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Outreach in Action

There's a lot of activity happening at St. Michael's this spring...we welcome your involvement!

Looking for Prison Ministry Volunteers

We are looking into starting a new outreach ministry with the Oregon Columbia River Correctional Facility in Northeast Portland. Two areas where the facility is expressing volunteer needs are for Religious Service Volunteers (we would be trained to come into the facility and conduct or be a part of religious activities such as Bible studies; classes; discussions; worship services, etc.) and Home for Good in Oregon program volunteers. We are looking for a group of people who would be interested in meeting with prison staff to determine next steps. If you're interested, please contact Ron Geason.

Join us for the Love Has No Borders Celebration Dinner on Thursday, March 11th

The Oregon New Sanctuary Movement will be hosting this dinner, and are excited to have Rev. Dan Dale from Chicago as its guest speaker. As the pastor of Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, the first congregation to declare itself a sanctuary outside of Tucson, AZ during the 1980's, Rev. Dale has been a leader for peace, justice, and civil rights for over 30 years. Tickets are $35. To RSVP or for more information, contact the Oregon New Sanctuary Movement at 503.550.3510 or find out more on their website.

Make a Difference in 2010 - Join El Porvenir in Nicaragua

Every year since 2001, St. Michael's has sent a work team to Nicaragua on a two-week mission trip, partnering with El Porvenir to build bathing stalls, community laundry centers, wells, and latrines. In 2010, we're excited to announce that we'll be sending TWO work teams from St. Michael's! Welcome home to the first team, who worked from January 9-23 on a construction project; and good luck to the second team, who will be traveling from July 24 to August 7th to work on a reforestation project. The cost for the January work mission is $1050 per person plus airfare (approx. $800 each). An $100 deposit is required to hold your place. Interested in joining us to make a difference? Contact Marla for more information.

ESL Winter Term Tutoring Starts January 5!

We're looking for more tutors to help out in the Winter Term! In our English as a Second Language (ESL) program, volunteer tutors assist students from other countries gain the confidence they need for speaking English in everyday situations. Our winter term tutoring starts on Tuesday, January 5th. We ask for a commitment of eight Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., although we also welcome tutors who can “drop in” to serve as substitute tutors (and of course, we'll be flexible with summer vacation schedules!). Tutor training is available through Oregon Literacy. If you're interested, contact Cathy Searls at 503-884-0067 or SearlsC@comcast.net.

Honoring Archbishop Oscar Romero

Archbishop Romero had and continues to have an immeasurable impact on the lives of the peasants in El Salvador. The 30th anniversary of Archbishop Romero's death will be commemorated in El Salvador in March 2010. Non-profit and non-governmental agencies La Coordinadora, based in El Salvador, and the Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America, based in the U.S., are partners in service to the poor in El Salvador, and are offering an opportunity to be a part of the commemorative events and to see firsthand the work they are doing in some of the poorest areas of the country. The delegation group will stay in Cuidad Romero, a community established to honor Archbishop Romero and founded by people who fled the country in the early 1980’s during the civil war and returned after the peace accords. The community, with support from La Coordinadora and FSSCA, are busy with projects to improve the current and future lives of its members. The delegation will also have the opportunity to stay in San Salvador and visit the historic sites where Archbishop Romero lived, worked, and died. The group will be able to participate in some of the national commemoration events while in the city. The trip is scheduled for March 21-29, 2010 and will cost approximately $950, which includes room and board, transportation within the country, and entry fees to museums and other historical sites. Airfare will be additional. The group will be assisted by bilingual FSSCA representatives, so speaking Spanish is not a requirement. Please look for the sign-up sheet in the Gallery. If you have questions or for more information, contact Cathy Searls.

Have an Old Cell Phone? Donate it and Support ERD!

If you have an inactive cell phone taking up space in your house, bring it to church next Sunday (just with the battery - no chargers or accessories are needed) and drop it in the box in the Gallery! They will either be reused for 911 purposes nationwide, in developing countries to improve quality of life through better communication, or be recycled with the funds donated to ERD to support the Millennium Development Goals.

Support the Zimbabwe Artists Project - Buy Art Online

Many of you oohed and aahed over the absolutely beautiful artwork from the Zimbabwe Artists Project at this year's Advent Fair. If you're wishing that you had purchased an applique, embroidery, fabric painting or board painting during the display at the church but didn't do so - don't worry, you can purchase them online! Just visit the Zimbabwe Artists Project web site to buy online, and to learn more about this amazing organization.