Happenings around Parkrose United Methodist Church
January 2010, Volume 3, Issue 1
http://www.parkroseumc.org/ welcome@parkroseumc.org.

Faith and Taxes: Oregon Measures 66 & 67
The test of our progress is NOT whether we add to the abundance of those who have much.
It is whether we provide enough to those who have little. — Franklin D. Roosevelt
Separation of church and state? Yes, I know. Taxes and Faith? Both call on us for choices. How we make those choices depends on how we see our society (and for that matter, how we see our faith): “ME” society or “WE” society. And in choices we make toward a “We” society that boundary between church and state begins to look very permeable.
The Judeo-Christian faith community sprouted into existence with a divine promise of salvation. At the heart of this promise was community; its existence and its place. The promise was put to the test with each wave of empire that swooped through the land, from Egyptian to Syrian to Babylonian to Greek to Roman. As empirical pressure threatened their very existence they drew strength and direction from phrases like giving the “first fruits of our harvest” so the “Levites, the resident aliens, the widows and orphans”… “can celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house”. (Check out Deuteronomy 26 as an example). As Jesus said hundreds of years later, the most important of these community regulations were loving God with every ounce of your heart, soul, mind and passion and loving your neighbor as you love yourself. The ancient regulations connected the love of God and the love of neighbor in symbiotic relationship.
On January 26, we have an opportunity to make a choice. About community (and about faith). Ballot Measures 66 and 67 are efforts to shore up Oregon’s broken tax structure in support of education, health care and public safety. Some parts are temporary and some are permanent. Your mailbox will no doubt be flooded with cries for YES votes and NO votes. Be informed. See who is supporting which side. And make a choice.
I’ve read some from each side. There is a lot to sift through. I find both sides attempting to answering the question, “How will it affect ME?” Who is answering the question, “How will it affect WE?”
Peace, Bill
Congratulations! Thanks to your generous response to the UMW’s annual SnowCap collection, 121 boys and girls have a pair of socks, 5 heads are nice and cozy with a new hat, 117 boys and girls have a new pair of underwear, 13 men have new socks, and 10 hands are now warm. Each one of those numbers represents a person who was in need and you helped them! As you think about each item that was donated, take time to say a prayer for each of the individuals who received them.

A note from Pastor Bill: It has been a long time since I’ve been back to Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. Each year they sponsor a series of lectures and workshops on topics that help pastors and lay leaders at the cutting edge of congregational ministry. This year, the week of January 25, the Earl Lectures will take on the topic “Spiritual But Not Religious: Chasing the Divine.” I plan to attend. It will be a chance for me to re-connect with my seminary roots and share time with others seeking to connect with those many, many people of our communities who have distanced themselves from the church, but who have a deep hunger for matters of the Spirit. Pam and I plan to take the next week (First week of February) for vacation.

Nuts and Bolts Training- January 16, 2010 Portland First UMC, 1838 SW Jefferson Street 9:00 a.m. to noon. An opportunity to learn more about the what and how of serving on church committees. Early registration date has passed, however you may still register as a walk-in attendee by paying $5.00 at the door on January 16th.

Vine Time Happenings- Vine Time Fellowship continues to meet each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Over 200 “ Beans of Grace” meals were packaged and delivered from the December Advent Conspiracy Study. Vine Time Fellowship is open to one and all and meets with a time for fellowship and relevant study/discussion each week. Coming Soon- Bob Grovenburg of the Gateway Project at Parkrose High School will be sharing about this special program that was started to help homeless students remain in class and how we at PUMC can be involved.

Town Hall Meeting- PUMC-Sunday, January 24, 2010 3:00 p.m. in the McKinnon Education Wing. You are invited to this time of discussion and approval of our 2010 budget, Safe Sanctuary Policy, and Core Leaders Policy.

Greeters Workshop-have you ever been embarrassed to greet a visitor because you were not sure if they were a church member who seldom attends or truly a visitor? Would you like to learn how to be more effective at welcoming and greeting people who visit PUMC? Plan to attend a two-hour workshop being held at Rose City Park UMC on Saturday, February 13, 2010 from, 10 a.m. to noon. For more information on this dynamic program visit www.mastergreeter.com

Memorial Services
Saturday, January 23, 2010 3 p.m. at PUMC for Brett Leines’ mother, Ruth Leines.
Friday, February 5, 2010 2 p.m. at PUMC for a celebration of Jim Wakefield’s life.