The Pastor’s Blog
Song Of The Week
Ok, This week’s song is Me And Jesus by Stellar Kart. Stellar Kart wrote this song when they were at a church camp and some of the kids at the camp were telling them about all these thing that they were going through and so they wrote this song. This song is basically just a reminder that no matter what, Jesus is there for you. The link for this on youtube dosn’t have the lyrics in the video but there is lyrics in the box below so you can read as you listen. So….here… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OzzywdDozo
Stellar Kart- Me And Jesus-We Can’t Stand Sitting Down
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March Youth News
Paul Wright Concert.-Thursday, March 15th at the 1st Nazarene Church, 1974 E.McAndrews Rd. The cost is free!! For rides meet at MFC at 6:30 p.m.
Girl’s Night In The Word– This month’s topic is self-hate/injury. Takes place at Community Bible Church in Central Point on March 11th from 6:00-8:30 p.m. For more information go to girlsniteintheword.com.
Mexico Missions Trip 2012– If you are going to Mexico this summer to build a house for someone in need, the cost is $425. You must have a valid passport, ID and $100 Non-refundable deposit due on Sunday March 26th.
Camp Auction– If you are going to camp this summer you need to be at the camp autcion to get money. Even though it takes place in May, you need to start planning what you are going to need to do. So just be aware! Because before you know it, It will be May in a blink of an eye!!
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Sunday, March 4th Satila and Melody Tuivanu, pastors of the Polynation Christian Fellowship that meets in Ross Chapel on Sunday afternoons at 4 p.m., will be sharing in worship the vision and calling that God has placed on their hearts to reach Polynesian people in our valley.
Things to Remember!
Daylight Savings Time begins March 11th
Spring Break March 26-30
Lord’s Supper Service Sunday, March 25th at 6 P.M. II Corinthians 11:26 says, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”
On March 25th we will hold a Lord’s Supper service for those who appreciate using the elements to proclaim Jesus’ death until He comes. The service will feature worship, reflection and repentance, sharing the elements and open sharing.
Ladies You are Invited to a Baby Shower for Kim Woodbridge, Thursday, March 15th, at 7 p.m. in the fireside room at MFC. Kim and Ben are having a baby boy, and they are registered at Target.
Ladies Meetings in March:
FWMF (Friends Women Missionary Fellowship) is open to all women of our church. Our time together is spent in fellowship and learning about the work of our missionaries, their needs and the people to whom they minister. All ladies are welcome to join us at the home of Donnalee Archibald, Thursday, March 15th, at 10 a.m. A buffet luncheon will follow the meeting.
Friends Women – All ladies are invited and welcome to join us for sharing & caring fellowship. We will meet Tuesday, March 20th, at the home of Glenda Workman.
Ladies, Mark Your Calendars For the Annual Spring Rally April 21, 2012.
This year’s theme is “Glow in the Dark” (I John 1:5) and will be held at MFC. More information coming soon!
All Jr. and Sr. High Students are invited attend!
What: Paul Wright Concert
Where: 1st Nazarene Church, 1974 E. McAndrews Rd.
When: Thursday, March 15, 2012
Cost: Free – for rides meet @ MFC @ 6:30 p.m.
At Community Bible Church in Central Point – March 11, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
This month’s topic is self-hate/injury. All Jr. Hi and High School girls are invited to participate. You can get more information at girlsniteintheword.com – empowering teen girls to make wise choices – hosted by Jimmelynn Rice.
All Church Potluck – Sunday, March 18th – Everyone is Welcome!
Bring a main dish & a salad, vegetable or dessert and join in the fellowship following the 11 a.m. Sunday School hour.
Help Wanted- The Christian Education Committee is exploring the possibility of holding a Vacation Bible School in mid-June. If you would be interested in directing this ministry or serving in it, please circle “V” on the back of the information sheet or contact Lena Anderson. Thank you!
June 16-24, 2012 Mexico Missions Trip – Cost is $425. Must have valid ID, passport and $100 Non-refundable deposit due on Sunday, March 26th. Contact Dave Gomez for more information.
Missionary Breakfast at MFC Saturday, March 24th at 8:00 a.m.
Dr. Fred VanGorkum, Regional Director for Africa with Christian Veterinary Mission, will be sharing about the many ways that God is working through the veterinary missionaries in Africa. Plan to come to be blessed by Fred’s report. Stan Schlosser will be preparing the meal. There will be opportunities to RSVP during worship services this month or you can call the church office.
Financial Report
February 2012 year-to-date
Income $14,997.39 $32,238.33
Expenses 18,609.49 36,958.09
Difference -3,612.49 -4,719.76
We have kept spending under our budgeted amount but our giving for the months of January and February has not kept pace. We are thankful to everyone who supports the ministry of Medford Friends in all of the ways that you do and we thank God for His faithfulness to always meet our needs as we seek to serve and honor Him.
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Seek and Follow
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5 and 6
We are probably all familiar with this promise from God and I expect we have all claimed it more than once in our lives. It’s easy to understand what it means to not trust in our own, or in any human understanding or wisdom, but to instead seek and trust in God’s wisdom and leading; but what does a straight path really look like? I had an experience the other night that illustrated it for me.
I live about four miles from the church and on my way home there are 13 traffic lights. Needless to say, if I hit one or two lights at the wrong time it can be a long, slow trip home. While stuck at a light I have often fantasized about how cool it would be to have a traffic signal controlling strobe light on my car just like the ones on fire engines and on a recent trip I got to find out just how cool it would be.
While driving home, about two blocks into my drive a fire engine pulled in front of me with lights and sirens going. After it passed me I tucked in behind it at a safe distance and had green light all the way home. Thanks to the light controlling strobe, my path was cleared of all obstructions, it was like God parting the Red Sea and made for the best drive home ever.
That experience got me to thinking about how it is when God is leading in our lives, when we are following and He is making our paths straight. When we seek His will and His way, He opens the doors, turns the lights green, and removes obstacles from our path so that we are able to go the way that God has planned for us.
And the opposite is often true. When we are moving against God’s will, pressing to get our own way or to do things in our own time, we can encounter road blocks and difficulties that God intends to stop us so that we will turn back to Him and seek His will, in His time and in His way.
Of course, not every road block or difficulty means we are on the wrong path, James 1:2 and 3 tell us that God will use our difficulties to produce perseverance in us. However, when we seek God’s will, seek His way, seek His timing, and follow as He leads, He will allow us to know His will and will open the door and clear the path that He has set for us.
It’s my hope and prayer that the promise of Proverbs 3:5 and 6 would become the norm for each of our lives and for our church family as we seek and follow Jesus.
God’s Grace and Peace,
Mark
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