August Maxwell Road, Eugene, OR Gwen Drake District Superintendent

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1 Crater Lake News Bulletin August Maxwell Road, Eugene, OR Gwen Drake District Superintendent Voice: (541) ~ FAX: (541) Kay Burdick Administrative Assistant Office craterlake@umoi.org Gwen Drake: gwen@umoi.org Office Hours: 8:15-3:45, M-TH; 8:15-12:15, F Note Form the Editor ~ The July-August edition of The Crater Lake Connection announced there would be no newsletter published in August. However, there is news we feel needs to be shared prior to September. Click on the links below to read all the latest news. A full edition of the newsletter will come out at the end of August. 1 ~ Bishop Assigned 2 ~ Bishop to Tour District 2 ~ Congregational Leadership Classes Scheduled 2 ~ SOU Student Opportunity 3 ~ Mission News from Kenya 4 ~ UMVIM News 5 ~ Job Opening By The Rev. Earnest Bell, Toledo UMC The new assignments of Bishops were announced at Jurisdictional Conference in July, and Bishop Grant J. Hagiya was assigned to the Oregon-Idaho Conference. He also continues to administer the Alaska Conference and the Pacific Northwest Conference which includes all of the state of Washington and the panhandle of Idaho. The new name of this three-conference region is the Greater Northwest Area. Since his office is in Seattle, and so the churches in the Oregon- Idaho Annual Conference will have more immediate presence and communication with the bishop's office, the Rev. Kim Fields was appointed Assistant to the Bishop for our Conference. He will continue to serve as the superintendent of the churches in Eastern Oregon and Southern Idaho (the Sage District). Prior to his election to the episcopacy in 2008, Bishop Hagiya served as the Senior Pastor at churches in Berkeley, Gardena, and Los Angeles, California. He has been an active member of the Nikkei Interfaith Group, a community-based coalition of Christians, Buddhists, and Shinto Ministers. Bishop Hagiya is married to Janet, (see photo) a high school librarian, and they have three children, Lexie, an accountant for ABC Studios; Jamie, a professional basketball player in Europe; and Trent, a student at the University of California, San Diego. Bishop Robert Hoshibata has been assigned to the Desert Southwest Conference (Arizona).

2 Bishop Grant Hagiya to make quick tour of district! A tentative schedule has been set for our new bishop to travel through our district to see as many churches as possible on September 3 and 4. Also, that Monday and Tuesday evening a worship service will be arranged where all are invited. Look for more definitive plans in the near future! Congregational Leadership Classes - Fall 2012 Two new classes will begin in October if we have enough churches for both classes. One class will be held in the southern part of Crater Lake District, perhaps Newman United Methodist Church in Grants Pass (dates not yet set). The other class will be held at Florence UMC (location tentative depending on which churches sign up) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates: October 20, November 10, January 12, February 9, March 9 and April CLD is for congregations experiencing frustration in their life. CLD provides a way for the congregation leadership to learn some of the reasons why and some strategies for moving into a more productive response. 2. CLD is for congregational leaders seeking a powerful process for building their sense of common understanding of their mission and of ways to work as a team. 3. Pastors interested in building greater common cause and partnership with their lay leadership will benefit from involving key leaders in the CLD. It is my recommendation that pastoral and lay leaders give the process serious consideration and make firm decisions about your participation and funding before the end of August. You will need the commitment of the pastor and at least 4 lay leadership people. The cost is $100 each plus the purchase of 6 books for each participant. It is helpful when the church is able to fund part of this. The cost includes a Participant Notebook and six lunches. The classes will be held on one Saturday a month, October through April (skipping December). You may contact Steve Ross, Director of the Vital Church Project ( ) if you have any questions at all. You also may find the application form and information about the series on the conference website at 2 ** Attention Southern Oregon University Students ** The Wesley Foundation Board at Southern Oregon University is initiating a new and exciting project for United Methodist students attending SOU this year. They are offering the house they own, The Windsor House, for six students to live in Christian community. One graduate student, Ria Moli, will be the resident *House Chaplain* and will oversee details of the community. Students will covenant to Study (bringing in speakers, discussions on spirituality, books), Service (to the surrounding community needs), and Worship. The house, which is walking distance to the campus, has 4 bedrooms, living, dining, kitchen, 2 bathrooms, washer/dryer, huge front and back yards. Included in the rent are all utilities, internet connection, yard maintenance, and the washer and dryer use. The house is furnished. There are two double rooms, and one single room. The single room will rent for $400 per month. The double rooms (with two beds each), will cost $350 to each. There are no pets and no alcohol. Students may begin moving in the end of August. For more information, please contact Ria Moli at

3 Mission News From Maua, Kenya By The Rev. Sue Owen I have arrived. It seems like a long journey from the conversation with Stanley Gitari and Jeremiah Mailutha last year. But as I moved with our team from Oregon into the paths of Kenya life, I knew I was home. The team left on the 17th and I entered into our house on the grounds of the Maua Methodist hospital. Again... a sigh of belonging. One of the things I love about Kenya is that it brings the bare truth of life into focus. There is birth like we saw on the Mara when we encountered a mother cheetah and her 4 cubs. But there is also death such as we experienced when a motorcyclist misjudged his ability to pass and smashed his motorcycle into our van. Sadly the man died while the people in the van were not injured. The fragility of life is very clear here and makes me humbly grateful for the life I have in the immediate moment. It certainly makes me grateful for this opportunity to live in Kenya for the next 3 years. The hospital is buzzing with activity as usual. The patients come and go, the hard working staff is working hard, there are meetings that keep the vision alive, and prayer that is at the very center of all that happens. The aliveness of faith surrounds and encompasses and creates an aura of wellness in this place. I am indeed blessed to be here and I am indeed blessed to be in partnership with all of you who care about the people of Kenya. I pray you feel the aura that includes each of you. Dedicating the house! One of the highlights of God s active presence here was the house building and dedication for Sarah and her 6 sons. The Oregon-Idaho team felt the Spirit throughout the 4 days of construction, but the consecration was one that was especially memorable. Sarah s neighbors gathered and had planned songs, poetry readings, more songs, rice throwing, and more songs. One woman in the neighborhood told us that this house changed all the people in the area because now they knew that others cared and that hoping in God was trustworthy. The praise resounded as we touched the home with prayers. 3 Mother cheetah with cub

4 On our way to Maua a few days ago. we encountered a sudden downpour. The rain came with a driving force and James, our driver, said to Jim and me that we were being richly blessed as we begin our new life. He explained that there is a Kenya belief that rain comes as a blessing at times of endings and beginnings. He said that God gives a blessing of rain as new things are created and birthed and when things die and are returned to the Creator. Rain gives life and marks a sacred moment. As Jim and I breathed in the smell of the rain, we had a lovely sense of well-being. We thanked God for this gift of rain and for the moment of belonging. You are a crucial part of that feeling. You are a part of the blessing. May God s rain fall upon you and give you life. United Methodist Volunteers in Mission News By Scott and Beverly Pressman, UMVIM Coordinators Thank you for helping us improve communication regarding mission opportunities in our Annual Conference! Ways you can help: Please continue to contact us regarding your upcoming mission trips, both locally and internationally so that we can include your team or individuals on our webpage. photos and a brief story of your mission to bspressman@gmail.com and we can post it on our webpage! Let us know of any mission opportunities closer to home to enable more to experience the joy of serving. Please contact us if you are interested in reviving an African pillowcase dresses project in your church. St Helens UMC has fabric..john Day UMC has the pattern! With Jim and Sue in Kenya, what perfect timing. On a personal note, we hear frequently from the current UMVIM Individual Volunteers serving at Misión Fronteras Advance Site in Peru and Bolivia. What began as a relationship between the Methodist Church of Peru, Bolivia, Salem FUMC (Rev. Arturo Fernandez) and Boise FUMC (Rev. Steve Tollefson) continues to thrive. As Individual Volunteers in we had the honor of launching the UMVIM site, and now the pleasure of seeing it sustained through UMVIM. Visit their website and meet Debbie and Jeff at They are welcoming teams, and below are a few photos of brothers and sisters you will meet there! Brothers and sisters as Misión Fronteras 4

5 Opening for Audio/Video Technician Albany (Oregon) First United Methodist Church is searching for a qualified Audio/Video Technician. This is a paid, part time position. Work Schedule Sunday 9 a.m. to 12 noon (3 hours typical), Christmas Eve, Good Friday, other special events (as required), weddings (as required) and memorial services (as required). Candidate must Possess operational knowledge of a multi-channel mixer/soundboard, amplifiers, and the interfacing of ancillary equipment connected to it such as playback devices, recording devices, etc. Demonstrate ability to anticipate and respond to microphone usage during services (i.e. make sure microphones are enabled before someone speaks into it) Possess ability to work as a team with other church staff to create seamless worship experiences Work with professionalism and courtesy with both church staff and outside groups using the sanctuary for events (weddings, concerts, etc.) Be able to successfully operate all audio and video technology needs, overseeing church tech volunteers as needed. Be familiar with basic audio and video troubleshooting techniques, identify and fix system problems. If unable to fix problems, notify pastor or music director. Have experience with video projection technology, including operating projectors and computer systems connected to them which run PowerPoint (or equivalent), imovie (or equivalent), web streaming, and more. To apply: Send to karl@albanyfirstumc.org containing cover letter explaining how your experience qualifies you for this position. Attach a resume in PDF format. SEPTEMBER CRATER LAKE CONNECTION DEADLINE: AUGUST 20 We welcome news from throughout the Crater Lake District. Please let the District Office know if you have news or announcements you would like included in The Crater Lake Connection. Phone: (541) ; ; Mailing address: 440 Maxwell Road, Eugene, OR