Here are just some highlights from our recent ministry “Kick-Off” Sunday! .  Lots of smiles, learning, worship, and opportunities!  We want to thank Laurel Summers for organizing the morning, Michael Traeger for sharing, as well as setting up the video created by Kate Pattison, and also a big thanks to Virgil Voth for the artistic and absolutely amazing backdrop for our year long focus!  Look for more surprises as we continuing learning how to “Become the Conduit” of God’s healing-redeeming work in the world! See you this Sunday!

 

If you missed our Kick-off Sunday, you missed this curated story about Michael Traeger and how running is one way he is “Becoming the Conduit.”  Enjoy!

I have always believed that as followers of Christ, we are to seek a life of devotion that also entails a sense of adventure.  For most people adventure does not come natural. Our busy schedules, our families, our commitments, even our church activities often destroy our sense of adventure and turn it into a bondage of obligation.  Instead, our goal this year is to go deep into the rivers of  living water and strive to become a useful conduit of God’s healing-redeeming work in the world.

Paul Anderson (professor of Quaker Studies at George Fox University) states in his book Following Jesus: The Heart of Faith and Practice, 

As pilgrims toward the heavenly city help one another along the way, so we learn from others.  We illumine the path for one another and encourage each other in the venture.  After all, it is a great journey we are on, and we do not travel alone. 

I am proud to announce our 2013-2014 year-long theme:

Become the Conduit!

God’s Healing-Redeeming Work in the World.

Through our fall/winter seasons, we will look at how we can become God’s conduit to our world through following Jesus’ example.  This theme will take us into the heart of our Faith and Practice and what we believe as Friends/Quakers.

As a special bonus, each month we will have a special guest preacher to emphasize different aspects of our theme.  Some of the planned guests include, Rachelle Staley (NWYM Youth Superintendent), Sarah Klatt Dickerson (North Valley Friends), and Howard Macy (Retired GFU professor).

I look forward to an engaging and Spirit-led year exploring how we can “Become the Conduit!” I hope you will join us on this adventure of learning and discovery in 2013-2014.

Grace and peace Friends,

Pastor Bob+

This coming Sunday, August 11, 2013, our church family and guests have been invited by Fred and Nadine Southwick to enjoy worship and our church summer picnic at their beautiful home in Mulino.

The setting is park-like with big trees, grass, gazebo, shelter, and a large creek (for swimming or boating).  The hospitality committee will furnish chicken, hot dogs and drinks.  We ask that you bring salads, beans, desserts, etc…  The Soutwick’s have requested that we not bring pets.

Due to limited parking space at Fred and Nadine’s home, we encourage you to carpool.  We will meet at the church @ 10am to carpool.

Directions to the Southwicks 

Address:28024 S. Ringo Rd. Mulino, OR 97042  (Nadine’s Cell: 503.919.0398)

• Drive north on Hwy 213.
• Go past Molalla about 4 miles.
• You will pass the Arrowhead Golf Course on the left.
• After crossing the Molalla River Bridge turn right onto Union Mills Road.
• Drive 1 mile.
• Watch for a 4 way crossing sign that says Dalmation Rd.  (goes right) and S. Ringo Rd. (goes left).
• Turn left on S Ringo Rd.
• Cross the bridge and turn immediately right onto a long driveway that leads into the Southwick property.
• Balloons will help identify the driveway.

Google Map to Southwick’s:

We are proud of Anna Rediske, one of our young adults at Silverton Friends Church who attends Seattle Pacific University.  Last year she helped the youth of the Northwest Yearly Meeting work to write a “Query on Conflict and Differences.”  Anna was asked to come back after her high school graduation to deliver this query to our Yearly Meeting Sessions this year on behalf of our youth.  The query was approved with great enthusiasm. Here is the query:

Query on Conflict and Differences

Recognizing human imperfection, how do I strive to follow Christ’s example in the way I love and respect others? When confronted with a conflict, how do I actively show Christ with a compassionate and grace-filled heart? How am I leaving space for change? How do I value the other person when charged with their reputation, remembering that they, too, are a child of God? How do I build up the individual in the light of God?

Join our Yearly Meeting in making this query important to our relationships and dealings within our lives and meetings.  Thank you, Anna and all our youth for your faithfulness and concern.

 

 

UPCOMING SUMMER SERMON SERIES

People have asked me at times, “Pastor Bob, how is your prayer life?”  That seems to be a fairly easy question to answer since I know my personal prayer habits. But what if someone asked, “How is Silverton Friends Church’s prayer life?”  That may be a bit more difficult for any individual person to answer.

It causes me to ask some deeper questions:

• What does our prayer life together look like?
• Who all is involved?
• Is Corporate prayer beneficial? 

This summer, we hope to explore the answers to these questions and many more. Join us as we learn to communicate together as a meeting with our God. 

Our theme text will be Philippians 4:6-9 (MSG):

6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Summer Sermon Schedule

July 2:  Prayer: Sticking to the Assigned Task – Acts 6:1-5

July 28:  Prayer: Setting Off the Thunder of Heaven! – Revelation 8:1-5

August 4:  Prayer: You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? – James 4:1-2

August 11:  Church Picnic @ The Southwicks

August 18:   Prayer: Strenuous Prayer – Acts 12:1-11

August 25: God Puts Up With A Lot – Romans 1:18 (MSG); Joel 2

DATES: July 15-19

TIME: 9:30am -12:00 noon       

AGES:  4yrs to starting 6th grade       

WHERE: Silverton Friends Church

REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

We would love to have you join the fun by…

1. Helping with snacks (gathering and serving)
   

2. Being a small group teacher (explaining the Fruits of the Spirit)
3. Being a game leader/helper
4. Being a song leader/helper
5. Being a multi-purpose helper

Please let Miss Debbie know if you would love to help 503.559.3529 or the church office at 503.873.5131

From the Journal kept during our recent 24-hour Prayer Time.

May 17, 2013 9pm-12pm

Pastor Bob Henry   

 

What the Lord showed me through a prayer to Him that evening…

 

You have a dream for this place, O Lord!  

Our awkward compassion tells us something about Your dream.

It tells us why we turn our eyes away —  

From the pain, suffering, and disabilities of those in our community.

It tells us there is “something more” for which we (SFC) were made.

We may not like that…

It may be difficult, even at times a challenge —

But you ask us to bring comfort, healing, and even hope to those in need.

You invite us to join in the process of RECONCILIATION–

To replace the “something wrong” we know with the “made right again” that You want!

As Corrie Ten Boom once said,

“Faith is a Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him.”

Help us all to have more FAITH.

Help us to have COMPASSION.

Give us Your DREAM.

Open our eyes to those in pain, those suffering, and those with disabilities (of body, mind, and spirit).

Help us to see our community not just as those within the walls of SFC —  

But our neighbors, our coworkers, our family, and friends.

Give us Your WISDOM.

The ability to SEE.

To JUDGE what is true and right.

Take away our PRIDE,

Our REBELLION,

And our JUDGEMENT.

Stop us from KILLING with words and actions –

From coveting, quarreling, and stabbing each other in the back.

Help us to SEEK You.

It is only through submitting to You.

Resisting the evil in the world, and

Coming NEAR to You.

That Your DREAM can be manifest in and among us.

Give us Your PATIENCE and PEACE.

And help us DREAM AGAIN!

Amen and Amen!

 

“Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in” the Spirit of God.

I have a dream that one day soon our church will rise up and live out the gospel (good news) without shame, fear, or hesitation.

I have a dream that one day people who we have offended, and those who have offended us will be able to sit down together at the table of reconciliation set by our Lord.

I have a dream that one day our town of Silverton and our meeting will be a place known for freedom (freedom from sin and freedom from oppression) and a place of justice for ALL people – no matter their race, culture, gender, life circumstance, status, or capacity to understand and comprehend God’s mysteries.

I have a dream that our children will not be judged on external factors like appearance, special needs, skills, or abilities, and instead be judged by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day as I look out over our meeting gathered I will be able to see a sanctuary full of women and men, young and old, ALL ministers; each and every one a worshiper of God involved in the work of the ministry, not out of guilt but out of a deep love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I have a dream of a church body that is passionate about sharing their faith in Christ with those hopeless and broken of our neighborhoods and communities. A dream that we would not be fearful, but compassionate, articulate, giving, and loving as we live out the good news through service to our neighbors.

I have a dream that we would, each one of us would, take seriously our obligation to study God’s Word and other great resources that support His Word, so that we may be able to love God and love our neighbors to the fullest extent.

I have a dream that this meeting would rise up above its struggles and divisions to become a shining light to the community of Silverton. Not for the recognition by the community, nor for the praise of other Christians, nor for the glory of our meeting, but for the glory of God and God alone!

And on our way to that day, we will be able to join hands and sing the words of the worship anthem: “There is no one like our God. Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city, greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done here.”

____________

Pastor Bob’s dream for SFC – shared in his sermon on Sunday, May 20, 2013.