December 23, 2019
In 1997, Barclay Press brought out a collection of Christmas poems written by Arthur O. Roberts (1923–2016), called Look Closely at the Child. In this week’s Fruit of the Vine, each day features a passage of Scripture and one of these poems from Arthur, inspired by the selected Bible reading. This morning’s poem comes out of a reflection on Luke 1:39–45:
Elizabeth was neither as tongue-tied
nor as garrulous as her ecstatic husband
over the impending birth of John.
Steadier, taking it all in stride
but just as joyous, she graciously
deferred to cousin Mary the strange
and awesome burden of God-bearing.
Imagine, though, how much comfort
this younger, chosen, one took
from the older woman’s faith
when Elizabeth, interpreting
the kicking in her womb as
a drum roll for the Kingdom,
urged Mary simply to believe
that what the Lord said to her
would be accomplished.
I like Elizabeth.
Such supporting faith is priceless
and hard to come by. But even
two pregnant women chatting
over tea can signify a turn
of history, and every baby
tells the world God has hope
for the future, and so should we.
Arthur first published with Barclay Press in 1959 (Through Flaming Sword) and again in 1967 (Move Over, Elijah). Over the years, Arthur published or distributed more than fifteen of his titles through Barclay Press, joining other authors like Milo Ross, Gervas Carey, Charles Kelly, Phyllis Cammack, Dean Freiday, Marshall Cavit, Marie Haines, Ralph Beebe, Eleanor Antrim, Quentin Nordyke, Bess Bulgin, Catherine Cattell, Jack Willcuts, David Kingrey, Donald McNichols, Nancy Thomas, Rosalind Marshall, Betty Hockett, E. Anna Nixon, Donald Green, Lauren King, Mark McMinn, Jim Foster, Howard Macy, David Niyonzima, Lon Fendall, Jean Thomas, Abraham Sarker, David McKenna, Christine Sine, Dan Nolta, and so many more!
Looking at this list of names, I can't help but note how many of these writers were also pastors, professors, yearly meeting staff, committee clerks, and missionaries. By providing a platform for publishing and distributing their words, Barclay Press served to connect Friends while also preserving the very best of what Friends think, how Friends act, and who Friends are.
Daniel Vaca has argued in his newest book, Evangelicals Incorporated: Books and the Business of Religion in America (Harvard University Press, 2019), that publishers like Barclay Press provided the commercial infrastructure that made the modern religious movement possible.
Vaca, a religious historian, used the past tense in his study.
But our work isn’t done.
For as long as Friends are called to bear witness, we at Barclay Press will continue to do the work of publishing and distributing their words, connecting Friends to each other and preserving the very best of what contemporary Friends are thinking, how Friends are acting, and who Friends are.
Arthur wrote in 1977 that his writing was “a labor in the service of truth.” I pray that my work – our work – at Barclay Press may also (and always be) “a labor in the service of truth.”
Eric Muhr
P.S. You can support the continuing work of Barclay Press:
- Make a one-time or monthly donation by clicking on DONATE at barclaypress.com.
- Talk to your church or monthly meeting about making support for Barclay Press a part of your budget.
- Pray for Barclay Press and for the work that we do.
|
