12.30.2025

Reflections from 2025

 

As 2025 comes to an end, we look forward to the joys that God brings to us in 2026. 

The following are some of the quotes and verses from the 2025 Tract Association of Friends Calendar. They're meaningful to reflect on as we end 2025 and enter 2026. 

Excerpts from 2025 Tract Association of Friends Calendar

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:16


If we accept the act of worship as having central significance in our lives, as weekly experience of corporate worship is not enough…Those who consider worship important enough to make a specific plan for it are most apt to succeed in having a daily period of inward retirement. – Elise Boulding, 1989


But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. – James 1:5


Oh! Let all that want it, harken unto the true Shepherd of the little Flock, for whom the Kingdom is prepared, who encourages them, and bids them fear not through the wolfish Destroyer is nigh unto them; yet he is the Overseer, and in all trials and exercises he is their Preservation. –Joan Vokins, 1687


The LORD is good to those who await Him

To the person who seeks Him,

It is good that he waits silently

For the salvation of the LORD.

–Lamentations 3:25-26


And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. –Romans 8:28


Fox and early Friends accepted the outward work of Christ, but they insisted that it is [the] inward work which transforms us and guides us into new ways of ethical behavior, new ways of service, and new ways of fellowship. –William P. Taber, 1984

 

The Bible is a rich treasury of such experiences and insight, and is supremely important as the source of our knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is therefore unthinkable for Quakerism to be divorced from the Bible. In fact, because of the danger of individualism, Friends need biblical knowledge even more than do other Christians. – L. Hugh Doncaster, 1963


Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. – Matthew 5:10-11


All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. –2 Timothy 3:16-17


If children are to be instructed in the ground work of true religion, ought they not to discover in those placed above them, a lively example thereof? – Sarah Tuke Grubb 1756-1790


Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. –2 Corinthians 5:17


Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.

        –Luke 12:32


In this beatitude, our Lord and everlasting savior has reminded us that we are a blessed people when we are willing to accept punishment for obeying God.  In those moments we experience the Kingdom in Christ’s magnificent light and grace that bring much joy [to] our hearts. –Arthur Berk, 2007


I am sensible that these stripping seasons have been very teaching to me; and when we look like fools to those who are foolish indeed, it is at such times magnificent light and grace that bring much joy [to] out hearts. We learn true wisdom; for in true silence we have the best teaching, even the Lord himself is our instructor. –Ruth Alocock Follows 1718-1808


Though this was a season of severe trial, yet upon serious retrospect, I can enroll it among those afflictions which have proved to me to be blessings in disguise ... .My soul can now, in tracing the wonderful dealings of an all-wise Providence, lean upon the staff of faith.  –Ann Crowley, 1765-1826


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Please join us in the New Year on Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm and First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am.

For more information on Conservative Quakers, visit Ohio Yearly Meeting / www.ohioyearlymeeting.org.

12.14.2025

No in person Meeting 12/14

 Meeting will not be held in person today due to the weather and road conditions. Email bikerider1351@gmail.com for the zoom link. Thanks. 

12.07.2025

Remember the true reason for the Christmas Season

The post below is from Seeker's Haven, another Meeting under the Ohio Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. It is a reminder of simplicity, truth, and not getting "caught up" in the commercialism of the season. A direct link is available by clicking here: A Season of Power

11.16.2025

Happy Autumn

 🍁 Happy Autumn! 🍂

This article was in The Vindicator last weekend. It is a great summary of Quakers and the modern need to worship in silence. Here is a link to the article: Vindicator Article



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Recent news:

*The 2025 Minutes from Ohio Yearly Meeting are now available on the OYM website or paperback at Middleton Friends Meeting. Online access: OYM website ( Ohio Yearly Meeting website )--->Printed Materials---->Discipline and recent minutes.-->2025 Annual Sessions.

*Eleventh Month Monthly Meeting was held 11/9/25; Mary Alice Pino (Middleton Meeting Clerk) has emailed the minutes to members. The 4th Query will be considered next month. The 4th Query is as follows:

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?

All the Queries can be found by clicking here: OYM Queries

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Please join us for worship on Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3 pm and on First Day (Sunday) at 10:30 am.  We welcome everyone! To learn more about Quaker Meeting please come worship with us!

Additional resources are available on the the Ohio Yearly Website  

FYI: our Middleton Friends website seems to work best from a desktop/laptop computer. The "sidebar" information does not seem to show up on a phone. The other option is to click over to "web version" at the bottom of this page. 


8.22.2025

Summer updates!

“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”  Matt. 7:18, 20


Ohio Yearly Meeting was held in Barnesville, OH this month at Stillwater Meetinghouse and Olney Friends School. We are thankful to those who helped with the annual gathering and also those who were able to attend. The photo above was taken by one of Middleton Friends Meeting members at the gathering. 


Looking for a good book to finish out the summer? The North Carolina Friends Historical Society  recently re-published Charity Cook- A Liberated Woman.  Originally published in 1981 and was out of print for many years. This book chronicles the remarkable like of a backwoods country woman who rose in the 18th century to become one of the foremost traveling ministers holding the Society of Friends together in what was becoming a new nation. The author, Algie Newlin, has family connections  to Middleton Friends Meeting.  NCFHS Charity Cook


Please join us on Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm and/or First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am : 44866 Crestview Road.  More information on Ohio Yearly Meeting can be found at ohioyearlymeeting.org:  Ohio Yearly Meeting

6.15.2025

Caring for our community

Middleton Friends Meeting involvement with local charities 

Middleton Friends Meeting donates money to two local charities monthly, the 4C's and the local Way Station. Two meeting members volunteer to help with the 4C's Food Pantry.  The 4C's stands for Crestview Churches Community Concerns. It is managed and supported by churches in the Crestview Local School district. A total of 5 churches are involved. Those include Middleton Friends, East Fairfield Methodist, New Waterford Methodist, New Waterford Zion Lutheran, and Abundant Life Fellowship. Each church appoints two representatives to serve on the board that makes decisions and manage the funds.

    Currently Mary Alice Pino and Rebecca Hawkins represent our Meeting on the board and as volunteers in the pantry. That sometimes includes going up to the Youngstown 2nd Harvest distribution warehouse food bank to pick up pallets of food items. It may involve the stocking of shelves and cleaning the pantry or helping on distribution day, which is the first 4th day(Weds) of each month. People who come for food are not asked to disclose their income, however they need to register. The pantry is required to keep track of how many people come through each month and the ages of all in their household. Usually there are between 100 to 130 people served. Anyone in the school district or attending one of the above churches in the district can pick up food.

     There are two reasons people seem to prefer our pantry. One is because it is a "choice pantry." They can pick out items they specifically want. Other pantries may just give bags or boxes pre-filled with groceries. Some of those items people may not like or use. Consequently those unused items may be thrown away/ wasted. Another reason some people prefer to come to our pantry is that we have a good supply of personal health and cleaning supplies. Soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, body wash, TP, laundry detergent, disinfectant, etc. are available for those who need them.

    We accept monetary donations as well as food donations. Various area individuals and companies have donated as well as area food drives. We have even had a whole beef cow from the fair auction donated.


   

 "If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall you light rise in the darkness, and your gloom be as the noonday."--Isaiah 58:10



5.19.2025

Winona Strawberry Festival: 6/22

🍓 It is that time of the year again! The Winona Area Historical Society (WAHS) is hosting the 12th Annual Strawberry Festival on 6/22 from 11:30am-2pm. The proceeds will go towards  Museum and Meeting House projects. 

The Winona Meeting House was part of Ohio Yearly Meeting. When it was "laid down", the Meeting House and grounds were entrusted to WAHS. WAHS diligently remodeled and restored the Meeting House. It now houses a museum and serves as a community gathering spot. 




Join us for worship on Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm and/or First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am. 

5.01.2025

Spring Reminders

 Thanks be to God who uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

2 Corinthians 2:14

This was shared with members of Middleton Meeting from our Greek friends--a powerful verse to remind us that we are all connected in our big and beautiful world. Spring is a time of renewing. Take time to "smell the roses" and spend time inwardly with God.

Below are a few pictures of spring flowers shared by Middleton Friends......



 



Please join us on Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3 pm or First Day (Sunday) at 10:30 am. 

Curious to learn more about Conservative Friends (Quakers)?  Visit https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/

3.25.2025

Upcoming Wider Fellowship of Conservative Friends Gathering: 6/21-6/22-6/23

 

The Wider Fellowship of Conservative Friends is an outreach effort of Ohio Yearly Meeting, creating a safe space for Friends of like mind, or who are curious about the witness of Conservative Friends.

Stillwater Meeting HouseThe Wider Fellowship hosts a General Gathering once every two years, typically during the month of June, in Barnesville, Ohio. Though the Gathering is sponsored by Friends from Ohio Yearly Meeting, we hope that everyone, regardless of their Yearly Meeting affiliation (or lack thereof) will feel welcome to attend. We especially invite our brothers and sisters from Iowa and North Carolina Yearly Meetings (Conservative), with whom we share a long and important history.

For the schedule and general information, please visit this link: 

Wider Fellowship Information

or connect directly with this website: 

https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-WFCF-Gathering.pdf

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Interested in learning more about Conservative Quakers? Please visit the Ohio Yearly Meeting website: OYM website

As always, please join us on Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm for mid-week worship and/or on First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am. All are welcome! 

3.13.2025

Abraham Lincoln's Quaker Roots

Abraham Lincoln's Quaker Roots 

A member of Middleton Meeting recently shared a brief history of Abraham Lincoln's connection with Quakers. It is a short and interesting read that I hope everyone will enjoy reading and learning about Quaker history.

**Tip: Try "zooming" in to enlarge the images for easier reading, or download the PDF from OYM Marlborough Meeting site by clicking on this link: Abraham Lincoln PDF 








Please join us for Worship Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm and First Day (Sunday) 10:30am. We also have zoom available--please contact bikerider1351@gmail.com for more information. Curious about Conservative Quakers? Information can be found at www.ohioyearlymeeting.org  or click on this link: Ohio Yearly Meeting website

2.22.2025

The Conservative Friend returns!

✏ Please sign up to receive emails about new articles!📖

Middleton Meeting received this from Wil Brant, a Member of Crossroads Meeting and new Editor of The Conservative Friend:

After a few years hiatus, publication of The Conservative Friend is returning and a new website has been created: theconservativefriend.org. Wil Brant (Crossroads) is serving as editor.

This current rendition will be primarily an electronic publication with articles of an issue being posted on website. These articles/issues posted over the course of year will be compiled and printed in an annual edition of The Conservative Friend.

Individuals can go to the Subscribe page on the website to sign-up to be notified when a new electronic issue has been posted or to express an interest in receiving an annual print copy.

Note: People on the mailing list when it was last used in 2020 will be receiving next week an email or letter regarding this also.

Submissions of articles whose content is in the manner of Conservative Friends can be considered for publication.  

Types of content include:
    • Reflective/inspirational
    • Historical text
    • Bible exploration/reflection
    • Historical text exploration/reflection
    • Conservative Quaker thought exploration/reflection
    • Highlighting an individual's or meeting’s work/ministry/spiritual journey

A regular article runs about 400-650 words (~1 page), and a feature article about 800-1000 words (~2 pages). Shorter one paragraph ministry/reflection excerpts are also excepted for consideration.

Submission information/contact is on the About/Contact TCF page on the website or sent to editor@theconservativefriend.org