5000 Peace Cranes for Schools

This year, as part of the church’s Living Lent Ministry Opportunities Program, the First United Methodist Church of Medford set a goal of folding 2,000 peace cranes in order to present a thousand cranes to two local elementary schools. The church’s Living Lent planning team thought it would be a good idea to do the peace cranes with their partner school, Jackson Elementary. In the church’s ongoing relationship with Jackson Elementary they have contributed school...

An Amazing Resurrection Story

There was lots of laughing Easter Sunday at “The Four Churches” service. Life is good, and the Resurrection is real. 200 people, toddlers to elders, gathered at Tillamook UMC to worship together--Congregationists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, and United Methodists, singing their hearts out, celebrating the new thing God is creating among them. It wasn’t so joyful a few years ago. All four congregations (St. John’s United Church of Christ, St Albans Episcopal Church,...

2nd Annual March On Hunger

BOISE, IDAHO – Members and friends of United Methodist churches across the region will spend the month of April raising awareness of hunger and collecting food to share with people in need. During the second annual March on Hunger, United Methodist churches will serve as collection points for food and monetary donations for the Idaho Food Bank and local food pantries. The month-long movement will begin March 31 – Easter Sunday – as the churches focus on loving their...

Methodists and Lutherans Work Together in Hood River County

A partnership of necessity has become a focus of ministry for the United Methodist and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregations in Hood River, Oregon. Responding to shrinking congregations and the expenses of leadership, the congregations of Asbury United Methodist and Our Redeemer Lutheran churches began meeting together in March of 2011, rotating between the two church buildings. Rev. Andrew Wendle, who has served the Our Redeemer congregation since 2004, was appointed to the...

New Circuit to Support North East Oregon Churches

January 1st 2013 ushered in the return of the circuit rider to North East Oregon. On that day, the United Methodist congregations of Elgin, Cove, La Grande, North Powder and Union strengthened their connection by becoming the North East Oregon (NEO) Circuit. This circuit is similar to the circuits of old in that a single Elder will make the rounds of the congregations, providing preaching, sacraments and administration. But, instead of each congregation functioning as a lonely mission...

Church serves as help site in shooting wake

Members of Newtown United Methodist Church in Sandy Hook, Conn., are “still holding our breath” to learn the full impact of the Dec. 14 shooting at nearby Sandy Hook Elementary School, said the Rev. Mel Kawakami, the church’s senior pastor. “We’re trying to keep our lines open,” he said. “We have already tried to reach out. We have communications circles that are trying to canvass our congregation.” At least 27 are dead, including 18...

Staffing Provides New Coordination for Washington County Hispanic Ministries

A newly hired community deveolper for United Methodist ministries in Washington County, Oregon will help raise awareness and increase cooperation between the various ministries. Currently, there is a cluster of community-based Hispanic ministries throughout Washington County that are supported by the United Methodist Church. These projects vary from ESL classes to food pantries and a community dinner. They are not coordinated in a systemic manner to promote outreach, but represent the...

Imagine No Malaria - Spreading the Word!

While United Methodists around the globe are working to eradicate malaria in Africa, it’s a battle being waged by a diverse set of partners. Imagine No Malaria Advocacy Day brought together leaders from annual conferences across the United States to meet with congressional leaders and ask for their support of United States government funding of malaria treatment and prevention programs.  From the Oregon-Idaho Conference, Rev. Jim Frisbie, Conference Secretary of Global...

'I was hungry, and you gave me food'

Through the giving of nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars the Task Force for the Elimination of Hunger was able to provide nine new and expanded hunger programs grants to grow their outreach to the community. Sadly, other requests were turned away for lack of funds. Connecting with the community is a key aspect of many of the grants. In St. Helens and Eugene backpack programs are connecting with hungry children. In Dallas and Pocatello kitchens are getting updates to support community meal...

Hagiya Shares Pastoral Letter on Gambling

Voters in Oregon are being asked to approve constitutional changes and changes in law to allow the first private casino in the state. The United Methodist Church has a long standing position of opposing gambling and the harm it can inflict on communities and families. As voters prepare to mark the ballots they will receive in the mail next week, Bishop Grant Hagiya has written a pastoral letter on the subject of gambling. In it he shares his concern for the predatory nature of Casinos saying,...

The United Methodist Church Stand Against Gambling

For the second time a corporation from outside the northwestern U. S. is trying to build a casino in metropolitan Portland. Although the measure was overwhelmingly defeated two years ago, developers are counting on an expensive advertising blitz. The United Methodist Church’s long-standing opposition to gambling coincides with the position opposing the casino taken by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s (EMO), of which our annual conference is a member. The United Methodist Church...

Hagiya to Serve New Episcopal Area in West

Bishop Grant J. Hagiya has been assigned to preside over the Oregon-Idaho Conference The Western Jurisdiction has ratified the assignments of its Committee on Episcopacy for five episcopal areas. Following action of the 2008 General Conference, the jurisdiction has restructured its episcopal areas so that a new Greater Northwest Episcopal Area, with episcopal residence in Normandy Park, Washington, will provide leadership for the Alaska United Methodist Conference, Pacific Northwest Annual...

2012 Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Report

The following is the report of Annual Conference provided to the United Methodist News Service You heard the word “hope” used a lot to describe the 44th Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference session, meeting in Salem, Oregon June 14-17, 2012. Hope for churches that are taking a new look at health and vitality, hope for a new conference structure that focuses on equipping local churches, hope for the people of Africa who struggle to combat malaria, and hope for people seeking full...

Western Jurisdiction Women Elect New Leaders

At the 2012 Western Jurisdiction United Methodist Women’s Quadrennial Meeting new officers and directors were elected for the upcoming quadrennium. Meeting in Portland, Oregon June 1 – 3 the gathering, titled “Fire in My Soul” brought together hundreds of women from around the jurisdiction to celebrate their work together, elect officers for the coming quadrennium, be inspired by speakers and workshops, and participate in hands-on mission. The delegates elected Jo Anne...

General Conference Approves United Methodist Women Autonomy

By a vote of 889 to 20, General Conference made United Methodist Women an autonomous organization within the United Methodist Church May 1 during its quadrennial meeting Tampa, Fla. The historic vote separates the national policymaking body of women organized for mission within the denomination from the church’s mission agency for the first time in more than 70 years. “This is great result for United Methodist Women and for the church and positions us for the next 143 years of...

General Conference Wrap-up

United Methodists from five continents addressed a wide range of challenging issues, including church structure and human sexuality, and engaged in an Act of Repentance toward indigenous people during their 10-day legislative gathering. Meeting in the Tampa Convention Center, steps away from the waters of Tampa Bay, the 988 delegates recalled through worship, song and sermon the healing and transforming ministry of Jesus beside the Sea of Galilee. As storms on the Sea of Galilee alarmed the...

Hoshibata Offers Healing Message to General Conference

In his sermon to the General Conference on Thursday, April 26, Bishop Robert T. Hoshibata asked the question, “Can this love heal our United Methodist Church?” The sermon, based on Mark 3:7-12 explored the healing love of Christ. The exploration looked at how, while Christ was known for his physical healing, it is the ability of Christ’s love to heal a person’s soul that can have a profound impact on individuals and the church as a whole. Hoshibata’s sermon...

Legislative Assembly Shapes Annual Conference Petitions

Discussion, debate, questions, and explanations filled the days as the 2012 Legislative Assembly meet April 13 and 14. The fact that it was Friday the 13th brought no bad luck to the group that is charged with giving a first review to petitions to the Annual Conference. Prior to 2009 the Annual Conference used a different legislative process. For many years the first look at legislation came when randomly assigned groups at the Annual Conference Session gathered to review one to three pieces...

Former Bishop, Top Executive Dies at Age 66

3:00 P.M. ET March 22, 2012 The Rev. Edward W. Paup, a former bishop of The United Methodist Church and top executive of the denomination’s mission agency, died March 21 after a long battle with a brain tumor. “We know that through God, Ed was formed, called, ordained and commissioned — and now has been called to rest. As resurrection people, we hold fast to Jesus’ promise that there will be for each of us an eternal home,” said West Ohio Bishop Bruce Ough,...

Treasure Valley to March on Hunger!

The Idaho Foodbank reports that they provide 119,000 emergency food each month and of that 66,628 are Idaho children. In 16 congregations in southwestern Idaho and eastern Oregon, United Methodists are in the midst of a month-long March on Hunger to change that fact. From Jordan Valley, Oregon, to the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise, Idaho, church members are stepping out to make a difference in their communities. They are challenging others to join them in their efforts to collect...