Leaves Just Turning to Fall

Changing Seasons

Leaves Just Turning to Fall

Fall is here! the weather is cooling, the sun is going down way earlier, people are starting to wear sweaters again, soup is a way more popular meal, and pies will be consumed in abundance. Small changes, buit there are big ones coming. The leaves, the dormancy of this winter’s horizon.

Southern Oregon is gifted with four seasons and the changing of those seasons often signals changes in our being. The shift from summer to fall is a time of schedule change: School starting, sports picking back up, events being more common, and ministries around the church re-engaging. In this changing season, I am hoping and praying that more than the outward things are changing.

God is working in our hearts to bring change in us. As Christ followers, there are seasons of change that we go through in our walk with Him. Times of sorrow, or joy. Times of Struggle or celebration. Time when we feel like we are in the valley and times when we feel like we are on top of the mountain.

Each of these seasons is ripe for growth in our spiritual lives, as we walk with Jesus through these moments. What can we learn from Him? Again, my hope is that as things change in our lives, we are being changed by Jesus to more fully be the people He made us to be.


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Taking Time

As we head into the summer, I am considering the things I give my time to more deeply: Work, Family, Friends, Hobbies, and so on. We often use the phrase “taking time” for something. “I am taking time for myself” is most common. Who are we taking that time from? Is it ourselves, our families, our work, our friends, our hobbies? Or is it God? When I “take time” am I taking it from God?
 
I keep turning this over and over in my head, trying to understand the dynamics of time and relationships. If every moment of every day is a gift from God, and I accept that as true, then what is the proper use of that time? Should it be returned to Him? Should I tithe my time? I think in all my time I should work to honor the Lord, for sure. But what does that look like? How do I honor God in my family? In my work? In my friendships and hobbies?
 
Is it simply acknowledging that He is giving me time to engage with these things? Or is it being grateful for the time? A combination? Something more? I think in this whole conversation I end up with more questions than answers. I only hope that as I accept the time given to me by the Lord that I am honoring Him in as many ways as I can in the moments I have, no matter who or how I take that time. I hope the same is true for you.

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Order of Service: May 25th, 2025

Order of Service:

Welcome and Call to Worship
Song: “What a Beautiful Name”
Greeting Time
Song: “Rock of Ages”
Song: “Psalm 5”
Prayer for the Offering
Song: “The Law of the Lord”
Dismiss Koinonia Kids (K-10)
Message — Pastor Jesse Davis
Haggai: A Minor Prophet
Selections from the book of Haggai
Closing Song
Song: “Soon and Very Soon”
Benediction & Open Worship
 
Next Sunday Preview: “Zechariah: A Minor Prophet”
 
Events & Notes

The Fireside Room and Fellowship Hall, as well as FellowSip, are now open starting at 9 a.m. Sunday mornings. Come have some coffee and chit chat before service. Maybe answer the FellowSip question, which changes every week.

  • Prayer Meeting – Mondays at 12 p.m. in room #8 to pray for our community.
  • Homework Assignment: Grab some of the “Pinewood BBQ” flyers from the foyer table and spread them around town. Thank you!
  • Church Work Day – Saturday, May 31st from 9am until 12pm.
 

Friends Women Fellowship invites you to pray for the following:

PRAISE:
 
Pastoral Ministry Partner with EFC Nepal for the building of four new worship centers around Nepal.
Hispanic Friends Missionary Mobilizers for attending a Missionary Cooperation Congress where many nations gathered, intent on spreading the Kingdom of God.
 
PRAY: 
 
Pastoral. Ministry Partner with EFC Nepal for continued revival, growth, and maturity of leaders and believers, a couples seminar, and a leadership retreat.
Hispanic Friends Missionary Mobilizers for their deputations visits, support goals, obedient and sensitive hearts, and much more.
 

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Order of Service, April 27, 2025

Order of Service:

Welcome and Call to Worship
“Crown Him”
Greeting Time
“Blessed Be Your Name”
“How Majestic is Your Name”
Prayer for the Offering
“Strength Will Rise (As We Wait Upon the Lord)”
Koinonia Kids Dismissal (Kindergarten to Middle School)
Message — Pastor Jesse Davis
“Obadiah: A Minor Prophet” Selections from the book of Obadiah
Closing Song
“People Need the Lord”
Benediction & Open Worship
 
BUSINESS MEETING TODAY after Worship.
 
Next Sunday Preview: “Ezekiel: A Major Prophet”
 
Events And Notes:
 
Please Be Aware: The end of the month is the last day for our surplus library books. If you want any of the now FREE surplus books, this is your last chance to get them before they go to the book orphanages around the valley. (Donations of cardboard boxes are quite welcome as well, if you have some. Just leave them neatly stacked in the corner by the Free Book shelves.)
 
The Fireside Room and Fellowship Hall, as well as FellowSip, are now open starting a 9am Sunday mornings. Come have some coffee and chit chat before service. Maybe answer the FellowSip Question, which changes every week.
 
Prayer Meeting — Mondays at Noon in Conference Room 8. Come pray for our neighbors and community.
 
Breakfast & Bibles — Saturday, May 3rd. Breakfast 8am to 9am. Bible Study 9am-10am. RSVP by Circling ‘M’ on your Friendship Sheet.
 
The River — NEXT Sunday, May 4th, join the band in Worship.
 
Friends Women Fellowship invites you to join in prayer and praise for the following:
 
Praise:
 
EFM Office: A Delegation from the Friends churches in Bhutan was able to travel to India to participate in a conference for Friends leaders from the Churches there.
 
EFM Five-Year Goal: The internships about to begin for our Future Missionaries.
 
Pray:
 
EFM Office: For the family in Cambodia and the Mission Mobilizers for Hispanic Friends as they continue deputation in US.
 
EFM Five-Year Goal: “For the Lord to stir the hearts of those participating in this year’s Future Missionary Retreat, May 26-29 at Quaker Ridge Camp in Woodland Park, CO.

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