by Cathy Weesner King, Cherry Grove Friends We often think of our spiritual gifting on an individual level—what is my spiritual gifting? But what if we take it to another level—how can our spiritual gifting be used to create community? It seems in scripture that God has a bigger plan than just individual gifting; our gifts are to work together as the Body of Christ. Romans 12, I … [Read more...]
by Tim Henry, pastor, Sprague River Friends Sprague River is a place of divisions, and it has been for a very long time. It starts geographically. If you live east of the river you are in Sprague River, but if you travel one mile west and cross the bridge, you are in Chiloquin. That means different tax bases, and fire districts, emergency services, and even postal delivery. But that's just … [Read more...]
by Rob Willoughby, youth pastor, Metolius Friends Over the years local pastors from different denominations have met weekly for prayer and monthly for business. Out of these times together has come a desire to be part of a bigger picture, to work more closely to be united in Christ’s vision for the Church. One of our first expressions of this is called “Our Community in the Park.” This … [Read more...]
By Cassie Hwa, Eugene Friends Supporting, helping, learning, teaching, rejoicing, healing, loving, and forgiving; these are all characteristics of a healthy church community. I wish I could attest to these qualities residing in myself and in my relationship with others, but to do so would be lying and would not make these qualities appear. All too often we as Christians trick ourselves into … [Read more...]
by Luke Ankeny, pastor, Homedale Friends One of the many things I appreciate about the people I church with here in Homedale is how well connected they are in our community. Driving through town the other day I caught myself thinking about how many of the organizations or institutions the people I church with are involved in. This thought brought a smile to my face, a warming in my heart, and a … [Read more...]
by Becky Ankeny, NWYM superintendent Jesus said to his followers, “You know that the leaders of the nations use power to dominate their people, that those of high status pull rank on those of lower status to tell them what to do. But this is not the relationship between my followers. Whoever wants to be high in rank should wait on the bidding of others, and whoever wants to be top boss must … [Read more...]
My Call to Ministry—Memoir By Jim Teeters, East Hill Friends We were attending Medford Friends Church in the 1970s—I was a kind of hippie, long-haired social worker type and more prone to independence and liberalism than the typical evangelical Quaker. It was a time when an associate pastor was needed. Pastor Clynton Crisman needed help. I was interested in the quest for someone to … [Read more...]
Looking back Bible Quiz Tournament Results: We had a great season for Bible Quizzing! Thanks to all of our volunteers and quizzers! For the overall season Sherwood took first for the high school team score, Greenleaf took first for middle school team score, and Matthew Staples and Anne Rolfe from Newberg Friends took first for high school and middle school individual scores … [Read more...]
An elementary school in rural Connecticut under the care of a capable principal with a committed staff, a recently updated security system, children schooled in emergency lock down procedures—a neighborhood school that had done everything right—became the site, at least at this writing, of the most recent witness to the violent nature of our society. It would provide a bit of comfort were we … [Read more...]
