December 18, 2014

Dear Reader,

When someone wants to “check out a church” they don’t do it in person anymore. Instead of coming to the front door of your building, they are coming to your website, your “New Front Door.”

Over 20 churches have filled up our website development class in January, but now there is a second opportunity if you want to help your church have an excellent website.

United Methodist Communications is offering free registration to the first 15 people from the Oregon-Idaho Conference who sign up to participate in a pilot session of their new online course Your Church Website: Rethinking Your New Front Door. This 8-week training program will guide participants through the process of building a WordPress site, based on resources provided by United Methodist Communications. If you want to sign up, or just learn more, contact Alan Gooding at UMCom at agooding@umcom.org before January 9.

What do people see when they peek in your front door? What do you want them to see?

Greg Nelson, Director of Communications

CONFERENCE NEWS

Three-year-old makes impact to fight malaria

Miriam Brown is a small person making a big difference. At age three, she’s fundraising for Imagine No Malaria by auctioning off an original oil painting. Bidding is currently at $500 and will close on Christmas Day.

Miriam’s father, Rev. Tony Brown, serves Trinity UMC in Port Townsend, Washington. He says that buying art supplies was Miriam’s response to a lesson on Matthew 25:14-30. In this parable, a man entrusts his wealth (in the form of “talents”) to his employees when he goes on a long journey, and some of the employees earn a better return on that money than others. “We gave everyone in the church $10 a few Sundays ago,” says Rev. Brown, “and told them to find ways to multiply it following the story of the talents.” Read the rest of the story on the Greater Northwest Imagine No Malaria website.

UMVIM: Kenya team forming

A conference-wide United Methodist Volunteer in Mission team (UMVIM) is now forming to return to Kenya in 2015. Trip dates are July 30 – August 18, 2015. The team will work with school and community projects in the Meru area, and spend time at Maua Methodist Hospital. If you have any interest at all about this trip, contact Louise Kienzle for more details at Kienzle.lousie@gmail.com or look at the facebook page from previous trips.

UM Connector Schedule

The UM Connector will not be published Christmas Day or New Years Day. It will be back on January 8.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

McMinnville Church faces off with city over homeless

When homeless people turned to the church property at the McMinnville Cooperative Ministries, church leaders didn’t feel they could ask people to leave. In a note posted to the church’s Facebook page, Pastors Courtney McHill and Mark Pederson shared, “Our mission states that as we are inspired by Christ, we are called to love and serve with all people to restore all of creation to God’s loving embrace. In order to follow this mission more closely, the church council of McMinnville Cooperative Ministries made a decision in June to not ask people to leave our property at night after we lock up our buildings.”

The City of McMinnville has asked the church to remove the tents that have sprung up and not allow people to camp on church property. But church leaders are looking for other solutions; not being willing to turn people away in the cold of December. The city notice raises the possibility of a $500 fine, but gives no specific date.

Lauri Muller, a staff member with McMinnville Cooperative Ministries, admits “our population here is not perfect, by any means.” The church is working to find solutions that will address the concerns of neighbors and the city.

The church has started a change.org petition to gather support and is looking for creative solutions. On Monday, December 22, at 7:00 p.m. they will hold a vigil to raise awareness of the problem. More information about the vigil is available on their facebook page.

Collins Retreat Center Announces 2015 World Pilgrimage Site: Ghost Ranch, NM

The Collins World Pilgrimage Series continues in 2015 with a journey to a very special place right here in the U.S.: Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico. Beginning with an overnight formation retreat at the Collins Retreat Center on March 5, the group will travel together to Albuquerque on March 6th and then on to Ghost Ranch for an amazing spiritual adventure in a place that for centuries has been a mecca for peoples of diverse religious traditions.

Led by the Rev. Bert Scott (a former Oregonian) and the Rev. Wallace Ford, participants will explore the beauty and gifts of this area, and how it has transformed the lives of those pilgrims who have encountered the Holy on their own journeys here. The Rev. Todd Bartlett will lead the initial Collins retreat and will serve as the group's guide during the pilgrimage.

The total cost is $1,750 (double occupancy); this includes the formation retreat at Collins, roundtrip transportation from Collins to Ghost Ranch, all meals & lodging, and all program expenses. Registration is limited to 12 people. Visit the Pilgrimage page on the Collins website for more details and registration information.

Employment Opportunities

The Board of Ordained Ministry is seeking a quarter-time administrative assistant
Fremont United Methodist Church is seeking a quarter-time public relations manager
McMinnville Cooperative Ministries is seeking a part-time office manager

To learn about these and other available positions, go to www.umoi.org/classifieds

AROUND THE GLOBE

Agency cheers move on U.S.-Cuba relations

WASHINGTON (UMNS) — The United Methodist Board of Church and Society, which promotes the denomination's social teachings, applauded President Obama's efforts to begin re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. The agency noted General Conference, the denomination's top lawmaking body, has long called for lifting economic sanctions. Read the full statement.

10 years later, pointing to a good tsunami recovery

NEW YORK (UMNS) — In the decade following the devastating Dec. 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami, The United Methodist Church has participated in major rebuilding, community development and livelihood projects in Indonesia and Sri Lanka - thanks to a generous response by church members. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story and see a slide show of recovery efforts.

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

What’s after Christmas?
Help for Lent is coming next month!

Looking for some out-of-the-box inspiration for this year’s Lenten experience? The Jubilate chapter of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music & Worship Arts is offering a workshop titled, “Between the Lines: A Visual Lenten Journey,” Jan. 30-31, at Haller Lake UMC in Seattle. Worship has many words: scripture, hymns, liturgy, prayers… yet, the Living Word is more than printed letters on a page. Before the average Christian could read, visuals played a crucial role in making the invisible visible. As we explore how we experience the Lenten journey, we will imagine and bring to life the story between the lines. Journey with us through diverse modalities for engaging our eyes, hearts, and spirits in worship. Read more on the Jubilate website.

Palestine/Israel study tour deadline soon!

There is still time to register for the February 23-March 4, 2015 study tour of Palestine/Israel next spring. The trip, is being sponsored by the Holy Land Task Force in conjunction with the Methodist Liaison office in Jerusalem and Camp and Retreat Ministries of Oregon-Idaho. The deadline for registration is January15, 2015. The estimated cost of the trip (depending upon number of participants) will be about $1,000, plus airfare (currently about $1,200). Scholarship assistance for clergy may be available (check with the Camping Office for details).

The United Methodist Church will be in the world spotlight when General Conference comes to Portland in 2016, and legislation regarding the role of United Methodists in applying our social justice principles to the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine is certain to be on the agenda.

The Task Force believes that the best way to make educated decisions about these issues is to visit Palestine/Israel and see first-hand the situation “on the ground.” This sentiment is echoed by Palestinian Christians, who use every opportunity to invite people to “come and see for yourself.” The February trip will include visits to traditional “holy sites” in both Israel and Palestine, as well as the opportunity to meet with groups and individuals working for peace on both sides of the wall.

Learn more and register for the trip on the gocamping.org website. You can also learn about the experience of visiting Palestine by reading the blog of trip leader Dee Poujade. Her recent post talks about her experience in Bethlehem.

Human Relations – January 18

Human Relations Day is Jan. 18, 2015. One of United Methodism’s six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings, Human Relations Day calls us to extend a helping hand to those in crisis so they can overcome formidable obstacles. The offering supports Community Developers, United Voluntary Services and Youth Offender Rehabilitation programs.

Below are a set of resources you can use to promote and share this special offering opportunity.

Human Relations Day Pastor and Leader’s Kit
The Pastor and Leader’s Kit contains a collection of items you can download and use in your church to promote Human Relations Day

2015 Human Relations Day Podcast Interviews
In podcast interviews, Rich Birch talks with United Methodist Church leaders about this Special Sunday. Hear firsthand about the programs your Human Relations Day offering supports.

Human Relations Day Infographic
Our infographic, “16 Amazing Ways Your Help Makes a Difference on Human Relations Day,” shows how United Methodist-supported programs help communities flourish in tangible ways.

Human Relations Day eBook
Our eBook, 18 Ways to Promote Human Relations Day, can help you prepare!

Human Relations Day Print Resources
Human Relations Day is Jan. 18. Order your free offering envelopes and poster to promote this Special Sunday.

Webinar helps Lay Leaders explore their role

A free webinar, "Local Church Lay Leaders/ Lay Members to Annual Conference: What's My Job?" will be offered January 7, 2015, 4:30 p.m. PST. Local church lay leaders and lay members to annual conference have a responsibility to promote the role of laity in fulfilling the denomination's mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Jodi Cataldo, director of laity in leadership for United Methodist Discipleship Ministries, will lead discussion around this ministry. Get more details on the Discipleship website.

COMMENTARY

Looking at the darkness straight on

By Dan Wilson-Fey

(From the December 2014, Lake Oswego UMC Spotlight,
reprinted with permission)

We are approaching Christmas, and I’d like to remind you that Christmas is a season, not a day. Christmas lasts 12 days between December 25th and the day of Epiphany, January 6th. You will do what you will, but I’m planning to draw it out as long as possible. Why? Because I need the light.

It probably happens every year, or perhaps I’ve just noticed it more this year, but I am aware of so much darkness. Former Oregon poet laureate, William Stafford, wrote in his poem, A Ritual to Read to Each Other: “…the darkness around us is deep.” That speaks to my awareness of life these days.

We’ve become all too aware as a nation that the conversation on racism and discrimination is not over. A debate about what is or is not torture is in the news. School shootings continue, the income and wealth disparity gap is widening, and death by suicide is increasing among certain groups in our society. Climate change, violence with guns, bullying, Ebola, and shooting of unarmed persons are in our consciousness. The litany could go on in a myriad of ways. Indeed, the darkness around us is deep.

And that’s Advent. If John the Baptist were sending Christmas cards, the greeting inside the card might be: “Merry Christmas, you brood of vipers!” John tells us the truth. He says: “Repent!” Which means “wake up!” “Turn around!”

“Why? What are we looking for?”

“Light. The Light that shines in the darkness.”

Advent is the season of looking at the darkness straight on, with eyes and hearts wide open. But as people of faith, we live expecting that light comes to drive the dark away.

The Light of the world, Jesus, dwells first in darkness…in Mary’s womb, hidden. But eventually, in due time, God’s time, The Light emerges from the darkness into darkness, where it transforms the darkness, us, and everything, into something we could not previously see. This is the miracle of birth, the miracle of Christmas.

I don’t know about you, but I’m glad I’ll have twelve days to look for light and celebrate Christmas. Actually, we don’t have just twelve days. We have every day, any day, to look for the light.

The Light of the world is here, among us, with you, right now. Look for it. It is at hand, already shining upon us all.

Merry Christmas.