The Pastor’s Blog
Ladies Fellowship Group
We will meet on April 2nd, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be at the home of Glenda Workman. All ladies are invited and welcome to join us for sharing & caring fellowship.
ALL CHURCH BUSINESS MEETING
Sunday, April 14th there will be an all church business meeting to consider the proposed budget for 2013. We will meet in the sanctuary that day after worship. Sunday School will follow the meeting.
FWMF (Friends Women Missionary Fellowship)
All ladies are welcome to join us at MFC, in the fireside room Thursday, April 18th, at 10 a.m. A buffet luncheon will follow the meeting. Our time together is spent in fellowship and learning about the work of our missionaries, their needs and the people to whom they minister.
Rogue Valley Children’s Ministry Conference April 19-20, 2013 – Leaving a Legacy
At First Baptist Church, 649 Crater Lake Ave.
28 Workshops to choose from, for more information and to register go on line at www.rvcmn.org
All Church Potluck – Sunday, April 21st
Everyone is invited to join us in the fellowship hall following Sunday School and Bible Study, Bring your favorite potluck main dish, and a salad, vegetable or dessert, enough to feed eight people.
Planet Wisdom – Youth Ministry Conference
Bay Area, CA – April 26-28, 2013 Sign up in Ross Chapel. If you have questions contact Dave Gomez.
All Ladies are Invited to the Friends Women Southern Oregon Area Spring Rally 2013
Hosted by Talent Friends at TFC Saturday, April 27th, 10:30 a.m.
From February into May annual area spring rally events are being held throughout the yearly meeting. The event is intended to provide a time of encouragement and inspiration for all the women of the church not just active members of the local FWMF & FWF organizations. You are encouraged to join us for a time of enriching fellowship.
Theme: Footsteps of Faith – following forward as God leads us in the steps of those who served before
Speaker: Linda Grimms from Salem, OR Clerk of NWYM Board of Global Outreach
Offering: Remembering the Past – Nancy Thomas will help write the history of Bolivian Friends.
Following Forward – help with travel expenses for Tami Cammack to visit an EFM field with husband, Dan.
Coming Next Month!
Camp Auction 2013 – Wednesday, May 15th
Annual Camp Auction, it’s not too early to be thinking about what you can offer for the auction to help with the cost of camp and other youth activities.
Twin Rocks Camp Brochures are here and are full of camp information! Pick up a copy from the usher’s table in the foyer at MFC.
Girls Camp pre-registered by June 14, cost is $226.
Boys Camp pre-registered by June 28, cost is $226.
Tween Camp pre-registered by June 21, cost is $288.
Surfside Camp pre-registered by July 19, cost is $288.
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Home Study for April 1 thrugh 6, 2013
Monday – I Corinthians 15:1-11
To whom and how many did Jesus appear after the resurrection?
Why is this important?
How powerful was God’s grace in Paul’s life?
How powerful is God’s grace in your life?
Tuesday – Read Ephesians 1:15-22
What power does Jesus work in the lives of those who believe in Him?
What hope does that give you?
Why don’t we live more fully in that power?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read Ephesians 2:1-10
What is our condition in our sin?
How are we made alive?
Why is it important to realize that we are saved by God’s grace and not our works?
How should this impact how we relate to God? To others?
How does this challenge you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read Ephesians 3:14-21
What aspect of this prayer is most surprising to you?
What aspect of this prayer is most encouraging to you?
Take time to pray this prayer for yourself, for people you know and for our church.
Friday – Read Philippians 3:7-11
What does Paul say was the most important thing in his life?
What did Paul want to know most of all? Why?
What was his ultimate hope (see verse 11)?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read John 5:1-15
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A few weeks back the footrest springs on my recliner broke and over the next couple of days I spent quite a bit of time trying to locate where I could find replacements. After what I thought was an exhaustive search online, using every combination of search terms I could think of, I finally found a place where I could buy a set a springs that were just a little longer than what I needed, so I purchased them hoping they would work.
Before installing the new springs I did an online search on how to install them and wouldn’t you know, in addition to having installation pictures, one of the recommended sites specialized in selling the exact springs I needed for my chair!
This experience brought to mind Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Jesus has the answer for everything in our lives and He invites us to come to Him, to be part of the process of discerning and following His will. Does that mean that all of our prayers will be answered the first time? Second? Third? No, because prayer and seeking Jesus’ will is a relationship and a process and as we persevere, seeking His face, Jesus opens our eyes to new understanding, He points us in the direction of His will, and our prayers change to reflect what He is saying to us.
No matter what needs we may have in our lives Jesus holds the answer and we can find His answer as we stay in the process of asking, seeking and knocking, as we seek His face and live our lives fully surrendered to Him.
God’s Grace and Peace,
Mark
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Home Study for March 18 through 23, 2013
Monday – Read Romans 3:23-24 and 5:8
What have we all done?
Why is it important to recognize this truth?
What is the remedy for our sin?
What do you need to do in your relationship with Jesus today?
Tuesday – Read Philippians 2:1-11
According to verse 4, how are we to live?
How did Jesus demonstrate that for us?
What difference has Jesus made in your life?
What difference can you make in the lives of other people?
How is the Holy Spirit challenging you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read Matthew 7:1-5
How would you feel about having God judge you by the same measure that you are tempted to judge other people?
Why is it that humans are incapable of judging fairly?
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read Colossians 3:12-17
What would it take for the people of Jesus to live as we read here?
What would that tell the world about Jesus?
How would the world respond to Jesus?
How does this passage challenge you? What will you do?
Friday – Read II Timothy 2:22-26
How are we to live?
How are we to respond to those who oppose the truth of Jesus?
Why?
In your opinion, has the church of Jesus in the U.S. done this very well? Why do you say that?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Matthew 21:1-11
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