Merry Christmas

 Middleton Friends Meeting wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas! 🎄

Interested in learning more about Conservative Quaker Faith? Join us this holiday season on Fifth day (Thursday) at 3pm and/or First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am. Additionally, the Ohio Yearly Meeting website has information available. We recommend this website for obtaining correct information about the Religious Society of Friends (Conservative Quakers). Visit: https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/

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On 1/14 we will consider 4th and 5th Queries:

4th Query: Believing our bodies to be the temple of God, are we concerned to attain a high level of physical and mental health? To this end are our lives examples of temperance in all things? Do we avoid and discourage the use and handling of intoxicants, tobacco, and improper use of drugs?

5th Query: Are we sensitive to the needs of those around us who may be in less fortunate circumstances? Do we prayerfully consider how we can share one another’s burdens when the need arises? Do we counsel lovingly and prayerfully with those members whose actions in any phase of life give us grounds for concern?

A full list of queries can be found at: https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/query-for-the-month/

Happy Thanksgiving

                             Happy Thanksgiving!

Every day is a day of thanksgiving. However, as we officially celebrate Thanksgiving on 11/23, here are a few selections from the Bible to remember:

1 Chronicles 16:34

" O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endureth for ever.

Colossians 4:2

"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving"

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning thee"

Psalm 50:14

"Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High."

(Selected from King James Version)

A Note from our Clerk

A Note from Mary Alice Pino,  Clerk of Middleton Meeting

• Monthly Meeting will be held 11/19
• One of the items on the agenda is Query #3:

  Are our homes places of peace, joy, and contentment? Are they an influence for good in the neighborhood, community, and country? Do we set a good Christian example for our children to follow? Are Friends careful that their children realize that our loving Savior will faithfully guide them through life, as they are willing to accept and obey Him? Do we help our children to read and appreciate the Bible?

• Business meeting will be held on 11/19.  Representative Meeting is the 18th and we could get a fresh report from our representatives

2023 Annual Meeting Minutes

The Annual Sessions of Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends was held in the Stillwater Meeting House and online, by adjournments from Eighth Month 1 st through Eighth Month 5 th in the year 2023. The Minutes have been published and are available on the Ohio Yearly Meeting website or by clicking on this link:

2023 Minutes

 

William Penn and George Fox

 

I recently visited Ohio's Amish country. While many tourists may visit for craft shops, Amish food, and cheese shops it is also important to know the history and culture of the area. Thanks to a member of Middleton's recommendation, we visited 'Behalt' in Berlin, OH. Behalt is a cyclorama that identifies major religious and Biblical events. Although Behalt focuses on the Amish and Mennonite history, I was happy to see that William Penn and George Fox were included in the 10x265 foot painting. Our guide was very well versed in history and included a little bit about Quakers in her discussion. The tour made me realize the importance of our own Quaker heritage in the past, present and future. 

--Carol Rodriguez

Affiliate Member, Middleton Meeting

Query 1

Ninth Month is upon us. We will be discussing  Query 1 during this month's Monthly Meeting: 

" Are meetings for worship well & punctually attended?  Is our behavior therein conducive to meditation and communion with God?  Do we maintain a waiting spiritual worship and free gospel ministry?  Do we welcome others to share this fellowship with us?"

For a full list of Queries, please visit: https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/query-for-the-month/

Ohio Yearly Meeting

 The 2023 Ohio Yearly Meeting (OYM) is 7/31-8/6 . Middleton Meeting is a member of the OYM Religious Society of Friends (Conservative). The OYM annual meeting is held with member Meetings to discuss business and share in fellowship. It is held in Barnesville, Ohio at the Stillwater Meeting House. Visitors are welcome to join in worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth, to participate in our fellowship, and to learn more about the way we experience the timeless message that Jesus Christ has come to teach His people Himself. It is our practice to limit speaking on business matters to members, except when a visitor feels clearly led by Christ to speak to the topic at hand. For more information, please visit OYM Homepage

“…If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” 1 John 1:7

Satisfaction in Service to Others

 The Faith Alive School in Kasita Village, Masindi, Uganda has benefited from the dedication of a Middleton Meeting regular attendee over the past thirteen years. He has personally been supporting seven students from their first day of elementary school with his continued prayers, guidance, and finances to help them reach their educational dreams to complete high school and go on to college. He was instrumental in starting a Bible Study Fellowship of which the students participate. In 2010 he arrived in Uganda and served on the staff at the school. But, due to COVID, the school closed for two years and he returned to the US-- but never forgot his students. Through the pandemic he continued to stay in contact with the students through social media and even continues his Bible studies, support, and guidance with the students on a regular basis. Many young people in African villages do not have access to education. Through his generosity, dedication, and rapport with the students they are thriving. This brings him great satisfaction while also serving God in his service to others. 

Thank, thee, for thy service to God.

(photo will be posted shortly)

John 15:12

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

Upcoming Events: General Gathering of Conservative Friends and Winona Strawberry Festival

Two Upcoming Events!

General Gathering of Conservative Friends

6/23-25/2023

at Stillwater Meeting, Barnesville, OH, and on Zoom

Sponsored by the Wider Fellowship of Conservative Friends Committee 
of Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends

For more information: 
https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/programs/wider-fellowship-of-conservative-friends/
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Winona Strawberry Festival: 
An opportunity to visit the Historic Winona Meeting House🍓🍓🍓

6/25/2023

The Winona Area Historical Society invites everyone to attend the 10th annual Winona Strawberry Festival, Sunday, June 25th ,on its campus in Winona, OH at the corner of Winona Road and Cameron Street. 

The day’s events begin at 11:30 with food service (barbecued chicken, sandwiches, sides, homemade pie, cake and ice cream and strawberries to top them off) and ongoing craft demonstrations including flax scutching, vintage kitchen activities, needlework and bobbin lace making. 

Enjoy dulcimer and other instrumental music in the Meeting House and learn about the building and Quakers who worshiped there. This 1895 structure, along with the 1838 Meeting House/Museum and campus are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Admire vintage cars on display and visit the Winona Fire Department’s tent on the grounds. A live auction at 2:00 will be a highlight of this fund raiser with Kiko Auctions selling gift certificates/merchandise from local businesses and items donated by community members. Featured this year is an Echo Cordless CLM-58V4AH 21″ 58V Lithium walk behind mower with bag catcher, mulch plug and charger. It is being contributed by John’s Outdoor Power and Recreation LLC, Depot Road, Salem, OH. Also of special interest is an original Encaustic Painting (also known as hot wax painting) from Karen Biery of Studio KB, Damascus. Donations of new and gently used items, services, gift certificates etc. for the auction will be welcomed until June 23rd. 

Contact Vivienne at (330) 3332-4322 to make arrangements. The day’s activities conclude at the end of the auction. The Museum and Quaker Meeting House are handicap accessible, and there is free parking on the east end of the society’s grounds off Winona Road. Proceeds benefit the WAHS, its programs, building maintenance and archival preservation.

Information taken from the Farm and Dairy, 6/15/23,
https://www.farmanddairy.com/event/winona-strawberry-festival-2 

A New Picture and "A Brief Introduction to the Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends (Quakers)"

 We are thankful two returning visitors joined us at Meeting on 5/7-- We decided we needed a new picture 📸

Next time we'll try to get our "online" attendees in the photo too!

Please join us on Fifth Day (Thursday) for mid-week Meeting at  3pm 

and/or First Day (Sunday) Meeting at 10:30am. 

Online zoom worship, readings, and Bible Study by Ohio Yearly Meeting and other Meetings can be found on the events calendar:

https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/calendar/

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"A Brief Introduction to the Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends (Quakers)" 

The goal of this information was a pamphlet (years ago!) that visitors could obtain when attending Meeting.  It is a great summary of Quaker worship and how it is unique from other denominations. We thought it was so informative that it belongs on our blog/website.

Realizing this may be hard to read, online access to the 4 pages is available via: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1G-X5AQ7qHtyOTZRstMIxXMr34KfVDBFR?usp=share_link

Monthly meeting was held on 4/16. The minutes have been emailed to members. The 8th Query will be discussed at next monthly meeting in Fifth month:

"Are we faithful in Christ's command to avoid swearing oaths? Are we watchful for and faithful to Christ's promptings to share with others our testimony against the use of oaths? Do we avoid gambling and speculation based on the principles of chance?"

Summer is a beautiful time to gather together. Here are just a few events that will be taking place:

Each Fifth day (Thursday) and First  day (Sunday): Join us at Middleton Meeting for Worship.

Sixth Month, 23-25: Wider Fellowship of Conservative Friends is hosting a gathering Sixth month, 23-25, 2023 at Barnesville, Ohio and on Zoom. The purpose of this gathering is to gather as one mind in Christ, waiting together for His appearance in our hearts, to be obedient to His voice in worship and to encourage each other in Christian fellowship. For more information visit https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/programs/wider-fellowship-of-conservative-friends/#2023Gathering

Eighth Month: Yearly Meeting in Barnesville, Ohio. Look for more information to come soon!

Check the calendar for more in person and online gatherings:  https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/calendar/

"I am the way, the truth, and the life"

Thomas

scith

unto him, Lord, we

lcnow

not

whither thou

goest;

and how can we

lcnow

the way? Jesus

saith

unto him,

I

am the way,

the truth, and the life; no

rnan cameth unto

the Father but by me.

If

ye

had

lcnown me,

ye

should have

lonwn my Father also; andfrom

henceforth

ye

know him, and hwe

seen him." Jolln

14:5-7

"Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not wither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me. If ye had known me , ye should have known my Father also; and henceforth ye know him, and have seen Him." John 14: 5-7

Monthly Meeting was held at Middleton on 3/12.  This month we will be discussing the 7th Query. A "query" is  read, pondered, and answered once in the year in each Monthly and Quarterly Meeting, in a deliberate and unhurried manner. 

7th Query: Do we observe simplicity in our manner of living, sincerity in speech, and modesty in apparel? Do we guard against involving ourselves in temporal affairs to the hindrance of spiritual growth? Are we just in our dealings and careful to fulfill our promises? Do we seek to make our Christian faith part of our daily work?

Clerk Mary Alice Pino has emailed the minutes to members. We hope those who were not able to attend will offer insight into this query so we may discuss it at next Monthly Meeting in 4th month.

Let Silence Fall Like Rain

 Third Month is upon us.....and we look forward to spring weather!  This poem by Wilmer Swope was discovered by a Middleton Meeting member in her Quaker reading books. We appreciate her sharing it with us for the blog and hope it brings thee a sense of peace

Here are the verses* that W. Swope lists at the bottom of his short meter double poem:

Psalm 46: 10: "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among all the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Galatians  5:22 (and 23): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Peter 3:4: "Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

I Corinthians  14:40:  "But everything should be done in a fit and orderly way."

Revelation 8:1: "When he opened with the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."

Philippians 4:7: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in  Christ Jesus."

James 3:18:  "Peacemakers, who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."      

*verses are from the New International Version Bible

Love One Another

On this day many may be reminded of the verse "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34 NIV).

                                                💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

Monthly Meeting was held at Middleton on 2/12. The agenda included discussing the 6th Query. A "query" is  read, pondered, and answered once in the year in each Monthly and Quarterly Meeting, in a deliberate and unhurried manner. 

6th Query: Do we live in the life and power which takes away the occasion of all wars? Do we, on Christian principles, refuse to participate in or to cooperate with the military effort? Do we work actively for peace and the removal of the causes of war? Do we endeavor to cultivate good will, mutual understanding, and equal opportunities for all people? 

Clerk Mary Alice Pino has emailed the minutes to members. We hope  those who were not able to attend will offer insight into several questions in the email that will be discussed/considered next month.

For those who wish to know more about the faith of Conservative Quakers please visit:

https://www.conservativefriend.org/whatdowebelieve.htm and https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/

Or, even better, worship with us on First (Sunday) or Fifth (Thursday)!

The Narrow Path

Here is a selected reading  that should help guide thee 

this second month of 2023.

 

"The True Christian's Faith and Experience" via Zoom

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” I Cor. 12:12-14  (Selected from 1/8/23 Monthly Minutes)

Online Sessions/Calendar

As Conservative Quakers, we know the importance of being together even though many of us are in various locations. Ohio Yearly Meeting (OYM) hosts many online opportunities. Henry Jason, a member of Middleton Meeting, hosts "The True Christian's Faith and Experience" by William Shewan every Fifth day (Thursday) via zoom. This is a study of the truth that distinguished Conservative/Wilburite Friends from other denominations. For more information and links to the online zoom sessions and calendar of events, please visit  https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/calendar/. 

Resources Galore! 

Additionally, OYM has podcasts of previous online events via https://www.buzzsprout.com/1335421. Still have questions about Conservative Quakers and our beliefs? The Stillwater Meeting has a nice summary at https://www.conservativefriend.org/whatdowebelieve.htm

Middleton Meeting Update

Monthly Meeting was held on 1/8/23. Clerk Mary Alice Pino has emailed the minutes to members. 

As always, we worship in person on Fifth Day at Middleton Meeting or another chosen location. We always meet in person on First Day at Middleton Meeting. If thee has questions please contact us by leaving a comment below. We look forward to seeing thee online or in person.

Celebrating a New Year and a special birthday

On 1/1 we celebrated the new year  by being together in worship. We had 2 visitors, Dave and Melody Goff,  from New Castle, PA. Dave will be giving a series of talks about Quaker History and will be available on "FaceTime Live" through this website: https://www.facebook.com/GraceNewCastle. We also celebrated Verna's 101st birthday on 12/14/22. 

As we start this new year, we hope the following will resonate with thee.

The Narrow Path: 

Oh, that men would come to that true teaching of the heavenly anointing within them, which would abide in them and teach them all things, and which Truth itself is no lie. Then would they be sensible that they needed no man to teach them, for the teachings of man would be to them as that water, of which "whomever drinks, shall thirst again," but when they have tasted of the water given them by the Prince of life Himself, which should be in them "a well of water springing up unto everlasting life, whosoever drinks of this, shall never thirst".  --Daniel Wheeler