Note from Kayla Davidson: “I have made a difficult decision to withdraw from my serve trip to Nepal. Instead, I will be spending some much needed family time at home for Christmas and getting rest to prepare for the rest of the school year to follow.  I am confident that this plan is most beneficial for me and relieves me of a lot of stress. I know I will have many more opportunities to serve and travel in the years to come. I want to thank you all for your generous prayers and support not only for this trip, but for all the years I have attended MFC. You all have been a blessing in my life growing up and I appreciate your support in all my endeavors as an adult, even the unexpected ones. I will be contacting people personally who already donated, if there questions please contact me or my mom, Tammie Davidson.”

You are all invited to the Open House celebrating the opening of the Rogue Valley Chaplains Association Jackson County office located upstairs in Medford Friends Church, on October 7^th between 1 and 4 p.m.  Refreshments will be served.  The RVCA is very grateful for the generous gift of this space to allow chaplains to minister to those in crisis.

There will be an Activities Committee Meeting on Sunday, October 8^th at noon in the fireside room. 

Just A couple of Reminders!

October is Pastor Appreciation Month.                  

Jesse will resume the Wednesday Night Bible Study at MFC this month.

Sunday, November 5^th Daylight Savings Time Ends.  Be sure to set your clocks back 1-hour Saturday night, November 4^th.

            From Mark Burton, Clerk of Stewards         

As I reflect on the work that has been done to refurbish the parsonage over the last six months I am reminded of chapters 35 through 40 of the book of Exodus. There we read about all of the gifts that the people brought and all of the work of the skilled craftsmen to build the tabernacle and the items needed for the priests. Some people brought gold and silver and bronze, some brought cloth, linen and yarn, and others brought animal skins. The craftsmen and skilled people then took all of the contributions and created works of beauty and function according to God’s plan, to create a place for worship and to meet with Him.

The parsonage isn’t a tabernacle, but it is a place for ministry to happen and its refurbishing has been a community effort. The work has involved craftspeople sharing their time, tools and skill. It has involved people sharing time and money to facilitate the work. It has involved skilled bakers sharing their goodies with the work crew. It has involved coffee being made most every morning for the crew. And it has all been done in the name of the Lord for His glory.

We plan to have the work completed in time for Jesse and his roommates to move in by October 20, 2017, but that won’t be the end of the story, but the beginning of a new chapter in the life of a house that for decades has housed pastoral families and been a place of ministry for the church and community. Thank you to all have helped to make this new chapter possible!

God’s Grace and Peace,

Mark

MFC Celebrating 75 Years – Sunday October 15th

Please join us in the fellowship hall for a time of celebration at our all church potluck at noon on Sunday, October 15^th.  Please bring your favorite potluck main dish, and a salad, vegetable, enough to feed eight people. Cake will be provided for dessert.

1000 Pairs of Shoes We are accepting donations of new shoes up until Easter time of next year!  At this time, there are 199 pairs of shoes accounted for! New Arrival Shoes may be placed on the pew up front on the platform in the sanctuary on Sunday or given to one of the ushers!  We want to tally them before they are placed behind the pew.  

FWMF meets Thursday, October 19th

All ladies are welcome to join us at MFC at 10:30 a.m.  Following the meeting we will have lunch & fellowship time at Wendy’s.  

We are excited to announce that Kayla Davidson, Darren & Tammie Davidson’s daughter, currently attending George Fox University has felt the call to be a part of a team with EFM traveling to Nepal in December. She writes the following:

“I have the amazing opportunity to travel with George Fox University's Spiritual and Intercultural Life team to Kathmandu, Nepal for two weeks, (Dec. 26-Jan. 7). We are partnering with Evangelical Friend's Mission to provide humanitarian aid for people struggling physically and spiritually in an earthquake devastated country, I am very passionate about travel and helping other people so I am very excited to embark on this journey and see what God has to reveal to me through this act of service.” Please pray for preparations for this group of students and if you would like to support Kayla in this journey, there are 2017 Nepal Immersion & Service Trip Response Forms with instructions as to how checks can be made out on the usher’s table in the foyer.  Mail checks to George Fox University, 414 Meridian Street Newberg, OR 97132.

ALL CHURCH WORKDAY AT MFC

Everyone is invited to join us Saturday, October 21^st, 9 a.m. to noon

Our stewards committee have many inside and outside chores to accomplish at this time. Please join us, many hands will make the work load lighter. 

Christian Ed Committee Invites you to join the Primary Sunday School Classes for a fun outing:  Sunday, October 22^nd After Sunday School

Where:  Fort Vannoy Farms 5791 Lower River Rd., Grants Pass, OR

More Information:  www.fortvannoyfarms.com

Tons of Fun Stuff to do:  Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, Harvest Activities Galore!

Cost:  Money for Lunch at Dairy Queen, $6 for Corn Maze, $6 for Pumpkin Blaster, Free Activities too!

Questions:  Call Drew Krupp, 541-821-9199 or Patsy Burton, 541-941-4800

Due to the smokey conditions, Jack and Sue are cancelling “movies on the patio” at their house on Saturday, Sept. 9^th. They don’t want you to have to breathe smokey air while enjoying the movie.

Friends Women Missionary Fellowship Group will hold their Baked Goods Event to celebrate the beginning of a new school year on Sunday, September 10^th. You’ll find them in the fellowship hall during the fellowship time between services. All baked goods are sold by donation and this year a portion of their earnings will go towards Jesse’s mission trip to Russia this month.

Saturday, September 9th – It’s Movies on the Patio

Movie begins between 8:30 and 9:00 p.m. At Jack and Sue Hamilton’s

Come cool off with the movie “Snow Dogs”

Please bring your own lawn chairs (no loungers) Popcorn and punch will be furnished

All Church Potluck Sunday, September 17^th

Please join us for a time of fellowship and good food Sunday, September 17^th. We’ll meet in the fellowship hall at noon. Bring a main dish and salad, vegetable or dessert to share.

From our Elders:  Jesse leaves September 18^th to join the team from Northwest Yearly Meeting on a mission trip to Russia. We request your prayers for this group as they travel, and if you have not yet had the opportunity to support Jesse financially you can still send funds to Northwest Yearly Meeting 200 N. Meridian Street, Newberg, OR 97132 marked Jesse Davis-Russia or designate your check to MFC the same.

“Grace” NWYM Friends Women Retreat September 29 – October 1, 2017 Guest Speaker:  Retha McCutchen   –   At Twin Rocks Friends Camp Register now!  Brochures are on the usher’s table in the foyer.

FWMF meets Thursday, September 21^st   This will be their first meeting of the 2017-18 program year with the theme being “That They May Know” Isaiah 45:6. Meet at MFC at 10:30 a.m. All ladies are welcome to join us. Following the meeting we will have fellowship time and lunch.

Talent Friends Church extends an invitation to join them in a night of family fun and treats Friday, September 22^nd at 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for games, potluck desert and ice cream! Bring a game, bring a goodie, we will provide the ice cream. Hope to see you there!

Please remember the Burton family in prayer for the loss of Debi Samples, the daughter of Bobi Burton and sister of Mark and Ron Burton, went to be with the Lord on August 25^th. She will be remembered for her love of teaching and volunteering with children at her home church as well as the Boys & Girls Club in Albany, OR.

1000 Pairs of Shoes

We are accepting donations of new shoes up until Easter time of next year. Many individuals and families in our community are unable to purchase new shoes for themselves so this is a way we are giving them a chance to have something that is just theirs and they get to pick out. Please help us bless our community by participating in any way that you can for this shoe drive!

New Arrival Shoes may be placed on the pew up front on the platform in the sanctuary on Sunday or given to one of the ushers!  We want to tally them before they are placed behind the pew. Ninety-one pairs of shoes have been donated so far.

Join us for an afternoon of fun!

Pool Party & BBQ

at Stan & Earlene Schlosser’s

Sunday afternoon, August 20^th

2 p.m. the pool will be open, it is not heated!

BBQ at 4 p.m.

We’ll provide the hotdogs & hamburgers

Please bring your favorite salad or dessert to share

Please bring your own lawn chairs