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(503-530-0035= ) Revgwen7@msn.= com |
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Gwen’s Note You are going= to hear and read a lot about “healthy, vital congregations” fr= om the conference, the Bishop, our District Superintendent. The Bisho= p wrote: “We continue our efforts to trim our expenses because = of the reality of the economic challenges we face. Yet, we are commit= ted to offer you our best to assist our congregations to become healthy and= vital.” = I am a life coach. I have just returned from my third weekend of powe= rful learning and practicing. One of the cornerstones of being a life= coach is to hold the person I am coaching (the client) as naturally creati= ve, resourceful, and whole. It is an alliance between two equals.&nbs= p; From my point of view, nothing is wrong or broken, and there is no need = to “fix the client.” I do not deliver answers; I ask ques= tions and invite discovery. = What I am learning is that I have approached my ministry from this perspect= ive. All of you are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. = Also, you, as a congregation ARE healthy and vital. Hillsboro UMC is= naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. I don’t need to fi= x the church or any of you! I see my job as your pastor/coach to help= us articulate our dreams, hopes, and aspirations, help us clarify our miss= ion, purpose, and goals, and help us achieve them. Thank you for the = honor of being your pastor and coach. &n= bsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; Peace, <\_~ = = Gwen // ||
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UMW |
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Family Ministries = Spring has sprung and there are flowers everywhere. God’s glorious ea= rth is certainly putting on a beautiful show for us. It’s also a very= busy time of the year for many of our families. Children are so busy with = sports and competitions and a whole manner of other activities. I know many= parents are facing significant stress. It can become exhausting just being= so busy, especially if you have other anxieties facing you. I hope you are= all making the time to relax and connect with each other. To just ta= ke a moment and breathe. = Anxiety robs us of joy and trying to micromanage every little aspect of our= lives = produces anxiety.= Take a moment to r= ead Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:4-9.= Paul recommends practicing gentle-kindness and praying with thanksgi= ving. There’s just something about thanking God for what we have, and= turning to God for the help we need, that seems to take so much of the wei= ght off our stressed-out shoulders. As Paul says: “The God of peace w= ill be with you.” So, that’s my wish for you all this busy seas= on: God’s peace. = We welcomed a miracle into our hearts this past week as Marci and Vern Petr= ick welcomed grandson Caleb David into their lives – so many prayers = answered as this bundle of joy arrived without complication. We also = have welcomed several new families as they worshiped with us. Be sure to of= fer a warm welcome whenever you see a new face! = Easter is coming (April 4) but we are still deep into Lent. There are two m= ore Lenten suppers and I hope that, if you haven’t yet, you will brin= g your family to at least one of them. Take good care of each other! Christine |
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UMW sends mission moneyto local c= auses and beyond = ; Each year the United Methodist Women decide how b= est to share the proceeds from Cookies 'n' More as well as individual contr= ibutions to the local unit. In February they chose five agencies in a= ddition to mission projects already in their annual budget. = ; Three hundred dollars each went to Family Bridge,= Hillsboro Senior Center, Monika's House and Sequoia Mental Health Services= . In addition, they sent $325 to the United Methodist Committee on Re= lief for aid in such disaster areas as Haiti. Thank you notes from so= me of these organizations are posted on the UMW bulletin board in the Fello= wship Hall. = ; They have also budgeted $4,100 this year to= mission giving through UMW projects throughout the world, plus $800 to loc= al community food needs, $300 to our church's Christmas Basket program, $20= 0 to its migrant mission program and $250 to the Domestic Violence Shelter,= and provide additional support for our own church. = ; This year the group's annual Call to Payer and Se= lf Denial offering totaled more than $129. It will go into a Women's = Division fund designated for the upkeep of mission facilities wherever need= ed. = ; Most recently they have begun knitting, crochetin= g and sewing projects to go to UMCOR. Samples of and patterns for bab= y sweaters are on the UMW bulletin board. = ; All of these projects reflect part of the UMW pur= pose: "to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand con= cepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the chur= ch. |
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April UMW speaker works with Afgh= an street children = ; Photographs of the street children of Kabul, Afgh= anistan, as well as art work by the children will be displayed at the April= 7 meeting of United Methodist Women. Elinor Edmunds Miller, the co-f= ounder of "= ;Friends of Aschiana," will speak about her work with the children. She w= ill visit Afghanistan for the seventh time later in April. At the UMW= meeting she will present a slide show and talk about the children. All wom= en in the church are invited to attend. = ; The meeting will begin with refreshments at 10 am= , hosted by Barbara Endicott and Audrey Greenlee, followed by the program a= nd business meeting. = ; The following Wednesday Miriam and Love circles w= ill meet, at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. respectively. |
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It’s in the Cards =
Women’s Evening Fellowship (WEF) invites all women of the church to j=
oin us the second Monday of April as we begin a new study of meditations on=
the Psalms. WEF meets twice a month for fellowship, study and a mini=
stry of response. We write cards of acknowledgment in response to com=
munity prayer requests offered each Sunday morning. =
This is a no-prep study group that enjoys tea and looks forward to your com=
pany around the table at Susan Jensen’s house. Come to the $cri=
p Table in the Fellowship Hall to ask questions or receive a map to Susan&#=
8217;s house. We’ll be ordering the books soon, so let us know =
if you are interested. We look forward to adding your name on a card =
or two, too. Active Retiree Meeting =
; Active Retirees planning meeting March 21 The Act=
ive Retiree group will meet after church for about an hour on Sunday, March=
21 to plan activities for the next year. If you are planning to participat=
e in this group this year please attend this important meeting. Bring at le=
ast two fun and ideas for outings and your calendar. Working together we ca=
n plan a great year! Community Intergroup Passover Seder =
We are not having a Seder at our church this year. The Oregon Area Je=
wish Committeee invites you to theirs on Sunday, March 21 at 5:30 p.m. at C=
ongregation Neveh Shalom, 2900 SW Peaceful Lane. Reservations are req=
uired by March 18th. 503-295-67=
61. Recommended donation is $15. Mark Your Calendar Now! =
Sunday, May 2nd—Eastertide =
Choir Festival at Christ UMC at 2 p.m. Plan This graph shows how terrific w=
e are as a generous, resourceful, and amazing congregation. Thank you=
, thank you, thank you! Anyone interested in the line-item budg=
et for 2010 with a comparison to 2009’s budget and actual, please see=
Laura for a copy. Thank you for your continued support Finance Corner to attend this mas=
s choir celebration!!!! |
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