April 27, 2016

Dear Reader,

Good morning!
Here in Portland, General Conference looms very close. People from around the country are checking in about details for their work. The host committee is meeting twice a week to iron out details, and final versions of maps and other resources for guests are being printed.

While most volunteer positions are filling up, there is a special need for airport and MAX line support in the days before conference, May 3-10. Go to www.gc2016pdx.org and use the volunteer links to sign up, or add a shift if you are already signed up.

Despite the arrival of General conference, ministry goes on in the Oregon-Idaho Conference, and the world.

Read below about some of those things, including opportunities to be prepared for disaster, plan for Peace with Justice Sunday, our fight against malaria, and more!

Greg Nelson, Director of Communications

CONFERENCE NEWS

Laity Session will begin Annual Conference

Conference Lay Leader Mary Foote wants to be sure all lay members to Annual Conference make it to the Laity Session when Annual Conference begins on June 16. And other lay people are invited to come too.

This will be a special session as those gathered elect the Conference Lay Leader for the next four years. Mary says, “There has been interest shown by amazingly gifted individuals! I’m delighted to say I’ll leave this ministry in very good hands!” The group will also have the opportunity to elect an Associate Conference Lay Leader to assist with the leadership and representation of the laity around the conference. Read more, and download an application for Associate Conference Lay Leader on the conference website.

Changes coming for health insurance plan

The Conference Board of Pensions will be proposing changes to the health insurance options and payment plans for clergy and lay staff in 2017 and 2018. They are working to find the right balance between plan participant costs and benefits, and the costs of coverage to the Annual Conference and local churches and ministry settings. To help members of Annual Conference and plan participants be fully aware before the Annual Conference Session in June, they are working to share information.

An article on the conference website and a set of frequently asked questions are available. The board is also taking feedback with an online form, and will hold two information sessions at Annual Conference. The first will be a session for plan participants on Wednesday, June 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the Grand Hotel in Salem. The second will be one of the laity workshop sessions on June 16.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Boise Church on the run to save lives

Imagine No Malaria and the First United Methodist Church in Boise, Idaho, Cathedral of the Rockies, are hosting a 5K fun run, “Faster than the Pastor,” on Friday, May 13, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at Ann Morrison Park in Boise, Idaho, as part of their commitment to save lives in Africa from malaria.

Malaria is caused through the bite of a mosquito and left untreated, can cause organ failure and death. A tragic reality is that every sixty seconds, a child under the age of five dies from this disease. But the solutions are not expensive - just $10 can save a life. The United Methodist Church’s comprehensive program fights malaria through prevention, education, communication, and treatment. Through Imagine No Malaria, every registered participant for this race will save a life!

The public is invited to participate in this fun run - adults and children!
Register Online
Sign-up to volunteer
Donate to Imagine No Malaria and learn more about the battle to save lives.

Church Marketing:
How to Effectively Reach your Community

A special workshop is being offered the day before Annual Conference. Jennifer Rodia from United Methodist Communications will offer a six hour in depth session on church marketing.

Jennifer says, “Church marketing is strategic planning for outreach evangelism. Your church wants to impact lives, helping people know Christ and engage them through Christian discipleship. One of the ways you can accomplish this is through your Church Marketing Plan. The creation of a strategic plan for your church helps improve how you communicate with and impact the people you want to reach for the Kingdom. During this workshop, we will cover the tools to plan, build, and launch a successful online strategy that helps people connect with your church in a new way.”

The workshop will be Wednesday, June 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Salem Convention Center, where Annual Conference Session will begin the next day. Cost is just $10 per person, and lunch is included. Register online now, and contact Greg Nelson at greg@umoi.org if you have questions.

Prayer Prompt for General Conference

This week pray in unison with others. Join in praying the prayer being prayed across the connection in worship around the Greater Northwest Area. Download it here.

With this prayer, pray: "As the world comes to our doorstep, we pray for this General Conference. We pray for wisdom and guidance. We pray for understanding and graciousness. We pray for courage and humility. We pray for our church as we face unprecedented challenges and opportunities at a General Conference that will surely long be remembered for the good You've accomplished."

And Lord, may all see and know that we are your disciples by how we love one another during and after this General Conference. Amen.

Pray the Lord's Prayer at noon daily as you hold all the delegates, volunteers and many attenders in prayer.

What can we learn from Africa and the Philippines?

On Saturday, May 7th, First United Church in Portland will host delegates from Africa and the Philippines for a ministry conversation before politics intrude at General Conference. The conversation will focus on, “how are we alike and how are our contexts different?” Participants might be surprised! The event starts at 9:00 a.m. and includes lunch (by donation for Americans—free for international delegates), ending by 2:00 p.m. First United Methodist is located at 1838 SW Jefferson on the Red/Blue MAX Lines. Get more information at fumcpdx.org/gcevent, RSVP by emailing to register@fumcpdx.org, and contact Rev. Jeremy Smith at jsmith@fumcpdx.org if you have questions.

General Conference choirs come to Newberg

Newberg United Methodist Church will be bringing the sounds of General Conference to the community. In two free community concerts they will host the Africa University Choir and the Boston University School of Theology Seminary Singers. Both groups will be performing at the 2016 General Conference when it meets in Portland, May 10-20.

The 16 member Africa University Choir has members from four countries in Africa. They will perform on Saturday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m.

The Seminary Singers of Boston University School of Theology hold a long and rich tradition of sacred choral music spanning eight decades. Today’s Seminary Singers, made up of students, faculty, and administrators of the School of Theology, are instrumental in the seminary’s worship leadership. The will perform on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. Newberg First United Methodist Church is located at 1205 Deborah Road in Newberg, Oregon.

AROUND THE GLOBE

To reach ‘nones,’ try church experiments

PORTLAND, Ore. (UMNS) — Portland, the host of the denomination’s 2016 General Conference on May 10-20, is on the leading edge of the “None Zone” — where more people answer “none” when asked their religion than identify with any single faith group. United Methodists in Portland are taking the lead in another way: They are coming up with new ways to do church for people who don’t like church. Read about these two Portland ministries in this United Methodist News Service story.

Turning on the lights after Fiji cyclone

NEW YORK (UMNS) — After losing electricity when a Category 5 cyclone struck Fiji, a new grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief will help inhabitants of a large stretch of small islands to turn on the lights. Read more on the UMCOR website.

GC2016: Impact of climate change

NEW YORK (UMNS) — For many United Methodists, taking care of the planet is not just a matter of “going green.” As reflected in petitions to General Conference, the church is moving beyond the still-needed practices of recycling and household energy conservation to larger public policy issues related to global climate change. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Pastor faces complaint for same-sex wedding

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UMNS) — The Rev. Val Rosenquist, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Charlotte, now faces a formal complaint after she co-officiated a same-gender wedding with retired Bishop Melvin Talbert on April 23. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Furthering the Church’s Mission / Preparing our Churches and Communities for Disaster – Connecting Neighbors

Please join us at La Grande UMC on May 21 to discover ideas about how you and your church can further your ministry and presence within your local community. “Connecting Neighbors” is a program from UMCOR, the Methodist Church’s disaster organization, that has wide application to all phases of ministry within your community, not just those of the typical ‘disaster’ setting. The disaster of poverty or illness is no less a disaster than one of flood or fire. We seek to minister to and serve the least and hurting among us, no matter the source, and churches that are prepared and connected are better able to do so. The workshop runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and lunch will be served. There is no cost for this workshop although donations will be gratefully accepted.

This workshop includes many handouts and links to resources for you to take back to your family and your church to aid in your planning and preparation.

La Grande UMC is at 1612 4th St, La Grande, OR 97850. We’ll start promptly at 9:00 a.m., so please try to arrive by 8:45 a.m.

Please pre-register by phone to 541-963-2498 (La Grande church office), email to LGUMC@eoni.com or by mail. Contact Becky Platt at beckyplatt1@peoplepc.com or 503-680-5015 for more information. Download a flyer to share.

Peace with Justice Sunday – May 22

Plan ahead for Peace with Justice Sunday, one of the six church-wide special Sundays.
Get bulletin inserts, donation envelopes, graphics and stories at www.umcgiving.org/pwjs.

IN REMEMBRANCE

Margaret Robinson
February 12, 1924 – April 19, 2016

Margaret Robinson, widow of retired Pastor Eric Robinson, died April 19, 2016. She is survived by daughters, Ann and Susan; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Reverend Robinson served Portland: Errol Heights, Portland: Centenary-Wilbur, Trafco Portland: Centenary-Wilbur, Boring, Portland Council of Churches, World Peace Committee, Oregon Fellowship of Reconciliation and Cornelius in the Oregon-Idaho Conference. He retired in 1977.

A memorial service was held, Wednesday, April 27th at Corvallis First United Methodist Church.

Friends may contact Ann Robinson at 3970 NW Elizabeth Place, Corvallis, Oregon 97330 for condolences or more information.

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

RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION

Early bird price for camps ends next week

Discounted registration for youth camps offered by Camp and Retreat Ministries ends on May 5. Parents should register their youth campers online before then to get this $25 discount.