THE FRIDAY BEE                                                December 26, 2025  

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28

10:20am

Greeter

Joan McIlvaine

10:30am

Child Care

Starts in kindergarten building across the driveway

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

Lauren Wright

11:40am

Refreshments

Margie & Ted Spaeth

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. Masks are optional in the meetinghouse. 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 & ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHRISTMAS POTLUCK & CAROLING JOY!  

We welcomed 70 of us for Christmas dinner by candlelight, and caroling last Sunday at the meetinghouse! A bounty of delicious food, many helping hands, old friends, new faces, and endless good cheer! Thank you to all who pitched in and helped – a true team effort. Special thanks to Caroline Davidson for leading our carols from the piano in her sparkly top, and to Rob Smith for projecting the lyrics for everyone to see!

SAVE THE DATE: GMM CHILI LUNCH – FEBRUARY 1 (note: new date)

Couldn’t make the Christmas Potluck? Our next GMM Fellowship event will be our classic Chili Lunch!

When?  Sunday, February 1, following worship

Note – the originally posted date for this event (1/25) conflicts with Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting. So we shifted by 1 week.

Gather for fellowship over a cozy bowl of chili! All are welcome!

  • Interested in contributing a pot of chili or something to this meal? Contact Anne Stassen
WANT TO MAKE A YEAR-END DONATION?

A gentle reminder from the GMM Fundraising Committee –

There are a few days left in 2025 for those interested in making year-end donations, to support maintaining our meetinghouse as well as the numerous causes approved by Monthly Meeting. Financial support is an integral part of sustaining our Meeting community. We invite everyone to play a part in helping defray our expenses.

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

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.

☕ 🍪 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. 10:30am - 4:00pm

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!

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.

NEW QUAKER CHECKLIST TIP #42 – ATTEND A RETREAT FOR FRIENDS OF COLOR

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 #42:  Attend a retreat for Friends of Color
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.

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

TAKE ACTION!

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

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).

SAVE THE DATE: POWER PHILADELPHIA CITY-WIDE ASSEMBLY ON AFFORDABILITY

When?  February 1, 2026 @ 3:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Join POWER Philadelphia and 40+ congregations for an assembly of people of faith concerned with affordability and cost of living in our city. We will build relationships, meet with elected officials and discuss solutions, and strategize on how we will build people power to make our city work for us. Final location and time to come- register to save the date and confirm your spot.

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.

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)

ONGOING – 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
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

250th BIRTHDAY NEW YEARS EVE CELEBRATION - CONCERT & FIREWORKS - IN PHILADELPHIA

When? Wednesday, December 31, 8:00pm (entry starts at 6pm)

Where? Eakins Oval, Philadelphia (Ben Franklin Parkway)

This event, along the Ben Franklin Parkway & Eakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art,  will kick off the nation's 250th birthday celebration as 2026 begins.  

There will be a range of road closures in the area - before, during & after the event.

START THE NEW YEAR WITH A WELLNESS WALKS IN AWBURY ARBORETUM!

When & Where?  Thursday, January 1, 7:00 - 8:00am, The Farm at Awbury (6336 Ardleigh St)

Join in to start your day with a Wellness Walk through Awbury’s 56 acres, led by Wellness Director, Megan Do Nascimento. “Immerse yourself in nature as we take a moderately paced stroll through gardens, woodlands, roam around the farm, and our ponds and meadows.”  Questions? Contact the Wellness Director at wellness@awbury.org

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)