The Pastor’s Blog
Anchors
I just got back from Yearly Meeting. I am tired. I am frustrated. I am hopeful. I am tired because the schedule was full of time for good things and I wanted to take part in them. I am frustrated because people brought their decisions into the business meetings and functioned as anchors to the Holy Spirit’s leading during our time together. I am hopeful because, even with the anchors, we have a way to move towards a decision. Discernment and consensus are the (often) slow means that the Lord uses to guide us in our decision making as a gathered body of Friends. They require trust in every person around us and a release of anything that may have been brought into the meeting from the outside. We lay everything down at the feet of Jesus and seek His will and not our own. This process is good when it is done in the right way, with the Holy Spirit guiding each one to the present leading. When we can release the anchors or they can leave what is weighing the process down at the foot of Jesus then we are able to really listen and move towards what God has for us. I am praying during this time that God would work to pull the anchors back up for our Yearly Meeting so that we can follow the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit wherever we ought to go.
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Lavonne Thompson went home to be with the Lord on Friday, July 29, 2016. The service for Lavonne is Friday, August 5, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Memory Gardens, 1395 Arnold Lane, Medford, OR. Please remember Donna Hanson and family in prayer at this time.
Elwin (Lela) Wines went home to be with the Lord on Monday, August 1, 2016. Elwin suffered a heart attack while driving down their drive way. Elwin and Lela attended Medford Friends Church for many years. He taught school at Grace Christian School. He also did logging using horses rather than machinery. He is survived by his wife, Lela, two sons, Forest and Stanley and a daughter, Mariam.
Medford and Talent Friends Get-together for BBQ Picnic
Saturday, August 13th at Bear Creek Park under the pavilion.
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hamburgers & hotdogs, buns and condiments & will be provided. Please bring picnic pot luck side dishes and desserts. We are looking forward to gathering together for a great time of fellowship. Bring lawnchairs or blanket for the grass!
Monday Evenings at 6:30 p.m. Phebe McManama hosts a Home Bible Study. Marilyn Johnston leads the study. If you have questions contact Phebe or Marilyn.
The Little Free Library is ready for use. Everyone is free to take and/or leave books in the library now. The library will be registered and listed online at www.littlefreelibrary.org Thank you for your support.
Pool & BBQ at Stan & Earlene Schlosser’s
Sunday, August 21, 2 p.m. with dinner at 4 p.m.
BBQ Pork Roast (no sauce added)
Please bring (uncooked!) corn on the cob, salads, desserts, chips & dip and if you can please bring your own lawn chair! The pool will be open, it is not heated! To RSVP Please Circle “S” on the back of your information sheet in Sunday’s bulletin and place it in the offering if you plan to attend.
Summer Fun for Kids in Grades 1 through 6!
Sunday, August 28, depart MFC at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hawthorne Water Park! Cost is $5.
Contact Drew Krupp or Patsy Burton for information.A Parental Permission Slip is Required!
MFC’s Annual School Supply Drive
It’s that time of year again where stores have great displays of school supplies piled high! Many families in the local community cannot afford to provide school supplies for their children and we are asking once again for your help Below is the list of supplies that we are collecting to share with students in need at Howard Elementary. You will notice that some of the supplies are listed by their brand name and educators tell us that is because even though they may cost a little more, those brands provi
Supply List
12 pack Ticonderoga brand pencils, 24 count Crayola crayons; pencil top erasers; large erasers; 12 count Crayola color pencils; 8 count Crayola color markers (washable); glue sticks; bottles of white glue; rulers; pencil pouches; red, blue, yellow and green pocket folders, notebook paper; pens; solar calculators; 3 ring binders; pocket dividers for binders; 3×5 lined note cards; spiral notebooks; Kleenex tissues; backpacks.
de better bang for the buck. A collection box for these supplies is in the main hallway.
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Party Like Cornelius
Party Like Cornelius
If you were expecting one of the greatest moments of your life to happen soon wouldn’t you want others to know about it? We send out announcements for High School or College graduations, we do the same for weddings and birth announcements, we share invitations for anniversaries and other special dates with people we care about. Why is it that we are more excited for graduation, weddings, children, and anniversaries than we are about sharing what Jesus has done in our lives?
Last week we looked at the story of Cornelius and his vision from God to send for Peter. While Peter was travelling from Joppa to Caesarea Cornelius sent invitations to all his friends and family to come and hear what Peter would share. Cornelius had the expectation of something wonderful happing and desire to share it with his friends and family. He knew there was a special thing coming and didn’t want anyone he cared about to miss out. Is that how we respond to what Jesus is doing in our lives? Are we a people who live in expectant joy for what God is going to do in our lives? Do our homes represent places where God’s work is expected and celebrated? We have received the greatest gift and news ever, God has forgiven us and wants to be in relationship with us. How are we not excited about this?! How come we don’t share this truth any time we get the chance? When something is special to us we’ll announce it and celebrate it. If it isn’t we’ll ignore it and move on.
My hope is that this month we can share what God has done, and is doing, in our lives with the same kind of joy and exuberance we would for any of the other special events we long to share with our friends and family. What would you want your family to know God has done or is doing in your life? Share that with them. Don’t wait. Let them know how much they mean to you by sharing the good news with them!
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Wednesday, July 6th
Small
Summer Group Light
From California Baptist University
In Concert at Medford Friends
The group of eight is traveling the West coast and will be at MFC on July 6th at 7 p.m. “Light is a vocal group from California Baptist University. Light’s music style is a genre that we dub “Worship Pop” – a fusion of contemporary worship, energetic and sharply executed performances, complex and engaging arrangements, heartfelt emotion and a sincere love for God shown through song, all packaged in a universally “pop” sound.” Come join us for an evening of Spirit-filled music.
YEARLY MEETING 2016
“Christ Plays in 10,000 Places”
Bringing all things in heaven and on earth together
under one head – Christ.
Ephesians 1:10
Join us for a family reunion of Friends
from around the Northwest!
All ages will gather Sunday, July 24 through Thursday, July 28, on the George Fox University campus in Newberg, OR. Whether you come for just a banquet, evening service, the closing celebration, or the whole week, plan now to make Friends and Yearly Meeting 2016 part of your summer activities! View details and register online at www.nwfriends.org/ym-sessions
Friends Women Missionary Fellowship
Meeting – Thursday, July 21st, at 10 a.m.
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 Phebe McManama. A potluck picnic will follow the meeting.
The ladies do not meet in August. The next meeting will be
10 a.m. Thursday, September 15th in the fireside room at MFC.
Richard Anderson thanks everyone for their support of his Eagle Scout Project. The Little Free Library is installed and ready for use. The book drive has ended but everyone is free to take and/or leave books in the library now. The library will be registered and listed online at www.littlefreelibrary.org in the next few weeks.
Mark Your Calendars!
Kids day at Emigrant Lake Water Slides! Sunday, July 24, depart at 11 a.m. and return at 3 p.m. Grades 1-6
Cost is $7. See Drew Krupp or Patsy Burton for information.
Talent Friends Church Extends an Invitation for kids ages 5 to 12 to attend a Fun 5 Day Club, sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship July 25-29, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 50 Talent Ave. in Talent! If you have questions, contact Kathy at 541-531-5459.
Ladies Tea Event
All ladies are invited to participate in a tea on Saturday,
July 30th, at the Teeny Tiny Tea Cottage, 427 E. Pine St. in Central Point. Cost: $18 plus tip Time: 11:30 a.m.
RSVP: Terrie Ziemann (541) 664-3828. Please RSVP by 7/22.
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