Page Title

(503-530-0035= )

Revgwen7@msn.= com

Gwen’s Note

= The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 17^th= and ends on Easter Sunday. It begins in the wilderness and ends with= resurrection. Lent has the potential of deepening the meaning of our= journey through life. We have the potential of transforming our live= s within each one of us. The poet, Mary Oliver, can wake me up throug= h one simple question: “What is i= t you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” = I am not sure if it is the word “one” or “wild&#= 8221; or “precious” that gets to me the most. What about = you? What is it that helps you dig deeper? What helps you chang= e something you want to change—like some habit you have? What m= otivates you? What inspires you? You only have this one life, r= ight now. What are you going to do? Who are you going to be?&nb= sp; We have a choice!

&= nbsp; The season of Lent at Hillsboro United Methodist Church will gi= ve you many opportunities besides Sunday worship to dig deeper and to be more fully present!&= nbsp; We have Lenten Suppers, the “Divine Fire” Lenten Gatherin= g, volunteer opportunities like ESL and Family Bridge and being a “sh= epherd” for our young people. Read this newsletter, watch= and listen for events and experiences. And take the time to get invo= lved or attend something. Think about what you are doing with your one wild and precious= life!

&= nbsp; See you in church.

= &= nbsp; &n= bsp; Peace, <\_~ =

= Gwen // ||

UMW

HUMY (Youth Group)

= Please continue to bring recent, paperback, good-condition books for the yo= uth to sell to earn money for their new book club.

Friday, Februa= ry 19: Meet at the Lent= en Gathering at 6:30 for dinner and activities then plan to stay over for a= Lenten Lock-In until 10AM the next morning. Definitely bring friends!!

Sunday, Februa= ry 28: 6:30 - 8:00 PM R= egular meeting with games and other activities.

Retreat Time March 20^th 10am – 1pm

&= nbsp; This retreat time = with be the second of four retreat mornings that I will be leading. T= he first one was shortly before Christmas. This retreat experience wi= ll give us an opportunity to restore our profound connection to ourselves a= nd to each other as well as to nature and our planet, and ultimately, to th= e Light and the Mystery. Abraham Abulafis the great Kabbalist in the = early Middle Ages says, “Now we are no longer separated from our sour= ce, and behold we are the source, and the source is us. We are so int= imately united with it we cannot by any means be separated from it, for we = are it.”

= The retreat will be 10 am to 1 pm , Saturday, March 20th. The labyrin= th will be set up and available to walk from Friday afternoon through Satur= day morning.

= The cost of the retreat is for you to decide. The proceeds will go toward h= elping our Pastor Gwen pay for the Coaching Training she is doing. Fo= r more information contact Barbara Schultz (503) 359-3597 or e-mail = lbschultz@juno.com.

Family Bridge Week: February 28^th – March 6^th

= On Saturday evening we (Lefty and I) were at the second fund raiser for Fam= ily Bridge. It was fun to see so many people from many churches and the com= munity who all share in the vision and work of ending homelessness for fami= lies and others. Thank you to all who helped to make this event so successf= ul.

= I opened my prayer book this morning and read this: = We are one, you and I; together we suffer, together exist, and forever will= recreate each other. by Pierre Te= ilard de Chardin It reminded me of the reality that what I do to and = for my brother and sister I do to and for myself and God.

= Gwen has also been preaching on kindness for three weeks and invites us to = practice that quality. As we host the homeless families in the program= with Family Bridge we have a great opportunity to practice these blessings= .

= Connie and I are so grateful to many of you who give of your time and resou= rces and offer prayers for the families and for all volunteers for this wee= k of hosting. So February 28th to March 6th is when we ask you prayerfully = to see where and how you would like to serve our families.

With gratitude and thanks: Barb= ara and Connie.

= Women IN OUR CHURCH will have two choicess of interesting opportuniti= es to attend on Saturday, February 27. Registration has already begun= for both events.

= One choice is the Western District Every Member Enrichment Event from 9:30 = am to 3:30 pm that day at the Woodburn United Methodist Church. It wi= ll ring members from churches in the northwest quarter of Oregon for = inspiration, fellowship and information. A "UMW 101" sessio= n will answer questions about UMW, such issues as where mission givin= g goes and what types of missions UMW supports. Local officers will receive= training and non-officers will also have opportunities to learn more about= the organization. The cost for this event is $7, including lunch.

= The second choice on Feb. 27 is the first women's retreat of 2010. See a se= parate article about it on page 3.

Family Ministries

= This Sunday we will complete our Worship for Life segment on Invocation in = Morning JAM and move on to our Lenten study the next week (Feb. 14). = One of our more senior members in that class explained to me that she likes= the class because it is not only fun and informative but that it “ge= ts right to the point” of the day’s lesson. I like it because i= t really addresses a wide variety of learning styles and spiritual styles a= nd, of course, it gives us lots of opportunity to get to know each other. I= t’s an open class that anyone can attend, any Sunday. There’s a= lways room for more!

= Our youth ministry is small but mighty! They are learning how to “be&= #8221; as a small group, both in youth group and in their Sunday morning cl= ass. Their book drive is ongoing and several of you have been supportive.&n= bsp; They could use more books to sell to Powell’s. They will b= e meeting for a Lenten lock-in after the Lenten Gathering on February= 19. Please keep them in your prayers as they move into this time of reflec= tion, devotion, prayer and fellowship. I am continually awed at their growi= ng maturity, both in self and in faith!

= We welcome a new life into our family ministry and congregation – wel= come Lily, daughter of Leah and Jack!

= We are trying something new this year. On February 19, we will be gathering= as a whole church, to prepare for Lent with dinner, intergenerational acti= vities, a just for adults class with Pastor Gwen, prayer and devotion= s. It will be both informational and spiritual. Please consider participati= ng in this new event - and bring a friend!

Christine

$crip Portraits - Three Stories

= $crip is a valuable tool for shopping and doing ministry without much effor= t or cost. Here are three stories about three venerable members of th= e Hillsboro UMC congregation. They could be you!

• Until she began l= iving in a retirement community, this long time member used $crip every wee= k. Today, she makes a $crip order designated to help the homeless - r= ight on schedule, every two months.

• It may not be a v= ery big purchase, but this retired person faithfully buys $crip in order to= purchase eye medicine. Since he uses a vendor we keep in stock, it o= nly takes a little extra planning to bring the checkbook, and stop by the $= crip

Basic Lay Speaking Class Offered Locally

Ever wondered what God is calli= ng you to do or be? Lay Speaking Ministries may hold the answer to these qu= estions. Training programs are open to all members in good standing of Unit= ed Methodist Churches. The Basic Lay Speaking class ”Learning a= nd Leading,” introduces candidates the nature of call and gives an op= portunity to explore a person’s gifts and talents.

Fill the Food Barrel

Did you know an average of twel= ve people stop by the office month asking for food and 65 families receive = a bag of food the 3^rd Friday of each mo= nth?

= Food Needed for the Food Barrel Peanut Butte= r, Canned Meat, Canned Fruit, Canned Vegetables, Rice, Pasta and Dry Beans.=

Saturday Morning Women’s Retreat

= United Methodist Women is sponsoring a women’s retreat on Saturday, F= eb 28 from 9:00am – 1:00 pm at the home of Christine Webb. The = theme for this retreat is G= od’s Kaleidoscope: The Patterns and Colors of our Lives. Any woman, 16 or= older, is invited to join us for a time of gathering, fellowship, and rela= xation.

= Come celebrate the unique and various ways we all contribute to God’s= beautiful world. Wear your favorite color, participate in a variety of act= ivities including cooking, beadwork, praying in color, making kaleido= scopes, and more…or you can always choose to sit , relax, and visit.<= /span>

= The cost of this retreat is $8.00, which covers all of your supplies and fo= od. Space is limited, so sign up now! Return the form below to the church o= ffice, Linda Clarkson, or Christine Webb.

G= od’s Kaleidoscope

Yes, I want to attend the UMW r= etreat on Feb. 27

Name________________________

Email address

_____________________________

Home Address

_____________________________

Phone number

__________________= ___________

$crip Portrait= s Continued

Table after worship on Sunday m= orning.

• This couple also = lives in a retirement community, but still find they need to purchase light= bulbs, paper products, and the occasional carwash. Put some $crip in= the pocketbook, and they are ready to shop for the little things that make= life easier.

Pancake Breakfast

Saturday= , February 21st—8:30—9:30 am

Scouting= Sunday! Wear your uniform to church!