The Pastor’s Blog
From Kenya to Bulgaria!
On Sunday, October 23rd during the worship hour Josh and Audra Cadd and family will be with us sharing a little about their recent call to change ministry location, by moving to Bulgaria! The Cadds serve with Wycliffe Associates and DOOR International, Deaf Opportunity Outreach, they have been in Nairobi the past 10 years. We will be taking a love offering for the Cadd family that Sunday to help support their ministry. Here are ways we can be praying for their family:
~ Please pray for our safety as we continue traveling.
~ Pray for the translation team in Eurasia as they set up the new office & work with Josh long
distance.
~ Please pray for strength & stamina for us as we are out of our “routine” & stepping into new
places.
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The Activities Committee meets Sunday, October 9th at noon in the fireside room.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month!
Anniversary All Church Potluck, Join us in Celebrationg 74 Years! Sunday, October 16th at noon
Please join us for a time of celebration, fellowship and good food! We’ll meet in the fellowship hall following the Sunday School & Bible Study hour. Please bring a main dish and a salad or vegetable to share. Cake will be provided for dessert.
Week Night Home Studies:
Monday at 6:30 p.m. Phebe McManama hosts a Home Bible Study. Marilyn Johnston leads the study. If you have questions contact Phebe or Marilyn.
Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Stan & Earlene Schlosser hosts a soup & bread meal & Home Bible Study in the book of Romans. If you’d like more info contact Earlene.
Requirement to work with our youth at MFC
Hey Friends, anyone who has been working with minors in our congregation needs to renew their background checks and go through a training session provided by the Yearly Meeting. This is to bring us in line with the Mandatory Abuse Prevention Standards which were approved at our Yearly Meeting sessions. Our goal is to help maintain a safe environment for the students who come and worship with us. In order to do so we are offering three dates in October, the 9th, 16th, and 23rd during the Sunday School hour to complete this task. If you are unable to attend a class on one of the Sundays we will work with you on getting the background check and the training done, contact Pastor Jesse. This is a requirement to work with our youth. Please let us know which Sunday works for you by putting your name and date in the comment section on the “Response Sheet” in the bulletin and drop it in the wooden box on the usher’s table in the foyer. Thank you!
Workday here at MFC – Mark Your Calendar!
The Stewards have scheduled an all church workday for Saturday, October 29th, at 9 a.m. to noon. There will be both indoor and outdoor projects to be completed. Everyone is invited to share in the fun!
Can you believe it, Operation Christmas Child “Collection Week” is only 6 weeks away!
We are excited to participate in this ministry again this year. Start collecting items now. Our table will be set up in the main hallway with all the important information or look on line now at www.samaritanspurse.com.
Friends Women Missionary Fellowship Meeting All ladies are welcome to join us at MFC Thursday, October 20th, at 10 a.m.
Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Events:
Talent Friends FWMF Christmas Bazaar Saturday,Nov.5th.
MFC FWMF Pre-Thanksgiving Bake Sale Sunday, Nov 20th.
Volunteer Library Help Needed!
Sue Hamilton our faithful librarian has retired and we are looking for someone who would be interested in caring for this ministry. Sue will be available for training. Please circle “L” on your “Response Sheet” in the bulletin and drop it in the wooden box on the usher’s table in the foyer or contact Pastor Jesse.
BOARDS THAT NEED REPRESENTATION FROM SOUTHERN OREGON:
1. Youth & Young Adult 2. Local Outreach
3. Leadership & Development 4. Congregational Care
5. Christian Education
If there are any members interested in filling these positions and are hearing the call by God to serve in an area that you have been given a gift, please contact your local Yearly Meeting Nominating Committee members. Contact Teresa Bartell, at Talent Friends Church 541-535-1169, to get a consent form to apply for a Board or Committee you are interested in. If you have any questions see Pastor Jesse.
Just a Reminder Sunday, November 6th, Daylight Savings Time Ends. Be sure to set your clocks back 1 hour Saturday night, November 5th.
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Costumes and Celebrations
I don’t know about you but I have had a very full and crazy summer!
I was able to go and participate in a couple of youth camps and spend time at yearly meeting. I had some health problems and got them sorted out. I had some time out rafting and sightseeing around the valley. It has been a busy season for me! If that is the case for you, too, then I bet you are looking forward to a time of gathering and rest.
Fall is a season where people bring in the harvest and get together for celebrations. It is the beginning of many things, school, and work often picks up a bit more for us. Trips aren’t scheduled unless it has to do with a holiday. We find ourselves putting on the regular schedule and getting back to normal. This can be a good thing but often it results in us going back to the same old costumes and masks that we wear to be accepted in the different parts of our lives.
The challenge I am trying to live into this season is to refuse the costume and leave the mask off for the sake of authenticity. As our students and young people are gearing up for a return to their “normal” lives and schedule can we adults live as examples of authenticity. Can we refuse to wear the costumes and masks that society calls us to? Can we instead live with authenticity before one another and, more importantly, before God?
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Happy September! We are Excited to Announce that the All Church Potluck Sundays are Back!
Please join us for a time of fellowship and good food Sunday, September 18th! We’ll meet in the fellowship hall at noon, Please bring a main dish and salad, vegetable or dessert to share.
MFC’s Annual School Supply Drive – Thank You for generously giving to those in need! Your giving will be a blessing to families at Howard Elementary School. The expense today, for one kindergartener’s supplies is over $50 plus school fees. We are thankful for God’s generous provision to us and for of the ways that everyone contributes to the ministries of Medford Friends.
Men’s Retreat September 16-18, 2016
Twin Rocks Friends Camp
Speaker Brad Lau, vice president for student life at GFU. See the flyer on the main bulletin board in the hall and more information on line at www.twinrocks.org
Ladies have you read the Brochure for the Women’s Fall Retreat September 30th – October 2nd at Twin Rocks? Are you interested in attending? This year’s guest speaker is Jan Geil, she will share about her experience of “Stepping in Faith” which includes serving in Ramallah. The program leaders this year are sure to leave you so refreshed, encouraged, inspired…that you will hardly notice the long drive! Please let Nadine Brood know if you need or can provide transportation. A $25 scholarship is available for 1st time attenders. Early registration deadline is Sept. 16th, after that the cost is $10 more. Brochures are available on the usher’s table in the foyer.
FWMF start up Meeting for the 2016-2017 program year is Thursday, September 15th, at 10 a.m. in the fireside room at MFC. Lunch will be served at noon. All women are welcome! The Theme this year is “Transformed By Grace.”
Also, the first baked goods event for this year will be presented to you next Sunday, September 11th, celebrating the new school year. It will be mostly of the kind of “Yummies” that perk up those bag lunches! (Brown bags provided to pack home goodies – or eat them on the spot with Sunday morning coffee!)
- The FWMF ladies are still collecting box tops for education. We forward the box tops to the Sam’s Valley Elementary school Thank you!
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