May 2026 Newsletter

Kennett Friends Meeting – Monthly Newsletter

125 W Sickle St, Kennett Square, PA 19348

KennettFriends.org – 610-444-1012 – coordinator@kennettfriends.org

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✦ Please enter the Worship room quietly. Conversations are welcome downstairs or in the  library. Thank you in advance. ✦ 

The First Day School theme for May is Quakerism & Friendship 🫂

Saturday, April 25	2:00-3:00 PM – AFSC Love As Action Vigil at Philadelphia City Hall
Sunday, April 26	Sarah & Marykate will be providing childcare 9:30 AM – Traveling ministry from Peter Blood-Patterson (see flyer below!) 10:45 AM – Gathering 11:00 AM – Meeting for Worship  12:00 PM – Refreshments provided by the Hospitality Committee
Thursday, April 30	7:00 PM – Meeting for Worship for Peace (see flyer below)
Saturday, May 2	8:00 AM – Men’s Breakfast at the Market at Liberty Place 9:00 AM – Women’s breakfast, Crosslands Cafeteria, 1660 Street Road
Sunday, May 3	Family Sunday Sarah & Marykate will be providing childcare 9:30 AM – Adult Discussion facilitated by Barbara Clarke: Query 4 Nurturing Our Community: Care for the Meeting & Query 5 Nurturing Our Community: Religious Education in the Home and Meeting 10:45 AM – Gathering 11:00 AM – Meeting for Worship  12:00 PM – Refreshments provided by Kathy Taylor, Mary Claire and Scudder Stevens, & Sarah Kastriner 11:00 – 3:00 PM – Rescheduled Fairville Fun Fair (Volunteers needed! See flyer below)
Thursday, May 7	7:00 PM – Meeting for Worship for Peace (see flyer below)
Sunday, May 10	Sarah and Marykate will be providing childcare 9:00 AM – Meeting for Business 10:45 AM – Gathering 11:00 AM – Meeting for Worship  12:00 PM – Refreshments provided by the hospitality committee
Thursday, May 14	7:00 PM – Meeting for Worship for Peace (see flyer below)
Saturday, May 16	1:00-2:00 PM – Quaker Silent Witness
Sunday, May 17	Marykate will be providing childcare9:00 AM – Meeting for Business 10:45 AM – Gathering 11:00 AM – Meeting for Worship  12:00 PM – Refreshments provided by Mary Claire and Scudder Stevens 2:00 PM – Community Rising
Wednesday, May 20	7:00 PM – Spirituality book club (see information below)
Thursday, May 21	7:00 PM – Meeting for Worship for Peace (see flyer below)
Sunday, May 24	Sarah and Marykate will be providing childcare 9:00 AM – Adult Discussion facilitated by Andrea Puskar on Highs and Lows, workshopping what each of us need help with 10:45 AM – Gathering 11:00 AM – Meeting for Worship  12:00 PM – Refreshments provided by the hospitality committee
Monday, May 25	KFM welcomes returning Quaker Peace walker Ross Brubeck
Thursday, May 28	7:00 PM – Meeting for Worship for Peace (see flyer below)
Sunday, May 31	Sarah will be providing childcare9:00 AM – Adult Discussion TBD 10:45 AM – Gathering 11:00 AM – Meeting for Worship  12:00 PM – Annual June Picnic
Thursday, June 4	7:00 PM – Meeting for Worship for Peace (see flyer below)
Saturday, June 6	8:00 AM – Men’s Breakfast at the Market at Liberty Place 9:00 AM – Women’s breakfast, location TBD 2:00 PM – Hear Ye! Congress Declares Independence!A Semi-quincentennial Commemoration sponsored by Hagley at the Kennett Library

✦ Through May, Tish Dalton will be on the facing bench

✦ Our May greeter is  Kathy Taylor and Eliot Dalton

Fifth Query

Nurturing Our Community: Religious Education in the Home and Meeting

• How does our meeting prepare its members, attenders and children for worship, for the conduct of its business and for a way of life consistent with the principles of the Religious Society of Friends?
• What opportunities do we provide for all in the meeting to learn about Friends’ history, practices and testimonies, the Judeo-Christian tradition, the life and teachings of Jesus, and other religious traditions?
• How does our meeting’s religious education program provide experiential learning that enhances the sense of belonging to our worshipping community?
• How do I engage with my family and others who are dear to me regarding such sensitive topics as death, faith, money, sex and drugs?
• How do I help create a home where all members of the family receive affection and understanding and where visitors are welcome?
• How does my manner of living enrich body, mind and spirit; enable all to learn what it means to live a life of Spirit-led commitment; and demonstrate a high regard for family, community and the integrity of creation?

Love as Action: Resisting Authoritarianism

Quaker public witness has stood in opposition to cruel and authoritarian actions in our country before. It is time for us to show this love in action again. Please join the American Friends Service Committee and Philadelphia Area Quakers to bear witness and show resistance to the authoritarian actions in our country. 

On Saturday April 25th, at 2:00 PM we will gather at Philadelphia City Hall for one hour of silent public worship. We will have an art build at Friend’s Center (1501 Cherry Street) prior to the action at 12:30 PM. Our hope is that our presence will give hope to all who see us – to show that we can choose resistance – and remind everyone of our moral obligations to one another.

We gather monthly in communities across the country, showing our communities love in action as a public witness of our Quaker values in a time of rising fascism.

Please register to get notifications regarding this event https://mobilize.us/s/eJup6x

Casa Guanajuato will host a fundraising event for their folkloric dance program on May 2 at the auditorium of Kennett High School (100 East South St., Kennett Square, PA 19348) at 3:00 PM.

Admission is $15. All proceeds will benefit Danza Tenochtli. Purchase at the door or online 

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Spirituality Book Discussion with Barbara Clarke

Spirituality Book Discussion will meet in person and via Zoom on May 20th at 7:00 PM! We will gather around the big screen to include Zoom participants. All are welcome to join in.

Member news and articles!

Lars Farmer has written an article on the 1767 wedding certificate that was found at a local thrift store, and now carefully returned to KFM. Read more and have a look at the photos here.

Thomas Neuville has also recently written an article, “On the seeds we plant in uncertain times and our obligation to future generations” published by Lancaster County News. Thank you to Mark Ungemach for sharing it out!

Seeds of Peace Silent Witness

AFSC invites Friends and people of all faiths to gather in Quaker-led silent worship all across the country—to share witness to the rising authoritarianism and oppression in the United States.

Please join us at Kennett Friends Meeting, 125 W Sickle St, Kennett Square on Saturday, May 16th at 1pm for an hour of silent witness as part of the AFSC “Love as Action” effort.

We’ll stand in front of our Meeting’s sign on North Union Street in Kennett borough, holding our new banner: Quakers Silent Witness for Peace. Please wear dark clothing, comfortable shoes & bring layers!

Parking and bathrooms are available. 

If you have any questions, please email or text Barb McIlvane Smith

Building use applications

At the April Meeting for Business, we decided to share out approved requests for building usage to keep members and attenders up to date. 

• LaToya Myers will be hosting a graduation celebration on June 6th
• Jenna Breault will be hosting her wedding ceremony on November 14th

Annual reports

Annual committee reports read out at meeting for business each month will be available here. They can also be accessed through the ‘login’ page of our website — please reach out to Sheila Tekavec if you need a reminder of the password!

Norwegian Protest Ice Out Hat knit-along

Thank you to Sheila Tekavec who hosted an April knit-along using the Norwegian Protest ICE Out hat pattern. Congrats to the speedy knitters who have already finished!

PYM Governance welcomes Friends who feel led—or are simply curious—to serve. Meetings are encouraged to invite members to be aware of opportunities to participate in the governance of the regional Quaker body.

These opportunities include a range of roles that support the work of the yearly meeting, including service on councils and committees, as well as quarter representatives who serve in nominating roles for the Joint Council.

If you would like to nominate someone to serve, or to express interest in serving in a governance role within Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, please contact Nominating Council clerk George Schaefer at gschaefer@pym.org.

PYM recently streamlined their weekly newsletter to better share timely updates and opportunities across our community. If you are not already subscribed, you may sign up here: https://pym.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=eeb61bfc43b13b95b718e6bb1&id=d5e386e87a

Refreshments Responsibilities list

Thank you to Care & Counsel and the Hospitality Committee for revamping the Family Sunday and refreshments list, now including potlucks! This list is also available on the Login tab of our website. If you need the password, please get in contact with Selina.

Members listed first are bold and are the coordinators. Each month’s team is

responsible for food, refreshments, set-up and clean-up.

• January: Debby Brumbaugh, Dave and Sam Park
• February: Tish Dalton, Robin and Dave Harper, Bill Iliff
  • Chili Brunch – Care & Counsel
• March: Lars Farmer, Barbara and Steven Clarke, Tony Brooks
• April: Eliot Dalton, Jim Nelson, Anthony Losito
  • Easter Breakfast – Worship & Ministry
• May: Kathy Taylor, Mary Claire and Scudder Stevens, Sarah Kastriner
• June: Covered Dish Picnic: Care & Counsel – Renee Bowers & Aaron Fichtelberg, Becka & Henry Schlimme (responsible for desserts and refreshments).
• July & August: No planned Family Sunday refreshments. All are free to bring something if you are so moved.
• September: Carol Lorah Bland, Jessie Cocks, Michele and Paul Scheibe
  • Welcome Back Brunch – Worship & Ministry
• October: Laura MacKelcan, Margaret Moore, Barbara McPherson
• November: Elaine Amoss, Barbara McIlvane Smith, Mark Ungemach
• December: Linda Traver, Dave Tennent, Andrea Puskar, Cathy DeGezelle
  • Christmas Breakfast – Religious Education
• June Last Sunday Old Kennett : Old Kennett Committee
• July Last Sunday Old Kennett : Care & Counsel
• August Last Sunday Old Kennett : Worship & Ministry