Friends Women Fellowship

It’s almost here! February 9th is the next opportunity presented by Friends Women Fellowship to enjoy fresh home baked goodies and sweet treats. Funds received (priced by donation) help support those who represent us through the joined work of NWYM Board of Global Outreach and EFM (evangelical friends Mission-North America), in taking the Good News around the world and at home.

Webinar Wednesdays from Everence

Everence will hold webinars on financial planning for your future, Each Wednesday at 11 a.m. these webinars will be made available to you at MFC, if you are interested please contact Charlie Swingle. There will be flyers in your Sunday bulletins with further information on each topic.

Mark Your Calendar! The annual So. Oregon Area Spring Missions Rally, sponsored by Friends Women is projected for Saturday April 25th, to be held at MFC. Volunteers to help with various program elements are encouraged, please contact Nadine Brood. Keep watch for further details.

FWF February meeting for business: Thursday, February 25th, 10:30 a.m., we will meet in the classroom behind the kitchen. Lunch fellowship at Wendy’s following the meeting. All ladies are welcome from the start or just for lunch.  

All Church Potluck

Please join us Sunday, February 16th, 2020 for our all church potluck!  We always have a great time of fellowship and good food. We’ll meet in the fellowship hall at noon. Bring a main dish and salad, vegetable or dessert to share.


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Forward Progress

There is a concept in American football called forward progress. When a ball carrier is stopped and forced back by their opponent the ball is marked at the furthest forward point. This is to make sure that people do not simply pick up and carry the ball carrier backwards. It is a nice idea that keeps the game from devolving into a mad sort of brawl with both teams trying to carry their opponents around the field. As I think about the way our world works and the rules we come up with to help keep it from devolving I find that there is no rule of forward progress. Your bank account does not maintain the highest balance it has ever had. Your cars gas tank does not obey this rule either. Nor does the human stomach stay full. In the game of football, it is easy to see how this rule is useful but in our daily lives there is no comparable rule. We have to keep adding money to the bank, gas to the car, and food to the stomach.

Here is something that may seem controversial but, following Jesus does not have a rule of forward progress either. God’s grace is a wonderful thing don’t get me wrong. That being said we can choose to walk away from Him and He does not have to honor our onetime relationship with Him. The Christian life is one of continuing relationship with Jesus. We get to keep going with Him every day. Forward progress for us is continuing that connection with Him day by day. Being close to Jesus is our goal line.


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Please mark your January Calendars:

Saturday, January 11th at 10 a.m. there will be a memorial service for Dick & Anne Krupp at Medford Friends. Anne went to be with the Lord December 6th and Dick December 9th This is a celebration of their lives as we remember their faithfulness to our Lord and Savior and the many years they were a part of our church family here at MFC.

Saturday, January 18th, at 1 p.m. there will be a celebration of life for Jack Hamilton at Medford Friends. Jack went to be with the Lord, December 1st. Following the service, we will gather for a time of fellowship and potluck dessert. Please bring a favorite dessert to share.

All Church Business Meeting

There will be an all church business meeting Sunday, January 12th, to consider the 2020 proposed budget. We will meet in the sanctuary after the worship service with Sunday School to follow.

Friends Women Fellowship Meeting

Ladies we will meet at the church Thursday, January 16th at 10:30 a.m. Lunch will follow the meeting.

All Church Potluck

Please join us Sunday, January 19, 2020 for our all church potluck!  We always have a great time of fellowship and good food. We’ll meet in the fellowship hall at noon. Bring a main dish and salad, vegetable or dessert to share.

It’s time to update our birthday file and directory information. If you are new to MFC within the last year we would like to have the birth dates of those in your family. Please list the month & day on the back of your Information Sheet. (Adults are not required to list the year however, it is helpful for children!)

It’s also time to update our MFC directory, if you have moved or have new phone numbers or a new email address, please fill out the top of the Information Sheet and place it in the box on the table in the foyer. If there was a mistake in last year’s copy please let Terry Wilson know. Thank you.


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From the desk of Jesse Davis

Emily and I have been in Kansas for a few days now and it has been great! We have enjoyed spending time with family and celebrating Christ’s birth. During our time here we have been staying with my brother Jon and his family. They invited us to stay with them and we gladly accepted. It has been wonderful to reconnect with my nieces and nephews out here and explore their world a bit.

As I reflect on this invitation to stay I am reminded of Christ’s gracious invitation for us to stay with Him for eternity. Christ came to restore relationship between us and God. His invitation to new life is a precious one and just like being with my nieces and nephews I am grateful to experience the world through His eyes when I accept this invitation. This year my hope for you is that you will gladly accept Christ’s invitation and continue to engage with it often.


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Ladies Annual Ornament Exchange      

Ladies, invite a friend and join us Friday, December 13th at 6:30 p.m. for a celebration of Christ’s Birth! Share in the joy & laughter as we fellowship together, interact with the story of the First Christmas and exchange ornaments. Everyone bring a wrapped ornament and finger food for sharing! 

Sunday, December 22nd we look forward to a fun Christmas program

“A Super Hero Christmas”.  There will be a time of fellowship following the program, please bring a holiday favorite finger food to share. We will not have Sunday School that morning.

Christmas Eve Service Please join us in the sanctuary Tuesday, December 24th at 5 p.m. For our “Come As You Are Family Celebration.”

“Abiding in the Gift”  EFM Christmas Catalog for 2019

We have an opportunity to make a difference and help with family needs in a way you might not thought of before. There are 2019 Christmas Catalogs on the usher’s table in the foyer or go online to friendsmission.com/Christmas.

Our White Elephant Gift Exchange that takes place on December 31st is without a coordinator this year. If you are interested in making this event happen contact the church office soon, so an announcement can be made.

Our dear friend Jack Hamilton went to be with Jesus on Sunday, December 1st. A Celebration of Life is planned for later in January. Please remember Sue Hamilton and family in prayer at this time.

We have lost another precious member of Medford Friends. Please be in prayer for Dick Krupp and the entire Krupp family, Anne joined a heavenly choir Friday, December 6th, 2019.  

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts

This year we sent 46 shoebox gifts, thank you to everyone who gave to this ministry to help bring joy and the message of Christ to children in need.

It’s time to update our birthday file and directory information. If you are new to MFC within the last year we would like to have the birth dates of those in your family. Please list the month & day on the back of your Information Sheet. (Adults are not required to list the year however, it is helpful for children!) If you have moved or have new phone numbers or a new email address, please fill out the top of the Information Sheet and place it in the box on the table in the foyer. Thank you.

Pastor Jesse & Emily are out of town December 25th through January 1st. If there is a pastoral need please contact one of our Elders. A contact list of MFC’s Elders can be found on the usher’s table in the foyer.


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December

Psalm 130 – “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”

Longing for the Lord’s redemption in our lives is not something new! God’s people have longed for Him to take action for them since the beginning. We have a sure hope in the Lord. Those who wait on Him will not be disappointed. Waiting is not a passive thing for us though. We continue to give up our fears and frustrations to the Lord. As we wait we hold on to the promise of God’s steadfast love. In this season of Advent as we wait for the second coming of Christ and celebrate His birth so long ago we continue to hold on to what God has done for us and look forward to what He will accomplish when He comes again.


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Jack Hamilton went to be with Jesus on Sunday, December 1, 2019 there is viewing at Memory Gardens, 1395 Arnold Lane in Medford on Thursday, December 5, from 3 to 6 p.m. A Celebration of Life is planned later in January. Please remember Sue Hamilton and family in prayer at this time.


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Ladies Annual Ornament Exchange  Will Be Held the Second Friday of December This Year!  Ladies, invite a friend and join us Friday, December 13th at 6:30 p.m. for a celebration of Christ’s Birth! Share in the joy & laughter as we fellowship together, interact with the story of the First Christmas and exchange ornaments. Everyone bring a wrapped ornament and finger food for sharing! 

Sunday, December 22nd we look forward to a fun Christmas program “A Super Hero Christmas”.  There will be a time of fellowship following the program, please bring a holiday favorite finger food to share. We will not have Sunday School that morning.

Christmas Eve Service Please join us in the sanctuary Tuesday, December 24th at 5 p.m. For our “Come As You Are Family Celebration.”

“Abiding in the Gift”  EFM Christmas Catalog for 2019 We have an opportunity to make a difference and help with family needs in a way you might not thought of before. There are 2019 Christmas Catalogs on the usher’s table in the foyer or go online to friendsmission.com/Christmas.

It’s time to update our birthday file and directory information. If you are new to MFC within the last year we would like to have the birth dates of those in your family. Please list the month & day on the back of your Information Sheet. (Adults are not required to list the year however, it is helpful for children!) If you have moved or have new phone numbers or a new email address, please fill out the top of the Information Sheet and place it in the box on the table in the foyer. Thank you.

Pastor Jesse & Emily are out of town December 25th through January 1st. If there is a pastoral need please contact one of our Elders. A contact list of MFC’s Elders can be found on the usher’s table in the foyer.


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Be sure to set you clocks back 1-hour Saturday night, November 2nd Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday, November 3rd

Mark Your Calendars – Sunday, November 17th

“The River” will be our guests for worship in music. If you haven’t heard them, come be blessed by this group. They are a Celtic worship band with a unique sound of bluegrass, country and contemporary intricate harmonies to the Celtic base that creates a freshness from song to song.

Count Your BlessingsAll Church Thanksgiving Potluck

Sunday, November 17th

Please join us for the all church potluck! November brings a Thanksgiving theme so come with grateful hearts to celebrate our many blessings with church family. We will meet in the fellowship hall following the Sunday School & Bible Study hour. Bring generous side dishes and desserts that compliment a festive holiday dinner! Turkey and ham will be provided.

Friends Women Fellowship will meet at MFC on Thursday, November 21st at 10:30 a.m. in the fireside room. Lunch will follow the meeting. All ladies, you’re welcome to join us for the meeting and lunch or lunch only! Our program topic this year is the involvement of Quaker women in educators and racial issues during the Civil War and reconstruction period that followed.

Friends Women Fellowship Pre-Thanksgiving/Christmas Bake Sale and “Mini Bazaar”

Between the Worship Service & Sunday School hour on Sunday, November 24th Friends Women Fellowship group will present their Annual Bake Sale and “Mini Bazaar” in support of NWYM Friends Women’s Fellowship Outreach efforts. You can expect a variety of baked goods for your holiday enjoyment: cookies, cakes, a variety of breads, pies, candy etc. Prices by donation.

The Friends Women’s organization supports on four fronts efforts to send the salvation gospel through the world: NWYM local & global with EFM; home church and local community; NWYM Friends Women’s annual special missionary support projects.  

Please note we will again have a “Mini Bazaar” table of selected items (inquire of Billie Taylor for further information.)

Thank you for helping us send the word throughout the world.

Calling all parents and friends of Super Heroes!  The Christmas program we are working on includes children (and possibly adults) in Super Hero costumes.  If you have a super hero and/or a super hero costume that you could loan for the program, please let Darcie Greenamyer, Patsy Burton or Rita Bingham know.

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts  It’s shoebox time again! You can help bring joy and the message of Christ to children in need! You can be part of this wonderful ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. In the main hallway under the Projects board there is a table set up where you can get what you need to participate. There are boxes, flyers with gift ideas and labels, and a few items left over from last year you can take to start filling your box! Once you fill your box you will also need to include a check for $9 per box or pay online and print a trackable label to cover shipping, distribution, and the sharing of the Gospel message. You can bring filled boxes back to the church as soon as they are ready to go. The last day they can be accepted is Sunday, November 24th. We would love to contribute at least 100 boxes this year to help bring excitement, joy, and Jesus to deserving children!


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November

Psalm 100 – “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

November is going to be a month focused on Worship for Medford Friends Church. As we head into this time we ask that everyone be in prayer about what the Lord has done in our lives. We are going to have a special worship Sunday November 24th and we will have multiple times to share what God has accomplished in our lives. Highlighting a few aspects of worship will also be part of this time but we can use the above scripture as a starting point for our worship preparations. Spend time this week reading and re-reading Psalm 100 and consider what it asks of us.


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