Community Outreach
Author: Dee Poujade Published: April 16th, 2012
Author and activist Mark Braverman will speak on “Palestine: the church and the grassroots movement that will bring a just peace to the Holy Land” at 6 pm Wednesday, May 2, in the Fireside Room of First United Methodist Church.”
Braverman is a Jewish American with deep family roots in the holy land. Traveling to Israel/Palestine in 2006 he was transformed by witnessing the occupation of Palestine and by encounters with peace activists and civil society leaders from the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities.
In his writing and speaking Mark focuses on the role of religious beliefs and theology in the current discourse and the function of interfaith relations in the current search for a resolution of the conflict.
Mark serves on the advisory board of Friends of Sabeel North America and on the Board of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions-USA. He is a cofounder of Friends of Tent of Nations North America, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Palestinian land rights in historic Palestine.
Mark consults to and writes for the Israel Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church USA and has been appointed consultant for Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding. He currently serves as the Coordinator of Kairos USA.
Mark is the author of Fatal Embrace: Christians, Jews, and the Search for Peace in the Holy Land. which the “Changing Christianity” Sunday School class will be studying this spring. His writings, blog, and sermons can be found at www.markbraverman.org.
The program is free and open to the public – donations will be accepted to offset the costs of the program.
Category Global Mission committee |
Author: web manager Published: April 8th, 2012
On April 22, Planet Church is sponsoring a Climate Science Forum at noon, right after church in the Fireside Room.
Dr. Christina Hulbe will speak on current climate research and what it suggests about the impact of climate change, both locally and globally.
Her presentation will also include her own on-site research into how glaciers and ice shelves are responding to our warming planet.
Dr. Christina Hulbe is a geophysicist who specializes in glaciology, using computer simulations of glacial systems to study how and why they change over time.
While much of her work is computational, Christina has also spent four field seasons in the remote interior of west Antarctica.
A light lunch will be provided.
Category Forums, Planet Church |
Author: Dee Poujade Published: April 8th, 2012
Dear Friends,
Christ is risen indeed, Halleluiah!!!
Love and Easter greetings to you all!! Blessings from God have been showered on us through your generous hearts, especially through your fervent prayers for us as we work to bring a Christian presence and a better quality of life for street children, orphans, and the poor living in Phnom Penh. On behalf of the children who benefit from your dedicated support, I express our sincere gratitude for all you have done to help these less fortunate ones.
In our meditation at the office, we studied the verses Mark 11:8-11. When discussing what the people in Cambodia would ask to be saved from if they cry “Hosanna” (save us), most of the UMC staff commented, “Save us from poverty and injustice.” Our help is direly needed to help the poor escape the effects of poverty and injustice in this part of the world. And as we help the poor of Cambodia grow spiritually, we see great changes in the lives of our children and communities as recipients of God’s mission.
Without your help, we can’t do anything. Yours are the hands of God reaching out to these less privileged and less fortunate ones. Luke 13:9 says, “Let us not be weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.” Our reports cannot contain the happiness and joy of these children as they receive gifts not only in kind, but of love, as we stand with them and share with their pains and agonies of poverty and helplessness. Let us continue to concretize God’s love to them. Harvest will come. We cannot thank you enough for your commitment to supporting the men, women, and children we work with in Cambodia! We pray that more people like you will be touched by God to become instruments of His love.
This Easter season, I want thank you again for your support. I am attaching a picture sketched by our children to express their joy and gratitude to all of you. Happy Easter 2012!!
Very truly yours,
Clara Mridula Biswas
Bio as 4/01, P.O. Box 2493
Missionary code #013952-7BZ
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Category Global Mission committee, Headlines |
Author: web manager Published: March 23rd, 2012
Sunday March 25, 2012 12:00- 2:00
Light lunch and child care provided
Ever widening income gaps, Record home foreclosures, very high unemployment, food banks and shelters at peak levels…
This is a Forum to help us understand and better relate to this current condition in which we live.
One voice for the often voiceless is the Occupy Movement. Two persons will represent the movement: Liam Doherty-Nicholson who works in Occupy Outreach and Education and Sam Smith who founded Occupy Tomorrow and brings the movement to his neighborhood through artistic and internet technology.
Paul Schroeder comes to us from The Orthodox tradition and his work among the homeless and poverty in Portland. Paul will bring a theological respective on today’s conditions.
This promises to be a rich combination for which each of us will want to be present.
Category Congregational Life, Forums |
Published: February 17th, 2012
A Sunday Forum February 26, 12-2 PM
(Light lunch provided)
Fireside Room
Joan Schweizer Huff, MA of Portland’s Dougy Center and Leslie Storm of the Oregon Partnership a nationally certified suicide prevention organization will lead our forum.
We will seek to gain better understanding of Prevention, Intervention and Postvention before, during and after this crisis or traumatic event has occurred.
It is designed to help us better understand our experience as a congregation and help us be better prepared when crisis may occur.
We will attempt to have a learning experience helpful for all including youth, young adults’ family members and friendship networks.
The events design will include discussion, question and answers and potential follow-up gatherings. Friends and interested persons are encouraged to attend.
Category Forums |
Author: Phyllis Leonard Published: February 12th, 2012
The third Sunday of every month we take a special “Thank Offering” to support organizations beyond the church who are engaged in positive or ministries of compassion and service.
You are invited to share a brief word of gratitude for something or someone in your life as you bring your gift to support these ministries. February 19th our gifts will go to Sisters of the Road Cafe in downtown Portland.
Here is a little information about this organization, taken from their website, www.sistersoftheroad.org:
Since 1979, Sisters Of The Road has been an essential part of the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood. Sisters offers a space to build community, empower ourselves, learn from one another, dine with dignity and organize for justice and human rights for all.
Sisters Of The Road exists to build authentic relationships and alleviate the hunger of isolation in an atmosphere of nonviolence and gentle personalism that nurtures the whole individual, while seeking systemic solutions that reach the roots of homelessness and poverty to end them forever.
Category Global Mission committee, News |
Author: Phyllis Leonard Published: February 3rd, 2012
On Sunday, February 12, 2012, at noon in the Fireside Room, The Church and Society for Social Justice Committee will present a forum on Hunger in Our Neighborhood. It will address issues like: What can we do about the food Insecurity in our neighborhood? How is it that the children of Oregon are among the hungriest in the nation? How does the food that we bring to the FISH barrel relate to Oregon Food Bank, and what is SNAP and SNAP For Seniors?
We welcome the insights of two leaders in our city on hunger issues: Robyn Johnson, Community Advocacy Coordinator at Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon (PHFO) and Oregon Hunger Task Force (OHTF). Both organizations work to end hunger before it begins by promoting the well-being and economic security of all Oregonians and eliminating the underlying causes and consequences of hunger through public policy, advocacy, coalition building and Monica Beemer, the Executive Director for Sisters of the Road. Since 1979, Sisters Of The Road has been an essential part of the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood. Sisters offers a space to build community, empower, learn from one another, dine with dignity and organize for justice and human rights for all. It seeks systemic solutions to the issues of homelessness and poverty.
Category Church and Society for Social Justice, Forums |
Published: January 23rd, 2012
First United Methodist of Portland is sending a Volunteer In Mission team to UMCOR West (Salt Lake City) June 3-9, and there’s still room to sign up if you’d like to go!
Team members will work in the Supply Depot, packaging layette, health and sewing kits, and will also have the opportunity to visit some of Salt Lake City’s cultural attractions, including the possibility of attending a rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
There will be an option for folks to car pool to Salt Lake City (with an overnight stay in Idaho) or they can fly.
The cost of the trip is approximately $600, which includes transportation, lodging at the Episcopal Retreat Center, most meals (prepared cooperatively at the retreat center and local restaurants), insurance and fees to the Supply Depot.
Application forms are available at the church office.
Category Global Mission committee, Volunteers in Mission |
Published: January 2nd, 2012
The United Methodist Women are sponsoring a forum on Sunday, January 22, 2012 at noon in the Fireside Room. Dr. David Poindexter will be speaking on the issue of: “What do women have to do with population?”
David is known internationally for his work in entertainment-education broadcasting and his creation of the Population Communication Center. He has served as convenor for UN International Conferences on Population in Mexico City and Cairo. He still continues his work throughout the world and serves as President of the Portland Chapter of UNA-USA.
David, who is an ordained United Methodist pastor, will also autograph copies of his recently published book, Out of the Darkness of Centuries. David and his wife Marion are active members of our congregation.
Category Forums, United Methodist Women |
Published: December 9th, 2011
Dear Friends at Portland First United Methodist Church,
Christmas is a time of joy and celebration. It is a time for families to be together. More importantly, however, Christmas is a time for us to remember that God sent his Son for our salvation. The birth of Jesus was the rebirth of hope for humankind.
At Christmas Teca and I remember all those who are important in our lives and who help us in our ministry. We are particularly grateful to our Supporting Churches who enable us to serve here in Brazil. We want to thank each of you and wish you the most joyous holiday season.
Today was a special day. Nearly 350 children and teenagers from 9 of our local Shade and Fresh Water projects here in Belo Horizonte spent a day together in celebration and fun. The entire morning was a Christmas pageant with each project making a presentation for the whole group. It was fascinating to see how each project attentively watched each group’s songs, music, dance and theatrical presentations. Sometimes, people think that religion is for adults. They think that children are too young to understand the deeper meaning of Christmas. Watching the children, however, I could see that they understood the true meaning of Christmas.
For those of us who grew up in America, the story of Jesus born in a manger is something distant. Can any of us really imagine being placed in a cattle food trough for a crib? Slum children however, do not see this as something so very distant. Some sleep three or four to a bed. They or their friends often live in makeshift shacks. Just as there was no place for Jesus to be born, many of the children also understand that they are left out in this world.
For many of the Shade and Fresh Water children, Christ’s beginnings seem like something that could have happened in their own neighborhood. If the King of Kings could be born in a humble setting, they too may be important. So at Christmas time children in our projects sing and dance and say, “Jesus can be born here Brazil”. Let us pray that as we celebrate Jesus’ birth that despite all his glory he is a friend and understands each of us in our daily struggles.
We look forward to hearing from you and want to wish each of you a very very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Your friends in Christ,
Gordon and Teca Greathouse
Category Global Mission committee |
Published: November 14th, 2011
If you’ve enjoyed the postings from our volunteers and want to learn more about the VIM team’s experiences in the Holy Land, you may wish to attend the Forum that they will be presenting on Sunday, November 20.
A light lunch, featuring Middle-Eastern foods, will be served and team members will share their photos and stories – as well as offer suggestions on ways the FUMC community can contribute to programs working for peace to this troubled area of the world.
Here’re some of the photos that they will be showing at the forum:
You can read the blog entries they posted every day here.
Category Forums, Palestine & Israel 2011 |
Published: November 10th, 2011
The Goose Hollow Winter Family Shelter has been responding to the urgent need for winter housing, especially for families with children, since January 1994. You can find more information and volunteer at their dedicated website, pdxhfs.org.
Category Goose Hollow Family Shelter |
Author: Mark Ohlson Published: November 8th, 2011
Our November “Let’s Make a Kitchen” drive to collect kitchen utensiles for the homeless and needy in the community is off to a rousing start.
Thanks largely to our youth members, in the first week, we collected two large barrels full of donated kitchen utensiles. That’s an amazing start and will make a huge difference in the lives of those who are struggling with poverty in our community.
Thank you to all who have contributed so far. And remember, there’s still time for those “orphaned” and unused items cluttering up your kitchen cabinets and drawers to be adopted by a new and loving home! Collection barrels are in the narthex and Collins Hall during Coffee Hour.
Update as of November 13: Today we received another full barrel of donations in the narthex. This brings our total to three barrels as we approach the halfway point of our effort. Thanks to Megan and all the youth (and others!)
- Our Kitchen Barrels are overflowing thanks to Megan and our youth utensil drive!
who have contributed, it will make a huge difference in the lives of those less fortunate than we.
Category Community Outreach, News, Youth |
