The Pastor’s Blog
Even If You Don’t Follow, You Are Still Being Led
We like to imagine ourselves as independent. Masters of our own fate. In control. Even in our spiritual lives, we may pride ourselves on how well we follow the Light, how earnestly we seek God’s will, how obediently we walk the path laid before us.
But what about when we’re not so good at following?
What about the days when we’re distracted, discouraged, or even defiant—when we stray, stumble, or sit down entirely, arms folded, muttering, “I don’t feel like it today”?
Here is a grace too often overlooked: Even then, we are still being led.
The Psalmist writes, “If I make my bed in the depths, You are there” (Psalm 139:8). The truth is, God’s presence doesn’t waver when our attention does. The Spirit does not stop leading just because we’ve temporarily taken a detour to “do things our own way” (which, historically, has mixed results).
The early Friends spoke often of “the Light that enlightens every person.” That Light is not conditional. It does not flicker out because we looked away. It does not retreat when we wander. The Light shines in the darkness—and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).
Sometimes we learn more from our detours than we do from our discipline. Sometimes being led means being guided gently back after we’ve lost the trail. Other times it means God simply walks beside us as we sit in our confusion, or waits patiently while we attempt to solve our spiritual lives with spreadsheets.
To be led doesn’t always feel like movement. Sometimes it feels like stillness. Like silence. Like nothing at all.
(Also, sometimes it feels like standing in the kitchen, staring into the fridge, hoping the Holy Spirit will tell you what’s for dinner.)
But here’s the quiet truth that holds us together: God is still leading. Always.
So even when you don’t know the way—or aren’t walking it—don’t despair. The path is still there. The Shepherd is still calling. And the Light still shines.
You don’t have to have it all together. You don’t have to be a perfect follower. You just have to be willing to listen again. Look again. Be found again.
Because even if you’re not following, you are still being led.
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Service, April 20, 2025
Order of Service:
Welcome and Call to Worship
Hymn 217: “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today”
Greeting Time
Song: “Celebrate Jesus, Celebrate”
Hymn 97: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”
Song: “King of Kings”
Prayer for the Offering
Song: “In Christ Alone”
Hymn 220: “He Lives” (Sing-Along with the kids)
Koinonia Kids Dismissed
Message — Pastor Jesse Davis
“Resurrection Sunday” Matthew 28:1-10
Closing Song: “Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed”
Benediction and Open Worship
Next Sunday Preview: “Obadiah: A Minor Prophet”
Events & Notes:
Prayer Meeting: Monday at Noon in Conference Room 8. Come pray for our community and friends.
BUSINESS MEETING: Next Sunday, April 27th immediately following service.
Praise:
“We are very grateful for the positive response, attendance, and unity we experienced at the Mexico Yearly Meeting sessions held in Aguascalientes, and the exciting reports each church gave about the hard work they are doing to continue expanding God’s kingdom in Mexico. It was very exciting to have confirmation from another young couple from Mexico City who are being prepared to be sent to one of the 32 states of Mexico under Vision Mexico 32. Glory to God!” (E & M G, Missions Mobilizers to Hispanic Friends)
Pray:
1. For the young couple in Mexico City who have begun the process of planting a new church.
2. For the seven other people who have begun training in the Friends Theological Institute in Mexico for God to confirm where they will be sent. (E & M G)
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Service, April 13, 2025
Order of Service:
“I Come to the Cross”
Prayer for the Offering
“The Wonderful Cross”
“Hosannah to the Son of David
Dismiss Koinonia Kids to Fellowship Hall (Kindergarten – Middle School)
Message – Jesse Davis
“Come & See”
John 1:35-51
Closing Song
“The Old Rugged Cross”
Benediction & Open Worship
Next Sunday Preview: Resurrection
- Christian Ed – Meeting after worship TODAY.
- Prayer Meeting – Mondays at 12 PM in room #8 to pray for our community.
- Good Friday – Don’t miss our remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on Friday, April 18th at 6 PM. Childcare is available.
- Resurrection Sunday – NEXT Sunday, April 20th. Breakfast at 9 AM, Worship at 10 AM, and the youth will enjoy an Easter Escape Room.
- EFM Missionary Candidates for The Balkans “For progress in fundraising and in field planning, there is a lot to do still, but we see pieces coming together… It is a privilege and a delight to spend time, even very short visits, with so many brothers and sisters around the Yearly Meeting and beyond!”
- India “Our ministry in the Red-light area is growing. We are working hard. Some girls are getting ready to make public testimonies of baptism. We are being helped locally in this ministry.”
- Ukraine “One of our team members has found a way to avoid being drafted. He is not in good health, but the army pays no attention to health exemptions. Men are picked up all the time, and those papers are just torn up. He has been offered a job in a hospital for the duration of the war. It means he can only work part-time for us, but if he were in the army, he could do nothing, and he plays a critical part in the computer end of the ministry. This is an answer to prayer, his and ours.”
- EFM Missionary Candidates for The Balkans “The last day of work will be May 22. Please pray that God will provide for us to transition straight to full-time work with EFM at that point.”
- Ukraine “That these new believers will be discipled into an active, vibrant faith. Sometimes in the enthusiasm of evangelism, discipleship gets second place, but evangelism and discipleship MUST go hand in hand if these communities are to have strong churches.”
EASTER OFFERING – We are now collecting for Evangelical Friends Mission’s 2025 Easter Offering. If you would like to donate, simply make a check out to Medford Friends Church and write “EFM” on the memo line or on a giving envelope. Donations go towards propelling the Luke 10 Initiative – to send out missionaries “that all would experience the transforming power of Resurrection”.
Worship in Giving – There’s a time of offering during service. You may mail your offering, or visit our website at medfordfriendschurch.org and select “Give”. Thank you.
We would like to join you in prayer or help you in any way we can. To help us do that, we invite you to fill out the contact form on this website or make use of our Prayer Wall in the Menu at the top. Thank you.
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One Bite at a Time
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