simply speaking
TRANSCRIPT
Simply Speaking Jamestown Friends Meeting – 509 Guilford Rd – PO Box 2163 – Jamestown NC 27282
April 2020
One day last week when I drove into the driveway at the meeting house, an artist and theolo-gian had written this very simple and powerful mes-sage. On walking to the post office to post some let-ters to those of you who do not have internet access, I discovered more of this artist’s handiwork. Messag-es from “Have Hope” to “Be a Light” were written at almost every crosswalk. In these times we have to stay together, while we stay at home, as we self-isolate. It feels so odd to not be at meeting for worship on Sunday mornings, to not physically visit our friends, and family; but we are doing this to “stand together,” to take care of one another and the broader community. We can get through these times, so that when this time of crisis passes (and it will not likely be by Easter 2020) we will gather again to celebrate one another, celebrate our love for one another. Then, not just then, but now we are changing the world because we are car-ing for one another by staying away. In this Easter season, this passion season— this year in particular—there is much to consid-er. The events of that first season, along with the events that led to the cross on Calvary, reveal to us that the world changed. When love is lived out, when love becomes the driving force instead of pow-er, instead of politics, instead of economic domina-tion, the world changes. Jesus’ life of love changed the world. The call to disciples was a call into a life of love and service, away from the ways of the
world. Jesus’ confrontation with the power struc-tures of the religious authorities and the governing authorities was a call to protect the weak and vulner-able, to feed the hungry, to house the homeless—not to protect the rich and powerful. It was a challenge to the times to reorient ourselves away from greed and self-protection to a life of caring for others, to love, to sacrifice. Today, OUR world is changing. At this time we are called to sacrifice, to stay apart in order to protect others, to physically distance ourselves out of love for one another. Our not being together is a sac-rifice, but when we gather again in our meeting room, and we WILL gather again, we will offer songs and prayers and words of praise and thanks-giving, and perhaps sharing grief and loss. Let us stay safe. Let us hold onto hope. Let us be a light. Let us reach out by calling a friend, a Friend, a neighbor. Let us reach out by sending a card or note to another who is staying away to pro-tect others. We will get through this. Yes, our world will be different, but we will come back together to embrace, to love, to serve. “If We Stand Together, We Can Change The World!” And we will.
In the Light that Shines through each one, Frank Massey
pastoral minister
336-454-3813
Light Workers
If We Stand Together, We Can Change the World!
Treasurer’s Report
(As of February)
Compiled by Ronnie Hicks, Treasurer
Contributions (actual) $10,680
Contributions (budget) $12,034
Total Expenses (actual) $9,966
Total Expenses (budget) $10,881
According to Susan...Bulla, that is
On his way home a man came upon a "Road
Closed" sign. He maneuvered his vehicle around it.
He didn't get very far. The pavement ended and
there was another sign that said: "What part of
'Road Closed' didn't you understand?"
Did You Know?
By Kathy Adams
During these unusual times of isolation and
“social distancing,” it seems especially important for
us to maintain our connections to one another. If you
know of any joys and/or concerns regarding our JFM
community, please notify Frank Massey or a member
of Ministry and Counsel.
We are holding the Farlow family and the
JFM community in the Light as we mourn the pass-
ing of Binford Farlow on March 25, 2020 due to re-
nal failure. Binford was a founding member of Jame-
stown Friends Meeting and a faithful member of our
community. A memorial service will be held at a lat-
er time.
Linda and Harold Willard are happy to report
that they have a new addition to their family! Faith, a
small, tri-colored beagle mix, adopted the Willards
on March 17. According to Linda, Faith loves long
walks and snuggles.
Susan Morton is excited to share the happy
news that her husband Patrick’s latest book has been
published and is available for purchase on Amazon.
The title of the book is Good Morning Forever: part
1 of The Day the Earth Stood Still collection.
Lynne Gray plans to take nonperishable food items to A Simple Gesture on April 4, 2020. Items may be left at the meetinghouse any weekday from 10 AM-2 PM or Lynne will be happy to pick up items. Please contact her at [email protected] or at 336-315-6415 if you would like for her to pick up your items. These items are especially needed:
• granola bars / healthy snacks
• peanut butter - smaller jars are best
• heat and eat rice dish or rice variety packs canned meals like Chef Boyardee spaghetti and
meatballs
Let’s continue to hold each other in the Light!
And now you know!
USFW News
April Projects
1- N. America: Mesquakie Friends Center
2- N. America: MOWA Choctaw Friends Center
3- N. America: Kickapoo Friends Center
4- Kenya – Lugulu Hospital Adopt-A-Bed
*If you would like to contribute, place your donation
in the offering plate. During the pandemic crisis, you
may mail your check to JFM. Note that the funds are
for USFW.
Name That Quaker
By Linda Willard
I was a very early NASCAR driver; however,
I was best known for delivering milk and moon-shine. Who was I?
(Answer on a different page.)
Music Notes By Beth Massey
When I composed “Music Notes” for the March 2020 issue of Simply Speaking, there were only hints of what our lives would be like by the time I now face my computer to pull together thoughts and resources for the April 2020 issue! My purpose for the March “Music Notes” was to pave the way in our hearts and minds for the music message the choir was planning to deliver on Palm Sunday, 5th April 2020. Instead, now I send to you op-tions for experiencing this music as presented by other choirs and singing groups in different times.
It is my experience that the more we hear music, the more of the music we hear. As with most relation-ships, it grows in meaning as it becomes more known. So I believe that in listening to this music now we will only enhance our understanding and appreciation of it if/when our choir is able to take advantage of another opportunity to prepare and present it.
First, two different renditions of Canticle of the Cross, by Joseph M. Martin, the cantata we were preparing for 5th April 2020. Both are quite different than ours would be.
Canticle of the Cross, recorded by a German choir (sung in English) with orchestra, 18th March 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFeOImmhHlA
Canticle of the Cross, recorded by the combined choirs of First United Methodist Churches of Port Lavaca and Edna, Texas, 3rd April 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Nt-LKiIEg
Second, three different renditions of the piece planned for Easter Sunday, 12 April 2020: “Ain’t No Grave” ~ words & music by Claude Ely, Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser, and Molly Skaggs:
Audio recording of the arrangement our choir was to present on Easter Sunday: AIN'T NO GRAVE (SATB Choir) - Bethel Worship/arr. David Angerman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrNH0_4H8TU
And some other renditions which give voice and insight into the variety of cultures across which this song reaches: Ain’t No Grave/Alive Forever Amen ~ Travis Cottrell, feat. Elisha Brown; recorded live, 3rd Jan 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmrLgmN3ssA
Ain’t No Grave ~ Official Lyric Video (Cageless Birds,
featuring Molly Skaggs singing): https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGoBJ6R18qg
I hope you will also check out the links to hymns which Frank will include in the weekly emails. One of the things I miss most these days is opportunities to sing together with you all! Perhaps during this unusual time I’ll figure out how to do virtual singing together! (Stay tuned and read your weekly email updates for possibili-ties . . . but don’t hold your breath please! . . . literally or figuratively!) Finally, instead of COME SING WITH US, this
month I say, KEEP SINGING! Wherever you are, when-
ever you can!
April Birthdays
April 11 Julia Hood
April 12 Jacob Farlow
April 20 Jan Jackman
April 21 Ann Parks
April 22 Wallace Sills
Simply Speaking is published monthly for
Jamestown Friends Meeting
509 Guilford Road, PO Box 2163
Jamestown NC 27282
Phone: (336) 454 3813
E-mail: [email protected]
Editor: Kathy Adams; Managing Editor: Wallace Sills
Columnists: Frank Massey, pastor; Beth Massey
Answer to “Name That Quaker”
I was Bill Blair. My father owned a dairy farm and I delivered milk for him. I was also known
to deliver moonshine.
A Message from JFM Ministry and Counsel By Clarence Mattocks
As we adjust to the new Stay-at-Home way of life, we all realize what a dangerous time this is for every one of us. We are threatened by a virus. Covid-19 is in all the news and in spite of all the updates, news coverage, political speeches, and medical reports, cases keep grow-ing and people keep dying. An invisible to the eye, conta-gious virus is throwing everything into disorder. We at JFM are a meeting of individuals primarily in the high risk group due to age or health issues, or employment. Isn’t it strange that the best advice for us, along with social distancing, is to wash our hands, often? Such a simple thing. It requires only soap and water, although some parts of the world have a short supply of both. Soap and water. So simple. Yet so important. So easily done by most of us. Something we learned in childhood. Something we do not usually think about, and do daily. I think of the many Bible stories about washing
and feet washing. During the Easter season the upper
room with Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, a simple cus-
tom, which disturbed the disciples. It may be that the
simple things are where we should focus our attention this
season. The testimony of simplicity. How to simplify our
lives so that we may focus on the spiritual needs of others
during this time. How we may engage with our lives so
that we may find peace. How we can show comfort and
compassion, without agitation and worry. How our belief
system and faith can not only provide support and comfort
for others, but also for ourselves. It is time to slow down
and think about where and who we are. To seek that inner
light to find strength and courage, and to remember that
you are not alone. Peace cm
Words of Wisdom from Howard Thurman
The Glad Surprise of Easter
"... if stumbling in the darkness, having lost his or her
way, one finds the spot at which they fell is the foot of a
stairway that leads from darkness into light. Such is the
glad surprise. This is what Easter means in the experi-
ence of the race. This is the resurrection! It is the an-
nouncement that life cannot ultimately be conquered by
death, that there is no road that is at last swallowed up in
an ultimate darkness, that there is strength added when
the labors increase, that multiplied, peace matches multi-
plied trials, that life is bottomed by the glad surprise.
Take courage, therefore:
“When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.”
From Meditations of the Heart (1953)