The Pastor’s Blog
FROM THE DESK OF JESSE DAVIS January. It is a month of new beginnings. We make resolutions to start the New Year right. We decide that we are going to live differently this year! As a church we have made that decision to live differently. We have a new pastor and are going to be doing things a little differently in the coming years. Who we are does not change, we are still going to be the Body of Christ. What we do does not change, we are still going to love people and honor God in all we do. How we do things is going to change, a little bit to start with and maybe more than we are all comfortable with in the end.
We do not have to be afraid of the coming year. God is at work today and we are going to be a part of that work. He wants us to take part in the redemption of this city. How can we say no to that? The opportunity that God is giving us in the coming year is to seek out new ways of connecting with people and building relationships which will impact lives for the Kingdom. As we build on the foundation that we have here we have a major advantage. We know this city. We know its people and its culture. We can use what we know to further the Gospel in this place if only we will offer our days to Jesus.
Over the coming months we are going to be looking at the Gospel of Matthew and who Jesus is. We are going to study this because there is no better way to see how a group of people can impact their surroundings by learning from Jesus than reading about the disciples and their Teacher. Please continue to be involved with this process of learning and growing with us here on Sunday’s and throughout the week so that we can impact this community for Christ.
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Home Study for January 5 through 10, 2015
Monday – Read I John 1:5-10
Why does John say that we deceive ourselves if we claim to be without sin?
How may we be forgiven and cleansed?
Is there any sin God won’t forgive when we confess it?
Are there any sins that you need to confess so you may be sure that you are
forgiven and cleansed? Take time to do that.
Tuesday – Read Psalm 103:12-13 and Jeremiah 31:34
How completely does God forgive our sins?
What confidence does this give you as you come to Him to be forgiven and
cleansed?
Give God thanks for being so forgiving.
Wednesday – Read Romans 8:26-28
Why does God work all things for good in the lives of those who love and
serve Him?
How can He do this?
When is a time that you saw God work good out of a painful or difficult time
in your life? What did that do for your faith?
What is God saying to you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read Romans 12:1-2
How does submitting our hearts and lives to God as an act of worship and
help us to know His will?
How does knowing God’s will help us live in the present and the future?
How do these verses encourage/ challenge you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read Isaiah 40:21-26
What do these verses tell us about God?
What do they tell us about the things of men?
What hope do these verses give us as we face problems?
Saturday – Read Isaiah 42:5-9
How does this promise apply to us as God’s people today?
What hope does this give you for the ways God wants to work in and through
our lives as His people and His church?
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Thank You from Mark and Patsy
Thank you for all of the cards, prayers, gifts and words of love and encouragement as Mark embarks on his retirement. It has been an honor, privilege and joy to serve Jesus with you for over 24 years as pastors of Medford Friends Church. Through the years we have experienced great joy, trusted God through great challenges and grown through all we have faced. We have been incredibly blessed by being part of this church family and as we are gone for a time, please know that our love and prayers will always be with you.
We take joy in knowing that as we step down everyone will be praying for Jesse Davis as he assumes the role of pastor and that he will be shown the same love, grace and acceptance that was so generously shared with us and our family.
Sunday, January 4, 2015 – Farewell for Mark and Patsy Burton.
There will be a time of fellowship following worship. Please bring finger foods to share. No Sunday School that day.
Sunday, January 11, 2015 – Welcome Pastor Jesse Davis
Jesse will be installed and deliver his first sermon as our new pastor. There will be a time of fellowship after worship. No Sunday School. Please bring finger foods to share.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Stan & Earlene Schlosser will share about their recent Medical Mission Trip to Malawi.
There will be a presentation with pictures, lots of fun stories and souvenirs! All adult Sunday School classes will gather together for this time.
All Church Potluck Sunday, January 18th
Please join us for a time of fellowship and good food! We’ll meet in the fellowship hall at noon, following Stan & Earlene’s time of sharing. Please bring a main dish and salad, vegetable or dessert to share.
Women Fellowship Group All ladies are invited and welcome to join us for sharing & caring fellowship on January 6th at 7 p.m. at the home of Denise Fleming, Cindi Garrett will be co-hostess.
Friends Women Missionary Fellowship Group The next meeting will be January15, 2015, 10 a.m., in the fireside room with a buffet lunch at the close of the meeting. All ladies are welcome.
Wednesday Night Bible Study will resume January 14th, the study by Max Lucado dealing with finding help and hope in difficult times is based on the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis. There are two remaining subjects, “Now, About Those Family Scandals and Scoundrels” and “God Can Use This for Good.” The Study begins at 7 p.m. and everyone is welcome.
In honor of Mark’s 24 years of ministry at MFC, the church has made a donation to the Friendly Water for the World Ministry. If you would like more information, or would like to make a personal donation in Mark’s honor you can do so at friendlywaterfortheworld.com. or to Friendly Water for the World, mailing address: David H. Albert, 1717 18th Court NE,Olympia WA 98506
Financial Report
December 2014 Year-to-date
Income $20,892.99 $198,898.36
Expenses 12,798.22 190,234.35
Difference 7,954.77 8,664.01
We are thankful for God’s generous provision to us and for of the ways that everyone contributes to the ministries of Medford Friends.
Thank You from the Staff Thank you from the Burton, Wilson and Garrett families for all of the cards, gifts and the cash gifts shared with us throughout the Christmas season. It is a joy to worship and serve Jesus with all of you, our church family.
Thank you from Glenn Archibald, Sr. Thank you so much for the outpouring of caring concerns, prayers, and cards of encouragement during this time of Donnalee’s illness. God has blessed us with a wonderful church family.
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The year is 2015. Back in 1989, in the movie “Back to the Future II,” the main characters, Doc Brown and Marty McFly, traveled forward in time from the year 1985 to 30 years in the future, 2015. The movie version of 2015 had among other things, hover boards, flying cars, shoes that affixed at the push of a button, and 3-D billboards. In 1989, 2015 seemed like a long way off and yet, here we are.
Most of what the writers and director of the movie envisioned for 2015 hasn’t yet happened but that doesn’t mean that the world hasn’t changed since 1989. We don’t have to look too far to see smart phones and watches, laptop computers and cars filled with technology that we never dreamed of in 1989. But even so, life isn’t really so much different than it was in 1989.
One way I hope that our lives aren’t the same as they were in previous years is in our relationship with Jesus. Jesus never intended for our relationship with Him to be static, stagnant or unchanging. From scripture we see that our faith and relationship with Jesus are to grow, mature and produce fruit for God’s kingdom. What that looks like is different for each one of us, but the one thing that is common for all of us is continued growth in our knowledge of Jesus and in our relationship with Him.
As 2015 unfolds, may we find ourselves growing in our understanding of who Jesus is, growing in our faith in Him in every area of our lives and growing in the joy we have as we live in the love and power of Jesus. The year 2015 may not be like the movies, but as we grow with Jesus it will be much greater than anyone ever guessed.
God’s Grace and Peace,
Mark
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