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/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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