NEW GARDEN FRIENDS MEETING
SEMI-PROGRAMMED
MEETING FOR WORSHIP
“Jesus lived life in its
wholeness, He essayed the heights. He did not shrink from the depths. Three
years they say he lived among people, yet in that time He managed to let
eternity break through, and lifted their horizon to infinity. He took all that
came to Him and turned it to the purpose of His Mission. W.E.
Orchard.
Each item in the order of worship arises out of the silence that
encompasses the whole hour of meeting for worship. As Quakers, we value these
quiet moments in the presence of God and our gathered congregation.
WORSHIPFUL MUSIC Chloe Lindeman
Piano Sonata in G, Op. 79
Beethoven
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN NO. 11 Tim Lindeman
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
WE
GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE MEETING BUDGET
"The question is not, how much of what is mine do I give to others.
The question is, how much of what is God's do I reserve for myself. The answer
we give is a faith issue, a stewardship issue." - William Avery
MESSAGE WITNESSING THE WEST BANK – VOICES ON THE ISRAEL/PALESTINE CONFLICT
Tom
Stern & Tema Okun, a Jewish couple, Dana Abu-Dayyeh, a Palestinian, and
Will McInerney, an American Christian, are visiting from
COMMUNION AFTER THE
MANNER OF FRIENDS
After the planned message we enter into a period of worship that is based
upon silent, expectant waiting. It is a distinctly Quaker form of worship. It
is slightly different from meditation. This kind of worship (about 30 minutes)
may be completely silent, or there may be those who are led to stand and speak.
When we hear a speaker, regardless of whether we agree with what is said, or
whether we understand what is being said, we hold that speaker in the LIGHT
(pray for them) and consider that we may learn valuable lessons or be moved
spiritually by what is being said. After the speaker finishes, we return to the
silence and continue to worship expectantly. Early in the silence we may use
our mind to think about words and music we have just heard, but hopefully we
will get beyond the process of thinking to a place where the Divine Spirit
leads and guides us into a deeper level of worship.
GREETING AFTER THE
MANNER OF FRIENDS
Friends extend
the hand of fellowship in recognition that we are all Children of God.
WE ARE DELIGHTED to have visitors here from
LOOKING AHEAD AT NEW GARDEN
FIRST DAY
SECOND DAY
FOURTH DAY
FIFTH DAY
SEVENTH DAY
OUR HEARTFELT SYMPATHY is with Rachel Hollowell on
the death of her daughter, Yvonne DeNicola, on
FRIENDS MAY WISH TO
HOLD IN THE LIGHT: Michael Greene
THIS WEEK WE REMEMBER:
Sallie
Satterthwaite, who died
John
Coltrane, who died
If you
would like a loved one remembered in this way, contact the Meeting office,
292-5487 or newgardoff@aol.com.
THE FGC RE COMMITTEE will meet at
THE
BROTHERHOOD CLASS (
February 7: Hope for Healing
February 14: Declaring
Allegiance
February 21: Mountaintop
Experiences
FIRST DAY FORUM ON FEBRUARY 7 (
Witnessing the
This past week, Israeli Prime
Minister Netanyahu stated that the
What are they talking about?
Forum: Their presentation will include an
informational slide show, personal stories and spoken word
presentations, as well as a Q and A period.
Meeting for Worship: personal story and
spoken word presentation
Tom
Stern and wife, Tema Okun: awarded 2009 NC Peace Action's Peacekeeper Award for
their work with ICAHD-USA (Israeli Committee Against House Demolition)
FIRST DAY FORUM (
February 14: Phil Gulley
February 21: PART,
Writers of all ages are
invited to submit essays for the 2010 Year of Peace in celebration of George
Fox’s 1660 declaration to King Charles II proclaiming Friends as peaceful
people known as Quakers.
Theme: Why is peace
important to you?
Why is the Quaker peace testimony important
today?
Age Categories: Youth I: grades
1-5; Youth II: grades 6-12; Adult: ages 18 and up.
Prizes for each category:
First: $100
Second: $50 Third: $25
Winners will be invited to read their essay
at the 2010 North Carolina Yearly Meeting in
For more information, contact NC Yearly
Meeting at 292-6957. The Entry Form is available on their website, www.ncym-fum.org.
THE FLOWERS TODAY are given by Sarah Wright.
THE SIGN-UP SHEET for flowers for the Meeting Room on First
Day mornings is in the foyer today. Please take this opportunity to sign up for
a Sunday on which you would like to honor someone, or recognize an event, or
just provide some beauty for the room. Thank you.
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
Feb 7 Bob
Benbow, Ben Lassiter
10
Jennifer Bills
12 Owen Honeycutt, Chris Johnston
THANKS
TO TODAY’S CHILDCARE VOLUNTEERS:
Crib –
Jennifer Schaal
3-year
olds & up –
Molly and Andy Haile
THANKS TO THESE
VOLUNTEERS FOR FEBRUARY
Ushers: Susan Dorn, Tracey Bridges, Jeannie Sykes, Hayes
Ratledge, Hugh Jernigan, John White
Greeter: Barbara
Tookey
Sound System: Wiley Sykes, Jane Carter
THANKS TO THESE MONTHLY MEETING MEAL VOLUNTEERS
George, Terri,
Mitchell, and Spencer Harris, Fred Humphrey and Susan Ikenberry, Angie Williard
THE NORTH CAROLINA YEARLY MEETING makes an annual request for a
Spiritual Condition report by each meeting. This is usually prepared by
Ministry and Council. This year we are requesting that all New Gardeners have
the opportunity to contribute to this report. You may submit your thoughts to
Ministry and Council through Bonnie Hosick. (newgardoff@aol.com)
The queries are: Are there areas where your
meeting is especially strong? Are there specific areas of fellowship or
ministry where your meeting is not as strong as needed? Are there opportunities
for numerical growth, spiritual growth or growth in ministry? Are there spiritual
or practical threats to the meeting’s ongoing practice of ministry and
fellowship either from within or without the meeting? Are there other things
that need to be said in this report?
While this will be a report for Yearly
Meeting, it will also provide an opportunity for us to examine and reflect upon
ourselves as a Meeting. Are we who we want to be? We trust in your willingness
to participate.
THE LOUETTA KNIGHT GILBERT CIRCLE will meet on Tuesday, February 9,
HEALTHY HEART/OPEN HEART: Yoga for Valentine's Day. On
Sunday, February 14, at
THE NEW GARDEN CROSSINGS CARE GROUP will meet on Monday, February 8,
PHILIP
GULLEY, QUAKER WRITER AND PASTOR TO SPEAK IN
Acclaimed Quaker author, storyteller and
pastor, Philip Gulley, has scheduled a Greensboro-area visit for
mid-February. Through his writing and
speaking, he has become a voice of small-town, American life. Gulley's
work includes the successful Harmony series of novels, which chronicle
the life of the eccentric, fictional Quaker community of Harmony,
Gulley is currently
the the pastor at Fairfield Friends Meeting near Indianapolis.
Additionally, he hosted the
television program Porch Talk with Phil Gulley on the Indiana PBS affiliate
WFYI and their flagship show Across Indiana, for which he received Emmy®
Awards in 2007 and 2009. He also writes the popular monthly Home Again
column for Indianapolis Monthly Magazine.
Gulley will speak on Friday, February 12 at
On Saturday,
February 13 at
Gulley will lead
the Adult Forum at New Garden Meeting on Sunday, February 14 at
The public is
invited to all sessions with Gulley.
Below is an
excerpt about his book from the Harper Collins web site at http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061698767/If_the_Church_Were_Christian/index.aspx
"While many denominations claim to be growing, the largest group in
American religious life is the disillusioned—people who have been involved in
the church yet see few similarities between the church's life and the person of
Jesus. In the midst of elaborate programming, professional worship teams, and
political crusades, they ask, "Is this really what Jesus called us to
do?"
While the church has dismissed these people as uncommitted and lacking
in faith, perhaps the opposite is true. Their commitment to authentic
spirituality over institutional idolatry might be the very corrective the
church needs. These people respect Jesus, but question what Christianity has
become.
In If the Church Were Christian, Quaker pastor and author Philip
Gulley explores how the church has lost its way. This eye-opening examination
of the values of Jesus reveals the extent to which the church has drifted from
the teachings of the man who inspired its creation. Many Christians might be
surprised to discover how little Jesus had to say about the church, and that he
might never have intended to start a new religion.
But the church is here to stay, and Gulley is determined to help the
church find its soul. If the church were Christian, Gulley argues, affirming
our potential would be more important than condemning our brokenness. If the
church were Christian, inviting questions would be valued more than supplying
answers. If the church were Christian, meeting needs would be more important
than maintaining institutions.
These simple statements return us to the heart of what Jesus cared about
during his ministry. Gulley provides a profound picture of what the church
would look like if it refocused on the real priorities of Jesus."
FRIENDS
ARE INVITED to shop at the High School Young Friends Flea Market downstairs in
Norvell Hall. The day of the
AFSC
NGFM Social Concerns Committee
is sponsoring a simple lunch
TODAY after meeting for worship.
Monetary contributions collected at that
time will be sent to
the American Friends Service Committee for
their Haiti Earthquake Relief efforts.
Make
checks payable to
New
Garden Friends Meeting.
On memo line, put: for Haiti Relief.
BUON PASTA!
The
High School Young Friends would like to invite the meeting community to the 7th
annual Buon Pasta on Saturday,
February 20th. Come relax
by candle light to the sounds of live guitar and partake of a three course,
Italian style meal served and prepared by our youth group members. Please come
out and support the youth of the meeting and have fun while we play
restaurateurs.
We
must have all reservations no later than Thursday, February 18th.
so we
can be fully prepared to serve you.
Below is a menu and reservation form that we ask you to fill out and
return if you would like to participate.
The
cost is $22 per person.
BUON PASTA RESERVATION FORM:
Name:
___________________________
Number
in party (limit to 6): _________
Seating time
(please check one):
________
________
7:00 PM ________ 7:30 PM
________
We’ll give you one
Appetizer (for
how many):
_____ Antipasto plate-vegetarian
_____
Antipasto plate with meat
_____ Hot
Spinach & Artichoke Dip with chips
Main Course
(specify how many desired):
_____ Eggplant Parmesan w/Spaghetti
_____ Lasagna – Meat or Vegetarian Option
_____ Chicken Parmesan w/Spaghetti
Dessert (specify how many
desired):
_____
Tiramisu
_____
Chocolate Brownie Sundaes
_____
Chocolate Mousse
Drink
options will be water, coke, sprite, sweet tea, and various flavors of coffee.
Childcare is available, Please check in with Ellen for details about this option.