The young people of our parish shared a special announcement last Sunday at the 9:00 and 11:00 o’clock liturgies and asked for the congregations’ support the good work of the Northeast Emergency Food Program (NEFP). Our young people were ready with big soup pots to accept your cash and checks, all of which was sent directly to NEFP. This coming Sunday, February 9, we will still gladly accept donations for the Souper Bowl of Caring.

Your Reckoning with Racism team will be including brief notes in each weekly newsletter this month to highlight Black History. We begin with an opportunity to learn, explore, and follow your curiosity wherever it may take you. The theme for 2025 is “African Americans and Labor,” focusing on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds–free and unfree–has shaped history from 1619 to the present.

The season of Advent is here, and with it our Advent Giving Tree. The tree is now up and ready for tags to be taken. The tree will remain up through December, and the gift items will be delivered in early January. This year, there are three ways to help those in need.

Arcoíris Latino, or Latin Rainbow, is sponsoring a workshop at 2:15 pm this Sunday, November 10, after the 1:00 service. This workshop will cover substance abuse and prevention, including of alcohol and opioids; the use of Nalozone (Narcan); and resources for mental health.

There are two opportunities next week to gather and pray on either side of Election Day. For all the reasons that he discussed in his powerful eblast note—leaning on our values, sticking together, stirring up faith, and getting out to vote—we’ll hold space together for prayer.

It’s finally here! The Portland Pride Parade is Sunday, July 21. St. Michael’s position in the Pride Parade lineup has been moved up to spot #104. That means we will be moving out a bit quicker than we had planned, but we’re still hoping that we will be able to go to church and head downtown on MAX at 11:00.

The IWC (Immigrant Welcoming Congregations ministry) is hosting a forum on June 9 about the Rainbow Initiative of Episcopal Migration Ministries, part of a national church program. Last year, St. Michael’s/San Miguel joined the brand-new Rainbow Initiative as a founding congregation.