Reading Scripture together

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November 19, 2018 In just two more weeks, more than a thousand Friends from across the country will start a thirteen-week study of the book of Luke. In that first week, they’ll read a reflection from Margaret Fell on the Magnificat. They’ll consider together the significance of angelic appearances in Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. They’ll discuss the ever-present tension of faith and doubt – sometimes troubling, sometimes creative, sometimes both – as illustrated in Zechariah’s response to the promise of a child. And they’ll engage the Scripture as Friends have been doing for centuries by thinking about how their own experience intersects with the text and what that might mean for their local faith community as it seeks to bear light in the world. Questions like the following might guide and shape that engagement:   What does it mean to be favored by God? What choice, made when you were young, has changed or set the course for your life? Are there certain places, times, or activities that make it easier for you to experience God? These small groups, Bible studies, and Sunday school classes are using Illuminate, a Scripture-study curriculum that we’ve been producing in one form or another at Barclay Press for longer than I’ve been alive. Back in 1943, Adelaide Barker had a concern for “publishing sound, spiritual and evangelistic Friends Bible School literature.” That concern eventually resulted in the cooperative efforts of Evangelical Friends Church – North America (EFC-NA) yearly meetings to set aside money for the development, printing, and distribution of Adult Friend quarterly Bible studies, which were redesigned and re-released as the Illuminate Friends Bible study series in 2011. Today, those materials are used in Friends churches and meetings in EFC-NA, Friends United Meeting (FUM), and beyond. Illuminate is the only Bible study curriculum written by Friends and for Friends, and if you’re not familiar with it yet, send me an email. I’d love to mail you a free sample copy! Eric Muhr P.S. Seeds of hope is the three-year campaign to fund the ministry of Barclay Press by developing new titles, supporting small churches, and balancing the budget. In order to stay on target to meet our goal of $162,000 by December 31, 2020, we need to get to $54,000 by the end of this year. As of this morning, we have raised $38,074 in gifts and pledges. BARCLAY PRESS 211 N. Meridian St. #101 Newberg, OR 97132 503.538.9775 www.barclaypress.com Seeds of Hope

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On loss and grief

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November 12, 2018 In this morning’s Fruit of the Vine, Priscilla Hochhalter reflects on what it meant to lose her job before Thanksgiving a year ago: “I was called to a meeting room with Human Resources (a bad sign on a Friday!). My beloved but usually stoic boss, with tears in his eyes, said my role would be eliminated and not refilled.” Priscilla was granted “a week to wrap up.... My CEO said I was a respected employee; he wanted to give me a party. But I didn’t want cake. I asked Human Resources to keep the layoff quiet until my last day, then shared sad goodbyes with the coworkers I’d loved so long.” The truth is that “losing a job isn’t the worst thing that can happen,” Priscilla admits. “Other losses can be much worse ... but every loss leads to shock and grief.” Also, loss is universal. It is part of the human experience. Priscilla offers five verses from 2 Corinthians 4 for when we experience loss: 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Thank you, Priscilla for this reminder to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. God, help us not to lose heart. Eric Muhr P.S. Seeds of hope is the three-year campaign to fund the ministry of Barclay Press by developing new titles, supporting small churches, and balancing the budget. In order to stay on target to meet our goal of $162,000 by December 31, 2020, we need to get to $54,000 by the end of this year. As of this morning, we have raised $35,939 in gifts and pledges. BARCLAY PRESS 211 N. Meridian St. #101 Newberg, OR 97132 503.538.9775 www.barclaypress.com Seeds of Hope

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The Kingdom of God

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November 5, 2018 Nearly sixty years ago as a relatively new Christian, Dan Nolta memorized passages of Scripture as part of the Navigator’s memory program, and many of those verses continue to stick with him. In this morning’s Fruit of the Vine, Dan asks us to reflect with him on Matthew 6:33, which he first memorized from the King James Version: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Dan reminds us that “these things” referenced in the verse are what we need: “Clothing, food, and shelter – the bare essentials if you will.” These are things that many of us can safely take for granted. Many of us live in abundance. But Dan points out that this has not always been the case – “I have little desire to go back to those years (after World War II) of doing without because of rationing, or to the days of family hardship.” And even today, it is not the case everywhere or for everyone. Many of us live in abundance. Much of the world, including many of our neighbors, do not. But by sharing out of our abundance – practicing “a life of simplicity, seeking to pare down” – this reality in the world of have and have not might shift. Because when we seek a realizing of the kingdom of God and of God’s righteousness, we become more sensitive to the needs of our neighbors; we become more generous in the sharing of what we have; we revel in the miracle of enough: God’s kingdom comes, and God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). Thank you, Eric Muhr P.S. Seeds of hope is the three-year campaign to fund the ministry of Barclay Press by developing new titles, supporting small churches, and balancing the budget. In order to stay on target to meet our goal of $162,000 by December 31, 2020, we need to get to $54,000 by the end of this year. As of this morning, we have raised $35,594 in gifts and pledges. BARCLAY PRESS 211 N. Meridian St. #101 Newberg, OR 97132 503.538.9775 www.barclaypress.com Seeds of Hope

Copyright © 2018 Barclay Press, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list