Sharing the Gift of Life A Cascadia District Project for Eastertide 2023 Cascadia District Superintendent Wendy Woodworth invites every Cascadia District congregation to celebrate the Resurrection by giving the gift of life to others in a very practical way through food and household items by collecting funds for your local food bank collecting rolls of toilet paper for your local food bank encouraging advocacy for access to food for everyone (see more information on an opportunity to do this by clicking here) See DS Wendy's video invitation The collection period will be during Eastertide, which is from now until Pentecost on May 28th.  We have a goal of 4,000 rolls of toilet paper!  If the goal is reached, DS Wendy will do something dramatic with her hair to be viewed at the AC Session.   The District is on a Roll (groan . . . )   Woodburn UMC has collected 427 so far and has a goal of 750!  Silverton UMC has collected 127 rolls of their 150 goal.   If we reach 5,000 rolls, Wendy will dye her hair in addition to getting a pattern shaved into it! Woodburn UMC's collection Bend FUMC's collection Silverton UMC's collection How is your church doing??  We ask that you report your church's participation by June 1st, sharing how much money and how many rolls of toilet paper you collected for your local food bank.  We are happy to receive more pictures of the TP stacked up -- in a sculptural shape perhaps!  We'll celebrate during our district time together at the AC Session in Meridian, ID June 8-11. Click here for a flyer you can share with your congregation To download videos to share on a Sunday morning or include in your own publicity: click on the link for the video Eastertide Challenge: https://vimeo.com/817068798  Food for All Oregonians: https://vimeo.com/817073012#t=0  scroll down to the information below the video and click "download" In this newsletter: Sharing the Gift of Life New Oregon-Idaho UMC Website! Same URL Annual Conference Sessions 2023 Preparing for the 2023 Annual Conference Sessions Register Now for the AC Session June 8-11 Calendar of AC Session events UPCOMING EVENTS Prayer Calendar Appointment Announcements Resources DS Wendy will prepare a recorded sermon for June 11 Disaster Kit Challenge at AC Scholarship Available Contact Us New Oregon-Idaho UMC Website! Same URL So many of our resources and communications are on our Annual Conference website.  On Monday, April 10th the web address of www.umoi.org took on a whole new look! Conference Communications Manager, Kristen Caldwell, worked with many other staff and users to create a clean, updated look and a layout that we hope will be easier to use!  We hope you will check it out and let us know what you think.  Some things to be aware of right away: the Login for People Portal and Church Dashboard is now in the upper right of every page of the website, at the words "Login" There is a new search function, which categorizes your results -- it is also located in the upper right of every page, at the magnifying glass icon There is a link to the GNW Episcopal Area website on the Conference website -- again in the upper right, above the Login link and Search icon, at the words "GNW Area" As you can imagine, there are a lot of details involved in transferring the information on our old site to our new site.  If you find things that are missing or don't seem quite right, please contact Linda in the district office, linda@umoi.org, and she'll work on getting the information to the right people to make a correction or update.   Annual Conference Sessions 2023 Preparing for the 2023 Annual Conference Sessions The theme is "Go and Do Likewise," with scriptural focus on Luke 10:30-37, the parable of the Good Samaritan. Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth will invite us to encounter the characters in the parable as mirrors to see ourselves more clearly and as windows to see possibilities beyond our imaginings.   Registration is open now.   You can attend in person or remotely. All voting members, lay and clergy, need to register.  Guests who want to attend in person and order any meals must also register.   Register by May 15th to avoid a late fee Online registration will be open until June 1st, but a late fee will be charged to members registering between May 16 and June 1st.   No meals will be available for order after May 15th.   The event will be livestreamed and can be viewed by anyone.  There is no need to register for this access.  It will be at www.umoi.org/ac  Register Now for the AC Session June 8-11 All voting members, lay and clergy, must register to participate Register by May 15 to avoid a late fee You can always check out www.umoi.org/ac for current information.  Find details on legislation, lodging, schedule, pre-conference reports, and the registration link. Calendar of AC Session events  Regular annual AC Session  Opening Session - May 20, 2023 for entire Greater NW Area live stream only will include installation service for Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth Oregon-Idaho Clergy Session - May 23, 2023 online only those who should attend will be contacted Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Session - June 8-11, 2023 Hybrid event: in person at Meridian UMC, Meridian, ID or by Zoom Lay and clergy members will be able to participate fully in either attendance mode Registration is open now.  Register by May 15 to avoid a late fee and to order meals. For a draft schedule, click here.   Closing Session - June 15, 2023 for entire Greater NW Area live stream only You can always check out www.umoi.org/ac for current information.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  Monday, May 15   Cascadia District Retiree Colloquy   Saturday, May 20   Installation Service for Bishop Bridgeforth
(livestreamed)   Tuesday, May 23   Oregon-Idaho Clergy Session
(online attendance only)   Monday, June 5   Cascadia District Local Church Lay Leaders meet with DS Wendy on Zoom   Thurs - Sunday
June 8-11   Oregon--Idaho Annual Conference Session
(in person and online attendance options)   Thursday, June 15   Closing Session of GNW Area Annual Conference Sessions
(livestreamed)   Wednesday, July 5   Deadline to apply for the Gertrude Boyd Crane Scholarship  

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Prayer Calendar

May 7 - 13

Wilsonville UMC
Pastor Karen Shimer
Lay Leader Pam Hahn

May 14 - 20

Woodburn UMC
Pastor Brian Mackey

May 21 - 27

Yamhill UMC
Pastor Carolyn Johnson
Lay Leader Sherry Bodeen
 

See the whole Prayer Calendar by clicking here

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Appointment Announcements

Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth  intends to make the following appointments in the Cascadia District effective July 1, 2023:

Rev. Ruth Marsh to Dallas UMC three-quarter time and to Polk County UM Co-operative Ministry Exploration one-quarter time.  Rev. Marsh currently serves Trinity UMC in Idaho Falls, ID in the Sage District.  Rev. Jody Felton, who currently serves Dallas UMC, will be returning to retirement.

Rev. David Childress to Woodburn UMC full-time.  Rev. Childress currently serves Lebanon UMC in the Crater Lake District.  Pastor Brian Mackey, who currently serves Woodburn, will be taking a break from pastoral ministry.

Rev. Laura Beville to Stayton First UMC half-time in addition to continuing to pastor Silverton UMC half-time.  Rev. Beville will be ending her current half-time position as Ministerial Resources Coordinator for the Annual Conference.  Currently serving Stayton FUMC is Pastor David Madden, whose next pastoral assignment has not yet been announced.

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Resources

Sermon Available for June 11, the AC Session Sunday

Cascadia DS Wendy will prepare a recorded sermon which will be available for use by congregations on June 11th, which is the Sunday of the Annual Conference Session when pastors may still be in Idaho!

Watch for more information to come!

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Disaster Kit Challenge at AC

OR-ID UMC Disaster Ministries is challenging us all to create and collect Disaster Response Kits for the June Annual Conference Session.  

Cleaning Buckets or Hygiene Kits can be delivered to Meridian UMC OR to a Conference Storage Center in your area.  

Contact Louise Kienzle at drc@umoi.org if you can help transport kits or offer time at Meridian UMC OR to locate a storage center near you.

Download the flyer to share with your church.

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Scholarship Available

Are you, or do you know a woman in the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area who is, planning to pursue or is already pursuing post-graduate studies toward a career in the church, including, but not limited to ordained elder? The Dr. Gertrude Boyd Crane scholarship committee is now taking applications.  Scholarship amounts vary, but average about $2000 per year. 

The application and supporting information must be received by July 5, 2023.
 
Learn more about this scholarship and find the application form on the Oregon-Idaho United Women in Faith webpage at 
www.umoi.org/cranescholarship

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Ask Bishop Cedrick

A series of short videos will feature Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth responding to questions from people in the Greater NW Episcopal Area. The series so far includes:

"What brings you joy?"

"What do bishops do?"

"What shaped your call to ministry?"

and

"What keeps you going?"

You can submit a question to Oregon-Idaho Communications Director Kristen Caldwell at communications@umoi.org.for possible future consideration by the bishop!  

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Contact Us

DS Wendy Woodworth
wendy@umoi.org 

District Administrator
Linda Grund-Clampit
linda@umoi.org
503-581-3969

Check out the Cascadia District webpage:
www.umoi.org/cascadia