In response to the countless souls in our world who are living under the duress of war and fleeing their homes, PMC focused our Advent giving on assisting refugees here in Portland as well as abroad. In this time of national fear of strangers, we reflect on the fact that Mary and Joseph were refugees in Egypt.
PMC partnered with Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees (SOAR) here in Portland to welcome 4 recently arrived refugee families by providing them with household goods and clothing. PMCers were invited to pick donation tags off our Advent giving tree and by December 27th, the Old Chapel was overflowing with items! On New Year’s Eve, LeRoy and Shirley Chupp helped take the items to the SOAR office, where they were delivered to the families by case workers. At our Christmas Eve service, a generous offering of over $26,000 was given to Mennonite Central Committee’s efforts to provide support, shelter and supplies to families in Syria, Iraq and other war-torn countries. Thank you to everyone who donated items this year! May God bless our efforts to welcome the stranger and seek peace in our world.
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On December 21, a small group of PMC folks and neighbors gathered for a service of readings, meditative music, silence and prayers. We brought our grief, sadness and pain, trusting that the darkness cannot overcome the light of Christ's love (John 1.5).
Thank you to all the volunteers that helped make this event a success!!
Thank you to all the volunteers and families that came out and made PUMPKINS FOR PEACE a fun event. People of all ages had a fun time carving pumpkins, pressing cider and eating delicious soup! The money raised will benefit the work of MCC and refugees around the world.
We had a great time Sunday evening learning about homelessness in Portland and affordable housing solutions. Jes Larson of the Welcome Home Coalition presented. The Alan Jones Trio provided music. Thanks to the Justice Committee for organizing it all. More to come.
![]() 'Becoming Parables' The stories Jesus told were meant to unsettle his listeners. C. H. Dodd defines a parable as 'a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness, and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application to tease it into active thought.' As you read the parable of the watchful slaves what struck you? Surprised you? What was vivid or strange? How does the story challenge or widen or deepen your faith? We live in a very different context from Jesus. Stories about shepherds and farming are distant, almost mythic. Can you imagine a contemporary setting for the story Jesus told (for example, 'the Kingdom of God is like riding a Trimet bus ... or going to Pioneer Courthouse Square ...'). Feel free to post a response to the parable or to the sermon. I'd be glad to know how the stories Jesus told have teased your mind 'into active thought.' Peace to you, Rod Stafford Luke 12.35-38
Watchful Slaves Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. ![]() 'Becoming Parables' The stories Jesus told were meant to unsettle his listeners. C. H. Dodd defines a parable as 'a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness, and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application to tease it into active thought.' As you read the parable of the Good Samaritan what struck you? Surprised you? What was vivid or strange? How does the story challenge or widen or deepen your faith? We live in a very different context from Jesus. Stories about shepherds and farming are distant, almost mythic. Can you imagine a contemporary setting for the story Jesus told (for example, 'the Kingdom of God is like riding a Trimet bus ... or going to Pioneer Courthouse Square ...'). Feel free to post a response to the parable or to the sermon. I'd be glad to know how the stories Jesus told have teased your mind 'into active thought.' Peace to you, Rod Stafford Luke 10:25-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’ But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’ |
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