The Pastor’s Blog
Exciting news! Richard Anderson is starting his Eagle project. He will be building and installing a “Little Free Library” here at Medford Friends on the side of the church near the community garden. He is raising funds for building materials and the library registration. Richard is also gathering books through a book drive to keep the library full until the books start to circulate. Please donate books for all ages in the donation box in the hallway.
JUST A REMINDER!
The Stewards and Elders will meet on Tuesday, January 6th and on Tuesday, January 26th at 6 p.m.
Wednesday Night Bible Study at MFC Will Resume, January 13th at 6 p.m.
If you haven’t been a part of this study time in the past, come and join us this year!
Mark Your Calendars! Sunday, January 17, 2016 All Church Potluck
Please join us for a time of fellowship and good food! We’ll meet in the fellowship hall at noon, Please bring a main dish and salad, vegetable or dessert to share.
FWMF (Friends Women Missionary Fellowship) We will meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 21st, at the church, in the fireside room. Following the meeting we will enjoy lunch at Wendy’s. FWMF is open to all ladies of the church. If you are interested in attending but need a ride, contact Lena Anderson.
Last Call! It’s time to update our MFC directory…
Thanks to those who have responded!
If you are new to MFC, have moved, or have new phone numbers or a new email address please fill out the top of the Information Sheet and place it in the box on the table in the foyer. Because we have had quite a few changes of addresses, etc. this past year there will be a new directory printed this month. To that end, there is a proofing copy of the MFC Directory on the table near the coffee window in the fellowship hall. If each family would mark “OK” or make corrections it would be helpful. Thank you.
In Home Potluck Dinners will Begin in the New Year!
More information to come!
Valentines Dessert, Friday, February 12th
Mark your calendars now! Put on your best attire February 12th and join us for a special evening of fun! Circle “V” on the Information Sheet in Sunday’s bulletin and place it in the offering or drop box on the table in the foyer.
Thank You from the Staff at MFC
Thank you from Jesse Davis, Brett & Cindi Garrett and the Wilson family for the cards, gifts and the cash gifts shared with us throughout this Christmas season. It is a blessing to worship and serve Jesus with our church family.
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Let Us Be New
As we finish up this year we naturally look back to what has happened over the last 12 months. For example, I have a new job, a new place to live, a new church family, a couple new roommates, and a lot of new friends! I have gone kayaking on the Rogue River, camping at Twin Rocks on the Oregon Coast, stayed in a cabin at Diamond Lake, seen Crater Lake, and enjoyed a few plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. I have been a camp elder, a soccer coach, and a bible study leader. I have prayed with many new people and for many new friends. I have been blessed enormously over the last year!
Having looked back I am amazed at all of the new things God has given me to do and be a part of to progress His kingdom purpose in our area! I am so excited to be part of what God is doing here at Medford Friends Church and through our church to bless the community we are part of. I am looking forward to the new things that God is going to be doing next year! 2016!
Following Jesus daily is the heart of the Gospel for us. Each day we get to renew our commitment to Him and His ways. Every moment is a new one. Each experience is unique and we get to respond in new ways. As we head into the New Year I want us to consider the passage found in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
We get to be new. Just like there is a new year coming we have a new life offered to us every day. I hope that we can engage our community in a new way this year. I hope that God encourages you to find a new thing that He is doing and you join Him in it! I hope that you let yourself be new this year, and that by doing so you participate in the renewal of the world that begins with and finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ!
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Annual Ladies Ornament Exchange Friday, December 4th @ 6:30 p.m.
Ladies, please join us for a celebration of Christ’s Birth. Share in the joy and laughter as we fellowship together, interact with the story of the First Christmas, and exchange ornaments. Bring the special women in your life, a wrapped ornament, and a favorite holiday treat to share.
The Activities Committee Meeting will meet Sunday, December 6th, following Sunday School at MFC.
Our Giving Tree is located in the foyer!
Like we did last year, we are asking for a variety of gift cards that can be given to people and families in need this Christmas season and throughout the year as needs arise. You can use the envelopes on the tree or just bring in your gift cards on a Sunday morning. Cards from stores like Target, Walmart and Fred Meyer will provide the greatest options to meet a variety of needs. Thank you for your donations.
FWMF (Friends Women Missionary Fellowship)
“Thank You” for your faithful and generous support of our baked goods events, the November sales amounted to $214, which brings the 2015 year-end total support to $518. Funds raised go toward Friends Serving/Teaching Abroad as well as our local church and community. We will not meet in December. Our next meeting will be 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 21st, at the church. FWMF is open to all ladies of the church. If you are interested in attending but need a ride, contact Lena Anderson.
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Movie Night Showing: "The Perfect Gift" Medford Friends Church Wednesday, December 16th 6:00 p.m. Join us in the Fellowship Hall! This is a great movie for adults, middle schoolers & okay for younger kids to see! Free pop-corn & drink.
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Sunday, December 20th, Join us following the 9:30 a.m. Worship Service for a time of Fellowship Please bring your favorite holiday goodie or finger food to share! No Sunday School that day.
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Christmas Eve Service “Come as you are Family Celebration”
Please join us in the sanctuary Thursday evening, December 24th, at 5 p.m.
Thursday, December 31st, 6:30 p.m. to ?? New Year’s Eve White Elephant Gift Exchange
Welcome in the New Year! Join us at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall for a fun time. Bring a wrapped white elephant gift for the exchange game, board games and finger foods to share. (If you plan to stay late bring extra munchie foods!)
Just a reminder! Year-end gifts must be received at the church by Wednesday, December 29, 2015, so they can be deposited in the bank, to be reflected in your 2015 giving report. Thank you.
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Looking Forward
I love this time of year! This is the time we have chosen to celebrate the birth of our savior. We have just had time set aside to look back on the year and be grateful for the blessings of God. Now we get too look forward to what the birth of Jesus means for us! As we look forward to Christ’s coming into the world we get to experience a sacred expectancy. We get to consider what life is like because of how God has chosen to enter into our lives. He chose to come make a way for us Himself. He was born in humble circumstance and lived a simple life. He invited normal men and women to follow Him and join in His ministry. He changed the world through His presence.
During this time of anticipation for the coming celebration can we take some time to think about the people that have invited us to join them in the journey and ways that their presence has changed our world? Maybe we can also take some time to consider inviting someone new.
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