Staying Connected
March 27, 2025
This Sunday's Message from Pastor Anna
Title: "All My Children"
Scripture: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’ --Luke 15:31-32
Struggling with the state of the nation?
Beginning with a document by John E, we have compiled a list of websites to keep you informed, and several suggested ways to take action.
Click to Download
Printed copies will also be available on the Welcome Table
Opportunities this Week:
Sun, 10:30 am: Worship
In the sanctuary and on Zoom
Tue, 1:00 pm: Talk 'n' Thought
In the Fireside Room
Wed, 6:30 pm: ImBible Study
In the Fireside Room and on Zoom
Subscribe to receive a daily prayer for anti-racism by email:
umcdiscipleship.org/articles/praying-for-change-daily-prayers-for-anti-racism
Good Samaritan Fund
This Sunday, all donations in the silver bucket will go towards our Good Samaritan Fund, which is used at Pastor Anna’s discretion for those in need. Please give as you can. Future ‘5th Sundays’ for the Good Samaritan Fund are in June, August, and November. Or designate your giving anytime.
Travelers Meeting
You are invited to a VHUMC Travelers meeting this Sunday, March 30th at 3PM in the Fireside Room. There will be information for two tours:
Crossroads of the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia departing September 21, 2025. Three spaces remain to fill the tour.
Nordic Coastal Voyage: Norway, Finland & the Arctic Circle departing May 28, 2026. This trip is being held exclusively for our group until April 30, 2025.
All are welcome!! We have information for those already registered to travel, those who are thinking of traveling, or just curious about our travels. We are here to answer your questions.
Auction!
“Around the World in One Night,” is on Saturday, May 3. You may begin bringing your donations! Also, we need someone to oversee the meal that evening, and someone to plan the decorations for Fellowship Hall. Please see Virginia if you can help.
Participate in the Neighborhood
For more details and to register, click here
· Mon, 3/31, 8 am: Traffic safety event on Vermont Ave, as students return from spring break
· Sat, 4/19: 1 pm: Restoration project in the Pendleton Creek Wetlands
SW Hope Food Drive
There are 3 more “Dine Out to Donate” (10% of sales will be donated) opportunities, and the 5K walk on April 12 (go, Vermont Hills team!) Learn more at nhpdx.org/sw-hope.
All Church Work Party
Our next ACWP has been rescheduled to after worship on Sunday, April 6, due to the protest march on Saturday (see below for info) Bring finger foods to supplement our light lunch/coffee time. Feel free to wear your 'grubbies' to church, and bring your favorite gardening tools.
People’s Veto Day
On Sat, April 5, hundreds of peaceful protests will occur across the nation; visit fiftyfifty.one for more info. All are invited to meet here at the church to make signs and carpool to the event, which is from noon to 4:00 pm. Contact John Espy with any questions.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Our next blood drive in Fellowship Hall is on Friday, April 4, from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Three friends from VHUMC are already signed up, but there are plenty of open spots. Join the fun (and the life-giving opportunity) at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=VermontHillsUMC
Easter Morning Breakfast
Mark your calendars for a pancake breakfast on Sunday, April 20, between 9:00 and 10:15 am. There will be sausage, fruit, and juice available as well. Several options will be gluten-free (pancakes) and/or low sugar (syrup.) Volunteers will be needed so watch for a signup sheet.
Sunday Parkways
You're invited to participate in SW Sunday Parkways on May 18. Volunteers will be stationed at SW 34th and Vermont to cheer on the riders, hand out water and snacks, and help direct cars through the intersection. And you get a cool t-shirt! Learn more and register at https://www.portland.gov/sunday-parkways/southwest-event-2025
Concert
The Jewish Community Orchestra (with our own Lisa Jean) is having a spring concert on Sunday, April 6, at 3:00 pm. Tickets are available at the door of the Mittleman Jewish Community Center for $20 GA, $10 Senior, $8 student. They will be performing works by Mozart, Parry, Chabrier, and Mendelssohn.
Protect Immigrants
The Western Jurisdiction recently offered "Know Your Rights" training. Included below are the recording, resources from Immigration Law and Justice that were referenced, and the slide deck of the presentation.
Our toolkit on understanding new Immigration Policies and Know Your Rights & that same toolkit in Spanish
A great guide on all of the forms needed for “family planning” from the Women’s Refugee Commission: Detained or Deported: What About My Children
FAQs on the new registry from the National Immigration Law Center
Please visit the IL&J website and sign up for our newsletter!
“Impact of Trump Immigration Policies”
English: https://iljnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/impact-of-trump-immigration-policies-kyr.pdf-.pdf
Spanish: https://iljnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/politicas-de-inmigracion-trump-y-conozca-sus-derechos.pdfPresentation slide deck
Here is the recording: https://vimeo.com/1064495403
Night Strike
Our next evening under the Burnside Bridge is on Thursday, April 17. The slots fill quickly but you can sign up about 3 months in advance. We’d like to know who will be attending, so please RSVP on our Google form after you sign up at City Team. You’ll be able to request a ride or offer seats in your car. It will take about 45 seconds! Here are the links:
City Team: https://cityteam.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/nightstrike
RSVP for April 17: https://forms.gle/RAY1GwDpKMZP6aGVA
RSVP for May 15: https://forms.gle/vmU8QNLyqxcqfbyp8Spiritual Retreat for Women
Imagine learning to talk about God and life without using all those familiar “church” words. The United Women in Faith are hosting a retreat on Saturday, Apr 5, 10:00 am - 3:30 pm at the Alton Collins Retreat Center in Eagle Creek, OR. The cost is $50, due by March 20 (assistance available.) Click on this flyer for more information and to register.
Save the Date
Neighborhood House invites you for happy hour at their annual Welcome Home benefit on Thursday, May 15. This year's event is a special celebration of 120 years of service to the Portland community and beyond. Thursday, May 15, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, at the Sentinel Hotel in downtown Portland. More details to come.
Easy Giving
Donate online
Fred Meyer Rewards program, code SY323
CarEasy.org to give 70% of vehicle sale to VHUMC
Contact the church office with any questions.
Calendars
Thanks for bringing your extra 2025 calendars to share. You can leave them on the Welcome table and Donna will make sure they get to Neighborhood House for those who need them.
Talk N Thought
The ‘dynamite’ ladies of TnT meet every Tuesday, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, in the Fireside Room to read and discuss together. Contact Linda Miller at raylindamiller@comcast.net for more info.
Prayer Chain
Email your prayer requests to PrayerVHUMC@gmail.com. If you do not have access to email, you may call Linda Miller at 503.699.8628. The ‘Prayers of the People’ is crafted weekly from this information; please indicate if your prayer is private.
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