Category: Ministry in Context

Blog, Ministry in Context

Ministry Context, or What I Learned About Portland Last Week–Portlanders Do Care

Twice in the last 6 weeks, I attended public Christian gatherings in Portland. During Advent I attended a rally and march in response to police killings in Ferguson, MO and Staten Island, NY. That rally included remembrances of Portlanders who fell to the same fates as Michael Brown and Eric Garner. We marched to a bridge and prayed over the place where Portland Police killed … Continue reading Ministry Context, or What I Learned About Portland Last Week–Portlanders Do Care

cegr76Leave a comment
Blog, Ministry in Context

Ministry Context or What I learned in Portland Last Week — Ferguson and Portland

I didn’t really learn much about Portland last week. I learned a ton about Ferguson, Missouri. And I recalled things I knew and remembered about St. Louis in general. I remember having a kind and funny landlady who had deep reservations about African-Americans. I remember going to Unity UMC in Webster Groves, MO where I was one of the few white people, then having Disciple Bible … Continue reading Ministry Context or What I learned in Portland Last Week — Ferguson and Portland

cegr76Leave a comment
Blog, Ministry in Context

Ministry Context or What I learned About Portland Last Week — Collaboration Rocks!

Sunnyside UMC hosts the Common Cup Family Shelter. Common Cup refers to the fact that several area churches collaborated in the shelter’s founding. Area volunteers went back to their home church (1st UMC Portland) and began the Goose Hollow Family Shelter. Guests at Common Cup and Goose Hollow can receive day programming at Thirteen Salmon Family Center, located at the First Unitarian Church of Portland. Folks at Thirteen Salmon … Continue reading Ministry Context or What I learned About Portland Last Week — Collaboration Rocks!

cegr76Leave a comment
Blog, Ministry in Context

Ministry Context or What I Learned about Portland Last Week — Bridges!

Where we live affects how we live. Everyone must negotiate the unique matrix of terrain, climate, population and technology of your particular locality. I mastered manual transmission on the hilly streets of Morgantown, WV. I learned to walk many, many miles in Manhattan. Portland, Oregon sits on the confluence of the Willamette (It’s wil-AM’-it dammit) and the mighty Columbia rivers. So bridges abound. I cross these mammoth … Continue reading Ministry Context or What I Learned about Portland Last Week — Bridges!

cegr76Leave a comment
Blog, Ministry in Context

Ministry Context or What I Learned About Portland Last Week — Community Matters

What does a community look like that values…community? They spend time together. They enjoy each other. They cross divisions to be together. There are many divisions within Portland. Portlanders love their neighborhoods. Civic pride is as high here as I’ve ever lived, including New York City. One thing that unites Portland is cycling. This is a bike happy town. The bike path system is amazing, yet … Continue reading Ministry Context or What I Learned About Portland Last Week — Community Matters

cegr76Leave a comment
Blog, Ministry in Context

Ministry Context or What I Learned about Portland Last Week – Community Sensitivity

  Immersion Experience Today, the City of Portland releases its Comprehensive Plan for zoning reorganization throughout the city. Last Monday, Marty Stockton with the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability met with SouthEast Uplift’s Land Use and Transportation Subcommittee to preview the plan. I joined 2 Subcommittee representatives and 4 local residents to hear her presentation. I learned a ton! Firstly, Marty’s job is tough and … Continue reading Ministry Context or What I Learned about Portland Last Week – Community Sensitivity

cegr76Leave a comment