THE FRIDAY BEE                                           June 26, 2026
SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 28
10:20am		Greeter		TBD
10:30am		Child Care		Starts in kindergarten building across the driveway
10:30am		Meeting for Worship  (Hybrid)		In-person in the meeting house, as well as remote.
10:50am		First Day School		During the summer months, our First Day School class takes a pause.  Children of all ages may join together for play in the kindergarten. Children are always welcome to join their families in Meeting for Worship. Those wanting more activity may go to the kindergarten after a period of worship with their families, or go to the kindergarten from the start.   Our standard First Day School will resume in September! Questions about First Day School at GMM?  Please contact Carla Childs.
11:30am		Introductions & Announcements		Karen Lightner
11:35am		Zoom Social Time		Zoom attendees, please stay online to join in a Zoom social time after Meeting for Worship!
11:40am		Refreshments		Anthony Stover
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
ADULT CLASS ON SUMMER BREAK – WILL RESUME  IN SEPTEMBER The Adult Class Committee is excited by the progress with bringing back the classes this past year, and appreciate the hearty support! Look for another year of interesting discussions starting up again in September.
NEXT SUNDAY (JULY 5) – NO HYBRID MEETING FOR WORSHIP On Sunday, July 5, join for worship in-person at our meetinghouse, or on Zoom. We will not have a hybrid meeting for worship, but it will resume on Sunday, July 12.
GMM WORSHIPS WITH GREEN STREET MEETING IN JULY & AUGUST! Starting next Sunday (7/5), we are happy to resume our summer tradition of worshiping together with Green Street Friends Meeting. During July, Green Street members & attenders will join us in our meetinghouse for Sunday worship. During August, we will worship at Green Street meetinghouse (just a block away). Our meetinghouse will be closed during August, to allow for the Property Committee to complete annual maintenance & repairs.
DRIVING MISS DAISY – DIRECTED BY GMM MEMBER CARLA CHILDS! Final weekend! When?  Remaining dates – June 26, 27 at 8:00pm; June 28 at 2:00pm Where? Old Academy Players (3544 Indian Queen Lane, in East Falls) Our member Carla Childs is directing a production of Driving Miss Daisy at Old Academy Players this month! The place is the Deep South, the time 1948, just prior to the civil rights movement. Having recently demolished another car, Daisy Werthan, a rich, sharp-tongued Jewish widow of seventy-two, is informed by her son, Boolie, that henceforth she must rely on the services of a chauffeur. The person he hires for the job is a thoughtful, unemployed black man, Hoke, whom Miss Daisy immediately regards with disdain and who, in turn, is not impressed with his employer’s patronizing tone and, he believes, her latent prejudice. “The actors were magisterial, and the story left me awestruck.” – GMM’er Review, Lauren Wright Read more & Buy tickets here ($25)
KAREN LIGHTNER BOOK IN EXHIBITION When? Exhibition opens tomorrow, Saturday, June 27, 11:00am - 1:00pm Where? Historic RittenhouseTown (208 Lincoln Drive) GMM Member Karen Lightner has a book in an exhibition - Paper First: Contemporary Book Arts, Where Paper Was Born. Please stop by the opening on June 27. There will be lots happening there, including activities for kids. See poster here
BEFORE JUNE 30th! EVERYONE CAN HELP GMM REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT! Our Meeting has taken on a new campaign – to raise funds to facilitate reducing our carbon footprint… a challenge posed by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM), and heartily embraced by our Environmental Concerns Committee and Monthly Meeting. PYM is contributing some funding, thanks to Rob Smith’s efforts on a PYM grant application! In addition, donations of any size to this effort help unlock an additional $50,000 matching grant! Be a part of reducing our carbon footprint. A gift to our meeting, and to our global environment. HOW TO DONATE? Send a check to Germantown Monthly Meeting (47 W. Coulter Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144) Give online through Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s donation portal - Click here  Put a contribution in the Donation Box on the wall between the Committee & Social Rooms Gifts of all sizes make an impact. Really. We want everyone to participate! Many thanks to those who have already contributed, and to all of you who plan to do so.
GARDENING HELP NEEDED Our member Lois Volta would like some help tending her garden at the Meeting Cottage. If you would like to help, and also get some of the produce, please contact Lois at loisvolta@gmail.com.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR REFRESHMENTS IN JULY!!  ☕🍪 Our weekly coffee, tea & yummy snacks don’t happen by magic. We still need to recruit volunteers from amongst members/attenders to make them happen! July 5  -  July 12   Please contact Mike Pechter or click here to sign up
QUAKER NEWS & EVENTS
JAMES TURRELL AND “LIGHT” – NYT Article GMM Member Caroline Davidson shares a recent New York Times article, “To Take Us to the Heavens, James Turrell Went Underground” – with some thoughts on its appeal for Friends. As we know, one of Turrell’s light installations is nearby in the roof and ceiling of the Chestnut Hill Friends meeting house. See more on that here. Caroline also notes Turrell sharing Friends’ understanding/use of "light," as he explains – "in the Quaker viewpoint.....it is your personal responsibility ...to go inside, and to greet the light.” As Friends may relate, "the ‘thingness’ of light continues to hold mysteries for Turrell.”
CONTINUING REVOLUTION 2026: RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE – Register NOW! A weekend workshop for young adults (18-35) When? This weekend, Saturday, June 27 (9am - 8:30pm) - Sunday, June 28 (9am - 5pm)  Where? Friends Center (1501 Cherry Street) - In-person The strength of our resistance comes from the strength of our relationships. Come join with your neighbors for a weekend of connection, community, and learning. In times like this, we need both strategies for outward resistance and tools for inward resilience so we can keep showing up with courage without burning out. Grounded in Quaker values of peace, justice, equality, and community, Continuing Revolution is open to all, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof. If you are a spiritual seeker with a vision for a better world, you are welcome here. We look forward to learning from each other! Highlights include: -  Creating Community Safety Beyond Policing: workshop with Lewis Webb, Jr. of American Friends Service Committee -  Perspectives from the Quaker World: panel on ways to get involved in peace and justice work -  An art and activism walking tour of Philadelphia See detailed schedule here More information & registration here There is a sliding scale registration fee ($15/$30/$45)– with financial assistance available.
WAWA WELCOME AMERICA’S FREE MUSEUM DAY AT ARCH STREET MEETING HOUSE When?  Monday, June 29, 10:00am - 4:00pm Where? Arch Street Meeting House (320 Arch Street) Tours and a new permanent exhibit, “The History of Quakers: A Religious Revolution,” Two showings of A Quiet Roar (11:00am & 12:30pm) – an immersive, 45-minute theater performance that bridges the lives of Bayard Rustin and Sarah Mapps Douglass, two phenomenal Black Philadelphian Quakers who walked the halls of Arch Street Meeting House a century apart. Their writings and experiences come to life by highlighting the complex, often overlooked intersections of race, faith, and freedom in the United States. Followed at 5:00 by a talk about the 1688 Protest Against Slavery (see below)
QUAKERISM UNMASKED: TALK ABOUT THE 1688 PROTEST AGAINST SLAVERY When?  Monday, June 29, 5:00 - 7:00pm Where? Arch Street Meetinghouse (320 Arch Street) Join Emma J. Lapsansky-Werner for a special presentation about the 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery, which will be on view at Arch Street Meeting House from June 29 to August 3, 2026. In 1688, a group of German Quakers decided to use their voice and turn their faith into action by writing a public petition against enslavement. The original signed petition was lost to time and rediscovered in the ‘fireproof vault’ of Arch Street Meeting House. Free registration here  Read more about Lapsanksy-Werner
REGISTER NOW: PHILADELPHIA QUARTERLY MEETING - Summer Meeting When?  Sunday, July 19, 10:30am - 4:00pm Where?  Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting (20 Mermaid Lane) Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting invites Friends to a day of worship, fellowship, and reflection on how we are called to accompany our neighbors. See more program information & registration link here
REGISTER NOW: PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING (PYM) ANNUAL SESSIONS When? July 22 - 26 Where? Cheyney University & on Zoom Annual Sessions is when a PYM gathers as a community for our shared commitment to each other and our faith. Friends can expect keynote speakers, worship, opportunities for fellowship, and a return to the community-led workshops around outreach, property, sustainability, and more! Theme: Members One of Another, reminds Friends that our faith is not only about the ways we join together, but also about the relationships we care for across the yearly meeting and our communities. Read more & register here
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
😎SUMMER AT FRIENDS FREE LIBRARY 📖 Pajama Story Time When? Wednesday, July 1, 6:30 - 7:30pm Where? Friends Free Library on GFS Campus For children 2-5 years old (and their grown-ups). Siblings welcome. Open to the whole community! Summer hours: June 16 - July 16, Tuesdays - Thursdays, 9:30am - 3:30pm Closed: July 17 - August 30 (reopens Aug. 31) Summer Reading Challenge (for all ages): Click here for more info on challenges, plus suggested readings See Summer flyer here
GRADUATING CLASS OF 2026 RE-CAP  🎓 Congratulations again to the Class of 2026! This fall, the 108 brilliant new grads will continue their learning at 62 different colleges in 21 states, Washington, DC, Canada, Ireland, and Germany. Six students will attend an HBCU (Historically Black College or University), and 12 students have signed with college athletics teams. They were also collectively awarded over $20 million in merit scholarships (up from $13 million last year!). Wow!
TAKE ACTION!
PROTEST – KIDS OVER CONDOS When?  Wednesday, July 1, 10:00am Where?  2929 Walnut Street (outside of FMC Tower) This action is about what 20-year tax abatements for big developers in Philadelphia cost our schools and our young people, especially in the aftermath of 17 public schools being closed. Come stand with members of POWER Interfaith and allies for Kids Over Condos!
WRITE GET OUT THE VOTE POSTCARDS! Sign up to write Get Out the Vote postcards to some key states for the November 3 midterm elections –  – Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio & Wisconsin. These postcards are proven to boost Democratic turnout by up to 1.3%, which can be enough to tip the scales! Sign up here to receive bundles of postcards, voter lists, instructions & sample messages.
RECLAIM PHILADELPHIA – GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! Reclaim Philadelphia builds community power to win change, reclaim government for the people, and advance economic, racial, and gender justice. Neighborhood Chapters are our community hubs, organized by volunteer leader teams. These hyper local organizing groups focus on building community within Reclaim’s base and connecting with community groups and neighbors. Learn more about the neighborhood chapter near you HERE!
GUIDE TO ICE WATCH HOTLINES AND IMMIGRATION RESOURCES Provided by GMM member John Colgan Davis; also available at the resource table at GMM on Sundays.  A list of resources and organizations with guidance on immigration support. Many of these on-the-ground organizations have been working with immigrant communities for years. Click here to read more!
TRYING TO FIND SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS? Mobilize is a central posting site with opportunities for local actions for protest and in support of social justice. See more here, and bookmark their site!
➤ LIST OF ONGOING/WEEKLY SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS CLICK HERE for a list of ongoing, weekly/regularly scheduled vigils & protests supporting immigrants, Palestine, peace, Constitutional rights, etc. Includes standing events such as — Fridays @ Fettermans, Mondays @ McCormicks, We the People Wednesdays, etc. (These used to be listed every week in the Friday Bee, but we are consolidating them into their own linked document.) Have more ongoing protests and vigils to include?  Send them to the GMM Office (gmm@germantownfriends.org)
GERMANTOWN & NEARBY
MAPLEWOOD NIGHT MARKET When?  Tonight! Friday, June 27, 4:00 - 9:00pm Where? Maplewood Mall in Germantown A vibrant summer celebration filled with family-friendly fun! Enjoy delicious water ice to beat the heat, a bouncy house to keep the kids entertained, ‘groovy tunes’ from a live DJ, and tasty hot dogs for a perfect evening out. The evening will feature a vendor marketplace with food, accessories, art, clothing, and other community-centered experiences.
WELCOME AMERICA – GUIDE TO 250th BIRTHDAY EVENTS 🇺🇸 When?  Thru July 4th Where? All over Philadelphia The largest Independence Day celebration in the nation (and one of the largest free festivals in the country), is even bigger in 2026 to mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence right here in Philly. Click here to see all events & festivities
KIDS CENTERED FAMILY HIKE – WITH FRIENDS OF THE WISSAHICKON When?  Saturday, June 27, 10:00am - 12:00noon Where? Wissahickon – Meeting at Mt. Airy Avenue Trailhead (W Mt. Airy Ave and Mt. Airy Terrace) Join Trail Ambassadors for a leisurely, kids centered family-friendly loop hike in the Wissahickon, paced to the age and abilities of participants. Read more & register here
1690: FIRST PAPER MAKER IN AMERICA – 52 WEEKS OF FIRSTS When? Saturday, June 27, 11:00am - 1:00pm Where? Historic RittenhouseTown (208 Lincoln Drive) Long before Wi-Fi and word processors, there was paper and it all started at Rittenhouse Town. Discover the handmade beginnings of America’s paper trail and the mill that made it happen. 52 Weeks of Firsts honors 250 years of Philly pioneering by celebrating the city’s many historic achievements — every Saturday, all throughout 2026.
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, 12:00noon (ET)  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)