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October 16, 2014
 
Dear Reader,
 
This week’s Inspiring Generosity blog post by Cesie Delve Scheuermann got me thinking about generosity (pretty simple!), but then I looked at where generosity is reflected and began to see it in this week’s UM Connector.
 
Generosity shows in the time that lay people dedicate to their churches, in our support for the Imagine No Malaria campaign, in how we look for innovative ways to communicate with our brothers and sisters in Africa, in funds provided to fight hunger and discrimination and provide disaster relief, and in the generous service of a life well lived by a pastor and a spouse of our church family.
 
Let us not forget to say thank you for all the generous contributions we see happening around us. Thank you to those who contribute, and thank you to God for all we have.
 
Greg Nelson, Director of Communications


CONFERENCE NEWS

Visionary leaders hold second gathering

 

In a recent blog post, Conference Lay Leader Mary Foote, shares about a meeting of the Visionary Leadership Project. This gathering of lay people is working to build involvement of laity in key leadership of the church, build their skills and support healthy vital congregations. Read more in her blog.

Imagine No Malaria Game Night at the Blazers - November 2

 

Portland’s First UMC sponsoring
Imagine No Malaria night at the Portland Trailblazers

Everyone is invited to join on Sunday, November 2nd to see the Blazers play the Golden State Warriors! United Methodists from Portland, Vancouver, and the surrounding area will descend on the Moda center en mass to raise awareness for Imagine No Malaria. The church's efforts to end preventable deaths will be highlighted during halftime and there will be a booth in the main concourse with more information. A limited number of $32 tickets are available. This price includes a ticket, a t-shirt, and a $10 donation to Imagine No Malaria! Get your tickets at the Portland First UMC office, 1838 SW Jefferson St. The office is open from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., (except noon hour). Get all the details at www.fumcpdx.org/gamenight.


AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Help your congregation
learn about peace in Palestine and Israel

November 15, the conference’s Holy Land Task Force and the Methodist Federation for Social Action will hold an event designed to help local churches increase their knowledge of the struggle for justice and peace in Palestine and Israel and learn of the possibilities for United Methodists to make a difference.
 
In June, the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference passed a resolution asking every congregation to study this issue. The November 15 event will help local church lay members and clergy lead this study. Attendees will learn more about the current situation and how our churches are being asked to help. They will go home with resources that will help every church, no matter what their previous knowledge. They will reflect theologically, listen to people who have first-hand experience, get high-quality United Methodist materials, and make plans for their own churches. They will also have the opportunity for ongoing support as they carry out their plans.
 
The event will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Clear Lake United Methodist Church in Keizer. The $10 registration will cover the cost of materials and the soup and salad lunch. The day will end no later than 4:00 p.m.
 
Register for this event by contacting Claudia Roberts at clarobb@juno.com. The registration fee may be paid at the door. If you would like to arrange an overnight stay in Keizer or Salem, contact Jan Nelson at jannelson515@msn.com. Clear Lake United Methodist Church is located at 7920 Wheatland Road NE in Keizer, Oregon.

Employment

Accompanist and Choir Director – Molalla, Oregon
This and other employment opportunities are listed at www.umoi.org/classifieds.

How technology
could help General Conference delegates

 

LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. (UMNS) — General Conference delegates from Africa, Asia and Europe have all the same responsibilities as their U.S. counterparts do, but they often have far less time to study legislation that could affect the church for years to come. The Commission on General Conference has started a pilot project using tablet computers that members hope will help overcome this obstacle. Oregon-Idaho conference members Rev. Donna Pritchard and William Haden are members of the commission. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.


AROUND THE GLOBE

Church agency uses animation to battle Ebola

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — An animated video created for use in West Africa attempts to dispel myths about how Ebola is spread and promote prevention of the disease. United Methodist Communications collaborated with Chocolate Moose Media and iHeed to create the video, which will be produced in different languages. The World Bank of West Africa has offered to pay to air the video a minimum of three times a day in every country affected by Ebola. Read more of this United Methodist News Service story or go straight to the video.

Learn more about the church's response to Ebola.
 

United Methodist churches
work together to fight hunger

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Local United Methodist churches will "Rethink Church" and fight hunger this fall with a new effort aimed at feeding individuals and equipping communities near and far. Congregations are encouraged to dedicate a Sunday to hunger awareness with free bulletin covers and worship slides that are available for download. National advertising also will occur on the Food Network through Nov. 9.


UMCOR Board approves $1.5 million for US disaster recovery

Last week, more than $1.5 million in grants was approved by the board of directors of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to support ongoing disaster recovery work in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. The decision was made during the agency’s semiannual meeting which occurred October 2-3 in New York City.

 

Part of the funds approved will support the Alabama-West Florida Conference which has been responding to the aftermath of record rainfall in coastal and inland areas. Last spring, a record 21 inches of rain fell within 24 hours, causing severe flooding which knocked houses off their foundations  . Baldwin County, Alabama, and Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties in Florida were all affected.
 
Funds will also support the North Alabama Conference after a record 62 tornadoes struck the state in a single day in April 2011. The tornadoes left a 20,000 square mile swath of damage, which destroyed or damaged about 37,000 homes and businesses, and caused 250 deaths. Read more on the UMCOR website.

Average debt for a United Methodist
M.Div. graduate reaches $49,303

New findings from the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry’s Seminary Indebtedness Task Force reveal that the average educational debt for United Methodist seminary graduates has reached $49,303.
 
“Based on median annual conference compensation for new clergy, we now know that many of our clergy are well beyond the nationally recognized critical level (10% of income) for manageable debt,” said Allyson Collinsworth, executive director of GBHEM’s Office of Loans and Scholarships. Read the rest of the story on the General Board of Higher Education website.


RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Resources for Laity Sunday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Laity in The United Methodist Church play a key role in transformational discipleship, and the denomination celebrates that role on Sunday, Oct. 19. The United Methodist Board of Discipleship offers resources for celebrating Laity Sunday.
 

United Methodist college students
invited to 'Imagine What's NEXT'

Hundreds of United Methodist college students will gather Nov. 7 to 9 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center for "Imagine What's NEXT," a weekend of discernment, fellowship, worship and inspiration. The theme for this year's event is "Dream. Go. Do."
 
"NEXT" is organized by a launch team of college students, campus ministers and other creative disciples from across the United Methodist connection, and is sponsored by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry's Division of Higher Education. Through a series of short talks, speakers and leaders will discuss innovative discipleship and will challenge students to consider their own next steps in their communities and future vocations. For more information or to register to attend, go to www.nextumc.org.
 

Three grant programs have deadlines January 10

The Human Relations Day, Peace with Justice, and the Ethnic Church grant programs have announced January 10 as the deadline for applications.

  • Human Relations Day grants support ministries to non-violent young offenders through education, advocacy or leadership training.
  • Ethnic Church grants strengthen local churches through education, advocacy or leadership development in social justice.
  • Peace With Justice grants promote learning, advocacy, reconciliation and transformation around issues of peace, justice, and systematic economic justice and the self-development of peoples.

Order Rethink Church Advent resources by Nov. 1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Rethink Church shares a free video about making Christmas less complicated by focusing on helping others and sharing the greatest gift of all. New Advent resources, including sermon starters, bulletin covers, invitation cards and door hangers are available, too. For delivery by Thanksgiving, order by Nov. 1. For a limited time, door hangers will be printed with your church information.

'Six Values for the Digital Age'
Group Study Now Available

Six Values for the Digital Age is a group study based on iKids: Parenting in the Digital Age by Craig Kennet Miller.

The digital values of happiness, wisdom, hope, vision, identity, and faith are highlighted through scripture and quotes from iKids. The study is designed to generate discussion and reflection about how we are impacted by the use of smartphones, tablets, and social media in our families and personal relationships.

Six Values can be used as a small group study, for Sunday morning classes, for Wednesday evening studies, with youth groups, or even as an outline for a sermon series. Learn more and download the free study guide at ikidsgen.com.

Electronic payments company
expands partnership with GCFA

Vanco Services, LLC, a leading provider of electronic payment solutions, recently announced it has expanded its strategic sponsorship with the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA)-the administrative and financial body of The United Methodist Church. The goal of the expanded partnership is to accelerate the adoption of electronic giving methods in United Methodist congregations. GCFA recognizes that the way people made payments ten years ago is not the way they make payments today.
 
The multi-year sponsorship marks a significant expansion of an electronic giving program that has been in place since 2002 when GCFA first approved Vanco as the administrator for the United Methodist Electronic Funds Transfer (UM EFT) program. Read the press release, or learn more on the GCFA website.


IN REMEMBRANCE

Bonnie Norman

August 12, 1929 – October 3, 2014
Bonnie Norman, widow of retired pastor Willard Norman, died on October 3, 2014. She is survived by daughter, Trina Norman; son, Doug Norman; daughter, Alicia Gardin and son, Peter Norman; and nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Reverend and Mrs. Norman served Tualatin, Drain, Portland: Garden Home, Silverton, St. Helens, Albany (Associate) and Amity/McCabe in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. He retired in 1986.
 
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. October 24, 2014 at Buell Chapel, 320 N 6th Street, Springfield, Oregon, 97477. (541) 747-1266. Friends may contact Peter Norman at 3329 Marvin Dr., Eugene, OR  97404.

J. Robert Wetzel

August 8, 1919 – October 6, 2014
Retired pastor J. Robert Wetzel died on October 6, 2014. He is survived by his daughters Pamela Moore and Deborah Wetzel; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alta Wetzel.
 
Reverend and Mrs. Wetzel served Spokane: Lingerwood and Seattle: First in the Pacific Northwest Conference; Eugene, Florence, Dallas, Albany, Portland: Mocks Crest, Cascade College and Cook Publishing in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. He retired in 1977. Friends may contact Pamela Moore at 302 N. Ridge View Drive, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
 
Grant Hagiya, Bishop
Belinda Denicola, Conference Treasurer & Benefits Officer


COMMENTARY

Your community is your congregation

By Joe Daniels

… Jesus always knew the identity of those he touched. Even if he didn’t know everyone by name, he knew the root cause of their human condition; he was always ready to change someone’s life for the better, and he was positioned to help them see the power of being in a deep, abiding relationship with Him. …


 
Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Conference Office: 1505 SW 18th Avenue Portland, OR 97201
503-228-7931 ~ 800-593-7539 ~ 503-226-4158 (fax)