Saturday May 25th 2013

Church Info

Subscribe to our Worship Service Podcast

All of the worship services at Portland’s First United Methodist Church are published as Podcasts in the iTunes Podcast Directory.

This means that in addition to listening to the services here on our website, you can also subscribe to them in your favorite podcast program and have them delivered right to your computer or phone when they are published.

Everything from the worship service is included, from the opening bells to the final crescendo of the largest pipe organ in the Pacific Northwest. The children’s time, the scriptures, the choral music and the sermons, they’re all here!

Simply use your favorite podcast program and search on “Portland First United Methodist Church” to subscribe on your phone or tablet, or click on this link to subscribe with iTunes on your computer.

    Church Staff

    Rev. Donna Pritchard
    dpritchard@fumcpdx.org
    Senior Minister
    503/228-3195 ext. 226

    Rev. Jeremy Smith
    jsmith@fumcpdx.org
    Minister of Discipleship
    503/228-3195 ext. 224

    Rev. Dick Storment
    dstorment@fumcpdx.org
    Minister of Pastoral Care
    503/228-3195 ext. 233

    Megan Jones
    mjones@fumcpdx.org
    Director of Child, Youth & Family Ministries
    503/228-3195 et.227

    Jonas Nordwall
    jnordwall@fumcpdx.org
    Artistic Director of Music and Organist
    503/228-3195 ext. 218

    Kelly Qualls
    kqualls@fumcpdx.org
    Executive Director of Music
    503/228-3195 ext. 235

    Mark Ohlson
    mohlson@fumcpdx.org
    Coordinator of Volunteers, Hospitality, and Outreach
    503/228-3195 ext. 220

    Christine Meyer
    cmeyer@fumcpdx.org
    Church Administrator
    503/228-3195 ext. 222

    David Jenkins
    djenkins@fumcpdx.org
    Administrative Assistant
    503/228-3195 ext. 221

    Dwight Dragoo
    ddragoo@fumcpdx.org
    Facilities Manager
    503/228-3195 ext. 205

    Shirley Blalock
    sblalock@fumcpdx.org
    Bookkeeper
    503/228-3195 ext. 225

    Shirley Blalock Retires

    BLALOCK-SHIRLEY-54Shirley Blalock, First Church bookkeeper, has shared her considerable skills with First Church for over 12 years and is retiring from her position. She has been our dependable, exacting, and pleasant “money-keeper.” We will be honoring Shirley for her many years of service on Sunday, January 6, 2013 during Coffee Hour in Collins Hall. If you would like to leave a card and/or a monetary gift expressing your appreciation for Shirley’s many years of dedicated service, drop it by the church office.

    Shirley has always gone above her normal duties and has been an integral part of our church office. “Shirley will be missed after she retires. She has always been an asset on the church staff and was always flexible and knowledgeable in her job,” says Christine Meyer, Church Administrator. Many will miss Shirley’s smile and pleasant greeting in the office, but she will be among us, worshipping and participating in the service opportunities at First Church. Shirley was elected as the Treasurer of UMW this past year and will continue to participate and serve. We are so pleased that we can have this opportunity on January 6th to formally thank her for a job well done!

    Coffee with the Clergy

    Newcomers to First Church are invited to “Coffee with the Clergy” on Sunday mornings after worship.

    This will be an informal time where you can get to know our clergy staff and find ways to get connected to the First Church community.

    Immediately after worship, make your way to Rev. Donna’s office (walk down the glass hallway to the first door open on the left, or walk through the office).

    We hope to see you there!

    Youth Sunday Podcast is Online

    This is just a quick note for all the youth who helped with our brilliant service this past Sunday. The podcast of the service is now officially online. You can go download the recording of yourself on the iTunes Podcast directory – just search for fumcpdx and look for Youth Sunday, May 6.

    Alternatively, you could just click on this link.

    Staff Spotlight: Christine Meyer

    Christine Meyer has been at First UMC for almost six years. As the Church Administrator she is responsible for the day to day operations of the church facilities and oversees approximately seven employees, including the church custodial staff, facilities manager, administrative assistant and the church bookkeeper.

    The Trustees appreciate her skills at managing our “bricks and mortar.” Over fifty community groups reap the benefit of our outreach into local ministries by using our facilities. We have a community group using our building every day of the week, including our Goose Hollow Shelter for families, Youngset Preschool, the bridge club, language schools, twelve step programs, and many more.

    Christine has been working for the non-profit community for over 20 years and last served the Oregon Historical Society prior to coming to work for First UMC. She is a member of the local chapter of the National Association of Church Business Administrators and has helped us to keep current with our employee practices.

    Her favorite part of her job is the people of the church that she works for. If she could change anything it would be to solidify First UMC’s funding so as to ensure that our many missions have a solid foundation.

    Christine hails from the other Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is thrilled to be a part of First Church. She is engaged to be married in May. If you do not know Christine, stop by the office during the week to say “Hi” and offer her your congratulations on the upcoming nuptials.

    Complete Worship Services are Online!

    Did you miss church last Sunday? We know there are many reasons you may not have been in the pews during the service.

    Maybe you were in Sunday School teaching the Fourth Graders. Perhaps you had to set up for the coffee hour after the service. It’s possible that you were working in the nursery or some other part of the church. You might even have been skiing on Mount Hood…

    No matter! Have we got a deal for you!

    The whole worship service from Sunday morning is online! That’s the whole service from every Sunday morning!

    Starting in January of this year, we have begun offering all of our Sunday morning services for playback online. Each service begins with the our lay leader’s announcements and plays right through to the end of the postlude.

    You can listen to any of the services listed in the Sunday Morning section under the Worship heading right here on our website. Services that are available show up as a row links at the bottom of that Sunday’s entry (you’ll see them right under “Download the Bulletin” when they are available). Just click on the “Play Now”, “Play in Popup” to listen right away, or click on “Download” to get the service and play it later.

    If you listen to podcasts using the iTunes Podcast directory, you can subscribe and have each week’s service delivered to your favorite listening device automatically. Go to the iTunes Podcast directory and search on fumcpdx to subscribe (or click on this link: Portland’s First United Methodist Church at iTunes).

    Internet song performances on this website are authorized by the WorshipCast License.

    Web Team Open House

    Picture of the church website as it looked on February 15Please 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!

    Contact the Web Manager for more details

    Staff Spotlight: Kelly Qualls

    Kelly Qualls has been our Executive Director of Music for the past eight years. She was born in Kansas, but has called the Portland area her home since 1982 which is when she joined First UMC and began singing in the Chancel Choir. Kelly taught elementary, middle school and high school general music, choral music, band, remedial reading and math for 28 years in various schools in both Washington and Oregon.

    Kelly is very proud of the music program at First Church and strives to keep it one of excellence in all areas. She supervises the musicians that comprise our music staff. The musicians range in age from three-year-olds (Cherub Choir) up through octagenerians in the Chancel Choir. She schedules when each of the music groups and soloists sing or play in the worship services.

    Additionally, Kelly takes care of the music budgets (music purchases for each of the choirs, payroll, having pianos tuned and organs repaired), sits on a committee to interview and audition candidates for music staff positions, administers the Nordwall Education Program, and contracts with musicians to play at special times such as Easter or weddings or memorial sevices. She coordinates with the Senior Pastor and other program and administrative staff regularly.

    Kelly is married to David Qualls, a retired optometrist. They make their home in Gresham.

    Welcome to the New Website

    The new website for Portland’s First United Methodist Church was launched on November 15, 2011.

    If you don’t see your group or committee listed anywhere, it’s because we don’t have a volunteer from your group to help maintain your area yet.

    Contact the web manager to get the ball rolling, and we’ll have you contributing to the site before you know it!

    Our Location

    Google Map of our location
    Find us on Google Maps
    First United Methodist Church
    1838 SW Jefferson
    Portland, OR 97201
    503-228-3195
    office@fumcpdx.org

    We can be reached by Max on the blue or red lines at the Goose Hollow stop.

    TriMet Bus lines 6, 58 and 68 all stop right at the church, the 51 and the 63 both stop a few blocks away. You can use the TriMet.org Trip Planner for more details about public transportation.

    Credit Card Donations

    Tax deductable donations can be made to First United Methodist Church by with your major credit card. If you choose to donate by credit card, you will be taken to a secure third-party site where you can enter your information and choose which ministry of the church you would like to donate to.

    If you prefer, donations can also be made by sending a check to the church office at

    Church Office
    1838 SW Jefferson
    Portland, OR 97201

    Room Use

    First Church is home to many community groups and activities. If you are interested in a one time use or an ongoing program at First Church, you can begin with a phone call to Christine Meyer, our Church Administrator, at 503/228-3195 ext. 222.

    Questions or Concerns

    If you have a specific question or concern about First Church, you can reach us through the church office at 503/228-3195. Dave Jenkins is our Administrative Assistant and he will answer your question or direct you to the person who can!

    We also have a psychologist who maintains an office on our campus. Dr. Roger Carlson is an ordained United Methodist minister, as well as a fully licensed psychologist. If you desire to make an appointment for counseling, you can reach his office directly at 503/245-2929 or e-mail him at: rogerdcarlson@gmail.com.

    Weddings

    If you are interested in having your wedding at First Church, you can begin with a phone call to Dave Jenkins, our Administrative Assistant, at 503/228-3195 ext. 221. Below is a link for our current Wedding Policy Guide.

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    Other News

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    Today at First Church

    Saturday, May 25th
    9:00 am
    Alliance Francaise de Portland Saturday French Classes for Children
    133
    9:00 am
    Alliance Francaise de Portland Saturday French Classes for Children
    136
    9:00 am
    Alliance Francaise de Portland 2013
    209
    2:00 pm
    La Scuola Italiana di Portland Beginning Italian
    160