Simply Speaking. Jamestown Friends Meeting 509 Guilford Rd PO Box 2163 Jamestown NC February 2017

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1 Simply Speaking Jamestown Friends Meeting 509 Guilford Rd PO Box 2163 Jamestown NC February 2017 Light Workers...By, Pastoral Minister Deuteronomy 30:19b (NKJV) I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Luke 8:10 (ESV) he said, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Luke 9:11 (ESV) When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. Each weekday morning while I was in Belize, at precisely 6:00 a.m., the bells rang out from the church school across the river. That first morning I bolted upright as the clarion call of the bells interrupted my deep sleep. Yes, I was tired from the travel, was sleeping in a strange bed, in a strange hotel, in a different environment, but I was immediately awakened by the clashing of clapper against the waist of the bell. I breathed a sigh of relief on the weekends as the bell did not ring to call the children to school. Toward the second week, I paid little attention to the bell, only stirring in my sleep, rolling over for a few more minutes of peaceful rest. How easy it is to sleep through the clarion calls to action today. The disciples responded immediately when Jesus called them to, Follow me. They jumped at the opportunity for this new challenge to join up with a new movement, to be disciples of a new teacher (rabbi). But the work of being a disciple, of building the kingdom is a long work, and a long journey. Disciples grew weary, were distracted, and became accustomed to Jesus clarion call upon their lives. Too often, did they roll over for another 40 winks of sleep? Jesus repeatedly called his disciples to hear and see the in-breaking of the kingdom all around them. Jesus not only called, but reminded them to participate in the kingdom. The kingdom becomes real as we participate, as we get involved. My guess is many of you are like me there are plenty of demands on our time. There is way too much to do, and saying no is not a strong characteristic. The call to get involved in the kingdom gets drowned out by the other calls on our lives. Or, we just get used to hearing the call, like the morning bells in Belize, and we turn over for a few more winks of sleep. There is much work to do. Let us hear and see and respond when we are called into action to assist and/or participate in the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God. For we all have heard, Follow me. In the Light,, Pastoral Minister (o) 1

2 Did You Know? By Martha Mattocks Back in 1881, Eliza Armstrong Cox had a vision for women to become supportive and involved in missionary work at home and abroad. Others responded to her concern and the result was the formation of the United Society of Friends Women (USFW). The purpose of the USFW is to unite Friends Women all over the world in Christian fellowship and service, to share in the mission of the church at home and abroad, and to stimulate spiritual development of the spirit of mission to the meetings, including children and youth. Jamestown women have been actively involved in a 'circle' for many, many years. Originally, members met in each other s homes each month; then meetings were moved to the meetinghouse. Over the past few years, since most of the circle women preferred not to drive at night, and since most members were residing at Friends Homes, meetings were held there each month. As mobility, time restraints, and other health issues have emerged, at the January meeting members decided it was time for another change - to meet quarterly rather than monthly. Our USFW will continue to support the mission projects of USFW-International and will meet again April 17th at 7:00 in the living room, 7th floor of Woolman at Friends Homes. Did you know that there are several members of the Jamestown USFW who are life members in the USFW? They are: Kathleen Morgan, Margaret Watson, Kathy Coe, Jewell Farlow, and Ruby Pearson. Several other life members, who were named from other meetings, include: Peggie Baxter, Martha Mattocks, Rosemary Hartzler, Mary Butt, and Agnes Frye. Jamestown ladies are a small part of the work of USFW International, but their participation, along with that of other ladies across the nation and world, have enabled many missions to flourish and continue to be of service. Thank you, ladies! And now you know! February Message Schedule February 5 February 12 February 19 February 26 February Birthdays 2 Preston Troncale 2 Susan Harris 2 Susan Haworth 4 Susan Samuelson 4 Veronica Workman 7 Rebekah Carmichael 7 Jason Charles 27 Lucas Hicks 28 Frank Barefoot 28 Sarah Miller Name That Quaker By Linda Willard I attended Winston Churchill on his death bed in Who am I? (Answer on a different page) 2

3 By Beth Massey We hope you will join us on Saturday evening, February 11 for dinner and a talent show produced and sponsored by our Choir. We are planning for a variety of talents to be audible and visible that evening, some of which may surprise you! We hope you ll bring your appetite, your sense of humor, and perhaps some family and friends, and join us for an evening of entertainment, fellowship, food, and variety. One of the beneficiaries of this talent show fundraiser - the monthly Open Door Shelter meal - is an outreach ministry which faithful members and attenders of Jamestown Meeting have been practicing and supporting for over 25 years. It is my observation that we get as much from that ministry as we give. We not only help others, we get to glimpse life styles that are different from the ones most of us live every day; we find that no situation is all good or all bad; we see that we have much to be thankful for; we see God in places we may not have expected. It is a project well worth our financial and physical support! The other beneficiary is our Piano Fund. Our worship room piano still sounds good, and we appreciate Lew & Cindy Hudson giving it to Jamestown Friends. However, our fellowship room piano -- which we use for Wednesday rehearsals and other gatherings in the fellowship room (such as our talent show) -- is not doing so well. We would like to get a newer piano for the worship room and move the current worship-room instrument to the fellowship room. We expect this to be a long-term project, and we embark on this fundraiser now to give ourselves time to raise the needed funds before the need is critical. Why do we need a new piano? The current piano in the fellowship room is not staying in tune, and it has an occasional percussion section of its own. Our technician says he has done all he can for it without incurring more expense in repairs than the instrument is worth. We would like to move the worship room piano into the fellowship room, and purchase a new or gently used piano for the meeting room. Our research estimates the cost of a good new piano for a space such as our meeting room with similar use to be around $5,000. When I was in college (UNCG) and my piano teacher was picking on every detail of my hand and arm position until I was in tears with frustration, she stopped and waxed philosophical. She told me that the reason we work so hard on technique is so we can get out of the way. The music cannot flow through us if our technique is not practiced and prepared to open itself and us to let the music flow through. I view our quest for a new piano for our meeting room as a project to allow God to flow more freely through us. Just as any fine instrument becomes a partner with its player, the movement of feeling and nuance join to communicate a moving, spiritual message - sometimes loud and energetic, sometimes hushed with listening - from which we all benefit, whether or not we can analyze why we are thus affected. Our choir and our meetings for worship at Jamestown Meeting are the richest when we feel we are messengers and channels, when we don t notice the sound by itself, but rather when we are more aware of the message of the Spirit than of anything else. We want our musicians and our instruments to work together to be a smooth and freely flowing channel for God s messages to us and all listeners present. To be continued... 3

4 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 According to Susan (Bulla, that is) A homeless man, down on his luck, went into a local church that was known for its rather "uppity" social reputation. Spotting the man's dirty clothes, the ushers stopped him outside the church door and asked if he needed help. The man told them, "I was praying and the Lord told me to come to this church." The ushers suggested that the man go away and pray some more and he might get a different answer. The following Sunday the man returned and was once again stopped by the ushers. "Well, did you get a different answer?" they asked him. "Yes, I did," said the man. "I told the Lord that you don't want me here, but the Lord said, "Keep trying son. I've been trying to get into that church for years and I haven't made it in yet either." Jamestown Friends Meeting s Christian Education Committee invites you to participate in Quaker Study 102! Using Christian History Magazine, Issue 117, entitled The Surprising Quakers: Heralds of Peace in a World of Conflict as a resource, we will explore Quaker history, its evolution, and its place in current events. We will meet every other week in the Fellowship Hall at Jamestown Friends Meeting from 10:00 to 10:45 AM. The discussion for each session will be independent of other sessions, so if you miss a week, you can attend the next one without feeling left out. Additional readings and resources will be suggested and are available but not required. Scripture and other resources will be used to help understand Quaker thought and actions. This will be a time of learning, sharing our Quaker experiences and stories, and discerning what we believe Jamestown Friends Meeting should be. Please invite individuals who may be interested. All are welcome! Facilitator: Clarence Mattocks Dates: February 5, February 19, March 5 and March 19 Flexible Outline: February 5 Ministries through Time February 19 Divisions and Splits March 5 Quakers Then and Now March 19 Issues Today (Final Exam Open Book) 4 If you need a copy of the Christian History magazine, please contact Wallace Sills at

5 Treasurer s Report 2016 Financial Summary nnn Compiled by Ronnie Hicks, Treasurer Answer to Name That Quaker Answer to Name That Contributions Quaker (actual) $74012 I am Contributions Russell Brain, (budget) 1 st Baron $55500 Brain, a noted British standard Total Income work (actual) of neurology. $81145 Total Income (budget) $63600 I am Russell Brain, 1 st Baron Brain, a noted British Total Expenses (actual) $69930 Total Expenses (budget) $63600 standard work of neurology. What does the Bible say about LOVE? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Friends are invited to check out a book that has been donated to the Jamestown Friends Library. Deep Wells, Dry Springs, and Crooked Creeks is a memoir of Willie Frye s nearly forty years as a pastor in NC Yearly Meeting. The book offers humorous tales as well as poignant stories about life and faith. 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Seeking Simply Speaking Contributors Please consider writing for our meeting newsletter. Your thoughts, book reviews, news items, etc., are welcomed! Please submit by the stated deadline to kadams@windstream.net. Answer to Name That Quaker I am Russell Brain, 1 st Baron Brain, a noted British standard work of neurology. Simply Speaking is published monthly for Jamestown Friends Meeting 509 Guilford Road, PO Box 2163 Jamestown NC Phone: (336) JamestownFriends@aol.com Interim Editor: Kathy Adams; Managing Editor: Wallace Sills Columnists:, pastor; Beth Massey; Martha Mattocks; Wendy Mattocks March deadline February 23 5