Author Archives: Josh

Martha Jay

Posted on April 23, 2023 by Josh

Martha Sleeper Jay was the wife of Allen Jay. They lived at Springfield for 8 years, from 1868 to 1876, when Allen Jay was the field agent for the Baltimore Association. Although her role here is less well known, she … Continue reading →

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Three Easter stories

Posted on April 16, 2023 by Josh

Good morning, Friends! Thank you all for coming last Sunday. And thank you all for coming this morning. In some ways, it’s more important to be here on the Sunday after Easter, than it is to be here on Easter … Continue reading →

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Allen Jay (1831-1910)

Posted on April 16, 2023 by Josh

Allen Jay was a Quaker minister, educator, relief worker, evangelist and administrator. He worked here at Springfield Friends for 8 years after the Civil War, helping to rebuild the Quaker communities of the South. He encouraged Quakers to revitalize our … Continue reading →

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The Flowering Cross

Posted on April 9, 2023 by Josh

Nobody seems to knows who first came up with the idea of the Flowering Cross. It’s not unique to Springfield – a number of churches do it. It’s a tradition which goes back hundreds of years. Mark Stroud built our … Continue reading →

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Come and see. . .

Posted on April 9, 2023 by Josh

Good morning, Friends! Once again, happy Easter! We’re so glad that you’re here! Easter is one of the three biggest holidays in the entire Christian year. There’s Christmas – the birth of Jesus. There’s Easter – when Jesus rose from … Continue reading →

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The Rock Gym

Posted on April 2, 2023 by Josh

In 1937, the school board decided that the Allen Jay School needed a gym. It was during the Great Depression, and the County Commission said that no funds were available. So, the school board proposed that parents, students and community … Continue reading →

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Major League ball players from Springfield

Posted on March 26, 2023 by Josh

Ray Hayworth spent 15 years in the major leagues, most of them with the Detroit Tigers. He also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, the New York Giants, and the St. Louis Browns. A catcher, Ray played in the 1934 and … Continue reading →

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The Prodigal Son

Posted on March 26, 2023 by Josh

Today’s Bible story is one which almost everybody knows. If you were to ask a random sample of people to name just one of the parables of Jesus, the one story they would be most likely to name, would be … Continue reading →

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A community of faith

Posted on March 19, 2023 by Josh

Good morning, Friends! I hope you’re all doing well this week. I hope you all enjoyed a bit of corned beef and cabbage this week, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day! Every now and then, I ask us to think … Continue reading →

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Nathan Hunt – Pioneer Minister – 1758-1853

Posted on March 19, 2023 by Josh

Nathan Hunt was one of the best-known Quakers in North Carolina in the early 1800’s. A pioneer, a traveling minister, an educator, he was one of the earliest members of Springfield Friends Meeting. Nathan Hunt’s family emigrated to New Jersey … Continue reading →

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