VERB IS A CIRCUIT RIDER 15 JAN 27 JAN 28 JAN 30 JAN 10 FEB. VISIT PDX ART MUSEUM! TUESDAY 9:30AM SW PARK & SW MAIN Front Office

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1 CIRCUIT RIDER F i rst Unit e d Met h o d i st Churc h of Port l a n d WORSHIP TIMES 8:30 AM CHAPEL 10:30 AM SANCTUARY UARY 9, 2019 VOLUME 25 ISSUE 1 IS A VERB FEB VISIT PDX ART MUSEUM! TUESDAY 9:30AM SW PARK & SW MAIN Front Office office@fumcpdx.org CLEAN ENERGY JOBS FORUM SUNDAY 12 PM FIRESIDE ROOM See back page for details ALL-COMERS BOOK GROUP MONDAY 7PM LIBRARY Phyllis Leonard leonard.pj@gmail.com UMW PLANNING TEAM WEDNESDAY 10 AM ROOM 110 Judy Moon beavermoon72@comcast.net LIBRARY BOOK SALE SUNDAY 12 PM COLLINS HALL See inside for details! EPIPHANY WORSHIP SERIES CONTINUES PART Moving Forward - Responding to God s call in your life, Isaiah Ephesians 4:1-16. PART Building Community - Co-creating with God and with one another, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a. PART 5 FEB 3 - Releasing fears - Going beyond our comfort zones for the sake of God s work, Jeremiah 1:4-10. PART 6 FEB 10 - Risking Obedience - Doing what God asks us to do,and trusting the results to God, Luke 5:1-11. PART 7 FEB 17 - Trusting Reversals - The paradox of the Kingdom of God and the contradictions of the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12. PART 8 FEB 24 - Loving Enemies - Jesus call to a radical lifestyle of love for all, even our enemies, Luke 6: PART 9 MAR 3 - Living Transformation - Faith is a verb always aimed at changing us into God s likeness, 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9: AS A PEACE CHURCH We declare that we will be an advocate for peace in our local communities and world. AS A RECONCILING CONGREGATION all are welcome to participate in the full life of the church, including all races, abilities, ages, classes, gender identities, and sexual orientations. AS A CREATION CARE CONGREGATION we advocate for lifestyles and social policies which bring healing and renewal to our precious Earth.

2 FROM THE PASTOR Happy New Year! By the time you receive this, 2019 will already be nearly two weeks old. I typically do not go in for New Year s Resolutions that melt away as quickly as last night s frost. Setting myself up to reach goals I suspect I will never attain is hardly a good way to motivate change. necessarily fixed and permanent. Old patterns can be changed and new ones can be created. So I am wondering what have the patterns of your life created in years past? Do you like the tapestry you have woven to date? Are there ways in which you might choose to change the pattern in 2019 or create a new one altogether? GRACE& PEACE However, this year I have been thinking about the power of patterns in my life. It seems we all adore patterns. Nature is full of patterns the delicate design of a butterfly s wing, the growth rings of a tree s trunk, the tiger s stripes, the snowflake s symmetry all patterns that speak to us of stability and sensibility. We love patterns. So it is no wonder we fall unconsciously into our own patterns of love or of fear, patterns of gratitude or miserly suspicion, patterns of hope or despair. These patterns will create reality and define possibility for us if we let them. If we are not awake to the warp and weave of each moment in life s tapestry, the patterns we do not notice can take us away from God s original creation of us and can obscure the intent of the Creator. The good news is that patterns are not A few years ago I shared with you another alternative to New Year s Resolutions that I find helpful a Word of the Year. This is a word I use to focus my attention and to ground myself in the patterns I want to embrace. This year my word is HOPE. In choosing that word I thought about my hopes for patterns of beauty and peace, patterns that create meaning and open the way for love. I also thought of the challenges facing our United Methodist Church as a denomination and the hope I have to find a way forward for us together. I thought of the possibilities that abound in mission and ministry here at home and the hope we can offer to the world beyond our walls. I thought of the hope we long to see fulfilled in the created order and in humanity itself. Hope and patterns of possibility where will you find them in this new year? Rev. Donna PS In just a few short weeks (February 23-26) the General Conference of The United Methodist Church will meet in St. Louis to consider legislation aimed at ending our stalemate over questions of inclusion or exclusion of LGBTQ persons in the life of the church. As a member of the Commission on a Way Forward, and as the clergy delegate to General Conference from Oregon-Idaho Conference, and as your pastor I am asking you to start praying now for the Holy Spirit to inspire, direct, encourage and challenge General Conference to move toward a more inclusive church, grounded in God s grace and sustained by Christ s love. You can read the legislation coming to the Conference at org/who-we-are/gc2019-advance-edition-daily-christian-advocate Or you can attend a pre-conference briefing with me on Sunday, February 10th in the Fireside Room from noon to 1:30 pm. Page 2

3 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY December was a banner month for giving here at FUMC! Thank you for all the support you gave to our mission and ministries. Of particular note, the Christmas Pops Concert generated nearly $5,000 for the victims of the California wildfires. Alternative Christmas gifts included: Nearly $1,500 for Portland Homeless Family Solutions A little over $1,500 for the United Methodist Women s support for midwives in Africa $361 for Reconciling Ministries support of Ecumenical Ministries HIV Center $1,341 for Global Missions work with Agua Viva Serves, a clean water ministry in Costa Rica $576 for Planet Church to help the Youth Environmental Justice Alliance $882 for Church & Society s partnership with the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice This is truly a church full of generous hearts, and I thank you for your love. Now the 2019 ANNUAL APPEAL One in Heart is well underway! The majority of our operating expenses are PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH...OF CELEBRATION We celebrate Al Rieke s return home this week from Rehabilitation....OF CONCERN For Pastor Donna, for wisdom, as she continues to discern and prepare for February s Global Methodist Conference....OF SYMPATHY For Dallas Boge and family of Sharon Boge upon her death last December. A memorial for Sharon will be on Saturday, January 19 at 2pm. For the family of Rev. Earl Riddle, who passed way last December. A memorial service for Earl will be at First Church on Saturday, January 26 at 1pm. CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR... Lori Fraser Jan Rakestraw Kim Kelleher Diana Lu Justin Leonard Virgina Bender Roberta Aaby Ron Naito Shelley Olsson Geiszler Lois Hughes paid through gifts from our members and friends. Your pledge of support is critical as we seek to make prudent financial plans in this new year. DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT If you haven t pledged to First Church s annual campaign in the past, make your first pledge count twice! We have received a generous matching gift and challenge friends and members to make a pledge between January 14 and February 14. Show your love of First Church by pledging to the campaign, and your gift will be matched (up to $5,000). RESOLVE TO SUPPORT FUMC If you have pledged in the past and have yet to respond to the 2019 appeal, please do so today! We rely on the pledges of members and friends to determine our annual budget. Help us plan for our worship, our fellowship and our outreach by submitting your pledge card today. Our operating budget typically exceeds $800,000 and we have had just over $500,000 pledged to the 2019 campaign. Help us fill this gap so our church community can make the greatest impact in THANK YOU TO UNITED METHODIST WOMEN PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY Pepperdine University student Isabel Klein was evacuated during the devastating fires in Southern California. Isabel was visiting her grandparents, FUMC members Art and Trudy Kayser, and expressed a wish to do something to help the people made homeless by the fires. At her grandmother s suggestion, she contacted the FUMC Prayer Shawl Ministry and asked if any shawls were available to be presented to members of her church, Malibu UMC. Five shawls were given to Isabel who delivered them to Malibu UMC on Sunday, November 25th. Isabel reported, I was able to give the first prayer shawl to a woman named Naomi. She lost her house in the fire. When I gave her the shawl, she said she could already feel the prayers coming her way. She felt like the spirit of the woman who made it was with her. Everyone in the congregation applauded when I announced the prayer shawls in the service. Sandy (Rev. Liddell) is making sure some very deserving people get shawls. The Malibu UMC is very grateful and so am I. Page 3

4 SMALL GROUPS AT FUMC FAITH HOPE LOVE IN ACTION CARPENTERS GATHERING SECOND WEDNESDAYS 6PM FIRESIDE ROOM CONTACT: JOSHUA KINGSLEY, The Carpenters are a young and active adult gathering that meets for dinner, games, and conversation on the second Wednesday of every month (excluding March & April due to Lent). Currently they are embarking on an exploration of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and robotics. We will explore the economic, physical, spiritual, and social implications of this oncoming change while comparing it to other disruptions in the history of God s people. PATHFINDERS FELLOWSHIP SATURDAY, FEB 2 11:30 AM ROOM 202 RSVP: LEIF & MARGE TERDAL, PROGRAM: Lunch begins at noon followed by a presentation by Rima Green, Director of the Growing Gardens Lettuce Grow program. She will talk about the hands-on garden education provided to inmates in 13 adult and 4 youth correctional facilities throughout the state of Oregon. CHRISTIANITY IN A CHANGING WORLD SUNDAYS 9AM ROOM 202 This adult Sunday school class meets every Sunday morning for discussions involving faith in an ever changing world. CIRCLE OF FRIENDS WEDNESDAY, PM FIRESIDE ROOM CHAIR: NANCY MUIR PROGRAM: Susanna Wesley - The Mother of Methodism. Bring a sack lunch. Dessert and beverage are provided. UNIT GATHERING WEDNESDAY, FEB 6 10 AM FIRESIDE ROOM CONTACT: JUDY MOON PROGRAM: Embracing Wellness - Mission u studies Bring a sack lunch. Dessert and beverage are provided. TABITHA SEWING CIRCLE EVERY SECOND MONDAY 10 AM ROOM 202 CHAIRS: KAY WARD & ERIN RILEY Bring a sack lunch. Each gathering begins with a short devotional. UARY 14: We will be making blocks for a group quilt for Strength for the Journey Camp and have the election for the Tabitha Circle officers. FEBRUARY 11: Make fleece blankets for Project Linus. CHURCH & SOCIETY FUNDRAISER SUNDAYS - 20 COLLINS HALL UARY 13: In preparation for our speaker who will join us on the 20th, we ll be reviewing what we ve learned, what we wonder about, and what questions we d like to ask about the new developments in artificial intelligence as it relates to our Christian practice. UARY 20: A conversation with Dr. Melanie Mitchell, Professor of Computer Science at Portland State University, and External Professor and Member of the Science Board at the Santa Fe Institute, author of the soon to be released book: Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans. UARY 27: We ll begin our discussions based on Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine, by Alan Lightman. Calendar with dates, chapters to be discussed, and facilitators, is attached. Church and Society is raising funds for valuable services to the community, such as supporting the Maybelle Center and the monthly Dental Van that the church hosts. Please make a contribution at the fundraising table in Collins Hall after service today and the following two Sundays. You can also make a contribution online. HOST A COFFEE HOUR AFTER WORSHIP! CONTACT: ERIC MCFERRIN, EDMCFERR@GMAIL.COM The Hospitality Committee is looking for families or groups of 3-4 people that would enjoy hosting Coffee Hour on selected Sunday mornings this year. It is a great opportunity to meet many of your fellow church members and engage in Collins Hall fellowship.

5 First Church Library Used Book SUNDAY, FEB 10, 2019 COLLINS HALL Come to Collins Hall before or after worship to see what books might tickle your fancy. "Purchases" are by donation only, and all proceeds will benefit First Church Library. P.S... FIRST CHURCH LIBRARY STILL ACCEPTING BOOK DONATIONS! They are accepting fiction and non-fiction books in good condition for adults and children; audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs and LPs. Most of the participants in our book sales are members of the First Church family. Based on past experience, there is little interest in condensed books (e.g., Reader s Digest condensed novels), old textbooks, out-of-date computer software manuals, or multi-volume reference sets like encyclopedias or Bible commentaries. If you have questions about whether your items might be suitable for our sales, please ask one of the library volunteers. Donations can be dropped off on Sundays in the library. DOWNTOWN YOUTH COLLECTIVE SUNDAY, 27 12:15PM - 2:15PM FIRST CHURCH For this month s Downtown Youth Collective, we will be gathering in the youth room for lunch and to talk about ideas for what to do as a service project in February. Come prepared with a few ideas of what organizations, service opportunities and groups of people you are interested in serving. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 12:15PM - 2:15PM FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Last month, we all met and discussed different service opportunities we are all passionate about. For this gathering, we will be living out our plans we made last month and doing a service trip. WINTER YOUTH RETREAT FEBRUARY SUTTLE LAKE COST: $99, DUE 13 This year, our youth (7th-12th grades) will be attending the Winter Retreat at Suttle Lake in February along with our Downtown Youth Collective churches. Come hike in the snow, drink hot chocolate and grow in faith together. There is a keynote speaker who will introduce a theme and scripture, and split up for deeper group discussions and reflections. Scholarships are available! FOR ALL YOUTH ACTIVITIES CONTACT: ALICIA MCCONNELL, AMCCONNELL@FUMCPDX.ORG CHILDREN S BOOK DRIVE STARTING SUNDAY 27 - FEB 17 Children and Family Committee will be hosting a Book Drive during January and February, collecting children s books to be donated to the Children s Book Bank. Books will be collected every Sunday in our children s Sunday School classes and in the Narthex. TYPES OF BOOKS THAT CAN BE DONATED ARE: Board books Picture books Alphabet books Books about numbers, colors, animals, shapes and words Story books Rhyming books Multicultural books and Spanish language books are needed Chapter books for elementary school students are also appreciated

6 CIRCUIT RIDER NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND OR Permit No T HE CIRCUIT RIDER is a publication of First United Methodist Church, 1838 SW Jefferson St, Portland, OR Office@fumcpdx.org The Circuit Rider can be ed to you. the church office at office@fumcpdx.org to request it by . Address Service Requested Clean Energy Jobs for Oregon HOW WILL IT IMPACT YOU? SUNDAY 27, 2019 NOON - 1PM FIRESIDE ROOM Join State Representative Ken Helm, one of the legislature s foremost champions on addressing climate change, for a discussion of this proposed legislation which is designed to limit climate pollution and invest in clean energy jobs. Page 4