Dear Greg,

We are still excited about the upcoming Western District Renewal Event which will feature Rev. Reggie McNeal, a leader of the missional church movement.  Partnering with God: Becoming a Missional Church will be Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Salem's Kroc Center.  See the article below.  We encourage you to register now.   Space is limited and we are opening this event up to folks from other districts and other denominations.  Please register by Thursday, February 24th.

This issue is a little shorter than some (Yay!)  That's good because you have better things to do than sit in front of your computer . . . but please do take a few minutes and read the articles that follow.  

• Mary Foote, Western District Lay Leader, and Rev. Rand Sargent, President of the Western District Church Extension Society, both have interesting angles on why you should come to the Partnering with God: Becoming a Missional Church event on Saturday, March 5th.  Did I already say that you should register now?  The deadline is next Thursday, February 24th and we don't want you to miss it!
• Also included in this issue are two wonderful opportunities offered by United Methodist Women: a day learning about the Oregon legislature and an event for young women learning what we can do to stop human trafficking. 

• And there's an event coming up in May to support your church in cultivating adult faith formation! 

There is no article from Kate this month . . . some months she runs out of days before she runs out of tasks.  She is enjoying her visits with individual congregations to talk about how God is calling them in their own communities.  If your church hasn't scheduled that visit with her yet, give her a call, 503-559-8354!  Look for her article next month, or better yet, see her at the Partnering with God event on March 5th.  Register now!

Keep watching for those signs of Spring -- it's coming!

Grace and peace in Christ,

Linda Grund-Clampit
Western District Administrative Assistant
Newsletter editor

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Partnering with God: Becoming A Missional Church  

It is time to register for "Partnering with God: Becoming a Missional Church."  Pre-registration is required for this exciting event, and registrations are due by Thursday, February 24th.   To register, click here or call 503-581-3969 or e-mail the WD office. 

This event is jointly sponsored by the Western District Leadership Team and the Western District Church Extension Society.  Both groups are offering this resource to aid local churches in "being the church" in our new context.  We hope that the pastor and at least one lay person from each Western District congregation will attend. We will have a full day to learn from someone who has been at the forefront of talking about how the mainline church can partner with God in God's activity of redeeming the world.  Rev. Reggie McNeal, our speaker, has much to offer us from his experience. He is also an engaging, passionate speaker.  You don't want to miss this!

When: Sat., March 5     9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Kroc Center,  Salem, Oregon
Cost: $35, includes lunch

Pre-registration required. 

For more information and to register, click here or call 503-581-3969 or e-mail the WD office

This event will be open to other districts and other denominations, and space is limited.  Please register now!

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"Out of a rapidly changing cultural context and declining church context has emerged what has come to be known as the missional church movement. This movement takes seriously the need to recover the stories of our fa,, ith found in scripture. The missional church movement realizes that any healthy mission is theologically grounded. Belief and behavior cannot be separated.

"The missional church movement takes seriously the sociology of the massive culture shift we are undergoing. A cultural earthquake has rocked the very foundations of our society, and we find ourselves with more questions than answers. The missional church does not quickly discard the questions, or jump on easy answers. It wrestles with each question seriously, in light of scripture and prayer, looking for the new thing that God is doing in our midst.

"The missional church movement realizes that we are no longer chaplains to a Christian culture. We must be a missionary people in our own land. Every congregation needs to be cross-cultural missionaries to its own community."

-  by Rev. Dr. Clark D. Cowden; adapted from "Perspectives," an online publication of the Office of the General Assembly, PCUSA, Nov. 2002; http://oga.pcusa.org/perspectives/nov02

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Working With God
from the Western District Lay Leader

When I turn to back out of our driveway, I'm greeted by hundreds of buds. I see promises of bright, yellow trumpets that will play the final songs of winter. With little effort on my part, the couple feet at the front of our lot will be alive with assorted daffodils from an assortment of people and places in my life. My Dad, sister and neighbors - this flowerbed represents their beautiful gardens and more. I help the bulbs along - actually, I try not to wreck them - and God takes it from there.

Susan Jensen, our awesome Annual Conference Director of Lay Speaking and a member with me of Hillsboro First UMC, was eager to talk to me after Ad Council a couple weeks ago. She was excited to tell me she'd seen Dave, a gentleman who first came into our church building as an outreach volunteer in a program that gets 2/3 of its volunteers from the community. While Dave served as a volunteer he also regularly attended a Sunday book discussion group, but then left before worship. The discussion group completed the assigned book and Dave's volunteering ended due to increased demands at work. We hadn't seen him for a few months. Susan's news had a clear ring of joy- Dave had been in church last Sunday and had received communion! We were moved to think our faith community may have aided Dave on his walk with the Lord.

Did we make a disciple for Jesus Christ? In a couple weeks can I take credit for the magnificent daffodils out in front? In good conscience, my only answer is no. I can help. I can try not to goof things up, but it's the everyday miracle of the Lord in our lives that transforms. The Lord is the difference between several folks sitting on pews and one body with many parts worshiping together. It's only the power of the Lord that reunites us with Him* when we've chosen paths elsewhere.

My personal mission statement is - "To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." I picked it up somewhere along the line (smiley face!) and it rings true in my heart. I need nothing else. By being a disciple and aiding others in their discipleship, I can transform the world. God will do His* part, I need only take care of mine.

*In a future article, all references to the Lord will be feminine unless I come up with a more creative pronoun solution. To be "PC" is irritating. To be "sexist" is unforgivable. To refer to our Lord and Savior as "It" is impossible!

God be with you!

Mary Foote
Western District Lay Leader

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WDCES: Hope to See You There!

Several years back I was part of a group of several United Methodists from the Western District who attended a stimulating event put on by the Presbyterians & Fuller Seminary in Tualatin by the title of "The Present Future:  Six Tough Questions for the Church." The featured speaker was a Southern Baptist from Columbia, South Carolina.  His name:  Dr. Reggie McNeal.  Since the presenter was being sponsored from the seminary I had attended, I figured that it would be excellent.  I was not disappointed.

Those high expectations were, I have to say, powerfully exceeded.  Reggie McNeal spent the day expertly unpacking the multiple changes taking place in our culture as well as their impact on churches of any theological persuasion or geographical location.  (In other words, what he shared impacts just as much in the Bible Belt as to the Pacific Northwest. How about those for polar opposites of many levels!)  I left that day stimulated in my thinking as well as looking to put some of his insights to work when I got home to my two congregations. Several of these have paid great dividends in the time since.

Probably the best one has been Reggie's statement that "We need to stop having an evangelism strategy in order to develop a strategy of blessing people."  Ever since hearing it, I've been busy encouraging & empowering the people I serve to become Agents of Blessing.  We are now hearing stories of what happens when these good folk with Christ naturally bless others in our communities.  The stories are encouraging others to try it, producing even more good in the lives of others unconditionally.  We get to see the power of one good idea set loose quite regularly now.

That is why I'm encouraging you to make the effort to attend the Western District Enrichment Event on March 5th at the Kroc Center in Salem.  Reggie McNeal will be spending the day with us to help us see the vision as well as take the next steps back in our ground-level ministries.  Think of what it would mean to your people & community if you were Partnering with God.  Consider the power of one good idea we put to work with Christ for the blessing of all. 

I hope to see you there!

Our next Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 2nd from 9:30AM to Noon at the United Methodist Retirement Center in Salem.  Guests are always welcome.

By Grace Alone,

Rev Rand D. Sargent
WDCES President

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Collins Retreat Center: a New Worship Series

 The Alton L. Collins Retreat Center is unveiling a new series of workshops designed to provide resources for designing and leading passionate worship.  "Liturgical Arts Renewal@Collins" (LARC) will bring nationally-known leaders from across the country to facilitate intense, one-day workshops designed to offer practical tools for anyone involved in worship leadership: preachers, choir directors, banner-makers, song leaders, organists, worship team members, scripture readers, and more. 

Regardless of your particular style of worship, LARC will help you understand how to integrate creative arts and solid theology into weekly worship that has passion and integrity. LARC features an emphasis on team planning for worship; the series is designed to be especially helpful for clergy/lay collaboration.

The 2011 LARC dates are March 15 (David Bone, worship planning & design; Jane Holstein, organ), May 24 (John Thornburg, liturgical power; Kevin Bogan, choral music), and November 2 (Pamela Abbey, drama in the pulpit; Rosalie Branigan, sacred movement).

Each event begins at 9:00 am and concludes by 4:00 pm, with a bonus overnight and evening with the clinicians as an optional add-on preceding the program. For more details see the brochure, or visit the website: www.collinsretreatcenter.org

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Oregon Legislative Event Offered by UMW

An opportunity to observe the state legislative process and meet with legislators in the capitol will be held Thursday, March 24.  Sponsored by the Oregon-Idaho Conference United Methodist Women, this event begins at 8:30 a.m. with continental breakfast; at 9:30 the program will begin with morning speakers on the changes in the state budget and human trafficking, followed by lunch, and then tours of the Oregon State Capitol and an opportunity to meet with legislators.  The day will end with a 3 p.m. final speaker.  The group gatherings are in the Micah Building, 680 State St., Salem, Oregon. 

All are invited to take part in this opportunity. Men, women who aren't part of UMW, and teens are all welcome. 

Registration is $20, which includes the continental breakfast and lunch. An optional parking permit is $7.  Registration, with name, address, phone, and e-mail address is due to Marie Houck, Registrar, 4010 Dry Creek Road, Medford, Oregon 97504-9716 by Monday, February 28th.  Please make your check out to "Morningside UMW."  Those interested in meeting with their legislators should make appointments in advance, as soon as possible, for the afternoon of March 24, between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

More information can be obtained by calling Conference UMW Social Action Coordinator, Ann Dalla at 541-773-8588.

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  Love, Learn, Live: Cultivating Adult Faith 

Faith development is not just for children and youth -- it is important for adults, too!  In fact, cultivating adult faith development is an important part of keeping our congregations healthy and vital.

The Oregon-Idaho Christian Educators Fellowship is bringing Dr. Carol Krau of the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church to Montavilla UMC, Portland on May 20 and 21, 2011 to lead a seminar, "Love, Learn, Live: Cultivating Adult Faith" for teachers and small group leaders, pastors, lay speakers, and other leaders in adult ministries.  The seminar will cover practical ideas for planning for adult faith formation in your context and share what resources are available to you.  Clergy and Lay Speaker CEUs will be available.

Registration is $30 prior to May 10, and $40 after May 10th.  Contact Rhoda Pittman Markus at 503-357-3998 for more information.

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Young Women's Event: "Not in My Neighborhood" 

This ia a Spiritual Growth and Social Action Retreat on Human Trafficking sponsored by the Oregon-Idaho Conference United Methodist Women

When: MAY 21  9:00 - 4:00

Where: Aldersgate Retreat Center near Turner, Oregon

At this event you will learn what human trafficking is, what the worldwide statistics are, why it happens and what we can do to stop this violence against women, children, and youth. 

After the presentation you will have a chance for some personal quiet time in the beautiful setting at Aldersgate.  If you prefer there will be additional opportunities to gather more information.  The day will conclude with "debriefing" and a short worship service.

The $20.00 registration fee includes lunch.  Please call Helen VanNice at:
541-753-4118 or email her  for registration information

 

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UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION

The Oregon-Idaho Conference UMVIMs have been busy and will be doing more.  A group from Idaho recently returned from a successful mission to Haiti. Congratulations to Brenda St. Clair's team and all their hard work under difficult conditions.

A team from Oregon and Washington will be leaving March 3rd for Costa Rica. Thirteen members will be on the team working at a Bible College in San Jose.  We will get a report from them when they return.

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission are organized under the General Board of Global Ministries.  The district and Conference UMVIM Coordinators work to connect you and your congregation to opportunities to serve under this program.  The UMVIM website offers this theological understanding of their activity:

The understanding that we are called and that we are sent is at the foundation of our faith. The scriptures are full of stories of persons who responded to a call and were sent on mission for God. Jesus spent his ministry calling persons and sending them on God's mission.

Through volunteers in mission, every person in the church has the opportunity to serve and to live their lives more faithfully. And when we reach out and use what God has given us in the service of others, we have life-transforming experiences.

Thank you to all the volunteers; please add your support by keeping our volunteers in your prayers!  Please contact us directly if you would like more information or are feeling the call to serve in a volunteer, short-term mission experience!

Chuck and Betty Pritchard
UMVIM Co-Chairs for Western District
503-359-9340

 

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Contact Information

Your comments about the format or content of "The Western Connection" are welcome! Please contact Linda Grund-Clampit, WD Administrative Assistant, 503-581-3969 or by e-mail, with suggestions or articles.

Deadline for submissions to the March/April issue is March 14