July 2026 Newsletter

Kennett Friends Meeting – Monthly Newsletter

125 W Sickle St, Kennett Square, PA 19348

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

Click here to view or share the most up-to-date version of this newsletter

✦ Please note the updated, later time for this month’s Meeting for Business ✦

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

Saturday, July 4	8:30am – 12pm – AFSC Declaration of Resistance March at Arch Street Meetinghouse 9am – Women’s Breakfast at Barb McIlvaine Smith’s home 2:00-3:00 PM – AFSC Love As Action Vigil at Philadelphia City Hall
Sunday, July 5	Marykate & Saira will be providing childcare 11:00 AM – Meeting for Worship
Thursday, July 9	7:00 PM – Meeting for Worship for Peace (see flyer below)
Saturday, July 11	8:00 AM – Men’s Breakfast at the Market at Liberty Place
Sunday, July 12	Marykate & Saira will be providing childcare 9:45 AM – Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business 11:00 AM – Meeting for Worship
Wednesday, July 15	7:00 PM – Spirituality book club (see information below)
Thursday, July 16	7:00 PM – Meeting for Worship for Peace (see flyer below)
Sunday, July 19	10:00 AM Western Quarterly Meeting – see details below Marykate & Saira will be providing childcare 11:00 AM – Meeting for Worship
Thursday, July 23	7:00 PM – Meeting for Worship for Peace (see flyer below)
Sunday, July 26	9:00 AM – Meeting for Worship at Old Kennett MeetinghouseVolunteers for childcare are needed
Thursday, July 30	7:00 PM – Meeting for Worship for Peace (see flyer below)

✦ Through July, a member of Worship & Ministry will be on the facing bench ✦ 

✦ Our July greeter is a member of Care & Counsel ✦ 

Seventh Query

Grounding for Transformed Lives: Peace and Alternatives to Violence

• How do we help each other face conflicts with patience, forbearance, & openness to healing?
• To what extent does our meeting ignore differences in order to avoid possible conflicts?
• What are we doing as a Friends meeting within our communities:
  • To recognize and correct the causes of violence?
  • To understand the impact of the global military-industrial complex on all aspects of life?
  • To increase the understanding and use of alternatives to violence?
  • To work toward overcoming separations and restoring wholeness?
  • To support the constructive use of authority?
  • To promote the sustainability of the earth?

• Do I “live in the virtue [power] of that Life and Spirit that took [takes] away the occasion of all wars”?
• How do I maintain Friends’ testimony that participation in war and its preparation is inconsistent with the teaching of Jesus?
• Do I treat personal conflict as an opportunity for growth?
• How do I face my differences with others and reaffirm in action and attitude my love for those with whom I am in conflict? 

Thursday, July 2nd, and every Thursday evening:  

7pm – Meeting for Worship for Peace

The Worship Room at Kennett Friends Meeting will be open from 7 – 8pm every Thursday evening for Meeting for Worship for Peace.  Come join us in shared time together reflecting on peace for the world, aligning with a higher consciousness for the greater good.

Image shared by permission of local artist, Suzaane Gaadt

Saturday, July 4th:  Happy Semiquincentiennial America!

8:30am – 12pm – AFSC Declaration of Resistance March at Arch Street Meetinghouse – click here for more information. A special message from the American Friends Service Committee is attached.

9am – Women’s Breakfast in the home of Barb McIlvaine Smith – Barb has graciously offered to host a potluck Women’s Breakfast on July 4th in her home, which is within walking distance of the Meetinghouse. Your RSVP is also requested. Please note her new phone number and send a text message to Barb:  (484) 753-4258.

2:00-3:00 PM – AFSC Love As Action Vigil at Philadelphia City Hall

Saturday, July 11th:

8am – Men’s Breakfast in the Market at Liberty Place

Sunday, July 12th:

9:45am – Meeting for Business

Wednesday, July 15th:  Spirituality Book Discussion with Barbara Clarke

Barbara Clarke will lead the Spirituality Book Discussion in person or virtually on Zoom:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86739314909?pwd=QnJmUWxWQ2ZPVzRkQ3M2YklDRWp2QT09

Meeting ID: 867 3931 4909 – Passcode: 391875

All are welcome to join in.

Sunday, July 19th:  Western Quarterly Meeting

WQM joins Concord Quarterly at Wilmington Monthly Meeting beginning at 10am Wilmington Meetinghouse – 401 North West Street, Wilmington (corner of 4th Street and West Street).

Parking available along the street. Limited parking is available on the

meetinghouse grounds.  Updates on the joint quarter gathering are attached and available at the WQ website.

Parking note – Please consider car-pooling both for stewardship of the earth (in keeping with our Yearly Meeting-wide witness) and to share the quarterly meeting experience!  Wilmington MM has made arrangements with Delaware Technical and Community College (which is about 2 blocks away) for extra parking – 300 N. Orange St, Wilmington 19801. 

Please note:

• Barbara McIlvaine Smith shared that the AFSC Silent Witness gathering at Kennett Friends Meeting is taking a break until September due to the extreme heat.

• Mark Ungemach shared that the Seeds of Peace Community Rising workshops are taking a summer vacation break until September.

News from Old Kennett Meeting

Old Kennett Meetinghouse & Cemetery will be open for Meeting for Worship at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 26th.

• Public tours in July and August are scheduled, with registration required:

Sunday, July 26th – 10:30am – 12:30pm

Sunday, August 30th –  10:30am – 12:30pm

• Register for the public tours here:
  https://sites.google.com/view/old-kennett
• Tours are free, but space is limited. Donations are accepted to help care for Old Kennett Meetinghouse & Cemetery.

The Old Kennett Committee is looking for two volunteers to help with public tours at the rise of Meeting for Worship at Old Kennett Meetinghouse. You will check in visitors for their scheduled tours. Guest lists and a check-in table will be provided. The Host can also direct visitors to our QR code for donations.  A Parking Attendant will direct visitors to the Kendal parking lot and show them the walking route to the Meetinghouse, where the tours begin. A safety vest and signs will be provided.  Help is needed from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 26th 10:00am – 12:30pm.

Friends are also welcome to stay after worship to speak to visitors, or join one of the tours.

To volunteer, please contact Lars Farmer directly:

Lars Farmer
(302) 299-2111
larsfarmer@gmail.com

Lars encourages anyone interested in a burial plot in the cemetery at Old Kennett Meeting to call and leave voicemail, (610) 444-1012.  The email for OKM is not working at this time.

First Day School

September is right around the corner, so the Religious Education committee reminds f/Friends that volunteers are still needed for First Day School and childcare to assist our staff.  They would like to encourage anyone who is interested to please share your name and email address with Sheila Tekavec if you would like to get the necessary clearances.

Quaker Makers

A second knitalong is underway in July, August, & September. If you’re interested in participating or purchasing a hat, please contact Sheila Tekavec.

Hospitality & Refreshments

Although the Hospitality Committee is on break for the summer, those who are moved to bring something are welcome to do so.

• July 26th refreshments at OKM provided by:  Care & Counsel
• August 30th refreshments at OKM provided by:  Worship & Ministry

Building Usage

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

• Saturdays until the end of July, Lars will be downstairs using the area around the piano from 1-4pm unless another building use request is received and approved by the House & Property committee.
• 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!

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

In case you missed it!

Baby Max arrived weighing in at 8lbs 5oz, with a full head of hair.  Sarah, our lead childcare provider, and Max are both doing well. Please sign-up for the meal train – https://mealtrain.com/2rkg4q – The site accommodates donations and gift cards as well. Sarah requested that you send a text message before arrival – her number is: 215-390-3540, her address is on the site where signup occurs. Text or email Samantha Park with any questions.

Update from Selina:

Selina and Eric both enjoyed their first Mother’s Day and Father’s Day celebrations this year. Some of you have already met Wyn, but if you haven’t you can send Selina a message and schedule a visit.  She would be happy to have some company!

✦ If you have additional content to share during July that didn’t make the newsletter, please send it before Thursday at 5pm to included in the weekly updates emailed on Friday✦ 

Friendly Reminder

While Selina is away on maternity leave, please direct all inquiries to Sheila. Send an email to SheilaRTekavec@gmail.com or call/text (610) 241-4825.

With gratitude,

Sheila Tekavec for

Selina Toedter

Communications Coordinator

Kennett Monthly Meeting – 125 W. Sickle Street Kennett Square PA 19348