I First Presbyterian Church PRESBYTERIAN PORTFOLIO ...

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12 PRESBYTERIAN PORTFOLIO" (USPS 006-105) is published monthly by The First Presbyterian Church, 390 NE 2nd Street, McMin- nville, OR 97128-4789. Periodicals postage paid at McMinnville, OR. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to "PRESBYTERIAN PORTFOLIO", c/o First Presbyterian Church, 390 NE 2nd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128-4789. First Presbyterian Church Together in Christ for all. Prayer Requests Contact Carley Bushart at 503-560-0183 or [email protected] Portfolio Staff Managing Editor: Matt Johnson Editor: Nancy MacDonald Church Staff Pastor: Matt Johnson [email protected] Administrative Coordinator: Nancy MacDonald [email protected] Director of Children, Youth, & Family Ministries: Kate Satterstrom [email protected] Director of Music: Kelly Pohl [email protected] Organist/Accompanist: Phillip Thompson-Aue [email protected] Next Portfolio Deadline: November 15, 2021 _I_ _I_ Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday, November 7th Remember to turn your clocks back. Presbyterian Portfolio First Presbyterian Church 390 NE 2nd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128 503-472-6256 / [email protected] / fpc-mac.org Vol. 46 No. 10 October 27, 2021 Upon Further Reflection Watering Our Roots: Sabbatical Summer Support I am so glad to share with you that First Presbyterian Church has received a grant of $49,920 from the 2021 National Clergy Renewal Program. I love this congregation so much, and I am so grateful for your partnership in this Sabbatical adventure. Ours is one of 156 congregations across the United States selected to participate in this competitive grant program, which is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Established by the Endowment in 2000, the programs grants allow Christian congregations to support their pastors with the gift of extended time away from their ministerial duties and responsibilities. Ministers whose congregations are awarded the grants use their time away from the demands of daily ministry to engage in reflection and renewal. The approach respects the Sabbath timeconcept, offering ministers a carefully considered respite that may include travel, study, rest, prayer and immersive arts and cultural experiences. Our grant proposal was entitled, Watering Roots for Future Growth.This means that during my Sabbatical from June 1 through August 31 next summer, my family and I will be able to journey to the waters of Alaska (where my siblings grew up), spend time on the waters of Oregon, and explore coastal cities in Estonia, Sweden, and Scotland where Sonjas family has deep roots. I will also take a four-day course in watercolor painting from Eric Weigardt, and close the summer with a solo prayer retreat on the coast. All of these activities are aimed at connecting with historic family practices that can continue to bear fruit in my life and ministry with the church in the future. Speaking of the church, the grant will also provide for: Pulpit supply honorariums for the summer Session moderation honorariums for the summer Books for congregational study (to be selected by Pastor and Session) A catered meal for the whole church in September upon my return An overnight retreat for up to 26 Session, Deacon, and Staff members at Mt. Angel Abbey, Oct. 21-22, 2022. I am working with Session to select a book and a summer project for the congregation that will aid the expansion of our presence in the community. Additionally, I am working with Personnel to identify someone who can provide a consistent presence in preaching, sacraments, moderate session meetings, and provide emergency pastoral care. Kate Satterstrom will continue to provide excellent worship leading and preaching as well. Christopher L. Coble, the Lilly Endowments vice president for religion said, We have learned that such experiences invigorate the leadership of pastors and bring new vitality to their congregations as well.It is our hope that through the congregational project, book reading, contributions of different voices in worship, and the follow-up retreat that this will be a time of refreshment for both myself and the congregation that waters our roots and leads us all into a new era of growth in mission and ministry together.

Transcript of I First Presbyterian Church PRESBYTERIAN PORTFOLIO ...

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“PRESBYTERIAN PORTFOLIO" (USPS 006-105) is published monthly by The First Presbyterian Church, 390 NE 2nd Street, McMin-nville, OR 97128-4789. Periodicals postage paid at McMinnville, OR. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to "PRESBYTERIAN PORTFOLIO", c/o First Presbyterian Church, 390 NE 2nd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128-4789.

First Presbyterian Church

Together in Christ for all.

Prayer Requests

Contact Carley Bushart at 503-560-0183 or [email protected]

Portfolio Staff

Managing Editor: Matt Johnson Editor: Nancy MacDonald

Church Staff

Pastor: Matt Johnson [email protected] Administrative Coordinator: Nancy MacDonald [email protected] Director of Children, Youth, & Family Ministries: Kate Satterstrom [email protected] Director of Music: Kelly Pohl [email protected] Organist/Accompanist: Phillip Thompson-Aue [email protected]

Next Portfolio Deadline: November 15, 2021

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Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday, November 7th

Remember to turn your clocks back.

Presbyterian Portfolio

First Presbyterian Church 390 NE 2nd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128

503-472-6256 / [email protected] / fpc-mac.org Vol. 46 No. 10 October 27, 2021

Upon Further Reflection

Watering Our Roots: Sabbatical Summer Support

I am so glad to share with you that First Presbyterian Church has received a grant of $49,920 from the 2021 National Clergy Renewal Program. I love this congregation so much, and I am so grateful for your partnership in this Sabbatical adventure. Ours is one of 156 congregations across the United States selected to participate in this competitive grant program, which is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Established by the Endowment in 2000, the program’s grants allow Christian congregations to support their pastors with the gift of extended time away from their ministerial duties and responsibilities.

Ministers whose congregations are awarded the grants use their time away from the demands of daily ministry to engage in reflection and renewal. The approach respects the “Sabbath time” concept, offering ministers a carefully considered respite that may include travel, study, rest, prayer and immersive arts and cultural experiences.

Our grant proposal was entitled, “Watering Roots for Future Growth.” This means that during my Sabbatical from June 1 through August 31 next summer, my family and I will be able to journey to the waters of Alaska (where my siblings grew up), spend time on the waters of Oregon, and explore coastal cities in Estonia, Sweden, and Scotland where Sonja’s family has deep roots. I will also take a four-day course in watercolor painting from Eric Weigardt, and close the summer with a solo prayer retreat on the coast. All of these activities are aimed at connecting with historic family practices that can continue to bear fruit in my life and ministry with the church in the future.

Speaking of the church, the grant will also provide for: • Pulpit supply honorariums for the summer • Session moderation honorariums for the summer • Books for congregational study (to be selected by Pastor and Session) • A catered meal for the whole church in September upon my return • An overnight retreat for up to 26 Session, Deacon, and Staff members at Mt. Angel Abbey,

Oct. 21-22, 2022.

I am working with Session to select a book and a summer project for the congregation that will aid the expansion of our presence in the community. Additionally, I am working with Personnel to identify someone who can provide a consistent presence in preaching, sacraments, moderate session meetings, and provide emergency pastoral care. Kate Satterstrom will continue to provide excellent worship leading and preaching as well.

Christopher L. Coble, the Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion said, “We have learned that such experiences invigorate the leadership of pastors and bring new vitality to their congregations as well.” It is our hope that through the congregational project, book reading, contributions of different voices in worship, and the follow-up retreat that this will be a time of refreshment for both myself and the congregation that waters our roots and leads us all into a new era of growth in mission and ministry together.

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Sunday Information

Adult Education Class

Our very interesting series on books, chapters, or passages from the Old Testament will conclude on October 31st with a jeremiad! On that Sunday, our meteorological specialist, Elliott Barske, will update us on climate change, taking inspiration from Jeremiah 2:7: "And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.” For the next three Sundays, November 7th, 14th, and 21st, Tom Norton will lead us in a discussion of the third person of the Holy Trinity, the one we tend to read and hear least about, the Holy Spirit. Then on November 28th, our friend from the Newberg First Presbyterian Church, Chuck Zickefoose, will usher us into the season of Advent with a presentation on The Liturgical Year. Please join us on Zoom, at 9:00 A.M. Sunday mornings, to participate in these classes. The Zoom link will be available in the FPC Weekly E-News.

Guidelines as of 10/27/2021 Here is what you can expect: Enter the Building: Doors will open at 10am. Use the labyrinth entrance or the office ramp entrance. You will be welcomed in by a greeter. Please take your temperature, use the provided hand sanitizer, and sign-in—this serves as our attendance and will be used if we need to contact trace. Masks are required to be worn in the building. Entering the Sanctuary: You will be greeted by an usher. Children are encouraged to pick up a Children’s Worship Bag at the entrance to the Sanctuary. This bag will be their own bag each week when they attend worship. Participating in Worship: When greeting each other to extend the Peace of Christ you are asked to greet others by staying in place. Our songs will be led by the music leaders while the congregation reflectively listens. Then we invite the congregation to join in singing—while still masked—for our Congregational Song towards the end of worship. Leaving Worship: We ask that you be mindful of others. Make sure you don’t cluster together when exiting into the aisles. As you leave the sanctuary you will find a marked basket to leave your offering at the top of the stairs/ramp. Worshiping Virtually: If you would like to join us virtually for worship you have two options. First, you can join us in real time via livestream that can be found on our church website (fpc-mac.org). Second, the worship service will be posted to YouTube each Sunday afternoon following worship.

Communion Sundays November 7th & 21st

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Ongoing Activities

Weekly Bible Study on Zoom Wednesdays at 10:00 am

A weekly Bible study, led by Pastor Matt, on the scripture reading for the following Sunday meets on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 am on Zoom. The link for the meeting can be found in the FPC Weekly E-News email.

Social Justice Book Club

Our next book will be The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett This is a great novel that tells the story of sisters whose lives take a very different path based on how they racially identify. We will meet on December 14th at 4pm on zoom. Contact Kate for more information or for the link to join the discussion.

Do you have projects that just don’t get completed? Do you have magazines or newspapers that you can’t find time to read? Are you in the mood to start a new endeavor but don’t want to mess up your house?

Creative Expressions is a time that is set aside each month for you to work on any project you wish. We usually meet on the 1st Friday of each month from 4-8pm. We will not be meeting in November. We will meet next on December 3rd.

Bring a brown bag dinner and drink if you like.

Presbyterian Women

Sarah Circle November 10th 5:30 pm

Member’s home

Agape Circle

November 17th 9:30 am Calvin Hall West at the Church

Priscilla Circle November 22nd 7:00 pm

Hostess: Danna Bone Lesson #3: Lori Wallick

A Congregational Show now showing in the

The Annex Gallery

now showing through November 30th in

The Narthex Gallery

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Calendar

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Upcoming

December Creative Expressions Christmas Card Making Class

Friday December 3rd 4pm or 6pm

Danna Bone is going to be teaching a card making class during Creative Expressions again. This time Christmas cards. For $10 you will make four cards. There will be two sessions that evening, one at 4:00 pm and again at 6:00 pm. Class size is limited. Reserve your spot by contacting Danna Bone. Call or text: 714-343-8420 Email: [email protected].

Pop-up

Harvest Sale

New Member Class Over the first three weeks in November there will be a new member class on Zoom. The day and time will be determined based on the availability of the class members. If you are interested in finding out more about First Presbyterian or interested in joining, please contact Pastor Matt or the church office.

Commitment Sunday November 7th

The Stewardship Campaign, Grounded in Faith, Growing to Serve, is happening now. If you have not received a packet and would like one, please contact the church office. The Giving Commitment for 2022 cards are due by Sunday, November 7th. There is the option to submit the card information online by going to the website fpc-mac.org under the “Giving” tab. Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can support the mission and ministries of First Presbyterian Church in 2022.

Congregational Meeting Sunday, November 21st

following worship

There will be a Congregational Meeting for the purpose of electing Elders, Deacons, and Committee Members. Plan to stay after worship for this brief but important meeting.

Thank you to all who stopped by the Pop-up Sale on Sunday, Oct. 24th and contributed to it’s success! We are planning two more Sale days: • Sunday, Nov. 21st - will be Fall and

Christmas themed • Sunday, Dec. 5th - will be Christmas

themed The Pop-up Sale will be in the Gallery and open before and after worship. Cash and checks are accepted. See you there!

Grounded in Faith Growing to Serve

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Mission

Fair Trade Market Cart

The cart will be open the 2nd and 4th Sundays following the worship service.

Coffee is $7 to $8.50 per bag, Tea is $3.50 per box and

Chocolate Bar is $3.00 per bar.

We have added a new item: Organic Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips, $4 per bag. Stop by and support the small farmer.

Afghanistan Update We are so grateful for the interest and support that has been expressed as our congregation continues to support the immigration of an Afghan family of six. This family has found a way to get to Pakistan, and are being hosted by an Afghan family there. They have Pakistani visitor visas which will run out mid-November. Their status in Pakistan after that point is unclear, but they may be able to claim refugee status. Representatives from the Afghanistan Teams of both Reedwood Friends Church, Portland and First Presbyterian Church, McMinnville have been regularly meeting in person, on Zoom, and communicating by email. We have established a system to share assistance from both churches with the family so they can have immediate needs covered as well as be prepared to move quickly in an emergency. The group is working hard to navigate multiple immigration processes which we are pursuing in parallel and are continuing to discern the involvement of immigration lawyers to advance those efforts. We have learned that the wait times for processing Humanitarian Parole and P-2 immigration applications are many months to more than a year, so we are reframing our expectations and plans for this to be a long-term process. The group is also working with our congressional representatives in both Senator Wyden’s office and Senator Merkley’s office to assist with the process and help provide some insight on the best way forward. Prayers are appreciated for seeing the process more clearly, for responsiveness from government agencies, and most of all for safety for the family.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Out of Chaos, Hope

PDA is providing emergency relief to disaster situations all over the world; from hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, to refugees. After initial needs are addressed, PDA will remain — providing emotional and spiritual care and Long-Term Recovery to address unmet needs. If you would like to support these efforts you can go to our website and give online or send in a check to “FPC” and note for “disaster relief.” You can also support them through prayer.

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All in the Family continued

November Prayer Calendar

"Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

Please lift each household name or group listed below in prayer on that day of the month.

1. John & Lori Wallick 2. Dave & Ann Widen 3. Dan Willis 4. Dave & Ruth Willis 5. Bill Wittenberg 6. Community Dinner 7. All Saints 8. Betty Younker 9. Deacons 10. Wednesday Breakfast 11. Nicole Amuzu, Ayele 12. Presbytery Meeting 13. Tom & Joyce Archibald 14. Ann Austin 15. Cindy Badley 16. Gordon & Becky Badley 17. Session 18. George & Nancy Barker 19. BJ & Christina Barlow, Oliver, Lucas, & Thatcher 20. Elliott & Dianne Barske 21. Roald & Linda Berg 22. Jeff & Charmaine Berhorst 23. Jim Black 24. Herb Blasier 25. Family 26. Sue Blum 27. Stewart & Danna Bone 28. Marissa Branson 29. Kris & Gretchen Brunner, Aaron & Gus 30. June Burgess

November

Lucas Barlow 3rd Colin Cameron 4th Chuck Ruebel 5th Wendy Shuler 6th Donna Miller 7th Gay Pudlitzke 7th Shirley Saderholm 9th

John Bush 13th Donna Reynolds 14th Herb Blasier 15th Astuti Rossner 15th Christina Barlow 17th

Monika Chroust-Masin 17th Sharon Laddusaw 18th Greg Copeland 20th Hunter Steinman 24th

Grace Lord-Garrettson 26th Christina Slater 28th

Our church family extends our deepest sympathy to the family of

Harry Taylor

Harry passed away on September 27, 2021. Prayers for the family as they gather on

November 7th to celebrate his life.

May God grant comfort and peace to his loved ones.

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Nuts & Bolts

Session Highlights

Action taken and information items are summarized for the Portfolio monthly. Here are highlights from the October 20th meeting: 1. MSP – to elect Tom MacDonald and Star Thomson as commissioners to the Fall Presbytery meeting to be held on-line November 12th from 1:00pm to 8:00pm 2. MSP – to set Wed. Nov. 10th at 5:00pm for

emergency preparedness training 3. MSP – to set Sunday November 21st after worship for the Congregational Meeting to elect church officers. 4. Mission Ministry Team reported on the status of the support of the Afghan refugee family. FPC will be partnering with Reed- wood Friend’s Church in Portland. 5. MSP – to set up a separate special fund (#3070 - Afghan Refugee Support Fund) under the Mission Team’s direction with seed funding from existing special fund #1150. 6. MSP – use of funds from Account #3070 by the Mission Ministry Team will not be subject to spending limits requiring Session approval. 7. MSP – Task Force will provide Session with a monthly report under Old Business on the work and progress of the team and spending from Account #3070. 8. Nominating Committee presented the slate of nominees for Elder, Deacon and Committee positions. Nominating shared the challenges in filling the required positions for the Board of Deacons to be in compliance with the by-laws. Elders Mary Ellen Fleeger and Lou Savage and Pastor Matt will meet with the Deacons at their November 9th meeting to hear the Boards views on workload and staffing needs 9. Clerk will report on the outcome of the Session Record Review that was held via Zoom 10/12/21. 10. Clerk will complete a review of the congregational rolls by year end.

FINANCIAL REPORT (Operating Fund)

September: Actual Budget Receipts: $ 31,785 8.8% $ 29,791 8.3% Expenses: 31,385 8.0% 32,617 8.3% Year to Date: Receipts: $ 260,374 72.8% $ 268,125 75.0% Expenses: 264,187 67.5% 293,553 75.0% Receipts were over budget for the month and expenses slightly below budget.

Thank you for your continued support.

To All Ministry Teams: A reminder that your proposed budget needs

to be given to Bill Wittenberg no later than Sunday, November 7th.

The office will be closed on Thursday & Friday

November 25th & 26th for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

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Mission

Mission Update: Mission Inter Senegal (MIS)

Mission is an integral part of who we are as a church. It is the practice of First Presbyterian to allocate 10% of the budget to mission each year. When we received some large bequests, 10% of those were also allocated to mission. One of the missions selected to receive some of these funds is Mission Inter Senegal (MIS). Last year we purchased a motorcycle for Pastor Elisee so that he had transportation to get to the 4 villages that he ministers to, hoping to grow to ten villages. This year we provided $1,500 to support Pastor Elisee, considered the basic annual salary. We are now giving $6,500 to pay for the foundation of a new church in Fouah Mbegnar, one of the villages that Pastor Elisee serves. Below is a picture of the “building” where they currently worship, and pictures of what the new church may look like. They use a standard building plan for the churches. Please pray for Pastor Elisee and the villages he serves. And pray for other partners to come forward to help fund the rest of the building costs.

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Earth Care Corner

BOOK LOVERS ALERT! Becoming Rooted: 100 Days of Reconnecting with Sacred Earth by Randy Woodley will be coming out on January 4

th, 2022. The following is Amazon’s book review:

“What does it mean to become rooted in the land? How can we become better relatives to our greatest teacher, the Earth? Becoming Rooted invites us to live out a deeply spiritual relationship with the whole community of creation and with Creator. Through meditations and ideas for reflection and action, Randy Woodley, an activist, author, scholar, and Cherokee descendant, recognized by the Keetoowah Band, guides us on a one-hundred-day journey to reconnect with the Earth. Woodley invites us to come away from the American dream--otherwise known as an Indigenous nightmare--and get in touch with the water, land, plants, and creatures around us, with the people who lived on that land for thousands of years prior to Europeans' arrival, and with ourselves. In walking toward the harmony way, we honor balance, wholeness, and connection. Creation is always teaching us. Our task is to look, and to listen, and to live well. She is teaching us now.” Starting in January, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon will be encouraging congregations to read Becoming Rooted. They will be collaborating with EcoFaith Recovery and Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice. This will be an opportunity to engage with other interested people in a book discussion group. Randy, introduced by Pastor Matt, joined an Earth Care Meeting by Zoom. He is on the faculty of George Fox University. He and his wife, Edith, live at Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice located north of Yamhill. This center focuses on “developing, implementing and teaching sustainable and regenerative earth practices. While there is an identifiable farm within the almost 10 acres near Yamhill, Oregon, the whole property is considered vital to the farm and as part of the farm. They have created a center that embodies educating mind, soul, and body to fulfill their mission of living in harmony with the land, using North American traditional Indigenous knowledge (TIK), wisdom and practices as a guiding model.” Pastor Matt used one of Randy ’s books Shalom and the Community of Creation as a basis for prayer, contemplation, and discussion during the Earth Care Retreat. The Earth Care Committee is considering visiting the Eloheh Center and eventually joining one of their work parties held on the last Saturday of each month. Earth Care will keep you updated on how to join the book discussion group and FPC events related to the Eloheh Center.

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Children, Youth, & Family