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December 5, 2012 Volume 17, Issue 20 LIVING A VIBRANT FAITH WORSHIP BELIEVING THINKING ACTING SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 AT FIRST Portland’s First United Methodist Church Presents the U.S. Premier of The Chancel Choir presents:
CHURCH by Gyorgy Orban SUNDAYS 10:30 AM - Sanctuary AT 10:30 AM Also featuring the IN THE Portland State SANCTUARY Chamber Choir by Gyorgy Orban with String Orchestra, Organ, and Percussion
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 All-Church Potluck Brunch, 12:00 PM, Collins Hall and Pops of the Season with Jonas Nordwall and Friends,1:00 PM - Sanctuary ... featuring guest announcer: Bill Schonely. Portland First United Methodist Church declares that SUNDAY, we will be an advocate DECEMBER 23 for peace in our local First Church’s Children communities and world. lory to God in the highest As a Reconciling and Family Ministries Congregation, will present the members of children’s Christmas First United Methodist Church G Pageant on Sunday have pledged to morning, December 23, welcome and support at 10:30 AM in the all who want to worship with us, regardless of sanctuary. Enjoy the race, gender, class or Christmas Story through sexual orientation. the eyes of children. a message from our pastor Rev. Donna Pritchard When I opened my email in box this morning, I found this note from Hollis Bredeweg, the Executive Director for FISH Emergency Services:
Tha the ift While it is nice for us to be thanked in this way, what I particularly appreciate of about this message is the way it lifts up the results of our giving, even when weG do BEING not know the names, the faces, or the stories of those we touch with our generosity. THERE
As you think about the ways you have been touched by others’ generosity, and the blessing of community you experience here at First United Methodist Church, I hope you will see glimpses of a Land called Justice. And glimpsing it, I hope you will want to participate in making it more real – even for people we might never see.
Please use it to extend your compassion beyond your own family or circle of friends, by giving to the mission of First Church here in Portland and around the world. Let this be not just another request for funding – let it become a way for you to be more fully present to God’s presence in this Holy season.
Because we are those who have said “yes” to the child in the manger, “yes” to the transforming, life-giving power of God-with-us. As Eugene Peterson puts it in his paraphrase of the opening phrases of the Gospel of John:
The
Merry Christmas, Rev. Donna
2 our Adult DVENT Sunday School Apresence CHRISTIANITY IN A Preacher’s Pub for Adults ... December 12, and 19 CHANGING WORLD Join us on these Wednesdays evenings from During December we will discuss the 7:00 to 8:30 pm for no-host food and beverage, and a pastor-hosted topic of Compassion to celebrate conversation about theology for Advent. Advent. With the help of Karen December 12 Golden Valley Brewery, 1520 NW Bethany Blvd, Bvtn Armstrong and The Charter for December 19 Goose Hollow Inn, 1927 SW Jefferson Street Compassion, and author of Dr. Brené Brown, and Sunday, December 9 psychologist and author of by Gyorgy Orban with The Chancel Choir and The Portland State , Daniel Goleman, we’ll Chamber Choir with string orchestra, organ, and percussion explore the complexities of being a compassionate Christian in today’s Sunday, December 16 complicated world. No homework, just What Good News? ... Luke 21:25-36 come. The class meets at 9:00 AM in Room 202. Join us for an All-Comers’ Christmas Potluck Brunch We are all invited to A First Church Christmas Brunch Potluck in Collins Hall on THE GATHERING Sunday, December 16, following the worship service. The Christmas The Gathering is a Sunday morning op- Season is a time of celebration, and a time for our church family to come portunity for young adults and parents together and celebrate Christ’s Birth. Collins Hall will be festive with of Sunday School children. We are decorations, food, and beverage. Ham, assorted breads, coffee, and juice currently studying a variety of topics will be provided. You are invited to bring a favorite holiday side dish or informed by Rob Bell’s Nooma videos. dessert to share. Following the brunch, at 1:00 PM in the Sanctuary, come We gather at 9:30 AM in Room 204. enjoy our Pops of the Season Concert featuring Jonas Nordwall and Bill Schonely ... and friends. A $10.00 donation is suggested. FAITHLINKS FaithLinks is studying Phillip Kellers, Friday, December 21 , A Longest Night Service at 7:00 PM, Sanctuary We meet at 9:15 AM in Room 110.
Sunday, December 23 Children’s Christmas Pageant, 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary (There will be a Reader’s Rehearsal on Saturday, December 8, FINANCIAL from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM in the sanctuary.) CAMPAIGN
Monday, December 24 UPDATE 5:00 PM Family Christmas Eve in Collins Hall We are halfway there! Our Budget Goal is $910,000 7:00 PM Candlelight & Carols, Sanctuary and our Estimates of Giving 9:00 PM Candlelight & Carols Sanctuary to Date equal $495,927. It is very important that your return your 11:00 PM Communion & Carols, Chapel Estimate of Giving Card as soon as possible. Drop in the offering plate on Sunday or drop it in the mail. Thanks!
3 United Methodist Women Missions
United Methodist Women join with women in United Methodist GUATEMALAN CRAFTS & FAIR TRADE OLIVE OIL congregations around the world in organizing for mission. On December 9, 2012 the Global Missions Committee is We strive to develop a supportive fellowship as we participate hosting Los Amigos de Los Romeritos from Oregon City with women, children and youth in nearly 300 international UMC to sell Guatemalan fair-trade handicrafts. All proceeds programs, in 103 national programs as well as several local support the Los Romeritos Child Center in Guatemala City, programs. Our Unit President is Linda Anderson, 503/281-7569. a project that provides safe shelter, care, education, training, food, and love for children living on dangerous streets. THE RUTH CIRCLE There will also be a special opportunity for you to purchase The Ruth Circle will meet Wednesday, December 19 at noon Canaan Fair Trade olive oil, along with sun dried tomatoes, in Room 204. The guest speaker is Clare Humphrey, who will tahini, green olive tapenade, and other delicious products present a program of readings of poems and a translation of a that support Palestinian farmers. French legend/short story, all on a Christmas theme of giving and being yourself. Members will also enjoy a gift exchange. Bring a sandwich for lunch. Dessert and beverage will be provided. Chair: Jeanette Chardon 503/866-3192 This & That CIRCLE OF FRIENDS The Circle of Friends will meet on Wednesday, December 12 YOUTH AND THE ARTS at noon in Room 202 for a potluck lunch. Members are asked to Are you a youth who likes to play a musical instrument, please bring three dozen cookies for the cookie exchange and sing, dance, write poetry, draw or do anything artsy? If so, items for TUGS (towels, underwear, gloves and sheets) for the mark your calendars and join us in sharing your talent at shelter. Chair: Hazelee Stevenson 503/283-0041. Celebrate! Youth and the Arts on Sunday, April 21, 2012 at 3:00 PM. Congregation, mark your calendars too for this NAOMI CIRCLE afternoon recital and visual displays of our youth and their Naomi Circle will not meet at their usual time for the month of art. For more information about participating, contact Nan December but will resume Thursday, January 24, 2013. Anderson or Makenzie Aaby. This event is sponsored by the Friends of Music.
CHURCH LIBRARY PRAYERS & CONCERNS The First Church Library is accepting donations for its PRAYERS OF SYMPATHY FOR ... - Karl joined First Church in 1946 dren, as well as books on tape/CD, music CDs, and DVDs. and was our oldest member. He died at the age of 101 on We cannot accept Reader’s Digest condensed novels, old November 22, 2012. A private interment was held. textbooks and computer software manuals, or multi-volume reference books. If you have a question about whether your PRAYERS OF CONCERN FOR ... items might be suitable for the sale, ask one of the library awaiting a determination on a volunteers. Donations can be dropped off on Sundays in the heart procedure the daughter of , had brain surgery ... CHRISMON HANGING who is home from a recent We need a helping hand! Would you be willing to help hospitalization ... hang Chrismons on Friday, December 14, 2012 from who has gone to live with his daughter, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM? We will be hang Crismons on the his new address is: chapel tree and the tree in Collins Hall. For more 18887 Auburn Lane, information, contact: Beth Iverson at: Noblesville, IN 46060 ... [email protected]
CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR ... 4 Portland’s First United Methodist Church
Alternative2012 Christmas God’s Love Present Around the World
IMAGINE NO MALARIA Imagine No Malaria is a United Methodist ministry seeking to raise $75 million in order to eliminate malaria deaths in Africa by 2015. In addition to providing mosquito nets through the “Nothing But Nets” campaign, Imagine No Malaria is now educating and establishing community-based malaria control programs, conducting outreach through radio advertising, and revitalizing hospitals and clinics across Africa. DEE POUJADE TO PALESTINE Dee Poujade is heading to Palestine as a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission and as an Ecumenical Accompanier under the World Council of Churches, to monitor and report human rights abuses, and to support Palestinians and Israelis who are working together for peace. Your contribution will help to pay the $10,000 fee for Dee’s For each gift you participation in the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Israel and Palestine. will receive a card letting a loved SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT one know that a gift has been Sustainable Agriculture and Development is being done in developing nations thanks given in their honor to bring heal- ing, hope and love into the world to this United Methodist Advance project. Rural areas account for three quarters of the world’s malnourished population. This Advance will train at least 3,000 people in these areas in appropriate agricultural methods to protect the environment while also providing much needed food and economic growth. SOLVE care of Oregon” by teaching stewardship of our natural environment. Planet Church has worked with SOLVE on many clean-up projects. Your gift will support efforts to remove invasive plants, clean up litter, and much more. GOOSE HOLLOW FAMILY SHELTER Goose Hollow Family Shelter is housed right here in our building, and provides year- round shelter for homeless families. Your gift will help our shelter guests to feel the warmth and love of Christmas now and into the new year. THE MACDONALD CENTER The Macdonald Center is a leader in providing outreach and support services to the forgotten poor in the heart of Portland. Their work helps keep people in housing and off the street by providing education, encouragement and one-to-one care.
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Advent and Christmas can be hectic at the front desk, hence, diminishing my supply of “Christmas Cheer” ... bordering on Dickensian proportions. However, Christmas was my father’s favorite time of the year. He made it special by creating countless traditions that we did year ... whether we liked it or not! The tree had to be too tall for the living room and had to be decorated in all blue balls and blue lights. Christmas presents were all opened on Christmas Eve. (yay!) and our dinner that evening was always clam chowder (boo!). Presents were never addressed, “From Santa.” (My father said, “Why should he get from the the credit for something I am giving?) And we always concluded Christmas Eve with a Christmas Card Judging Contest. It was an era when everyone sent Christmas Cards and to not do so was the modern FRONT day equivalent of “unfriending” someone on Facebook. There was only one time in my childhood when DESK at St. Joseph Hospital. My father splurged the week of Christmas and rented the hospital’s small, black than an average smart phone today.) But this was an extravagance that I had not had before and I was delighted for something to pass the long hours until family or friends could arrive. That Christmas Eve we did not even have a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree in my hospital room, and certainly not the glow of sister and I recorded a hilarious parody called, “As the Stomach Turns,” in honor of my mother’s favorite soap. It was sad when everyone left that evening. On Christmas morning I woke up and my father was sitting at my beside, reading. I was groggy and asked, “What are you doing here so early, Daddy?” He moved closer to my bed and said, “It is Christmas morning and I wanted to be here.” Then his eyes became misty, “David, you know that I would trade places with you in a heartbeat, if that were possible.” I hope I replied, “But you are here now, and that is what counts.” More likely, I just smiled and remained silent. The incarnation always leaves me speechless. - id