Pastor’s Note for August 8th

Elijah and the Angel by Bernardino Luini

“These are the times that try our souls;” words that were penned more than two hundred years ago by Thomas Paine, and that seem all too resonant in the days through which we are living. With the pandemic still tenaciously refusing to relinquish its grip, and our living through a summer with fires and aberrations in the weather that seem far from usual, we find ourselves in a season that tries our souls. Our reading for Sunday is part of the story of Elijah, at a time in his journey that found him worn down by life, dejected and bordering depression, edging toward what we would now see as burnout.  How God offered him sustenance to sustain his soul, and how we can stay sustained in such times is the theme of our service this Sunday. I hope you will [...]

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Pastor’s Note for August 1st

Manna in the Wilderness

The Table of Our Lord We once again gather at the Table on Sunday, some actually in the sanctuary, but many more of you still participating from your homes. We rehearse the stories told and retold many times. We tell stories of manna in the wilderness and stories of meals shared by the familiar people of Israel’s centuries-long story of trust in the Holy One. We tell stories of Jesus’ meals with new acquaintances or old friends or disciples who called him Teacher. We tell stories of the meals of the new fellowships of the churches in Corinth and Ephesus and Philippi. We tell stories of the meals shared by Christians in congregations and church orders across time. All these stories are stories about how the Creator and Redeemer has chosen to enjoy fellowship with us and to encourage us [...]

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Pastors Note for Sunday, July 25th

July 25th icon

Dear Church Friends, As the upheaval caused by the pandemic begins, we hope, to subside, we see in the news a host of aftershocks that continue to reverberate through the world. Researchers are concerned that some of the progress that had been made in alleviating global hunger has now been reversed, with some areas of the world facing chronic shortages of affordable food.  World Vision notes that nearly 9% of the world’s people go to bed hungry most nights.  And researchers in Oregon note that nearly ¼ of Oregon’s population now find themselves food insecure, without the assurance of sufficient reliable food for themselves and their families. It can be overwhelming to read these statistics, and to envision the scope of the need and the impacts on individual lives.  Faced with all this, people sometimes find themselves at a loss [...]

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FPC at work in our Neighborhood

Alder House Food Pantry

I love stories where goodness flows out like ripples in a pond, which happened recently at First Presbyterian. A year ago in July, thanks to a grant from the Capital Campaign Mission giving funds, FPC was able to adopt the Alder House building through our mission partner Lift Urban Portland (Lift UP). This adoption meant that for the year we supported monthly food boxes that are specific to the resident’s needs, provided food and nutrition education through their supper club program, and the ongoing support of the Emergency Food Closet, housed in our Julia West building. Our Mission Committee was faced with a decision on how to fund the next year’s adoption fee after the overall church budget was hit hard due to the COVID Pandemic. Hope was not lost! FPC received a generous memorial gift and the Session voted [...]

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Capital Campaign Mission Giving Update: Wild Fire Relief

2020 brought not only the global COVID-19 pandemic but also devastating wildfires to the Pacific Northwest, including here in Oregon. Five churches in the Presbytery of the Cascades were deeply impacted: First Presbyterian Church of Phoenix McKenzie Valley Presbyterian Church The First Presbyterian Church of Mill City Springwater Presbyterian Church Eagle Creek Presbyterian Church The Capital Campaign Mission Giving Committee of our church (with Session approval) designated $3,000 to each church for their relief efforts. Letters of gratitude received from the churches indicate the financial gifts have helped in the following ways: Assist church members who lost their homes or suffered other losses Help stock a food pantry and support of food programs Church repairs due to smoke damage Rebuild fencing around a church building Repair a church fire escape Rehab a church parking lot All of these churches are [...]

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Earth Day/Earth Care Course

In celebration of Earth Day 2021, the Earth Care Committee of First Presbyterian released this video compilation of inspiring words, music and photography from church members and staff – capturing the sheer awe, wonder, and blessing of God’s Creation. Thank you to all who participated! Follow this link to view the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZRKNABK0ylc The Earth Care Committee invites you to a series of three lessons/discussions on the scriptural call which Christians have to steward the world we live in. The sessions will be via Zoom from 6 to 7 pm on Thursday, April 29, and May 6. Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82013633831 Meeting ID: 820 1363 3831 April 29th The Earth Care Committee invites you to the second in a series of three lessons/discussions on the scriptural call which Christians have to steward the world we live in.  Join [...]

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Capital Campaign Mission Giving!

Capital Campaign Mission Giving Featured Mission Partner: The Northeast  Emergency Food Program   “Feed My Sheep” Are you aware of the transformative effect that FPC’s Capital Campaign Mission Giving gifts have had on our Mission partner Northeast  Emergency Food Program (Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon)?  Two years ago, at the urging of the discipleship group that started our partnership, NEFP submitted a capital improvement request of $17,500 to renovate/upgrade the pantry.  After the request was granted, work was immediately started in August 2019 to install high efficiency, maintenance-free LED lighting fixtures; retile and seal the entire pantry floor; remove walls for safety concerns in order to provide clear lines of sight; repaint; purchase heavy duty shelving; and purchase commercial grade equipment for their Oregon Food Bank’s Food Demonstration Pilot Program. The Lower Pantry renovations were completed ahead of schedule and made [...]

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Presbyter Brian Heron’s Sermon for a Time of Change

The Presbyter for Vision and Mission from our regional Presbytery of the Cascades has recorded a sermon for the churches in our region, with his reflections on “negotiating this fragile and fertile time,” both for local congregations and for the Presbytery. The sermon is based on John 4: 7-19, and includes some of his personal journey as it pertains to his sense of call with regard to leading the presbytery through a process of transformation. Follow this link to Brian Heron’s sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WXpL1JuGpc Brian sends his greeting to our church, “I am deeply grateful for all of you and your ongoing faithfulness…” [...]

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Regathering Plan Update

  Update to Regathering Plan Early in the pandemic, our Session (church governing board of Elders) appointed a re-opening task group to set criteria for when we could safely re-gather.  They have set strict criteria of a 99% chance that those attending worship would not encounter a COVID-positive person. Given concerning statistics recently about the virus rising in Multnomah County, we regret the need to delay our re-opening until mid-May, to allow a safer re-gathering. The new proposed dates are: Church Office re-opening Tuesday-Thursday from May 4 Worship re-opening by reservation; masked and distanced for congregants from May 16 Please be in touch with any questions and thanks for your understanding and flexibility as we continue to monitor the virus season, and for your prayers for our eventual and long-awaited re-gathering! ************************************************************************************************************ Dear friends, During these days amid all the [...]

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All are welcome!

The Presbyterian Church (USA), of which First Presbyterian is a part, works to affirm the worth of all persons, including those in the LGBTQ community. The governing body of our church, the Session, affirms ours as a welcoming and affirming congregation.  All are welcome to join in worship, fellowship, and service! [...]

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Every Sunday at 10:30 am

First Presbyterian Church
1200 SW Alder Street
Portland, Oregon 97205

Tel: (503) 228-7331