Word with the Pastor
No matter which Gospel writer you read, the events of Holy Week are a dramatic change for the Jesus’ disciples: especially the resurrection.
news & updates
Read the latest news and updates at First Church here! Download a pdf file of the latest Circuit Rider or Program Guide, as well as other news and announcements from first Church are posted here.
Please Note: The monthly “Circuit Rider” newsletter has suspended production. As we continue to adapt to new ways of doing and being church, news about upcoming events and opportunities here at First Church will come to this page and our weekly emails. To subscribe to our email list, please click here.
General Conference 2020 – in 2024!
Friends, First Church is no stranger to the work of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Youth Summer Serice Fundraiser
Help the Portland FUMC Youth attend their Summer Service & Learning Trip from July 21-26 with S.L.A.M. Trips (Students Learning About Missions) on the Yakama…
What Easter People Do (Part 1: Lift UP)
Happy Easter, First Church! In this first week of Eastertide I want to share some ambiguous good news.
Help Asylum Seekers this Easter Weekend
Our friends at IMRJ (the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice) and the Leaven Land and Housing Coalition have made us aware of the needs of…
Holy Week & Easter Offering
We have made it through the bleak midwinter and to the promising hint of spring- Holy Week is nearly here!
A Catalyst for Connection
Last month Paul and I schlepped over the Santiam Pass to Suttle Lake Camp. Having safely arrived without donning the brand-new tire chains that sat…
Order Easter Flowers
The Flower Committee is taking orders for Lilies and Azaleas to decorate the Chancel for Easter Sunday.
Holy Week
As our Lenten Journey comes to an end, we enter into Holy Week. We begin with the Palm Sunday Celebration, then a Prayer Labyrinth on Wednesday…
A Prayer of Longing
“Discernment” is the word of the season! Between all the happenings of church life as well as Rev. Lowell and Rev. Ethan’s departures, plus Drew’s…
A Word with the Pastor – Feb 29
Friends, I am delighted to share this “Word” with you, as Rev. Karyn finishes up her final few days of resting and renewing. While she…
Why Church (Part 4)
As your pastor, it is my formal recommendation not to fall ill with Covid and the flu back-to-back (ask me how I know)! This year…
New Directory
You may have heard that we have a new online church directory. You can get your name and contact information listed, but you need to…
Why Church? (Part 3)
Friends, we’ve made it. Somewhere in the middle of storm recovery and the buzz of 2024, we made it past the 10 darkest weeks of…
A Word with the Pastor
This is part of a series of writings. Part One can be heard in the worship broadcast from Sunday, January 21.
The Best of All
On his deathbed, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, was quoted as saying, “the best of all, God is with us.”
Support UMCOR’s Work in Gaza
To date, UMCOR has awarded five emergency grants to local partners in Israel and Gaza. Partners are using funds for relocation support, food and hygiene…
A Word with the Pastor
Hello First Church, My family has been talking about the hymn, In the Bleak Midwinter. It’s meant to be a Christmas hymn, but we find…