August 29, 2017
Vol.6 Issue 8.4
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One of the intentions of doing a weekly newsletter is to keep it short so that you are tempted to just go ahead and read through it when you open the e-mail! That is a challenge this time of year as the events and trainings of the fall season are ready for publicity. But then again, e-mail newsletters allow me to put in just a few words with a link so that if you are interested in the full story you can just go there.
I'm highlighting below the ways we can respond to help those impacted by Hurricane Harvey with its ongoing tropical storm, and the Social Justice Retreat coming up in September at Suttle Lake Camp. But be sure to check out the Upcoming Events column to the right for links to other important happenings, including the All-District Colloquy on September 20th. Those appointed or assigned in the district are required to attend; retired clergy are welcome. Please register online by September 12th.
If you need information to prepare for your congregation's Fall Charge Conferences click here, or contact me in the district office.
And check out the Resource Section in the right hand column of his newsletter as well to get support in making the most of your church website and Facebook page.
I hope you can carve out some time to enjoy these days before all the programming picks up again!
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Thank you for your leadership in the local church -- that is where Jesus is touching lives -- through you!
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Blessings,
Linda Grund-Clampit
Cascadia District Administrative Assistant
Floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey at
home of Rev. Andrew Wolfe, of St. Paul's
UMC in Houston. Photo courtesy of Rev.
Andrew Wolfe
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Helping After Harvey: Our Connection Makes For a Strong Response
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by hurricane/tropical storm Harvey. It is times like this when the connectional nature of The United Methodist Church appears very real and very practical. Our concern is for all, but it does make it more “real” when you have some connection. You may or may not have biological family in harm’s way in Texas and Louisiana, but we do know that there are United Methodists who are part of our church family who are being impacted. And we also have a ‘family’ connection to helping through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). This is an agency where we know that 100% of our gifts go to the immediate need and that the agency will stay involved over the long-term to help with ongoing recovery needs as well.
UMCOR is currently working with disaster coordinators and early response teams to provide relief to the many victims of hurricane/tropical storm Harvey. Watch for updates at umcor.org and on the UMCOR social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter:@umc_umcor).
View a short video from Catherine Earl, Director of US Disaster Response and Partner Relations, in which she shares information about Hurricane Harvey, how UMCOR is responding and what you can do to help.
Ways we can help:
- Please continue to pray for those whose lives have been impacted by hurricane/tropical storm Harvey. Please also pray for the Early Response Teams, disaster coordinators, and many volunteers in The Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church, Río Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church and Central Texas Conference who are working tirelessly to provide relief after Harvey.
- Make relief kits, Here are instructions. For information about getting kits to the UMCOR depots, contact Donna Waltman at dgwaltman@frontier.com. And consider going to Kit Kamp, October 26-29 at Camp Magruder.
- Give to UMCOR's relief and recovery efforts. 100% of your gift to the US Disaster response will be used to respond to emergencies. This fund is already providing support for Harvey response, and by giving to it you will help that response and help UMCOR be ready the next disaster. Bishop Stanovsky has challenged the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area (of which we are a part) to donate $1 per member to the UMCOR fund.
- Donate only those items requested.
- Please wait for an invitation to volunteer. Contact Oregon-Idaho Conference Volunteer in Mission coordinator, Becky Platt, (beckyplatt1@peoplepc.com) to learn about joining, or leading, an UMVIM team. Recovery will be a long process, so teams will be needed for months ahead.
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We Are Called – Responding to Social Justice Issues in Today’s Social/Political Climate
The weekend retreat at Suttle Lake Camp September 15-17th is for everyone who is engaged or wants to engage faithfully with our social/political context.
The retreat will offer time for nurturing your spirit in the midst of chaotic times, connecting with others who are also trying to make a difference, and exploring how to respond by framing issues Biblically. We will begin Friday evening by grounding ourselves in faith and spend the weekend learning and sharing practices with one another for activism and nurture.
The time together will be led by Jennifer Hofmann, author of the Americans of Conscience action checklist and the Reverends Kevin and Carol Seckel, retired Methodist ministers and missionaries with a long and fascinating career that literally took them all over the world. They have worked with indigenous peoples, migrants, and children among other sorts of human beings. They have a heart for opening us up to connection with “the other.”
“I'm so happy you are planning this event—I think it's really needed at this time. In fact, I think that gathering with intention might be the most important thing we can be doing as activists.”- Jen Hofmann
For more information and to register go to http://www.gocamping.org/campsession/7993157 To talk to real people:
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