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August 16, 2012
Dear Reader,
Today’s UM Connector is strong on resources for you. I find it interesting how much the balance of items in the UM Connector can swing from one week to another. Sometimes there are a lot of things happening in the local church, other times it’s the world news that fills the pages, and some weeks, like today, there are many resources and opportunities for you to consider taking advantage of.
It causes me to think about how hard it would be to function without these connections to others in the church that offer training, socially responsible investment, shared ministry to impact the world, a global HIV/AIDS ministry, camps that support local ministry, a global youth connection, and so much more.
Greg Nelson – Director of Communications
Upcoming in The Annual Conference
Friday, August 17
Health Reimbursement Arrangement Workshop - Gresham
Wednesday, August 22
Hood River area Clergy Colloquy
Saturday, August 25
Congregational Leadership Development - Forest Grove
Details on these, and other conference events, can be found on the conference website.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS
Bishop Hagiya to Tour Conference
Incoming Bishop for the Oregon-Idaho Conference, Grant Hagiya will be making a whirlwind tour of the conference at the end of the month. While he won’t be able to visit all of the over 200 churches, camps and other ministry sites in the conference, he is scheduled to meet with small groups of clergy and lay leaders, and will get a “drive by” introduction to some churches and communities as he moves from East to West to South across the conference.
Several sessions have been set up for open times of worship and welcome. Church members are invited to come and welcome Bishop Hagiya at one of these events:
Monday, August 27, 7:00 p.m.
Burley United Methodist, 450 E 27th, Burley.
Tuesday, August 28, 7:00 p.m.
Boise - First United Methodist, 717 N 11th St., Boise.
Wednesday, August 29, 7:00 p.m.
Pendleton - First United Methodist, 352 SE 2nd St, Pendleton.
Thursday, August 30, 7:00 p.m.
Rose City Park United Methodist, 5830 NE Alameda St, Portland.
Friday, August 31, 7:00 p.m.
Lake Oswego United Methodist, 1855 Southshore Blvd, Lake Oswego,
Saturday, September 1, 2:00 p.m. (note afternoon time!)
Nehalem Bay United Methodist, 36050 10th St., Nehalem.
Sunday, September 2, 7:00 p.m.
Salem – First United Methodist, 600 State Street, Salem.
Monday, September 3, 7:00 p.m.
Grants Pass – Newman United Methodist, 132 NE B St., Grants Pass.
Tuesday, September 4, 7:00 p.m.
Eugene – First United Methodist, 1376 Olive St., Eugene.
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Tabor Heights Music Concert Series Features Organ and Piano Duets
Tabor Heights United Methodist Church in Portland will host the next in its series of concerts, featuring musicians from the Portland area. This special concert, featuring Organist Helen Hollenbeck and Pianist Merridee Holdsworth, will include the music of Brahms, Haydn, Debussy, Buxtehude, Emma Lou Diemer, and others. The concert is Sunday, September 16 at 4:00 p.m. Tabor Heights United Methodist Church is at 6161 SE Stark St in Portland. A free will offering will be taken. For more information contact the church at 503-232-8500 or www.taborheightschurch.org.
Save the Date: 2012 Collins Lecture: November 1 & 2
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon has announced the 2012 Collins Lecture with Prof. Gary Dorrien, "God's Economy: Faithful Response to the Economic Crisis." Gary Dorrien will be speaking in Portland, Eugene and Salem. You can download an event poster now. Registration will be available soon at www.emoregon.org.
Employment
Forest Grove United Methodist Church has three part-time positions open, for a Youth Coordinator, a Communications Coordinator, and an Intentional Faith Development Coordinator. See the full details on the conference website at www.umoi.org/classified.
AROUND THE GLOBE
Church Agencies Respond to Need for Change
A plan for an overall church restructure failed at the 2012 General Conference, but United Methodist agencies are responding to the need for change by streamlining, setting new priorities and renewing commitments to work together on shared services and common mission goals. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
Churches Crucial To Turn Tide of HIV, AIDS
To reach the goal of “zero new HIV infections, zero new AIDS deaths, and zero discrimination,” faith communities including The United Methodist Church must play a significant role. That was one of the themes of the 19th International AIDS Conference. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
Make plans Now to Attend the 2014 Youth People’s Global Convocation
Join youth, young adults and adult workers from around the world at the third Global Young People’s Convocation and Legislative Assembly in Tagaytay, Luzon, the Philippines on July 16-20, 2014. Participants will tackle tough issues, celebrate oneness in Christ, learn from each other and experience the UMC in the Philippines during this once-in-a-lifetime experience. More details will be posted at globalyoungpeople.org.
Wespath Investment Managers Embrace UN Principles
Two additional United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits’ Wespath investment managers have signed on to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. All the investment managers follow the Pension Board's policies for avoiding investments in six areas that go against church teachings. Now these signatories also will follow international principles that recognize the importance of environmental, social and governance factors in corporate decision-making. Twenty of the pension board’s 47 investment managers have become signatories to the U.N. principles, collectively overseeing 70 percent of the board’s $17 billion in assets under management. Read the full announcement.
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES
PowerPoint Tips from United Methodist Communications
United Methodist Communications has created a short video with five basic tips to help make PowerPoint presentations more effective. Watch the video.
Missional Wisdom Academy offered in Oregon-Idaho
The Academy for Missional Wisdom is a two-year non-degree program that provides laity and clergy with the theological foundation and practical skills needed for starting and leading micro-communities of contemplative prayer and missional action. The program integrates distance learning technology, immersion experiences, and retreats as well as a contextualized practicum with coaching to provide accessible and affordable education for persons who work full-time.
More information about the Academy can be found on their website.
If you are interesting in participating in the Academy here in the Oregon-Idaho Conference, please contact Beth Estock at bethestock@yahoo.com or Steve Ross, Director of the Vital Church Project at steve@umoi.org for information and registration.
Coquille Offering Music Resources
Pioneer United Methodist Church in Coquille has done some cleaning, and you can benefit!
The church has several music and worship items available to another church, and their United Methodist Women have even offered to pay the shipping costs.
Items available include many hymnals (1996 version) and a few older hymnals (both 1935 and 1939 versions), as well as many copies of “”Hymns for the family of God”. They also have choral sheet music, organ music, communion sets, and choir robes (two full sets).
For more details contact Colleen Todd at ctodd3@mycomspan.com.
Schedule a Ballot Measure Forum with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Kevin Finney, EMO's director of Public Policy Advocacy will provide information about the ballot measures for the November 2012 election, discuss EMO's positions on the ballot measures, and offer guidelines for how people of faith can advocate for Oregon's most vulnerable citizens.
Look for EMO's Ballot Measure Guide in the Fall issue of the Voice newsletter and on www.emoregon.org. To schedule a forum, contact Kevin at (503) 221-1054 or kfinney@emoregon.org.
Planning Ahead – World Communion Sunday – October 7
Offering inserts, poster, worship resources, stories, videos and PowerPoint presentation are all available online at www.umcgiving.org/WCS. Get your resources now and plan ahead for this day, one of six worldwide special offering Sunday’s of The United Methodist Church.
RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION
Time Flies - Especially in the Summer
It’s hard to believe, but next week is the culminating week of children & youth camps for this summer, and wow, have they been fun! The Board of Camp and Retreat Ministries offers thanks to all who made this joy possible – the counselors, the donors, the parents, the staff, the campers. This ministry works because of all of those involved!
Camps now turn attention to the fall events coming up for adults. To see them all, including August and September family camps and adult adventures, visit gocamping.org/calendar.
Here are some upcoming adult and family events:
Here are some upcoming needlework camps:
Strength for the Journey Excitement
 Strength for the Journey, a retreat for people living with HIV/AIDS, is coming up in August and as always, it filled early and has a long waiting list. The phone calls we get are from campers who are so thrilled to be going — they can hardly wait. It is really fulfilling to be a part of a program that offers this event. It is a camp that reminds us in the office that we’re truly doing God’s work. The hugs, the smiles of the campers that drop in here just make our day. And there are so many folks - volunteers and donors - who put so much into making this retreat happen. It is an amazing ministry. We just wanted to gush! (Susan Delaney and Geneva Cook)
COMMENTARY
On Risk-Taking Mission
By Bishop Gregory Palmer
“Jesus is not in the business of giving us a hopeless hard time, but Jesus is in the business of shaping us into his likeness, and you most often find Jesus with the poor and the marginalized.”
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