Advent Book Group

You are invited to join Scott+ for a four-week Advent book group, reading Dr. Scott Bader-Saye’s “Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear: Choosing Trust over Safety in an Anxious Age.” These 90-minute gatherings will cover two to three chapters per week (approx. 50 pages) with guided conversation about the themes each week.

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Convention Reflection

On Saturday, October 25, Salem’s Conference Center was filled to the brim with Episcopalians as the Diocese of Western Oregon held their 2024 Annual Meeting of the Convention of the Episcopal Church in Western Oregon. The room was filled with people from every church in the Diocese, talking and sharing the latest news, at this first in-person meeting after four years of conventions on Zoom.

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Bishop’s Visitation on November 17

The Rt. Rev. Diana Akiyama, Bishop of the Diocese of Western Oregon, will visit St. Michael’s next Sunday, November 17. Bishop Akiyama will preside and preach at the 9:00 and 11:00 am and 1:00 pm services and conduct youth and adult confirmations and receptions at all three services.

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Episcopal 101 Fall Sessions

Sunday, September 22, is the date of the second of four Sunday Episcopal 101 sessions. Please come to the Nativity Hall at 10:15 for a presentation from Rector R. Scott Painter on the Book of Common Prayer, or BCP. These forums are an opportunity to learn more about The Episcopal Church and being part of the St. Michael’s community.

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Newcomer Forum on June 23

All are invited to the forum next Sunday, June 23, at 10:15 am to learn more about how we can be more intentional about the way we welcome newcomers and help them find their place in the parish. The Newcomer Committee has accomplished a great deal in the few months since they were reconstituted over six months ago.

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Upcoming Forum: General Convention

Have you ever wondered how the Episcopal Presiding Bishop is elected? Do you know how policies are established in the Episcopal Church that affect us here at St. Michael’s? Please join a first-time Deputy to Convention representing ECWO and four-time attendee to past General Conventions on Sunday, May 26, at 10:15 am in the Nativity Hall to learn more about the workings of General Convention.

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“The Spirited Pen” Writing Group

Our curate, the Rev. SuEllen Pommier, is offering a five-week spirit-focused creative writing group beginning Thursday, May 23. SuEllen offered this writing group for many years in a clinical setting, but she is excited to make it available in a religious space where there is the opportunity to creatively explore meaning and spirituality and employ a scripture-based format. “The Spirited Pen” group will meet in the Raphael Room, tentatively from 12:00 to 1:00 pm.

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A Note from our Curate, Part 2

If God’s plans are to be found in the Bible (and they are!), then the blueprints are located in the Creation story of Genesis. These ancient writings describe the series of acts performed by God to bring the universe into existence. Over six days, God designed and produced the natural world, of which humankind is a part.

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Forum on Sunday, May 5

On May 5, we will welcome Jim Henderson, speaker, author and friend of Scott+’s. Scott+ wrote about Jim in his eblast note of January 25. Jim and his project partner Jim Hancock wrote the book “3 Practices for Crossing the Difference Divide” (1. I’ll practice being unusually interested in others. 2. I’ll stay in the room with difference. 3. I’ll stop comparing my best to your worst.), and they run 3 Practice Circles around the country

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A Note from our Curate

In 2019, I left my laboratory and headed for Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP) seminary. This was a somewhat scary as the laboratory had been my home all of my adult life. I soothed my fears by leaving under the terms of a sabbatical. As it transpired, however, I would never formally return to being a full-time scientist again. While it could be said that the COVID pandemic changed the course of my plans—and certainly it did in many ways—what actually happened is I fell in love with studying the Word of God.

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