Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia (MMFP) also known as Arch Street Meeting has continued to experience steady growth throughout 2025–26. There are more families with children, and the number of young adults has become a substantive proportion of who is present at Arch Street on Sundays. The growth itself has been noticeable but not what is most remarkable. What is most remarkable at Arch Street is seeing how those who come, including the many young adults, are committed to deepening their spiritual practice and have developed strong intergenerational relationships; they are not merely looking for others of their own age range. There are fewer natural opportunities in this moment for Friends decades apart in age to naturally develop a relationship; the young adults in our meeting have found mentors and that invigorates our community.
Because our meetinghouse is in tourist-friendly historic district, we’ve always had visitors every Sunday. What is notable isn’t that they’re coming through the door, it’s how many of them are returning Sunday after Sunday. That can be partially ascribed to the moment we live in, but also because in the last few years our meeting made a conscious choice to ensure we welcome, see, and engage with those who enter our doors seeking a spiritual home. That commitment evolved our practices and in turn our meeting’s culture is a more welcoming one where more newcomers and young folks have found a reason to put down roots. This growth is reflected in expanded children’s programming, stronger support for newcomers, increased community-building activities, and continued service to the Old City neighborhood.
The Worship and Ministry Committee has continued to support the Meeting for Worship experience, particularly for newcomers. About 5–10 minutes into Meeting for Worship, a member of the committee provides a brief overview of an unprogrammed meeting. This includes an explanation of the Meeting’s practice to share joys, sorrows and afterthoughts at the conclusion of worship. This has been helpful in assisting newcomers as they discern whether a message is meant for vocal ministry.
Children’s Meeting attendance has expanded, and programming is now offered on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd First Days of each month. MMFP was fortunate to find an exceptional teacher. Her original lesson plans are posted each week, allowing families to understand the focus of the upcoming Sunday lesson.
Through the Outreach Committee, the community is finding meaningful and enjoyable ways to get to know one another. Recent activities include our walking series, held in the fall and spring where participants pair off with someone they do not know well, walk around the neighborhood for about 45 minutes, and return in time for Meeting for Worship. This offers an opportunity to get to know someone a bit better on a more intimate scale and for a longer period when our post-worship tea table has grown, often being close to 100 individuals. Other Community events have included a Pecha Kucha, bird watching, hiking, and visits to Historic Fair Hill and Pendle Hill. These have grown out of community ideas to deepen relationships, better understand Quaker history and current impact, and offer moments of joy and exploration in addition to our spiritual connections we often focus on at the meetinghouse.
The Peace and Social Concerns Committee has continued its work on current issues affecting the wider community. Key activities include convening a working group on immigration which includes demonstrations and peace vigils at ICE Headquarters.
MMFP along with Central Philadelphia Friends Meeting (CPFM) maintain a care relationship with Friends Select School (FSS). The meeting continues to try to find ways to strengthen this by its members’ service on the Board of Trustees, hosting an annual Friends Select Day on alternating years with CPFM, and attendance at our Annual Members meeting and the opening of its campus expansion with the new high school. With CPFM hosting the fall 2025 edition of Friends Select Day, about 20 of our community worshipped at the Race Street Meetinghouse with CPFM and Friends Select families and faculty in order to support our care relationship and our commitment to the school and Quaker education. We look forward to hosting the fall 2026 edition.
MMFP continues to support the Old City neighborhood through service and community partnerships. Led by Peace and Social Concerns, the community continues to hold a clothing drive and assist once a month with the Saturday morning breakfast at Old First United Church of Christ at 4th and Race. Along with Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust (ASMHPT), MMFP runs a community fridge and pantry on site. Participation by the community has been consistent, including support with stocking fridge, packing groceries and other pantry-related needs. The pantry continues to serve hundreds of individuals each year.
At this time, most people are struggling to understand all that is taking place in our country and throughout the world we relish the practice that necessitates worshipping together rather than alone. Many people are searching for community and a connection to something larger than themselves and looking for hope in a complex moment. Quakerism is centered on the idea of “the light within,” that each of us have that of God within us; that every person has a direct, unmediated connection with God or the divine. As Quakers, it challenges you to look for the good in people even when it is difficult. As the world becomes more complicated, loud, and rushed, the practice of silent worship in the manner of Friends can be deeply grounding. Our meeting has dedicated itself to rising to the task of welcoming the many who have looked to Arch Street in this moment as their spiritual home to find this respite.
