Thank you for Supporting AC Ministry

Greetings Cascadia District,

The work of the Annual Conference is supported by the shared giving (apportionments) of the local churches.  And through our support of the Annual Conference budget we also support the work of our denomination as a whole.  

Despite 2021 being a challenging year on all fronts, Cascadia District churches have been generous in supporting the ministry that is done through the Annual Conference.  At the end of November, the conference wide percentage of apportionments paid was 68%, but in Cascadia District our churches had paid 81% of our shared giving.  

Thank you to the following churches who had already paid their apportionment share in full by the end of November.  I know that there will be more when we get the final 2021 year end report in February:

• Sheridan 
• Sherwood
• Molalla
• Christ's Church: Monmouth
• Falls City
• John Day
• Nehalem Bay
• Oregon City
• Warrenton

Thank you to these churches who were at 92% at the end of November, on track to pay in full by the end of the year:

• Woodburn
• Tualatin
• Carus
• Salem First
• Seaside
• Astoria
• Banks Community
• Bay City
• McCabe Chapel
• Silverton

Thank you to the following churches who made a substantial increase in their shared giving in 2021 over 2020:

• McMinnville
• Canby
• Tigard
• Forest Grove
• Morningside: Salem

And thank you to all of you who have so faithfully supported your local church ministries, your church's share of the conference budget, and through it our conference's share of The UMC budget.

Your giving has impacted people in need in your own communities, throughout our annual conference, and throughout the world.  You have provided stability and hope in these unsettled times.  You have been a blessing.

I so appreciate you!

Cascadia District Superintendent Wendy Woodworth
wendy@umoi.org 

In this newsletter

• We Aren't Broke! A FREE Webinar sponsored by CDCES
• Lay Leadership Training coming in February
• Deadline for next Grant / Loan applications to Cascadia District Church Extension Society
• Prayers and Help for Tonga
• And check out the events, resources, and items available in the right hand column, including an ongoing Virtual Health Fair, Curriculum webinar, and lay servant classes

The Year End Reports are due January 31st.  Check out the requirements at www.umoi.org/cascadiadistrictyearendreports

Blessings to you all in Christ Jesus,

Linda Grund-Clampit
Cascadia District Administrative Assistant
linda@umoi.org

We Aren't Broke! A FREE Webinar Thursday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. What if the resources your church needs are already there?  We often feel broke and powerless in the face of so much need and decreasing attendance, membership, and contributions. But what if someone could help us re-examine our assumptions? That's just what Mark Elsdon does in his book, We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry  Theologically rooted but practically minded, it provides guidance and tools for churches who are seeking new ways to fund and participate in God's work in the world. The Cascadia District Church Extension Society is bringing Mark Elsdon to us in a FREE webinar on Thursday, February 24th.  AND everyone who attends the webinar will get a FREE copy of the book! “One of our biggest challenges in the church is imagination. In this book, Mark Elsdon reminds us that there is no scarcity of resources, only a scarcity of creativity and courage.  He shows us a way forward, even in the midst of a pandemic.  If we believe that light shines in darkness, this is an amazing moment for us to shine.  If we feel anxious about resources, we need only remind ourselves of what Jesus did with a few struggling fishermen and a few courageous young women... and how he took a kid's lunch to feed the masses.”   — Shane Claiborne, author, activist, and co-founder of Red Letter Christians Sign up for the webinar by clicking here. Share this opportunity with others with this flyer.   Lay Leadership Training Saturday, Feb. 26 Zoom  Laity serving on local church committees, especially those who chair administrative committees, are encouraged to save the date for a Greater Northwest Area-wide training on Saturday, February 26, 2022. The two-hour training will be offered online starting at 9 a.m. AKT (10 a.m. PT,  11 a.m. MT) by district superintendents and staff of the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences. Those new to their roles or to leadership of committees are strongly encouraged to attend. Translation will be offered in Spanish and Korean. Save the date and watch for more information

Grant / Loan Requests due Monday, March 7

Have an innovative ministry you’d like to start? How about additional funding for one that’s already in place? The Cascadia District Extension Society may be able to help. Typically, one-year grants are in the $2,000-$20,000 range. Find applications here.
 
If you’re looking for a loan for building, maintenance, and capital improvement projects, you can find an application here.
 
Grant and loan applications are due Monday, March 7, 2022.

The second round of applications for 2022 will be due May 9, 2022.  
 
For more information, contact Becky Carey, CDES President and Grant Application Manager.

Bishop Calls for Prayer and Action in Response to Tonga Disaster

In response to the disastrous effect on Tonga from the recent volcanic eruption and tsumani and in recognition of the kinship we share with the Tongan people in our Methodist faith community, Bishop Elaine Stanovsky asks that we 

• Pray for the safety and recovery of the people in Tonga following the volcanic eruption and tsunamis, for our GNW siblings in Christ and their faith communities as they wait for word of their relatives and friends in Tonga.
• Act to share resources.  You may designate donations to your local church for "Tongan Relief" now. We are working to determine the best channel for these funds, perhaps through partners in New Zealand, which can deliver goods to Tonga much quicker than from the United States. Your gifts can be sent to the Annual Conference with this designation and will be channeled for this purpose.

Read Bishop Stanovsky's full letter by clicking here.  

Bend Church makes steps toward providing housing

In a new year amid an unending pandemic, Bend First United Methodist Church is feeling hopeful about the prospects of helping more houseless individuals through two new planned villages for the houseless on vacant lots.

Read more on the Greater Northwest website by clicking here.