![]() Soon thereafter, the Home for Friendless Colored Children was opened in Indianapolis by Quakers at 319 West 21st Street at the crossroad with Senate Street. (In today’s monies, his estate would be worth over $150,000.) In his will, John proscribed that the monies were to be used for the education of young black children. Lindley was a good friend of John Williams’, and before his death, had agreed to serve as the executor and investor of John’s estate – he had set aside $6000. Lindley named the town after her hometown of Salem, North Carolina, which we now know as Winston-Salem. The founders of Salem, IN were Quakers – Mr. His gravestone sits on that church’s property to this day. Tragically, he was murdered some ten years later. He built one of the African Methodist Episcopal Churches there in the early 1850’s. John lived his life as an active part of the community. Salem was the county seat of Washington County, where freed slaves from Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina settled in the early nineteenth century. John was a freed slave who worked in Salem as a blacksmith. John Williams would be amazed at the extraordinary wine that has come from the water he brought to Jesus, so long ago in Salem, Indiana. How many times before had the servants brought out those water jugs? How many times have you done simple tasks, repeated tasks, routine things, and have thought nothing of it? Have you ever waited to see their effect? Have you ever seen what Jesus has done with your simple, everyday actions? Have you watched to see your water turned into wine? They were a part of this miracle, too! So many times, the simple, ordinary tasks we do as a part of our daily lives become something much bigger than we would ever anticipate. Who? The common, ordinary, behind the scenes servants were the ones who brought the water to Jesus. But there are others that are often neglected. The bridegroom… we get in on their conversation, yes. But… who else was a part of this story? The wine steward. How did this happen? We know Jesus’ mother ‘suggested’ that he help out the wedding party. Ordinary water became extraordinary wine. ![]() Today is a ‘water into wine’ kind of day. Water into wine may have been Christ’s first miracle, but it repeated itself, over and over again through the lives of all those who lived in the power of God’s spirit. ![]() They believed that they lived in the power of God… that God lived in and through them, and their example was the life of Christ Jesus, lived in the power of God’s spirit. Every day can be a ‘water into wine’ kind of day… Early Quakers believed that because they lived lives like that. A day when common things become uncommon. Pastor Ruthie Tippin First Friends Meeting Indianapolis John 2:1-11 please read this scripture prayerfully before reading the sermonįriends Education Fund Scholarship Sunday
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