Reconciling

Reconciling Ministries Lunch Sunday

Reconciling Ministries is a group of First Church members and friends who strive to embody “open hearts, open minds, and open doors,” and to promote First Church as welcoming to all persons, including every race, nationality, age, gender, social condition, ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

On the third Sunday of each month, Reconciling Ministries and friends go out to lunch after church. Sunday, February 17th, the group will walk to the West Cafe for lunch. Look for the rainbow umbrella in Collins Hall after worship service. For more information about Reconciling Ministries, contact Pastor Jeremy Smith or Erin Riley.

Category Reconciling |

National Leader of Methodist Social Action to Speak in Portland

Join with other progressive United Methodists to meet with Chett Pritchett, Interim Executive Director of Methodist Federation for Social Action, Monday evening, February 4th.

Pritchett and Steve Clunn, coordinator for the Love Your Neighbor Coalition, are based in Washington, DC, but traveled to Portland to make arrangements for Coalition work at the United Methodist General Conference 2016, which will be held in Portland.

This is an early opportunity to hear what various groups working for the full participation of all people in the church are planning as we move forward from General Conference 2012 to 2016 in Portland.

Details: Monday, February 4th, 7:00 pm, Cherry Park United Methodist Church, 1736 SE 106th Ave.

Tags: Gay, GBLT, General Conference, Lesbian, Reconciling, Reconciling United Methodists
Category Headlines, Reconciling |

Third Sunday Lunch

This Sunday, November 18, is the third Sunday of the month, and that means Reconciling Ministries goes out to lunch.

Join us as we carpool to the Spaghetti Warehouse at Johns Landing.

Meet us in Collin’s Hall after worship service; we’ll have a rainbow umbrella for easy identification!

Category Reconciling |

At the Library: “Blessing Same-Sex Unions”

Would it surprise you to know that weddings have not always looked like they do today?  In his book “Blessing Same-Sex Unions,” author Mark Jordan explores the history of the Christian wedding and what it means in modern times, especially in light of the desire of many gay couples to marry.

Common features of the modern Christian wedding like the bride’s white dress and the exchange of rings are not practices that date back to the early church and have little to do with the sacrament of Marriage.  The author observes that the most important person presiding over the modern wedding ritual is often not the couple’s priest or pastor, but the wedding planner with wedding theology provided by “Modern Bride” or reality TV.  He wonders if the trappings of the wedding ceremony overshadow the reason for getting married and having the couple’s relationship blessed in a religious ceremony.

We live in confusing times where weddings are concerned.  When I lived in Hawaii, a popular moneymaker was wedding ceremonies for young Japanese tourists.  These couples were already married but wanted to experience the western wedding they had seen on TV or at the movies, complete with the white bridal gown, the words of the modern traditional wedding ritual, and the cake with perhaps some champagne thrown in.  Many of these faux weddings took place at local chapels built for this purpose, and a few churches conducted ceremonies as a way to make money.  The churches rationalized the practice by saying that these weren’t real weddings but blessing ceremonies.  Curiously, blessing the faux wedding of a non-Christian heterosexual couple was apparently okay while blessing the relationship between two Christians of the same sex might be taboo.  Confused?  I was.

If you’re interested in becoming more informed about the controversial topic of whom should be allowed to marry, “Blessing Same-Sex Unions” can be found in the New Titles section of First Church Library.

Category Library, Reconciling |

Portland 2012 Gay Pride Is Here – Let’s Have A “Gaylabration!”

On Sunday, June 17, 2012 Reconciling Ministries invites you to join church members, family and friends to join the 2012 Portland Gay Pride Parade and Activities at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. 

Interested marchers will attend regular Sunday service in the Sanctuary, Rev. Donna will conduct a Blessing for marchers and a coordinator will escort our group to the Goose Hollow Tri-Met station, en-route to our Church lineup location in preparation for a 11:30 am Parade step off – click  here: Parade Route and click here:  Pride Events.

Upon lineup arrival: A coordinator will greet you and provide next steps and:

1. T-shirt with words: “In God’s House, All Are Welcome”
2. A rainbow colored umbrella
3. Bottle water
4. Small snack

Vern  &  Betty Groves will drive and lead the group in their car which will double as a resting spot for marchers to cool-down or rest up during the Parade.  Last year, we had well over 39 FUMC participants including, friends and family – this year, we hope 45 marchers will join us!

QUICK PARADE FACTS

ADMISSION COST

Marching in the parade with the church is free, but there is a $7 Donation to get into the festival at the end – You may donate as much as you can toward the festival operations.

FOOD & BEVERAGE SERVICE

There are a number of diverse, renowned food, snack and beverage vendors on-site this year. No food or beverages may be brought onto the festival grounds.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Portland Pride Festival at Tom McCall Waterfront Park is accessible by those using a wheelchair or other mobility devices.  Additionally, there are accessible portable bathroom facilities on-site. If you are driving, you will want to use the U Park parking lot directly across from the festival. A map is shown HERE.

HOW TO GET TO THE FESTIVAL

The festival is held at Tom McCall Waterfront Park along Naito Parkway in Downtown Portland between SW Pine Street and The Morrison Bridge.

Since there is very little parking, we encourage everyone to use Tri-met and take the MAX to the Oak/SW 1st Ave station (Stop ID 8380) which is served by the Blue Yellow and Red Lines.

If driving, U Park offers a number of parking spots at the following locations:

• SW 2nd and Oak
• SW 2nd and Washington
• Morrison Bridge Head
• SW 1st and Columbia
• Crown Plaza
• SW Naito Parkway and Pine
• SW 3rd and Ash
• SW Naito Parkway
• SW 1st and Ankeny
• SW 1st and Ash
• SW 1st and Pine
• World Trade Center

Smart Park also offers affordable parking at their locations on 3rd & Alder and at Naito & Davis. . . We hope to see you there!

Category Headlines, Reconciling |