Forgiveness, Restorative Justice and Reconciliation will be the topic of the program from the 2011 Schools of Christian Mission.
The meeting is Wednesday, March 7 in the Fireside Room with business meeting at 10:00 a.m. with the presentation at 11:00.
Please bring a brown bag lunch. Dessert and beverage will be provided.
All knitters are invited to the next Tabitha Circle meeting on Wednesday, March 7 at 1:30 PM in Room 202.
We will be introducing a new triangular shape for prayer shawls. After a brief demonstration on construction, written instruction will be provided for everyone.
After this demonstration, Tabitha members will be cutting out flannel for receiving blankets. These blankets will be part of the UMCOR birthing kits which members of the VIM group will take to the Salt Lake City Distribution Center in June.
G.K. Chesterton and several other literary figures were once asked what book they’d want to have with them, if they were stranded alone on a desert island.
“The complete works of William Shakespeare”, one writer quickly replied.
“I’d choose the Bible”, offered another.
“And what about you?” they asked Chesterton, who thought about it for a moment and then replied, “I’d want to have Thomas’ Guide to Practical Shipbuilding.”
A wise man, that Chesterton. And a good reminder to all of us that sometimes it is enough to supply “just the facts, ma’am”, and to ask only for what we need in the moment.
Years ago when I was pastor of the Silverton United Methodist Church, I led a church retreat in which I asked everyone to come up with a title and the first five chapters for their own autobiography. One of the young men on this retreat was a bit uncomfortable with any kind of personal sharing (he told me his palms would begin to sweat at the beginning of every Bible study class when we did the “check in” with each other), and this is how he responded to that exercise: the title of his book was Just the Facts, Ma’am; and his first five chapters were labeled:
Chapter One: I Was Born
Chapter Two: To School and Back Home
Chapter Three: Love and Marriage
Chapter Four: Daddy
Chapter Five: The Working World
It was enough to give the group the essence of a life – no more, no less. It was just exactly what I had asked for in that one moment. And it was enough.
The temptation can be great to come to church, to engage with fellow believers, even to approach God and ask for “The Complete Works” of life. When all we really need is “The Practical Guide” to the present moment. The recognition that sometimes “Just the Facts, Ma’am” is enough can be the beginning of spiritual wisdom which enables us to stay awake and aware in the here and now.
While I was having lunch at a downtown restaurant recently, I couldn’t help but notice two men sharing a nearby table. There were plenty of empty tables, so I assumed that they sat together because they knew each other. Sadly, they were together but alone. Throughout their meal, one was busy playing with his phone while the other was doing something on his laptop. Although the restaurant advertises its use of fresh and organic ingredients, I wondered if they even noticed what they were eating. Their behavior gave new meaning to the idea of breaking bread together.
I was thinking about the two men as I looked for my copy of Barbara Brown Taylor’s “An Altar in the World”, the next First Church Reads book. Who is Barbara Brown Taylor? She is an Episcopal priest who has left full-time parish ministry to teach, and Rev. Donna often mentions her writings in her Sunday messages.
The book is all about how taking the time to pay attention can well lead you to finding God in the everyday things you do and see around you. Little altars to God are everywhere. The two men at the restaurant may have missed a glimpse of God by simply not paying attention to the other person at the table or the food placed before them.
As Barbara Brown Taylor reminds us, the story of Moses could have been very different if he had been too busy tending his father-in-law’s sheep to stop and turn to take a closer look at that burning bush. Ah, but because he did, Moses found himself on holy ground.
“An Altar in the World” is a wonderful, engaging book about spiritual practices (vision, prayer, benediction, etc.) as one might carry them out beyond the walls of church. I plan to re-read a chapter a day (there are only 12) during the first part of Lent. I should have plenty of time to finish up before the discussion following worship on March 18.
Please join us in room 110 on Monday, February 27, from 6 to 7:30 pm, for a Website Open House.
We’ll be exploring tips and tricks about how to use the church website. Plus we’ll be comparing notes and doing some training with the volunteers who help to manage it.
This is an open invitation to drop in during the evening and get questions answered and share ideas with others.
It is very informal, and all church members who are interested in learning more about the church website are encouraged to stop by.
If your group or committee is not currently listed on our website and you’d like to see it there, please join us.
This is the place to be on Monday night!
Pathways through the Epistles is an adult Sunday School class that meets from 9 to 10:15 AM from February 26 to March 25 in room 110. It is taught by Rev Dr. Tom Rannells.
We will do an overview of Romans, I Corinthians, Ephesians, Hebrews and Philippians with detailed study of one passage from each of the letters. Participants are encouraged to bring their own Bible and to have read each letter prior to class.
The Circle of Friends will meet on Wednesday, February 29 at noon at Creekside Retirement Residence in Beaverton.
Lunch will be provided and the program will be on Haiti.
For those wishing to carpool from the FUMC parking lot, please contact the church office.
The Ruth Circle will meet Wednesday, February 15 at noon in Room 204.
Cheryl Luce and Ken and Ruthann Panck will present the program about their recent First Church Travelers trip to Peru.
It will include a slide presentation of the sights and people in Peru and Ken will share the fascinating history of the “lost city” of Machu Picchu.
Bring a sandwich for lunch. Dessert and beverage will be provided.
(image is provided by CherylLuceTravel.com)
One of the books I’ve been reading lately is Gary Shockley’s The Meandering Way: Leading by Following the Spirit. In it the author looks at some of the challenges facing the church today and suggests some ways we might need to change to address those challenges. At one point, Shockley writes:
“Many people in our society still picture the church as a time machine that warps everyone back to the 1950s with a predictable worship style – somber-looking people all facing forward, droning on in monotone voices, and having little tolerance for expressions of spontaneity or joy… I have come to believe that thriving congregations in this century will ultimately be the ones that focus on becoming authentic faith communities that genuinely care for others, are graceful and unconditionally loving of people from all walks of life, see themselves as living laboratories for discovering new ways of doing ministry, and are characterized by uncommon joy.”
I am thrilled to be able to say that this second kind of church – the thriving congregation full of uncommon joy – is what I experience here at First Church. Life here is never dull…in large part because we help each other allow for the spontaneous, the surprising, the delight-full experiences of God’s gracious presence.
It is interesting how often visitors are surprised by this sense of open expectancy, and how newcomers react to the possibilities of unconditional love and authentic faith. For some it can be scary to enter into a community where individuals are encouraged to think about their faith and to share their spirituality without worry about conforming to one particular norm. For others, it is like finally finding a breath of fresh air!
So while we are not yet perfect (and never will be); while we still have many challenges and much work to do as a congregation… we can have high hopes. Because we are a community characterized by uncommon joy. So it might be good to remind ourselves of these words by Mary Oliver (one of my favorite poets):
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate.
Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns
destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this
is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something
happens better than all the riches or power in the world.
It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in
the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case.Whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.
Wednesday, February 7
Preacher’s Pub will meet at Cafe Nizza (820 SW 18th Ave Portland, OR 97205 – right across from the ball park) at 7 p.m. Tonight
Come and join in the conversation!
In the coming weeks, the Parish Conference and the Ministry Conference will be doing some work together to identify some priorities for FUMC in the next 3 to 5 years. The truth is there are about a thousand different ways we could spend our energies, and just as many goals we could set for our common ministry.
In order to be most effective in our work, I believe we need to have a sense of direction. We need to “dream big dreams” and then set forth a few priorities for our congregation. Parish Conference will begin their work by answering a few questions together, like this one which you might want to consider as well:
“What one aspect of your church best represents the heartbeat of your congregation?”
I like that question because it is relatively open-ended. And my answer to the question might not be anything like your answer. But if we share our answers we might not only learn something about each other, we might glimpse a little more truth about our church.
I found this poem, which suggests to me that we need to do this work of prioritizing and goal setting in the broadest way possible. It is written by David Whyte, and entitled “What To Remember When Waking”, and goes in part like this:
“In that first hardly noticed moment
in which you wake,
coming back to this life from the other
more secret,
moveable
and frighteningly honest world
where everything began,
there is a small opening into the day
which closes the moment
you begin your plans.What you can plan
is too small
for you to live.What you can live wholeheartedly
will make plans
enough
for the vitality hidden in your sleep….”
I am hoping we will make plans an then live them wholeheartedly, together.
Rev. Donna
First Church Library’s February 5th book sale was a big success. The Library volunteers thank everyone who donated books and everyone who picked up books at the sale. We have plenty of great books left and will have them available at our second sale on Sunday, May 6.
We are accepting donations for the May sale. Items may be dropped off at the Library on Sundays or at the church office during the week.
The proceeds from both sales will be used to purchase new books and to replace lost or damaged books. If you have suggested titles that you would like to see in our collection, leave a note with the Sunday librarian.
February 14, Tuesday evening from 7:00-8:00pm, Stephen Ministry will focus on the pervasive and devastating issue of abuse and domestic violence.
But there is hope and there is help. Locally, there are several excellent agencies and groups which offer abuse victims a life-line in the midst of their darkest emotional and physical pain. One such group is ARMS.
Come meet Stacey Womack, Executive Director of ARMS. Abuse Recovery Ministry and Services is a faith-based, interdenominational organization. It provides educational counseling and awareness to individuals faced with domestic abuse. The ARMS program encourages beliefs and behaviors that heal and promote healthy lifestyles. As founder of ARMS, Stacey Womack is a notable leader, author and speaker of abuse recovery and we are pleased to have her with us.
Stephen Ministry welcomes you to join us in Room 160 (downstairs by the MAX entry), Tuesday evening, 7:00-8:00 pm this February 14.
“When I finally had the resolve and courage to leave my abusive husband for the eighth and final time, I was feeling scared and alone.
My husband was such a “nice guy” that I feared no one would believe me. I didn’t know where to turn for help. The first night I attended an ARMS class named “Her Journey,” I knew I had found a safe haven in which to heal with other survivors who understood.
The information and the relationships with other abused women has been a Godsend to my healing, hope and faith.”
A Current Participant of MY JOURNEY
See the article “You Are Invited, for meeting Stacey Womack, Executive Director of ARMS. You may also contact ARMS at 503-846-9284.
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.
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