![](3D"spire_05_15_pages_2_files/image003.gif")
An Invitation to Membership
If you have previously taken th=
e Discovery Class or already have a Methodist background we invite you to j=
oin in membership with HUMC on Sunday, November 16th. Members will be received at both services.
Opportunities to Help Others in Need
If you have clothes that need to be dis=
tributed to those in need, Family Resource Center is the place to donate th=
em. It is located on the grou=
nd floor of J.B. Thomas Middle School, at NE sixth and Lincoln, and provide=
s food, clothing and learning opportunities for low-income individuals and =
families in Hillsboro. You can contact FRC at 503-844-1063.
For those who might have furniture to donate the Oregon Community War=
ehouse in Northwest Portland will gladly pick-up and take your unwanted don=
ations. They will also take k=
itchen glassware, dishes and pots and pans. Goods from the Oregon Community=
Warehouse are given free to homeless families. They can be reached at 503-=
235-8786.
The movie “The Passion of Je=
sus Christ” was replaced this week with the passion surrounding same-=
sex marriage. A church member=
s pointed me to a paid advertisement in The Oregonian last week which a cou=
ple of hundred United Methodists, including around 35 or so ordained clergy=
, signed indicating their support for same-sex marriage. I want to explain =
to everyone that this was the personal opinion of all of those people and n=
ot the official position of The United Methodist Church. The fact that thos=
e people signed it says that those people share that opinion and nothing mo=
re.
Personally, I distinguish between =
the social institution of marriage and its legal status within the framewor=
k of law and a relationship in which two people live together in an I-Thou =
state of commitment, fidelity, trust and compassion. I sign marriage licenses for the former as an agent=
of the state in order for those couples to enjoy the legal status of marri=
age as determined by law. But=
, it is the latter which I celebrate as a minister of the Gospel.
If voters decide to change the rul=
es about who can marry then I might be asked to sign marriage licenses for =
gay men and lesbian women - just as I am now asked for heterosexuals. Society can and will make whatever=
decision it wants to make about that and that decision may or may not be t=
he one that I would make.
Nevertheless, the decision that I =
may be compelled to make is if I believe that it is helpful and good for me=
to help celebrate and uplift a relationship between two men or two women w=
ho profess to love and care for one another in a committed relationship mar=
ked by fidelity, trust and compassion. In celebrating and lifting up that r=
elationship I would be making a statement that I believe that such a relati=
onship between two men or two women is worth celebrating.
In the end that is the decision I =
make every time I perform a wedding for two heterosexual people. The decision is always unique and alway=
s situational, depending on the people who present themselves to me asking =
that I bless their relationship. I have never been asked to make that decision about two people of the s=
ame sex.
So the state as the voice of the p=
eople will decide whatever it wants to decide about who can get a marriage =
license. I will decide which relationships I will celebrate regardless of w=
hat the state decides. I am a servant of God and not of the state. I am a s=
ervant of God and not, borrowing Saint Paul's vocabulary, a servant of &quo=
t;the world." One day tw=
o people of the same sex may approach me with or without a legal marriage l=
icense and ask me to bless their relationship. I will decide how to best respond to that request.
At the same time, I serve as a min=
ister through the United Methodist Church and am called to observe its rule=
s and guidelines. I can choose to follow that call of obedience or I can ch=
oose to act in disobedience to the church's Discipline and accept the conse=
quences of that disobedience. That's a choice we all make every day in society. We choose to abide by laws or to break them. We choose to observe the speed limit =
or we choose to break it.
So what do I think? I think that marriage is an evolving social=
institution reflecting natural laws at work in the universe and that some =
of those apparently natural social laws may also change. I see no compellin=
g reason that blessing a relationship of two people of the same sex is nece=
ssarily either immoral or contrary to that evolving natural law.
What will I do if I am asked to pe=
rform a marriage between two people of the same sex? I will decide if I can in good conscience bless the=
ir relationship just as I do with heterosexual people. Is this relationship=
one which I could celebrate as these two people profess their intentions t=
o enter into a lifelong commitment of caring and love? If I am ever asked to perform such a ceremony, I =
will decide how best to respond.
- Fred Ka=
ne
New Address
Anna Rose Cod=
dington
Maryville Nur=
sing Home
14645 SW Farm=
ington Road
Beaverton, OR=
97007
Camping Office Offers Online Registrati=
on
&=
nbsp; As of Feb. 23=
, the gocamping.org website has the capability to register campers online. =
Visit the homepage and follow the red link to the new online registration p=
age. If you don’t like online registration, you can still register th=
e old fashioned way! Camp information and scholarship applications are outs=
ide the church office. Schola=
rships are available from the Claude Krausnick Memorial Camping Scholarship=
Fund. Fill out an applicatio=
n and turn it in to Linda Baker. Deadline for scholarships are May 1.
Exploring Your Faith with Lewis & C=
lark
&= nbsp; Join other Un= ited Methodists on Aug. 29-Sept. 3 at Alton Collins Retreat Center in Eagle= Creek, outside of Sandy. The= Primetimers program is an educational experience for older adults sponsore= d by the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church.= This event explores how your own faith journey parallels that of Lewis &am= p; Clark. Cost is $495 and in= cludes housing, meals, local transportation, accident insurance and entranc= e fees. Deadline is July 15 a= nd must include a deposit of $150. <= /span>You can find additional information and registration forms on the bul= letin board in the fellowship hall or on the web at collinsretreatcenter.or= g or contact Gary and Bev Mohnkern at 503-648-1910 for additional details.<= o:p>
Plan for Vacation Bible School in July<= o:p>
&=
nbsp; Mom and Dad i=
t’s time to mark VBS on your calendar for July 19-22. The program is designed for four year olds t=
hrough Senior High. We’ll have an awesome week learning about God thr=
ough Bible stories, games, snacks, crafts and good ol’ fashioned fun.=
The youth will be involved i=
n hands-on mission projects in the community.
Tai Chi Class Continues
A ChiFusi=
on Level 1 Tai Chi/Qigong class will begin on April 29th and run every Thur=
sday for one hour through June 3.
Class wil=
l be held in the Fellowship Hall. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and shoes, without perfume or fragra=
nces.
Class is =
structured to be slow and deep, thus promoting body awareness. Over the course of the six week class, =
we will be focusing on “8 Brocades” or “8 Pieces of Silk&=
#8221;. The movements look si=
mple and are not hard to remember. <=
/span>The effectiveness lies in the internal focus.
The cost =
is $55 to be paid on the first class =
This is a teaching class, so be sure to schedule about 10 minutes p=
er day for home practice.
Contact B=
elinda Catanzaro at simpleenergy@sim-pac.net if you have any questions.
Looking for VBS
Ministry Team
&=
nbsp; VBS is scheduled for July 19-22. The program is designed for four year o=
lds through Senior High. Children from four year to sixth grade will spend =
the week learning about God through Bible stories, games, snacks, crafts an=
d good ol’ fashioned fun. The youth will be involved in hands-on mission projects in the community=
.
