Yearlong celebration culminates with the 141st anniversary of historic Quaker meeting house on April 26
What: Open house, potluck meal, and special events every month on 4th Sundays (details below) to celebrate the 140th anniversary of our historic Friends (Quaker) meeting house, the oldest west of Iowa. Free activities for 13 months. The grand finale includes prominent Quakers joining us on April 26, 2026. Chuck Fager, Thomas Hamm, and Bruce Folsom join us at 12:30 for a hybrid program. Get details at https://www.sanjosefriends.org/141st/. Register here for online access.
When: Fourth Sunday of every month for a year, concludes April 26, 2026.
Where: San Jose Friends’ historic 1885 Quaker meeting house, at 1041 Morse St, San Jose, CA 95126 and adjoining property. www.sanjosefriends.org
Why: To build community, raise awareness and funds to make our historic building wheelchair accessible, and better serve the groups that use our facilities — to share our “secret society hiding in plain sight”*
Who: The public is invited. We welcome people of all faiths or none. Organized by the Religious Society of Friends in San Jose — also known as “Quakers”
Details: About San Jose Quakers: sanjosefriends.org. Wheelchair accessibility renovations for our 1885 meeting house: www.sanjosefriends.org/wheelchair-accessibility/. Donations accepted here.
Contact: SanJoseFriends@gmail.com
Core Values: Community, simplicity, peace, integrity, equality, and sustainability — what Quakers call our testimonies — inform the celebration-year activities
History: Quakers first gathered in San Jose in 1861, in our building since 1885
Schedule: Monthly open house with potluck meal at 11:30 and special events that follow at noon. Optional traditional “silent” Quaker worship starts at 10 am. Visitors may attend one or all activities any 4th Sunday.
FINAL PROGRAM:
April 26: noon to 1:30 or 2 pm — Grand Finale of our celebration year with the 141st anniversary of our historic building, featuring prominent Quaker guests Chuck Fager, Thomas Hamm, and Bruce Folsom in hybrid format at 12:30. Cake and comments in person at noon. Open to Quakers near and far, as well as the general public. Get program details and register to attend online at https://www.sanjosefriends.org/141st/.
PAST PROGRAMS:
2026
March 22: 12-1 12-12:50 Community mending stitching circle, free
1-2 “Overcoming”: Dramatic musical storytelling by the Sweet Gits duo. Jody Yeary is a singer, songwriter, and storyteller from the hills of Kentucky. Nathan Ladyzhensky is a classical trained musician from Odessa, Ukraine. They combine spoken word and toe tapping songs with a dash of theatrics to tell real life stories.
January 25: 12-12:50 Community mending stitching circle, free
1-2:30 Karenna Slade leads a Community Sing. All voices and skill levels are welcome! You can bring an instrument (handheld percussion encouraged) or a song to share. Karenna is a performer and creativity coach who has led others through “The Artist’s Way.”
February 22: 12-12:50 Community mending stitching circle, free
1-2:30 Multi-talented and wildly imaginative writer, artist and musician Scott T. Miller accompanies himself on guitar and percussion as he plays his original roots music and “psychedelic novelty tunes.”
2025
April 27: 140th anniversary celebration with cake! Also seedling give-away and info from environment groups in honor of Earth Day
May 25: Upcycling clothing with embroidery and Sashiko, Japanese-style mending
June 22: Time Capsule burial ceremony at noon, then 12:30 Quaker history talk by Mary Klein (former editor of Western Friend). Talk is hybrid format (Zoom link is same as for worship). Details here.
July 27: Friendship Festival noon-3:30; no potluck but live music, Climate Carnival games for all ages, fun activities — all free. Plus crafts, sign-making, hotdogs, homemade baked goods, and jam for sale. See details here.
August 24: Storytelling. Artist/educator Elizabeth Unpingco shares Kamishibai, traditional Japanese paper theater. Spontaneous Combustion (the duo Tom & Sandy Farley) presents original stories for children of all ages.
September 28: Seed swap
October 26: Spotlight on community groups; get details at tinyurl.com/orgs-forum
November 23: Crafting beaded gifts (necklaces, bracelets, etc.), specialty pop-up greeting cards, and origami-crafted gift boxes. See details here.
December 28: Unwanted gift swap. See details here.
*Kelsey Miller described Quakers as “a secret society hiding in plain sight” after learning of the Society of Friends on Reddit and visiting San Jose Friends Meeting.