The Pastor’s Blog
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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Home Study march 5th through March 10th, 2012
Monday – Read Isaiah 42:1-9
In Matthew 12:15-21, this passage is applied to Jesus.
What does this passage tell us about the work of Jesus?
How would you describe His approach to those who need His salvation?
Why are we able to put our hope in Him?
What does this say to you about how to share Jesus with others?
Tuesday – Read Isaiah 42:10-12
Why can we praise the Lord?
How far is His praise to extend?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read Isaiah 43:8-13
How can people have ears but be deaf and have eyes but be blind?
How can we be God’s witnesses?
What other savior is there besides Jesus?
Why does the world need to know this?
Thursday – Read Isaiah 43:14-19
God recounts what He had done on behalf of His people, but in verse 18 what does He call them to do?
Why do we sometimes miss the new things that God is doing?
What can we do to see them and join Him in them?
How is God challenging you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read Ephesians 2:4-10
By what are we saved?
Why?
How should we respond?
What impact does our response to being saved by grace have on other people?
How can you better share this truth with the people you know?
Saturday – Read Luke 1:5-17
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