GMM ANNUAL CHRISTMAS POTLUCK & CAROL SING!

When?  This Sunday, December 21, 6:00 - 9:00pm

Where? Germantown Meetinghouse, Committee & Social Rooms

‘Tis the season! Let’s gather together to celebrate the holiday season with good cheer!

Bring your favorite dish(es) to share with a crowd as we enjoy a festive potluck meal together by candlelight, and then Caroline Davidson will be at the piano to lead us in singing Christmas carols. All are welcome!

FIRST DAY SCHOOL – CHRISTMAS PAGEANT 🎄

When & Where: This Sunday at the rise of worship, in the Meetinghouse

Stay in the meetinghouse after Announcements for the Annual First Day School Christmas Pageant! We will be joined by Wise Men, Shepherds, Mary, Joseph & baby Jesus, and often a star! Plenty of joyful singing to lift our holiday spirits before Refreshments.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Food Distribution in front of GMM

TCRC Community Healing Center Food Distribution takes place every 3rd Sunday out on Coulter Street, in front of the Meetinghouse. Helping hands are needed and always appreciated!

• When?  This Sunday, December 21, 9:30am for set-up & 12:00-3:00pm for distribution (& every 3rd Sunday)
• Where? In front of Germantown Meetinghouse on Coulter Street

Questions?  Contact Jondhi Harrell 

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN IN FRIENDS SCHOOLS

Application Deadline: Monday, January 26

Germantown Monthly Meeting members who have children in Friends Schools may apply for tuition assistance from the meeting for the 2026-2027 school year. Applications should be completed and returned via US Mail to Faye Steacy, clerk of the Scholarship Committee, by Monday, January 26.

• Find Faye’s contact information in the Meeting Directory, through the Meeting Office (215-951-2235 / gmm@germantownfriends.org).
• To obtain the 2026-2027 application and guidelines go to – https://www.friendscouncil.org/nfef

A REMINDER FROM THE FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

A friendly reminder that Germantown Meeting has many expenses such as maintaining the meetinghouse spaces and supporting the numerous programs and causes that Monthly Meeting has approved. Financial support is an integral part of sustaining our Meeting community. We hope everyone will contribute generously to help defray our expenses.

Thank you to those who have already given!

How to donate?

• Send a check to Germantown Monthly Meeting (47 West Coulter Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144)
• Donate online through the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) giving portal here 
• Drop a donation in the locked wooden box mounted on the wall between the Committee & Social Rooms.

Contributions of any and all amounts are warmly welcomed. Many thanks for your generosity.

~ Jonathan Rhoads, Clerk of Fundraising Committee

THANK YOU FROM GERMANTOWN CRISIS MINISTRY (GACM) – FOOD DRIVE

From GACM Executive Director, Eileen Jones –

Thank you for the food collection held on behalf of Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministry. Just today we shared food bags with 81 households. Every item helps fill our shelves and enables us to provide a wide variety of quality food to our neighbors. We deeply appreciate your support and hope you will continue to partner with us in service to our community in the future. Your generosity makes a meaningful difference for the families we serve.

☕ 🍪 VOLUNTEER TO PROVIDE REFRESHMENTS THIS WINTER! ☕ 🍪

Please volunteer to provide refreshments after worship in the New Year!

• Make it a family activity   ◆   Partner up with a friend
• Make it a Committee activity, while promoting your committee's work?

Please look ahead and pick a date:

• January 18 - January 25
• February 8 - February 15 - February 22

Please contact Becky Johnson. THANK YOU!

Thanks to all who provided refreshments over the past year!

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

QUAKER NEWS & EVENTS

REGISTER NOW FOR PHILADELPHIA QUARTERLY MEETING

When? Sunday, January 25

Where? Green Street Meeting (45 W School House Lane)

Before the holiday rush begins, we encourage you to register and join us for a special day of connection and listening.

The program will feature Chris Mohr, the new General Secretary of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) and serve as an introduction and a listening session focused on the two yearly meeting-wide witnesses addressing racism and climate change. He is planning a facilitated listening exercise for each quarterly meeting in PYM, and PQM will be the first. We look forward to coming together!

• Register here
• See flyer here

NEW QUAKER CHECKLIST TIP #41 – READ QUAKER CHILDREN’S BOOKS –THEY ARE NOT JUST FOR KIDS

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 #41:  Read Quaker children’s books–they are not just for kids

APPLY FOR QUAKER VOLUNTARY SERVICE (QVS)!

Do you know a young adult who might be interested in living at the intersection of transformational spirituality and activism?  Maybe you’ll see such a relative during the holiday period? Tell them about Quaker Voluntary Service… an 11-month program where Fellows work full-time in professional positions at community based organizations addressing a wide range of issues, while living in a cooperative house and worshiping with, and being mentored by, local Quakers.

• More information about Quaker Voluntary Service
• Application information here  ◆  Deadline is March 1, 2026

KNOWING PEACE: A QUAKER BUDDHIST EXPLORATION – with Deborah Cooper! (sign up by Jan 8)

When & Where? January 15 @ 6:00 pm - January 18 @ 1:00 pm, at Pendle Hill
GMM member Deborah Cooper will be co-leading an experiential weekend workshop at Pendle Hill, combining early Quaker practices and insight meditation, with George Schaefer (Abington Friends Meeting). Learning from the teachings of early Friends and practices from insight meditation, the weekend will include opportunities for meditation, silent worship, and discussion.

• More information here
• Register here by January 8 

PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM)

• PYM Weekly Update
• PYM Events Calendar: Check out upcoming and ongoing programs promoted by PYM

GERMANTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL (GFS) NEWS & EVENTS

UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT MAGAZINE WINS NATIONAL AWARD

Earthquake, GFS’ Upper School student magazine, has once again been named a finalist for the Columbia Scholastic Press Association's Crown Awards! The Crown Awards honor top student publications from high schools across the country and around the world, and are awarded for overall excellence throughout the entire publication as demonstrated through concept, writing, coverage, design, art, and photography.

ATTEND GFS MEETING FOR WORSHIP DURING THE WEEK

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

No midweek worship during GFS Winter Break, 12/22 - 1/2        

TAKE ACTION!

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.

• See more here, and bookmark their site!

IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRANTS

Weekly Interfaith Vigils

When? Every Monday, 11:00am

Where? In front of the Immigration Offices, 8th & Cherry Streets, Philadelphia

• Organized by State Senator Art Haywood who represents Northwest Philadelphia and Eastern Montgomery County.

When? Every Wednesday, 12:00pm

Where? In front of the Immigration Offices, 8th & Cherry Streets, Philadelphia

• Organized by New Sanctuary Movement

Email Governor Shapiro about Immigrants

Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, has organized the past few months to urge members and allies to call and email Governor Shapiro to stop state-level collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

• For more information & a form to contact Shapiro & elected officials 
• Or contact the Governor’s office separately with this form

ONGOING – 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)

• Read more about the weekly protest here.

ONGOING – WE THE PEOPLE WEDNESDAYS – SINGING FOR SANITY

When?   Every Wednesday – 5:30 - 6:30pm (not meeting on Christmas Eve, 12/24; will meet New Years Eve, 12/31)

Where?  Unitarian Universalists of Mt. Airy (6900 Stenton Ave)

Join neighbors at the Unitarian Universalists of Mt. Airy every Wednesday afternoon for a 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

ONGOING – 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

DECEMBERFEST HOLIDAY SHOPPING STROLL 🎄

When? Tomorrow, Saturday, December 20, 11:00am - 4:00pm

Where? Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy (between Johnson St & Allens Lane)

Live holiday music, festive food & drink, fire pits, a live ice sculpting demo, and more! Shops throughout the neighborhood will be open and offering festive cheer along with many gift items that are handmade right here in Mt. Airy.

• See more Information & full schedule here

WINTER RESURGENCE CABARET

When?  Saturday, December 20, 7:00 - 9:00pm

Where?  Allen’s Lane Art Center (601 W Allens Lane)

Inhabit this season's theme of RESURGENCE with a night of riveting cabaret-style musical theater. Performed by Philly's best and brightest, this is a tribute to community, kindness, and camaraderie in the cold season. BYO Food and Beverage.

• Buy Tickets here ($20 online; $25 at door)

QUAKER RESOURCES

OTHER (VIRTUAL) WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

• Pendle Hill – Daily Zoom meeting for worship online from 8:30-9:10 am
• Friends Council on 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)