Church News News of St. Michael'sGuadalupe Pilgrimage in 2018May 3, 2018Parish & Community LifeThe Guadalupe Experience is a guided visit to Mexico City and Cuernavaca hosted by the Revs. John & Alice Scannell. It will take place from Thursday, October 25, through Saturday, November 3, and will include the observance of El Día de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead. The Guadalupe Pilgrimage is led by a community of Benedictine Sisters. Their companion community in the US — the monks of Weston Priory in Vermont — provides organizational support. We will experience the realities of the life of the people through presentations and by visits with the people with whom the Benedictine Sisters work. We will also share in the worship life of the community and learn about the sisters’ formation in liberation theology and its practice. It is not necessary to be a Spanish speaker to fully participate. The cost is $850 for the 10 days, which includes the initial $200 non-refundable registration fee. This price includes all meals, transportation in Mexico and lodging at the retreat center. Each person purchases their own air transportation to Mexico City. For information and to register (space is limited), contact the Revs. John & Alice Scannell at 503/284-2618 or JSScannell@gmail.com. For further details, please check see www.westonPriory.org, at Latin American Experience.... Read more...The Feast of PentecostMay 3, 2018Worship & MusicOn Sunday, May 20, we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost commemorates the day that the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples and sent them out into the world to proclaim the Good News of Christ, and it is sometimes referred to as “the birthday of the church.” We like to dress in the colors of the Holy Spirit’s flame, so check your closet for your favorite red, yellow or orange article of clothing and plan to wear it on the 20th! We will also welcome Bishop Hanley to St. Michael’s on Pentecost. He will preside and preach at the 9:00 and 11:00 am and 1:00 pm liturgies as well as perform confirmations, receptions and reaffirmations. The catechumens have been studying and growing in their faith every week since the beginning of Advent, and a large show of support for them would be very welcome. And if all that isn’t enough, you don’t want to miss the after-party! Following the morning services, come to the Parish Hall for some Pentecost trifle and champagne, and check out the dance party in the Nativity Hall after the 9:00! If you would like to help in any way with this reception, please contact the church office or call 503/284-7141.... Read more...Celebrating our GreenFaith CertificationApril 18, 2018Outreach & JusticeSunday, April 22, was Earth Day. The liturgies on that day reflected the goodness of God’s creation and the need for our ongoing stewardship of that creation. We have big news about our environmental efforts! We recently found out that we were awarded the ecumenical Greenfaith Certification, a two-year environmental leadership program for houses of worship. The goal of this program is to give these communities the resources they need to put into practice a working program that inspires, educates, and mobilizes people around environmental stewardship with the belief that it is a religious value and a moral responsibility. We took the plunge about three years to begin the certification process, and through the efforts of many fine people, we’ve completed the journey to become a Greenfaith Certified community of faith. On Earth Day 2018, we celebrate reaching this goal. Through this process, we have been inspired to do more and are now looking at potentially reducing our carbon footprint even further by letting the sun’s energy produce about 25% of our electrical cost. We hope to realize that goal in the spring of 2019. Members of the Green Team offer their thanks to all who are helping and supporting our efforts.... Read more...Monday Book GroupApril 12, 2018Christian FormationThe Monday Book Group, which generally meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 1:00 pm in the Raphael Room, will meet on the first and third Mondays in May because of Memorial Day — that is; they will meet on the 7th and 21st. The group is reading “With or Without God: Why the Way We Live is More Important than What We Believe” by Gretta Vosper. They will discuss Chapters 3 and 4 on the 7th and 5 through the end of the book on the 21st. All are welcome whether you have read the book or not!... Read more...Family Worship on May 19March 8, 2018Worship & MusicAll families with young children are invited to Music Makers & Family Worship on Saturday, May 19, at 4:30 pm to sing, dance, pray, give thanks and eat together! Join the circle of friends and families as we gather to make music, listen to stories, share Holy Eucharist and enjoy a delicious potluck dinner together. The theme for this month’s Family Worship is “We are Family!” with a Lilo and Stitch potluck dinner. Music-Makers class at 4:30 pm is a fun-filled half hour of music and movement that helps children and parents experience the joy of making music together. The Family Worship service is designed especially for families and young children using Godly Play stories and other age-appropriate readings for this lively 45-minute liturgy. Holy Eucharist is shared using grape juice and gluten-free bread or crackers. A potluck dinner follows the service, giving children and their families the chance to connect and enjoy each other’s company.... Read more...Dream Weavers Vision Statement & Online SurveyFebruary 20, 2018Christian FormationThank you to everyone who has participated in the visioning process thus far. Your Dream Weavers team met in January to review all the data (aka “Holy Conversations”) and to develop a draft vision statement for our community to reflect upon during Lent. This draft vision statement was unveiled to the parish at the Forum on Sunday, February 18. Please click here for the power point which was presented at the Forum and offers insight into what the Dream Weavers have discerned so far about our community. What the Dream Weavers want to know is: Does this vision statement reflect who we are as a community and where we want to go? Does it articulate God’s wildest dream for St. Michael’s? Our hope is that reflecting upon what our community’s vision should be will enrich your Lenten journey this year. We welcome your input: please participate in the online survey. After Lent, we’ll continue to refine the vision with the goal of completing the process by Pentecost. You can find more information about our work on the church website (www.stmaa.org), or just ask a member of the Dream Weavers team: Gladys Alvarado, Beto Arciniega, Bruce Collins, Chris Craun, Holly Denniston, Penny Hummel, Fabian Ramirez, Lindsey Ramsey and Tim Sackett.... Read more...Advocacy Action UpdateFebruary 20, 2018Outreach & JusticeDuring December, the Advocacy Action team prepared a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt stating our Christian commitment to defending the Creation and decrying his attack on science and his replacement of scientists with individuals having corporate interests on certain advisory boards. Eighty signatures were collected — a record number for our Second Sunday tables — and copies of the letter were sent to Oregon’s Senators and Representatives. We also received encouragement for past actions. In November, we had written to our Congressional delegation, thanking them for supporting the Temporary Protective Status program. Representative Earl Blumenauer sent a response, confirming his position and thanking us for our support. Following an October presentation by a guest speaker from Common Cause, we submitted a proposal to the Vestry that St. Michael’s endorse the Small Donor Elections legislation. At its January meeting, the Vestry formally endorsed this grassroots effort to get big money out of politics. Our team is growing, but we welcome fresh voices. To join our lively discussions, contact co-chairs Alice Hardesty (ahardesty88@comcast.net) or Marili Reilly (cascademarili@gmail.com). We meet at St. Michael’s at 7:00 pm on the fourth Wednesday of the month.... Read more...Alice Scannell’s “Radical Resilience”February 20, 2018Christian FormationAlice Scannell’s inspiring new book, “Radical Resilience: When There’s No Going Back to the Way Things Were,” shows how we can work through life’s adversities and live into our new normal without losing our sense of self. A short but powerful read, “Radical Resilience” offers practical skills that empower us to weather the storms of life’s stressful setbacks. Inspiring stories illustrate how the skills work to build our resilience, and the suggested ways to practice the skills are adaptable to any lifestyle. The book is available through Amazon for $12.99. It can also be ordered for you by your favorite bookstore. Alice Scannell has been a member of St. Michael & All Angels since 1979. She is a gerontologist, researcher, educator, musician and Episcopal priest. She was Director of Music at St. Michael’s from November 1979 through June 1984. Her husband, John, is St. Michael’s Rector Emeritus.... Read more...Women’s Breakfast GatheringJanuary 30, 2018Parish & Community LifeA women’s breakfast group has begun and continues on the second Saturday of each month at 8:30 am. Three breakfast gatherings have taken place, and the fourth will happen on May 12. This breakfast will happen at Sam’s, at NE Hancock and NE 41st in the Hollywood area, and the purpose is to create an opportunity for women to get together for friendship-building and socializing. As the group evolves, it can become whatever the attendees would like to see it be. All women (or those who identify as women) are welcome.... Read more...St. Michael’s Solar UpdateNovember 7, 2017Outreach & JusticeAbout a year ago, the Green Team at St. Michael’s held a Forum on solar and talked about the benefits and why we might want to consider installing a system to reduce our fossil-fuel energy dependence and also reduce our energy costs by using a clean source of energy. Since that time, we have accomplished a lot: installed a new roof on the south side of the Nave; replaced all possible electrical bulbs that were either incandescent or CFL’s with LED bulbs, which are now the most efficient bulbs on the market; and signed up with our electrical company to participate in their Blue Sky Program, which works to create more power from clean renewable resources like solar and wind. All of this work was critical in taking the next steps toward solar power for St. Michael’s. We are now in the process of getting bids from contractors and will present our findings to St. Michael’s Vestry in November. There was a meeting with one contractor earlier this month, and we got some very exciting news about maximizing our solar capacity and reducing our costs. In the end, it will be up to the Vestry to decide whether or not we move forward with this project. At the present time, there is perhaps only one other church in our diocese that has installed a solar array for their community. We have an opportunity to help others move in this positive direction, take a leadership role and be an example in our communities. Let’s keep moving forward and working toward a better future for all. We can be that beacon of light.... Read more...Godly Play for ChildrenSeptember 10, 2017Christian FormationReligious-education classes for children in pre-K through the fifth grade resumed after Christmas break and will continue on most Sundays throughout the school year during the 10 o’clock hour, between the 9:00 and 11:00 am services. Classrooms are located on the lower level around the corner from the Childcare and mural room. Godly Play is a religious-education program designed for children to hear and explore stories from sacred scripture in a classroom specifically fashioned for hands on learning. Godly Play also incorporates stories that help children better understand Episcopal liturgical practices and the seasons of the church year. Central to the Godly Play experience is the telling of a sacred story, followed by an opportunity for the children to ponder “wondering questions” that lead them deeper into the meaning of the story, their relationship with God and with one another. Open ended art response material and the opportunity to work with the story material give children the opportunity to process and reflect on the sacred stories and liturgical practices that are presented. The Godly Play program mirrors the structure of the Episcopal liturgy and the classroom is cared for as sacred space.... Read more...Favorite HymnsAugust 17, 2017Christian FormationOn May 28, Lindsey Hummel led the community in a fun Favorite Hymns exercise which engaged us in exploring the music that reflects the reality of our lives and our purpose as a congregation. Participants were asked to identify a favorite hymn and then unpack how it revealed spirituality and community. Favorite Hymns I bind unto myself today… (370, St. Patrick’s Breastplate) Beautiful Savior In the Garden My Shepherd Will Supply My Needs I Will Rejoice On Eagles Wings The “old school” sung Lord’s Prayer I Am the Bread of Life (335) Abide with Me Seek ye first… (711) For All the Saints Lift High the Cross O Day by Day Lord Make us Servants (593) How Great Thou Art I Want to Walk as a Child of Light (490) Let all mortal flesh… (324) Favorite Lines: “Lord make us servants of your peace” “Truly I love thee, Truly I serve thee” “He brings my wandering spirit back” “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine” “Servant of peace” “Then sings my soul” — it does make my soul sing “Child of light” What they mean to us… On Beautiful Savior Jesus and His mother Mary are my dearest friends, comforters, examples of trust and love … trusted and most beloved advisors. On St. Patrick’s Breastplate… Christ supports us in all ways (all directions) On For All the Saints… Celebratory, uplifting, energizing, provides focus On How Great Thou Art… My spirituality stems from my experiences of God – all are of a God of love and awesomeness On I Am the Bread of Life… I really feel the Holy Spirit On Let All Mortal Flesh… It connects me back to singing with my parents as a child. The Complete Results: (Scroll right in table for more…) \... Read more...
