The Pastor’s Blog
Yearly Meeting
I spent last week at our annual Yearly Meeting sessions in Newberg at George Fox University. It was great to gather together with so many Friends from our region to work on the business of our church. As we headed into the sessions there was a palpable energy to be felt in the space. Expectation, trepidation, wonder, and hope. We were presented and approved our new super intendent Jim Le Shana. Besides that outstanding news we also had our board meeting and time to learn in workshops presented in the afternoons. Our meal times were great to fellowship and further discussion of the Yearly Meeting business. There were opportunities to pray together and worship was joyful.
One of my favorite parts of my week was spending time with Youth Yearly Meeting participants as part of my role on the Board of Youth and Young Adults. I met with students and another of our board members to talk about their experience of the event and hopes for how it might look going forward. Going forward. It is nice to be able to say that. For the past few years it has felt as though we were stuck. Held to the same discussions and frustrations. We were not a body that was able to speak well to one another always. We often had confrontation and there was a general mistrust of others. People had to determine which “camp” you were a part of. That kind of fractious and tribal activity was not something that we wanted. But when it is clear that two groups were trying to lead and control a space it ended up being obvious that there was a fracture. We acknowledged that brokenness and took steps to free both groups to pursue ministry in the ways they feel led to. That space, that freedom, is what resulted in the hopefulness at our Yearly Meeting sessions.
Looking back is great to show us where we have been but looking forward is the way to get where we want to be. Going forward is what we want to do as a Yearly Meeting. Part of me is wondering how we can participate in that vision and activity as a church in Medford. What our role is in the Yearly Meeting and our area. How can we share the gospel with our community? What does it look like for us to be the church here in our neighborhood? How can we continue to be faithful to the calling of the Lord to be His people and live in His kingdom? What does going forward look like for us?
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Ladies please join us for a baby shower for Janelle Ralph Friday, August 3 @ 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
We will share a light salad buffet and celebrate the blessings of a new baby. Janelle is registered at Target and Amazon. Please note that sensitive skin runs in the family. If you purchase diapers or wipes, please procure from the brands of Seventh Generation Free & Clear, or Babyganics, or Naty. This will make one baby very happy!
40-50 Year Gathering of Friends (late 60’s – 77ish!)
Some may remember Cindy Bateman Damschen. Cindy now resides in Washington and has reserved the MFC fellowship hall for a reunion. They will meet Saturday, August 11th, between 1-5 p.m.
The Bulletin Board in the Main Hallway has a list of current events and projects that we can be a part of showing the love of Christ to others. Be sure to check it out!
We are collecting gift donations for the Shoe Box ministry that we have been a part of in the past. This year we are hoping to fill 200 boxes! We are also raising funds to send those boxes overseas.
Boxes are available in the main hallway if you would like to take one now. We plan to get-together at MFC at a later date and fill boxes as a group project with the donated items. If you have any questions contact Kay Goeres.
The following items should not be included in boxes: no seeds, food, candy, toothpaste, gum, liquids, lotions, vitamins, meds, aerosol cans, anything glass, or war related toys.
Ideas for shoebox gifts are: clothing, shoes, musical instrument, soccer ball with pump, stuffed animal, doll, toy cars, jump ropes, yo-yos, toys that light up & make noise flashlights, (extra batteries are always good), socks, hats, sunglasses, hair clips, jewelry & watches, pens, pencils & sharpeners, crayons, markers, notebooks & paper, coloring & picture books, solar calculator, toothbrushes, bar soap, washcloths & combs.
Many families in the local community cannot afford to provide school supplies for their children and we want to help lighten that burden.
Howard Elementary School Supply List
Supplies that get used all the time and that they run out of the most are: red, blue, yellow & green pocket folders; Ticonderoga brand pencils; 24 count Crayola crayons & Crayola color markers and glue sticks (not white glue).
Other supplies that we’ve given in the past include: pencil top erasers; large erasers; rulers; pencil pouches; notebook paper; pens; solar calculators; 3 ring binders; pocket dividers for binders; 3×5 lined note cards; spiral notebooks; Kleenex tissues and backpacks. We have a box in the main hallway for your donations.
From the Elders: The Foster Parent Association is in need of items for the children's belongings. If you have suitcases, duffel bags or backpacks in good condition that you no longer use, we can share our love by donating. Please bring them to the church for delivery.
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I just got back from a trip to Mexico. I went down with a group to help build a house for a family in extreme need down there. We partnered with YWAM Central Baja to help this family. Four days was what we had scheduled to build a house from the ground up; the foundation was already poured and dry but we were doing the rest. We did the framing of the walls and roof panels, attached the exterior, painted it, and put it all together in four days. Going down there I was a little nervous about how little time we had. Four days isn’t enough time to get a building permit here so how were we gonna build a house in that time? I was amazed at the team and how we all worked together to get this new home built for this family.
As I think about the experiences I had working on the house I am reminded of the beauty of the church. When we all work together and pool our skills we can do things that we never thought possible. What might seem like an impossible task can be accomplished with what we think is not enough. God showed me that if we pull together with Him we can accomplish amazing things.
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Thanks to everyone who made our Camp Auction a success! We have helped with 8 camp scholarships! Evan Hayes is attending Boys Camp July 1-5, Chyna Crossett & Auston Taylor will attend Tween Camp July 15-20, Surfside Camp, August 5-11 includes: Ariel Taylor, Abby Lacey, Alexis Senter, Veronica Noriega, Nic Shinn and Reyez Moreno, a friend of Nic’s. Jesse Davis will also be teaching at Surfside Camp. Please remember to pray for travel safety, camp counselors, staff and that each would have an unforgettable experience learning about God and H is great love for them.
You can go to www.twinrocks.org for photos posted during the week of camp.
Ladies please join us for a baby shower for Janelle Ralph Friday,
August 3 @ 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
We will share a light salad buffet and celebrate the blessings of a new baby. Janelle is registered at Target and Amazon. Please note that sensitive skin runs in the family. If you purchase diapers or wipes, please procure from the brands of Seventh Generation Free & Clear, or Babyganics, or Naty. This will make one baby very happy!
Friends Women Missionary Fellowship
The ladies meet on Thursday, July 19th, at 10:30 a.m. at the home of Phebe McManama. All ladies are welcome to join us. We will enjoy a pot luck picnic following the meeting! No meeting in August.
July 22 Yearly Meeting Friends Women’s Banquet Sunday evening 5 p.m. Cost: $15, paid by July 18th
Theme: “Living Out the Gospel”, Speaker: Dorothy Sherman Offering: Teaching Abroad
Include payment in your registration or send a check payable to Friends Women. More information on line.
MFC Has a New Projects Bulletin Board in the Main Hallway, be sure to check it out! It’s a helpful reminder of current events and how we can be a part of showing the love of Christ to others.
You might like to take part in collecting gift donations for the Shoe Box ministry that we have been a part of in the past. This year we are hoping to fill 200 boxes! We are also raising funds to send those boxes overseas. Check out the right side of the board for ideas that can go into the boxes as some things have changed! More information will come for this project!
Many families in the local community cannot afford to provide school supplies for their children and we want to help lighten that burden.
Howard Elementary School Supply List
Supplies that get used all the time and that they run out of the most are the following: red, blue, yellow & green pocket folders; Ticonderoga brand pencils; 24 count Crayola crayons & Crayola color markers and glue sticks (not white glue). Other supplies that we’ve given in the past include: pencil top erasers; large erasers; rulers; pencil pouches; notebook paper; pens; solar calculators; 3 ring binders; pocket dividers for binders; 3×5 lined note cards; spiral notebooks; Kleenex tissues and backpacks. We have a box in the main hallway for your donations.
From the Elders: The Foster Parent Association is always in need of items for the children's belongings. If you have suitcases, duffel bags or backpacks in good condition that you no longer use, we can share our love by donating. Please bring them to the church for delivery.
The 126th Annual Sessions of Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends
“Light of the World”
Held on campus at George Fox University Sunday, July 22 – Thursday, July 26, 2018
Registration is on line at NWFRIENDS.ORG/YM-SESSIONS
Mark Your Calendar – Franklin Graham will be at Jackson County Expo August 1st, 7:30 p.m. Admission free
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