A wise colleague highlighted this word from God as the one needed today. When that word was first spoken, the prophet Elijah was in a cross mood in a cross time. The journey ahead felt too difficult. He had given up. However, God had not given up on him.

In the summer of 1992, the world witnessed the greatest sports team ever assembled: the U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball team. The Dream Team.

Each year in commemoration of Veterans Day we provide a list in worship of our members who have served in the military in worship. We will do so again this year on Sunday, November 10.

The Volunteer In Mission team to Kenya is continuing to gather school supply items in the Narthex to take to the various mission projects that they will be working on. 

When I relayed my latest fantastic sports metaphor to my spouse, he said, “Karyn. This has gone too far! You’ve got to be stopped.” I took this as a grand compliment.

The Library Volunteers and Friends have collaborated with Street Books and Lift UP/Preston’s Pantry to offer free books to the clients who come to the Pantry on Fridays.

Chest open, arms up, on your feet- and streeeeetch! In the middle of a road trip, while hunched over your desk all day, or after 6 ½ innings of a baseball game, a well-timed stretch feels good.

It is a blessing to have lots of folks to love and who love you. During the holidays, however, this can make for tricky scheduling. Paul’s and my families have always been 2000 miles away from each other, and our closest friends are scattered from coast to coast.

The Blue Ridge Mountains are a feature in our home. During a week exploring Ashville’s brilliant fall foliage, we came upon a giclee triptych of those gentle peaks: layer upon layer of rolling hill, seeming to go on as far as the sunset.

As a sports fan, I am not difficult to impress. Paul and I enjoy attending Blazers games at the Moda Center. He is a diehard basketball fan, down to every player’s stats, personalities, contracts, the philosophy of the game, and the strategy of a team in each era.

First Church is 176 years old. We are a historic faith community and an ever-growing family of God. It is important that we are intentional about that growth.

A committed Portland Timbers fan knows: In the 80^th minute of every Timbers game at Providence Park, a melody emerges from the raucous crowd: You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

This year’s Used Book Sale will be Sundays September 29 and October 6 in Collins Hall after worship, and they need some strong arms and backs to help!.

At FUMC, our faithful legacy of seeking social justice and housing the unhoused leads us to continually ask: “How can we ensure our neighbors have safe, reliable housing?”

“Courage doesn’t always shout but whispers and reminds, when we get up one more morning and we try another time.” - Carrie Newcomer, “A Simple Change of Heart”...

I was taking a break from my tasks this week when I popped onto Facebook to see what was going on in the lives of my friends and acquaintances. One friend had posted: “ Apalachee High School. Winder, GA. Lord, in your mercy.”

As I was working on my sermon for this week, I found myself overwhelmed by the enormity of the world’s grief. Not only am I working through my own grief, but I am also living in a world that is crying out in agony over the painful ways we have treated her.

Your First Church Finance Committee is pleased to provide you with this brief update on church finances.

Summary of FUMC finances as of June 30, 2024:

My daughter goes to preschool during the week. While she is there she learns her numbers, her alphabet, and perhaps most importantly, how to interact with her peers. She is learning language to tell us how she feels, what she needs, and how to address those things that she feels most intensely.

Four First Church “grannies” were among the 100+ “Grandcampers” at Camp Magruder on the first weekend of August.  From first-timer Anne Kayser and grandson Ellis to 20+ year veteran Dee Poujade and granddaughters Cora and Lili, all agreed that a great time was had by all at this all-ages event ...