First Christian Church May

EUGENE,OREGON

2016

Dining 4 $$$ Dates and Details Inside!

It’s not too late to think about hosting an event, that is fun and earns $$$ for the church!

Deadline for host forms is May 9.Details inside

The Disciples new church movement is experiencing a Second Wind. With courageous leaders at the helm and the wind of the Holy Spirit breathing vitality into the movement, Disciples are on course to starting 1,000 new churches by 2020. For additional infor-mation visit www.hopepmt.org.

Pentecost May 1510:30 am Single Combined Service

No Christian Education ClassesFamilies are invited to worship together.

Wind Across the Waters Regional Assembly 2016

Guest Speakers Vy Nyugen, Executive Director

Week of Compassion

Blanca Puma, Executive Director FEDICE, Ecuador

Dick Hamm served as consultant to the Regional Vision Team that has been meeting since 2014 to

craft a “Future Story” for our regional church. See Kerry Crow for registration information.

2nd Saturday Garden Care Day.

9:00 am Saturday, May 14. Come with your garden gloves and tools and help keep the grounds weed free. Through the summer join oth-ers on the 2nd Saturday of the month taking care of our church grounds. Work time 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Come for an hour or for three hours. Other workday projects may be included and announced in advance.

More Inside gggggg• Congratulations Nancy• Concerts at First Christian Church• Interfaith Shelter• Camp

Minister’s Moment

The following is an excerpt from Dan’s op-ed published by the Register Guard on Sunday, April 24, on behalf of the Poverty and Homelessness Board of Lane County for which Dan is the Vice Chair.

What defines our humanity? From our days as cave dwellers to the present, we human beings have made homes for ourselves as best as we are able: places to be, where we seek safety from the elements, where we sleep, keep our belongings, fix our meals and raise our families. To thrive as human beings we each need a home. Without a home, mere existence becomes an epic struggle.

A stigma and shame often comes with being homeless. But the real shame is that we have made it nearly impossible for the poorest of the poor to live with any dignity among us. Meanwhile, with too few places where the homeless can go, we continually expand the places where they cannot go, and then wonder why so many gather in the

few remaining places where they still have a right to be. From my years in Germany and then in graduate school studying the Holocaust, I learned this critical lesson: Once you deny the right of people to exist in a certain place, it becomes a very short step to denying them the right to exist at all. Thus I ask: What defines our humanity, if not how we respond to the homeless in our midst? Consider that more than a third of those living on the streets today are there because of a mental health issue. Would anyone blame the mentally ill for a condition with which they were either born or resulted from a traumatic injury to their psyche? That county jails today are the No. 1 provider of mental health services is not an indictment on the men-tally ill; it is an indictment on society. Who is more guilty: the mentally ill in our jails, or those who created the system that puts them there? Drug and alcohol addictions, another very common ailment among the homeless, have been considered for many decades by the medical community not as failures of morality or will, but as ailments requiring treatment. Why, then, do we expect addicts to magically quit their addictions before we will provide them a place to sleep? Or as one person told me, “Life on the street is so hard, why wouldn’t I take something if it makes me feel better?” Then there are those with neither addictions nor mental illness who are homeless simply by the virtue of their poverty, low income and the high cost of housing. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released statistics recently showing that one in four renters pay half of their income on housing. A head of household earning the minimum wage currently cannot afford the rent of a two-bedroom apartment for his or her family anywhere in the United States. Today 12 million Americans are at risk of becoming homeless simply because they cannot afford their rent. So let’s be clear: The problem is not the homeless. The problem is the lack of affordable housing and shelter for those who cannot provide their own. The problem is the lack of adequate treatment options for those with addictions they cannot control. The problem is an inadequate mental health system to provide for the most vulnerable of our citizens. The problem is dysfunctional families with too few places to go for help and a dysfunctional system with too few people to provide the assistance needed. In other words, it’s not their problem — it’s our problem. And it is a problem that affects all of us, not just those without shelter. Our response as a community to the challenge of homelessness is a good part of what defines our humanity. We can and must do better, for humanity’s sake.

Interfaith Shelter is Coming to First ChristianIt’s that time again! Time to be thinking about how you can help with the Interfaith Shelter. What is the gift God’s leading you to share with the homeless families who will be housed at our church? With your help we will welcome our guests here from May 31 to June 17 . Can you spare some time to cook a meal? Lead a kids’ craft? Help with set-up or clean up?

We need help with all that, as well as overnight host duties. The “Sign Up Board” will be in the sanctuary during the month of May. If you have questions call Tom and Jean Kozlowski at 541-343-2701 or email tkozlow906@AOL.com.

The Church’s Ministry of Faith FormationChurch Camp 2016

Many years ago William Willimon noted that the church faces a reality it has not yet grasped (and still has not); that is, that we live in a “Post-Fox-Theater-Open-On-Sunday” world. (Fox Theater was the theater in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina.) No longer is Sunday a protected time for the work of the church, specifically the work of faith formation of our children and youth. Now on Sunday the church competes with soccer, dance, theater, etc. for the attention and hearts of our children and youth. This is one reason why one full week of church camp each year is so crucial in the faith formation of our children and youth. For one week children and youth experience depth living in a faith community. Here faith is given flesh through extended time filled with actions, experi-ences, relationships, and interactions during study and play and life “on the mountaintop.” We celebrate that our church has stepped forward to financially undergird this experience by paying half of the cost for each of our children and youth who go. (Additional scholarship funds are also available.) Let’s make sure that all our children and youth have this experience this year!

Grade School Camp (those who have completed grades 3 – 5): August 8 – 12 Middle School Camp (those who have completed grades 6 – 8): July 31 – August 5

High School Camp (those who have completed grades 9 – 12): July 31 – August 5 -Spiritual Formation Committee

Dining for DollarsDining for dollars is the largest FUNd raiser for the church. It is a simple format: think of your favorite interest and share it with 4 to 10 or more people. Hosts’ sheets will be online and in the back of the sanctuary. Host sheets are due Sunday May 9th. Bidding will start on Sunday May 15 and end at 11:10 on Sunday May 22. Any questions? Please contact Patty Osborne (mickeyduck@comcast.net) or 541 345-4239.

Halloween High Tea

Make Your Own Pizza‘Here’s to Dining

for Dollars!’

Meetings in May Resource Ministry May 2 Spiritual Formation May 4 Global Ministries May 5Elders May 9Executive Ministry May 16Administrative Ministry May 23

What’s Happening Here at First Christian Church?

Thanks to all those who provided food and drink for the Easter college student meal. The students greatly ap-preciated the buffet and even took some of the leftovers with them to enjoy later! Thanks again for your support to this ministry.--Karen Hertel

Thank You“I want to thank all of you who prayed for me. 3 cracked bones and 2 1/2 months later find me out of the chair, using my wheel walker. Thank you Jo-Anne,and Ruth for bring-ing communion to Jim and I. With a grateful heart, each day i find God giving me strengtand peace to heal. Thank you for your prayers and concern. Peace be with each of you. Love, Pat Schneider..”

Congratulations Nancy AndersonNancy Anderson was nominated as Teacher of the Year for the Eugene School District's 2016 ACE Award. ACE is an acronym for A Champion in Education

“Nancy believes in her students and is able to transform them by instilling confidence. She is also an incredible musician, a great teacher with great enthusiasm and energy. She is also very passionate about music and enjoys helping her students grow the talents they are gifted with.”

In Loving Memory

Carol Wahlstrom June 10 1938 ~ April 19 2016

Gwendolyn Sue HershiserOctober 27, 1933

April 23, 2016

Exemplary Ethical Leadership Award to Ada Lee

FCC member Ada Lee will be honored by Northwest Christian University for “exemplary ethical leadership” at a special banquet on May 5. We congratulate Ada on this well deserved honor! Tickets for the dinner are $125 and can be reserved by calling 541/684-7318.

Pray for: Leroy, Stephanie and the Her-shiser family in the loss of Gwen; Roger Aydelott; Pat Schneider; Rhett Ybarra; Nancy Comer; Kathryn Anne; Pat Deck-

er; Chuck, Karen and Tom Sturms; Rhia Paulson; Stephanie Hershiser; Sebastian Sturms; Joan Bogart, Danette’s mother; Jerry Linville; Mary Robertson and Adeline Haeworth Robertson.Prayers for Global Ministries: Bethany Waggoner.Prayers for Our Sponsored Child: Lavanya VenkatesanPrayers for Our Homebound Members: Clarine Shem-well; Lucille Johnston; Pat Decker; Ginny Busic; Lillian Parker; and Joan Garrison.

Welcome Baby SamSamuel Dean Van Scoy was born on 3/29. His parents Paula Luginbuhl and David Van Scoy say, “We are all doing well and in awe of the miracle of God’s creation.”

Thank You All Everyone Who Get Your Newsletter Articles in On time!

It makes a tremendous difference to the office staff, the newsletter folders, and everyone who appreciates getting it on time!

Welcome Aaron HubbardAaron is our new custodian. Be sure to give him a warm hello when you meet him in the hall.

Power and Light NewsThe Good News is… --Ourbeautifulhandcraftedrecyclecenteriscompletedandplacedinthemainfloorhallway.Thankyou,WayneHayner,formakingthisbeautifulthing.Thesixsectionsareclearlylabeledastowhattheyaretoreceive.TheyareNOTformaterialswecanputintoco-mingledcurbrecycling.Therearelistsofitemsacceptedontheendpanel. --ThereiscurrentlyaSundaySchoolclassbeingledbyDickBusictostudyanddiscussthePope'smessageOn Care of our Common Home.Weencourageeveryonetoexamineanenvironmentaltopicatleastannually. --PowerandLightCommitteeisponderingthepossibilityofbeginningtoputourusedpapertowelsinspecialcontainerssotheycangointothecompost,ratherthanthelandfill.Watchfornews. --OurChildren'sTrustwasapprovedbythejudgeinourcourt.OurhopeisitwillsurvivetoreachtheSupremeCourtafteralloftheappealsandcounterappeals.Therehavebeencourtchallengesbychildrenandyouthinallfiftystates.Oneotherstatehashadapproval.The21youthandDr.JamesHanson(formerNASAscientist)arecourageouslyputtingtheirtimeandenergyintothisefforttoimpacttheUnitedStates,andthewholeworldonclimatechange.Watchingtheirtestimoniesisverymovingandmotivating! --GMOlabelinghasarrived!Vermont'slawdemandinglabelinggeneticallymodifiedproducts(GMOs)stoodupincourt.Somemajorcompanies(Kelloggs,ConAgra,Mars,GeneralMills,andCampbells)haverealizeditiseasierandlessexpensivetolabelalltheirproductsaffectedbygeneticmodification(ratherthanjustthosegoingtoVermont.)ArealDavidandGoliathmoment! --ThePowerandLightteamishopingtoestablisharain gardeninournorthlawn.Wecouldencouragebutterflies,pollinators,andnativeplantsoracombinationofallthose..Araingardencoulddetoxifyatleastpartofthewaterrunningoffthechurchroofbeforeitentersthestormdrainsandgoesintotheriver.Thewaterrun-offsettlesintothesoilwhereitispurifiedbeforemovingonintothestormsdrainsandgoesintotheriver. --PandLteamisalsoevaluatingourneedformoreLEDlightbulbsinourchurchbuilding.LEDs,LightEmittingDiodes,havebecomemoreaffordable.Theyarecool,theybrightenupdimareas,theyuselessenergyandlastfrom10,000to25,000hours.Bestofall,theyuseafractionoftheelectricityofincandescentbulbs.Thepointistoreduceourenergycostsatchurchtosaveoncosts.Wewillhavetodosomefundraisingtoachievethisgoal.The Bad News is… --January2016wasthehottestmonthofanymontheverrecordedanditfollows2015whichwasthehottestyeareverrecorded.Theheataccumulatingonearthisroughlyequaltotheheatthatwouldbereleasedby400,000HiroshimabombsexplodingacrosstheplanetEVERYDAY.Itseemslikewe’rewellpasttimetobeginseriousreadjustmentstoreducegreenhousegases. --Deforestation.Itturnsoutthatforests,thelungsoftheearth,arebeingdestroyednotonlybythoughtlesslogging,butalsobybeefproduction(tomakemorepastures)soyandpalmoilproductionandwoodproducts.AccordingtotheUnionofConcernedScientistsalltheseneedscouldbemetwithoutdeforestation.Thedestructionofforestcausesseriousincreasesingreenhousegasesandencroachesonthehomesofendangeredspeciesandvulnerablelocalcommunities. --350partspermillion(ppm)ofgreenhousegasesintheatmosphereisthelevelclimatescientistshavedeterminedtobethehighestpossibletomaintainlifeonearthasweknowit.Wehavealreadypassed400ppmandit’sstillgoingup.Why?OnebigreasonisFRACKING.Suchwellshavereleasedoverfivebillionpoundsofmethaneinoneyear.Thosewholivenearthesewellsaresufferinghealthproblems,contaminatedwaterwells,andearthquakes.Methaneisleakedandflaredoff,enteringtheatmosphereasapotentgreenhousegas.Thenthere’sthetransportationandstoragewithmoreleakingandhugeaccidentshaveoccurred.Onegoodthingaboutallthissurgeinmethaneproductionisthatcoalcompaniescan’tcompetepricewiseandseverallargecoalcompanieshaveenteredbankruptcy.Anothergoodthingisthattheoverproductionandpollutioncausedbymethaneisprovidingusachancetodecideit’sNOTanappropriate“bridge”fueltoavoidcoalandoil,asit’sjustaspollutingastheyare.Allthisiscausingenergycompaniestoreconsiderdoublingdownonusingsolarandwind,givingaboosttothesecleanenergies. ThePandLcommitteeisthinkingaboutreconsideringFirstChristian’suseofnaturalgas(methane)asourheatingback-up.Wecanatleastfindoutwhatsolarwouldinvolveandhowmuchitmightcost. .Energy Heroes --areinvestingtimeandenergyinto“ClimateActions”.TheDeltaFive,whoblockedanexplosiveoiltraininWashingtonareincourtusingtheargumentthattheiractionswerejustifiedbythethreatofClimatechange. --AmassactionatAnacortesWashington(May13-14)willmarchagainstfossilfuels.Theyhopetobearrested.SomeEu-gene350folkwillparticipateandarehavingnon-violentprotesttraininginpreparation.(BreakFreePNW.org) --Therearebothlocal(350Eugene.org,Earthkeepers)andnationalactions(letters,phonecallstocongress)thatwecansup-port.Wecanbelivinglifeasifourplanetdependsonus(itdoes).Overconsumptionisknowntobeasdevastatingtotheplanetasuncontrolledpopulationgrowth. --AlloureffortsatFirstChristianareaimedatCertificationasaDiscipleGreenChaliceCongregation,aswellasatsavingourchurchmoney,pollutingless,savingouronlyhome,PlanetEarth.

Interfaith Prayer ServiceMay 11th 6:45-8 pmFirst Christian Church

Theme: Dream a Joyful Vision Join us Wednesday May 11th for our annual Moth-ers appreciation service. All of the presenters are young people! Listen to the songs, chants, dances and readings of many diverse and uplifting youth Let the next generation inspire! Many of our own congregation are participating. Please come and give them support.Please join us every month to celebrate the oneness in our diversity through prayers, chants, readings from sacred texts and many other forms that come from the teachings and traditions of our participat-ing presenters. For more information, visit: inter-faithprayer.org

Local Community Events

Church Women UnitedMay's event is the annual May Friendship Day Luncheon (provided by Alpine Catering). It will take place on Saturday, May 7, at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 1300 Pearl Street. The time is 11:30 a.m., and the program will be presented by Trevor Whit-bread, assistant director of Centro Latino Americano. Trevor supervises the C.A.R.E. for Youth Program, dedicated to keeping at-risk minority youth from entering the juvenile justice system. Tickets may be purchased for $8 (or one's ability to pay). Please let Joanne Flanders know (541-485-2886) or email (joanneflanders@yahoo.com) immediately if you plan to attend.

Visioning Mideast Peace Through Art

May 22 6:00-8:00 pmFirst Christian Church Sanctuary

A presentation and discussion with two Palestinian teachers, Mildad Vogueritchian and Manar Wahhab. of the Vision Association for Culture and Arts in Al-Eizariya. VACA teaches afrt, music, dance and theater to Palestinian children. They also teach the principles of non-violent communication. Free and open to everyone. For more information go to help-createmideastpeace.weebly.com; or contact Steve Goldman at stevenjgoldman@gmail.com or 541-686-3056.

Picnic Supper Concert 2016Thursday May 5, 2016

St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall5:30-8:00 pm

Celebrate Your BlessingsHost a table to benefit First Place Family Center

As a table host you invite guests to fill your table and provide a meal for them. St. Mary’s will actively en-courage donations from each table. Questions? Call Kristi Bare 541-743-7177 for more information.

Community Supported Shelters Annual Benefit 5:30 pm Saturday May 7th,

Grace Lutheran Church (18th & Hilyard Eugene) Home-made lasagna, vegetarian and meat, spring salad, garlic bread and delectable desserts, $30. Reservations required by April 28. Please mail your check to CSS 1160 Grant St Eugene OR 97402 or get tickets online at www.com-munitysupportedshelters.org. Basic Shelter for Stability, Empowerment, and Hope

People Like Us! Soromundi Lesbian Chorus of Eugene invites all 13-22 queer and allied youth to sing with them in their Spring Concert. All musical abilities welcome. Concert is May 21, and for more information on how to participate please text or call Kate at 541-554-0947.

Play it Again PerformanceEugene Symphony

May 15 2:30 pmFree and Open to the Public

Play It Again is composed of adults with musical backgrounds who have returned to performing after years of being away.

15 Years of Divisi Reunion Concert

7:00 pm Saturday May 14, First Christian Church.

The University of Oregon’s own women’s acappella group. Come hear 15 years of beautiful music in one evening. Tickets are $5/students, $8/adults and will be available at the door.

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FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

1166 OAK STREETEUGENE, OR 97401

The First Christian Church Newsletter is published by First Christian Church of Eugene for its members and friends.

April Oristano, Editor; Danette Lamson, Desktop Publisher. Phone: 541-344-1425 Fax: 541-338-8616

E-mail: office@heartofeugene.org Website: heartofeugene.org

Church StaffThe Rev. Dr. Daniel E. H. Bryant, Senior MinisterThe Rev. April Oristano, Associate PastorPatty Weller, Director of AdministrationDanette Lamson, Administrative Assistant/Nursery SupervisorLisa Landers, Administrative AssistantNancy Anderson, Director of Music, Children’s ChoirDr. John Jantzi, Organist/Bell Choir DirectorAaron Hubbard Custodial ManagerLarry Wahlstrom, Event Manager/ MaintenanceDavid Frisinger, Maintenance/Event AttendantJennifer Harris, Wedding Hostess

Betty Jo Johnson, Elder Emerita

Mission StatementWe believe in the love of God for all people.

We gather as a worshipping community of faith to follow Jesus Christ.

We delight together in what God is doing through us to bring:healing within brokenness;

unity within diversity;joy within grief;

and power within weakness.

Our mission is to strengthen relationships we have with God,

with each other, with our families, and with our world.

We are an Open and Affirming Congregation and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities

are welcome in the full life and ministry of our church.

We are a Global Ministries church.

We are a Green Chalice Congregation.

Nonprofit OrganizationUS Postage

PAIDEUGENE • OREGON

Permit No. 431

May Dates to RememberMother’s Day May 8Pentecost Combined Service May 15Dining 4$ Auction May 15/22 Newsletter Deadline May 20Memorial Day May 30