From the Rector & Vestry/Del Rector y el Vestry

Vision & Strategy Update

In April 2024, St. Michael’s Vestry approved the formation of a vision and strategy process for the parish, committed to understanding our identity, values and hopes rooted in post-pandemic and post-transition realities. We engaged with the Kaleidoscope Institute to train and support our Vision & Strategy Committee, which formed during the summer and began their work in September. The KI consultants assisted with 3 congregational engagement events, focused on St. Michael’s history, present realities, and needs/desires for the community’s future. The participation in these events was broad and diverse.

Changes in the political environment, nationally and locally, impacted the immigrant community in Portland and in this parish community in real and challenging ways. These circumstances slowed the progress of our work, but did not stop it.

Following the three congregational gatherings the Vision & Strategy Committee engaged in prayerful discernment – which included countless hours of data assessment and interpretation to create a report to the Vestry with a summary of the community’s needs and hopes, accompanied by recommended actions that can move us forward into God’s future for St. Michael’s.

In March of this year, the Vision & Strategy Committee presented their report to the Vestry at the annual retreat and shared several hours with us to explain the data and discuss together how we can move into action to bring this vision for St. Michael’s into being. And the work continues.

The Vestry and Rector have been working together on a Vision>Action plan to gather four V>A working groups who will guide our efforts to activate recommendations made in the vision document. These groups will focus on Community-Connection, Formation, Communications, and Governance & Resources. We are working now to begin calling the first of these V>A groups together, focused on Community-Connection recommendations. If you are interested in knowing more about the work on this group and possibly serving on the team, please email Scott (ScottP@stmaa.org) to let us know.

We want to thank every member of the Vision & Strategy Committee for their dedication and perseverance in this work, including two individuals who were unable to serve for the entire duration of the process: Helen Crandell, Victor Salinas, Lynda Garner, Palmira Cruz, Matt Kallen, Adrian Neri Reyes, Mandy Davis, Karol Rivera Zeledón, Barbara Wyse, Gladys Alvarado, and Shawna Gandy. We are also grateful that, upon his arrival last July, Padre Toni was able to join Scott+ as clergy supporting the team. We also want to thank each of YOU – members of the parish who showed up at the gatherings, remain engaged through extended periods of “behind the scenes work,” and-we pray-will work together with us to see this vision activated over the next few years. Thank you, all!

With you,

The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector

Ann Wetherell, Senior Warden

Sofia Tavera, Vestry Member

A 3-5 Year Vision and Strategy for St. Michael & All Angels

Actualización sobre Visión y Estrategia

En abril de 2024, el Vestry de San Miguel aprobó la creación de un proceso de visión y estrategia para la parroquia, con el compromiso de comprender nuestra identidad, nuestros valores y nuestras esperanzas en el contexto de las realidades posteriores a la pandemia y a la transición parroquial. Contratamos al Instituto Kaleidoscope para capacitar y acompañar a nuestro Comité de Visión y Estrategia, el cual se formó durante el verano y comenzó su trabajo en septiembre. Los consultores del Instituto Kaleidoscope facilitaron tres eventos de participación congregacional enfocados en la historia de San Miguel, nuestras realidades presentes y las necesidades y aspiraciones para el futuro de la comunidad. La participación en estos eventos fue amplia y diversa.

Los cambios en el entorno político, tanto a nivel nacional como local, afectaron de manera real y desafiante a la comunidad inmigrante en Portland y también a esta comunidad parroquial. Estas circunstancias ralentizaron el avance de nuestro trabajo, pero no lo detuvieron.

Después de los tres encuentros congregacionales, el Comité de Visión y Estrategia participó en un proceso de discernimiento en oración que incluyó incontables horas de análisis e interpretación de datos para elaborar un informe para el Vestry. Este informe resumió las necesidades y esperanzas de la comunidad y estuvo acompañado de recomendaciones para ayudarnos a avanzar hacia el futuro que Dios tiene preparado para San Miguel.

En marzo de este año, el Comité de Visión y Estrategia presentó su informe al Vestry durante el retiro anual y compartió varias horas con nosotros para explicar los datos y dialogar sobre cómo avanzar hacia las acciones necesarias para convertir la visión en realidad para San Miguel. Y el trabajo continúa.

El Vestry y el Rector han estado trabajando juntos en un plan de Visión > Acción para formar cuatro grupos de trabajo que guiarán nuestros esfuerzos para poner en práctica las recomendaciones del documento de visión. Estos grupos se enfocarán en Comunidad y Conexión, Formación, Comunicaciones, y Gobernanza y Recursos. Actualmente estamos comenzando a convocar al primero de estos grupos de Visión > Acción, enfocado en las recomendaciones relacionadas con Comunidad y Conexión. Si desea obtener más información sobre este trabajo o considera servir en este equipo, envíe un correo electrónico a Scott (ScottP@stmaa.org).

Queremos agradecer a cada integrante del Comité de Visión y Estrategia por su dedicación y perseverancia en este trabajo, incluyendo a dos personas que no pudieron servir durante todo el proceso: Helen Crandell, Victor Salinas, Lynda Garner, Palmira Cruz, Matt Kallen, Adrian Neri Reyes, Mandy Davis, Karol Rivera Zeledón, Barbara Wyse, Gladys Alvarado y Shawna Gandy.

También estamos agradecidos porque, tras su llegada en julio pasado, Padre Toni pudo unirse a Scott+ como miembro del clero para apoyar al equipo. Asimismo, queremos agradecer a cada uno de USTEDES: los miembros de la parroquia que participaron en los encuentros, que han permanecido comprometidos durante largos períodos de trabajo entre bastidores y que, oramos, trabajarán junto con nosotros para hacer realidad esta visión durante los próximos años.

¡Gracias a todos!

Con ustedes,

El Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector

Ann Wetherell, Senior Warden

Sofía Tavera, Miembro del Vestry

Visión y Estrategia a 3–5 Años para San Miguel y todos los Ángeles

From the Rector

Dear Friends,

I write to share news for the transition in our ministries to children, youth and their families at St. Michael’s.

Celebrate Leslie Sackett!

As you know, Leslie Sackett will officially retire from her position as Associate for Children and Families at the end of June.  We will celebrate Leslie and vital ministry of love, welcome and formation over 35 years in this vocation.  Please join us on Sunday, June 7 for a full hour reception at 10:15am for this occasion.  (The later service will begin at 11:15 that day to afford us extra time.) Please remember the invitation to give generously toward a purse for Leslie HERE (link).  Thankfully, we will not be saying goodbye.  Leslie and Tim will continue as active members of St. Michael’s, exploring new areas of ministry and opportunities to serve

Hello again, Chloe Colbaugh for a year!

I am delighted to share that Chloe Colbaugh, newly graduated from Gettysburg College, in Gettysburg, PA, will be joining us for the next year as Interim Director of Ministries to Children, Youth and their Families.  Many of us remember that Chloe served as St. Michael’s first Summer Youth Intern in 2024.  Even then, she quickly connected with people of all ages and families at St. Michael’s.  Chloe came back again in 2025 to support our Summer Youth Retreat in Bend for a second year.  

In addition to the experience and relationships gained as an intern at St. Michael’s, Chloe brings broader experience from serving in ministry to children and youth in her home state of New York.  While in college, they gained valuable experience directing programs for student organizations and clubs.  You might also recall that Chloe is family to me—a niece.  During her year at St. Michael’s, Chloe’s direct supervisor will be Padre Toni, while working closely with me and the staff to nurture connection, guide formation, and support our children, youth and families.  Chloe’s creative energy, able leadership, and care during the interim will allow us to move through the process of calling a new minister to children, youth and their families into a new season.

Welcome to Summer at St. Michael’s, Youth Intern Frida Diaz Tavera!

For the third year, St. Michael’s will welcome a Summer Intern.  Frida Diaz Tavera is studying for a degree in early childhood education at Clackamas Community College.  Frida and her family are members of the St. Michael’s community.  During the last year, she has been volunteering to support youth ministry, live stream at 1:00, convivio, and pretty much any area where she is asked to contribute.  In January, Frida was elected to be a delegate for St. Michael’s to Diocesan Convention.  The experience Frida gains while serving and learning with us will help her to participate more deeply in the life of the parish community and discern future paths for vocation and ministry.  And – we will be so blessed to have her support for our Youth Retreat in Bend!

And – A new Treasurer begins July 1.

Indirectly related to the transitions named above, Tim Sackett has been appointed by the Vestry to be Treasurer, effective July 1.  Dave Reilly has served us well, with diligence, determination and dedication for the last four years.  His resignation at the end of June is not unexpected, though I will miss the close working relationship that we developed since my arrival.  It would take another article to name all of the ways that we have improved process and transparency during Dave’s tenure.  Thank you, Dave.   And, thank you, Tim, for answering the call and stepping forward to serve the parish in this important role.  We will be blessed by the experience, skill and love that you bring forward into this work.  

Friends, we are blessed.  Through comings and goings, through change and transition, through goodbyes to seasons and hellos to new eras, may we be grounded in the constancy of God’s love, grace, and presence among us in our life together.

In peace,

Scott+

The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector

p.s. You can read more about Chloe & Frida in this week’s issue of our Weekly Messenger.