Headlines
Author: Alyson Inouye Published: May 8th, 2013
First Church Library will hold another used book sale on Sunday, May 19, before and after worship in Collins Hall.
This is our final book sale of the year, and everything must go.
Books will be for “sale” by donation. Take what you want, and we ask that you give what you can (cash or checks only). All proceeds will benefit First Church Library.
We will be setting up for the sale on Saturday, May 18, beginning at 9:30 AM and could use a few additional volunteers.
If you can help, please leave your name with one of the Sunday volunteers in the Library or at the Library table in the Commons.
Or, you can just show up on Saturday morning at 9:30 AM.
We can also use some extra hands to help box up any leftover books immediately following the sale on May 19.
Category Headlines, Library |
Author: Mark Ohlson Published: May 8th, 2013
May 26th Deadline for Internship Applications!
High school and college youth take note: Application deadline for a summer Greathouse Intern position is May 26th! If selected you will spend up to 210 hours this summer working in the organization of your choice. And you’ll receive $2,100.00 in compensation while you intern.
For full information, see Mark at the Outreach Table after worship or fill out an application online at the Church website: fumcpdx.org.
Category Church and Society for Social Justice, Headlines |
Author: Mark Ohlson Published: May 1st, 2013
Once each quarter, Church and Society plans a volunteer trip to the Oregon Food Bank where we serve in the “Repacking Room” by preparing household size portions of bulk foods. These food items are then distributed to the thousands of hungry Oregon families living among us.
Our next volunteer trip is scheduled for:
Saturday, May 18th
Oregon Food Bank, Portland Location
7900 NE 33rd Drive
Portland, OR 97211
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
This particular day’s effort is our contribution to the United Methodist “Change the World” Weekend program. Please see the sign up sheet at the Outreach Table in Collins Hall to join our group. Or email for more information: mohlson@fumcpdx.org. See you at the Food Banki!!!
Category Church and Society for Social Justice, Headlines |
Author: Mark Ohlson Published: May 1st, 2013
This thank you note from Rena Satre Meloy, Communications Director at Community Warehouse sums up their appreciation for our support during our recent “Everything Drive” for household goods:
“I want to extend a HUGE, huge thank you on behalf of all of us here (and the 50+ families who came in last week, as well those coming in this week) for all of the wonderful contributions your congregation collected for the Warehouse. You’ve knocked our socks off (now several years in a row) and we are so grateful to all of you for your ongoing support.”
Once again, the congregation at First Church shows that in our hearts, we really care about those less fortunate than ourselves. Another successful Outreach effort under our belts. Thank you to all for participating!
Tags: Roz Babener of Community Warehouse and just some of our donations.
Category Church and Society for Social Justice, Headlines |
Author: Bob Wilson Published: May 1st, 2013
On Saturday April 20th, eighteen First Church members joined almost fifty other volunteers at Tryon Creek State Natural Area for an Earth Weekend service project.
The crew was assigned to pulling English Ivy from a site upslope from the creek.
Pulling ivy is slow work, but thanks to many, many efforts like ours, Tryon Creek has been able to remove this destructive invasive plant from almost 1/3 of the park’s 645 acres.
Thanks to all who were able to help!
Tags: Planet Church; Earth Day
Category Headlines, Planet Church |
Author: web manager Published: April 19th, 2013
55 people from our church community attended the annual Spring Retreat, this year located at Camp Magruder on the Oregon coast. Our ages ranged from senior adults to five babies under 2 years old. We had longtime members and newcomers to our community. In short, it was a fruitbasket turnover of all kinds of folks at the church and we got along swimmingly!
Our theme was “Awake, Alive, Aware” and we found that through intentional devotionals, activities, and unstructured free time that we indeed did feel more awake to God, alive to each other, and aware of our place in God’s creation. Be it being caught in the rain on the beach, going on a birding walk, winning the scavenger hunt, or an evening Smores treat, the event was a good time had by all.
Our last evening included a talent show, hosted by Josh Martin who shared groaners of jokes from a joke book he found. Children, youth, and adults shared their musical talents, as well as joke-telling and storytelling.
Looking forward to our next All-Church Retreat in the Fall!
Category Children, Families and Youth, Congregational Life, Headlines |
Author: Mark Ohlson Published: April 16th, 2013
Starting now, internship positions are open to high school and college age students. The purpose of the internships is to create and maintain a connectional relationship between FUMC and Portland/Metro community organizations whose primary mission is to work to alleviate human suffering caused by economic hardship, poverty, health, safety, and/or environmental concerns.
Each applicant awarded an internship by FUMC will have 210 hours of service as agreed to by each of two interns and sponsoring organizations. Internship service work is to be completed between June 1 and September 1.
Compensation for 2013 is $2,100 total per intern @ $10 per hour (210 hours). The prospective agency or organization, to be selected by FUMC in collaboration with the intern, should be one that is already affiliated in some way with FUMC or would like to form a connectional relationship with FUMC in service to others. This organization, to which an intern would be assigned, should evidence in its ministry the spirit of Jesus’ words: “I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to see me.”
The Intern, in conjunction with the Organization and FUMC Internship Selection Committee, is expected to create a written learning, serving plan with goals and expectations of both the Intern and the Organization. The plan should contain a timeline with action steps and/or points to evaluate the progress of the internship. Consideration is given to whether the Intern’s project will “make a difference” to the organization and its clients. Consideration is also given to how a learning, serving internship experience will benefit the Intern in having the opportunity to explore his or her potential for community service, and future educational goals.
Greathouse Internships are a program of the Church and Society Committee at First Church. Applications will be reviewed and internships will be awarded on or about May 15, 2013.
Category Church and Society for Social Justice, Headlines |
Author: Mark Ohlson Published: April 10th, 2013
Save the date: Sunday April 28th starting at 1:00 PM. The 2.7 mile CROP Walk starts and finishes at First Christian Church, 1413 SW Park Ave., and takes walkers along the picturesque waterfront and park blocks. This is an ecumenical event and all are welcome. You can support this effort by walking, or by sponsoring those who walk. To sign up for the Walk or to sponsor walkers, check out the Volunteer/Outreach table in Collins Hall during coffee hour.
Seventy five percent of the funds raised will go to Church World Service; fifteen percent will go to Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s Northwest Emergency Food Program, and ten percent to the Oregon Food Bank. The CROP Hunger Walk raises funds for Church World Service (CWS). CWS was founded in 1946 by Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox denominations in the United States, including the Methodist Church, as a cooperative ministry to deliver excess wheat and other crops to post-war Europe. Its mission has evolved over the decades to address hunger and poverty issues throughout the world. UMCOR funnels much of its relief efforts through CWS, which provides actual delivery, as well as coordination with the relief efforts of other denominations.
Category Church and Society for Social Justice, Headlines |
Author: Mark Ohlson Published: April 9th, 2013
This is your chance to show our colors!
Custom logo’d shirts with the First Church identity are available for order during Coffee Hour April 14th and 21st. These are the last two Sundays they’ll be available. If you would like either a long sleeve cotton twill shirt or a short sleeve polo style version, now is the time to act. See Mark at the Outreach Table for all the information and how to order.
Category Headlines |
Author: Mark Ohlson Published: April 3rd, 2013
All seniors are invited to join the Graceful Aging Fellowship on April 20th for a discussion of memory loss and coping with the declining “memory health” of a loved one.
We will share our experiences and learn new strategies that work in this time of stress and sadness. Please plan on joining us for our discussion which will be led by Jeanette Chardon, MSW and the founder of Elder Care Consultants.
You will enjoy the warm fellowship and go away feeling that there are others going through shared experiences.
April 20th, 10:30 AM until Noon, Fireside Room at First Church. For more information contact Mark Ohlson, Outreach Coordinator at: mohlson@fumcpdx.org.
Category Adults, Headlines |
Author: Rev. Jeremy Smith Published: April 1st, 2013
A Place at the Table
2013 Bread for the World Offering of Letters
We live in the world’s wealthiest nation. Yet over 50 million Americans struggle to put food on the table. More than one in seven Americans—including nearly one in four children—live below the poverty line. In the US, hunger is not caused by a scarcity of food, but rather the continued prevalence of poverty. Worldwide, 1.29 billion people still live in extreme poverty—on less than $1.25 per day.
What can we do: For the past several years, members and friends of FUMC have participated in Bread for the World’s annual Offering of Letters. Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian movement that seeks justice for the world’s hungry people by speaking out with one voice to our nation’s leaders about policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist.
Writing letters to Congress is particularly important this year as lawmakers continue to negotiate the federal budget. Letters help give them the political will to protect programs that help hungry and poor people. Those programs are at great risk and any cuts will significantly harm the lives of thousands of people, including many Oregonians.
The 2013 Offering of Letters includes signing a petition to the president as well as writing letters to Congress. The petition asks the president to set a goal and work with Congress on a plan to end hunger in the United States and abroad.
What you can do: Letter writing opportunities will be held in the Commons on April 7th, 14th and 21st. All supplies, including sample letters, will be provided. Background information on hunger, poverty, federal and state hunger-related programs, and effects of the sequestration will be available.
Our faith teaches us not to give up hope.
We take seriously the Scripture’s call to
“Speak out, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
(Proverbs 31:9).
Category Global Mission committee, Headlines |
Author: Megan Jones Published: March 18th, 2013
April 12-14, 2013
People of all ages and stage are invited to join in the All-Church Spring Retreat at Camp Magruder. Camp Magruder is conveniently located outside of Rockaway Beach, Oregon. The retreat will begin at 7:00 pm Friday night.
Register today!
Retreat Rates: Adults $90, Youth (age 12-17) $80, Children (age 3-11) $60. Registration and payment are due by April 7, 2013.
Category Headlines, News |
Author: web manager Published: March 17th, 2013
On March 24th, First Church is honored to welcome Stanley Imunyas, and Mary Gitari Imunyas, from the Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya. They will speak in the Fireside Room at Noon. A light lunch of Kenyan style stew, and salads will be provided.
Stanley is the director of the Hospital’s Community Health Department and AIDS programs, and Mary is the director of nursing.
The Maua Methodist Hospital was started in 1862 by the British Methodist Church. Today, it is the only full service health care provider in a district of 800,000 persons. It provides inpatient care for the critically ill. It offers community health training, personal hygiene training, school health services, and mobile medical services to many remote villages.
AIDS is endemic to the area. Through its AIDS Orphans Project, it provides community based programs, including food, primary education, and basic healthcare, giving orphans the chance to survive into adulthood with an opportunity for employment and self-sufficiency. Through its Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission program, it hopes to reduce the risk of HIV infection in newborns.
The work of the Hospital is supported by Methodists around the world through five Advance Specials, which allows Methodists to make targeted gifts in support of specific programs. For more information, visit www.umcmission.org.
Category Global Mission committee, Headlines |
Author: Bob Wilson Published: March 2nd, 2013
“Sound the Alarm for Climate Action”
On Wednesday, March 13th, First United Methodist Church will join with churches and other groups around the region in ringing bells to “sound the alarm for climate action.” For three minutes, beginning at 12:30pm, the First Church carillon will ring out with the strains of “All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.”
The organization Sound the Alarm for Climate Action, with the support of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and other organizations, is coordinating churches, synagogues, mosques, other civic groups and individuals to create this mid-day bell-ringing extravaganza.
Watch—and listen—for this event online and throughout the community, and as you hear our bells—or other bells around the city—take a moment to think of the earth and reflect on actions we can take individually and collectively to combat climate change.
Category Headlines, Planet Church |
Author: Rick Rust Published: February 26th, 2013
UMCOR West Depot – On March 3rd, the mission team that worked at the West Depot in Salt Lake City in June of 2012 will show photos in the Fireside Room at noon and talk about the work of the West Depot.
This will be an opportunity for those interested in the August 2013 Intergenerational West Depot trip to get your questions answered!
A light lunch will be offered by Global Missions Committee.
Category Global Mission committee, Headlines |
