Simply Speaking Jamestown Friends Meeting – 509 Guilford Rd – PO Box 2163 – Jamestown NC 27282

February 2018

I’m already looking forward to warm weath-er. After two snows (and another snow storm pre-dicted) and days with the temperature below freez-ing, I’m ready for warm weather. Each time I drive by a darkened pile of snow from the last snow event, I think, “How many more days until warm weath-er?” I probably spend so much time thinking about warm weather that I don’t notice the “warm” days we’ve experienced the past week.

How easy it is to live either in the past or the future, all the while ignoring the present. This is where life is, where life is created, where we are cre-ated and for that moment, we create. Life is a teach-er and we certainly have plenty of opportunities to learn from the past, but we can’t dwell there. We have to take the lessons and move on, move for-ward. Yes, we’ll fail; we’ve failed in the past, and we’ll fail again, but as Denzel Washington said in a graduation speech, when we fail always “Fall For-ward.”

In falling forward we continue to move in the right direction. And you know what, when we fall forward we just might (probably might) fall into the present moment, which is where we really should be. Before long, the grass will turn green, the trees will bud putting out new leaves, the gardeners will return to their raised beds to plant. Warm weather and spring always point toward a new day, a new time full of promise and hope. Hope! How we live in hope, hope for the new day; hope for a new way. Hope is what gets us up in the morning; gets us going for hope exists in the present moment. Yes, hope is about the future, but it is our actions today, this moment that bring the results of the future. As

Light Workers

we continue to care for our spiritual life and the life of community, we continue to act in this moment, always pointing forward, moving forward, maybe one slow step at a time, but always forward. We live and act in this present moment, in anticipation of the future.

“Now is everything, Now is the essence, Now is the focus, Focus on the now, For that is the key” ~ Karen Hackel, The Whisper of Your Soul

In the Light, Frank Massey pastoral minister 336.454.3813

Proverbs 23:18 (MSG) “That's where your future lies. Then you won't be left with an armload of nothing.”

“Remember then: there is only one time that is important-- Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.” ~ Leo Tolstoy, What Men Live by and Other Tales

“Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future

is not guaranteed.” ~ Wayne W. Dyer

DID YOU KNOW?

By Martha Mattocks

Clarence and I have just finished moving his office, and I am happy to say that we survived the move somehow and are still speaking! I don't know how Dick and Kathy Coe managed to move two households, for moving one office space was bad enough! It doesn't matter if you move across the street or across the country... it's still a job! I'm hop-ing things will get back to normal now. I guess you have noticed by now that Wal-lace Sills is driving a bit. He says he is only travel-ing familiar roads on bright, sunny days. He is still in need of transportation at night, for longer distanc-es, or when the weather is bad, so be ready to assist him when needed. The new piano is ready for us to enjoy and the choir is grateful to the meeting for approving the purchase, using funds from Louise Richardson's es-tate bequest to the meeting. I'm sure that Louise, former accompanist for the choir, would be pleased with this purchase. With cold weather and lots of flu and colds floating around, it's a good time to snuggle down at night and watch college basketball or read a good book. Due to lots of flu and illness, our friends at Friends Homes have been under a "purple alert", with constant reminders to wash one's hands! That's good advice for all of us. Hope you all stay well! And now you know!

Treasurer’s Report

(As of December)

Compiled by Ronnie Hicks, Treasurer

Contributions (actual) $99,005

Contributions (budget) $99,474

Total Expenses (actual) $97,464

Total Expenses (budget) $99,474

February Message Schedule

February 4 Frank Massey

February 11 Frank Massey

February 18 Frank Massey

February 25 Frank Massey

According to Susan...Bulla, that is

A four-year old was at the doctor for a

check up. As the doctor looked in her ears, he

asked, "Do you think I'll find Big Bird in

here?" The little girl stayed quiet. Next, the doctor

took a tongue depressor and looked down her

throat. He asked, "Do you think I'll find the Cookie

Monster down there?" Again, the little girl stayed

silent. Then the doctor put a stethoscope to her

chest. As he listened to her heart beat, he asked,

“Do you think I'll hear Elmo in there?"

"Oh no!" the little girl replied, "Jesus is in

my heart. Elmo is on my underwear."

Music Notes By Beth Massey

The new year 2018 seems determined to test our flexibility and powers of improvisation! There have been beautiful snow falls which forced or gave us good excuses to slow down and listen to the si-lence. They also have created humbling challenges for re-scheduling and for maintaining any momentum or continuity! So, we work at relaxing and taking one day at a time, and after we throw up our hands in ex-asperation, perhaps we manage to take more time for prayer and listening than we might otherwise have taken. Perhaps we’ll see and hear something we oth-erwise might have been too busy for! As we move from 2018’s first month into sec-ond month, may the guidance that we prayed for at the turn of the calendar show us more ways to love one another. Then may we have the strength and en-ergy to make that vision reality. We may need some help with the strength and energy part. May we rec-ognize that help when it comes -- even if it looks or sounds different than we imagined. From the hymn, “Guide My Feet” ~ Guide my feet while I run this race, For I don’t want to run this race in vain. I’m your child while I run this race, For I don’t want to run this race in vain. Search my heart while I run this race, For I don’t want to run this race in vain. And from another hymn, “Give Me Oil in My Lamp” ~ Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning . . . Give me truth as my guide, keep me seeking . . . Give me joy in my soul, keep me shining . . . Give m love in my life, keep me sharing . . . Give me umption in my gumption, let me function . . . Sing Hosanna till the break of day!

Piano Fund Update

Our piano purchase has proceeded without delay -- motivated in part by an announced 15% increase in cost on January 1, 2018. So, we were able to negotiate the piano of our choice at 2017 prices, and, as of the deadline for February’s Simply Speaking, our new instrument is in town with delivery expected before the first of Febru-ary. (Piano movers are also impacted by snow and ice!) We are grateful to all who have donated to this pro-ject, and excited in anticipation of its becoming reali-ty! We are in the first stages of planning a piano dedica-tion event for late spring/early summer, so stay tuned for announcements unfolding in weekly Sunday bulletins and monthly newsletters.

COME LISTEN WITH US! Additional note:

The arrival of our new piano means we are look-ing for a new home for the piano that has lived for the past several years in the fellowship room. (Our current meeting room piano - a Yamaha - will be moved into the fellow-ship room.) We are looking for someone who will take the one from the fellowship room, move it, and find a new use for it. A voluntary donation to the Music Fund would be appreciated, but isn’t required. Speak to Beth or a member of the music committee if you are interested or know of someone who might be.

Name That Quaker

By Linda Willard

I was born in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. I filed and received more than 90 patents. Who was I and what was my most notable patent?

(Answer on a different page.)

Monthly Meeting Summary First Month, Seventh Day, 2018

Submitted by Kate Foreman Suko Ministry and Counsel:

• Between 30 and 35 were in attendance at the New Year’s Eve worship at Friends Homes.

House and Grounds Committee:

• The holly was removed.

• The dying tree by the shelter will be removed for the same price as the earlier bid.

• The front apron will be repaired during warmer weather.

Peace and Social Concerns Committee

• A request for funds to assist Monte Verde Friends School in the wake of tropical storm Nate was referred to Peace and Social Concerns.

Music Committee Susan Samuelson and Beth Massey have been comparison-shopping pianos. Pastor’s Report

• The Stanley Family requested use of the Fellowship Room for their family reunion, 6.21.2018 through 6.22.2018 They anticipate around 60 attendees. Friends considered how much to charge and to inquire if they have insurance. Locking and unlocking the meeting-house will need to be addressed. Friends approved.

Other concerns:

• The NC Peace Resource Center requested use of the Fellowship Room on 4.27- 4.29.2018 for Level 2of Al-ternatives to Violence Training. Friends approved.

Next meeting: February 4, 2018

The Poetry Corner

The Meeting Room

This room, this space once free,

Open to rain and wind and critters that crawl and fly,

No longer holds the reverence of its natural state;

No longer left to the elements and fate.

Free passage is lost behind these walls

Of religious protocol and masonry.

Changed, set apart with imitation sun and breeze

For human need to resonate with inner voices.

Paradox! We come here to seek the Eternal,

Surrounded by familiar form and practice.

To mine for Truth, to refine understanding.

To be still, to listen, to seek, and to find.

But, the powers of time will rule,

Each species finds its terminus in some future eon,

While human structures yield, suns and planets come

and go,

And the order of universal process prevails.

~Binford Farlow, June 1996

February Birthdays

February 2 Preston Troncale

February 2 Susan Harris

February 2 Susan Haworth

February 4 Susan Samuelson

February 4 Veronica Workman

February 7 Rebekah Carmichael

February 7 Jason Charles

February 27 Lucas Hicks

February 28 Frank Barefoot

February 28 Sarah Miller

Simply Speaking is published monthly for

Jamestown Friends Meeting

509 Guilford Road, PO Box 2163

Jamestown NC 27282

Phone: (336) 454 3813

E-mail: JamestownFriends@aol.com

Editor: Kathy Adams; Managing Editor: Wallace Sills

Columnists: Frank Massey, pastor; Beth Massey;

Martha Mattocks

Answer to “Name That Quaker”

I was William Sellers. My most notable patent was for the design of a standard screw thread. Sellers proposed the adoption of a system of screw threads which was easier for ordinary mechanics and machinists to cut than a similar design by Joseph Whitworth.

Open Door Shelter

Jamestown Friends Meeting has volunteered to

serve the evening meal at the Open Door Shelter in High

Point each fourth Saturday during the months of January

-October for many years. If you would like to help, you

can participate by:

• Browning ground beef to add to the chili.

• Making cole slaw.

• Baking desserts.

• Purchasing saltine crackers or prepackaged cookies.

• Providing juice boxes, macaroni and cheese, small

packaged snacks for children’s meals. (This is espe-

cially needed since Debra McGroary has moved

away. She provided children’s meals for years.)

• Contributing funds to purchase items for the shelter

meals.

• Helping to serve the meals.

*Contact Wallace Sills or Frank Massey if you have

questions about how you can help with this ministry.