Our Budget as Faith Statement

On Sunday, June 28th we will gather after worship for the congregation’s annual meeting to approve the budget for the coming fiscal year. The centerpiece of the discussion will be a multi-page document filled with columns of numbers. As you read through all those numbers I invite you to remember that it is so much more than a financial spreadsheet. Each of the numbers represents the hopes, aspirations and priorities of this congregation as together we plan for the ministry opportunities we will engage in during the coming year. It is easy to get bogged down in the details, especially when we are talking about money. And it is really important for us to keep the bigger picture before us. Our budget is a faith statement which spells out the ways in which we believe God is calling and empowering us to impact the world around us. It might look like a page full of numbers, but if you look closer you will begin to recognize it as a prayer of hope and gratitude. May we continue to be God’s faithful people who are alive and at work in the world.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way . . .

Summer is upon us and with it comes a change of pace. For some folks summer is a time to shift into a slower gear. For others it doesn’t really slow down but it does provide for different opportunities. Around the church we take a break from some of the things we do the rest of the year – Tuesday Book Group, Sunday School and Choir, to name just a few. But one thing that doesn’t change is the importance of staying connected – with God and with each other. Whatever shape your summer takes, whether it is picnics at the beach, time in the garden, or travel with family and friends, remember to be on the lookout for encounters with the Sacred. Savor the gift of slowing down so you might recognize the surprising ways in which God is seeking to get your attention. Join us for worship when you’re in town and let us know what you’re up to when you’re away so we can hold you in prayer. Make it a spiritual practice to expand your awareness of the many ways in which God accompanies you as you travel through your days. May your summer be filled with holy encounters, and may you notice.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way . . .

The abundance of God’s Grace surrounds us in every moment. But often that abundance is spoken in a whisper. To really experience the gift requires that we pay attention – not just to the “big moments” but to all of the small, subtle, understated moments as well. When I remember to engage in this profound spiritual practice my life is transformed. Every moment becomes a gift just waiting to be unwrapped. So, here it is in five steps – an ongoing practice in which the journey is the destination.

~ Five Steps To More Abundant Living ~

1) Show Up

2) Be Present

3) Pay Attention

4) Practice Gratitude

5) Repeat

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way. . .

On Wednesday morning I sat in a Federal Courtroom in downtown Portland with two dozen people from our congregation. We were there to offer moral support for Ellis McCoy during his sentencing hearing. For four years Ellis has been dealing with the stresses and challenges related to charges of public corruption. This week all of that reached a conclusion when the judge sentenced him to 24 months in prison. And while I am saddened and disappointed by this sentence, we as a congregation now have an opportunity to be the church is a very specific and tangible way. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats. He lifts up concrete actions and behaviors which are the marks of those who faithfully seek to follow Jesus’ Way. “I was sick and imprisoned, and you visited me.” I was heartened by the number of folks who showed up for the hearing. And I am confident that we will rise to the occasion in the coming months as we reach out in support for Ellis and Kay. Thank you for being the Church – not just with your words, but also with your actions and the living of your lives. It is an honor to be your pastor.

- Pastor Roger
(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way . . .

If I were to make a list of words that form the heart of what I believe to be most important in this life it would look something like this (in no particular order):

– faith – hope – love –

– spirit – community – connection –

– beauty – abundance – peace –

– support – encouragement – presence –

– mystery – now – wholeness – breath –

Each of them individually is important, but it is all of them together that really begins to bring things into focus. It is hard to consider one without also recognizing the influence of several others. They swirl and dance around each other, like threads in a tapestry forming the fabric of my life. What words would be on your list?

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way. . .

Last week I shared with you that one of my daughters was at a birth center in active labor. A few hours after I wrote those words she gave birth to her son – Juniper Felix Schaberg. On Sunday morning I warned you that I was going to be insufferable. The truth of the matter is that I had no idea just how over-the-top I would become. Sunday afternoon I drove to meet my grandson and instantly fell completely in love. I am besotted. My heart is expanding beyond anything I could have imagined. And what I am discovering is that this remarkable experience of love is not confined merely to Juniper. I am seeing the whole world with new eyes. It is a holy and transformational gift. “Now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) Viewing the world through the lens of love is not naïve, unrealistic, and pollyanna-ish. It simply means that my frame of awareness includes qualities like hope, compassion, beauty, and connection. Such a perspective allows me to recognize new possibilities even in the midst of challenging circumstances. The God who shines through in the face of my new grandson is also present in every moment, every place, and every experience for each of us and all of us. May the God of Love come shining through for you this day, illuminating your life and your world.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

The Future Is Bright for Our Congregation

Just in case I haven’t said it loudly enough or frequently enough, please allow me to tell you as clearly as possible that First Congregational United Church of Christ in Hillsboro, Oregon is a vital and healthy congregation with a bright and promising future. As the Search Committee continues to move forward with their important work I know that some of you are wondering what the future holds in store for your beloved congregation. Please hear me when I tell you that I have the utmost of confidence in what will unfold for you. The Search Committee is made up of strong, faithful, and talented leaders who are working well together towards the common goal of finding just the right match for this congregation. And this congregation is filled with highly capable leaders and many, many faithful members. You have a wonderfully functional facility located in a prime location. There are a wide variety of programs designed to meet people’s needs and interests. You are financially faithful, which results in a solid and stable financial base from which to carry out ministry. And, perhaps most importantly, you are a warm, caring, and welcoming community of faith filled with friendly and compassionate people who actually enjoy working and playing and worshipping together. In short, you are exactly the type of congregation that highly gifted and qualified pastors want to serve. I invite you to continue praying for the Search Committee as they go about their important work. Hold the congregation in prayer, that God’s Spirit will continue to shine forth into the world through our faithful and active presence in this community. And trust that the future is bright for this faithful and vital congregation.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)