THE FRIDAY BEE                                                                      🌞  July 11, 2025  🌞

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY, JULY 13

10:20am

Greeter

Becky Johnson and Larry Weisberg

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

On recess for the summer.

Older children attend Meeting for Worship with their parent(s) until 10:45am, when someone will stand up and lead them to the kindergarten or playground for supervised play.

Questions? Contact Lois Volta/a>. Children of any age are always welcome to join their parent(s) in Meeting for Worship.

11:30am

Introductions & Announcements

Moira Duggan

11:40am

Refreshments

Becky Johnson and Larry Weisberg

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

GMM WORSHIP IN AUGUST

During the month of August the GMM meetinghouse will be closed and some repairs will be made to the building.

We will continue to hold Meeting for Worship on Zoom (using the usual link), which all are invited to join.

Those Friends wishing to experience worship in person are encouraged to visit other nearby meetings —

  • Chestnut Hill and Green St are air conditioned and meet at 10:30 am;
  • Abington has both indoor and outdoor worship at 10:00 am;
  • Plymouth Meeting has in person worship at 10:00 am and hybrid worship 11:15-12;
  • Merion Meeting worships in their 1695 meetinghouse at 11:00 am.  

We are inquiring about childcare and/or FDS at these other meetings in August and will let families know.

If you visit another meeting, be sure to bring with you greetings from Germantown Meeting!

REMINDER: GMM MEETING FOR BUSINESS IS ON RECESS UNTIL SEPTEMBER

Members received Draft minutes this week from our June Meetings for Business, for review while our memories are fresh.

Next Meeting for Business will be Sunday, September 14.

QUAKER NEWS & EVENTS

NEW QUAKER CHECKLIST TIP #16 - LISTEN TO QUAKER PODCASTS

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!

  • Tip #16:  Listen to Quaker podcasts
  • Familiar to us – The Seed (Pendle Hill podcast) & Quakers Today (Friends Journal podcast)
  • This list includes podcasts from Quaker meetings/organizations representing a range of beliefs among Friends across the country. Some sites are better than others; some recordings are better than others; some need a bit of digging to find episodes; some reflect on faith or issues in ways that are different from GMM.
WELCOME TO QUAKERISM SERIES, continues

Co-sponsored by Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting (PQM)

When? Thursday, July 17, 7:30pm

  • And also 3rd Thursdays at 7:30pm, July - September (August 21, September 18)

What?  July’s Topic:  Quaker Decision Making

In a quandary about queries? Whether you are brand new, or have been attending meeting for a little while – this fresh and engaging 4-part series invites you to explore the spiritual grounding, communal practices, and rich traditions at the heart of Quaker life. You can come in any order, there's no advance reading, and no homework. This is not a history class.

The plan is to have this program continue in rotation throughout the year.  If you miss one time, you can always catch it the next time around, probably with a different presenter, but with the same spirit of welcome, joy and sharing.  There will be time for questions, discussion, and getting to know other people, some from your own Monthly Meeting, some from other Meetings, some from no Meeting at all, just seekers. All are warmly welcome!

QVS (Quaker Voluntary Service) WEEKLY MEETING FOR WORSHIP WITH ATTENTION TO GAZA & PALESTINE

When?  Tuesdays at 12:00pm (ET)

Where? On Zoom – link here

  • Summer QVS Residents will be joining the weekly worship with attention to Gaza thru August 5th.
  • QVS hopes some of you will join us during these weeks!
BOOK TALK WITH DR. HAROLD D. (HAL) WEAVER, JR. of THE BLACK QUAKER PROJECT

When & Where?   Thursday, July 24, 7:00pm (ET) – on Zoom

  • A conversation with Hal Weaver & FGC’s Rashid Darden, discussing the making and audiobook of Black Fire: African American Quakers on Spirituality and Human Rights, a seminal work co-edited by Dr. Weaver (together with Stephen Angell - brother of GMM member Sam Angell!).
  • Weaver was introduced to the Religious Society of Friends and Quakerism at Westtown School and Haverford College. He combined his faith and political activism to produce several publications important to Quakers, including Black Fire.

Register for Zoom link here

SUMMER QUERIES FOR QUAKER PARENTS

The Quaker Religious Education Coalition (QREC) and the Quaker Parenting Initiative share queries for the months of June and July. Here in the northern hemisphere, thinking about summer routines and time for rest and adventures!

  • How can your family nurture each other when people are low on time or energy?
  • What story from your childhood would your child connect to right now?

For more info & resources, check out their websites (in the links above) or subscribe to QREC's mailing list.  

REGISTER NOW FOR PYM ANNUAL SESSIONS: MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER 

When & Where? Annual Sessions happen July 23-27

  • Weds & Thurs, July 23 & 24:  Zoom only
  • Fri - Sun, July 25 - 27:  Hybrid; on Zoom & at Cheyney University

What are Annual Sessions? 

A longstanding Quaker tradition, yearly meetings gather once a year to bring together members & attenders from their local meetings, providing a space for collective discernment and spiritual renewal. Friends can expect keynote speakers, opportunities for fellowship, learning, worship, and thoughtful attention to the work of the yearly meeting.

Youth programs, intergenerational gatherings, affinity groups, breakout sessions, business meetings, and even games!

Exciting note: Keynote Speaker on July 23rd - Ayesha Imani, longtime (now former) GMM member

PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)

GERMANTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL (GFS) NEWS & EVENTS

GFS BULLETIN – Faculty: Past & Present … Leaders, Coaches, Mentors, Creators, Explorers

Here is a chance for a look-back at some of the stories about what happened at GFS earlier in the year, with a focus on Faculty.

If you don’t already get the GFS Bulletin, browse through it out here – GFS Bulletin 2024, Vol II 

TAKE ACTION!

FILM SCREENING:  SABBATH QUEEN

When?   Saturday, July 19 at 7:00 pm & Sunday, July 20 at 2:00 pm

Where?  Film Society East/PFS East Theater 2 (125 S 2nd Street, Philadelphia)

Filmed over 21 years, SABBATH QUEEN follows the epic journey of Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie on his lifelong quest to creatively and radically reinvent religion and ritual, challenge patriarchy and supremacy, champion interfaith love, and advocate for peace and gender equality. SABBATH QUEEN powerfully interrogates what Jewish survival means in a difficult and rapidly changing 21st century.

Director Sandi Dubowski will be present for a Q&A following both screenings. On July 19th he'll be joined by special guest Rabbi Deborah Waxman, President and CEO, Reconstructing Judaism. Chris Bartlett, Director Emeritus, William Way LGBT Community Center, will moderate on July 20.

TRYING TO FIND SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS?

Mobilize is a central posting site that has opportunities concerning local actions for protest and in support of social justice.

MONDAYS @ MCCORMICK’S

When?  Mondays, 12:00noon - 1:00pm, rain or shine

Where?  2000 Market Street, Senator McCormick’s Philadelphia office

Join in weekly to assemble peaceably - as is our constitutional right - outside Senator McCormick's Philadelphia office until he agrees to meet with us and support our demands: (These will change as conditions develop)

WE THE PEOPLE WEDNESDAYS – SINGING FOR SANITY

When?  Every Wednesday at 4:00pm 

Where?  Allens Lane Station in Mt. Airy

Join neighbors at the Allens Lane Station in Mt. Airy every Wednesday afternoon for a new protest group!

There will be protest songs led by local musicians each week, speakers describing the cruelty and madness of our F/Elon leaders, and following up with actions.

  • Watch their website for more information on the music & speakers each week: WeThePeopleWeds.org
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)

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

SECOND SATURDAYS IN GERMANTOWN

When? Saturday, July 12

Every second Saturday thru November will have tours, activities, events happening at various sites throughout Germantown and vicinity.

CARILLON RECITAL SERIES @ Wyck

When?   Monday evenings in July, 7:30pm – July 14, 21, 28, rain or shine*

Where?  Wyck Historic House | Garden | Farm (6026 Germantown Avenue)

Bring a blanket or yard chair and come sit in Wyck’s yard to enjoy the multiple concerts being played at the First United Methodist Church (FUMCOG) just across the street! Programs and seating are available in the Wyck yard.

*Note: In case of extreme weather or thunderstorms, please go inside FUMCOG for the concert. Wyck grounds are not open during extreme weather.

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
  • Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) Worship with Attention to Gaza/Palestine: Tuesdays at 12:00noon (ET) on Zoom

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)