December 6, 2018
Dear Reader,
Advent has come! Hurry up and wait!
While you’re waiting, it’s time to join in looking ahead as we CrossOver into a New Year, and a new life for The United Methodist Church.
Join others across the Greater Northwest Area in the first step of Crossing Over to Life by participating in the book study of Brian McLaren’s “We Make the Road by Walking,” beginning this week with chapter 14. And sign-up to receive the weekly blog that goes along with the study. It will include resources for groups and inspiration. Subscribe, read past blog posts, and learn more at www.greaternw.org/crossover.
bit.ly/CrossOver2Life
https://greaternw.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CrossOver-Reading-Schedule.pdf
Let’s start walking.
Greg Nelson, Director of Communications
CONFERENCE NEWS
CrossOver to Life! • Week One
In week one of the CrossOver Bible study, Rev. Charles Brower, a pastor serving Community UMC in Nome, Alaska, where the average high temperature this month is 16.8°F, shares a post titled, “What can I believe?” responding to the week's study verse from Daniel 7:9b-10a.
In addition, Sage District Superintendent Rev. Karen Hernandez shares resources for groups (and churches) to consider for Watchnight services to mark the crossing over into 2019. She says, “Methodist founder John Wesley brought the practice of a Watchnight service to the early Methodist Church from the Moravians whose faith and practice often inspired him. While Wesley encouraged the practice on a monthly basis, the service evolved into one more often used to mark the crossing over into a new year and a renewal of our covenant with God.”
If you didn’t receive the posts by subscribing to the CrossOver Blog, you can catch up at www.greaternw.org/crossover.
Church steps up after earthquake
Taking shelter in St. John's UMC.
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Alaska's most powerful earthquake since 1964 caused major road and property damage. It also knocked out power and water at an Anchorage home for people who have struggled with chronic alcoholism and homelessness. St. John United Methodist Church became the 46 residents' temporary shelter, with volunteers quickly rounding up cots and serving donated food.
Read more of this United Methodist News Service story.
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AROUND THE CONFERENCE
White House responds to call for child safety
At its annual session in June 2018 the Oregon-Idaho Conference voted to “write letters to Congressional Representatives, as well as the President, Vice President and Secretary of State, encouraging them to support pending and proposed legislation regarding the rights of children, including but not limited to HR 4391 (‘Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children’).”
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This federal legislation, which is still pending, and has been co-sponsored by two Oregon Representatives (Earl Blumenauer and Peter DeFazio), would prevent US aid that goes to Israel being used for detaining and imprisoning children, something that – sadly – is all too common.
Conference Secretary Rev. Laura Jaquith Bartlett, wrote these letters, which included language about the US practice of separating children from their parents at US borders, shortly after Annual Conference (link). A letter from the White House was received recently. While not mentioning Israel, it does state, “We stand – as we have always stood – with the victims of authoritarin abuses, terrorism, and genocide” but not making any specific reference to the issue raised in the original letter. You can read the entire response.
Dee Poujade, Chair of the Conference’s Holy Land Task Force comments, “While this response is not surprising, nevertheless, it is the only response received from 11 letters sent. Needless to say, much work remains to be done!”
You can learn more about the Holy Land Task Force on the Conference website, or contact Dee at traveling.mimi@gmail.com.
Employment
Director of Music – Corvallis, OR
Learn more about this, and other opportunities at www.umoi.org/classifieds.
AROUND THE GLOBE
Giving Tuesday donations net $624,868 for mission
More than 2,450 gifts from 11 countries - totaling $624,868.81 - were contributed for missionary support, mission projects and disaster relief as part of Giving Tuesday.
Read the press release.
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Zimbabwe church recommits to fighting AIDS epidemic
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — In Zimbabwe, The United Methodist Church has joined the Common Voice Initiative, which aims to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS through advocacy and action by leaders and followers of a broad range of religious traditions. Speaking at Inner-City United Methodist Church, advocates demanded that the world's leaders act to ensure the epidemic is brought to an end.
Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service Story.
Bishops mourn death of President George H.W. Bush
WASHINGTON — The death of George H.W. Bush, the nation's 41st president, was mourned by the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church in a letter to his son, 43rd President George W. Bush, and his wife, Laura. The elder Bush died on Nov. 30.
Read the press release and read the letter.
Poll shows church's shifting views of alcohol
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — A new survey by LifeWay Research shows perhaps the most dramatic evidence yet of how U.S. Methodists, once famous teetotalers, now are willing to take a drink from time to time.
Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Resource for Las Posadas
Las Posadas is a nine-day religious observance celebrated chiefly in Latin America, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, and by Hispanics in the United States, beginning December 16 and ending December 24. Las Posadas is celebrated by Latinos and Spaniards and people who appreciate the culture and holiday of the Mexican and Spanish people.
The book, Fiesta Cristiana, Recursos para la Adoración: Resources for Worship includes services for Las Posadas as well as other seasons. As the introduction shares, “If worship is to include the response and offering of the whole person to God, it is imperative that persons be addressed in and through the idiom and culture that are native to them. Faith must find expression in the language, rhythms and sounds that are indigenous to that gathered community.”
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Order it on line at a discounted price with expedited shipping from Cokesbury.
COMMENTARY
By Rebekah Simon-Peter
… Nostalgia about the way things were quickly turns to anger when it becomes apparent that the good old days aren’t coming back. …