Good morning, Friends! Thank you all for coming here t his morning. This month is a very special anniversary for me. Actually, it’s two very special anniversaries.
Ten years ago, in September of 2015, my wife and I moved here to High Point. So, this is the tenth anniversary of my work here as pastor at Springfield. It’s an honor to work here. And I’m glad to be able to serve.
We’ve done a lot of good things in the last ten years. You’ll find a partial list at the end of this message.
I want to emphasize that these aren’t things that I did by myself. These are things that we’ve done together.
We have prayed, we have sung, we have sat down together at the table.
Every week, we have met here for worship. In ten years, I think we’ve only missed 3 or 4 times because of bad weather.
We kept worship going, even during the terrible COVID epidemic. We met online, we met out in the parking lot, we met wearing masks, but we always came to worship God, when thousands of churches closed their doors.
Every week, I bring you a message based on a Scripture – some messages are better and some are worse, but there’s always spiritual food on the table. In ten years, that’s almost 500 sermons.
And our worship goes out far beyond this room. The message gets posted on Facebook and posted on our web site every week. People watch or read and enjoy them.
We’ve done a lot of education – classes on Quaker history, Bible study and other things
We’ve done a huge amount of work on the place – painting, new roofs, new lights, WiFi throughout the building, outdoor work, you name it!
And let me say again – these aren’t things that I’ve done. These are things we’ve done together. This is your anniversary as well as mine!
I said before that this month is actually two anniversaries, not just one. I’ve been here for ten years at Springfield, but this is also my fortieth year of serving as a Quaker pastor. Before I came here, I served for thirty years in New York and Indiana.
I know that every year you all expect the familiar readings at Christmas and Easter, but about this time every year, I always read from the first letter of John.
It’s a personal tradition. I do it, because it says what I want to say. It says what it means to be a church. I read these words the first Sunday I preached at Springfield, and every year since. You all ought to be used to it by now!
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:5-12
That says just about everything that I ever have to say as a pastor. “Love one another. . .”
It’s actually what Jesus said, in John chapter 15: “This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, but friends. Servants don’t know what their master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything my Father has told me.” (John 15:12-15)
That’s where we get our name from – the Friends church. We love each other!
When I started out as a Quaker pastor, I had only given 1 or 2 sermons. I’m amazed they turned me loose with so little experience! I learned to preach, by doing two things: reading the Bible carefully, and listening to the people I was talking with.
I never know if a message is going to reach someone’s heart. I always hope it will. But I never know. At least two times, in 40 years, people came up to me after the sermon and asked me to pray with them, because they felt God was calling them to the mission field. More often, people tell me that something I said was of comfort to them, or challenged them, or made them understand God in a new way.
One of my teachers, Wil Cooper, always said that in a Quaker meeting, there should be some quake in the preacher. There should always be some trembling, a feeling that it’s a serious thing to stand up and speak.
You don’t always hear it in my voice, but I always feel that way. I always pray, before I preach, that this is the right message to give. I sometimes throw away a message at the last minute, even if I’ve spent hours preparing it. Even if it’s a good message. Because it needs to be the right message, at the right time, for the right people.
You know – I hope you know! – that God loves you. “God loved the world so much, that he sent his only son, so that everyone who trusts and believes in him will not die, but will live forever. . .” (John 3:16)
God loves you. Knowing that in your heart will change your life. Jesus told us to love each other. I keep reminding you of that. Maybe you’re tired of hearing it. But that’s what it’s all about. Love God, and love each other.
We’ve been doing this for ten years together. Along the way, we’ve welcomed visitors and new members. We wish there were more, but we love the people who come here.
We have loved and cherished many children. Again, we wish there were more. This is something lots of churches are struggling with. But all the children in our meeting are told about the love of God. And we do our best, not just to tell them, but to show them. When they go out into the world, they’ve heard the message about Jesus’ love, not once, but many times.
During my ten years here, we have celebrated the lives of so many wonderful people. We wish there weren’t so many funerals. But they lived their lives, and we have prayed them onward, and entrusted them to God. We all believe that God’s love doesn’t end when people die. We believe that love goes on and on, forever, and that we will be safe in Jesus’ love. I have said those words at every celebration of life, for so many years.
For now, we’ve still got a lot of things to do. I’m still in good health, and I don’t have any plans for retiring right away. There is always work to do in the church, and I don’t just mean maintaining the building and keeping the doors open.
There are people we need to care for. There are lonely people and home bound people we need to visit.
There are neighbors and strangers to reach out to. That’s mostly your job, as I’ve reminded you many times. You are the ones who know people. You are the ones who have roots and connections in the community.
We probably won’t grow just because we’ve got a sign down by the road. People come here, because someone they know invited them. And most people only come, after they’ve been invited several times.
Every year that I’ve been here, I’ve had many surprises. Some of the surprises, you’ve done. Many of the surprises, God has done. I always remind you – be on the lookout for surprises and miracles. Be open when God or your friend does something amazing and beautiful. Thank God, all the time, every day. If you do that, you’ll be amazed at all the good things God is doing.
I’ve made plenty of mistakes here at Springfield. I don’t do any of them on purpose, to hurt anyone. But there are things I’ve done, and things I’ve failed to do.
I remember once, in Indiana, I apologized for something during my message for something I’d done that week. One of the members came up to me later and said it was the first time they’d ever heard a minister apologize for anything!
If I’ve hurt you, or anyone else, I’m sorry. If I didn’t realize it, please tell me. I really want to know. If there’s some way I can fix it, I’ll try my best. But if you don’t tell me, I’ll probably do it again.
In 40 years, I’ve been disappointed quite a few times. That’s life. You win some, you lose some. I told myself, many years ago, that if I get my way 25% of the time, that’s beating the odds. That’s doing pretty well!
The other thing I keep reminding myself, is that it’s not about me getting my way. It’s about all of us, working together, and trying to do things God’s way.
I’m not someone who likes to start fights. But a few times, as pastor, I’ve been caught in the middle of a conflict. I believe that many conflicts can be worked through when people listen to each other. I think that prejudices, and hasty judgements, can often be overcome. And many times, mistakes and failures can be healed and forgiven.
But a few times – a very few times – I’ve stood up to be counted. It’s never, ever been against the meeting. It’s always been a conflict with some other group. And I’ve always been grateful for the support of the meeting.
A lot of what I do is out of the public eye. I spend one full day, every week, preparing for worship. I think, and pray. Over the years, I’ve worn out three Bibles, till the covers fell off.
I’ve got a lot of administrative responsibilities at Springfield. We have a large staff, and a lot of committees. This is a big building, it takes a lot of maintenance. A lot of the time, it’s faster and easier for me to just fix something, rather than call it in. When a repair man or an inspector shows up in the middle of the week, I’m usually the guy on the spot.
Four or five times a month, a random visitor turns up and wants to know about Quakers, or wants me to help them find a relative who’s buried in our cemetery.
I do a lot of teaching. In the fall of 2015, we started a midweek Bible study. We move slowly. It’s not a race. We toss around all kinds of questions. This fall, after 10 years, we’re finally getting to the Book of Revelation. I hope some of you will come!
In between times, every week, I’m on the phone, or sending texts or emails, going to the hospital or visiting.
I really would like to visit more. Sometimes it’s an emergency. I’ve seen many of you in the hospital, here in High Point, or over in Greensboro or Winston-Salem. Many of you know that if someone is critically ill, I spend hours in the ICU or the Emergency Room or in hospice.
But just ordinary, friendly visits are a pleasure to me. I don’t push myself on people, because I know you’re all busy. But if you call me and ask me to visit, I’ll make time. I enjoy visiting!
Somewhere in here, I want to thank my wife. As she will tell you, she never expected to be married to a pastor. That wasn’t her plan. She’s still getting used to it!
She has supported what I do, here at Springfield, for ten years. And she has supported me, at all the other places I’ve been called.
It isn’t easy. We often get interrupted during meals. I work a lot of Saturdays. We’ve had to come back from family vacations. We live in a house that we don’t own, and all kinds of weird people come knocking on our door.
She cares about you, too. When people in the meeting are sick or in trouble, she prays for you, just as I do. She’s patient with me, when she knows I’m upset or preoccupied. She’s the love of my life, but you all owe her a lot of thanks, too.
I want to close this morning by reading another of my favorite Scriptures. It’s one I read to myself often, and it guides my work as a minister. This is from one of the earliest letters that Paul wrote. He starts out by telling them to love each other, and then he says:
“Live in peace with each other. Speak to those who aren’t working in the church. Encourage those who are faint of heart. Help the weak. Be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back evil with evil, but always be kind to each other and everyone else.
Always be joyful. Pray all the time. Give thanks in every situation, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Don’t put out the fire of the Holy Spirit. Don’t treat anyone’s leading with contempt, but test everything. Hold on to what’s good. Avoid every kind of evil.
May God, the God of peace, bless you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be healthy and without blame, till Jesus comes again. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
My friends, pray for us. Greet everyone with a holy kiss. Read this to all the churches. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-28
That’s what I wanted to say today. Happy anniversary, to all of us!
THINGS WE’VE ACHIEVED TOGETHER IN THE LAST 10 YEAR
Worship:
• updated and simplified bulletin format
• purchased new hymnals
• focused on engaging, upbeat worship messages clearly based on a single Scripture
• messages recorded every Sunday, posted on our web site and Facebook and shared the same day with folks who weren’t at worship
• upgraded microphones, sound board and power amplifier
• created new “Once-a-Month Choir”
• welcomed numerous guest musicians
• experimented with holding unprogrammed worship 2-3 times a year
Ministry:
• weekly Bible study using modern translations of the Bible
• monthly food collection for COAT
• created new children’s library
• started annual Remembrance Sunday
• new “Blue Christmas” service
• meeting survived COVID with very few deaths
Outreach:
• new meeting flyer
• new marquee sign
• completely new web site, updated regularly
• educational bulletin inserts
• attractive new plantings out front
• Springfield Players drama group
• hosted Harriet Tubman program
• lawn concerts organized by Paulo Barata
• hosted worship by Spanish Pentecostal congregation for a year
• pastor gave public talks on Quaker suffering during the Civil War, the history of Springfield, and the life and work of Nathan Hunt
Christian Education
• hired new youth minister
• graduated many young people from high school (we need more!)
• started new monthly adult classes (led by Tom Terrell and Jan Koerner)
• two summers of adult classes on Quaker beliefs and Quaker history
Meeting life:
• monthly social gatherings organized by Family Life committee
• Arts and Crafts Fair started in 2021, now in its 4th year
• new photo directories in 2017 and 2024
• purchased new round tables and comfortable chairs for Fellowship Hall
• donation of different colored, easily washable table cloths
• enjoyed traditional events and fund-raisers like the BBQ and Fish Fry
250th Anniversary:
• held celebration events which drew hundreds of people
• published 2-volume history of Springfield
• weekly historical education bulletin inserts
• history pamphlet series
• program to celebrate our senior members
Physical plant:
• monthly work days
• new roof on entire meetinghouse
• major renovation of the parsonage
• high-speed fiberoptic internet cable brought to meetinghouse
• WiFi installed throughout the building
• new burglar alarm system installed in meetnghouse and parsonage
• repair/painting of entry doors
• siding on chapel and worship room entry gables
• repair and painting of iron railings
• painted upstairs rest rooms, kitchen, art room
• replacement of hundreds burned-out lights and lighting fixtures
• all sidewalks power-washed
• repair of Haworth gates
Energy saving – major savings on budget:
• conversion of 2 furnaces from oil to gas, reduced oil usage by 80%
• insulated office area and chapel wing, Hayworth house
• installed new windows on half of the Sunday School
• replaced heat pumps and installation of security fence
• removed old oil tank
• complete new HVAC system at parsonage
Circle:
• return of the Thelma Jarvis Tea
• support of many different Quaker missions
• sponsored numerous social events
• supported graduating high school students with scholarships
• supported many grieving families with meals and refreshments
Finance:
• brought budget back under $200,000
• reduced NCYM askings from $18,000 to less than $6,000 per year
• moved endowment from zero-return CD’s into income-producing investments under the care of a professional advisor
• rented Haworth House to NYCM Inc.
Personnel:
• long-overdue COL increases for treasurer and administrative assistant; updated honorarium for accompanist
• located and updated all job descriptions
• hired new administrative assistant, music director and youth minister
• transitioned through 5 pianists
Organization:
• created policy book for office
• created emergency book for first reponders
• installed complete new phone system after lightning damage
• leased new copier on much more favorable terms
• purchased 2 new office computers
• updated membership list and put records on computer; no longer paying askings for 80+ inactive members
• massive clean-out of storage areas and old files
• copied old minutes and sent them to Quaker Archives at Guilford
Memorial Association:
• tours of the Museum and help with genealogy
• renovation of Archive Room
• wrote down cemetery policies and procedures
• created better record systems for the cemetery and columbarium
• started cleaning large numbers of grave stones
• aerial drone survey of entire cemetery (data entry still needs to be done)
• moved all publications in-house to save money
• purchased timber rights to forest from Springfield Monthly Meeting
• maintenance/removal of trees on the property