORGANIZATIONS

Stay connected with news, work and resources of various Friends groups. Bookmark them for easy reference

Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting (PQM)

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM)

Friends General Conference (FGC)

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)

Friends Council on Education (FCE)

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)