November 16, 2017
Dear Reader,
Thank you to Sally Blanchard for producing the UM Connector for the last three weeks!
Coming back to work after a time away highlights for me how much ministry is happening around me at the conference offices. It involves strategic conversations of the future, mundane (but essential) details of maintenance and administration, exciting possibilities of new and emerging ministry and a focus on inviting, growing and inspiring disciples for Christ.
I give thanks for the talented and committed people who are here doing ministry on your behalf!
Greg Nelson, Director of Communications
Note - An abbreviated edition of the UM Connector will go out on Wednesday next week. Send items by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday for consideration.
CONFERENCE NEWS
Praying Our Way Forward – December 10-16
Each annual conference in The United Methodist Church is being invited to participate in a special week of prayer for the work of the Commission on a Way Forward, the outcomes of their discernment and the special General Conference in 2019. The first conference, North Carolina, started in January 2017.
The Oregon-Idaho Conference will hold their week of prayer December 10 – 16, 2017. Each church is asked to promote this special time of prayer.
Resources for the prayer time can be found on the conference website at www.umoi.org/PrayForward, and on the upper room website at UMCprays.org.
Learn more at the www.umoi.org/PrayForward website and help your church be part of this special focus for building an inclusive and unified church.
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Celebrating Kay
The Crater Lake District invites others to join in celebrating the seventeen-year ministry of Kay Burdick as Administrative Assistant for the Crater Lake and Southern Districts.
Trinity United Methodist Church in Eugene will host a retirement luncheon for Kay on December 9th from noon until 2:00 p.m.
District Superintendent John Tucker reflects that, “Kay has been a calm and informative presence in the district and will be greatly missed. Please keep Kay and the district in your prayers as both transition into a new phase of life.”
Please RSVP to the Trinity UMC office so they can plan on you for lunch: office@trinityumceugene.org or (541) 688-3269. Trinity is located at 440 Maxwell Road, Eugene, OR 97404-2355. Cards and notes of appreciation can also be mailed to that address.
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You are invited to give thanks on Sunday
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All are invited to join an ecumenical communion service offering gratitude for community in Oregon. This inclusive event will include music, dance, and poetry, as well as a powerful message of unity centered around the call to Christ’s table. With leadership by the Rev. Terry McCray Hill and other faith leaders from across the Christian family, this gathering of fellowship and praise is a unique opportunity to honor the common ground we are called to by faith in Christ. Plan to join in giving thanks, that all may be one.
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The Great Thanksgiving is free and open to the public. No registration required. A freewill offering will be received for local community ministries. The Great Thanksgiving is co-sponsored by Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, and the Columbia District of the United Methodist Church.
It will be held Sunday, November 19 with a reception from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Worship service from 5:10 to 6:30 p.m. at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 5828 NE Eighth Ave, Portland, Oregon.
Clergy sexual ethics policy test is now online
All Oregon-Idaho clergy members and all others currently serving churches in our conference are annually required to complete an online knowledge test of the Conference Sexual Ethics Policy. The link and instructions for the 2017 test were emailed to those requiring it on Thursday, November 16. Instructions for the annual disclosure form were also included. If you know that you need to comply, please double check your email. Contact your district office if you still need information or have questions. The compliance deadline is December 15, 2017. For more information contact Rev. Janet Farrell, OR-ID Board of Ordained Ministries Administrative Assistant at bom@umoi.org.
Employment
- Columbia District Assistant, Portland, OR – 30 hours/week, supporting district operations and communication
- Communications Associate – Portland, OR – 20 hours/week, sharing stories of the Oregon-Idaho conference, supporting the conference website, and resourcing churches.
- Office Manager, Albany, OR – 16 hours/week
- Pianist, Toledo, OR – Accompany worship with both traditional and contemporary hymns
Check out these, and other employment opportunities listed on the conference website at www.umoi.org/classifieds.
#GivingTuesday – November 28
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are for shopping for bargains. Giving Tuesday is for changing the world. Take time out to contribute to projects across the United Methodist Connection, then share on social media with hashtag #givingtuesday.
Looking for projects? Here are some you can consider supporting:
AROUND THE GLOBE
AU campus, students safe amid Zimbabwe unrest
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — Classes were held as usual at Africa University in Zimbabwe on Nov. 15 while United Methodists prayed for their country as the military took control in the capital city of Harare. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
Riding out hurricane's winds in Puerto Rico
OKLAHOMA CITY — Chelsea Riley, the daughter of a United Methodist pastor in Oklahoma, rode out Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Holly McCray of the Oklahoma Conference reports on Riley’s experience and the role Volunteers in Mission played in helping her reach her new job in Spain. Read more on the Oklahoma Conference website.
Bishops consider 3 models for church future
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) — United Methodist bishops are exploring three possible models for the church’s future. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
Bishops: Be respectful in difficult times
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) — As United Methodists’ debate about the church’s direction intensifies, bishops say that they are hearing of increased animosity leading in some cases to disruption of worship and harm. The bishops have published a letter in response. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
Uniting participants call for unity, bravery
ATLANTA (UMNS) — As The United Methodist Church faces a decision on how to include LGBTQ people, more than 300 people at a conference grappled with the issue by asking themselves: What would Jesus and John Wesley do? The Uniting Methodists Conference was held Nov. 13-14 in Atlanta. Read more.
21-city 'True Meaning of Christmas' tour
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMCom) — More than 500 volunteers are taking 16,400 cups of cocoa and a truckload of Christmas spirit on the road to 21 cities. The goal of the tour, which is hosted by United Methodist churches in each city, is to help people unwrap the true meaning of Christmas. Read more on umc.org
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
2018 Academy for Spiritual Formation
Rev. Dr. Cynthia Wilson, Associate General Secretary for Discipleship Ministries and Dr. Sharon Daloz Parks, Senior Fellow at the Whidbey Institute will be the teaching leaders for the 2018 Greater Northwest Area 5-day Academy for Spiritual Formation. The theme for the academy will be Resonate: Listening for Connection. The academy will be held at the Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center on the shore of Puget Sound, August 29 – May 4. Get more details by downloading the event brochure or contacting Rev. Roberta Egli at GNWAcadamy@gmail.com. Registration cost is $775 before January 15, $875 after that date. Scholarships are also available.
Wanted: Justice Seekers
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The Global Mission Fellows program is recruiting young adults, age 20-30, with a desire to seek Christ while working to fight injustice. The opportunity is for a two-year commitment outside of their home context.
Learn more on the Global Mission Fellow website, or by emailing UMC mission at mayams@umcmission.org.
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Surviving Suicide
West Portland United Methodist Church will participate in the International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on November 18, 2017.
Each year the day offers an opportunity for those who have lost a loved one to suicide to gather at events all over the world to share stories, find comfort and hope in the knowledge that they are not alone. It offers a chance to gain insight about healing after a loss.
The West Portland event will be at 4728 SW Taylors Ferry Road, Portland, Oregon from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Get more details at www.afsp.org/SurviorDay or by contacting Christy Dirren at christydirren@gmail.com.
Taking action on World AIDS Day
WASHINGTON — The United Methodist Global AIDS Committee has created several resources for churches and church members to use on or near World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. The theme of World AIDS Day 2017 is #LetsEndIt, a statement compelling action through advocacy. Read more of the story, and get resources for World AIDS day.
COMMENTARY
By Tim Tanton
… By reporting on its own difficult news, the church is ensuring that its story is told accurately and knowledgeably. It is also keeping faith with its members, who support the church’s work financially. …
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