January 8, 2015

Dear Reader,

It feels kind of like a whiplash as we turn away from the joy of Christmas and the “real world” faces us on January 2. But that’s the challenge isn’t it; how to bring that joy with us and share the Good News all year long.

Conference Lay Leader Mary Foote was looking for a way to do that, and she’s inviting each Oregon-Idaho church to be part of it. Every church in the conference has some sort of hunger ministry, but she’s asking us to step up for the beginning of the year and help restock dwindling food pantry shelves. With an extra push, and a little friendly competition, she hopes we can make a difference in starting the year right for those who cannot count on having food on the shelves in their homes. I think she’s going to be baking a lot of cookies!

Greg Nelson, Director of Communications

CONFERENCE NEWS

Bishop Grant Hagiya's Blog:
How Much is a Life Worth?

The start of a New Year always holds the possibility of a different future for the entire world, and I pray for some large-scale changes. I pray for a peaceful solution in the Middle East, for a global commitment to protect the earth, and for a better balance between the rich and poor.

I am also praying that every human life be valued and cherished as much as any other. This relates especially to what seems to many of us as an imbalance of the lives of some based solely on race. ...

Read Bishop Grant's full message on the Greater Northwest Area website.

Conference Lay Leader knows hunger doesn’t end with Christmas

Conference Lay Leader Mary Foote knows that Christmas is a time of generosity and giving. But she also knows that those Christmas food boxes are used up quickly and the food pantries in our Oregon-Idaho Conference churches and communities are running low on supplies.

So she’s calling on all churches to make an extra effort to restock food pantries and is willing to offer a prize to those who step up the most. And she’s willing to provide cookies for the church that provides the most food (by weight or $) in the month of January.

She’s calling her drive KICK OUT THE ELF and REFILL THE SHELF. Read more about on it the Conference website.

If you have an elf participate in the food drive, send pictures to communications@umoi.org and we’ll create a gallery. There might even be another prize for the best elf picture.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Christmas offering exceeds goal for Alaska Church

St. John's United Methodist Church in Anchorage, Alaska is filled with people who know about mosquitoes. Not just the big ones in Alaska, but also the little ones in Africa that kill children every day. They are committed to changing that, and have shown that by exceeding the $45,000 goal for Imagine No Malaria they set. And they did it in a big way. With a $23,000 Christmas offering dedicated to Imagine No Malaria they pushed their total to over $66,000. Read more about how it’s impacted their church on the Greater Northwest area Imagine No Malaria website.

Sheltering Our Souls Women's Retreat Filling Quickly

Registration just opened for the March 6-8 Sheltering Our Souls Retreat at the Alton L. Collins Retreat--and it's already filling fast! This popular retreat offers a weekend opportunity for relaxation, spiritual renewal, and fellowship with adult women of all ages, nurtured by the gracious hospitality and beautiful forest setting of the Collins Retreat Center. Cammie Bella will again lead the retreat, which this year will focus on an exploration of the nature of grace: participants will examine the portrait of a Grace-filled God painted by scriptures, faith traditions, and experiences. There will be times of togetherness as well as times of quiet. The retreat begins with Friday dinner and concludes after lunch on Sunday. The cost is $186 (double occupancy).

Visit the Collins website for details and registration information about this event as well as many other exciting adult opportunities for 2015.

Clergy women to gather

The Wisdom of Women: Western Jurisdiction United Methodist Clergywomen's Consultation will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 23 - 25, 2015. Join us for an extraordinary time of creativity and renewal. Our unusual format will include TED-talk-style presentations on ministry ideas that most intrigue you — along with time for community discussion. You’ll have the chance to vote in advance and help decide the topics via the Western Jurisdiction Clergywomen’s Consultation Facebook page. Follow us on Twitter. Registration is now open and costs $50 (hotel not included).

AROUND THE GLOBE

Church publishing team produces Ebola booklets

PAYNESVILLE, Liberia (UMNS) — Even as Ebola cases slow, The United Methodist Church in Liberia is distributing booklets to provide tips for responding to future outbreaks of the disease. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Chuck Knows Church launches new show Jan. 12

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Discipleship Ministries) – Chuck Knows Church is expanding to a new series, and this time Chuck is on a church committee!

The Committee, a humorous and thought provoking online series produced by Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church, premiers Jan. 12. In it, the fictitious Park Grove Community Church has lost its way, lost its pastor and is closing its doors ... unless despite itself, it finds a new way of doing church with the help of Chuck. Can it become a vital congregation again?

With 4,000 churches closing their doors each year, the questions are important ones. Should an underperforming church shut its doors or reinvent itself? However, all congregations will find the subjects addressed in the series relevant for their ministries.

The Committee examines the struggles congregations face as they look toward a preferred future and uses real world topics to hopefully stimulate discussions in local churches.

Designed for both individual viewing and group study, each free episode also has a free downloadable study guide.

Learn more and watch the official movie trailer at www.chuckknowschurch.com.

The original Chuck Knows Church series will continue, in addition to The Committee.

Complaint against Bishop Talbert resolved

DENVER (UMNS) — A resolution has been reached in the complaint against retired Bishop Melvin G. Talbert, who blessed the union of two men in 2013, in violation of church law. The parties involved in the case have agreed to what church law calls a just resolution, and the result is that Talbert will not face a trial or lose his status as bishop. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Lent resources available from Imagine No Malaria

It happens every year in January. I begin to pore over a seed catalogs, lurk in garden supply stores, and covet the last frost date of my southern neighbors. I’m so eager to experience new life again.

Lent gives form to this season of anticipation. As we wait for the ground to thaw and the days to lengthen, we also wait for the death-defying climax of our Christian story. We reach towards the resurrection with sacrificial giving and spiritual disciplines. We address the broken areas in our lives.

What would happen if we also addressed the broken places in our world? Malaria kills 450,000 people every year, even though we know how to prevent and treat it. The people who suffer the most are those living in poverty without access to health care, especially pregnant women and children under the age of five. This is not God’s plan.

Jesus came to heal the sick, and we are called to do the same. That’s why I’m inviting you to take up Imagine No Malaria for Lent this year with your church. It’s easy-- everything you need is available at greaternw.org/inm/lent.

We is hard-wired for the optimism of planting seeds. I do it every year not only because I hope for a summer crop, but because I need to know that even the smallest, most lifeless things can be transformed. That’s what Imagine No Malaria means to me. It’s the seed I plant when I am desperate for the sprouts of a gentler world. Will you come garden with me?

Mission Insite data updated

The latest population figures and projections for future growth have just been updated in the Mission Insite demographics software. If your church is using this resource, you can get updated reports for your community. If you are not using this resource, you can learn how and start getting a better picture of the mission field of your church at www.umoi.org/missioninsite.

RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION

Confirmation Retreat at
Suttle Lake
April 17-19

Peg Lofsvold, district superintendent for the Cascadia District, invites your confirmation class to explore your Christian faith in depth with other young United Methodists who are all also seeking confirmation of their baptismal vows!

It is a time apart at Suttle Lake: opportunities to wander nature trails, sit by the lake, engage in vibrant worship, and participate in a community of faith. You will be sent back to the world and your local churches empowered to live as Christ has called you!

Contact your pastor for more information about the confirmation process. This event is an extension of your local church program.
Click here to download the registration form, and download health history forms EVERYONE needs to fill out and read other information about camp.

IN REMEMBRANCE

Edward St. John (Jack) Powers (Corrected)

May 21, 1922 – December 29, 2014
Retired pastor Edward (Jack) Powers died December 29, 2014. He is survived by his wife, June; children, Jeffrey Powers and Julie Powers Aalbers; and four grandchildren.

Reverend Powers began his ministry in 1961 at Asbury UMC in the Nebraska Conference then served Cherry Park, The Dalles, Coos Bay, Monmouth and Christ Church in the Oregon – Idaho Conference. He retired in 1987.

A memorial service was held Saturday, January 3, 2015, at Capitol Manor, 1955 Salem-Dallas Hwy, Salem OR 97301.

Memorial gifts can be directed to the Suttle Lake United Methodist Camp, c/o First United Methodist Church of Salem, 600 State Street, Salem, OR 97301.

Condolences may be sent to Julie Powers Aalbers, 597 SW Birdsdale Drive, Gresham, OR 97080.

Grant Hagiya, Bishop
Belinda Denicola, Conference Treasurer and Benefits Officer
CCEF

Elam Anderson

July 8, 1926, – December 29, 2014
Retired pastor Elam Anderson died on December 29, 2014. He is survived by his wife Jean and sons Mark, Stephen, Jonathan, James and David; and many grandchildren, including foster and step-grandchildren.

Reverend and Mrs. Anderson served North Charlestown W. Unity and Salem Pleasant in the New England Conference; Filer, Emmett/Sweet, Philomath- Alsea, Harrisburg/ Coburg, Monroe and Halsey/Shedd in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. He retired in 1991.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 125 SE Cowls St., McMinnville, Oregon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to UNICEF, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038.

Grant Hagiya, Bishop
Belinda Denicola, Conference Treasurer & Benefits Officer

Bishop Ruben P. Job

February 7, 1928 – January 3, 2015
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (UMNS) — Retired Bishop Rueben P. Job died at his home surrounded by family on Jan. 3. He leaves a legacy of more than 20 books including, "Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living." Read more about Bishop Job on the UMC Website.

Bishop Herman L. Sticher

January 23, 1927 – December 19, 2014
FRANKFURT (UMNS) — Retired Bishop Hermann L. Sticher led United Methodists in Germany at a time when western European culture was growing ever more secular. But he never lost faith in the capacity of the church to make more disciples. He died Dec. 19 of cancer. A commemoration service is planned for Jan. 8. Read more about Bishop Stitcher on the UMC Website.

Martha Squires

The conference has received notice of the death on December 31, 2014 of Martha Squires. Squires served as the camp registrar for the conference for many years. It is estimated that Martha processed the registrations of over 90,000 campers and volunteers in her time with the conference. Memorial arrangements are pending.