Together.  It’s the first word of our mission statement: Together, we follow the call of the Spirit and the teachings of Jesus to learn, love, serve, and seek justice and joy for all.  It seems simple now, but it was the hardest word in that whole statement to come up with, the last part we…

In February, during a worship service, we asked Cynthia Parker, Shelly Sanderlin, Jennifer Scott, and Martha Van Cleave to stand in the center aisle of our sanctuary. We reached our hands toward them and spoke aloud the words we hoped would surround them on their trip to and from Nicaragua and during their work there…

I had what I later described to a friend as “the most small-town-pastor-y of all my smalltown-pastor experiences so far” at a coffee shop the other day. It wasn’t one I usually go to; I didn’t recognize anyone, didn’t know if they were regulars there or first-timers, like me. But after I’d settled into a…

I’m writing this note from the FBC Social Hall. It’s 2:23 am as I begin typing. Next to me is Ian Sutherland, on Winter Break from his studies at Portland State University. It’s his first night volunteering at FBC’s overnight warming shelter. We’re working the 12-4 am shift. When we took over from the 8…

As I write this, I’m sitting next to an open duffle bag and clothes and books are strewn around – I’m also packing for the ABC (USA) biennial conference. While it was convenient to have the conference in Portland two years ago, and wonderful to get to show off this area and the great work…