Annual Ladies Ornament Exchange Friday, December 4^th @ 6:30 p.m.

Ladies, please join us for a celebration of Christ’s Birth. Share in the joy and laughter as we fellowship together, interact with the story of the First Christmas, and exchange ornaments.  Bring the special women in your life, a wrapped ornament, and a favorite holiday treat to share.

The Activities Committee Meeting will meet Sunday, December 6^th, following Sunday School at MFC.

Our Giving Tree is located in the foyer!

Like we did last year, we are asking for a variety of gift cards that can be given to people and families in need this Christmas season and throughout the year as needs arise. You can use the envelopes on the tree or just bring in your gift cards on a Sunday morning. Cards from stores like Target, Walmart and Fred Meyer will provide the greatest options to meet a variety of needs. Thank you for your donations.

FWMF (Friends Women Missionary Fellowship)

“Thank You” for your faithful and generous support of our baked goods events, the November sales amounted to $214, which brings the 2015 year-end total support to $518. Funds raised go toward Friends Serving/Teaching Abroad as well as our local church and community. We will not meet in December. Our next meeting will be 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 21st, at the church. FWMF is open to all ladies of the church. If you are interested in attending but need a ride, contact Lena Anderson.

Christmas Eve Service  “Come as you are Family Celebration”

Please join us in the sanctuary Thursday evening, December 24^th, at 5 p.m.

Thursday, December 31^st, 6:30 p.m. to ??  New Year’s Eve White Elephant Gift Exchange

Welcome in the New Year!  Join us at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall for a fun time. Bring a wrapped white elephant gift for the exchange game, board games and finger foods to share. (If you plan to stay late bring extra munchie foods!)

Just a reminder!  Year-end gifts must be received at the church by Wednesday, December 29, 2015, so they can be deposited in the bank, to be reflected in your 2015 giving report. Thank you.

Operation Christmas Child

Each Shoebox is a Missionary!  Children in 118 countries receive shoebox gifts. We filled 26 boxes last season. Let’s be a blessing and meet or beat that number of boxes!

Printed Operation Christmas Child boxes are available on the table in the main hallway (or any standard size shoebox will work as well). There are instruction pamphlets with gift suggestions for filling the boxes, be sure to take note!  Please remember to include $7 or more with each shoebox to help with shipping and other expenses.  

Filled boxes should be returned to MFC no later than November 18th, so they can be taken to the drop off center.

You are invited:  Saturday, November 14, 2015 You are invited to join Drew and Ashley Krupp in the celebration of their marriage! A reception will be held at Medford Friends Church from 1 to 5 p.m. In lieu of gifts a money tree will be available.  Please RSVP to drewkrupp@live.com.

All Church Potluck Sunday November 15^th

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. 1 Chronicles 16: 34

This potluck will have a Thanksgiving theme! Join together with your church family, as we count our blessings! We will meet in the fellowship hall following the Sunday School & Bible Study hour. Please bring generous side dishes and desserts that compliment a festive holiday dinner!  Turkey and ham will be provided.

FWMF (Friends Women Missionary Fellowship)

All ladies are welcome to join us Thursday, November 19^th at 10 a.m. We will meet at the home of Charlotte Grigsby (directions will be provided.) FWMF is open to all ladies of the church. If you are interested in attending but need a ride, contact Lena Anderson.

FWMF Harvest Baked Goods Event – Sunday, November 22^nd

Need help with your Thanksgiving baking? Take advantage of this full-line bake event offering the usual plus both quick and yeast breads/rolls, and desserts, pies and candy. Proceeds help provide special needs of our Friends Serving/Teaching Abroad as well as support our own local church and community.

NWYM 2015 Thanksgiving Offering will focus on our ministry in the Middle East in Ramallah. Our FSA and FTS folks have been invited to help make the Friends English Cafe a center of Friends’ deepening involvement and a forum for ongoing learning, service, and growth for young adults. More information to come in a bulletin insert soon. We will take this offering on Sunday, November 22^nd.

Jim and Joan Redford to renew their wedding vows on Sunday, November 29, 2015 at MFC during the worship service. At the fellowship time there will be cake served in honor of the couple’s commitment of 50 years together and many more to come! Please join us in celebration.

MFC Activity Survey

The Activities Committee wants to gauge interest in an idea we've had for dinner gatherings in 2016. Simply put, the idea is to match up dinner hosts with dinner guests. Read on for details.

Hosting – Make a main dish for up to 8 people (including your family) and serve it at your house. Choose a day and a time which works best for you.

Guesting – Make a side dish or dessert for up to 8 people to complement the main dish.

The survey will be in the bulletin on 11/1, 11/8 and 11/15. Pick one up, fill it out and drop it in the offering or the box in the foyer by November 29^th.

The Activities Committee has a Family Movie Night Planned for Sunday, November 8^th, at 6 p.m.

Watch for more information!

Annual Ladies Ornament Exchange – Friday, December 4^th @ 6:30 p.m. All ladies are welcome to join at us at MFC for this festive event!  Bring a wrapped ornament and a favorite holiday goodie to share.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month.

All Church Progressive Soup Potluck,  Saturday, October 10^th

Carpooling is a must because of limited parking! Meet at the church at 3: 45 p.m.  Please circle “P’’’ on the back of the Information sheet in Sunday’s bulletin if you plan to attend.  Missed the ride?  Soup will be served around 5:45 p.m. at the church.

Continental Breakfast & Workday at MFC  Saturday, October 17, at 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

There will be a continental breakfast to start off the workday at 8 a.m. Mark your calendar now and join us, many hands will make the work load lighter! 

Friends Women Missionary Fellowship will meet Thursday, October 15^th, at 10 a.m. we’ll meet in the fireside room. All ladies are invited to join in our meetings when you can or just come for lunch fellowship at noon. 

Operation Christmas Child

Each Shoebox is a Missionary!  Children in 118 countries receive shoebox gifts. Last year we filled 26 boxes, let’s meet or beat that amount this year!

Printed Operation Christmas Child boxes will soon be available or any standard size shoebox will work as well. A table will be set up with all the information you need! Please remember to include $7 or more with each shoebox to help with shipping and other expenses.

MFC 1^st ANNUAL SCAVENGER HUNT

Theme:  The Total Armor of God

Remember, there will be a 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prize!

 Find the passage that contains all the pieces of the Full Armor of God.

All items can come from anywhere but cannot be bought, ever purchased, or machine made, manufactured or the “real” thing. In other words can only be something scavenged from nature, litter, “God” made etc. You can use discarded premade items i.e. bottle caps, foil, etc. (get the idea?)  The “TOTAL ARMOR OF GOD” must be in the entry. (no missing parts) for it to be entered.

Your entry of the “Total Armor of God” must be turned in to the church office no later than October 8^th. Entries will be voted on and the winners announced at our 73^rd Anniversary All Church Potluck Celebration, Sunday, October 18, 2015.

Contact Terry DuLong if you have questions.

MFC Celebrating 73 Years – All Church Potluck Sunday, October 18^th   

Please join us for a time of celebration, fellowship and good food! We will meet in the fellowship hall following the Sunday School & Bible Study hour. Please bring your favorite potluck main dish, and a salad, vegetable, enough to feed eight people. Cake will be provided for dessert.

MFC’s Food Pantry

We have helped many needy people with bags of groceries during the summer months. We would appreciate your help in replenishing the shelves of our food pantry with canned meats, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, canned fruits, juice boxes for kids, soups, chili, noodles, boxed noodle or rice meals, & cereals.  We have plenty of canned vegetables.  Items that can’t be purchased with food stamps are also helpful. Place your donations in the designated food barrel in the main hallway. Thank you.

Just A Reminder

Sunday, November 1^st Daylight Savings Time Ends.

Be sure to set your clocks back 1 hour Saturday night, October 31st.

MFC 1^st ANNUAL SCAVENGER HUNT

Theme:  The Total Armor of God

1.  First-Find the passage that contains all the pieces of the Full Armor of God.

2. Take a collection bucket, bag, shopping cart, or whatever to collect the items in. These items can be big, small, trimmed up or used as is.

3.  All items must come from anywhere but cannot be bought, ever purchased, or machine made, manufactured or the “real” thing. In other words can only be something scavenged from nature, litter, “God” made etc. You can use discarded premade items i.e. bottle caps, foil, etc. (get the idea?)

4.  You must then take all your items and trim, shape, layer, bend or just as you found it and build a poster, picture, or collage with them and enter it in our upcoming October Pot Luck for all to judge and vote on the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prize winners. The “TOTAL  ARMOUR OF GOD” must be in the entry. (no missing parts) for it to be entered. Prizes to be determined.

Sound like fun? Well Wait, There's More!

We will take a little trip Sunday afternoon Sept. 20, to Union Creek. Van will be provided. Sign up on the information sheet, circle “S” for Scavenger. Bring back all your goodies and let the Artiste in you do the rest. Turn in your entries no later than October 8^th. They can be stored in the empty office at MFC behind Terry’s office.