Monday, January 4, 2021
On Wednesday morning, I met Phil Smith at the Newberg branch of Wells Fargo Bank, and we completed the financial transition for a new partnership between Barclay Press and Quaker Religious Thought.
Phil, who regularly writes for Fruit of the Vine, is stepping down from his twenty-plus years of service as Treasurer for the theological journal. Barclay Press is stepping in to oversee production, distribution, and record-keeping as part of our ongoing work to serve Friends everywhere through the publication of books, pamphlets, curriculum, and periodicals that inspire, encourage, support, and sustain spiritual growth for individuals and for their faith communities.
It was a fun way to end 2020, and I’m finding that I have a lot of hope, heading into 2021. —Eric Muhr
“‘Strange Inheritance’ is a TV show I love. It tells of inheritances such as a long-lost painting, a famous letter, or a home carved from a tree. It always ends with: ‘And remember, you can’t take it with you.’ Since leaving my possessions in Portland, I have asked God to use my past losses to seed a more valuable future.” —Priscilla Hochhalter, excerpted from Fruit of the Vine
“The problem was, God didn’t want Saul’s sacrifices. The prophet Samuel told him, ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the Lord? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams’ (1 Samuel 15:22).
God wanted something more than just a contractual, transactional relationship with Saul. God wanted Saul to exercise the humility needed to listen, learn, and grow so that God could use him to govern Israel effectively. And God wants more than just a contractual, transactional relationship with us as well. God wants to shape us into God’s own image, which requires us to listen, learn, and grow.” —Ed Schneider, excerpted from the Illuminate study of 1 Samuel 10:20–27; 15:15–28.
Resolution
I will not let the angel of joy
flood my soul in vain
I will not let darkness
be victorious.
When fear tightens its noose,
constricts the heart,
clogs the mind,
I will go to the Man of light
who has always befriended me
and breathe deep
in the release
of His embrace.
—Carol Bialock, Coral Castles
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Eric Muhr
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