Sunday Worship: Contemporary 9:15am; Traditional 11:15am Sunday School 10:30am (during the school year)

Wonderful Wednesdays: 5:00pm Chapel open for prayer with supper served @ 5:45pm Holy Communion is Celebrated at all Worship Offerings

Ministers: All the People of Resurrection Pastors: The Rev. Michael O’Berg, The Rev. Roger Fuchs, The Rev. Gordon Pritchard

Minister of Youth and Family Discipleship: Troy Lutz Children’s Minister: Kari Jubb

Parish Administrator: Kym Tangen Pastoral Intern: Vicar Mike Pickett

May 2015, vol. 33, no. 5 - Published Monthly by Resurrection Lutheran Church

C & M Publications is the printer of the Herald. The business relationship is very simple and convenient. The Herald is prepared as we always have. However, after our final proof is confirmed our print file is sent electronically to C & M for printing. The Herald will be returned ready for mailing with mailing labels 48 hours later. All at no cost to Resurrection Church, made possible through the support of our local sponsors found on page eleven.

We encourage you to read the businesses listed and use them for your personal needs whenever possible. Let them know where you saw their ad. Should you have a business and desire to reach your congregation with your ad message, please call Chris McAdams directly at: 951.776.0601. Thank you.

Pastor Mike’s Musings!

By now most folks are aware that Resurrection will not be getting an Intern for the 2015-2016 year. The reality of the church is that there are many, many

congregations that are looking to become “Intern Congregations” and fewer and fewer internship candidates. At Trinity Lutheran Seminary - there were 11 candidates and 23 sites!! Needless to say - we did not get an Intern assigned to us. !

What does this mean? Well, it means a lot of things but none of them are “end of the world” type things. I will be meeting with some of the senior staff to talk about how we will be needing to share some of the ministry items that the intern as typically done. This includes worship leadership and preaching. I have always felt that mine was not the only voice that should be heard preaching and leading worship and I still believe that. The most notable impact will be in the area of “presence.” With Vicar Mike’s presence I have been able to be in two places at the same time…when I need to be visiting someone - Vr. Mike can lead Bible Study. In February I had planned on leading Theology on Tap. Something came up needing my attention and so Vr. Mike stepped in and I was able to attend to other issues and TOT was skillfully led. Even today, I needed to meet with someone at the office and so Vr. Mike was able to lead the Wednesday Lunch Bunch conversation.!

So yes, things will change but not so much that the ministry of RLC will be derailed. I have always told the Intern candidates that I have interviewed that while many congregations “need” you - there are a lot of congregations

that get interns because they are relatively cheap pastor help - RLC has interns because we want them…Internship is a vital part of who we are and what we do - it is a gift that we give the ELCA - participating in 25% of a Seminarians total education! That is a big deal in my mind…It is my hope & prayer that this time next year I will be introducing you to our 2016-2017 intern!!!

The truth is that the Ministry of RLC is bigger than one person or one program. The ministry is all of pulling together to do the important and vital work of the Kingdom - Rejoicing, Renewing and Reaching Out in the name of Jesus!!

This year has been filled already with accomplishments that should cause us to pause and give thanks to God! The year started with us gathering over 18,000 lbs of food for the SouperBowl of Caring. We have collected and assembled over 30 baby care kits for Lutheran World Relief, we have made over 180 LifePax to hand out to the homeless!! Resurrection continues to make a difference in the lives of the folks that we have the opportunity to touch. !

What is just as important as “what” is the “why” of what we do…Mission and Ministry are not things or programs that we do - it is what we are. This is what we are here - the Rejoice, Renew and Reach Out! This is what we will continue to do this year. Take a moment and see where you might connect in the ministry of RLC - there is a place for everyone! !~Pastor Mike!pastor.mike.oberg@rlcpdx.orgwww.facebook.com/ResurrectionPDXwww.youtube.com/ResurrectionPDX

rlcpdx.org

ADULT BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES!Everyone is welcome to join us for any of the following Bible Studies that we currently offer here at RLC. If you have any questions about any of these Bible Studies, please contact Kym in the office at 503-255-8772 or kym.tangen@rlcpdx.org.

Men’s Monday Morning Manna!Meets May 4, 11, 18 & 25!

@ 7:00am in the Luther Lodge!

Tuesday Morning Bible Study! Meets May 5, 12, 19 & 26!

@ 9:45am in the Fireside Room!

May 6, 13, 20 & 27:!Noon - 1:15pm - Lunch Brunch Study in the Fellowship Hall!

5:00pm - RLC Chapel open for Prayer!5:45pm - Supper/Holy Conversation based on Sunday’s Theme!

6:20pm - Eucharist/6:30pm - Small Groups/7:45pm - Homeward Bound!

May 27th: Conclusion of Wonderful Wednesday (until Fall)! Bar-B-Q and Celebration!!!

Wonderful Wednesdays!!!

Joy Circle!Women’s Ministry of Fellowship, Service & Study. !

Open to all Women of RLC & their Friends!!!!

We meet every 3rd Wednesday in the Luther Lodge." !

This month on May 20th, @ 10:00am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Study Leader is: Pastor Mike/Vicar Mike!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Devotions by: Jan Plog!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""Hostess: Betty Palmer!

"""""""""""""Session 9:" The Church Transforming and Reforming!

The Jewish and Gentile Christians in Acts 15 became the church when they learned to join together as one body by transforming themselves for the sake of the gospel." their example can inspire today's church." "...I will set it up, so that all other peoples may seek the Lord---even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called."" ! ! Acts 15: 16-17

A Note From Sue………….

Spring is here! Don’t you love the nice weather and the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors? There are many activities happening at RLC. I hope you are planning to participate in many of them. The Youth Auction Event will happen on Saturday, May 16 and Wonderful Wednesday continues each week. The Mission of the Month for May is Portland Lutheran School. The event kicks off with an all Congregation pancake breakfast on May 3rd. The annual Book Sale will take place on June 5th & 6th. The proceeds will provide for the shipping of Operation Christmas Child Boxes in the fall. Bible Study opportunities take place on Tuesday mornings at 9:45AM. The Men’s group meets Monday’s at 7AM and Joy Circle meets every third Wednesday of the month. Theology on Tap meets on the fourth Thursday each month. These are just some of the activities happening. Hope to see you at many of them.

Your church council is beginning the discussion about Congregational Care and how we can be better at connecting with members. We are talking about establishing a Congregational Care Ministry Team which would be the umbrella for many already existing groups such as the Visitation Team, Grief Share, MOPS (Mothers of Pre School Children), etc. The reason for the “umbrella” would be to help provide better communication between groups and needs. We think we may have an opportunity to start a conversation about connecting with members who may be missing from church and activities for a while. Sometimes there are the normal reasons why people are gone like vacations, family needs, etc. but sometimes people don’t show up for a while and they wonder why no one contacts them to inquire about them. We don’t want to be intrusive but we don’t want to be neglectful of people either. So we are starting the conversation. How can we do better? How can we connect without being intrusive? One way to start would be for all of us to be diligent about calling the office or pastoral hotline when we have things happen that require pastoral care such as deaths, hospitalizations, illness and other tragedies in our lives. Even if you don’t want a visit from the Pastor but want to be put on the prayer list or just let someone know what is going on. We want to hear from you. Share your desire with your family members so they will call when you are unable to call. We care and we want to help in whatever way is appropriate and comfortable. Another way we can practice congregational care is to notice when a member or frequent visitor is not around for several Sundays. Who is missing? Sometimes just a quick phone call to the person or a postcard (we missed you) reaching out the person can mean a great deal to the recipient. Often times, when tragedies happen, we think others are too busy to be bothered with our issues. As followers of Christ, we are not too busy to care for others. Jesus set our example. Mathew 25:40 says “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Considering what Christ did for us, the care we show to others is minor league. So, tell us how we can be better in this area. We need your ideas. By the way, do you need another member’s phone number or address so you can check in with them? If you need an updated member directory, email Kym at the office and she can email one to you. Let’s stay connected! I hope you have a rejuvenating, relaxing spring!

Sue Hiersche, RLC Council President

KYM’S KORNER

Your RLC Property Committee has graciously developed a new form for maintenance & repairs. You will find it on the counter by the mailboxes.

This is to be filled out by anyone that finds a problem concerning maintenance on our church campus property. We also Welcome

Terry Armstrong as the new RLC Sexton (fancy church word for custodian).

You will also find the most recently approved Council Packet on the counter by the mailboxes. This includes all monthly meeting minutes from your

Ministry Teams/Committees. Please check them out!!

Have you noticed the new copy machine in the Church office? Thanks to a lot of hard work, RLC has drastically reduced the cost of our copier….however, as part

of our faithful stewardship, our new copier is activated by codes only. All Ministry leaders of RLC have their own code.

If you feel you need a code, please see me.

As always, if you have a change in address, phone number, email, name/names not on Birthday or Anniversary list?……….please let me know!

I’m trying to get our Church Membership up-to-date:) Thanks Friends!

Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm

This faith-based grief recovery support group is open to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one. The 13 week GRIEF SHARE program is designed to help participants process and heal the deep hurt of loss. Each session will utilize a video presentation, discussion, and workbook exercises. You are welcome to begin attending at any point. Each session is self contained so you do not have to attend in sequence. You will be able to pick up any sessions you missed in the next 13 week cycle. There is a $15 fee for the workbook. If you are interested in learning more about this support group, please contact the co-facilitators, Leslie Sawyer, 503-760-8974 sawyerle@aol.com or Judy Yudt, 503-841-6394 judy.yudt@gmail.com .

AUCTION 2015 tickets are on sale now for the May 16th Youth Auction. Last year’s auction was a great event as we served dinner to over 100 auction guests.  This year promises to be even better as we tantalize your taste buds with a scrumptious dinner and decadent dessert. Tickets are only $20 for dinner, show and auction (of which $10 is tax deductible). 

Featuring the Amazing LARMAY! Prepare to be amazed.  With years of experience performing in virtually every kind of situation, for people from all walks of life, Resurrection proudly presents on stage, the Amazing LARMAY.  The Amazing Larmay is an extremely versatile entertainer on stage or close-up.  With over 25 years of experience as an Illusionist, Sleight of Hand Artist, Balloon Sculptor and Fire Eater, LARMAY is a diversified entertainer

In addition to a wonderful night of mesmerizing entertainment prepare to be astonished as our very own “quick- witted” and “jovial” vicar, Mike Pickett shows off is auctioneer talent.  Don’t miss this night of fun.  Many great items have been received for your bidding pleasure.  These include dinners, trips, hotel rooms, romantic getaways, and much, much more.  If you have a donation idea, please do not hesitate to contact Troy Lutz at 503-255-8772. Don’t forget about $10 “Mission Shares”.  Mission shares are great for those who want to support the purpose of the Calvin Youth Auction but are unable to attend.  Mission shares will also be available at the auction for those that got “out-bided” and would like to support our youth. Get your tickets and mission shares at the church.  Look for the ticket-table in the fellowship hall on Sundays during the coffee-mingle.  Child-care will be available.  However, for planning purposes please indicate your need for childcare on your ticket form. 

RLC Family Camp!!!   What is “All RLC” Family Camp?  Anyone who attends RLC is part of the RLC Family and can attend the “All RLC” Family Camp.  It does not mean you have to have a family with small children. Time to sign up for the second annual RLC family camp!  This year’s event is scheduled for July 30th – Aug 2nd at the KOA camp in Astoria.  This is a great opportunity to connect with each other in a much deeper and intimate way as we grow closer together as friends in Christ Jesus.  Register your space today.  Sign up in the Fellowship Hall or call Troy for questions.

See you at the auction!!

RLC OUTREACH/FELLOWSHIP You are invited to our next committee meeting on

Tuesday, May 5th @ 6:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.

The 2015 RLC Book Sale is Coming Soon!! June 5th & 6th

We are still accepting donations of books, puzzles, games, CD's, DVD’s, cassettes, etc.

You may leave your donations in Room 8. For more information please see

Jerry Sharpe or Katie Petke.

Proceeds of our sale will help up offset the cost of postage for the Operation Christmas Child Box mailing.

The 2015 RLC Easter Egg Hunt last month was a GREAT successl!!

Over 90 kids (and parents) attended, and almost 1100 "eggs" were distributed.

Thanks to everyone who donated candy, or helped at the event.

Join us for our next ALL Congregational Worship!

Pentecost Sunday, May 24th @ 10:30am

BAR-B-Q POTLUCK AFTER COMBINED WORSHIP!!

Last Names A-L Please bring a Dessert

M-Z Side Dish or Salad

Hot Dogs and Beverages will be provided.

If you have any questions, please contact Jerry Sharpe

May Mission of the Month - Portland Lutheran!

Don’t forget the Pancake Breakfast @ RLC

Sunday, May 3rd 8:30am - 12:20pm

Resurrection Making a DIFFERENCE!!

In March our congregation collected approximately $350.00 worth of personal care items and new clothing for Rose Haven Shelter, a day shelter in Northwest Portland for abused women

and children. 36 Lutheran World Relief Baby Care Kits were assembled 180 LifePax were assembled (and are ready for you to use!!) 

Making a DIFFERENCE in the Community and in the World!

New City Initiative

Are you a team player? If you enjoy group efforts then the Community Ministry Team needs your help. We are partnering with the Village Support Network to assist homeless families in their transition to stable housing.

You will be a member of a 4-6 person team which will mentor a homeless family for a period of about six months. There is a definite start and finish to our mentoring. The goal is to build a relationship of trust with the family while we assist them through the process of moving to a new home or apartment.

Our mentoring family meetings will involve building a realistic family budget, securing housing, securing employment, helping to smooth the transition to new schools and beginning the skill building process for the parents. In six months we will help our family develop a new level of self-sufficiency while reducing their stress. They will begin to trust their new relationship building skills in their new community.

If you would like to help make a lasting difference in someone’s life then RLC and the Village Network needs you. Please call me, Ward Spradlin, 503-667-1197 if you have any questions. The next Village Network orientation session is May 28th at 7:00pm at the following:

New City Initiative 1435 NE 81st Ste 500

Portland, Oregon 97213

MAY FAIR TRADE COFFEE NEWS! NICARAGUAN FAIR TRADE COFFEE

PRODECOOP in Nicaragua is a proud producer of premium Fair Trade coffee. Organized in 1986, the group consists of 38 small village co-ops

totaling almost 1,000 small–scale farmers.

The co-op takes careful steps to assure quality. Their coffee drying beds are raked continuously for nearly a week until the beans are thoroughly dry. The beans are then carefully sorted by machine according to size, shape, and color. (A large reject pile is

composed of broken, misshapen, or discolored beans.) This process eliminates inferior beans that would impact the taste of the coffee.

Finally, by roasting their own beans and taste-testing the results PRODECOOP controls the quality of their premium coffee. Lutheran World Relief becomes a

partner in this effort by distributing the coffee in America. Your RLC Coffee Committee is in the Fellowship Hall the first Sunday of each

month, selling Fair Trade coffee and other fine products.

Thank you for your continued support.

From Your Library Committee……..  Many of our readers have been delighted with Alexander McCall Smith’s NO 1 LADIES DETECTIVE SERIES which we are fortunate to have in our fiction section of our library, but we have recently received one of this creative writer’s stand alone novels, LA’S ORCHESTRA SAVES THE WORLD.  This piece of work written in 2008  beautifully  depicts, as so aptly described by the publisher, the “life-affirming powers of music and company during a time of war”. The events in the novel take place in cozy, rural England during the lean and difficult years of World War II. As to be expected from McCall Smith, this charming story abounds with lovable, rich characters who literally becomes friends of the reader and one hates to say goodbye when the book closes.  The story centers around a young woman, Lavender, who escapes the blitz  of London and settles in a small country village.  Soon she seeks to avoid her sense of isolationism and becomes an integral part of the community by forming a rag tag  orchestra which includes neighbors and nearby RAF soldiers. Through the darkest times, the music soothes the souls of villagers and performers alike, giving hope and courage to endure the unbearable days. Years later, as an old friend of La’s put it simply: “I suspect a very big life led here…..Yes, in this sleepy little village, I suspect that our La was a real heroine”.        This novel is a must read for all who love Alexander McCall Smith’s works and also for those who have yet to be introduced to this beloved author’s writings. Check it out in your RLC Library…

Find RLC on the Webpage: www.rlcpdx.org

: www.facebook.com/ResurrectionPDX

: www.youtube.com/ResurrectionPDX

Can’t Those People Get Jobs? (part 4) -- by Pastor Roger

“Do you think I wanted to grow up to be a junkie? Do you think that when I was twelve I decided that was my highest ambition in life?” --Andrew, 2015

“Andrew” has shared only a few bits of his life. I know his mother died when he was very young. “My father didn’t have much use for me,” Andrew confided, “although he only hit me a couple of times.” At worship, Andrew has prayed for drug rehab. His comments at Bible study and his appreciation of Holy Communion might seem out of synch with his looks and attire. There is much more to Andrew than meets the eye. Jesus knew that about us.

Today, Andrew is homeless because he is jobless and jobless because he is homeless. He is both homeless and jobless because other things are broken in his life: relationships and his addiction. We couldn’t fix one thing unless we and Andrew fixed everything. It’s all related.

Two things in April gave me pause. First, State Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend) stated that homeless shelters in his district are increasingly serving clients with jobs. “There is virtually no (affordable) housing available,” he said. Second, Noelle Toland’s April 3 letter to The Oregonian complained about Portland’s “belligerent vagrants” and that “something should be done about it.” She decried more shelter beds but called for job training. Her words brought several points of light while overlooking whole bands of the spectrum. Response letters offered sharp criticism, zero solutions. Heat but no light; many words, little wisdom.

I’ve just finished a sobering book: When Helping Hurts—How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…And Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. The book has great wisdom for churches and citizens on everything from mission trips and projects to budgets, donations and volunteer hours. The authors suggest an approach very different from solving problems, meeting needs or “loving on” other people. They suggest that we think instead of restoration. What happens to wholeness when our relationships with God, ourselves, other people and the rest of creation are broken? What happens when those relationships have never formed? How can followers of Jesus be about restoration? That’s a game changer!

Restoration sends me to the mirror for confession. I can’t be about restoration if I am walking broken. I can’t advocate for jobs and housing if my own way of life would not support those jobs and I myself would not live in that “affordable” housing. I can’t lift up creation care if my own consumption destroys it. I can’t help “Andrew” if my stuff is more important than he is. I can’t embody Christ if my own expectations of church exclude rather than invite “Andrew”.

At Mark 16.7, the angel announced that Jesus would go ahead of the disciples “to Galilee” where they would see him. Translation: they would see Jesus “back home” where “Andrew” lived. That’s where, among two’s and three’s, Jesus would show up and stay. That’s where restoration occurs. “Can’t those people get jobs?” is a way of saying, “Why don’t those people go away?” Jesus invites us home to Galilee instead. Let the restoration begin!

Next month: What’s the Hardest Thing You Do?

____________________________________________

1 Denis C. Theriault, ”Housing crisis on Brown’s agenda”, The Oregonian, April 8, 2015, p. A2. 2 http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/04/tolerance_of_aggressive_vagran.html

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MAY BIRTHDAYS!1 Harriet Haase 2 Vivian Schmidt 3 Tina Akovenko Don Getman Braxton Molinari Joan Russell 4 Carla Johnson John McNassar Donna Strutz 5 Harry Carson Vance Downey Alissa Newell Beth Papasadero 6 MacKenzie Brown Keegan Rogers 8 Drew Childers Megan Getman 9 Cheryl Rudarmel-Beam Matthew Douglass Gene Karna

10 Laura Brown Tory Engelgau Tiffany Tangen 12 Delores DeMars Ruth Peterson Amber Witka 13 Hannah Baumann John Miller 14 Samuel Garner Cynthia Maples Kalie Papasadero Mary Blevins Pease 15 Heidi Barz Jonathan Bontty Reid Leighton 16 Cody Bakken Josh Cryder Keiran McDonald Kym Tangen Judy Yudt

17 Parker Van Brunt Sharon Voss 18 Kyle Jampsa 19 Kaitlyn Burnham James Peterson 20 Sandy Getman 21 Jim Geiter 22 Bud Cooper Kathleen Holmes 23 Hayden Skoch-Ogard 24 Darryl Hansen Dana Mager 26 Ashton Grose Gary Lippold Madeline Perkins Elmo Whitney 30 Ella Dolton Shirley Sweeney 31 Carter Adler Maheyla Molinari

Resurrection1700 NE 132nd Ave • Portland • OR • 97230

503.255.8772 • www.rlcpdx.org