Global Mission committee
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: 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: 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 |
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: 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 |
