Simply Speaking. Jamestown Friends Meeting 509 Guilford Rd PO Box 2163 Jamestown NC December 2016

Transcription

1 Simply Speaking Jamestown Friends Meeting 509 Guilford Rd PO Box 2163 Jamestown NC December 2016 Light Workers...By, Pastoral Minister Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. ~ Albert Schweitzer The days are gray, sundown comes so early, the nights are long, and yet the sunrise arrives early. The stars seem brighter and more distinct in the ink-black sky. The moon, especially the super moon hung low in the sky, shining its reflected light, drawing us closer in its magnetic field, creating an eerie quiet, seemingly announcing newness on the horizon. It is hard to believe that we are at the end of another year, that Christmas is fast approaching. But it is, and before you know it, 2017 will roll around. As I write this article at the end of November, sitting in front of the fire in the woodstove, I m reminded of the many blessings and opportunities of the year. I m also looking forward to the new year, the opportunities we have to witness to God s Love and Acceptance. As I look forward to increasing my time and ministry with you, Jamestown Friends Meeting, I know of the great foundation of faith and tradition we have to continue to live out in the future. Some ideas for our meeting: One ministry Jamestown has carried out for years is serving a meal once a month at the Open Door Shelter in High Point. We need others to step forward to help us carry out this vital witness. We need volunteers to make slaw, to cook, to purchase supplies (reimbursed by the Meeting), and to serve the meal on the fourth Saturday of the month. We all need to be ready to share the story of Jamestown Friends Meeting to neighbors and co-workers, and to be willing to invite them to worship with us. We need to study our Quaker history so that we might live more completely into our faith. We need to know the witness and ministry that our ancestors lived, helping us to discern how we are to be faithful today. The Christian Education Committee and Ministry and Counsel are planning a series of studies, so be on the lookout for an announcement. Yves Dusenge and I are redesigning our meeting website. The new web address will be: The newly designed site will help us to share more information, keep announcements up to date, and offer opportunities to respond to the information. I ll also develop a listserv to share information and open channels of conversation through the website and the internet Yes, we have had a good year. We have much to be thankful for, much to celebrate. We also have much to look forward to our future is bright. I know there are others looking for Jamestown Friends, those who are Quaker but just don t know it yet. I m looking forward to this step in our journey as a faith community, seeking to bring Light into the world. In the Light, 1

2 UPWRITE By Mick Curran Q: What do you get if you cross a Jehovah s Witness with a Quaker? A: Somebody that knocks on your door but when you open it (s)he doesn t say anything. There s a time to be silent and a time to speak (cf. Ecclesiastes 3:7, First Amendment, Fifth Amendment, monastic cells, debating societies and Quaker meetings) and getting the timing right is my ever evolving endeavor. Now is the time for some reflection upon my headway to date: at least, I think it is it s possible my timing could be a bit off. To speak or not to speak: that is the question. I m not sure when I first seriously considered it in the context of a life application. I was the eldest of five babies and although my parents nostalgically confirmed that they d eagerly waited to hear my very first words the recurring recollection I have of my childhood days is a routine of being told not to interrupt, to listen, and to keep quiet. Well, in 1950s England, the apogee for children was to be seen and not heard. I took little notice of convention, though, chattering my way through the 1960s and then prattling on through the 1970s at the end of which decade I was offered, and accepted, a place on a five day Ignatian retreat (a Roman Catholic program consisting of prayer and reflection) that required me, together with a dozen or so other timid and trusting young hopefuls, to sustain a salutary silence for the duration. I recall it being put to me that the Ignation retreat will change your life and although that claim is made for just about everything from pills to parasailing I m prepared to acknowledge that I was indeed impacted by the serenity of solitude I experienced for those few days. Perhaps it led me to empathize if only in passing with those who cannot speak because of a disease or disorder. I ve certainly thought about them since. and telling the truth in love phases, which in my case looked very much like an argumentative and accusatory absolutist afflicted with adolescent angst and plagued with pessimistic Puritanical pique who was obsessed with minding everybody else s business and whose ongoing overriding objective was to have the last word. I sure wish I could expunge that performance from the record. However, I haven t yet solved the perennial problem of putting my foot in my mouth, which trap I ve fallen into umpteen times and, inexplicably, continue to do so. Still, I m not the only one negotiating that hazard. Consider, for example, the oft repeated and much adapted anecdote featuring Annie the Anglican church lady who late one Friday evening suddenly remembered she d volunteered to bake an angel food cake for the church bake sale the following day. She made haste to her kitchen and hurried through the culinary process but when she took the baked cake from the oven she was disheartened to discover that the center had fallen forlornly flat. Annie hung her head dejectedly for a second but was suddenly visited by a flight of furtive fancy: might a roll of toilet paper solve the problem? She found one and wiggled it into the center, deftly covered the entire cake with icing cleverly converting it into a captivating confection, and raced with it to the church where she left it on a table in the fellowship hall. Back at home Annie gave her youngest daughter some cash along with explicit instructions to be at the sale the minute it opened on Saturday and buy her cake; but that tedious teenager, in the manner of her kind, managed to arrive late only to find that the cake had already been sold. Poor Annie was filled with fear and foreboding. Several days later the vicar s wife invited all the church ladies to the vicarage for afternoon tea and to discuss the arrangements for the upcoming village summer fete and after the meeting Annie was mortified to see the vicar s wife produce that sanitarily enhanced angel food cake. Reminding herself that honesty is the best policy particularly when dealing with Anglican church ladies Annie slowly and resignedly prepared to get out of her chair intending to stand up and confess all to everybody present. But before she could rise one of the church As far as my progress pertaining to personal pronouncements is concerned I m fairly sure that I ve now advanced beyond the boldly declaring the truth 2

3 ladies declared: "Ooh, what a delectable cake. The next moment Annie was able to offer a sincere supplication and sink back into her seat as the vicar s wife complacently cooed: Oh, thank you, dear; I baked it myself, you know. Prayer for Today (Psalm 141:3): Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. December Message Schedule December 4 December 11 According to Susan (Bulla, that is) Quote of the Month: Faith is not hoping God CAN but knowing God WILL. Just for Fun: An elderly lady had spent some time in the hospital but was finally sent home. Soon after that she was visited by her minister and while he was there, he saw a little dish of peanuts on the table in the living room. As they sat there talking, he kept eating the nuts until they were all gone. As he started to leave he turned and said to the lady, I'm sorry I ate all of your peanuts." "Oh that's all right," she replied. "I couldn't eat them anyway. My teeth are bad, and it took me all morning just to suck the chocolate off of them!" December 18 December 25 Choir (11:00 AM worship only on December 25) Meanings of Christmas Fr. Andrew Greeley, Woman s Day, "It might be easy to run away to a monastery, away from the commercialization, the hectic hustle, the demanding family responsibilities of Christmastime. Then we would have a holy Christmas. But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation, of the enfleshing of God the lesson that we who are followers of Jesus do not run from the secular; rather we try to transform it. It is our mission to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas just as the early Christians baptized the Christmas tree. And we do this by being holy people kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush " 3 Name That Quaker By Linda Willard I am associated with an event for which I was not created. What am I and for what occasion was I originally created? (Answer on a different page)

4 By Beth Massey In this time when there seem to be many voices telling us to banish or hide away diversity from our lives, that things that are different from us might harm us, I m reminded of how our lives are enriched each day with music from near and far, past and present, and everything in between. I realize that through this article I m probably preaching to the choir (Usually I just sing to them.), but nevertheless, perhaps these ideas can kindle a spark in your minds, and you ll have something to talk with others about when the opportunity arises. Just imagine what our Christmas season would be like if we sang and heard only American Christmas carols and hymns. (I wonder who would qualify there???) We have been and continue to be so enriched by contributions we ve received from other places and times. Some examples from our Worship in Song hymnal: Angels, From the Realms of Glory and Angels We Have Heard on High, and The First Noel are from England. Away in a Manger, Silent Night and Lo, How a Rose E er Blooming are from Germany. O Come, All Ye Faithful was originally in Latin, but came to us by way of France. Some of our common Christmas songs come to us from within America, but from traditions different from ours. For example, there is a rich heritage of African American spirituals which celebrate Christmas: Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow and Go Tell It on the Mountain for another. ourselves somewhat from danger, but there are other more effective ways of arming ourselves with the love of God. Discerning truth is a constant process. As time moves on, we must examine the music, the poetry, the writings -- What is timeless? What is fad? What is enduring? Look, listen, feel - grounded in a place of love and faithfulness. What will carry us forward? What will bring us closer to the Divine? What will bring us closer to each other? As we move through this holiday season I encourage you to pay attention to where the music we hear comes from. You may be surprised - or perhaps reminded - of the rich heritage we have already received from other cultures and times. You may also be surprised by the hopeful creativity that brings us new art every year. It seems to me that the evidence supports the hypothesis that continuing revelation is real, that God still speaks to us today, that God speaks in many languages, and that God is indeed an artist. May our minds and hearts remain open to receive and give the love that God delivers to us through the Christ child. May that love guide our discernment at Christmas, into and through the new year. And may we sing in harmony with the angels, with our friends of all persuasions, and with each other. Just imagine what our Christmas season would be like if we refused to listen to anything that has been written in the 20th or 21st centuries. Several selections included in our Worship and Song have been written recently. A Star Filled the Sky was written in 1980 by Mary Hulburt, a member of Richmond, VA meeting. In Bethlehem a Babe Was Born was written in 1987 by Barbara Mays - a member of the Worship in Song Hymnal Oversight Committee. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an American poet, during the Civil War. Contrast these more current selections with The Friendly Beasts, which was sung in France as part of the Donkey s Festival of the 12th century. We rob ourselves of much richness when we choose narrow paths of expression. We may protect 4

5 Monthly Meeting Minutes Summary Eleventh Month, Sixth Day, 2016 Submitted by Kate Suko, Recording Clerk (To be approved Twelfth Month, Fourth Day, 2016) Treasurer s Report, presented by Mark Farlow Lucas Hicks, who is attending the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, was awarded $2000 from the Cora Lee Hudson College Scholarship fund. Stewardship & Finance Committee, presented by Frank Barefoot At Representative Body on , the meeting was informed that the grant from NCYM Church Extension Committee would be 26,300 rather than the 15,892 on the proposed budget. The grant comes from trust funds, so it is committed for Mark Farlow will work with Judith Cranford, the NCYM bookkeeper, on distribution of the grant. Friends encouraged Mark Farlow to request a lump sum of 26,300, not monthly or biennial payments. The budget for 2017 was presented and subject to review at Twelfth Month s Meeting for Business. Christian Education, presented by Wallace Sills We will have worship at 11:00 on Christmas Day, We have sufficient ministers to preside. We will not have a forum on that day. House & Grounds, presented by Mark Farlow The work day was successful, and bushes were planted. The installation of the acoustic tiles is ready to be scheduled after the contribution is made. Peace & Social Concerns, reported by Clarence Mattocks Christian love cannot include hatred and war. Music Committee, reported by Beth Massey The choir will lead the Christmas worship on The talent show will be on , with as the snow date. Friends approved. Nominating Committee, reported by Mark Farlow Ministry & Counsel, Finance & Stewardship, House & Grounds, and Trustees need to be fully staffed at 6 on each committee. The clerks of the other committees need to evaluate their required staffing and let Wendy Mattocks, clerk of the Nominating Committee, know how many they need on their committee and whether their role within the meeting may be combined with another committee. Kathy Adams has agreed to serve as interim editor of Simply Speaking. A new editor needs to be named. Representative Body, reported by Clarence Mattocks, Wallace Sills, and Mark Farlow Pastors pension fund is short by $700,000, Spring Garden meetinghouse and Hilltop Road properties will be sold. NCYM will need funds for attorneys and appraisers. The pastors pension fund will be closed out and the trust funds re-purposed. Hugh Spaulding presented the current status of the restructuring: the autonomous group has 1285 members, and the authoritarian group has 3521 members meetings need further contact. The NCYM Superintendent will receive $30,000 per year. The Quaker Lake Director will report to the Superintendent, and the Quaker Lake Facility director will report to the Quaker Lake Director. The bookkeeper will be paid from trust funds. Annual Meeting will be held at Quaker Lake 4-6 Eighth Month The Church Extension Fund includes Jamestown s grant and campus ministry. Friends approved holding our First Month 2017 Meeting for Business on

6 Did You Know? By Martha Mattocks Every Sunday in Meeting for Worship we share our joys and concerns. With Thanksgiving celebrations over and the Christmas season before us, we have much to share. We rejoice with John and Ruth Hancock for several reasons. John celebrated his 89th birthday in November, and he and Ruth welcomed a new great grand-child (parents Jay and Joyanna) into their lives, and now they are looking forward to the marriage of their granddaughter later this month. We are grateful that Ruth is recovering nicely from her broken collar bone. We also rejoice with Frank and Beth Massey on the marriage of their daughter Ellen to J.R. Mosbrucker. Frank and Beth traveled to Maryland to enjoy the wedding festivities. David Mattocks has returned safe and sound from fighting the "Party Rock" forest fire near Lake Lure. He was on the front line - a dangerous place to be! Susan Bulla enjoyed a "sister's weekend" at the beach over the Thanksgiving weekend. This long-time tradition sounds like a winner! Nick and Sara Clawson Pearse are going to Hawaii in December! They will finally have some time to go on their honeymoon and what a wonderful time to go there! Mele Kalikimalea! We are grateful that our recent hospital patients have left the hospital. Louise Richardson is back at Shannon Gray for more rehab and Clarence Mattocks, who had 2 blood clots in his lungs, is back at work. We need to remember Margaret Watson, who is at Graybrier Nursing Home. Her sister, Ann 6 Taylor, reports that Margaret is continuing to decline. In Friends Homes news, Bill and Margaret Harris are adjusting to new living arrangements that will benefit both of them. Jewell Farlow is dealing with a broken shoulder/arm and some extensive dental work to be done as a result of her fall on Sunday morning, Nov. 27th. And now you know! December Birthdays 3 Davis Troncale 13 David Harris 14 Sean Miller 15 Debbie Stone 16 Layton Alexander 19 Paul Suko 22 Kathy Coe 25 Alexa Altizer 26 Wendy Mattocks 27 David Mattocks REMEMBER! When you go shopping, pick up some items to be donated to the Open Door Shelter Food Pantry (nonperishable foods) and FEMAP kits (baby, school, hygiene). Put your donations in the collection containers located in the foyer of the meeting room. Also, boxes are in the foyer for collecting old cell phones and printer cartridges. The choir sells these to raise money to pay music expenses.

7 Answer to Name That Quaker ) I am the Liberty Bell. Although most wellknown for being rung for the first time for the first reading of the Declaration of Independence and again at the end of the Revolutionary War, the so called Liberty Bell was actually ordered to honor the fiftieth anniversary of William Penn s final granting of Pennsylvania s charter. Isaac Norris, the leader of the Quaker party, ordered the bell and chose the original inscription. The inscription is: Proclaim Liberty throughout the land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof, Lev.XXX10. Treasurer s Report (as of November 2016) Compiled by Ronnie Hicks, Treasurer Contributions/Revenues (actual) $52,938 Contributions/Revenues (budgeted) $54,350 Expenses (actual) $49,886 Expenses (budgeted) $51,202 What s your talent? Do you cook, tell jokes, dance, mime, paint? Do you sing, play an instrument, tell stories? Show us what you can do! Put together an act and be prepared to share it. When? February 11, 2017 Where? Jamestown Friends Why? Just for fun Somehow, not only for Christmas By John Greenleaf Whittier Simply Speaking is published monthly for Jamestown Friends Meeting 509 Guilford Road, PO Box 2163 Jamestown NC Phone: (336) JamestownFriends@aol.com Editor: Louise Richardson; Interim Editor: Kathy Adams; Managing Editor: Wallace Sills Columnists:, pastor; Beth Massey; Martha Mattocks; Mick Curran; Wendy Mattocks January deadline December 27 Somehow, not only for Christmas, But all the long year through, The joy that you give to others, Is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing The poor and lonely and sad, The more of your heart's possessing Returns to you glad. 7