St. Michael & All Angels Church

In Holy Baptism we make solemn vows to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves” and to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” At St. Michael’s, we believe that worship and action go hand-in-hand as two sides of the same coin.

There’s a lot of activity happening at St. Michael’s — we welcome your involvement! In general, the Outreach & Justice Council meets the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall. Please check the calendar to confirm. All are welcome to join us to express your interests and concerns. Contact Co-Coordinators Lynn Baker or Susan Barnett to be put on the agenda.

Listed below are a few of the current outreach and justice ministries at St. Michael’s.  

AIDS Walk Participation
Led by current youth-group member Alazar Manning and his “A” Team, St. Michael’s has sent walkers to the annual Cascade AIDS Walk for several years now, and many more parishioners and supporters have sponsored Alazar. Cascade AIDS Project is committed to raising money for AIDS education and awareness as well as working toward an eventual cure. Alazar and his team raised over $7,000 this year (over $36,000 in the last six years).

Alternative Giving Catalog
Every Christmas, starting at Advent, St. Michael’s offers our “Alternative Giving Catalog”, enabling parishioners to make donations to ten different nonprofit organizations in honor of their loved ones as a very special Christmas gift. We have featured many worthy organizations in our catalog, and we encourage everyone to visit them online and consider giving an honor gift for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, or any special celebration: Central City Concern, El Porvenir described below, Episcopal Relief and Development, Good Samaritan Ministries/Zambia, Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East Women Build, Lahash International,Maria Luisa Ortiz Clinic, Medical Teams International, and Sustainable Harvest International. These organizations thank you for your generous support.

Daybreak Shelter Network
The Daybreak Shelter Network is an overnight shelter ministry for homeless families operated under the auspices of Human Solutions. Approximately every 9 weeks, St. Michael’s shares hosting responsibilities with Rose City Park United Methodist Church. During our hosting week, volunteers are needed to provide a meal, stay overnight, or drive the shelter van to and from the Day Center. Visit Human Solutions to find out more about this organization’s services.

Department of Human Services (DHS) Partners with St. Michael’s for Foster Kids
For the last few summers, St. Michael’s has held a drive for school supplies and backpacks for schoolchildren in the foster-care system. School-supply lists have been available for parishioners to take with them when they do they shopping in July and August. In mid- to late August, a backpack “packing party” is held during the morning Forum time to get the backpacks packed and ready to deliver to DHS, who then distributes them to children in their system.

For several years, St. Michael’s, in conjunction with DHS, also hosted parties just before Christmas for foster children and their biological parents. Children, parents and volunteers have all had fun together with crafts, games, gifts, good food, and a picture of the family with Santa. DHS workers appreciated our help in making this a memorable annual event for families experiencing difficulties.

Advocacy Action formed out of the enthusiasm generated by our Bread for the World letter-writing campaigns. Advocacy Action meets on the third Monday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Raphael Room. The purpose of the group is to get together once a month and discuss issues in need of advocacy, and to support each other in our advocacy efforts. These efforts would include calling or emailing public officials, writing letters or postcards, or even visiting our elected representatives. Members of the group would be free to pursue their own issues and interests. The meetings would provide an informal space to discuss these issues and an opportunity to circulate letters for those who might want to sign on. There’s an oft-quoted statistic that for every letter or phone call to a public official, there are at least 100 people who would do likewise if they had the time, energy, or know-how to do it. We’re here to help! For further information, please contact Alice Hardesty,

Our Ongoing Commitment to Hospitality

The staff and people of St. Michael’s strive to be genuinely hospitable to each other and to visitors and newcomers throughout the year. Here are some of the many ways in which this happens:

• Clergy and the Newcomer Committee welcome all those persons who are visiting for the first time or who are seeking to become more involved at St. Michael’s.
• Coffee Hour is offered after the 9:00 and 11:15 am liturgies all year.
• Sunday Lunch is free and open to all after the 11:15 am liturgy during the school year.
• Convivio — a delicious meal and fellowship offered after the 1:00 liturgy in Spanish — takes place all year.
• Special meals and receptions  are offered on multiple occasions during the year, often in conjunction with special liturgies. These include our Epiphany meal and the arrival of the Three Kings; Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper; Holy Thursday soup dinner; Pentecost cake and strawberries; Apple Pie Sunday for the 4th of July; Parish Picnic and Potluck in the park; Labor Day Ice Cream Social; St. Michael’s Day and All Saints Day festive receptions; Las Posadas and fiesta in December; and festive receptions after every service on Easter and Christmas.

In addition, many events take place annually or just once, including celebrations, fundraisers, and musical programs — or all three! They are all opportunities for the community to spend time together and support each other. These events may include or have included the following:

Annual Cake Auction

• Broadway Night, a fundraiser for the music program
• The Youth Variety Show
• Sauvie Island bike rides
• El Porvenir auction and dinner
• Night of Bunco
• Cake Auction
• Advent Concerts and simple lunches
• Centennial Celebration Gala Dinner

Hospitality is also offered for more personal events. For these situations, please contact the church office or a member of the clergy:

• Weddings
• Quinceañeras
• Baptisms
• Confirmations, Affirmations, and Reaffirmations
• Funerals/Memorial Services
• Meals for those in special need, such as a family member in the hospital or with a new baby

It takes many hands to make all of these events happen. Our volunteers are priceless! Please contact one of the clergy or the church office for information on how to get involved.

Sunday Adult Forums

Presentations on various topics – often in the form of a multi-week series – are offered on Sunday mornings from 10:10 to 11:10 am, year-round. Topics range from reports of mission trips to Nicaragua and pilgrimages to various sacred places in the world, to exploration of issues of health and wholeness, the Millennium Development Goals, Scripture, and Church history.

Catechumenate

The Catechumenate is both a personal and communal process of faith formation and practice that finds its roots in the early Church and focuses on spiritual development through the disciplines of faith: corporate worship, the study of Scripture, prayer, and living our Baptismal promises. Through the Catechumenate, adults on a spiritual quest are offered an apprenticeship in living the Christian faith, and those already baptized are aided in the deepening of their faith and commitment. For further information about The Catechumenate, click here.

Centering Prayer

Centering Prayer, which is sometimes called contemplative prayer, is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of God’s presence. It consists of responding to the Spirit of Christ by consenting to God’s presence and action within us. For further information about Centering Prayer, click here.

Cornerstone

Cornerstone is a group dedicated to the study and practice of the Rule of Benedict, the founder of monasticism. The group typically approaches this study through prayer and discussion of selected works which address aspects of the Benedictine Rule. For further information about Cornerstone, click here.

Episcopal 101

St. Michael’s holds “Inquirers’ classes” generally in the fall and in the spring. If you are new to the Episcopal Church or to St. Michael & All Angels, or if you just have some questions about why we do what we do, these classes offer an opportunity to learn more as well as get to know the clergy here and other folks with questions.  This is a great lead-in or follow-up to the Catechumenate, which begins on the first Sunday in Advent. Check back for the fall dates!

Labyrinth Guild

Walking the labyrinth is an ancient form of prayer. Members of the Labyrinth Guild help provide the space for deep reflection by their careful preparation of the labyrinth space. The Labyrinth Guild sets up the Labyrinth, candles, and music on special days and is also responsible for take-down and storage afterward.

Stewardship Team

The Stewardship Team is dedicated to encouraging and supporting the people of St. Michael’s in our continuing formation as a community marked by the joy of Christian generosity. As a part of this effort, the team plans and implements the annual pledge campaign and other programs intended to contribute to our ongoing formation.

Retreats/Teaching Weekends

Women’s and Men’s Retreats are scheduled regularly and held at various retreat centers near Portland. They offer an opportunity to reflect on, and grow in, our relationship with God within a supportive and nurturing community.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word

School-age children are invited to participate in their own Liturgy of the Word during the Sunday morning services while the congregation engages in the lectionary readings and the sermon for the day. An adult leader from the community invites the children to the mural space on the lower level where child-appropriate versions of the scripture are read and discussed. Children are encouraged to share their insights, questions and prayers. The group returns to the church to join their families and the gathered community for Holy Eucharist.

Growing with Godly Play

Kids write letters for Bread for the World Sunday

Music and religious education classes for children in Pre-K through the fifth grade occur during the 10 o’clock hour, between the 9:00 and 11:15 am  liturgies. Classrooms are located on the lower level around the corner from the Childcare and mural room.

Godly Play is a religious education program designed for children to hear and explore stories from sacred scripture in a classroom specifically fashioned for hands on learning. Godly Play also incorporates stories that help children better understand Episcopal liturgical practices and the seasons of the church year. Central to the Godly Play experience is the telling of a sacred story, followed by an opportunity for the children to ponder “wondering questions” that lead them deeper into the meaning of the story, their relationship with God and with one another. Open ended art response material and the opportunity to work with the story material give children the opportunty to process and reflect on the sacred stories and liturgical practices that are presented. The Godly Play program mirrors the structure of the Episcopal liturgy and the classroom is cared for as sacred space.

Families Gather for Music, Worship, Food, Fellowship and Fun!

A worship service for families with young children is offered at St. Michael’s on the third Saturday of the month. Families with children of all ages (especially babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers!)  gather in the Nativity Hall at 4:30 for Music Makers, followed by Holy Eucharist at 5:00 pm. The liturgy (less than 45 minutes) is designed specifically for families to worship together in ways that are not always possible on Sunday mornings. A potluck dinner in the Parish Hall follows the service, giving families and children the chance to meet, connect and get to know one another. Please mark your calendars for worship, food, fellowship and fun, every third Saturday of the month at 4:30 pm!

Activities

There are lots of youth-group activities planned for this program year! All 6th-12th graders are welcome to join in — keep on eye on your inbox for more information. Send an email to the youth leadership team (stmaayouthgroup@gmail.com) if you want to be added to the email list or have any questions. Click here for a youth permission slip so that you (or your young person) can participate in all St. Michael’s Youth Group activities.

High School Night happens every third Sunday at 7:00 pm with Rector and Co-Youth Leader Chris Craun. This gathering is offered only to those youth who are currently in high school, 9th through 12th grades. These nights will be an opportunity to check in about what high school is like — the ups and downs, the pressures and the opportunities, and how your youth leaders can support you. High School Night meets this spring on March 15, April 19 and May 17.

Youth Space happens every Sunday at 10:15 am with Co-Youth Leader CV Hartline in St. Michael’s House.  Youth Space is a fun gathering of youth in St. Michael’s House — good conversation, games, and snacks.We will have a brief time of sharing with one another how life is going, and then look at the Gospel reading for the day and discuss it together.

1st Fridays happen most every first Friday of each month. 1st Fridays this program year have included pizza and Capture the Flag in Laurelhurst Park, an outing to the G6 Airpark for an evening of “cosmic jumping,” and “cosmic skate” at Gresham Skate World. In March, the Youth Variety Show took the place of our 1st Friday outing. After a delicious dinner of make-your-own tostadas, close to 100 folks enjoyed the singing, playing, dancing and comic talents of our St. Michael’s youth. Check out the photos in the Gallery!

Another TEC weekend is planned for June! TEC is an amazing retreat in our own backyard – Christ Church, Lake Oswego. What is TEC? It’s an authentic, inclusive retreat weekend for high school students away from the stress and pressures of life and school…a weekend to slow down, open up and explore, to be accepted and nurtured by peers, to be a teenager and to laugh and build a community based on trust and friendship. The weekend is based on a series of talks and small group discussions. TEC offers opportunities for both new participants (“candidates”) and returning youth (“team”) to learn and grow with each other. The atmosphere of the weekend makes it easy to develop new friendships and experience being a part of a loving and supportive community.TEC is a weekend for teens, by teens, and about teens. It is an unforgettable experience full of laughing, learning, singing and sharing. TEC is a weekend without judgment where all kinds of people come together to share their experiences and stories and to support, respect and empower one another in love. Email the youth leadership team for more information.

Confirm not Conform classes began in October. Read more about CnC below.

Sauvie Island Pumpkin Pick

Several of our youth leaders and parents interviewed our high-school seniors when they graduated in June 2014 and began looking forward towards the next steps in their lives. Please click here to read about their St. Michael’s memories and their plans for this school year.

Youth Space

The place to be on Sundays from 10:15-11:00 am is at St. Michael’s House for conversation, activities, and donuts.

First Fridays

On the first Friday of each month something fun is planned and friends are always welcome: attend a theatre production, Lazer Tag, Comedy Sportz, bowling, swimming . . . you get the idea. Fridays are made for FUN!

Service Opportunities

Partnering with the Green Team to collect and recycle Styrofoam

These are opportunities to act out of faith, love and compassion in our community with great partners like the St. Michael’s Green Team, SOLV, Oregon Food Bank and Hollywood East. And we serve “at home” (i.e., at St. Michael’s) as well with holy-day celebrations, such as by serving pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and strawberries and cake for Pentecost.

Confirm not Conform

Every other year, youth in middle and high school are invited to participate in the confirmation program Confirm not Conform, a nationally recognized and respected confirmation curriculum. CnC candidates will meet from October through May and engage in a variety of role plays and exercises that help them explore their faith. In addition, CnC candidates will participate in two field trips this year, attending worship services of different faiths. Co-Associate for Ministry with Youth CV Hartline leads the classes with occasional help from Rector Chris Craun. Please click here for the tentative schedule for Confirm not Conform.

Grupo Juvenil

Like all of St. Michael’s youth offerings, Grupo is open to everyone but is offered at a time that’s most convenient for our Latino youth. Topics for discussion range from the gospel of the day to strategies to deal with bullying. Grupo Juvenil is led by Rector and Co-Youth Leader Chris Craun and meets  immediately after communion at the 1:00 pm service.

Fall Retreat

Fall Retreat in Oct. 2013

Each fall, a retreat is held at Camp Collins near Oxbow Park. It’s a weekend full of games, both inside and outside, delicious food and great bonding for youth group members. We’ve frequently participated in the ropes course there, which challenges participants and is great for team-building.

Mission Trips

Every other year, St. Michael’s youth head out of town on a mission trip, partnering for the last couple of trips with Rector Chris Craun’s home parish and YouthWorks. Each trip requires an extraordinary amount of planning and community-building fundraising before the trip even gets underway. Youth have held babysitting evenings at the church, organized huge book sales, and hosted an annual Variety Night which showcased the diverse talents of many youth-group members.

Helping at a summer program on the Nez Perce reservation

In June 2014, the youth group spent a week at the Nez Perce reservation in Idaho doing painting projects and helping at a summer children’s program.  In 2012, the youth undertook an ambitious mission trip to New Orleans, where they volunteered with programs for young children and seniors as well as painted and performed yard work. In 2010,  our mission trip was to the Yakama Indian Nation in Washington state. From June 20-27, we partnered with the youth group of St. John’s in Oakland and traveled to the Yakama Indian Reservation to paint houses, teach children and experience Christianity in an entirely different way.               

We are excited to announce that Adam Steele is joining the staff of St. Michael’s as our new Music Director! Adam  comes to us with extensive experience working with professional, church and youth choirs and instrumentalists. He currently teaches music full-time at Oregon Episcopal School. We’re very appreciative to the search committee and to members of the St. Michael’s Singers and Takes the Fifth Choir for their participation in the process and help in coming to this decision. We look forward to the St. Michael’s Singers’ return on September 13, when guest conductor Kaeli Porter will lead the choir while Adam completes a long-planned trip to Sweden. Adam’s first Sunday here will be September 20.

If you are interested in learning more about joining either the St. Michael’s Singers or Takes the Fifth Choir, you can email Hannah Brewer or Audrey Sackett for more information. The first rehearsal for the St. Michael’s Singers will be held at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, September 9, in the Nativity Hall. The Takes the Fifth Choir rehearses the Thursday evening before the first Sunday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Nave. They provide musical leadership on the first Sunday at the 11:15 am service.

We look forward to the St. Michael’s Singers’ leadership every Sunday and on a number of upcoming feast days, including St. Michael’s Day on September 27 and All Saints Sunday on November 1 and for Evensong on November 15.

The mission of St. Michael’s music ministry is to lead the congregation in worship that glorifies God and inspires the soul. Our choirs and instrumentalists work diligently and with great intensity to prepare and offer the finest music possible in a variety of styles and expressions. We seek to grow musically, spiritually and in community in service to the church and the larger community.

St. Michael’s Singers

St. Michael’s Singers is a large (50+) choir of men and women that sings on Sundays from early September to mid-June. The choir rehearses everyWednesday evening at 7:00 pm. If you are interested in singing with the choir this year, please contact Hannah or Scott (see below).

We sing as a full choir at alternate Sunday liturgies (9:00 and 11:15 am) each month and at both services on festival days. We sing music from a wide range of traditions and styles, from ancient plainsong through the English, European and American sacred choral traditions to gospel music. There are occasional special services (Lessons & Carols, Evensong) and rehearsals. Membership is open to adult singers who love to sing and are willing to make the significant time commitment required. Choral singing experience is helpful.

Contacts: Music Director Scott Tuomi; Organist Hannah Brewer

Takes the Fifth Choir and Band

Takes the Fifth offers youth and adults alike opportunities to sing monthly in the choir or play in the band. Named for its original scheduling as a fifth-Sunday service, Takes the Fifth has retained its name but assumed a monthly frequency, usually on the first Sunday of the month at the 11:15 am service. TT5 or TTF incorporates music from gospel, spiritual, and African-American traditions. We occasionally accept invitations to sing and play away from St. Michael’s. Takes the Fifth offers engaging music for the congregation, as well as leadership opportunities for our young vocalists and instrumentalists.

Takes the Fifth Choir generally rehearses on the Thursday before the 1st Sunday of the month at 7:30 pm.

Band Rehearsals: As scheduled

Our Organ

Our Balcom and Vaughan pipe organ was orginally installed in 1973. Additions and improvements have been made by Bond Organ Builders. For the full organ specifications, click here.

Pastoral Visitors

These are parishioners who like to visit and enjoy hearing stories about what life was like 30, 40, 50 years ago. We have parishioners who would love to have a once- or twice-a-month visitor from the church. Requires an interview with the rector or deacon, attendance at a diocesan SAFE training, and a commitment to visit for at least six months.

Prayer Chain

Members of the prayer chain commit to praying regularly for the persons for whom prayers have been requested. Because of the confidential nature of this ministry, an orientation is required. To learn more about this ministry, click here.

Prayer Shawls

Members of this ministry use their gifts of prayer and creativity to knit and crochet shawls and baby blankets that carry the loving prayers of the entire worshiping community to those who need them. To learn more about this ministry, click here.

Recovery Ministry

Members of this ministry hope to educate the parish regarding recovery and addiction issues. They bring a caring attitude grounded in the knowledge that addiction and recovery are medical issues, not character flaws or moral faults. To learn more about this ministry, click here.

St. Brigid’s Guild for Healing

Members of the St. Brigid’s Guild commit to faithfully studying and continuing the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. The Guild meets monthly for reflection, study, and prayer, and offers healing prayer in the chapel on the second Sunday of each month. Because of the confidential and sacramental nature

Immigrant Welcoming Congregation

After a year-long process, St. Michael’s is officially an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation. The St. Michael’s Vestry unanimously approved and signed the IWC Declaration on April 18, 2013. Please read on for the most recent activities of the IWC and below that for more general information.

Please read below for the history of this process and what it means for St. Michael’s. You may also click here to read the Declaration itself.

What does the Declaration Say?

Here is the essence of our commitment as a faith community:
Moved by our consciences to stand in solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters and their families, we declare ourselves an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation (IWC) and commit to the following: 1) Deepen the connection between immigrant and nonimmigrant members and families of  St. Michael & All Angels Church; 2) Educate ourselves and our community about immigration-related issues; 3) Advocate for justice and comprehensive humane immigration reform; 4) Accompany and support immigrants and their families at their request when facing immigration-related hearings and meetings or seeking change in their immigration status. Moreover, we support the IWC team’s leadership in the undertaking of these commitments, and the presentation of this Declaration for review and reaffirmation by the Vestry every three years.

 How did  St. Michael’s become an IWC?

Our journey began in December 2011 when two events intersected. We were invited by the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (formerly the Oregon New Sanctuary Movement) to join six other faith communities in Portland in a year-long process to become an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation. Simultaneously, an immigrant family well known at St. Michael’s revealed that they were facing their final appeal hearing of deportation orders. The family had been too scared and embarrassed to share this information openly until they realized that they might simply disappear from our lives. Members of St. Michael’s responded by filling the federal court room for the hearing and, in part because of the Holy Spirit working through our presence, the deportation orders were rescinded. We were overjoyed by this outcome but at the same time saddened that an immigrant family in our community had felt so alone among us, a stranger in our midst. How had this happened, since we saw ourselves as welcoming and extending hospitality?

And so we embarked upon a year-long journey to deepen the connection between members who attend the English-language services and members who attend the Spanish-language Misa at  St. Michael’s. A small group of parishioners, who felt called to form the IWC team began a series of one-on-one conversations with other members across all services to listen to their immigration stories, from long ago and very recently, and to ask what  an IWC would look like or mean to them. We also explored how other faith communities in the country advocated for and supported immigrants vulnerable to exploitation and deportation. The ideas generated by these conversations led to a four week series of two-hour presentations and discussions with the congregation to shape our vision of being an IWC. Six weeks later, a draft of the IWC Declaration that incorporated participants’ input was presented to the congregation for comment. The revised final version of the Declaration was then presented to and approved by the Vestry .

What does the Declaration mean for  St. Michael’s?

Each of the four areas in the Declaration include specific commitments that we are making as a faith community. In essence, the Declaration is our road map for the next three years The IWC team will hold a retreat in mid-June to develop an action plan that addresses the four areas and the commitments therein. But how we live into truly becoming an IWC depends on all of us at St. Michael’s. We hope each of  you will feel called to join us in deepening connections, learning more, advocating for justice and supporting immigrants and their families in our community.

Thank you to all who participated in the conversations and discussions over the past year. We feel truly blessed to have had so many members of the congregation involved in the process of developing the IWC Declaration. If you are interested in becoming active in this ministry, or being part of the IWC team, please contact Bev Hoeffer, hoefferb@msn.com or any member of the IWC team.

Green Team Report: GreenFaith Certification Program Update at September 2014

The summer months have been a busy time for the Green Team. We are moving forward with many action items on our path to GreenFaith Certification. Most of our next steps involve Vestry approval. The following lists the work we have done and the work we would like to do next, together as a faith community, to reduce our environmental impacts and to help preserve, protect, and restore the Creation:

• We’ve completed inventories of cleaning products and products used in connection with our landscaping and identified non-toxic alternative products to use. We will ask the Vestry to approve a purchasing/products use policy so that we eliminate any cleaning or agricultural product with toxics from use at St. Michael’s.

• We’ve identified a source of 100% recycled-content paper for use in printing our Sunday bulletins that maintains our standards for quality. As you know, we already recycle bulletins. This action further reduces our environmental impacts.

• We’ve completed a full analysis of our energy use and are taking numerous simple, free steps to further reduce our energy consumption. With the phase-out of incandescent lighting, one change we will all experience, at home and at St. Michael’s, is a transition to other forms of lighting. At St. Michael’s, we will likely use LEDs to replace any remaining incandescent lighting (much of our lighting is already fluorescent or compact fluorescent) including dimmable LEDs in the sanctuary.

• We are putting together a kitchen-use policy to greatly reduce the creation of paper and other waste in connection with events involving food service. This will include training and instruction on the proper use of our dishwasher so that we use our dishware and service ware instead of paper, plastic, or other alternatives.

• We continue to work for fossil-fuel divestment and socially responsible investing through participation in study groups in the Diocese of Oregon and the ECUSA.

• We continue to advocate for reduction in fossil fuel use in numerous ways, including opposing the coal export facilities proposed for the Northwest, the Keystone XL Pipeline proposed for transport of Alberta tar sands oil through America’s heartland to Texas for refining and shipment into the world market, and questioning the increasing number and size of potentially dangerous oil trains moving through the Columbia Gorge and the metro area on the way to a refinery in Washington State.

• This fall, we will be holding a faith-formation program for children using Faith and Nature: The Divine Adventure of Life on Earth as our curriculum.

• We will ask the Vestry to create an urban food garden on the Broadway side of the sanctuary in the area that is currently landscaped with grass and shrubs. We would grow organic, quality produce and provide it for free to anyone in need. The produce would also be available for use in our own Saturday meals programs. We may pursue a partnership with Hollywood East in this effort.

As always, the Green Team welcomes your input and participation in our work. If you’d like to help, if you have a question or suggestion, or if you want more information, please call or email Peter Sergienko.

Eco-Theological Reflections

As part of the GreenFaith Certification program that St. Michael’s has undertaken, the Green Team is in the process of publishing eight reflections. These reflections may involve hours of work by their authors and go into greater depth or require more investment from the reader than a typical Messenger piece. Thus, you are encouraged to find a quiet place, begin with prayer, and expect to take ten to 15 minutes to engage fully with these reflections. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Click here for the August Eco-Theological Reflection, by Ann Hargraves.

Click here for the June Eco-Theological Reflection, by Elizabeth Voss.

Click here for the May Eco-Theological Reflection, by Paul LaCroix.

Click here for the April Eco-Theological Reflection, by Dan Bagwell.

Click here for the March Eco-Theological Reflection, by Peter Sergienko.

Green Ways Tips

As part of our GreenFaith certification program, you will begin to see ideas and tips we’re calling Green Ways in your communications from St. Michael’s. Some of these may be familiar, common-sense suggestions, while others may be new to you, or a new way of approaching an issue. All of them are designed to help you become more aware of the ways you can continue — or begin — to minimize your impact on our natural resources. We will also often include links to help you learn more about a topic. As we travel through Easter Season, celebrate Earth Day, and enjoy the beautiful spring growth in our parks, trees and mountains, this may be the perfect time to look anew at ways to nurture and protect our planet.

July/August Green Way: Help the Environment by Mixing up your Monday Menu!

The process of raising animals for meat, including land used for animals and their feed, contributes significantly to climate change; nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions worldwide come from the meat industry, according to the UN Food & Agriculture Organization. In Europe the cost may be greater, since much of the grain for farm animals must be imported from Brazil, where rainforest land is being cleared to grow feed crops. Livestock also use a tremendous amount of water compared to plant crops.

One option to reduce this impact is to become vegetarian or vegan, avoiding meat and all animal products in your diet. A much smaller change, however, can make a big difference in your individual carbon footprint. Going meatless only one day a week can reduce your carbon footprint by up to eight pounds a day (UCSB). If a four-person family skips meat and cheese once a week, over a year it’s like taking a car off the road for five weeks (Environmental Working Group). The rest of the week, you can be more aware of where your meat comes from. Grass-fed, organic and local meats are better for the environment, creating smaller impacts on soil, water, and erosion. Organic feed and grazing also are healthier for the environment.

Organizations all over the US and the world are signing on to Meatless Mondays to encourage awareness of consuming less meat. School districts, colleges, employers, and even entire cities are providing support and healthy options on Meatless Mondays. Learn more at MeatlessMonday.com.

May’s Green Way: Transportation

Ten seconds of idling your car uses more fuel than turning the engine on and off (NJDEP). Turn your engine off when you are sitting for more than 10 seconds, especially near children and in urban areas where pollution levels are already high. In addition to the carbon dioxide emitted into the environment by idling cars, vehicle exhaust contributes to respiratory illnesses in children and adults. The Oregon Environmental Council has a toolkit to help schools create “Idle-Free Zones.” http://www.oeconline.org/our-work/healthier-lives/schools/its-not-cool-to-idle-at-school.

April’s Green Way: Energy

The United Nations estimates that by 2050, there will be more refugees from climate change than from war. To fight climate change and reduce your carbon footprint (and your energy bills), complete a home-energy audit: http://hes.lbl.gov/. Your utility company will also have information about your specific energy use and ways you can optimize it, often right on your bill or at their website. There are several tools to estimate your carbon footprint, which includes information about your lifestyle and transportation choices, as well as your home energy use. Two examples are www.myfootprint.org and http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/. Often the first step in making a change is to see what you’re doing now and identify strengths and areas for change; an audit is a good way to get started.

Divestment Update: Diocese of Oregon to Consider Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies

With the leadership of Green- Faith, 350.org, and other non- profit organizations, a movement to divest from the 200 largest fos- sil fuel companies is taking hold nationally. Divestment involves the selling of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds or other pooled investments if the stocks, bonds or investment vehicles include the largest fossil fuel companies in the world. Approximately 56 institutions have decided to divest so far, including religious institutions, cities, colleges and universities, and foundations.

Divestment is a last resort. Unfortunately, shareholder resolutions and other actions taken to encourage fossil fuel companies to expand and transition their businesses into renewable sources of energy have failed. Additionally, fossil fuel companies have engaged in disinformation to create doubt about climate-change science and the efficacy of climate solutions. Fossil fuel companies have tremendous political power, which they have used to maintain their privileged economic status under existing laws. Finally, the known reserves of the leading fossil fuel companies are three to five times larger than the amount that can be burned without risking extremely dangerous climate change. If we burn all known fossil fuel reserves, our most accomplished climate scientists are virtually certain it would lead to catastrophic climate change.

Divestment is a moral action intended to align investments with values. Among our relevant values are our baptismal covenants: to seek and serve Christ in all persons; to strive for justice and peace among all people and to respect the dignity of every human being. Climate change affects everyone. It is here now and getting worse, but its most immediate and devastating impacts will be to persons in the developing world, the poor, women, and children. Additionally, good steward- ship requires respect for The Creation: “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good,” Gen. 1:31. Finally, the ECUSA called all Episcopalians to work for the just transformation of the world’s energy supplies away from fossil fuels toward safe, renewable, community con- trolled energy, and to protect fossil fuel workers during the transition to a post-carbon society. Divestment is one strategy to answer this call.

At the Diocesan Convention, the delegates passed a resolution to study divestment from fossil fuel companies with the intention of moving toward divestment and to adopt socially responsible investment opportunities for the Diocese over the next three to five years. The Environmental Commission and Investment Committee will be working together to implement the resolution.

“Yo soy el pan que da la vida. El que viene a mi, nunca tendré hambre; y el que cree en mi, nunca tendrá sed”    Jn 6,35

– Para conocer el calendario de servidores del mes de Agosto  pulsa aquí.

RECUENTO DE LOS REGALOS PARA LA MISA

Wow… Tuvimos una respuesta impresionante la semana pasada con los “Regalos para la Misa”. Algunos de ustedes quieren apoyar en la recaudación de fondos, participar en el coro, ayudar con los niños durante la Eucaristía ya sea en su cuidado o en Jugando con Dios, acólitos y servidores. Además un miembro se ofrece para ofrecer un estudio Bíblico y muchos de ustedes ofreciéndose ayudar en lo que se necesite.
Muchas gracias por escuchar la voz de Dios y abrir su corazón para responderle de la manera en que lo ha hecho. No tengo las palabras para expresarles el respeto y admiración que tengo por cada uno de ustedes. St Michael’s es una comunidad muy entregada y trabajadora, gracias una y otra ves.
Padre Samuel

SANTUARIO

El pasado domingo 28 de Septiembre nuestra Rectora Chris Craun presidio la Misa y durante su homilía compartió con toda la comunidad la decisión de dar el paso a convertirnos un Santuario para todas aquellas personas de nuestra comunidad que necesiten en lugar seguro.

Es una decisión que se a tomado después de mucho tiempo de oración, y reflexión con el Vestry y demás miembros de la comunidad. Esto no debe asustar a nadie, al contrario, es un esfuerzo para responder a las necesidades más básicas de cada uno de nosotros y una llamada de atención al sistema que esta quebrado y no responde con justicia y compasión a los ciudadanos de este país.

Si tienes alguna pregunta o preocupación, acércate a Rev. Chris o Rev. Samuel para poder clarificar cualquier duda. Somos una familia muy grande, uniendo nuestras voces podemos hacer una diferencia.

MINISTERIO DE TEJER

Invitamos a todas aquellas personas que les gustaría participar en este Ministerio. Este es uno de los ministerios que usted puede realizar desde su casa y en el momento que sea más conveniente para usted. Nosotros proveemos el material y usted pone su trabajo e imaginación.

Los trabajos que se realizan son bendecidos el primer fin de semana del mes durante la Eucaristía (Misa) y después son distribuidos para aquellos que mas lo necesiten. Si quiere ayudarnos o si tiene alguna pregunta comuníquese con Samuel o directamente con la encargada del grupo Sue Harper. !!!