This week, Serena Williams (yes – the retired tennis star, super athlete, entrepreneur, cultural icon, and mother of two) posted on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “I am not ok today. And that’s ok to not be ok. No one is ok every single day. If you are not ok today I’m with you. There’s always tomorrow. Love you.” It went viral.

Portland area teachers and Portland Public Schools are now well into the second week of a strike, with schools remaining closed. It is getting harder on everyone. Prior to seminary and ordination, I was a public high school teacher in Texas. Teachers in Texas have no collective bargaining rights and limited ability to organize. Teacher “unions” are relegated to offering education resources, liability insurance, and some legal representation to their members.

It is so very important that we each do what we can, even when it feels small or insignificant or big and ostentatious. We do what we can, and trust God to bless our offerings and make them a blessing for others. 

This Saturday, clergy, delegates and others will gather online for the Annual Meeting of the Convention of Episcopal Church in Western Oregon.  Our form of church government in The Episcopal Church is representative and deliberative.  Members of the laity are elected to represent their parish or mission congregation, serving alongside priests and deacons to take their part in the councils of the church. 

Violence and suffering continue to rage in Palestine.  On Tuesday of this week, as Christians and people of faith around the world were fasting and praying for peace, a bomb

This time, violence was reignited on October 7, when members of the militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack from land, sea and air on unsuspecting young adults, children, and families throughout the southern portion of Israel. 

We sang a beloved hymn on Sunday in the 9:00 service, but we didn’t sing my favorite verse. There is no talk of raising Ebenezers in the 1982 hymnal version of “Come, thou fount of every blessing,” even though the missing verse is part of original lyrics composed in the 1750’s.

I am very excited to share that St. MIchael & All Angels is hiring! We are prayerfully looking for a Missioner for Youth (20 hours/wk), to walk with youth, families and leaders in reinvigorating and growing our Episcopal Youth Community at St. Michael’s.

Kick-off Sunday was wonderful! It was so great to begin the fall season with you, to revel in the exquisite music of our St. Michael Singers, and to move together into new rhythms of worship, fellowship and service that come with the changing season.
Now, buckle up. The next few weeks are going to be packed with good stuff! We will celebrate important milestones to honor the parish’s rich history and look ahead to God’s future for us.