New Life
Guys! We have a son! The last two weeks have been amazing. We have totally fallen in love with this little guy. He is so special to us already. Grayson is a gift for us in this time of isolation and social distance. He reminds us of how new life works. We need someone to take care of us when we first come to Christ. Someone to guide us and help us get brought those first years of learning how to be. That is one of the blessings of the church. That we have older believers to show us the way and help us walk in it. We are blessed by God’s wisdom in calling us to childlike faith in the way we need others to help us on the journey. It teaches us humility and reliance on others. It also helps us learn the natural way of discipleship. I hope that you are still reaching out to your spiritual children in this time, connecting with them and helping them learn to walk in the way that they should!
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April Touchstone
From the Elders at MFC
We continue to pray for our body, our state and our nation. We look forward to the time it is safe to meet together. Until then may our Lord bless and keep each of you.
Please follow the link for our YouTube Channel.
We are posting sermons there. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lwRolYmMdWg-ISGlCYb0w
Evangelical Friends Mission 2020 Easter Offering “Together to the Ends of the Earth”
EFM’s Executive Director Dan Cammack wrote about this year’s offering saying, “The purpose and passion is to fuel a worldwide movement of people who seek first the kingdom of God, planting churches that live and die to carry out the Great commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment. LET’S GO TOGETHER TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!” You can access Dan’s letter and more information about the 2020 Easter Offering at www.friendsmission.com/easteroffering.
Although we cannot meet together at this time, we can still prayerfully give to this year’s Easter Offering. You can mail your offering directly to EFM, P.O. Box 771139 Wichita, KS 67277.
Postponed Date for Friends Women Spring Rally
In keeping with the group gathering restrictions being extended through April, the Spring Rally is now projected for the later half of May or early June if a satisfactory date can be determined.
We look forward to hearing from Nancy Thomas who has served with her husband, Hal, among the Bolivian Aymara people since 1972. Her expertise was theological education and training of aspiring local writers. She will share from these experiences and the recently completed five year project of research and writing of the NWYM-Bolivian Friends Church story in the context of the rally theme “Beyond Fear…the next step – Be Strong and Courageous” (Deut. 31:6&8) Nancy is also published poet and will read for us one or tow of her original works. Her husband, Hal, will present a brief update report of the status of NWYM’s Men’s matching fund cooperation with the Bolivia Friends Mission program.
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In a Changing World – Trust God
The past week has been a changing world full of
unknowns in a time in my life where unknowns
abound, waiting for our bundle of joy to join us in the
next month. I jokingly told Jesse I just needed to
rearrange the bedroom furniture today so I could be
“in control” of something in my life. But really, I am
thankful for a Lord and Savior who is in charge and
has total control in the midst of what seems to us as
chaos. I don’t need to have control or function from
the need to restore order. Even more so my norms
are turned on their head. For the homebody in me, I
have been gently reminded to cherish moments
outside the home. For the introvert, I am made
increasingly aware of the need for fellowship and
communion with others. I am grateful for technology
and how even though we can be so isolated at times,
we are able to connect even on a virtual level – to my
mom across town, to many of you, and even abroad
to Mexico and Honduras where ones I love are living!
I am taken out of the rut I get myself into of everyday
living and am awoken in a new way – seeing life
through different eyes. Jesse looked at Elijah last
week and how his encounter with God proves He can
overcome any obstacle. As we look to Ezekiel this
weekend and the amazing unexplainable life brought
into dry dead bones, I am reminded of my own
encounters with a restorative, transformative and
overcoming faithful Father. I am encouraged to step
out and trust the God who has complete control and
to just to rest in His presence.
Our prayer for you this week is the same. Open eyes to
a glorious, powerful, present Father whose greatest
desire is to meet you this week and to pour out His love,
peace and goodness on you as you trust in Him to being
order to the disorder. Know you are loved and prayed
for.
We love each of you,
Emily and Jesse
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Sermon Video
Please follow the link for our Youtube Channel. We will be posting Sermons here and hopefully live streaming them starting soon!
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Hello Friends and Family,
Unfortunately, we need to cancel William’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor.
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William Anderson’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor – March 28th at MFC
The Anderson family invites our Medford Friends family to William Anderson’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Saturday, March 28th at 2:00pm. The ceremony will be held in the Fellowship Hall. Watch for updated information.
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COVID-19 response
Medford Friends Church will not be having Sunday Worship March 15th, 22nd, or 29th due to new measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control. (see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html)
We are hoping to hold Service as regular on April 5th but will continue to function under the recommendations of the CDC.
Pastor Jesse will still be in the office and can speak with you over the phone or in person if you come by or wish to schedule a visit.
Please be in prayer for our city, state, and national leaders as they work to combat and contain this disease.
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- Just A Reminder Sunday, March 8th Daylight Saving Time Begins. Be sure to set your clocks ahead 1-hour Saturday night, March 7th.
Everence Wednesday Webinars to Continue – Come join us for one or more of our upcoming webinars. We will meet in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. each Wednesday. See the flyer in the Sunday bulletin for more information about each week’s topic.
March 11th Enough-ness Finding contentment & learning to live in it
March 18th The ABCs & 123s of Donor Advised Funds
March 25th Master your student loans
April 1st Kingdom finances and you
Thank you to Charlie & Judy Swingle for taking time to make this information available for us.
Friends Women Fellowship Meeting – The ladies meet on Thursday, March 19th, 10:30 a.m. at MFC. All ladies are welcome. Lunch will follow the meeting.
All Church Potluck – Please join us Sunday, March 15th, for our all church potluck! We always have a great time of fellowship and good food. We’ll meet in the fellowship hall at noon. Bring a main dish and salad, vegetable or dessert to share.
Baby Shower for Emily, Jesse and their New Little One. Please join us Sunday, March 22nd after church for this celebration! We are suggesting Gift Cards or $$ as they are using special cloth diapers and also need to make some purchases of other items. (They are registered at Target and on Amazon.) If you have questions please contact Terrie Ziemann or Dawn DuLong.
We will hold an Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday, Sunday, April 12th. Your donations of bags of individually wrapped candy that will fit in small plastic eggs are welcome and much appreciated for this fun event. There is a box in the main hallway to place your candy donations in on Sundays. Thank you!
Southern Oregon Area Spring Missions Rally sponsored by Friends Women will take place at Medford Friends Church on Saturday, April 25th at 10 a.m. Theme: “Beyond Fear…Be Strong and Courageous” Deuteronomy 31: 6 and 8 Speaker: Nancy Thomas, researcher and author of the recently published book “a Long Walk, a Gradual Ascent” the story of the Bolivian Friends Church in its Context of Conflict. See information on Nancy’s book posted on the bulletin board in the main hallway.
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Give it up for Jesus
As we head into the Lent season and look forward to Easter I want to share about the gift of Jesus’ death. Lent is a season where we acknowledge what Christ has given up for us by giving up something for Him. Typically, it is something costly. Many people change their diets for lent, or give up fast food, or some activity that is precious to them. Christ gave up the security of heaven for us. He came to live as a Human and suffer all the things that we do because of the curse of sin. He came to conquer sin by living a perfect life and dying a perfect death for us so that we can now be under His covering and have restored relationship with God. Lent is a reflection on this gift from Jesus. Those things that people give up are symbols and reminders of the selfless giving that Christ offer to us. He gave up everything for US: People broken by sin, opposed to His ways, and distant from Him in every way. He made a way for restored relationship by building a bridge to God through the Cross and the Empty Tomb. What a powerful gift.
As we head into this season, what might God be calling you to give up for this season? What powerful gift can you give to God? Is it devotion? Is it prayer? Is it worship? Is it a relationship that needs to be submitted to His will? Ask God what would be a good thing to give up and I am sure that He will answer you.
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Friends Women Fellowship
It’s almost here! February 9th is the next opportunity presented by Friends Women Fellowship to enjoy fresh home baked goodies and sweet treats. Funds received (priced by donation) help support those who represent us through the joined work of NWYM Board of Global Outreach and EFM (evangelical friends Mission-North America), in taking the Good News around the world and at home.
Webinar Wednesdays from Everence
Everence will hold webinars on financial planning for your future, Each Wednesday at 11 a.m. these webinars will be made available to you at MFC, if you are interested please contact Charlie Swingle. There will be flyers in your Sunday bulletins with further information on each topic.
Mark Your Calendar! The annual So. Oregon Area Spring Missions Rally, sponsored by Friends Women is projected for Saturday April 25th, to be held at MFC. Volunteers to help with various program elements are encouraged, please contact Nadine Brood. Keep watch for further details.
FWF February meeting for business: Thursday, February 25th, 10:30 a.m., we will meet in the classroom behind the kitchen. Lunch fellowship at Wendy’s following the meeting. All ladies are welcome from the start or just for lunch.
All Church Potluck
Please join us Sunday, February 16th, 2020 for our all church potluck! We always have a great time of fellowship and good food. We’ll meet in the fellowship hall at noon. Bring a main dish and salad, vegetable or dessert to share.
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