Order of Service, April 27, 2025
Order of Service:
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Even If You Don’t Follow, You Are Still Being Led
We like to imagine ourselves as independent. Masters of our own fate. In control. Even in our spiritual lives, we may pride ourselves on how well we follow the Light, how earnestly we seek God’s will, how obediently we walk the path laid before us.
But what about when we’re not so good at following?
What about the days when we’re distracted, discouraged, or even defiant—when we stray, stumble, or sit down entirely, arms folded, muttering, “I don’t feel like it today”?
Here is a grace too often overlooked: Even then, we are still being led.
The Psalmist writes, “If I make my bed in the depths, You are there” (Psalm 139:8). The truth is, God’s presence doesn’t waver when our attention does. The Spirit does not stop leading just because we’ve temporarily taken a detour to “do things our own way” (which, historically, has mixed results).
The early Friends spoke often of “the Light that enlightens every person.” That Light is not conditional. It does not flicker out because we looked away. It does not retreat when we wander. The Light shines in the darkness—and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).
Sometimes we learn more from our detours than we do from our discipline. Sometimes being led means being guided gently back after we’ve lost the trail. Other times it means God simply walks beside us as we sit in our confusion, or waits patiently while we attempt to solve our spiritual lives with spreadsheets.
To be led doesn’t always feel like movement. Sometimes it feels like stillness. Like silence. Like nothing at all.
(Also, sometimes it feels like standing in the kitchen, staring into the fridge, hoping the Holy Spirit will tell you what’s for dinner.)
But here’s the quiet truth that holds us together: God is still leading. Always.
So even when you don’t know the way—or aren’t walking it—don’t despair. The path is still there. The Shepherd is still calling. And the Light still shines.
You don’t have to have it all together. You don’t have to be a perfect follower. You just have to be willing to listen again. Look again. Be found again.
Because even if you’re not following, you are still being led.
–BC
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Order of Service, March 23, 2025
Order of Service:
Welcome and Call to Worship
Song: “Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down”
Song: “He Is Exalted”
Greeting Time
Hymn #428: “I Need Thee Every Hour”
Song: “How Can I Keep from Singing”
Prayer for the Offering
Hymn #275: How Firm a Foundation”
Koinonia Kids Dismissal (Fellowship Hall)
Today’s Message: “Jeremiah: A Major Prophet” (Selections from the Book of Jeremiah)
Pastor Jesse Davis
Closing Song: “Mighty to Save”
Question for Reflection: Do you live in vital relationship with God, trusting in Jesus Christ as your saving Lord and obeying the leadings of the Holy Spirit? Is Christ’s presence evident in your life?
Benediction & Open Worship
Next Sunday: “Lamentations: A Prophet’s Prophetic Mourning”
Events & Notes:
Mark’s mom, Bobi Burton, went to be with the Lord on Monday morning. Please keep the family in your prayers. Service details to be determined.
Prayer Meeting – Please come join us for Monday Prayer Meeting at Noon in Conference Room 8. We pray for our community and congregation far and wide.
Prayer Group – Tuesday, March 25th at 10 a.m. at the Fields’ home.
The Friends Women Fellowship invites you to join them this week in prayer for the following requests from the EFM prayer letter:
PRAISE:
EFM Office: “For a strong wave of generosity for God’s work as we begin 2025.” And, “For a growing sense that God is at work in our churches, communities, and world.”
EFM Five-Year Goal: “For new potential missionaries who have raised their hand, saying, ‘I’m praying about going!’” And, “For a growing conviction that God will use each local gathering of followers (the local church!) to complete his work both here in local neighborhoods and around the world.”
Our Missionaries in Bangladesh: “That we could start six youth group partnerships with a local disciple-making ministry in January. Pray that these young people will transform so that they will take responsibility for leading their local church.”
PRAY:
EFM Office: “That the Lord would send workers into the harvest from every local congregation (see Luke 10:2). And, “That the Lord would make his people One (see John 20:20- 23).”
EFM Five-Year Goal: “For financial support for several missionary households who are raising funds so that they can either deploy or return to their field of work.”
Our Missionaries in Bangladesh: “An on-field discipleship training and outreach is now going on in one field. Pray that through these on-field training, young people, as well as local church members, will be motivated, challenged, and equipped to multiply churches in Bangladesh.”
Worship in Giving – There’s a time of offering during service. You may mail your offering, or select the “Give” button at the top of this website and enter your information. Thank you.
We would like to join you in prayer or help you in any way we can. To help us do that, we invite you to fill out the contact form on this website or make use of our Prayer Wall in the Menu at the top. Thank you.
We believe in the unity of the body of Christ. To that end, please pray with us this week for Lincoln Road Baptist Church in Grants Pass and our missionaries in Nepal. May our Lord bless these brothers & sisters as they serve Him.
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May Touchstone
Touchstone Newsletter for May 2022
From Jesse Davis
Hyperspeed
Elders Committee Meeting, May 10th, at 6 p.m.
Stewards Committee Meeting, Thursday, May 12th, at 2 p.m. at MFC.
Financial Report for March 2022
February YTD
Income 16916.13 32154.11
Expense 14109.60 29366.47
Difference 2806.53 2787.64
May Birthdays
Josh Nicholson May 1st, Patsy Burton May 2nd, Rich Mann May 3rd, Jesse Davis May 6th, Ilene Ogier and Erica Chan May 8th, Charlie Swingle May 10th, Ashley Krupp May 12th, Amanda Matheisen May 15th, Liam Krupp May 17th, Jim Redford May 19th, Billie Taylor May 25th, Jeremy Hayes May 27th, Phil Chan May 28th, and Phebe Archibald May 31st.
Friends Women – The Friends Women Fellowship regular monthly meeting for business is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11th, at 10:30 a.m. in the conference room unless posted otherwise. This month’s mission history story time features the story of the Bolivian Friends Church highlighting the decade of the 40’s, a time of much conflict (ideology, personality, culture), yet a time of much growth as God’s plan prevailed.
Special Days in May – May 1st is May Day, National Loyalty Day, and Silver Star Service Banner Day. The first week of May – from May 1st to 7th – is National Correctional Officers Week, Public Service Recognition Week, and National Small Business Week. The whole month of May is recognized as Military Appreciation Month. The National Day of Prayer is on May 5th. National Military Spouse Appreciation Day falls on May 6th this year. Mother’s Day is on May 9th. Peace Officers Memorial Day falls on May 15th. This year, May 26th is Ascension Day, commemorating Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven. Memorial Day is May 30th. This is a busy month, with much to celebrate and remember. And a final observance, National Smile Day, tops off the month’s final day, May 31st.
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