|
 Metro Connection
May 2011
Metro District Oregon/Idaho Annual Conference
Bishop: Robert T. Hoshibata
Assistant to the Bishop, Metro District: Lowell Greathouse
Administrative Assistant: Barbara Collins |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Look what's new...
 | | Treats you will find in the Metro Connection |
You will notice that the newsletter is now divided into sections, which we hope will help organize similar items into groups. You will find: OUR LIVES TOGETHER BUSINESS OF THE DISTRICT EVENTS CALENDAR THINGS OF INTEREST around Portland and elsewhere and CONNECTING WITH THE DISTRICT OFFICE JOB OPPORTUNITIES will be posted as well. Enjoy the newsletter and feel free to share it with others! At the bottom of the newsletter, you can click on "Forward Email" |
|
|
 Thoughts for the Journey
by Rev. Lowell Greathouse
In these weeks following Easter, I'm reminded of the Jewish proverb:"A person never dies as long as there is a single soul who keeps alive their memory." For over two thousand years, Christians have kept alive the memory of Jesus' life, even as we continue to experience the reality of Christ's presence and spirit in our midst. This interplay between our annual remembering of the events of Holy Week and the genuine sense that Jesus lives today is at the very heart of what it means to be an Easter People. Indeed, the stories of Jesus' life and Way continue to gain new meaning as we encounter God's love in the world. Yes, there is "good news" to share, and it is our responsibility, as Brother Roger (the founder of the Taize community) says, to "live the little bit of gospel you have grasped."
For the past seven years, I have participated in the Yom HaShoah-Day of Remembrance event held at Pioneer Courthouse Square each spring. It is sponsored by the Oregon Area Jewish Committee and the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center. For a number of hours on this day, faith and community leaders read the names of individuals who were killed during the holocaust.
It is an incredibly powerful and humbling experience to read the names. Sometimes they represent entire families. Each person reads names for ten minutes, before passing this sacred task on to another individual: Miksa Gruenfeld, age 82...Manek Gruenfeld, age 22.....Moshe Grinfeld, age 23....Pal Gruenfeld, age 3.....Isaak Grinshtat, age 5....Khava Grinshtat, age 27...Khasia Grinshtat, age 51.....Yenta Grinshtat, age 49....The list goes on and on. Millions of names...each one a human being crucified by the hatred of modern warfare. It is an experience beyond words, yet filled with deep meaning.
Each time I participate, I am struck by the fact that as I'm handed a list of names to read that right there under my feet are the names of hundreds of Portlanders, who are remembered in the brickwork of Pioneer Square because their financial gifts made something special possible. It is always such a haunting image in my mind....to be reading the names of people who vanished for no reason, while standing on the names of people who are remembered for their contributions to our community's "living room."
Remembering is an important dimension of one's faith. It is also an essential part of a living community. It is why Holy Week is a holy experience. To be a Christian means to remember, but it also means to speak up and speak out so that hatred will never be given the last word....so that no one will be forgotten as the vessel of the divine spirit that they embody.....so that love and compassion will always find their proper place in the public square.
Blessings,
Lowell
Back to top
|
|
| Our Lives Together: prayers, giving, sharing, remembrances, and service |
|
 Metro District Cycle of Prayer
Please remember the following congregations, pastors, lay leaders and other related ministries in your prayers during the month of May.
Korean UMC
Kwang Seog , Pastor
Son Kim, Lay Leader
Lake Oswego UMC
Steven Sprecher, Pastor
Leann Bilstrom, Lay Leader
Laurelwood UMC
Tim Winslea, Pastor
Larry Abell, Deacon
Jean Aldritt, Lay Leader
Lents Tongan Fellowship
Tu'inauvai Fuapau, Pastor
Suliasi Laulaupea'alu, Lay Leader
Please also remember the Camp and Retreat Ministries and Time To Grow campaign.
Back to top
|
 Clergy Birthdays May 2 Bill Gates 8 Sid Harris 13 Janine DeLaunay 23 Larry Abell 26 Myong Sub Cho Missed in April: 7 Rinya Frisbie O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begins another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
~Book of Common Prayer, 1979
(Clergy: If we have missed your birthday, please notify the district office!)
|
 District Office --We're on the move again... Does this sound like something you heard not so long ago? Well, it's true! After one short year in our new space at the Sunnyside Centenary UMC, we will be moving to the UM Conference Center on SW 18th and Jefferson Street in Portland. This is one part of the annual conference's cost-saving measures, during these difficult economic times. As a result, in July we will be located on the third floor of the Conference Center. We will pack and move sometime in July, and wil keep you posted on details as the time draws near and more is known. We have enjoyed our time at Sunnyside UMC. We have been warmly welcomed, and enjoyed being a part of this church and community setting. Thank you, Sunnyside people for your hospitality and committement to the larger Church! Barbara Collins and Lowell Greathouse |
|
 Laity Moment with Norm Dyer
I would like to talk about some of my impressions from the Local Church Leadership Conversations (LCLC) with the Metro District Churches. I have learned a great deal about the people and the individual churches, much more than in the previous two years as Lay Leader.
I learned that 31 of 40 churches saw themselves as very friendly, accepting, and hospitable.
- 27 of 40 churches indicated they lacked children, youth, young adults, and families in their congregations.
- One church, when asked, "Who are your neighbors", responded, "We are". This church had many young people present at the LCLC. Of the 16 people who attended 13 had walked to church that evening, and 2 had ridden bicycles.
- Several churches who said they were "friendly" but had no "young people" present admitted they really didn't know the people living around the church building.
- In one church a younger person stated that it was nice to have so many older people in the church because their children had so many "grandparents".
One of our challenges is to get out into the neighborhoods around our church buildings to share the love and word of Christ and expand our congregations.
In addition, individuals attending the LCLC meetings were asked to rate their churches in terms of the "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations" outlined by Bishop Schnase (1 being low and 10 being high).
The average median values for each practice were:
- Radical Hospitality - 6.0
- Passionate Worship - 7.6
- Intentional faith Development - 6.1
- Risk-Taking Mission and Service - 7.0
- Extravagant Generosity - 7.7.
Note that Radical Hospitality and Intentional Faith Development were rated as low areas. This is something we can focus on.
Extravagant Generosity was rated the highest, yet our Shared Giving was only 72% of that requested in 2010 and 76% in 2009. Again, this is an area for us to work on.
The LCLC was a good time for us to do some self-evaluation at the local church level to learn where we need focus our attention to increase the health and vitality of our churches.
Norm Dyer, Metro District Lay Leader
Back to top |
|
Shared Ministries (as of April 25, 2011)
|
Shared Giving as a District |
April 2011 |
2010 |
2009 | |
Number of churches in Metro District |
42 |
42 |
42 | |
Number of churches contributing to date |
35 |
39
(for the year) |
38
(for the year) | |
Resources received from Metro District churches in dollars |
$210,523.16 as of 4/25/11)
|
$936,038
(for the year) |
$920,701
(for the year) | |
Number of churches in district contributing 100% of Shared Giving amount |
0 |
16 |
17 |
If you are interested in seeing the specific percentages as we have published them in the past, you can view that information from the website. |
|
Native American Ministries Sunday, May 8, 2011
Native American Ministries Sunday is just weeks away. There's still time to order free offering resources for this May 8 offering.
Your gifts on Native American Ministries Sunday fund ministries that pave the way for those who aspire to serve Christ's church by making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Because of your generosity, seminarians prepare to serve, congregations become stronger and communities are transformed.
"I want to be the best minister I can be," said the Rev. Chebon Kernell, a Native American seminary scholarship recipient. "The best way to do this is through theological education. My hope is for my children to know who they are as Native people, to hold core values and to know it's OK for them to be what God created them to be."
In today's economy, your contributions are critical to The United Methodist Church, honoring its commitment to ministries that support Native Americans.
Call (888) 346-3862 today to order envelopes and other resources so your congregation can participate in this churchwide offering. They will be sent at no cost to your church! Find more at www.umcgiving.org/specialsundays. If you are unable to celebrate this offering on May 8, you can observe this Special Sunday on any day of the year.
Back to top |
|
 Migrant Camps Need Food
PACTO, a coalition of churches mainly in Washington County, Oregon, is in need of food donations for migrant farmworker camps this summer. The program currently serves eight camps with approximately 1,100 people by providing, household goods, clothes, toiletries, hot meals and fellowship on a weekly basis to migrant workers and their families. In the past, the Oregon Food Bank has provided most of the food or funding for the project, but due to cuts to their budget, they can no longer designate funds for migrant ministries
Donations of food will be received at the Cornelius UMC on designated Saturdays in May and June. The future of this hunger ministry depends on our churches providing food items. Foods to collect would include rice, pinto beans, vegetable oil, canned tomatoes, canned vegetables, canned fruits, tuna fish, mayonnaise, Mexican spices, and jalapeños. For more information or to arrange to participate in the food drive or in other ways with the migrant farmworker community, contact Bonnie Becker, Westside UMC, at (503) 642-4311.
Back to top |
|
|
|
Items in the calendar generally will have a corresponding article in the newseltter. Check the table of contents--click on the article title and it will take you straight to the item of interest to you.
May
2 Gospel Concert (Hughes Memorial)
5 Music and Desserts (Lake Oswego UMC)
7 Plant and Book Sale (Trinity UMC)
8 Native American Sunday Special Offering
14 Rave in the Nave: Melinda Strobel as Susannah Wesley
14 People Reaching People (Morningside UMC, Salem)
14 RUMS gathering (Eugene First UMC)
14 EMO: Climate Ethics
20-21 Love, Learn, Live: Cultivating Adult Faith: Carol Krau (Montavilla UMC)
21 A Young Women's Event: Aldersgate (Turner, OR)
24 LARC at Alton L. Collins Retreat Center
June
8 An New Day: Death Penalty Repeal Event
16-19 Annual Conference, Salem Conference Center
|
|
 Love, Learn, Live: Cultivating Adult Faith
May 20 and 21 at Montavilla UMC
Don't miss this event! The facilitator is Dr. Carol F Krau, director of Adult Formation and Discipleship at the GBOD in Nashville, TN.
Sponsored by Oregon-Idaho Chapter Christian Educators Fellowship, the Oregon-Idaho Conference Nurture Team, and the GBOD of the UM Church.
For more details, including schedule and registration form, review the brochure. Contact person: Louie Jones, District Lay Speaker Coordinator
|
|
Beaverton First Offers English Classes
Feature story in The Oregonian!
The Hispanic Resource Center at the Beaverton First UMC has spun off another service to reach out to the growing immigrant population in the area. Responding to many requests at the Center for English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, Resource Center Director Juanita Villarreal sent out a request for volunteer teachers and quickly employed five to lead the classes. Jan Faltyn, a member of the church and former ESL instructor, is serving as the volunteer director of the program which is now offering classes at four different levels from beginner to advanced. There are about 14 students enrolled coming from various countries in Latin America, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Israel. Looking forward, the church and Resource Center aren't stopping with language. In the future, they hope to offer citizenship classes, special life skills classes, parenting skills, computer lab, and eventually form a faith community.
submitted by Rev. Ron Whitlatch
 | | ESL Classes at Beaverton First |
On April 27, The Oregonian ran a story about the Hispanic Resource Center. Read the full Oregonian article.
We are located at Beaverton First United Methodist Church
12555 SW 4th St.
Beaverton, Oregon
office@beavertonHRC.org
(503) 437-8531
Back to top
|
 UMVIM Donna Waltman is often asked "Why do you go on UMVIM teams paying your own way and taking so much time?" As the Metro District UMVIM coordinator, she travels to district churches to train future UMVIM team leaders and members. One story helps explain how she answers that question: "A young girl had signed up to go overseas to a small village, because she felt the need to do something new and different in her life. Her life had success but little meaning. She helped build a bathroom for kids in an orphanage. Her hands, which had never known a hard days' work, were now carrying cememt block and mixing mortar. But she hadn't noticed a small girl shadowing her as she went through each day. Then, on the fourth day when they broke for lunch, she felt a small hand in hers--and every day from then on, it was just the two of them eating lunch under a tree. Meaning, as she had never known it". It's what St Paul wrote to Rome: "Don't be like the people of this world but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him." Rom 12:2. UMVIM team members know that the money, time and energy they spend has meaning far beyond what their daily lives bring. It's not easy to explain, but those who venture into the world with a volunteer team knows why. Contact Donna at 503-622-3226 or donnawaltman38@yahoo.com Back to top |
| Annual Conference Updates |
|
 Mike Slaughter books, DVDs, Study Guides available from Cokesbury
Read the book prior to Annual Conference--order now!
To shop at the Oregon-Idaho Online Cokesbury store, click here.
Back to top |
|
Details of Annual Conference Emerging
The 2011 Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference session will begin Thursday, June 16 and continue through Sunday, June 19. Location is the Salem Conference Center. The theme this year is "Boldly Making Disciples of Jesus Christ: Renewed in the Spirit", and the scriptural focus text is Ephesians 4:22-24.
Highlights of this year's agenda include:
- a combined laity and clergy celebration banquet on Thursday evening
- Guest Bishop John Innis of Liberia, who will preach at Friday the Friday night Commissioning and Retirement Service
- another Leadership Training event to which all members of our congregations are invited. The Leadership Training event is scheduled for Saturday, June 18 and the guest speaker is Dr. Mike Slaughter, a renowned preacher, author, and teacher who is the pastor of Ginghamsburg UMC in Ohio.
- Metro District Celebration Luncheon Saturday June 18 for anyone from Metro District.
If you are a member of Annual Conference and have not yet indicated that you plan to attend, please register online as soon as possible.
If you plan to attend as a visitor, please register online as well.
Back to top |
 Calling All Pages.... AC needs 9th-12th graders!
Pastors, Youth Leaders, Members of Annual Conference and Local Church Lay Leaders,
To date we only have one youth who has applied to be a Page at Annual Conference. We rely upon all of you to let youth in your congregations know about this opportunity. If you know of a youth who would make a good Page please talk to them and encourage them to apply. We have set the new deadline for Page applications for Wednesday, May 4. We need to close off the application period in time to get the youth registered for housing at Willamette. You will find more information and an application form in Packet A of your Annual Conference information or on the Conference website If you have any questions you can contact Daryl Blanksma at darylb@fumcroseburg.org or 541-672-1629.
Daryl Blanksma, Pastor
First United Methodist Church
1771 W Harvard Ave
Roseburg, OR 97471
541-672-1629
darylb@fumcroseburg.org
www.fumcroseburg.org
Back to top |
|
Let's Meet in the Marketplace!
It's that time again: the doors to the Oregon-Idaho 2011 Ministry Marketplace are swinging open. If your congregation or other group has a project, an idea, an endeavor that can be displayed at Annual onference to enhance the ministry of others, please join us.
The purpose of the Oregon-Idaho Ministry Marketplace is to enhance the vision of being "Renewed in the Spirit" by acquainting members and guests of the Annual Conference Session with the wide range of United Methodist ministries and resources for ministry in, through and beyond the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference.
Download instructions and an application form for this year's event. If you have questions, contact the Ministry Marketplace Coordinator Deborah Maria (503-723-0058).
Back to top |
|
May 2 Gospel Concert at Hughes Memorial:
"Blackwood Legacy"
The Nashville-based "Blackwood Legacy" Contemporary Southern Gospel group will be in concert on Monday, May 2, 7 p.m. at the Hughes Memorial United Methodist Church. Admission is free and a love offering will be received.
One of today's most popular and requested touring groups, the Blackwood Legacy is led by Rick Price, a veteran Southern Gospel entertainer with more than 30 years in the industry, including many years as the lead singer for the Grammy and Dove awarding-winning Blackwood Brothers Quartet, with whom he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Church address: 111 NE Failing St, Portland, OR 97212
|
|
 Music at Lake Oswego UMC:
songs and sweets--something for everyone!
May 5, 2011
Music a la Mode concert and pie buffet at Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, May 15, 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $15. Gospel music and more from the Chancel Choir, Vesper Bells and Lake Carillon handbell choirs, Flipside praise band, women's ensemble, Pastor Steve Sprecher and audience-participation accompanied by Bob Hinson.
Tickets are $15 per person, or $125 for reserved table of eight--available through the church office: LOUMC@lakeoswegoumc.org or Linda Woods, 503-636-8423.
Back to top |
|
"NEW LEAF" PLANT & BOOK SALE 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
SATURDAY, MAY 7
Trinity United Methodist Church, corner of SE Cesar Chavez Blvd. & Steele, located between Woodstock Blvd & Holgate.
To all gardeners & book worms, pet lovers & birdwatchers, Mothers Day shoppers: We are selling a variety of plants---vegetables, herbs, annual & perennial flowers, plants that attract pollinators. We have hundreds of used books at reasonable prices and are serving homemade cinnamon rolls you cannot resist! Also, bird feeders & houses for our feathered friends and pet treats too. Bring a donation of 2 cans of food for people or pets for FISH Emergency Service & you will receive a raffle ticket for a valuable door prize.
FREE GARDENING WORKSHOPS:
Kathy Shearin of East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District presents "Naturscaping," designing landscape to reduce water use with focus on using native plants at 10:30 a.m.; "Controlling Weeds," local gardening expert Lora Price tells how to grow organic food successfully at 12 noon; and "Gardens of Eatin'---Basic Vegetable Gardening," learn how to weed, manage pests & grow a bountiful garden without toxic chemicals at 2:30 p.m.
We will also have an art exhibit highlighting "Rain Gardens" and other creative ways to manage and utilize rain water & run-off through May 15. For more information call 503-777-3901 or check
www.TUMCpdx.org
Back to top
|
|
 RAVE in the NAVE Christ UMC: May 14 at 7:30 p.m.
The well-loved series continues at Christ UMC...
United Methodists will LOVE this presentation!
FeaturingMelinda Strobel in "Susannah Wesley"
Tickets $15.00
For more information, click here. To view fabulous poster, click here.
Back to top |
|
Things of Interest Around Portland and elsewhere |
|
EMO: Climate Ethics and Equity Forum:
Bringing Our Voices Together for Climate Justice.
May 14, 2011 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Registration at 9:00 a.m.) at Portland First United Methodist Church, 1838 SW Jefferson St., Portland. This forum will bring together community members, religious leaders, health experts, indigenous voices, ethicists and clean energy jobs leaders to discuss some of the most pressing ethical issues of climate equity on the local, regional and global levels. Our keynoter is Kathleen Dean Moore, author of Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and University Writer Laureate at Oregon State University, where she teaches environmental ethics and moral reasoning.
A panel on local, regional, and global climate equity issues facilitated by the Rev. David Wheeler, ethicist and Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church follows the keynote. Panelists include Ben Duncan, Chair of OPAL, a leading environmental justice group and Health Educator with Multnomah County Public Health; and Charles Hudson, Director of Governmental Affairs for Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. The event concludes with action-focused breakouts on various climate equity topics such as international debt and climate, green jobs and a vibrant economy, biodiversity and human well-being, transportation access and climate, the role of faith communities, indigenous rights, real energy costs versus actual energy prices. The breakouts will help develop a platform for ethical action for climate equity and build relationships for future collaboration. No charge but free will offering invited for OIPL's match grant. Lunch may be ordered for $10 per person (Hot Lips Vegetarian Pizza). Sponsored by Oregon Interfaith Power and Light, Jubilee Oregon, Umqua Bank, First United Methodist Church and Wayne Morse Center of University of Oregon. Register securely online at www.emoregon.org or by calling 503-221-1054. For more information, call (503) 221-1054, ext. 214 or 210.
.
|
|
Oregon-Idaho RUMS Gathering
The Oregon-Idaho Reconciling United Methodists will meet on May 14, 2011 at Eugene First UMC from 9:45 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Program: Discussion with the Rev. Dr. Lisa Jean Hoefner and the Rev. David Weekly about camp and retreat opportunities for gay, transgender, and queer children and youth.
For complete information and driving directions, click here.
Back to top |
Collins Retreat Center New Worship Series -- 2 more events remain 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. Passionate worship is a significant key to healthy, vital congregations, and we fervently hope that this ongoing series will be a valuable tool for the annual conference. The remaining 2011 LARC dates are 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 as well as downloadable brochures and flyers, visit our website: www.collinsretreatcenter.org. |
|
 A Young Women's Event
May 21, 2011 from 9-4
A spiritual growth and social action retreat on human trafficking.
For more information, click here.
Back to top |
 Camping News Summertime means summer camp! For news of the camp and retreat ministry, and the current newsletter, where you will find their weekly newsletter. You can view some really fun videos from the Come to the Waters camp, along with some promotional videos about camping. |
 INVITATION TO JOIN THE NEW METRO DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN E-MAIL GROUP Would you like to share UMW METRO CLIPS with others in your congregation? Would you like to share information about what your UMW Unit is doing with other Metro UMW members? Would you like one central email address to ask all your questions? Join the Metro UMW new e-mail group athttps://groups.google.com/group/umw-metro-umoi Please invite anyone you think would be interested to join the group - just click onhttps://groups.google.com/group/umw-metro-umoito request membership, or, send email addresses with membership requests to sallyjo@wildblue.net . Be sure to add umw-metro-umoi@googlegroups.comto your address book, so your spam filter won't divert notices! Email addresses are used only for Metro District UMW communications. Metro Clips is published 3 times per year. The next edition will have a pros/cons discussion about electronic distribution of Metro Clips. We welcome your comments! Blessings, Sally Jones Metro District UMW Communications Coordinator sallyjo@wildblue.net home: 503 728-2522 cell: 503 970-8403 |
|
People Reaching People
Christians today know that the mission field is right outside our doors, often among our own friends and families. The Oregon Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church is part of a national pilot program designed to train people to reach out into their neighborhoods to meet people where they are on their spiritual journeys and invite them into a community that practices growing in the ways of love and peace through Christ.
What if every local church had a handful of trained lay people who were blessed and sent out in their mission field to plant new faith communities? What if every church had an opportunity to practice being missional in this way? And what if these new faith communities eventually became churches that birthed other faith communities?
The "what if" is blossoming into reality with the UMC Planting Network. The upcoming training will equip people with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to plant United Methodist new faith communities in populations and contexts in which traditional approaches have not proven fruitful.
If you feel that God is calling you to share the Good News, to introduce Jesus Christ to an increasingly growing community of the spiritual but not religious, then register now for this training.
The Church Development Team is piloting a training program to help people discern their calling and gifts as well as to learn skills to reach out to new people. The 10 training sessions will take place one Saturday a month in Salem, Oregon at Morningside UMC and at Meridian UMC in Idaho from 10 am to 4 pm.
The first session in Salem will be Saturday, May 14. The first session in Idaho will be Saturday, May 21. The second session will be September 10 and continue on the second Saturday of each month through May, 2012. The cost for each participant is $100 to be paid by session 4.
People Reaching People participants will experience, learn and grow in the areas of:
· Preaching and Bible exegesis
· Pastoral care
· What it means to be United Methodist
· Planting and multiplying ministries
· Discipling and mentoring others.
Simply put, this is a fantastic opportunity for every local church to develop exceptional leaders!
You may get more information and a registration form by going to the conference website umoi.org/nfc or by contacting Rev. Beth Ann Estock at bethestock@yahoo.com or Turella Woods at turella@umoi.org.
Back to top |
 Death Penalty Repeals: A New Day June 8 7:00 p.m. On the heels of the repeal of the Illinois death penalty, Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (OADP) have invited Rep. Karen Yarbrough, sponsor of the Illinois legislation to repeal that state's death penalty, to a Portland event set for 7:30PM on June 8th. After a ten-year moratorium on executions, the Illinois General Assembly passed the repeal legislation which was signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn on April 11th. Rep. Yarbrough, who is also the Assistant Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives, will be the featured speaker at a public event at the St. Mary's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Portland. For more details about time and location read the complete press release. Back to top |
 Journey to Turkey Rose City Park UMC is planning an Educational and Spiritual Journey to historic Turkey February 17, 2012 to March 2, 2012. We must have 14 team members committed by June 30, 2011. For further information, contact Corrine Tate 503-255-2572 or visit the website: www.tomturkey.grouptoursite.com; You can also view the flyer from Rose City Park UMC for details about pre-trip planning. |
|
In From The Wilderness (She-R-Man), by, David E. Weekley/United Methodist Clergy
The stories of transgender people reach back to the beginnings of recorded history. At this particular point in time the psychiatric, medical, and secular worlds are beginning to appreciate the authenticity of Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Bisexual, and Queer people. Sadly, many Christian churches and denominations continue to oppress and vilify the LGTBQ community.This is the story of a transgender man who has been an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church since 1984 and has quietly served his congregations for twenty-eight years before sharing his story and spiritual journey with his congregation, denomination, and the world. This is the story of a Transgender man, a Christian, an ordained minister, a loving husband and father - a human being. It is his challenge to his denomination and to all Christians and spiritual seekers to consider the truth of gender identity and sexual orientation as God given gifts to be celebrated and embraced among all other gifts.
TO ORDER:
ISBN#978-1-60899-544-8. WIPF and STOCK Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave, Suite 3, Eugene, OR, 97401.
Phone: (541)344-1528 FAX: (541)344-1506. Orders@wipfandstock.com
MEET DAVID:
David is available for conversation, readings and book signings. Please contact him at shermantoday@comcast.net
Back to top |
|
BALCOMB MUSIC FUND GRANTS
Congregations of the Metro District are invited to submit grant requests from the Ray and Hazel Balcomb Music Fund.
The fund was established by the Balcombs to assist district churches with expanding and improving their music ministries.
Grants are made annually. This year a total of up to $650 will be granted.
In the past, grants have been made to fund such things as the purchase hymn and song books, organ and music lamps, piano tuning and piano lessons for church neighborhood children. You are invited to make grant requests both creative and practical!
Grant requests, or questions, should be directed to Metro District Church Extension Society president John Tindell. His email is, jtindell@earthlink.net. His phone is 503-750-7125. A subcommittee of the church extension society will make decisions regarding grant awards.
Back to top |
|
 Mail Box...
First I am curious if replying to the newsletter post gets any attention. Curious about how to comment on Lowell's current [April] "Thought for the Journey." If possible, please post the note below for me:
"The Men's Study Group at OGUMC has taken on the DVD lessons titled "Faith Out Loud", an excellent resource available from the Regional Media Library. Interestingly as you may guess from the title, it's lessons carry through learning and discussing the very topic Lowell reported being lifted up with at his learning event in Missouri as he reported in the April Metro Connection.
Thank you, Lowell."
Ron Kriesel, Stereographer
Editor's response: Yes, if you want to respond to an article in the newsletter, simply reply to the newsletter e-mail, or simply send an e-mail to the district office e-mail address: metrodistrictoffice@qwestoffice.net
Human Solutions Offers Thanks...
Thank you for your recent gift ($150) from the UMC Metro District. We are very grateful for your generous support of our programs that provide shelter or housing for 500 homeless children, women and men every night. ...Your thoughtful gift has already been put to work as the Daybreak Shelter operates at full capacity helping homeless families year-round. ...We deeply appreciate being selected by the Metro District...Your support gives us the ability to provide assistance in the form of a hand up, not a hand out, to people in need in Mid and East Multnomah County. Thank you for making a difference in our community with your compassion and generosity!
Jean DeMaster, Executive Director |
 Metro District Book Corner
A number of people in the annual conference are currently reading books related to local church health and vitality. One of the books I am presently reading has to do with how local churches organize themselves. It is John Kaiser's book Winning on Purpose: How to Organize Congregations to Succeed in Their Mission.
This book is a helpful resource that discusses how to align leadership responsibility, accountability, and authority with a church's mission and vision. In his book Kaiser says: "If the Church is to be missional rather than institutional, we must begin with a clear understanding of what that mission is. In Surfing the Edge of Chaos, Pascale, Millemann, and Gioja assert, 'equilibrium is death,' as the first principle necessary for leadership." (p. 51)
Kaiser goes on to say: "When it comes to the church, the object of the game is to make disciples from the raw human material of every ethnicity. The object is not to find them, gather them, or improve them. The object is to make them. A disciple is a learner-not a spiritual giant." (p. 59) But Kaiser also says that "Some of us love rules. Some of us love to break them. Either instinct is likely to hurt people without a proper understanding of both the value and limitations of creating boundaries for behavior....If we confuse the rules of the game with the object of the game, we may wind up defining success as doing church without making mistakes, even if we are not making any new disciples." (p. 61) Winning on Purpose is a helpful tool for getting us to think about how to organize our ministry and leadership structure more effectively.
Happy reading!
Lowell Greathouse
Back to top |
 New Conference Website While content continues to be loaded on the new site, anyone who can't find information is urged to send an e-mail request to communications@umoi.org. You will be sent information directly, or sent a link to where it is located on the web. And where is the new website? The website will continue to be at www.umoi.org. As part of this upgrade, use of umoi.net will be phased out (but traffic will be redirected). So users should reset any bookmarks to go to www.umoi.org.
Please begin acquainting your self with the page--some important areas, on the Home page, left column: Forms, Districts, Churches; and across the top in read, the Calendar. Have a look around and enjoy!
Back to top |
| Connecting with the District Office |
|
 Housekeeping Items
Thank you for allowing us to reach you by e-mail; it is our most efficient means of sharing information with the leadership of Metro District churches.
Your e-mail address will be used only for communications to you from the Metro District office; we will not share it with other organizations.
You may use the link at the top or bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our e-mails.
To prevent e-mail filters from deleting messages from the Metro District office, please add metrodistrictoffice@qwestoffice.net to your address book or contacts list.
Scheduling an Event?
Check the Conference Calendar! Does your group schedule events that draw attendance from around the district? If so, one of your goals is to choose a date that will encourage the strongest turnout. You can quickly check for any conflicts on conference or district calendars by checking the calendar on the conference website (http://www.umoi.net/). It is also a good idea to contact the district office. We can enter your district-wide events on the calendar so others can avoid scheduling conflicts.
Information Alert!
Remember to let the district office know of any changes in your church leadership and their contact information; everytime someone resigns an office or position, you should notify the district office. We need current mailing addresses, e-mails and phone numbers in order that people receive notices, invitations and news that is important from this office and the conference as well.
Thank you very much! We strive to keep the data base current at all times, and the only way to accomplish that task is to get updates from everyone as people come and go!
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
Print This Document
Metro Connection
Breaking News...
Native American Flute Concert 
Letters of Thanks
FAQ: Japan Earthquake and Response