The Pastor’s Blog
Please Remember – Operation Christmas Child 2012
The Power of a Simple Gift! Gift boxes need to be returned to the church by Wednesday November 14th. Be sure to include a donation of $7.00 per box to cover the shipping costs. Please pray that God will touch the heart of every child who receives a shoe box gift!
Thanksgiving Baskets This year we will be providing a holiday meal for people and families in need at Thanksgiving rather than Christmas. If you would like to help we could use non-perishable holiday meal food items and cash gifts to purchase meat. You may place your food donations in the blue barrel in the main hallway and you may designate your gifts “Thanksgiving meals.” Please have your donations to the church by November 11. For questions you may contact Beth Knorr at 541-261-0642 or at knorrmal@gmail.com.
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FWMF Annual Bazaar with Soup & Pie Luncheon Saturday, November 17th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The FWMF sponsored baked goods/crafts and miscellaneous annual bazaar is the primary source of funds for supporting the Friends Women’s Yearly Meeting mission’s projects and selected local area outreach ministries.
You are invited to partner with the ladies by providing items: baked goods, pies & candies of all kinds & hand crafted items. Reminders: A receiving station will be set up in the library area at MFC Nov. 4th & 11th (following the worship service) for you to turn in non-perishable contributions. Please price your items. “New to You” items will be received later. If you are planning to provide pie for the luncheon please sign up at the receiving station Nov. 4th, to help us be certain we have an adequate amount. (Anticipated need is 12-15.) Items Needed: 3 or 4 card tables, 1 large ice-chest (labeled with your name) and youth group volunteers to help serve during the luncheon. New this year: To help support our youth, the specialty coffee counter will be open from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thank you, Curtis Garrett. If you have questions or would like to assist with the bazaar contact Nadine Brood or Donnalee Archibald.
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MFC Ladies Meetings
Ladies Fellowship Meeting – Tuesday, November 13th All ladies are invited and welcome to join us at Dawn DuLong’s for sharing & caring fellowship at 7 p.m.
FWMF Meeting –Thursday, November 15th All ladies are welcome to join us at MFC, Thursday, November 15th, at 10 a.m. A luncheon follows our meeting.
All Church Thanksgiving Dinner Sunday, November 18, 2012
As a means of saying thank you for all of the ways that we have helped their ministry, the Polynation Fellowship is joining us for worship on November 18 and is preparing for us a traditional Polynesian meal so we may give thanks to God together. Please to be there to share in this special time of worship, fellowship and meal!
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The theme verse for November should be
I Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
If we ever find ourselves in a place where we don’t know God’s will for us, a good way to find our way into His will is by giving Him thanks. But how does this work if we aren’t feeling particularly thankful? If we are living for Jesus and we don’t know why we should give Him thanks we must be looking in the wrong places and at the wrong things.
Recently I was getting out of a drawer the stuff I use to clean my glasses. When I looked on the counter I couldn’t find the cloth I knew I had grabbed. Thinking it must have fallen back into the drawer I searched the drawer, picking up everything, but I still couldn’t find it.
Not finding that cloth, I grabbed another and after I was done I put everything back in the drawer. When I closed the drawer I had to laugh because it was then that I spotted the missing cloth lying on the floor directly under the open drawer. I couldn’t see it because I was looking in the wrong place and by looking in the wrong place I had kept the right place hidden from view.
Often times, when we can’t think of any reason to give God thanks it’s because we are looking in the wrong places. We are looking for what we want God to do and when we aren’t seeing that we miss out on everything else that He is doing.
Take time this month to remember who God is and all that He has done in your life. And challenge yourself take time to think beyond the obvious so you may discover even more reasons to give God thanks.
With Thanksgiving,
Mark
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Home Study for November 5 through 10, 2012
Monday – Read James 1:19-26
Why are we called to be slow to anger and slow to speak?
What do we receive when we both know and do God’s word?
What does this tell us about the importance of studying and knowing God’s word?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Tuesday – Read James 4:13-17
Why does living by our own plan have so little lasting impact?
How does James describe our efforts to direct our own lives?
Do you think that’s true?
How can we be sure that we know and are following God’s will?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read Matthew 14:22-33
Why could Peter walk on water?
Why did he start to sink? How does that apply to us?
What has Jesus called you to do?
What will allow you to do that for Him?
Thursday – Read acts 13:1-5
How did the believers here discern God’s will?
How did they respond to His leading?
In whose power did Saul/Paul and Barnabas minister?
When we seek and follow God’s will, in whose power may we minster and live?
What is God saying to you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read Matthew 22:15-22
What is Jesus saying to you through these verses?
What in your life belongs to God?
Have you given it to Him?
What does God want to do through your life in these days?
Is there anything you need to give to God today?
Saturday – Read Nehemiah 3:1-32
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Home Study for October 29 through November 3, 2012
Monday – Read Isaiah 46:8-11
Who can stand against God’s plans?
If we want to succeed in what we do, whose plan should we seek and follow?
How can we know God’s plan?
What is God saying that He wants to do in or through you?
Tuesday – Read Jeremiah 29:4-14
This is God’s word to His people in exile.
Why would God have the exile seek the peace and prosperity of the empire who is holding them captive? What message is there for us?
How can we know God’s plan for our lives?
What hope does this give you?
Wednesday – Read Psalm 66:16-20 and Isaiah 59:1-2
What can be a barrier to our communication with God?
What can we do to remove that barrier?
What is God saying to you about your relationship with Him?
How will you respond?
Thursday – Read Psalm 27:7-14
What qualities of the Lord do we find recounted here?
In what did David, the author on this psalm, find confidence?
In whom, what or where do you find confidence in your life?
What is this passage saying to you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read Psalm 103:8-13 and I John 1:8-9
What characteristics of God are mentioned here?
What does God do with our sin when we confess it to Him?
How is this good news?
What do you need God to do in you today? Ask Him.
Who do you need to tell about God’s forgiveness?
Ask Him to give you opportunity to do so?
Saturday – Read Nehemiah 2:11-20
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